Katalin had been to Atrevaar plenty of times to the point where she always expected the same sight. The towering buildings, the hum of portals and commerce, the oddly placed old Nimble Hogs’ building, and usually a streetcar dinging as it left the portal circle were all commonplace when arriving.

This time, there was almost none of that. Other than the towering building and the hum of portals, it was silent and empty. Empty of its usual activity. Soldiers in black armor were standing guard or working on various things. Many people, likely citizens, were in conversation with the soldiers while other people in uniform cleaned rubble from the destroyed street.

The entire front of the Nimble Hog headquarters was gone. Even the lobby was mostly destroyed with a huge hole leading to the basement. Myrsvai’s study was mostly together, though the wall to the outside and the building next door were completely obliterated.

The hulking form of Chorsay sat on a barrel with his hands bound on his lap. He was covered in blood, though it was impossible to tell if it was his or someone else’s.

Althowin pushed right through a line of guards, who apologized and parted farther upon realizing who she was. They gave Katalin and Ernie some looks, but like usual, nobody said anything. Following Althowin was enough of a sign of power, apparently.

“Chorsay fought Andres?” Ernie whispered.

“What the fuck happened?” Katalin whispered back.

Instead of heading straight to the Nimble Hog, Althowin walked around the main group of Security Regime soldiers to a woman who made Katalin’s stomach turn. She wasn’t wearing her normal golden suit as she leaned against a fence to a small community garden. Instead, she wore casual clothes, looking almost normal. The crystal headband was too iconic to let her fully blend in.

Veph raised an eyebrow upon seeing Althowin, but didn’t stand upright or move to show any kind of respect. Was it arrogance, confidence, or some mix of both?

“Did you see it?” Althowin asked.

“No. Unfortunately. I was in Minolitana.” Veph sighed. “Apparently the old man can still put up a fight.”

“You aren’t surprised.” Althowin folded her arms over her chest.

“I’m surprised Andres underestimated him.” Veph shifted, letting Katalin catch a glimpse of her wand, Cassimarcia’s Wrath. One of the strongest items in all of Verdantallis. Of course Veph wouldn’t go anywhere unarmed. Although, a wizard was never really unarmed.

Katalin did note that Veph looked a lot less intimidating out of her usual attire. Her enhanced golden suit was basically divine quality armor, while she now wore a loose sweatshirt and pants. The lower half of her face was still covered in a mask, but even that looked less fancy than her normal one.

Veph glanced at Katalin, raising an eyebrow, then turned her attention back to the destruction. “There’s no coming back.”

“You were with Egnatia?” Althowin asked.

“She’s off in Strobrukha with Olena, Isaak, and Nastya to plan what’s next. There’s going to be war over a damn goblin.”

“Any chance she’ll work with me?” Althowin scratched her head. “Or at least not try to murder anyone?”

Veph shrugged. “Doubt it. Egnatia does whatever she wants.”

“We all do. That’s part of the problem.”

Veph pulled her right sleeve up, revealing her metal forearm. “She said she’d be back in Minolitana in a day or two. She wants to get to know that Hog umbra better. Kept calling him ‘interesting.’ I don’t know what she means by that, but it was getting annoying.”

“The one with a shard?” Althowin had her index open. “Vondaire?”

“Yeah, that one.”

“I’ll meet with her. No harm in seeing how she thinks.” Althowin subtly nodded toward the Nimble Hogs’ and gestured for Veph to walk the other direction. They stepped through the gate into what was left of the garden, though it looked basically destroyed from the battle. Althowin gave Katalin a look.

Katalin grabbed Ernie’s hand and pulled him toward Chorsay. She hadn’t seen Potilia sitting at the base of the barrel with her hands bound as well. She had blood on her face, though most of it looked like it had come from scratches on her cheeks that had been healed.

A Security Regime soldier positioned himself right in front of Katalin and held his hand out. “You need to back up.”

“You need to step out of my way.” Katalin pointed past Ernie at Althowin, who was turned and staring directly at the soldier.

“Oh, apologies.” The soldier immediately stepped aside. “Miss Alegarra’s apprentices,” the soldier announced.

Chorsay looked up with an eyebrow raised. “Kat, Ernie.”

“Are you okay?” Ernie asked. He touched the handcuffs. “You could break these.”

“I agreed to cooperate with an investigation. I try to not make it difficult for the military.” Chorsay looked over his shoulder at the soldiers carefully moving about the remains of the building. “They wanted to check for anything illegal.”

“What’s that have to do with the battle?” Katalin asked.

Chorsay shrugged. “I’m cooperating.”

“Are you okay?” Katalin asked Potilia.

Potilia smiled and nodded. “P-perfectly fine!”

“Why are you handcuffed?”

“I gave Chorsay the weapon he used to finish the fight.” Potilia yawned and stretched, accidentally shattering her handcuffs. “Ah, shit.”

“Again?” a Security Regime soldier asked. “I give up. Just stay sitting.”

“Yes sir!” Potilia shouted far too loud.

“Po,” Chorsay said with a slight chuckle. “Careful.”

Potilia leaned to the side where a book was open, just sitting on the ground. She immediately became enthralled in the reading to the point where Katalin was sure she could kick the woman and she wouldn’t even notice.

“If you were coming to hire a Hog, I don’t think I have anyone to offer,” Chorsay said.

“We came because of the fight.” Ernie gestured where Althowin and Veph talked in the distance.

“Althowin? I never expected to meet her.” Chorsay stood, clenched his fists, and shattered the handcuffs.

A Security Regime soldier nearby loudly sighed. “Why do we even cuff him?”

Chorsay calmly walked past the soldiers, nodding to each. They all stared in some mix of fear and awe.

“I want to hear this,” Katalin said, hurrying after the giant.

“I’m going to do some investigating of my own,” Ernie said. He smiled and walked right into the wreckage.

Katalin hesitated, then ran after Chorsay. “Are you hurt?”

“They had menders heal me. Physically, I am fine.”

“Mentally?”

“I’m worried, Kat.”

Althowin had stopped her conversation long before Chorsay arrived. Veph leaned against another part of the fence, watching silently. She nodded to Chorsay.

“Ma’am,” Chorsay said, bowing his head.

“I do have to say that I’m impressed,” Althowin said. She stood in front of the giant form of Chorsay with her arms crossed and a look of some combination of humor and annoyance on her face. “Andres was a talented hunter.”

Chorsay looked at Veph. “He made a mistake.”

“And what was that?” Althowin asked. She looked so tiny in front of Chorsay.

“He attacked one of mine.”

“The Security Regime assumed you were trying to destroy competition, but Veph spoke on your behalf.”

Chorsay grunted. “I don’t know if saying we’re too insignificant to have competition is speaking on my behalf.”

“If you wanted to be the leader of a real hero company, you would have done something competitive by now,” Veph said.

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

“I do agree. You could have been the leader of Void Nexus if you had stayed,” Althowin said. Katalin caught a quick glance with the slightest smirk. What was Althowin trying to do? Why were they actually here?

“That was a different life.”

Veph rolled her eyes. “I’m going home. Send the lieutenant to Void Nexus if they keep bothering you.”

“Thanks, Veph,” Chorsay said.

“You’re walking a dangerous path. I can only do so much to keep you safe.” Veph casually flipped her wand over in her hand as she walked away without another word.

Althowin watched the Void Nexus leader walk away before turning to Chorsay. “The cause of the fight was the goblin.”

“Yes.”

“You’re not safe.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Even if you had Veph at your side, you’re far from safe.” Althowin set off toward the destroyed headquarters, forcing Katalin to jog to keep up. Chorsay’s massive stride allowed him to walk calmly to the side. “You may be fine, but your people won’t be. Two shards is inadequate for what’s going to come.” Althowin shooed soldiers away and stopped right in front of Potilia, who didn’t even notice they had arrived.

“I don’t intend to go back inside any of the gods’ towers.” Chorsay sighed, looking at his destroyed building. “I was trying to build a family.”

Ernie walked out of the wreckage holding Andres’s emerald bow with the Nimble Hogs’ amateur alchemist by his side. He was talking to her as she just stared blankly ahead like she couldn’t even hear what he said.

“You,” Althowin said, gently kicking Potilia.

“Ah!” Potilia accidentally chucked her book straight at Althowin, who calmly caught it in her metal hand.

“A bit of an overreaction.”

Potilia’s eyes widened. “Althowin Alegarra? I’m so sorry!”

“Do you feel safe?”

“I, uh . . . Is that a trick question?”

Althowin sighed. “Is this normal?”

“Yes,” Chorsay said. “Po, stand up.”

Potilia scrambled to stand up, knocking over the barrel in the process. “Oh, oops.” She tried to pick up the barrel but tripped and fell right over it, hitting her face hard on the stone road. She bounced right back up with a streak of blood running from her nose.

“A berserker who is reading . . .” Althowin closed the book and raised an eyebrow. “A Study of Religion: The Dungeon Gods, The Cathkabel, and The Abyss? Quite the choice for a berserker.” Althowin placed the book carefully back into Potilia’s hands. “Andres won’t be the last. There are two groups of people in the world right now. Those who want to kill the goblin before he becomes the strongest hero and those who want to find a way to steal the goblin’s power for themselves.”

Chorsay stared into the wreckage for a moment, then nodded to Ernie and put his massive hand on Ernie’s shoulder. “Good to see you. You look strong.”

Ernie’s posture improved, and Katalin could swear his chin was literally held a little higher. “I’ve been busy.”

Chorsay smiled softly. “Excuse me for asking, Althowin, but which of the two are you?”

“The third. The same as you. Unfortunately, we’re the only two in Verdantallis.”

Katalin narrowed her eyes. What was Althowin saying? The 7 Shard Hero always did whatever she wanted. Nobody was going to stop her. Nobody asked, or if they did, they quickly apologized and let it go. That also meant she rarely let other people know her plans or even her thoughts. The rare glimpse into her mind was both terrifying and thrilling, but she usually only told stories or said anything of real importance while she was working.

“And what are we trying to gain from Owin?” Chorsay asked.

“Nothing. We’re the rare ones who only want to protect our families.”

Chorsay immediately relaxed. He nodded. “There are other people like us.”

“None with any power.” Althowin didn’t break eye contact with Chorsay, but the old giant looked at everyone else standing around.

Althowin wasn’t wrong, but it wasn’t like Katalin and Ernie couldn’t do anything. Katalin tried not to scowl too visibly. Ernie caught her eye.

He loudly cleared his throat. “This is Miya Fururo. An alchemist who figured out a cheaper method of creating health potions so she could supply the Nimble Hogs with more of them.”

Althowin immediately extended her hand. “Althowin Alegarra.”

Miya had goggles on her head and she was wearing an absolutely absurd combination of colors. Was she colorblind, eccentric, or both? Miya took her hand. “I’m honored.”

“Sure.” Althowin immediately turned back to Chorsay. “I am extending an invite to any noncombatants to live within my compound until I figure out how to handle this situation. If bombing a city would solve the situation, there would be nothing to figure out, but Katalin keeps reminding me that I can’t simply destroy things to get my way.”

Katalin nodded quickly.

“In Vraxridge?” Chorsay asked.

“Yes. Everything they could need will be provided. The compound is extensive. I know you haven’t been there before, but it is quite the place.”

Katalin resisted an eyeroll. Of course Chorsay had never been to the compound. Althowin had never extended an invite. She had specifically said heroes need at least three shards to even be interesting.

Althowin took the emerald bow from Ernie. “Do you have any hunters?”

“No.”

“Then I can disassemble this.” She looked at it with a frown. “What was I thinking when I made this? It is difficult to hold.” She shoved it back into Ernie’s arms. “That’s actually your job when we get back.”

Ernie stared at the bow in horror. “Okay.”

“I would like an opportunity to speak with my people. Most are with the menders.”

“Take your time. I have some other business in Atrevaar. My assistants will escort your alchemist back to Vraxridge.”

“I thought they were apprentices?” Potilia whispered.

“I don’t care what they’re called. Ernie, Katalin, go ahead.” Althowin immediately started walking away.

“What do you consider a noncombatant?” Chorsay asked.

That stopped the 7 Shard Hero. She looked over her shoulder with an eyebrow raised. “For the Nimble Hogs? Every single one of you fools. It’s like a barn of feral children over here.”

Chorsay grunted. “How can I be a noncombatant?”

Ernie patted Chorsay’s scarred forearm. “She doesn’t always leave the best first impression, but she does care.”

“Do you both believe that?”

“I do,” Katalin said. Ernie nodded.

“I believe it,” Potilia said.

“What do you know about it, Po?”

“I, uh.” She sat down and immediately opened her book again.

“We better go before Althowin changes her mind,” Ernie said, gesturing toward the portal circle.

“What?” Miya asked.

“You’re going to join us,” Ernie said.

“As a Nimble Hog?” she asked quietly.

“I don’t think so,” Chorsay said.

***

Suta kept checking over his shoulder even though Myrsvai and Shade were too far away to see, especially in the dark smoke. Owin had tried to stay out of it for as long as possible, but to move deeper into the floor, they had to venture inside.

Glowing crystals on the ground helped guide him since he could spot the crystals from about a dozen feet away. They only looked like tiny dots of color through the smoke, but it gave a good sign if he was walking into a cluster of tubeworms since there were no crystals in the immediate area surrounding the hydrothermal vents.

“Like spell,” Suta said.

“It is like Smoke Cloud.” Owin waved his hand through the water. Back during his first visit to the Ocean Dungeon with Ernie and Katalin, he had used the smoke a few times to help confuse enemies. He hadn’t used it nearly as much since. Without being able to safely use Discharge or Bolt, he had been a lot less focused on his spells, though it would be helpful to find ways to work them back into his fighting style.

Suta walked directly beside Owin, even sometimes grabbing onto his arm as they wandered through the dark smoke. The familiar was clearly uncomfortable, but he also had a boon from the Vile Fiend, and Owin wanted to see what it actually did. Suta hadn’t been effective against the tubeworms, but if he summoned an abyssal weapon, he could defeat them easily.

“Suta, can I ask you a question?”

“Yes.”

“You won’t like it.”

“No.”

“Okay.” Owin kept walking, then stopped. “Are you saying I can’t ask it or . . .” Owin sighed. “I’m going to ask it because I’m confused. It was a Power 6 spell that hurt Myrsvai, right?”

Suta chittered. He stared at Owin for a few seconds, then grabbed his arm and tried pulling him along.

“No, Suta. We’re talking about it.”

Suta punched Owin in the stomach with a few quick, gentle jabs. His fist tapped on the chitin armor. After he threw a series of punches, he rested the top of his head against Owin’s chest.

They stayed that way for about a minute before Owin tapped the familiar’s shoulder. “Suta?”

“Power 6.” He chittered again. “Nightmare Metamorphose.”

Owin grabbed both of Suta’s shoulders and held him out until the familiar looked up. “If it was Power 6 that hurt Myrsvai, why don’t you use any other spells? You can use anything else without hurting him.”

“No.” Suta held up his wrapped hands. “Martial arts to protect.”

“Your martial arts are strong, but not strong enough to keep Myrsvai safe.”

Suta continued staring at him.

“Suta?” Owin dropped his hands back to his sides.

The familiar didn’t move.

“I don’t want to make you angry. I want the two of you to finish the Ocean Dungeon and get a shard with me. But Myrsvai doesn’t think you can finish it unless you both start using your full potential.”

Suta lifted his hands, shifting into a fighting stance. Owin had seen the familiar do it a million times, including their very first interaction. “Martial arts only.”

“If you can kill a mob on this floor with martial arts, I’ll stop saying things.”

Suta jabbed through the water a few times. His punches were always crisp and lightning fast, but he just wasn’t hitting hard enough to pass on from the seventh floor.

“Twin punches too.”

“I do, but my strength is a lot higher. I also can’t cast any spells other than Bolt and Discharge, and I can’t even use those underwater. I do what I have to do to win, even if I don’t like it.”

Suta punched into the water a few more times. “Challenge?”

“Yeah. Want to find something to punch.”

“Yes.”

Owin took a deep breath and started walking deeper into the seventh floor. Hopefully his plan would work. Otherwise, he had no idea what he would do. He did wonder how Shade was doing. It was their first time being apart without Shade just being in his box.

***

“Now, I don’t want to say that I’m the single greatest genius in history, but according to my limited memory and my inflated ego, I can’t imagine anyone else taking that title. Can you?”

Myrsvai regretted nearly every decision he made.

Nearly.

The bits of thought he had picked up from Suta had been a mix of confusion and frustration, but nothing of the sadness and guilt he so often picked up from the demon. Whatever Owin was saying had potential.

“Can you?” Shade repeated, but much closer.

“I cannot, Shade.”

The skeleton put his arm over Myrsvai’s shoulders. It was obnoxious, but still manageable before. Now, with all the Vile Fiend’s hands attached to Shade, it was that much more horrific. The skeleton was already a bizarre and deeply odd creature.

“We’re going to have the most fun together on this little journey of ours. Can you imagine the fun we’re going to have?”

“I cannot, Shade.”