I kept my eyes locked on the two enemies ahead, though the sound of thousands of once-docile creatures stirring in the chamber behind me pressed like a storm at my back. A choice had to be made. The only path forward was through these two, and fast. For a heartbeat, my mind flickered back to Lawson and the conversation we’d shared in my soul realm just days ago.

  I watched as my tree, my soul made manifest, mended itself slowly before my eyes.

  “So, this Resilience passive is pretty amazing. Thanks, man,” I said.

  Lawson smiled. “It is. But before you return to the real world, we need to talk about your armor. That Talent is the main reason the System let me bypass its restrictions and secure this passive for you. Pull it up and review it.”

  I did as he asked.

  My gamer’s mind was already racing with possibilities. If I activate the armor and boost my base attributes, will Limit Break stack? I wondered aloud.

  Lawson’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Yes, it will. Your class is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Normally, the system locks down Talents to prevent loopholes like that, but your class is literally Limit Breaker.” He threw up his hands with a chuckle. “So, yeah, you can. Resilience will carry you farther than you realize. This will be a whole new level of power for you.”

  “Hell yeah,” I grinned.

  Somewhere at the edge of the memory, I heard Riker’s voice and then the vision slipped away... destroy that shithole village first thing when we set out today!” Riker’s voice slammed into me the moment the memory faded. His hands were turned upward, fingers splayed, eyes wild as he stared at them.

  “I am sick and tired of those old fool councilors dictating my life. The revolution starts…” His voice was cracked with madness.

  “I’m not about to hear this bullshit.”

  I activated Regalia.

  The armor surged into being, encasing me in an instant. An ethereal cape flared behind me, its presence silencing Riker and drawing the Ardent forward. I shoved Sara out of harm’s way.

  Limit Break.

  Power, unlike anything I’d ever known roared through me. Yet instead of crushing me beneath its weight, Resilience steadied my body, bracing me against the storm.

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  “Let’s fucking go.”

  I Flash Stepped. The world folded.

  One heartbeat I stood yards away, the next I was there, right in front of the Ardent. I was surprised by my own speed; Flash Step had gone from nearly instant to truly instantaneous. I had no comprehension of being in the ether now, just arrival. It was my go-to move to summon Ember while in the ether. That habit would have to die fast.

  My split-second pause gave the Ardent time to swipe its huge bone claw down at me. I met its claw with a left uppercut in response.

  Our blows collided; his bone-covered claws shattered, his arm snapping upward with a crack. It let out a howl of pain as it staggered back.

  I summoned Ember, the blade igniting with a hungry glow. My first swing carved straight through his middle; the cut so clean it stole the breath from the monster’s throat before it could even cry out.

  I didn’t stop. Aura-laden strikes tore him apart, each slash faster, heavier, and more merciless than the last. My newfound speed and strength let me carve through his bone hide as if it were nothing. My final swing tore the air apart, a shockwave blasting outward.

  Riker slammed into the wall like a ragdoll, while the Ardent’s severed remains scattered, flung away as though the world itself recoiled from the violence.

  The traitor staggered, trying to run. I Flash Stepped into his path. A transparent shield flared between us, mana pouring from his trembling hands.

  “What are you!?” he screamed.

  “Your end.”

  My blade came down. The shield shattered on contact, and the same stroke split him in half, the force driving his body into the stone.

  A scream rang out behind me. I turned. Sara wasn’t crying out for Riker. She was blasting spell after spell into the widening crack of the chamber doors, trying to hold back what was coming.

  In an instant, I was at her side. “Sorry about this,” I muttered, scooping her up with my left arm. She gave a startled “oof” as I swung her over my shoulder.

  Then I ran. Limit Break and Regalia burning through me, I tore up the tunnel with every ounce of enhanced speed and strength I had because the horde was already after us.

  The tunnel that had taken what felt like hours to traverse flew by. Soon I passed through the wooden jail cell from which we had freed Patricia and the others. I heard Sara holler out behind me, “That son of a bitch Riker got off easier than he deserved. I would’ve cut off his manhood and fed it to him.”

  I glanced over my shoulder, checking to see if any monsters were still in sight. Instead, all I saw was Sara, her right hand slicing through the air in sharp, cutting motions.

  Two thoughts hit me at once: Sara was kind of cool and I was suddenly just a little afraid of her.

  The tunnel stretched ahead, dark and endless, until the last hundred yards. Golden energy shimmered across the stone, spilling light into the passage like a dawn breaking underground. Each step carried me deeper into its glow, the radiance clinging to the walls, humming with power.

  I knew that mana. Balt’s force magic.

  But why here? Why now? What the hell was he doing?

  The questions burned in my mind as I pushed harder, Sara still slung over my shoulder, the Regalia’s strength driving me forward.

  Then, at last, the tunnel opened. I burst into the cavern where this nightmare had begun, the familiar stone vaulting high above. And there, at the top, framed in the glow of his own magic, stood Balt, waiting.

  Balt was drenched in sweat, his staff pulsing with golden light as he struggled for breath.

  “Get behind me,” he ordered.

  I obeyed, setting Sara gently down before letting the Regalia fade from my body.

  Balt slammed the butt of his staff against the stone, golden light flaring.

  “Force Wave!” he roared.

  The air shuddered, and a deep rumble rolled back through the tunnel I had just escaped. I heard stones grinding, walls buckling, the thunder of collapse racing away into the dark. Dust and echoes chased each other until silence finally settled.

  Balt exhaled, shoulders sagging, sweat dripping down his brow. “Finally. I was starting to worry. Knowing you, I figured you’d have half-monsters on your tail. Thought it might be smart to have a plan ready to bring the tunnel down if needed. Let’s get out of here; that won’t hold them forever.”

  I turned to Sara, my voice low but edged with urgency. “How long will it take you to reach Leon and get the ducal crest to the Duke for help? Riker said they’re heading straight for Blackfern from here.”

  She paled, realization hitting her like it had me already. “Six days at best to get there, but it could be more if it takes the duke time to rally his troops. Master Magus Kelv has portal magic, and with his apprentices, he can transport the duke’s entire army to Blackfern once ordered.”

  I saw her swallow visibly. Balt looked back at both of us. “What’s going on, Riven? What did you see down there?”

  I quickly explained the events to Balt, and his eyes were a little wider when I finished.

  I could hear muffled roars down the tunnel and rocks being crushed. “What’s the play?” Balt asked.

  As I caught my breath, the reason behind all of this burned in my mind. Alice and Liz, that was why I fought. To save them, I needed more power. More levels. And with that horde of monsters below, I had the chance to farm experience and keep them pinned, harassing them so they couldn’t break free and slaughter the villagers before the Duke’s aid arrived.

  I shared my thoughts with Balt, and he seemed to steel himself. Then, a smirk tugged at his lips.

  “It’s not really a party until a horde of brainwashed monsters and a few thousand men come crashing down on you in a creepy cave.”

  I couldn’t help but smile back. “You with me?”

  “Always,” Balt said without hesitation.

  “We’ll hold them off as long as we can, Sara. When we’re forced to retreat, we’ll fall back to the village. I hope to see you there on the sixth day.”

  Sara strode up to us and, to my surprise, pulled both me and Balt into a fierce bear hug. “You two are insane for doing this,” she said, “but I saw you fight on the drawbridge. If anyone can pull this off, it’s you two.”

  With that, she turned and sprinted out of the cavern.

  I glanced at Balt, a grin tugging at my lips. A distant roar was echoing from one of the side tunnels. “Let’s get to work. Time to level up.”