"REMOVE OUR HELMETS?!" Bear roared, as if the mere suggestion was blasphemy. The identities of the Xargian Guard were a state secret—an unbreakable law. Accepting such a request would stain his honor as commander of the expedition.

Niles grinned, tilting his head. "We'll push the longboard out a bit to make room for you," he said, then jabbed a finger in Bear's direction. "And a state secret? Oh, get over yourself. We already know what Elephant and Hyena look like. Plus, someone else was at the beach. And really, what does it matter? It’s not like we can do anything with that knowledge."

"BUT THE HONOR!" Bear bellowed.

Unfazed, Niles plucked a sizzling skewer of meat from the fire and took a slow, exaggerated bite. "Let me know how honor tastes," he murmured through a smug smile—the kind a child wears when they get the last piece of dessert in front of their siblings.

Bear opened his mouth, hunting for a counterargument, but was cut short by Elephant’s deep, booming laugh. "Good point, Sir Niles." With a heavy click, he unfastened his helmet.

Hyena and Vulture hesitated only a second before following suit, their helmets coming off in unison.

Niles, sensing his chance, turned back to Hyena. "So… how’s your love life?"

Hyena’s brows knitted. She looked ready to shut him down again, but Vulture beat her to it, grinning. "Struggling!"

Hyena gasped, eyes snapping to her comrade. "Traitor!" She lunged, hands reaching for Vulture in an attempt to silence her, but Vulture just laughed and dodged effortlessly.

"Face the truth, Hyena!" Vulture teased.

"It’s hard to meet someone when you have to wear this stupid helmet all the time!" Hyena huffed, arms crossed.

As if emboldened by their defiance, more Xargian soldiers unclasped their helmets—Shark, Crocodile, and many others revealing their faces one by one.

Only Wolf and Bear remained.

Bear inhaled sharply. "On my pride as commander of this expedition…" His body shifted, returning to his human form, but his helmet remained firmly in place. "I hope you can stomach your food knowing you’ve let me down."

His comrades murmured something sympathetic—but their actions spoke louder than their words.

Meanwhile, Tesla and Winston hoisted Vulcan under the arms, lifting him so he could get a good look at the unmasked soldiers.

"Would you mind forming a line at the barrier?" Niles asked the Xargian Guard.

With the promise of food outweighing their loyalty to Bear, they complied.

Vulcan studied each face carefully, searching, scanning, dissecting every detail. But… there was nothing. No flicker of recognition.

"What if it’s Bear?" Niles whispered.

Vulcan shook his head. "Too unintelligent," he muttered.

The soldiers in the Xargian Guard line exchanged puzzled glances, uncertain about what was happening. But none spoke. A dozen of them stood there, waiting, as Vulcan scrutinized each face—shaking his head every time.

Then he reached the end of the line.

Wolf stood there, silent and unmoving.

Niles leaned in, whispering theatrically, "My friend, that wolf is not welcome," as if quoting a famous movie. Then, with a offended look, he added, "He even punched me on my first day in this world!"

But Vulcan barely reacted to Niles’s warning. The old man’s gaze locked onto the soldier before him. "What’s your name?"

"Wolf," the soldier answered flatly.

Vulcan exhaled, rubbing his temples. "These stupid names."

Wolf scoffed. "Your name is stupid. It sounds like a volcano."

Niles snorted. "Okay, that was a good one."

Ignoring them, Vulcan’s sharp eyes lingered. "Why haven’t you removed your helmet?"

Wolf said nothing.

"Well?" Vulcan pressed.

Elephant stepped forward. "He’s too proud to admit he wants food as much as the rest of us. And he still wants to keep his helmet on." He reached for Wolf’s helmet, but the soldier evaded him.

The rest of the starving Xargian Guard weren’t so easily deterred. Like a pack of predators turning on one of their own, they pounced, tackling Wolf with practiced efficiency.

"It’s for the honor of the Xargian Guard!" Crocodile barked.

"Your pride will recover after a good meal!" Shark agreed.

Pinned against the barrier, Wolf growled in irritation as Elephant—far gentler than the others—unfastened his helmet and lifted it away.

A young man stood revealed beneath.

His silver hair was wild and unruly, catching the light like polished steel. His eyes, a mix of gray and the faintest hint of blue, were piercing. But it was his teeth—sharp, razor-like—that made Niles gawk.

"Dude, you even look like a wolf!" Niles exclaimed in shock. "No wonder they named you Wolf!"

Wolf, unbothered, crossed his arms. "I want my meat now."

"Yeah, yeah, we’ll pull out the table—"

But before they could move, Vulcan’s voice rose—soft, uncertain, like a question forming on his tongue.

"Venera?"

Silence settled over the gathered crowd.

All eyes shifted between the old blacksmith and the silver-haired soldier.

Wolf scoffed. "Is your hearing bad, old man? I said my name is Wolf."

Vulcan remained unfazed. "How old are you?"

Wolf’s silver brows furrowed, clearly not in the mood for more questions. Before he could respond, Elephant answered for him.

"Twenty-two years."

Wolf turned, eyes narrowing. "Brother Elephant!" as if the information was meant to be a secret.

Elephant nodded. "I’ve kept count ever since he was sent to us in the Xargian Guard."

Vulcan listened carefully, then asked another question. "What’s your earliest memory?"

Wolf shook his head. "Training with my brothers and sisters."

The Xargian Guard. That was where his memories began. That was where his loyalty lay.

Vulcan smiled, his eyes misting over. "You look so much like her."

Wolf's expression was a perfect picture of confusion. "What?"

Niles folded his arms and jabbed a verbal attack. "Well, well. Owning your manliness from your mother, huh?"

Vulcan chuckled. "She was far stronger—and far kinder—than I ever was."

Then, without hesitation, he reached through the barrier, cupping Wolf’s face as if touching something lost and long forgotten.

Wolf flinched. "Stop touching my face!"

Vulcan pulled his hands back, unfazed. "Stubborn," he muttered, as if making an official assessment.

Niles tilted his head. "Are you sure?" Like he was testing Vulcan’s certainty.

The old smith nodded. "Aye. As sure as I can be."

Niles exhaled, rubbing the back of his head. "This would’ve been so much easier if it were Elephant instead." Then, pointing directly at Wolf, he declared, "You’re being recruited. Please do not resist."

Wolf’s face remained frozen in puzzlement.

Before he could respond, a deep voice bellowed from behind.

"WOULD YOU STOP TRYING TO RECRUIT MY MEN ALREADY?!"

Bear stormed over, his frustration radiating off him.

Niles, for once, looked genuinely pleased to see him. "Bear! Perfect timing!"

As they spoke, the rest of Niles’s party was busy maneuvering a long table through the barrier, making room for the guests from Xandria on the other side.

"I don’t want to fight," Niles said, "so I have a proposition."

Bear crossed his arms. "Go on."

Mirroring Bear’s stance, Niles smirked. "You surrender."

The Xargian soldiers erupted into laughter.

Niles ignored them and carried on. "You all pledge loyalty to me and join as citizens of Niceland. In return, we provide food and shelter for the night."

In business terms, this was called playing hardball—setting an absurd opening demand just to anchor the negotiation. Either it would force the other side to bargain… or they’d reject the deal entirely.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Bear scoffed. "I have a counteroffer." He cracked his knuckles. "You surrender instead, and I don’t tear you to shreds."

Niles friends who were pushing out the table hesitated mid-motion.

Niles rolled his eyes. "Okay, at least we’re making progress." He countered, "Forty of your men join us."

Bear smirked. "I don’t tear you to shreds and…" He scanned the crowd before pointing at one of his soldiers. "You get a date with Hyena."

Hyena snapped her head toward him. "Bear! Don’t you get involved in my personal life!"

Niles studied her reaction and adjusted his offer. "Fifty of your men join us. No date with Hyena."

Hyena’s outrage only deepened. "Oi! Why did the negotiation go the wrong way?!"

Vulture, standing beside her, wiped away an imaginary tear. "Like fruit at the bottom of a basket," she hissed.

Hyena turned on her. "Speak for yourself!"

Vulture just laughed.

Bear nodded sagely. "I can’t blame you."

Niles sighed and tilted his head back, gazing up at the sky. Back on Earth, city lights drowned out the stars—but here, the cosmos stretched endlessly above him, a blanket of silver against the dark.

He exhaled. "You know what, Bear? Let’s eat."

Bear blinked, caught off guard. "Did I hear that right?"

"You too," Niles said, motioning toward the table.

Bear’s voice narrowed. "What’re you after?"

Niles waved to his friends inside the barrier, signaling them to keep extending the table. "One cannot think well without dining well. We’ll negotiate later."

Bear studied him, considering the words. "I’m keeping my helmet on."

Niles grinned. "Of course. After all, you’re the commander."

He extended a hand through the barrier. "Deal?"

Bear hesitated—then, having witnessed the strange art of handshaking earlier, removed his gauntlet and clasped Niles’s hand.

"Deal."

The Xandrian soldiers erupted in cheers.

Elephant clapped Bear on the shoulder. "Well done, brother."

Crocodile followed with a hearty slap to Bear’s back. "A true leader knows that food is common ground. Nice negotiating."

The words of approval meant something to Bear.

Once the table was finally long enough to seat everyone, they all took their places. It was an unusual sight—on one side sat Niles and his small party: Felix, Vulcan, Tesla, Winston, Lina, and Finn. Opposite them, a dozen Xargian guards sat without their helmets, all except Bear, followed by more soldiers from Xandria.

Niles’s group took food first, then passed the rest through the barrier, sharing everything they had. Niles and Vulcan sat at the very edge, with Wolf—placed there against his will—wedged beside Vulcan. Elephant sat next to Niles, followed by Hyena and Vulture. The rest of the Xargian guards blended into the crowd, while Bear positioned himself further away.

“A true leader eats last,” he muttered, though perhaps it was just his pride keeping him at a distance.

The air was rich with the scent of grilled meat, the warmth of shared drinks, and the low hum of conversation. The atmosphere had shifted—lighter, almost festive.

Vulcan, focused on his meal, picked up a piece of grilled mutton, added a generous drizzle of sauce, and held it out. "Here, try this."

Wolf scowled. "I don’t like sauce."

Vulcan sighed, shoving the plate closer. "Just try it."

Wolf eyed him suspiciously, then took a reluctant bite. His brows lifted as a grin crept onto his face. "Old man… this is actually pretty good!"

Vulcan nodded, a flicker of nostalgia in his expression. "Venera loved it."

At the name, Wolf froze. Then, like a beast rejecting poisoned food, he spat the meat and sauce onto the table. "I HAVE NO PARENTS!" he roared.

Vulcan’s gaze darkened, his voice firm. "Everyone has parents. Or do you think humans fall from the sky like rain?"

Wolf slammed his fist against the table. "MY FAMILY IS THE XARGIAN GUARD!"

Without hesitation, Vulcan brought his hand down in a swift karate chop to Wolf’s head. "And don’t talk with your mouth full, you animal. Looks like we’ll have to teach you manners from scratch."

Wolf opened his mouth to protest, but Vulcan simply pushed his chin up. "Chew first. Talk later."

Grumbling, Wolf chewed—mouth closed this time—swallowed, and then pointed at Vulcan. "CURSE YOU, OLD MAN!"

Niles and the rest of the Xargian guard watched the exchange unfold.

Elephant leaned back, arms crossed. “There’s some resemblance.” He studied Wolf, his gaze lingering. “The ears,” he finally declared, as if he had solved a great mystery.

Hyena rolled her eyes. “The ears?” She exhaled, taking a bite of her meat skewer. “You can’t confirm family ties just by looking at someone’s ears.”

Elephant chuckled. “Fair point.” He turned to Vulture. “What do you think?”

Vulture leaned forward, studying both Vulcan and Wolf with an intense focus.

Curious, Niles glanced at Elephant. “What’s her skill?”

Without hesitation, Elephant answered, “Vulture can zoom in with her vision.”

From across the table, Bear’s voice boomed. “STOP TELLING THEM OUR SECRETS!”

Laughter rippled through the group.

Vulture hummed in thought. “They do look similar, but like Hyena said—ears are ears. It’s not like they’re that different from anyone else’s.”

Niles shook his head in amazement. “That’s an incredible skill.”

Vulture smirked. “Well, thank you.”

Elephant continued, “She’s one of our scouts.”

Niles nodded. “Makes sense.” He turned to Vulture. “Do you remember anything from before joining the Xargian Guard?”

Vulture shook her head. “No. As far as I know, the only one who remembers their past before joining is our commander, Dragon.”

Bear groaned from his end of the table. “DON’T TELL THEM OUR SEC—YOU KNOW WHAT? FORGET IT. NONE OF YOU LISTEN TO ME ANYWAY!”

Another round of laughter erupted.

Vulture turned her attention back to Niles. Her dark-blonde hair, streaked with a single band of blue, framed her face. Her amber eyes were sharp but not unkind. A tattoo of shadowed beasts stood in formation at the base of her throat, their inked forms blending together like sentinels guarding her voice.

“By the way, Sir Niles,” she began, her tone both curious and inviting, “why settle here?”

The table fell silent. Even those on Niles’s side leaned in, waiting for his answer.

Niles folded his arms, leaning slightly past the barrier. “Well, to be honest—”

Then, a arrow.

It didn’t come from the woods. It came from among the soldiers of Xandria.

Aimed straight for Niles’s head.

Winston, seated beside him, yanked him back just in time. But the arrow’s tip still grazed him, sending a sharp sting across his scalp.

Niles pressed a hand to his head, wincing at the pain. When he pulled it away, his palm was slick with blood.

“Tsk. No luck,” Hyena muttered.

Niles’s eyes widened.

She sighed, almost to herself. “I should’ve done it myself.”

No further explanation. No remorse.

Winston’s voice cut through the moment. “Niles—I saw someone leave the squad. Or rather, I saw the level shift among a few of the Xargian guards lurking nearby. I was prepared for—”

Niles cut him off. “Winston… thank you.”

Slowly, Niles turned his gaze to the guests on the other side of the table.

A moment ago, they had all been dining together, sharing food, laughing.

And yet, even then—

They had planned to kill him.

Elephant rose to his feet, his voice cutting through the tense air. “Who shot the arrow?”

Wolf had also stood, still stunned by what had just happened. His eyes darted across the table, searching. Then, reaching for Vulture, he barely brushed her arm before her face twisted, morphing into someone else entirely—a man.

“Chameleon,” Wolf muttered.

The man grinned, brushing his green hair to the side. “Brother Elephant and brother Wolf try to understand—we’re just doing our duty.”

From the edge of the gathering, the real Vulture approached, her longbow slung over her shoulder. “Sorry, Niles. Captain’s orders. The faster we finish the mission, the sooner we get to go home.”

Across the table, Bear was still eating, tearing through the meat and guzzling the drinks Niles’s party had shared with them. He spoke between bites. “Don’t take it personally. Nothing happened—you’re still standing.”

Niles exhaled slowly. Then, turning to Finn, he gave a quiet command. “Finn. The fortress is inside the barrier. Search it. Find as many weapons as you can and bring them back here.”

Elephant’s voice thundered, directed at Bear. “This is the second time you’ve tainted the honor of the Xargian Guard.”

Bear scoffed. “Elephant, you’re too soft. You stand alone in this. Get in line.”

Wolf stepped forward. “Brother Elephant does NOT stand alone. And I agree—attacking during dinner? That’s wrong.”

Bear’s gaze darkened. “Elephant. Wolf. Get in line, or I’ll put you both on a leash.”

Wolf drew his blade, his voice a growl. “I’d like to see you try.”

Bear slammed his fist against the table. “THIS IS WAR! GET THAT THROUGH YOUR HEADS! WE’LL SERVE THEIR HEADS ON PLATES TO OUR KING!”

A heavy silence followed.

Niles turned to Elephant, speaking as if they were longtime friends. “Thank you… for standing up for us.”

Elephant looked back at him, his face torn. “Sir Niles… I’m sorry.”

Niles studied him for a moment before asking once more. “Would you consider joining us?”

Elephant’s response was quiet, but unwavering. “My loyalty is to the Xargian Guard.”

Niles sighed. “Then that makes us enemies.”

Turning his attention back to Bear, Niles made his offer. “If you surrender, I’ll only ask for one thing—just one. Think of it as a token of gratitude for Elephant being a decent person. When you surrender, I’ll be allowed to recruit one of you.”

Bear scoffed, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “There you go again with that nonsense. But fine—since you’re doomed anyway, I accept your terms.” His eyes gleamed with cruel amusement. “And if you surrender, Niles, the jester of Nothingland, you’ll drop your barrier and follow us back to the capital. Quietly.”

Niles whispered something to Squeaky, then hurled the bird into the air, sending it toward the woods.

He nodded. “And I accept yours.”

Then he turned to his party, inhaling deeply. “Well…” He exhaled. “Looks like we’re at war.”

His gaze swept over each of his comrades. “I don’t expect any of you to fight alongside me. You’re all from Xandria. I won’t ask you to raise your weapons against your own brothers and sisters.”

The battlefield was drawn, but the battle itself had yet to begin. Only separated by the barrier.

Felix shook his head. “We’re banished,” he said flatly. “We owe no loyalty to Xandria.”

Tesla raised a finger. “I’m not banished.”

Niles didn’t even look at him. “They literally tried to murder you.”

Tesla paused, then slowly lowered his finger. “Right.” He turned to his summoned creature, Goblin. “Protect us, please.”

Just then, Finn arrived, dumping a pile of weapons onto the ground—swords, spears, bows, and arrows clattering together. Winston reached for a spear, but his hands were trembling. So much that he dropped it, the weapon clanging against the steel below.

Felix placed a firm hand on his shoulder. “I understand.”

Then, picking up a sword and shield, Felix gave his orders. “Finn, Vulcan, Lina—get to the fortress and wait in a tent.” His gaze shifted to Winston and Tesla. “Help carry them. Stay by their side.”

They obeyed without hesitation. Once they were gone, Felix stepped up beside Niles. “They’re not soldiers,” he said. “It’s better they don’t see this, not yet at least.”

Across the barrier, Bear’s laughter rang out. “Just the two of you?” His gaze locked onto Niles with something between amusement and disgust. “If you don’t surrender right now, I’ll cut off your fingers and feed them to you.”

Niles sighed. “There’s really no creativity coming from that bear-pig-man.” He turned to Felix. “So, what’s the plan, General?”

Felix didn’t flinch. “Cut them down one by one. Start with the regular soldiers.”

Niles leaned in. “I can still use barrier-ish.”

Felix nodded. “It could prove useful.”

Bear scoffed, his irritation growing. “Why the hell are you talking like you have the advantage? There’s only two of you!”

Then Winston came sprinting back.

Bear corrected himself. “Three of you—not that it matters.” He spread his arms wide, smug. “I command a dozen Xargian guards and fifty soldiers! Your barrier might have engulfed our fortress and walls, but we’ve got time. We’re not going anywhere until you surrender!”

Winston tapped Niles on the shoulder. “Level 68.”

“Oh?” Niles raised an eyebrow. “Perhaps he’s leveled up.”

Winston’s gaze swept across the battlefield. “Level 44… level 51… lower levels… one’s level 28.”

A flutter of wings broke the air. Squeaky returned from the wilderness, landing on Niles’s shoulder. It chirped once—mission complete—then took off again, perching on the newly built watchtower.

Niles strolled toward the barrier, where soldiers immediately braced themselves, drawing their weapons.

“You’re wrong about one thing,” Niles said to Bear.

The massive commander let out a loud, guttural laugh. “Oh? Entertain me. What?”

Niles took a deep breath. “We’re not three.”

He raised a finger, pointing toward the wilderness.

The bushes rustled. The sound of thousands of footsteps filled the air.

And then—it emerged.

A towering figure, dragging an enormous stone hammer behind it. Thick, dark fur. The face of a raging bull.

Niles grinned. “Big Bonker. I’m happy to see you.”

The minotaur roared, a deep, guttural sound that sent shivers through the soldiers’ ranks. Hundreds of goblins swarmed at its sides, a massive beast loped forward on four legs, and a colossal serpent slithered into view.

Bear’s amusement vanished. “TAKE DEFENSIVE POSITIONS!”

His soldiers scrambled, clutching their weapons, shields raised.

And then—

A spear flew from within the barrier.

It struck a Xandrian soldier clean through the chest.

[You’ve defeated a human – You’ve received 108 EXP.]

[Level increased: 8 → 9. Please select which stats to increase.]

Felix’s voice was calm. “Strength.”

[Strength increased by 1.]

[Your Strength has reached 10. You’ll feel an additional boost.]

A sudden boom of energy erupted from Felix’s body. A faint red glow surrounded him before vanishing just as quickly. When Niles glanced at him again, Felix looked… different. Stronger. More athletic.

Bear saw it too. “STOP IT! YOU’RE A FORMER SOLDIER OF XANDRIA! JOIN US INSTEAD!”

Felix didn’t even glance his way. Another spear flew. This time, it was blocked by a shield.

Niles turned to Bear. “You call yourself the sword and shield of Xandria.”

He picked up a spear.

“Let’s see what lasts longer—your armor or my barrier. And what’s sharper—your weapons or my friend’s rage from trying to poison the woman who saved his life.”

But there was no time for Bear to answer.

Because the monster horde had begun to charge.