Boom centred himself amongst the crowd, pumping his chest. He brandished an axe at the antagonised.

“Drop your loot, or face the conscience.”

“...consequences…” Buum mumbled.

Clark burst into laughter, slapping his knees and coughing.

“I truly.” Clark let out a laugh. “I truly cannot believe how much of a moron you are.” he laughed some more, finger in the air to ask for a second. “Oh my god. Open Camera. Start Recording.”

“Oh, you don’t need to record. We doing it right now!” Boom held his arms to the side. “And it’s gonna be posted everywhere.”

“Brought your lil’ friends too huh? Seems overboard for a “couple losers.” Jejj scoffed.

“He even made sure no else is watching!” Clark pointed at Boom while looking at Jejj. “Poor guy doesn’t wanna be embarrassed.” he pouted.

“I won’t be falling for your shit anymore!” Boom slashed his axe against the air. “Cause what’s gonna happen next will be all the cataracts I need.”

“...catharsis I need…” Buum mumbled.

“I wonder what he’d drop if he dies.” Skada wondered, grinning.

“I wonder too. Jejj has been using his gloves after all.” Zein chimed. Jejj flashed their gloves at Skada and its previous owner. Shades of red began to set into Boom's face.

“Enough! Biim, Buum get your asses over here.” Boom demanded.

“Boys. I wouldn’t wanna kill ya.” Clark said with a smile.

“Buum, sweetie, make the right choice.” Skada said, doe-eyed.

“Uhh… Umm.” Buum's eyes darted, meeting Boom's eyes, meeting his fellow guildmate's eyes, meeting his party's eyes. Mouth quivering, a saviour descended.

“I’m gonna just, stay out of this.” Biim stepped back.

“What!” Boom yelled.

Zein's lips curled ever so slightly at the announcement. Clark howled some more. “Hey, the smart one is staying out of it. What about the little follower?”

“Uhm.” Buum looked to Biim for reassurance. Biim held his back. “I’m… okay.” Buum shook his head, eyes on the floor.

“What!” Boom yelled.

“Good boy!” Skada cheered.

“What the hell is wrong with you guys!?” Boom cried, emotions swelling. “Are you two betraying the guild!?”

“No dumbass, this is just the stupidest thing you could do!” Biim screamed, anger and confusion seeping through. “Why the hell are you guys agreeing with this!?”

One of the Kidds, an elf, clad in iron armour with chainmail across his body spoke up. His hair covered his ears and shaped his face.

“Cyanide will be paying for this.”

“Cyanide is paying. Cyanide.” Biim repeated his guild leader’s name appalled. He refocused his attention on Boom who squirmed at his boss's mention.

Biim's eyes narrowed, greying. “Boom.”

“Shut it! If you’re gonna be sitting on your asses, leave!” Boom swiped at the air so hard he lost balance.

Biim clenched Buum's wrist and dragged him to the border. Biim crossed his arms in annoyance.

“With those bastards out of the way. Drop your shit.” Boom ordered.

“Lotta confidence big guy. ” Clark heaved his greatsword and rested it on his shoulder. “Let’s just get started, big guy.”

“Last chance.” Boom offered.

A bullet whizzed by Boom's face and the Kidds behind, striking a tree. “You’re talking too much, boy.” Skada said, smoke emerging from her gun.

The veins across Boom’s head swelled. “Fine! Get ‘em.”

“Zeizei. How about we bet? Most kills win.” Clark smirked.

“The man who’s up 150 levels on me wants to bet on most kills?” Zein replied, readjusting the grip on his spear.

Clark swung his broadsword; it clattered against the kidds at the front, sending them to the ground. “I won’t leave the restriction area.”

The row behind had no remorse for those kissing the ground, charging through them. Health bars began to drop.

“I’d rather you would though. Parry.” Zein parried the first strike and crushed the Kidd's face with his knee. “30 feels like a bit too much, even if it’s us.” He vaulted over the man and stabbed another with his spear, flinging him to the ground.

“Fine! If things get difficult, I'll drag them out. Slash.” Clark followed up Zein striking the hunched over Kidd's neck. Blood seeped out his neck as he smashed the floor.

Whipping his head to the left- a sword inches from his face. Clark steeled himself to take the hit while balling his fist to counterattack.

BANG.

Skada nailed the kidd in the head, staggering him. Clark, without a moment's hesitation, slashed at the Kidd's body and punched his jaw.

“Good save good save!”

“Anytime!” Skada reloaded her guns. “I’ll be moving out of the restricted zone. I got a little surprise.” she winked.

“Is that right?” Zein came into the frame- his spear pierced through someone's head. He smashed the Kidd skull first into the ground like a hammer.

“Yes! I'll be nice however and take four with me.”

BANG BANG BANG BANG. Skada nailed 4 kidds, dragging their attention while moving towards the forest.

“Yeah yeah shoo shoo.” Clark dodged a punch and swung his sword at the Kidd's shins, tripping them.

“Sooo are we going to do this or what?” He raised his sword and slammed it down through their body.

“Hmmm…” Zein grabbed another Kidd's hand and flipped her over his body, twisting her hand and stabbing right through their head.

“Come onnn. Double or nothing.” Clark took a golf swing at the Kidd's neck as the spear still stood standing.

“... Fine. Let’s do this.” Zein retrieved his spear from the Kidd and his axe from his inventory. While stuck between a body and an inventory, Boom launched his offensive.

“You’re mine, bitch!”

Shaped like claws, Boom's hand were aimed at Zein's throat. His axe lagged behind

“Eeeh wrong answer forehead.” Jejj drop-kicked Boom in the ribs as they made their entrance.

Jejj raised to their full height and looked down on the veteran pair. “Think I can join this bet?”

“Hah! Sure! If you can keep up. Slash!” Clark swung his sword at the Kidd’s shins, catching them off guard and tripping them. They piled on their employer, crushing the bald man.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“That would be fun! But we do need someone guarding Torell and Wu. Parry.” Zein pointed at the defenceless mage and monkey with the butt of his spear as he deflected a Kidd's attack with the front end. Clark kicked the failed attacker in the throat, sending him flying.

“Dash!”

Two kidds flew past the three of them, beelining for Torell and Wu. Swords and fists at the ready.

“See? Slash.” Zein swiped at a Kidd's eyes, blinding them for the next 5 seconds. The Kidd stumbled into another, making them both fall.

“Fine! Dash.”

Jejj dashed to the two kidds, chasing behind them while extracting their club from their inventory.

Torell's eyes began to blur, breathing quickening. He looked to Biim, meeting his grey eyes. They were slumped and hid emotion. Time came to a halt. Biim gestured ever so slightly with his hands and mouthed a word. A smile grew on his face.

Torell was thrust back to reality. “Fireball!”

“Oogie!”

With a generous buff from Wu, Torell shot at one of the kidds, burning and staggering him. Jejj smashed their club into the Kidd's head, knocking them out.

SWISH.

The second kidd missed. Torell aimed his staff at the Kidd's head. “M-magic Missile.” he casted with an eye closed.

A bright red crit. The Kidd stumbled into Jejj's path. Fortune did not favour him. BLAM. A piece of leather and no kidd.

“Nice job guys!” Zein threw a Kidd onto the fallen. A mountain in the making. “Torell, keep hurling those fireballs and missiles! Don't worry about us!”

“What! No! Worry about us!” Clark lifted a Kidd by the collar of their chest piece and added him to their mountain.

Jejj placed their hand on the orc. They both watched the veterans stab and slash at the pile of kidds, adding any who dared to attack.

“I’ll cover. Go wild.” Jejj patted Torell.

Taking a deep breath. “O-okay. Fireball.” Torell casted, eyes wide open, hurling a fireball at the pile, dispersing Zein and Clark while setting the kidds aflame. Health bars blinked red and they smelt it, jumping into the fiery pit. One after the other kidds fell. One for Zein. One for Clark. One for Zein. One for Clark. One for Zein. One for Clark. Only Boom and his dead teammates' materials remained. Eyes wide and pupils dilating, Boom dug his fingers into the ground- was this how he met his demise?

BOOM.

An explosion in the distance.

.

.

.

.

.

“Didja hear that?” Skada’s voice fluttered through their party chat.

“Yeah! Are you okay?” Zein and Clark stepped away from the scene with concern and confusion. Boom, thanking the lord, sprinted on all fours during the distraction.

“Yes! There will be two more of those coming your way!”

“You’re gonna shoot rockets at us!? Excuse me!?”

“Aw come on cutie, I know you can dodge ‘em! Ain’t you a guild leader?”

“I’m level 23!”

The kidds, unburdened by the possibility of being a part of the rat king, charged once more, now substantially fewer in number. They switched targets from the monsters in front- to the protected behind.

“Oh no no no no you don't.”

Clark slashed at four, holding them back. Zein let them go, choosing to chase after them from behind. Kidds kept looking behind while Zein poked and prodded at their backs with his spear, whittling their health.

Torell, Wu and Jejj ran, attempting to keep a fixed distance from the kidds. Torell, however, did not have the foresight to invest in dexterity.

“A-ah! I’m not fast!”

“Oogie!”

A Monkey’s Blessing was applied. A Monkey’s Blessing wasn’t enough. Torell shot missiles and fireballs to delay the kidds by exploding the ground or the Kidd. And yet there was always another.

“Agh! That’s it!”

Jejj slid to a stop, raising their club to swing at the incoming wave of kidds.

BOOM.

A rocket struck the middle of the group. Screams were screamed and swears were hurled as the kidds dissipated with low health and broken armour.

“Wu! Buff! Slash. Stab.” Zein commanded.

“Oogie!” Wu saluted.

Zein emerged from the flames and scanned his surroundings, hunting the critically injured. He slashed one, stabbed another, flung his axe at the third's head, criting her, and punched the fourth in the gut. Four kills for Zein.

“Oooh not bad, Zeizei!” Clark held up a kidd by the head surrounded by gems and a sword. He slammed the man against the ground. “I’m done here too.”

He stabbed the Kidd's neck, freeing him from his mortal coil for 5 minutes. A once commendable 30 was now down to a pitiful 11.

“Shit. Fall back! Regroup!” The level 19 Kidd pleaded with his comrades, waving his axe. There was no response. A realisation set in. Boom had lost control. He watched his guildmates run to their demise.

BOOM.

Another rocket crashed into a bundle of 5 stationed in front of Jejj, setting them alight while scraps of metal scattered. Blocking the stray pieces. Jejj stepped in and swung with all their might.

“Smash!”

Jejj's club clattered against two of the kidds, bringing them to their knees. With a second swing, Jejj claimed two lives.

Zein and Clark crashed their party, stabbing, slashing, and taking a life each. They swiped at the last adventurer as he raised his sword to parry. A debate erupted.

“Zeizei that was my kill!”

“What are you talking about!? I was the last hit!”

“No no no I was!”

“Jejj! Who hit him last!?”

“Uh, don’t know, but I do see a health potion by Kal’s leg.”

They both looked down, a little red bottle rolled by Clark's leg. Clark leapt into the air.

“Hah! I told ya!”

“Dash!”

“Wait, what?”

Zein chased after the remaining 4 kidds. Kidds attempting to flee. He aimed his spear at the first, piercing his knee. He aimed his axe, lodging it on her shoulder. As they fell to the ground, Zein pounced, landing on the spear-pierced kidd. He reached out and grabbed his axe's handle and pulled the other closer while they struggled.

“Slash!”

Zein reached for his sword inside his inventory and slashed at their throats. Just as he went for his second strike-

“Coming through, Zeizei!”

Clark stepped on Zein's back and launched himself forward, running after the remaining two kidds.

“No! Shit!”

In one stroke, Zein slashed both their necks, reducing them to blue pixels. He threw his sword aside and grabbed his bow and quiver. Zein loaded the weapon.

“Mark!”

Zein aimed his bow and let fly. Whether luck or instinct, the Kidd moved his head, letting it whizz by. Clark raised his sword.

“Konichiwa baby! Dash! Slash!”

In one swing, Clark brought his sword down on the kidds, slashing their backs. Momentum carried the guild leader, leading him to face Zein. He struck a pose while the kidds turned to items.

“Zeizei! Guess who won.” Clark danced.

“Oh no you didn’t.”

Zein's eyes fell upon a lone Boom. A man surrounded by the items of his guildmates and the judgment of his enemies.

Zein'e eyes fell upon a lone rabbit. Prey to let him keep his bet alive.

“Das-”

“He mine.” Jejj walked towards Boom with conviction. Zein, allowing the gears in his head to spin, cooled himself and stepped aside.

“Let’s do this dickhead. No weapons.” Jejj tossed their weapon.

“Shut it bitch. You don’t know who you’re messing with.” Boom enraged.

“I've been taking a lot of yo' shit. But I'm kind. To keep it fair, I ain't gonna use no skills either. Imma beat your ass and cover your gloves in your blood.” Jejj picked up their pace.

“AGH! Fine!” Boom dropped his axe. “Dash!”

Boom dashed towards Jejj. Jejj turned their walk into a run. They met at the centre.

“Strike!” Boom flung his arm at Jejj. The elf dropped their head and shifted to the left, throwing a right hook at the man's abdomen.

Boom staggered. Jejj kept light on their feet, hands raised to their chest. Boom took the initiative once more, aiming for the elf's jaw. Jejj clutched his wrist, stepped in, and slammed the back of their hand into his jaw.

Jejj took the initiative, stepping in and punching Boom in the liver with their left, followed by an uppercut which was barely blocked by Boom.

“Not bad.”

“Shut it! Smash!”

“Keep up.”

Boom attempted to counter with an uppercut of his own. Jejj side-stepped the strike and swept the man off his feet. Once on the ground, Jejj locked the man with their tighs as they sat atop him.

Nothing could stop what happened next. Punch after punch after punch after punch after punch after punch after punch after punch after punch after punch after punch after punch after punch after punch after punch after punch. The black gloves stained red.

Health at its lowest, Jejj came to a stop, huffing as their stamina bar couldn't keep up with them. Boom, soundless, stared with venom. Jejj raised their fist.

“Sayonara, bitch.”

Jejj put all their weight into their punch, crushing Boom's face as he turned to a gold coin.

The rest of them, including Skada who observed the backend of Jejj's onslaught once they left the comfort of the forest, rushed to help Jejj.

Skada lifted the tired elf and let them rest on her shoulder while the rest collected their winnings.

Ding. Biim has left the party.

Ding. Buum has left the party.

“Aw, they left.” Skada said saddened.

“Glad.” Jejj said tired.

“U-um, I am happy Biim and Buum didn’t take part.” Torell said contented.

Zein stored his weapons, freeing his hands to scavenge the rest of their winnings. “Yeah. If they did, Mr. guild leader extraordinaire would have had to leave the restricted area.”

“Truly. Truly.” Clark examined a sword made of iron; its hilt comprised of mole leather and a vulture talon. He tossed it to Zein. “With that being said, we gotta scram. Skadoodle. Ska yabba dabba doo. Ska-”

Zein caught it with one hand. “Where do we scram to, Kal.”

“Why Babel of course.”