The others were already waiting by the portal, their equipment and weapons glowing with power. They all looked up at me expectantly as I approached. "I got Aurora," I muttered, feeling more embarrassed than I ever had before. "Let's get on with it."

"Did... something happen?" Gigi raised an eyebrow, glancing between my beet-red face and my beaming sister.

"No, nothing," I lied, trying to sound convincing. "So, Aurora, you're ready to help us out?"

"Of course I am," she grinned, stepping closer to the portal. "I've always been good at taking care of my little brother."

I couldn't stop another scowl from spreading across my face as I tried to focus on the task at hand. "Right, so, we're all here. Here's the plan..." I began, reluctantly outlining what we were going to do.

"The boss has an ability that halves our stats. It'll trigger once we get the boss to half health, but we have a shot of killing it in one go if we're lucky," I explained. "The only problem is, the boss will immediately flood the throne room as soon as we enter, making it hard to move around. It'll also summon a bunch of fodder mobs to distract us, so we'll have a slim chance of getting the jump on it."

"Question," Phoebe raised her hand. "How do you know this?"

"My Admin gave me some hints and I pieced it together," I waved a hand as I answered evasively. "That's not important right now. What's important is that we try to come up with a formation we can use to jump the boss for a quick kill. We also need to come up with a back-up plan should we fail."

"Me and Lu will take the front. Gigi and Celine will handle support and control. Phoebe, you'll act as coordination, adapting to the situation as best as you can," Aurora interjected, simultaneously saving me from explaining further as well as taking charge. "We'll go with trying to burst down the boss in one strike, but if that fails, we'll settle for a prolonged fight. Best if we wait for more Players, right?"

[System alert: Player Aurora Vaunt has invited you to a party.]

[Party Leader: Aurora Vaunt | Level: 2700]

[Gigi Mai | Level: 2204]

[Phoebe Chae | Level: 1657]

[Celine Saffron | Level: 1478]

[Luquier Vaunt | Level: 1148]

I couldn't help but glare at her. Aurora had always been better at this kind of thing. "Right. So, we'll go in first and clear a path to the castle. Everyone ready?"

"Yes!" Gigi said, excitement glinting in her eyes. "I can't wait to see the Vaunt siblings in action together!"

I rolled my eyes as my sister grinned. "Of course, Gigi," I muttered, walking up to the portal. The others followed suit, and in a flash, we were on the 30th floor, met with a warzone. Players were busy trying to fight back against the waves of various mutated aquatic life, struggling to gain any ground.

I saw that some of the mobs were from the earlier floors, albeit much stronger now. Well, not so in comparison to myself, but I felt bad that they were proving to be difficult for the rest of the Players.

"Try and keep up, little bro," Aurora grinned, pulling out her giant broadsword and running ahead before I could even say anything. I sighed, rolling my eyes, and followed after her. My sister had always been the impulsive one, always charging headfirst into danger without a second thought. I preferred to take a more strategic approach, but I supposed that wasn't going to change now.

Equipping the Soultaker, I joined my sister in the battle, hacking and slashing through the sea monsters with ease. To her credit, Aurora was also one-shotting the monsters as well. I had to admit, she was quite the powerhouse with that sword of hers. I glanced back to see how the others were doing and was relieved to see that they were all holding their own, taking down stray mobs that Aurora and I were too far to catch.

As we quickly decimated the mobs and sped towards the castle, I couldn't help but notice that my sister was growing stronger with every kill she made. Instead of getting winded, it seemed like she was becoming faster and stronger, her broadsword nearly matching the pace of my swings.

I guess I wasn't very good at hiding my awe, as my sister caught me staring and grinned, bringing up a green screen next to her.

[Avarice (S)]

[Acquired by obtaining 100 Skills, 100 Weapons, 100 Items, taking & healing 1000000 damage, winning 100 PvP matches, obtaining 100 Achievements, & sacrificing 100 times.]

[Effect: Passively allows the user to embody the Sin of Greed, absorbing damage & stats. Damage absorbed based on user’s max Health & stats absorbed from same target up to 25%. Allows user to sacrifice Skills, Items, & Achievements to bolster existing ones. Permanent.]

Oh. So Aurora wasn't all talk. Her Title alone was more than enough to match me with that 25% stat steal. Besides that, it was ridiculous to know that she acquired over a hundred various aspects, living up to her Title name. What the hell had my sister been doing?

"Well,... she's absolutely perfect..." the Soultaker trembled in my hands. "I can't believe she's related to you."

"Keep it in your pants," I scowled with annoyance. "You're stuck with me, remember?"

"Unfortunately."

As we neared the castle gates, the remaining monsters seemed to retreat, sensing the threat of our combined power. Aurora turned to me, a mischievous glint in her eye. "So, little bro," she drawled, "what do you say we have a friendly little competition while we wait for everyone else?"

I arched an eyebrow. "Oh? And what sort of competition did you have in mind?"

Aurora grinned, her fingers dancing along the handle of her broadsword. "How about we see who can clear out the rest of these monsters faster?" she suggested with a wicked glint in her eye.

I tightened the grip on my Soultaker. I had always had a competitive nature with my sister, but this time, the stakes were higher than ever. If I lost, it wouldn't just be losing to her; it would mean admitting that she was better than me in every way. No, I couldn't let that happen.

"At least you guys aren't going for each other's throats," Gigi dryly called out as Celine and Phoebe began to keep the other monsters at bay. "Let us know when you need backup!"

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"Fine by me," I muttered to Aurora. "You're on."

As we charged into the fray, my sister and I moved in perfect unison, a dance of death that seemed almost choreographed. Every time she dispatched a monster, she would grow stronger, her aura of greed shining brighter. It was both terrifying and awe-inspiring to watch.

"Lu, let's add more stakes," Aurora grinned mischievously. "What do you want if you win?"

I scowled. "Nothing. I don't want anything from you."

Aurora pouted, but then brightened. "In that case, if I win, you have to address me only by Awra."

I faltered for a moment, briefly taken aback. It was embarrassing enough that it was the name I used because I couldn't pronounce my sister's full name when I was a kid, but admitting that in front of everyone? That would be worse. But then again, I couldn't let her win this easily. "Fine," I muttered. "But if I win, you have to use my full name from now on."

Aurora's grin widened. "Deal."

The monsters began to fall faster, as if sensing the imminent end of the battle. Our attacks grew more precise, more lethal, with each passing moment. The tension between us was palpable, each of us driven by our own pride and determination.

It grew to the point that we were basically spawn-killing the monsters as they poured out of the castle, barely even needing help from the others. The other Players who had caught up to our group, sensing our rivalry, seemed to take a step back, watching us with interest and a mix of amusement and awe.

With each kill, Aurora grew stronger, her greed becoming an unstoppable force of nature. Her sword seemed to sing with malice as it cleaved through the aquatic hordes. I could feel my grip on my Soultaker tightening, my anger growing with each passing moment. Even with my higher Speed stat and powerful sword, I was slipping behind. She was so much better than me, and she knew it.

Finally, with a triumphant roar, Aurora dispatched the last of the monsters, automatically triggering the castle gates to open. The remaining Players, who had been watching us in awe, erupted into cheers as we stood before them, panting and covered in the blood and gore of our enemies. For a moment, I thought Aurora might gloat, but instead, she bowed her head in acknowledgement of my victory.

"You weren't half-bad, Lu," Aurora smirked. "I'm impressed."

I scowled at her, crossing my arms over my chest. "Don't patronize me."

Aurora shrugged, unperturbed. "I'm just being honest. You did pretty well for yourself."

I grunted, not quite able to meet her gaze. "Well, thanks. I guess."

"Ah? Thanks, what?" Aurora stepped closer to me.

I could feel my face burning with shame. "Thanks... Awra."

"I didn't catch that. What'd you say?"

"I said," I growled through gritted teeth, "thank you, Awra." I tried to sound as irritated as possible, but even to my own ears, it came out weak. Damn it. I never should have taken the bet.

"Awra? That's a nickname you have?" Gigi came up to us with a curious expression, flanked by Phoebe and Celine.

"Yep. Lu couldn't pronounce my name correctly as a kid, so he'd always say Awra," my sister's grin was nothing short of triumphant. "And since I won the bet, he can only address me by that name."

"Oh, really?" Gigi's eyes sparkled with interest. "I didn't know that. How cute!" She glanced at me and then back at Aurora. I was completely mortified.

"Aw, I wish I had a younger brother," Phoebe lamented wistfully. "I would've had him call me something cute too."

"Immortal, this does not change my opinion of you," Celine nodded in my direction. With her expressionless face, I couldn't tell if she was being reassuring or playful.

I peeked at my sister's stats, almost gasping from shock. She had reached nearly 60000 in Strength, Magic, and Speed, though they were quickly dwindling to their original values. Holy shit, her Title was actually broken. My win against her in the interview match was just the tip of the iceberg. If I ever challenged her for real, there was no way I could win. Right now, at least.

"You should train harder, little bro," Aurora winked at me. "Who knows? Maybe one day you'll catch up."

I scowled. It was humbling to say the least, but I knew I'd eventually surpass her. I'd just have to bear with it in the meantime.

"Whatever. Let's just get moving." I pushed past them and into the castle.

The inside was nothing like the exterior; it was a marvel of opulence and artistry. Gleaming gold and silver statues adorned every corner, intricate tapestries hung from the high ceilings, and a fountain in the center of the hall spewed sparkling water into the air, cascading down into a pool below. Beside it stood a massive, ornate door that radiated an enormous pressure.

My hand trembled, shaking the Soultaker. Despite the 50% mental stability buff, I was fighting a rising fear that threatened to overtake me. Behind me, I could sense the others also sharing the same trepidation I felt.

"You guys scared?" Aurora grinned, her usual bravado returning. "Don't be. This is what we've been training for, after all. We can do this."

Personal feelings toward my sister aside, I was actually glad that she was here. Her confidence and fearlessness were reassuring, and I found myself drawing strength from them. Together, we stepped forward and approached the massive door. Gigi, Phoebe, and Celine followed suit, and as one, we all pushed it open.

[System alert: A Boss has descended.]

The throne room was massive, easily capable of holding an entire army. At its center sat a throne of bone and ice, intricately carved with runes that seemed to glow with an icy light. The air was thick with anticipation and fear as we stared at the throne, upon which a lone cloaked figure sat.

[Name: Herald Sea Serpent God, Levius | Level: 30]

[Health: 500000 | Strength: 500000]

[Speed: 25000 | Magic: 10000]

[Description: The ultimate being in the seas, second only to the Sea Serpent God. All who have faced it have fallen before its might.]

The man on the throne lifted his head, a set of deep-blue eyes, glowing with an unearthly light, fixed on me. His features were chiseled, almost angelic, but there was an icy cruelty in those eyes that belied his appearance. He was tall and broad-shouldered, clad in flowing robes of midnight blue that seemed to swirl and shift with the currents of the air. His long hair, the color of the deepest ocean, flowed down his back, undulating like the tentacles of some monstrous creature.

Run killer. A term used by some gamers that described an entity or thing that had a high risk of completely ending runs. As far as my knowledge went, I was the only one who ever got to Levius. And every single time, I never once managed to beat him.

The party seemed frozen with fear as the doors slammed shut, sealing our fates. Honestly, compared to the Grudge, the boss wasn't all that intimidating, but it was the pressure and aura that exuded from him that made me feel like I couldn't breathe. It was as if the very air was filled with his presence, choking us and making it impossible to think straight.

Before I realized it, the room had already begun to flood, chilling water rising up around our ankles.

I had to give props to my sister once again, as she was the first person who snapped out of it, leaping forward at Levius while swinging her sword.

"Amusing." Levius rumbled, standing up and holding a palm out. A dark blue wave of energy rippled outwards.

[System message: Stats of all Players have been halved.]

Aurora gasped as her strength suddenly waned, her sword arm faltering as it headed towards Levius. The boss chuckled softly, effortlessly parrying her swing with the back of his hand and knocking her back towards us. Gigi reacted quickly, conjuring a golden net to catch her.

"I had a feeling things would get interesting," Levius began, turning his attention directly at me. "I didn't expect that familiar presence to be you again. How apt that we meet once more."

"W-what?" I blinked in surprise. The immediate stat-halving aside, why did the boss seem like he was familiar with me?

"I'd have imagined you'd learn your lesson after dying to me countless times so far," Levius continued. "Seems like you finally brought along companions. Let's see how far you'll fare again."

****

[Updating…]

[Name: Luquier Vaunt | Level: 1148]

[Title: Reckless Immortal (A)]

[Health: 82100 (41050) | Strength: 40500 (20250)]

[Speed: 40000 (20000) | Magic: 45000 (22500)]

[Risk: 20000 (10000) | Stat Points: 0]

[Experience: 6%]

[Items]

[Soultaker (1251465)] +194