The door swung with violence. Back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth. The door found peace. Boom picked himself up in a hurry. Buum turned over, facing the ceiling.

"Brother! Why should we collaborate with those losers!" Boom gestured at the door.

"Boom. How much do we pay you?" Cyanide asked.

"Uh… 1 gold coin?"

"That's right. So don't ask questions. Are we clear?"

"But-"

"Boom." Cyanide's eyes narrowed,

Biim, witnessing the exchange, decided to step in. "Cy… I do believe we deserve some explanation. We're the ones taking part in this plan after all. We aren't getting the Great Blue Vulture's eye either." he argued.

Cyanide took a deep breath. Contemplating. " Kalel is a prideful man. A man who values his people. Having the people who griefed his friends do a dungeon raid with his people would eat him alive."

Tap. Tap. Tap.

"It also strengthens our position in Aria." he coughed. "Since we're running it with BLG."

"So we're just there to mess with him?" Biim cocked his head. "Do we just throw?"

"You're free to do whatever you want."

"Whatever we want, huh." Boom stroked his chin.

"Whatever we want!" Buum chirped from the carpet.

"Did you get the answers you seek?"

"Yes. Thank you for taking the time to-"

CRUSH.

"This will be the last time I do." Cyanide said, monotonous. "Get out."

Their pupils shrink, minds taken over. With a bow, the three of them scuttled out of the room.

***

"Tell me." Clark shook Boom with violence, nails digging into his armour. Boom mouthed words unintelligible to anyone but Clark. With a deep sigh, Clark dragged Boom to the edge of the cliff.

"Kal. Calm down."

Clark turned, slow and mechanical. His eyes fell upon a kneeled over Zein, staff and spear supporting him. Back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth. Clark found peace. He tossed Boom aside, leering at Biim.

"Thank you, Clark."

"What happened to using only our in-game names?" a smile crept on Clark's face.

"You can chew me out later." Zein smiled. "Could we all talk for a second?" Jejj helped Zein to his feet, putting an arm around his shoulder.

"Yeah. Okay." Biim replied, sweat beading, Buum nodded meekly. One by one they started to gather. Boom, however, chose to sit out as Clark made his way.

"Do you mind keeping any moles in check, Kal?" Zein asked as he sat down. The rest followed suit.

Clark stopped in his tracks, returning to a natural pose. "I'll keep the ol' eyes peeled don'tcha worry."

With an imperfect circle formed, a guard to protect and a nomad on the outskirts. Conversations began.

"To begin with," Zein clapped. "I don't believe you three are throwing, your actions prove otherwise. So, set the record straight. Why did you rush in without us?"

"We just thought it'd be good to get a headstart." Biim answered.

"Yeah! We wanted to get a headstart!" Buum chirped from the soil. "Boom didn't want to wait any longer either!" he added.

"Buum." Biim pinched him. "I apologise for Boom. But we don't intend on throwing."

"Ain't believe that for a sec." Jejj retorted.

"Even though Buum seems sweet, there's no reason to trust you guys since you know." Skada pointed at their player tags. "Sorry."

"I'm sweet." Buum giggled.

"How did you end up with so many moles surrounding you then?" Zein rested his head on his elbow. Wu, sat in Zein's lap, played with his dangling necklace.

"We just weren't good enough. We overestimated ourselves." Biim said plainly.

"Seen that before." Jejj scoffed.

"Oooh, I wanna hear that story!" Skada chimed. "Won't you tell me pretty lil' elf?" She leaned towards Jejj.

"Maybe… If there's time…" Jejj refused to make eye contact, red filling their face.

"We tried our best though!" Buum claimed. "But I don't we don't have many potions left." he fell silent.

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

"I'll talk to Kal about sharing some of our health and mana potions." Zein ensured.

"U-um are you sure?" Torell asked, nervous.

"Yeah, it's alright. We're doing this together after all." Zein looked at Biim.

"Thank you." Biim bowed slightly.

"Of course." Zein returned the gesture. "With that being said, shall we discuss who should be raid leader then? It'd be beneficial if we had someone calling the shots."

"I'm voting for you then!" Clark towered over Zein, 3 Mole claws placed between each finger and Mole leather hanging off his head like bangs.

"Me!?" Zein exclaimed.

"You been leading from the start, why you surprised?" Jejj pointed out.

"I agree!" Skada said with enthusiasm.

"Yes… I'd like you to be leader too." Torell peeked at Zein.

"Uh- well- I'm sorry about that." Zein let out an awkward laugh.

"We ain't arguin'. Just makes sense to keep you in charge."

"Thank you…" A curl started to adorn his lips. "What about you guys?" he asked the Skull Kidds.

"I'm okay with it." Biim responded.

"I'm okay too!" Buum followed.

"Alright. Clark, could you share-"

"I'll hand it to 'em don't ya worry."

"Hell yeah. Shall we get going then?" Zein raised to his feet; Wu hung on to his necklace, swaying.

"Let's get this shit." Jejj cracked their neck.

Wu climbed Zein's robes as he dusted them. Clark distributed a couple of health potions to everyone, including Biim. He used his chin to point at an observing Boom, hand resting on his knee. Biim walked over and whacked the injured man on his temple, handing him a health potion and getting him on his feet.

The journey continued. Jejj covered Boom, and Zein and Clark took the rear, covering their backs. Skada, Torell, Biim, and Buum stood in the centre. Skada faced the back, and Buum faced the front. Semblances of teamwork were seen. A sight Jejj did not believe possible. Sticking close to the mountain, they made their way up.

They encountered mole after mole after mole and within minutes there'd be gems, claws, and leather. The minutes ticked down to a minute. The minute ticked down to seconds. Nothing could stop their climb.

A second open field, a jagged oval. The party trod lightly, anxiety in each step. Their senses rang. Uncontrollable.

Their senses proved right. With a rumble, the ground below Torell started to crack, spreading like a parasite.

"Spread out. Now!" Zein yelled. "Wu stay by the entrance. Buff whoever you can!"

Wu, understanding the severity of the situation, "Oogie." he hopped away.

Torell, stumbling over his robes, barely avoided a hail of rocks exploding from where he once stood. Amongst the rocks, claws the size of Zein emerged. It used the ground to push

the rest of its body as the party surrounded the towering, purple figure. Desman Mole, level 23.

"Jejj, Clark, Boom- to the front. Buum flank. Torell and Biim stay back." Zein commanded.

Jejj and Clark jumped to action, Boom joined with displeasure. Torell's head darted as he gripped his staff, breaths quickening.

"Just shoot it." Biim said with calm.

"O-okay."

Torell and Biim sent a barrage of magic missiles at the mole while Jejj, Clark and Boom took to damaging its legs. They slashed, struck, and dodged anytime it reached down to stab. A simple job for the weaponless as Clark drew its attention.

Zein stored his staff and returned with his bow and quiver. "Skada-"

Just as he spoke, Skada, positioned by the mages, shot the mole in the eye, making it flinch backwards- swiping at the air.

"Yeas?" Skada dragged her word.

"You're doing great." Zein smiled.

Zein dropped his spear, slung his quiver, and drew his bow, taking aim. Thwip. The arrow flew, stinging the mole in its eye.

"Oooh, not bad cutie."

"I can shoot too!"

"I can see that." Skada chuckled.

The Desman jammed its claws into the ground, bearing the flurry of attacks, and flung rocks at the backline. Torell and Biim dashed back into each other, rocks clipping the both of them. Zein and Skada side-stepped, saving their mana and health. Buum, standing behind, clanked his blades. "An opportunity has arrived!"

Buum closed the distance, hiding amongst the rocks. He leapt at the mole, scrambling up and standing on its shoulders.

"Slash!" Buum began his assault, slicing with incredible speed. "Take that! And that! And this! Hyahhh."

This became routine as they punched, slashed, stabbed, and shot at the mole with Torell and Biim alternating between healing the frontline and sending missiles the mole's way. At 50%, the Desman tossed Buum into the air and burrowed into the ground.

Shaking preceded by silence. Clark caught the falling Buum like a princess and set him down beside him. They shifted in place not knowing where it'll pop out from.

Crack.

CRACK.

Zein looked down, eyes widening. "Dash!" He zipped forward as the mole shot out. Zein escaped. His robes didn't. The mole's claws pierced right through, taking Zein with it.

"Zeizei!"

"Shit."

"Oogie!"

Jejj and Clark charged the mole as it dropped. Wu attempted to join but was pulled back by Biim. "You don't want to go there lil' monkey."

Wu, hesitant, obeyed. Jejj climbed on Clark's back with understanding and launched themself at the mole. Zein, watching this, dropped his bow and grabbed his axe, flinging it at Jejj.

"Catch!"

Jejj caught a hold of the axe and slammed it into the mole. Wu buffed the elf who used the axe as a ledge, shooting themself at the Zein. They kicked the mole in the snout and grabbed the flailing man by the waist, ripping his robes.

"Ooh my hero!" Zein kept a hand around their shoulder.

"Learnt from the best." Jejj retrieved the axe on the way down.

"Oogie! Oogie!" Wu high-fived Biim while Skada covered the duo as they landed and fled. Buum, blending amongst the chaos, used this opportunity to return to the mole's shoulders. Routine returned with an amendment to it. Jejj equipped the axe and Zein switched to his spear and staff, joining the frontline. "I'll assist you two with healing!"

Torell and Biim, acknowledging, began to mix in fireballs and fire arrows.

40%, 30%, 20%, 10%. The mole became more erratic with each decrease. Boom and Torell kept getting bailed out anytime the mole targeted them as Buum stuck to Clark like glue anytime it happened. Blow after blow was landed on the exposed mole anytime it missed due to being locked into its exiting animation.

In its final attempt, the mole leapt at Skada. Jejj dashed towards her and dove, bringing her to the ground as the mole soared above them.

"You really are a hero!" Skada wrapped her arms around their neck.

"Yeah…I-maybe…" Jejj stuttered, not knowing where to look.

Biim shot a fire arrow at the mole through the eye as it drove by, making it collapse. 8 yellow gems, 8 pieces of mole leather,8 Desman Mole claws, and A Desman Mole eye. Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding. Apart from Clark and Skada, levels went up. Zein and Jejj levelled by 2. The Skull Kidds and Torell levelled once. Wu levelled by 3.

"Oogie!" Wu bolted towards Zein, hugging his shin.

"That's right Wu, we did it!" he bent over and ruffled the monkey's hair.

"Hug me too, Zeizei!" Clark jumped on Zein.

"Me three!" Skada joined the fray. Jejj, panting on the floor, found the energy to join the group hug. Torell fiddled with his fingers as The Skull Kidds celebrated amongst themselves.

"Alright, enough!" Zein laughed. "We need to get going."

"Boo don't ruin the moment." Clark shut the idea down.

"Jejj, scoot in! Don't let him out!" Skada grabbed them by the waist, dragging them closer.

"Oo-okay" Jejj flushed.

"Oh my god, it's one boss you losers." Boom cried.

"Just when I was enjoying the moment." Clark sighed.

"Uhm I collected all the items… Do I distribute it?" Torell interrupted.

"We can discuss it at Rock Village." Zein wrestled free of the hug. "For now, would you mind keeping it with you?"

"A-are you sure?"

"We trust ya big guy!" Clark said. "Don't lose any of them!"

"O-okay. Got it." Torell glanced at Biim.

"We're fine with it. Let's just get going."

The party recuperated and began their hike. Halfway through, Biim walked up to Zein, pulling him aside.

"Once we reach the village, could we talk?"