Grunting noises echoed around the rocks, low and guttural—like the sound of a hollow. Joe could barely breathe as they rounded the boulder, every muscle tense, bracing for the worst. But when they came around the corner, it wasn’t some mindless hollow.

  It was Brian.

  The sight hit Joe like a punch to the gut.

  Hunched over with knees pulled tight to his chest, he rocked back and forth like a terrified child. His eyes, once sharp and full of life, were empty now, vacant. The man who’d been looking for his vape pen just hours ago no longer seemed to recognize them.

  "Brian?" Joe’s voice cracked, but there was no response. Only more rocking, more muttering.

  "The place looks deserted, but who knows what the monster respawn rate is on these tower floors." Gaia’s voice was still stiff but had lost some of its usual iciness. She stood like a statue, though her eyes held something else—maybe pity, maybe something more. "Do what you need to get Brian out of his stupor. I’m not good at that sort of thing, so I’ll keep watch."

  "Thanks, Gaia." Dawn gave her a look that said she truly meant it. She tapped her map interface. "I’ll check for any new threats so we cover all bases." Her expression quickly soured. "Can’t access it yet, some upgrade’s going on. I’ll try again in a minute." She crouched beside Brian and placed a hand on his shoulder. He flinched.

  "It’s okay, buddy. You were lost, but now we’ve found you." Joe blinked. For a moment, he could’ve sworn Dawn was radiating a comforting aura—like some kind of warm, invisible hug.

  Brian stared at her, his mouth opening and closing like he wanted to say something, but the words simply wouldn’t come out.

  "You don’t have to talk, Brian. We get it. We’ve come back for you. Can you stand?" Joe tried to keep the doubt out of his voice, but Brian looked like a stiff breeze would not only knock him over but send him into oblivion.

  Brian’s slow nod showed he understood. A flicker of recognition passed between his eyes as he glanced at Dawn and Joe.

  Joe wrapped his arm around Brian, and Dawn did the same from the other side. They guided him to his feet. Brian towered over them, but somehow, he felt smaller—like the weight of the world had crushed him from the inside. The brief recognition in his eyes faded, replaced by a hollow stare. He wavered, ready to topple over again. Joe and Dawn held him steady, but Brian wasn’t really there.

  Gaia stepped into view, her tone growing more urgent. "Hey, Dawn, checked that map yet?"

  "Nope, kind of busy here." Dawn waved a hand in front of Brian’s face, but he stared through it, completely vacant.

  Gaia, clearly frustrated, stepped closer, rising on her toes to snap her fingers in front of Brian’s face. An electrical charge crackled between her fingertips, reflecting in his dark gaze. "For the love of… all celestial realms… wake up, Brian!" She sighed, then turned to Dawn. "Well?"

  Joe shot Gaia a questioning look. "You seeing something?"

  Gaia frowned, her skin twitching with small muscle spasms. "It’s more of a feeling, like insects crawling under my skin." She pointed toward the horizon, where swollen, bruised storm clouds churned. "Something’s out there, and it knows we’re here."

  Dawn kept fiddling with her interface, completely missing Gaia’s heated glare. But when she finally got access, her expression went from annoyed to terrified. "Brian, you’ve got to snap out of it. Right now." She tugged on his arm with a sudden, desperate energy.

  She turned to Joe, her voice tight with urgency. "You know how my map got upgraded? Well, before, I couldn’t see hollows—because they’re not part of the system."

  Joe’s heart sank. "And now?"

  "Now I can."

  He glanced at the horizon, where the clouds were dropping something that looked like mist, but it moved way too fast. "How many?"

  Dawn’s face paled. "Too many. If they get here before Brian’s back in the system, we’re dead."

  "Let’s move him." Gaia stepped forward, a dark aura trailing behind her.

  "And go where?" Dawn shot back. "We can’t bring him into the common room—he’s ejected from the system."

  "I know that," Gaia snapped, raising her chin. "But we need to put distance between us and those hollows while you figure out how to reach him. The state he’s in, he’s moving slower than treacle." She prodded Brian’s broad shoulders, sending a few sparks across his back.

  Brian blinked as her magic stirred something in him. "I’m as swift as a gazelle," he mumbled, taking a lumbering step forward, nearly dragging his other leg behind like it had gone numb.

  "Yeah, an old one… with arthritis. Hit by a jeep. Last week," Gaia muttered, exasperated.

  Joe urged Brian to keep moving, but his steps were sluggish, and the spark from Gaia’s touch was already wearing off. "Gaia, whatever you did, do it again. We’ll keep talking to him."

  She rolled her eyes but zapped Brian between the shoulder blades. His eyes flickered with life again.

  "Brian, you’re doing great, buddy. We just need you to repeat a few words. Can you do that for us?" Joe kept his tone gentle, trying not to rush him.

  "I’m swift as a gazelle," Brian mumbled, still stuck on his earlier line.

  Joe shot Dawn a glance. "Alright, here’s how this goes. It’s like a game. Dawn’s gonna say a phrase, and you’ll repeat it, word for word."

  Brian gave a weak nod, but the low groans behind them grew louder, stealing his attention. The mist parted, revealing the first hollow—an elf, or what had once been an elf. Her skin was pale gray, stretched taut over sinew and bone, with a tangled mess of white hair matted to her skull.

  She moved fast, faster than any mortal should, her silent snarl somehow more terrifying than if she'd screamed.

  Joe’s pulse quickened as the entrance to the common room came into view, but until Brian spoke the right words, they were trapped. Dawn placed her hands firmly on Brian’s shoulders and locked eyes with him. "Say this: Trade System ECHOs Open."

  Brian looked over his shoulder. "The lions are coming, but I’m swift as a gazelle."

  Gaia zapped him again. "No, you’re not. And those aren’t lions—they’re soul-sucking hollows. Focus! Say what Dawn told you."

  Something clicked in Brian. He turned back to Dawn, his eyes flickering with more awareness. Joe glanced at the misting rain rushing toward them, filled with hollows. If the white haired hollow kept running at that speed, they had maybe a minute, tops.

  Gaia’s voice kicked up a notch. “Brian, say the damn words. One hollow we can deal with but these poor bastards are like Black Friday shoppers, once you spot one, expect a stampede.” She gestured to the hollow and the seething mist rolling towards them at break-neck speed.

  Dawn looked ready to slap Brian but she kept her composure and emphasis on every word. ”Come on Brian, repeat after me, Trade System ECHOs Open."

  Brian blinked, his voice wavering. "Traaade…"

  Gaia had been right. More hollows emerged from the mist, each a gray-scale twisted version of their former selves. Silent, relentless, and fast. Their red eyes gleamed with hunger.

  Dawn gripped Brian tighter, her eyes burning with intensity. "Say it, Brian. Trade System ECHOs Open. If you don’t, I’ll get TJ here, and he’ll beat your face to a pulp!"

  That did it.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  Brian’s head jerked up. "Teee Jaaayy," he whispered with a sad, distant longing.

  Gaia smirked. "The power of fucking friendship."

  Dawn didn’t waste the moment. "Yes, Brian! TJ’s your bro, and he wants you to repeat after me: Trade System ECHOs Open."

  A blink of recognition passed through Brian’s eyes, clearer than before, like he was seeing Joe and Dawn for the first time.

  Thirty seconds, Joe thought, as more hollows became visible in the mist. All quiet as corpses, a swift running nightmare headed straight for them.

  A system notification appeared:

  [Hollows have become aware of your location. Beware the spread of Touch of Madness. You will not be permitted entry to the common room in any zone.]

  Well shit!

  Dawn, desperate, pulled out an eternity stick and waved it in front of Brian’s face.

  Before she could even light it, Brian snatched it from her and broke it in half. His eyes dulled again as he rubbed the powdered insides of the stick all over his face.

  Gaia grabbed another stick and dangled it in front of Brian’s face, waving it like she was feeding a toddler. "Here comes the airplane, neeeh aaah," she said, sticking it in his mouth. "This is why I never had kids."

  Joe frowned. "But… aren’t you Gaia from the Greek legend?"

  Gaia snorted. "You believe everything you read? Hercules ruined kids for me, trust me." She gave Brian another zap, her voice filled with an ancient power. "Brian, pay attention. Listen to Dawn and say the damn line."

  Dawn repeated the phrase again, her eyes flicking back to the lead hollows closing in fast.

  Brian’s deep voice finally rose above the eerie groans. "Trade System ECHOs Open."

  Relief flooded Joe, but there was no time to celebrate. A hollow broke from the horde and charged right at him, red eyes locked onto its target. Time seemed to slow as Joe grabbed Brian’s arm and yanked him out of the way just before the hollow slammed into them.

  Gaia cast a quick distraction spell, a flickering light show that drew the horde’s attention.

  Joe watched in awe as Gaia, fingers weaving through the air, manipulated threads only she could see. The strain on her face was obvious, but she powered through, too proud to ask for help.

  It gave Brian the time he needed.

  His gray clothes and translucent skin shifted. His hoodie, cargo pants, and boots turned red. His pale skin regained color, no longer ghostly.

  Oblivious to the chaos around him, Brian threw his arms around Dawn in a massive hug.

  "Save it, big guy," Gaia said, her voice hoarse. "My distraction spell won’t last long, and the cooldown’s 30 minutes."

  Joe’s eyes went wide as more hollows clawed their way out of the mist, charging toward Gaia’s illusion. The illusion wasn’t much—simply flickers of light mimicking huddled figures—but it worked. Hollows weren’t smart; they were hungry. And the rage was building as they realized the figures weren’t real. They let out blood-curdling shrieks, spinning in place like broken wind-up toys, their red eyes scanning for fresh souls to taint with Touch of Madness.

  "Dawn, get the damn door open! Drag Brian if you have to!" Joe shouted, heart hammering. Dawn linked arms with Brian, but then he jerked away.

  Joe whipped around. "What the hell, man?" His gaze followed Brian’s line of sight in time to see a hollow launching itself at Gaia.

  Gaia, running on fumes, tried to summon a barrier, but all she got was a spark and a grimace before she doubled over.

  “Behind you,” Joe yelled but before the hollow could tear into her, Brian roared—actually roared like a beast—and slammed into the hollow with a spinning uppercut that would make a Street Fighter proud.

  But the hollow wasn’t done. It pounced back, catlike, sinking claws into Brian’s shoulders. Brian staggered, teeth gritted, but he didn’t go down. The big guy grabbed the thing like he was tearing off a ragged cloak, snapping its fingers with a sickening crunch and flinging it to the ground. It tumbled into the dirt, rolling to a stop.

  Joe’s breath caught. For a split second, a dark aura clung to Brian, like a Touch of Madness debuff was taking hold.

  Oh no, no, no…

  But the aura flickered out.

  Joe gasped.

  Brian was still in control.

  “Run!” Brian shouted, locking eyes with Gaia.

  Gaia hesitated, conflict written all over her face, but Brian didn’t give her time to argue. He rushed her towards the entrance and shoved her across the threshold. Exhausted, she staggered through, eyes wide.

  Dawn gave chase grabbing the door to hold it open. “Hurry up you two.”

  Joe rushed in after Dawn, expecting Brian to follow.

  “Hold the door,” Dawn said with no awareness of the grim reference. Joe held it open as Dawn dashed to and crouched beside Gaia, checking on her. Joe pressed the weight of his body against the door, holding it wide open while beckoning Brian. "Move it!"

  Brian, gritting his teeth, tore across the floor, every heavy step echoing in Joe’s ears.

  A hollow launched herself at Brian, wolf-quick, too graceful for something so broken. With a punishing stomp, Brian drove a kick into her chest, putting his full weight behind it. The hollow flew back, crashing into the dirt, but it was already scrambling to its feet.

  Brian barely had a second to react before another hollow—this one, a ratfolk with hollowed-out eyes—darted toward him. The ratfolk was fast, arms outstretched, ready to latch onto him with its sharp claws.

  With a growl, Brian threw a sharp elbow, catching the ratfolk in the face. His hoodie’s defensive weave shimmered as the hollow’s claws raked across his chest, but the fabric held. Just barely. He stumbled back, widening the gap between them, eyes scanning the horde for any opening.

  The first hollow was already back on her feet, her arms snaking out to grab him. Brian kicked her again, right in the stomach, using his reach to keep her at bay. But she was relentless, recovering faster than any mortal should. She slashed at him, claws aiming for his throat. He ducked, blocked with a raised forearm, and drove his fist into her ribs, but she barely flinched.

  Brian's chest rose and fell rapidly, but he didn’t let up. Another hollow lunged at him from the side, a woman with half her face missing, and Brian pivoted, driving a vicious kick into her ribs that sent her sprawling. Still, they kept coming. No matter how hard he hit them, they recovered with inhuman speed, like they didn’t feel pain or fatigue.

  The mist was thick with more hollows, too many to count. “Brian!” Joe shouted. “Get in here now!”

  The hollows were right on Brian’s heels, their breathless moans growing louder as their arms stretched out, fingers clawing for a piece of him. Joe’s pulse spiked, watching the gap between them shrink.

  Brian launched himself forward, crossing the threshold in a heartbeat. As soon as he cleared the doorway, he spun and unleashed a savage back kick, sending one of the hollows flying. The thing hit the ground hard, but the others charged ahead, slamming into the door just as Joe swung it shut.

  The door rattled, Joe’s back pressed hard against it, every slam from the hollows sending a jolt through his bones. He locked eyes with Brian, the rush of adrenaline making his own hands shake. "Holy shit... We almost didn’t make it," he muttered, heart still hammering.

  Brian was panting, his chest rising and falling, eyes wide with shock. "I don’t get it," he said, voice ragged as he stared at his hands like they didn’t belong to him. "I should’ve been hit—felt that madness coming for me… but nothing." His hands trembled as he shook his head in disbelief. "Why didn’t it get me?"

  Dawn returned after settling Gaia with a mana pellet, then wrapped her arms tightly around Brian. Her eyes were squeezed shut, like she was holding back a sob that, if released, wouldn't stop. Joe knew that look well. In all the time he’d known Dawn, he’d seen how deeply she buried her trauma. He recognized the fear in her now—the fear of losing Brian, even though he stood right there with them, restored. It was a feeling Joe understood too well.

  Brian returned the hug, offering Dawn a squeeze of comfort before she pulled back, sucking in a sharp breath.

  "Easy, big guy," she said, trying to lighten the mood. "Who knew an alchemist could kick hollow ass like that? That spinning uppercut was something else. Never figured you got to practice fighting much as a mining dwarf."

  Brian chuckled, but it was faint. "Full of surprises, aren’t I?" He pulled out his vape pen, gave it a quick kiss, but then suddenly, his face drained of color. His legs wobbled, and he slumped against the doorframe.

  Joe darted forward, catching him before he crumpled. "Hey, stay with us!"

  "Mana sickness," Gaia’s voice came from behind, as she stood, a little shaky herself. Her bracelet lit up like a flare, glowing so brightly that Joe had to shield his eyes. She whispered something—a spell, an enchantment—but even with Quick Wit activated, Joe couldn’t catch the words.

  The air around Brian shimmered, like a mirage, soft hues of rainbow light dancing around him.

  Brian blinked, meeting Gaia’s eyes, and whispered, "Thank you."

  Gaia waved it off, exhaustion etched in her face. "Thank me if it lasts long enough to get you to the fourth floor."

  Dawn scowled. "Don’t you know how long this... quantum weave thing is supposed to last?"

  Gaia shrugged, her casual tone doing little to hide her fatigue. "First time trying it. Plus, I’m running on fumes. That pellet barely helped."

  "So he’s a guinea pig?" Dawn’s voice had an edge.

  Gaia shot back with a scoff. "Better an alive guinea pig than a dead human. And don’t compare me to your world’s scumbags who experimented on vulnerable people."

  Dawn went quiet, and the tension in the air thickened.

  "Enough debating. Let’s get Brian to the fourth floor now," Joe said, fighting off a world worth of weariness creeping in.

  Brian, still leaning on Joe, managed a tired grin. "If I never see this floor again, it’ll be too soon." He straightened himself, following Joe towards the elevator.

  As soon as the doors slid open, Gaia slipped in first, her fingers hovering over the button for the first floor.

  Joe's brow furrowed. "What are you doing?"

  Gaia jerked her hand back like a kid caught sneaking a cookie. "Nothing," she muttered, pulling her hand away as if the button had burned her.

  Joe wasn’t buying it, but he let it slide—for now. Something was off with her, but this wasn’t the time to push. He filed it away, a nagging suspicion gnawing at the back of his mind.

  As the doors closed and the elevator hummed into motion, Joe leaned back against the wall, his eyes darting between Gaia and Brian. The big guy looked pale, shaken—and hell, Joe couldn’t blame him. Brian shaking off the Touch of Madness like it was nothing? That meant something.

  Joe just wasn’t sure what.