Barrett stepped out of the treeline with the deliberate swagger of a man who had imagined this moment a hundred times. The dying sun burned behind him, turning his silhouette into a dark monolith. He kept his chin up high, but not too high. The last thing he needed was to trip on a root and ruin the most cinematic entrance of his life.

  This is definitely my time.

  The camp stretched before him—a cluttered sprawl of crooked huts made from broken branches and torn tarps they’d taken off goblins. Smoke curled lazily from the center fire pit, the orange glow flickering against faces that had gone pale as soon as they spotted him.

  A murmur rippled through the crowd.

  Barrett Donovan had returned.

  He slowed beside Pippy and Arthur. The girl practically bounced, barely containing her joy; her freckles glowed like embers in the dying light. Barrett’s chest tightened at the sight. He hadn’t realized how much he missed that kid until now.

  On his right, Arthur walked with a strange new firmness. Slimmer, but harder. His eyes kept darting toward Barrett’s face, studying him carefully as if unsure whether the man beside him was the same one he’d once followed without question.

  Barrett forced a small smile at him.

  Arthur didn’t smile back.

  His attention drifted forward.

  Rei and Fred stood at the front. Fred looked tense, guilty, even.

  How many of my cigars has that rat been enjoying?

  Rei’s face, however, didn’t move at all. She watched him with an unreadable mask, dissecting him with her gaze.

  Something else tugged at Barrett’s attention.

  Tanya?

  Was she always standing there? How did he miss her?

  She stood at Fred’s flank like a sculpted statue with her arms crossed, stance balanced, scanning him with a look he couldn’t decipher. His gaze swept over her—pausing briefly at the sculpted quads—and back to her eyes. A tiny smile tugged at one corner of her mouth.

  Barrett chuckled nervously.

  Damn, she caught me.

  They stepped toward him. Others subtly shifted, spreading out to form a perimeter. Barrett’s fingers brushed the handle of his machete, but he didn’t draw. Not yet.

  When they got closer, he sensed hesitation from them until Rei finally spoke first. Guess she was still in charge.

  “Barrett,” she said with a too-smooth smile. “It’s good to see you. I hoped you’d survive that little…fall over the river.”

  Barrett’s chuckle was low and pleasant.

  “You gave me a hell of a bath.” He tilted his shades down just enough for her to see his eyes. “Yet, somehow, I climbed out dirtier than I went in.”

  Fred had had enough. “You sick bastard, how could you do that to Jason?!”

  Barrett turned to him slowly, like examining an insect on a pin. “It’s like you both said, this isn’t a game anymore.”

  Fred clenched his jaw. Rei shot him a quick, unreadable glance before returning her gaze to Barrett.

  “I admit, Barrett, I think I misjudged you.” She said, giving him a meaningful look.

  “Damn right you did.” He replied while surveying the camp.

  Rei followed his gaze.

  “Looking for the rest of Team Donovan?” she asked lightly.

  He nodded once.

  “We’ve put them somewhere safe,” she said, smiling again. “Can’t be too careful around a killer.”

  Something ugly flared in Barrett’s chest, but he swallowed it down. Instead, he slid his machete free with one clean motion.

  “Last time,” he said, “you caught me with my pants down and my ass hanging out.” He lowered into his stance. “This time I wore a belt.”

  Rei nodded to someone behind Barrett.

  A flash of instinct detonated in Barrett’s mind with [Iron Reflex] shrieking.

  He moved before thinking.

  An icicle missile hissed through the air where his head had been a heartbeat ago, shattering into frozen shards across the ground.

  He stood straight again, brushing his sleeve.

  “Slow,” he said. “Very slow.”

  Rei’s eyes narrowed. “Level 10?”

  Barrett laughed, “damn right.”

  He tapped into [Predator’s Mark], blue light flickering behind the lenses of his shades. Suddenly, he could see multiple enemies around him, including a few that Rei had hidden.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  “Why don’t you boys behind that boulder come on out?”

  His head tilted slightly.

  “And you? Icy Boy. That tree isn’t hiding your frosty ass.”

  A few men shifted uncomfortably before stepping out, exposed.

  Fred snarled, “You’re not the only one with new abilities!”

  Then he flash-stepped forward—quicker, harder than before—his fist burning red with some hypercharging skill.

  Barrett’s grin cut across his face.

  “Nice try, sport.”

  He twisted, letting the punch rocket past him, then drove a side-kick into Fred’s stomach. The bigger man flew backward several feet, skidding across the dirt with the grace of a dropped sack of cement.

  Rei’s eyes ignited, swirling with fire.

  Balls of flame formed in orbit around her, spinning faster and faster.

  Barrett ducked, rolled, and cut through one with a horizontal sweep.

  A second one arced behind him—he dodged without looking, [Predator’s Mark] pulsing.

  Then he lunged, activating [Blood Rush] right before contact.

  His right fist struck a flame barrier Rei conjured at the last instant, but Barrett twisted, letting momentum carry him into a left switch kick that slammed into her ribs.

  Rei slid across the ground, coughing, gripping her side.

  “I didn’t think you had it in you to hit a woman,” she hissed.

  Barrett pushed his shades up.

  “I’m an equal-opportunity ass-kicker.”

  Rei spat blood and rose.

  “You’re only one man! Everyone—on my signal!”

  Barrett’s grin widened, feral.

  “Things are heating up!”

  A forest of spells ignited, fireballs, icicles, compressed stone projectiles, lightning darts, mana missiles. Enough power to obliterate five Barretts. They kept charging and growing, presumably waiting for Rei’s signal.

  Chirp-chirp.

  Yeah, Barrett thought. It’s a lot.

  He crouched, ready to burst forward—

  “Mister Donovan…aren’t you forgetting something?”

  He glanced left.

  Pippy stood with her hands clenched, freckles bright, eyes blazing gold with determination.

  “If you want to go fast,” she said, breath steady even as the magical storm roared, “go alone.”

  Barrett winced. “Not the right time for motivational posters, Pipsqueak.”

  Rei screamed the attack command.

  “If you want to go far…”

  Dozens of spells launched at once.

  Pippy shouted—

  “Go together!” she slammed her hands on him.

  A pulse of golden energy rippled around Barrett.

  Time slowed.

  Spells hung in the air like drifting lanterns.

  Barrett smiled.

  Atta girl.

  He sprinted through the frozen storm—rolling under fire, vaulting over ice, slicing stone in half, twisting between crackling bolts. Fred tried to sucker-punch him mid-chaos, only for Barrett to sweep his legs instantly.

  When time snapped back, every spell slammed harmlessly into empty ground.

  Barrett straightened, wiping soot from his cheek. Tanya still hadn’t moved—simply watching like a stone statue.

  Barrett laughed, spun his machete once, and sheathed it.

  “Any more bright ideas, Rei?”

  Her face twisted.

  Rei snarled. “Where are those idiots with the rest of his team?!”

  Barrett folded his arms, raising an eyebrow.

  “Shouldn’t you know? I’m just the big dumb oaf, remember?”

  Rei steadied herself, dusting off her clothes.

  “You just signed their death warrant.”

  Barrett chuckled, shaking his head.

  Fred shouted, “Look at him! He doesn’t care about anyone. He’s gone off the deep end!”

  “How’s this, Fred?” Barrett put on a mock-sorrowful face. “Oh noooo. What am I gonna do? You guys are using a kid and a senior citizen as a hostage, and yet I’m the bad guy.”

  He didn’t notice Rei repositioning mages behind him.

  Too late.

  A volley of spells fired.

  “It’s over, Donovan!” she screamed.

  Barrett spun—

  And a dozen glowing blue missiles tore the enemy spells out of the sky.

  —

  Everyone froze.

  Footsteps approached.

  Maku stepped from the shadows, hands in pockets, walking like he had all the time in the world. Lance and Granny followed behind him.

  “Sorry I’m late,” Maku said. “Traffic was hell.”

  “You said that already—” Lance muttered.

  “Barrett!” Granny cried.

  “Yo, Coach,” Lance said, lifting a hand in a weak half-wave. The usual spark was missing, replaced by shame, and something heavier lurking beneath it.

  Still, Barrett felt relief wash through him like a tide. His whole team was standing. Whole. Alive.

  Then, more footsteps.

  Rei’s voice cracked.

  “TANYA! What are you doing?!”

  She didn’t even look her way.

  “I’m with them.”

  She walked up to Barrett.

  Her gaze didn’t waver.

  “Room for one more on Team Donovan?”

  Barrett extended his hand.

  Tanya clasped it with a smack that echoed across the camp.

  “Harder,” he murmured.

  She tightened her grip. Pain lanced up his arm, sharp enough to make his teeth clench.

  Damn, he thought. Good thing she’s with me.

  Rei shrieked and launched another barrage.

  Maku didn’t even spare them a glance, replying in a low, unimpressed voice.

  “Don’t interrupt.”

  His missiles detonated every one of Rei’s spells midair.

  Then he turned, fixing Rei with a cold, unwavering stare.

  “I’ve spent too much time in the darkness to fear it.”

  Barrett scowled. “Bastard, that’s MY line—”

  Tanya raised an eyebrow at Barrett.

  “Doesn’t matter,” he muttered. Then louder: “Rei, take it from me. Lose the ego. Bad for lifting and leading.”

  Rei’s eyes burned hotter. Fire circled her, rising into a spinning ring of blazing heat.

  The ground trembled.

  “That’s too much,” Maku warned. “She can’t control that.”

  “REI! STOP!” Barrett yelled. “You’ll burn yourself alive!”

  She didn’t stop. She didn’t even hear.

  Even Fred stepped in, shouting for her to stop. Barrett could hear the crack in his voice. Whatever else Fred was, he genuinely cared for Rei.

  Then—

  A sharp squawk in Barrett’s ear.

  [Predator’s Mark] flared.

  Barrett’s eyes widened.

  “TEAM DONOVAN! On me—we’ve got company!”

  A deep rumble rolled through the trees. A loud horn.

  Everyone froze.

  Even Rei faltered, her flames flickering.

  Then—

  Large shapes emerged from the forest’s edge.

  Tall. Hulking. Shaggy silhouettes nearly seven feet high.

  Black fur. Gleaming eyes. Heavy breath steaming in the chill air.

  Barrett exhaled.

  “…Shit.”