Al-Hek held that tiny sphere of light in his hand. He couldn't use Identify on it, as it merged with his body instantly.

He smiled bitterly. “Sure, Shaggy! Do... you want something else?”

“[Remember not to talk about this with anyone. Not even to me!]”

Al-Hek wanted to spit at him, but held back. Provoking something so powerful was stupid, and Al-Hek wasn't a friend of doing stupid things.

The Keeper of Souls began to disappear. A stunning woman appeared in his place, dressed in armor that greatly enhanced her sensuality. This time, Jean's face wasn't a blur; that brought a smile to Al-Hek's face.

She was the embodiment of beauty. He couldn't help but see her as the personification of perfection and eroticism. Imagining her without that armor made him lose his cool. And to make matters worse, she was the one who had freed him from Thitad, the fucking bitch who had subjugated him and turned him into her puppet for so long. He owed her a lot, he only hoped he wouldn’t have to fulfill the promise he had made to that bastard with long white hair.

“Welcome, Boss. I agree to join you in this... endless vengeance.”

Jean arched her eyebrows. “How do you…?”

“Don't look so surprised, Boss! Mr. I-didn't-cut-my-hair-since-I-was-born has put me in the picture. He's also helped me remember some parts of my life that I thought were lost. Now I remember almost everything and...”

“And...?”

“... I'm sorry I tried to kill you several times! They lied to me about you and...”

“Forget it! We'll get revenge on them! Do you remember anything about their organization?”

Al-Hek shook his head. “I was just a puppet following orders because of a promise that...”

Jean hesitated for a second. “If it's not too bold, may I know what that promise was?”

“Later maybe! I don't want to think about what I failed to protect.”

Jean closed her eyes and nodded. “I understand that he has paved the way for me, but there is still a little problem. Your soul information is seriously damaged. I guess Thitad and her friends over manipulated it. The fact that you've been dead for so long doesn't help either.”

“I understand. You've come to tell me you can't give me a body!”

Jean smiled cheerfully. “Oh, no, no. Yes I can, but I have to fill out that information myself. I just wanted to know your preferences.” Al-Hek looked puzzled. “I can't modify your class, nor your basic skills, but I can modify your appearance. I can’t give you more than level 6 or less than 23 years old. The material I have at my disposal is deficient. Sorry.”

Being 23 years old again was the best news for someone who had died at 52, but the level was a major setback. However, he was in no position to be picky. “I trust you, sweetheart... Sorry! I trust your judgment, Boss!”

Jean received a notification for completing the mission to gain Al-Hek's favor. That brought a brighter smile to her face.

[Cursed Graveyard has doubled its reserve and improved its efficiency by 10%. Now, you can supply 10% of the corruption needed with mana.]

“I will try to give you a higher level. The system has rewarded me with a Cursed Graveyard enhancement.” Jean stared at Al-Hek expecting a negative reaction from the name of the skill, but finding none, she simply left in satisfaction. “So far, Al-Hek!”

He bowed gallantly and delayed as long as he could in answering so that she could not hear him. He didn't want to worry her with his serious tone because of his pact with the Keeper of Souls. “I'm sorry, sweetheart!”

««◊◊◊« »◊◊◊»»

When Al-Hek opened his eyes again, only the light of a torch separated him from total darkness. The cold of the rock did not bother him. Nor did the fact that a few feet away there was a mountain of decomposing goblins. Their smell was tolerable, but the sight was not so much. Although it didn't take long before he didn't give a shit. Having such a beautiful boss was to blame.

Jean pointed to several adventurer's garments on the floor. “Sorry! That's all I have for now. I hope the weapons are to your liking!”

Against all odds, the first thing Al-Hek did was to see what the size of his manhood looked like. While he looked at himself in satisfaction, the laughter of a young woman beside him made him uncomfortable. “How typical! As if nothing else matters!”

“So much female attention! I don't know if...”

Dih acted even more rude. “Attention none, Men's Health boy. We're not here to fuel the embers of your frustrated gigolo career!”

Al-hek didn't hide his privates first as he dressed; he cockily displayed them. “I think you are mistaken! I'm here to kill demons!”

Dih was near the stairs, leaning against the wall. “With that level, think about surviving first! And... get dressed a little faster!”

Al-Hek was disappointed to find that his level was only 10. “Sorry about that. I couldn't do much more.” Jean walked away visibly weak and rested her hands on the dead goblins. Dih stood up suddenly and went up the stairs visibly annoyed.

Al-Hek watched in amazement at the disgusting phenomenon. As they disappeared, Jean's face quickly left exhaustion behind. “You like this?”

Jean didn't turn around, “I don't need to like it. I need it to survive... For your information, your body has come out of something similar to this. I'm sorry it's not...”

He cleared his throat. “You misunderstood me! I meant this!”

Al-Hek pointed to his defined body, and then slowly put on one of the dead adventurer's briefs. “I don't know if I'll be able to fight comfortably with this! It's... big.” He murmured proudly and playfully.

Jean looked at him slightly annoyed. “I get it! You're happy! Now...”

“Happy?” Al-Hek smiled alluringly. “As much as your boyfriend would be.”

Jean sighed, tired of the conversation. “Don't make me regret being generous. I'm sorry, Al-Hek. I don't see you that way!”

As if he had been slapped in the face, he performed something akin to a military salute and then hurried to get dressed. Choosing the equipment that best suited his fighting style was quick. He didn't need much to begin with. A pair of boots, a pair of pants and a sleeveless top made of thin fabric. All very light and comfortable for very fast movements. He needed them to survive with attributes so far from what he was used to. Lastly, two daggers and a sword. The other weapons were too big and incompatible with his evasive style.

Without a word, he went up the stairs in search of Dih. As soon as he came outside, Dih tried to surprise him with a sweep at his legs, but Al-Hek was an old fox and easily dodged it with a leap. He was about to throw the two daggers from his belt at her in response, but halted half-way.

“Don't ever do that again if you don't want to see Shaggy once more!

“Don't ever disrespect Jean again or I'll turn you into a eunuch! Are we clear?”

Al-Hek smiled at her attitude of superiority. She hadn't even noticed that he had held back. He might not have killed her, for she had good defenses, but he would have seriously injured her. That was typical of Al-Hek. Only the ones who were about to die managed to see all his cards.

“You look jealous! Don't blame me for trying my luck! After all, our bodies have been created from her tastes. You look gorgeous too, maybe...”

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

Dih looked at him puzzled. More at the compliment than at Jean's possible tastes. She had never been pretty enough to be complimented. That made her blush and uncomfortable on equal parts. “Don't try your luck behind that door! There's no one behind!”

Al-Hek moved away from her. “Nah! I wouldn't knock on your door even by mistake!”

Dih raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Vain, presumptuous, pretentious, ... Any more missing?”

“Gifted, attractive, good lover...”

“Boring!” Dih turned serious. “Listen up, you cocky bastard! Jean can't go out into the sunlight because of the curse.” She pointed to the top of a small mountain. “That area is full of goblins, so we can't go there. There may be hundreds!”

Al-Hek looked around. “That's impossible! If there were so many there would be nothing left of this place, let alone that village in the distance. Something must have lured them here.”

Dih motioned with her finger for him to follow her to the village. It was nearing dusk and everything was beginning to bathe in warm orange shades. “Our objective is to find out what's going on!”

««◊◊◊« »◊◊◊»»

Dih advanced across the countryside toward the village. The fields and fruit trees around the village were well-maintained, but most of the wheat, grapes and apples rotted on the ground. The other part of the harvest had been eaten by some daring birds. The villagers were probably taking refuge in their houses for fear of so many goblins.

Al-Hek followed her closely as they crossed a path formed by the continuous transit between two rows of apple trees. Two goblin corpses with an arrow in their skulls in the distance alarmed them. Someone there was a pretty good marksman.

Al-Hek whispered so that only she could hear him. “Let me see if I have understood. The power I saw you had in the world of souls, it's gone?”

Dih took cover behind one of the trees. She rested a hand on it and peeked a little. “It’s still there, but she can't manifest it in the same way outside of Nimireth's dungeon.”

Al-Hek hid behind the tree as well. Right behind her, very close to her butt. Dih turned to push him away. He dodged her and put a hand on her chest. In her attempt to break away from him, they both ended up against the tree. An arrow stuck seconds later in the side of the trunk behind them.

“I see you don't have Guardian Whisper!” Dih blushed at her carelessness. He moved even closer to her. So much so that he could kiss her.

“Feel free to thank me for saving this beautiful ass!” He said as he grabbed it with his other hand. “I accept payment in spice...but expect nothing more. I don't like altars.”

Just as she was about to insult him, Al-Hek shouted, startling her. “It is a crime to attack a member of the Adventurers Guild! You are aware of that, right?”

Five more arrows stuck in the tree they were shielding themselves with. “I think they do!”

Dih was furious. “Shit! What now? If we leave, we will be riddled with arrows.”

“They're going to kill us anyway. Surely several of them are already changing their positions!”

Dih looked at him resolutely. “I have a steel helmet. If I fall trying to...”

Al-Hek pulled out a hand from each side of the tree and shook them energetically. Dih didn't see what he was doing from her position, but the shooters managed to see his two middle fingers sticking out of his fists.

He sprinted to the right without ceasing to wave his arms. “Go back to the ruins! See you there! Don't follow me!”

Dih watched his attitude with fury. She was annoyed that that irreverent idiot sacrificed himself for her, but she was also surprised by the ease with which he dodged each arrow. Pirouettes worthy of an acrobat.

««◊◊◊« »◊◊◊»»

Three minutes after running cross-country, Dih was back at the entrance to the ruins. Gasping and restlessly waiting for Al-Hek's return. “Shit! Where has that idiot gone?”

She frantically went downstairs to alert Jean, but Jean was gone. “Shit, shit!”

“[She is fine! She went to kill a few more kuo-toa.]”

She clenched her fists as soon as she heard him speak. She didn't want to, but she had no choice but to rely on him. “What about Al-Hek?”

“[Playing it cool with a couple of arrows stuck in his side. He won't make it there alive].”

She ran back up the stairs. “Shit! Why didn't you tell me earlier if you could?”

“[Because it happened just now.]”

“Where is he?!”

“[No.]”

“WHAT!?”

“[You don't trust me! Look for him yourself!]”

“MOTHERFUCKER!”

“[That tongue, young lady!]”

Outside, she scanned her surroundings, but the tall grass didn't let her see much in the distance and the vegetation swaying by the breeze prevented her from hearing clearly. Without thinking twice, she retraced her steps until she saw the apple trees in the distance. She stopped and tried to hold back the urge to scream his name.

She didn't even know how many there were, or if she was going straight to her death, but she had to do something. Jean had made a great sacrifice in bringing Al-Hek back, but if she died too, the sacrifice would be even greater.

“Shit, shit, shit!”

“[At your ten o'clock. At 78 meters.]”

Dih turned without hesitation. It didn't take her long to see 3 individuals searching insistently for Al-Hek in the undergrowth.

“[They are bandits! Lure them away or they will hunt him down. He doesn't stand a chance against them. But you do!]”

Dih froze. She understood what he expected from her and she didn't like it.

“[That's it! Lure them as you did on Earth!]”

Dih's entire body tensed. “I didn't lure them, damn motherfucker!”

“[Oh! Yes you did! Not as well played as when you fooled all those goblins, but... you did it. You knew beforehand how it was all going to end.]”

“I have no regrets! They were bastards who...”

Memories of that damned day came back to her mind. The sight of her body covered in the blood of those bastards didn't leave her.

“[Do it, now! They are about to find him!]”

Dih raised her hand without thinking. “I'm here! Where the heck have you been?” She knew what she was doing was reckless when she saw the status of the closest one. She decided not to look at the other two.

»Black Bow Bandit«

Level 21

Name: Maneth

Details: This individual will kill you before you can run away. His marksmanship is to be feared.

Dih turned around and motioned forward. “Follow me! I know of a place to hide.” She was trembling from head to toe; she knew perfectly well that it would end very badly if she didn't reach Jean.

She walked slowly so that they would follow her without making a sound, giving them every opportunity in the world they wanted to surprise her. She needed them to focus completely on her. She hoped that would allow him to escape. Otherwise, everything would be in vain.

However, with only a few meters left to reach the ruins, they drew their bows. “Stop! We've played along long enough! We're not going to keep walking.”

“That's it, undress!” demanded one in the back.

“No!” shouted Maneth.

Dih turned slightly. She didn't feign surprise when she saw that there were 4 of them. Levels 14, 18, 20 and 21. All armed with enough arrows to turn her into a sieve.

With a naughty smile, she pointed to the ruins. “There's a good place near here. No one will bother us!”

“She's pretty! Why don't we do it right here?!”, said the more muscular one.

Maneth interjected.“No! She's coming with us! But before we go back to the village we'll look for her little buddy. I plan to rip his fingers off and shove them up his ass!”

“Yes, yes! Let's take her to the boss! He always has good ideas!” said the lower level one.

The more muscular one raised his voice even louder. “No! The boss always gives them back to us dead! He never leaves us any that are pretty. I'm sick of that! I say we go where she says and fuck her! She seems eager to please us. We'll have a good time!”

Dih smiled and began to untie her pants trying to conceal her fear. When the crotch loop came undone and she removed the fabric, they quickly saw that she had no underwear. The farthest one lowered the bow on the spot.

“What are we waiting for?”, mumbled the lower level one.

Maneth was fed up. “I said, NO! We'll look for that bastard first!”