Ernie stood over Andres Orben’s legendary emerald bow. Maybe it wasn’t that legendary. Was it the bow or the hero that had been underwhelming? The hero, he assumed. Althowin would strongly suggest it was the hero who failed, not her weapon.

Miya stood anxiously to the side. The Nimble Hog alchemist had been worried about breaking things or ruining things from the moment she arrived in Vraxridge, but there was no reason to worry. Everything Althowin built was next to indestructible, which was why he was still standing over the bow rather than taking it apart.

“Will you be helpful?” Ernie asked.

Katalin sat on a stool nearby with a rubber glove on top of her head and Jenny the toad on top of that. “No.”

“I can help.” Miya had somewhat oversized goggles covering her eyes as she leaned over the bow.

Ernie needed to help her find some crafting gear that actually fit appropriately.

“I’m much better at starting things on fire than taking them apart, but I do want to learn.” Miya pulled gloves on and carefully touched the bow. “Do you know what this is made from?”

“Something like an elemental monarch heart, flesh of an ogre prince, and something something . . . Kat?”

“I don’t know. A lot of floor nine and ten mobs. Maybe some pieces from bosses.” She shrugged. “I’m not allowed to take things apart.”

“You could help when I’m doing it,” Ernie muttered.

“I could.” Katalin tried looking up to Jenny who croaked on her head. “Calm down. I’ll bring you back in a second.”

Miya leaned as close as possible until her goggles clinked on the bow. “How do you even go about taking a crafted item apart?”

Ernie held up a chisel and a mallet. “You find a seam and break it.”

“A seam?” Miya ran her gloved hand over the rough emerald gems. “There are no seams.”

“It’s an invisible thing only alchemists can see. You have to learn where to look. It’s the same as with more advanced bombs.” Katalin leaned over and set a pipe bomb on the table.

Ernie flinched back. “Dammit, Kat.”

“See? It looks like a solid cylinder of metal, but I put it together piece by piece.” She snatched the bomb back and dropped it over her shoulder into her pack. “Easy.”

“You both know so much.”

Ernie offered the chisel and mallet. “I learned it all from her.”

“You did,” Althowin said, causing everyone to jump.

“Ma’am,” Miya immediately said.

“You two,” Althowin jabbed fingers in the direction of Ernie and Katalin. “Go outside.” She raised an eyebrow. “What are you doing to Jenny?”

Katalin carefully lifted the glove with the toad on top from her head and gently set it on the table. “Sorry.” She sheepishly hurried past Althowin, nearly dragging Ernie with her.

“What about me?” Miya asked.

“We have some bonding to do in a bit.”

Ernie stopped at the bottom of the stairs, fighting Katalin’s tugging.

Althowin looked over as she poked Jenny with a metal finger. “Grab your things. You’re leaving.”

“For how long?” Katalin asked. She leaned back down the stairs, using Ernie’s shoulders to stay upright.

“Might be awhile.” Althowin pushed the emerald bow off the table and set an oversized hammer in its place. “Try taking this apart while I’m out. That mallet is made from ent wood and the chisel is from a specter, automaton, and some claverstan metal. You won’t break the tools even if you try.”

“I didn’t get to finish my project,” Katalin said.

Althowin leaned over to the table and lifted the item from the work table. “For the goblin?”

Katalin nodded.

“I’ll finish it.” Althowin’s index appeared. “I think I see what you were trying to do.”

“You’d do that for him?”

“For you, Kat.” She turned and started waving Ernie and Katalin on immediately. “You have about thirty seconds to grab your things before I get impatient.”

Ernie nearly shoved Katalin over as they both scrambled up the stairs. Althowin’s cackling echoed up the stairwell behind them.

***

Potilia usually understood why she ended up in so many odd situations. Joining the Nimble Hogs had made sense. Chorsay worked hard to convince her. Becoming the spy and assassin for the Hogs was the only reasonable route when she got strong while still being a citizen. Everything had happened in the way Chorsay had wanted it to.

So why did she just travel to Vraxridge with such a huge, ridiculous party?

“Isn’t this something?” Chorsay said with his hand on her shoulder.

“There’s too many people,” she said quickly.

Sanem, Raif, Cixilo, and Lera had all joined them, along with Veph, Sylmare, and Siora who had been less than talkative. As close as Potilia felt with Sylmare, that had always been a private thing, not an open friendship. She wondered if Veph knew anything about it.

Freedom Corps soldiers were stationed outside Althowin’s compound while the 7 Shard Hero stood confidently out front. She raised an eyebrow upon seeing the huge party. Citizens were gathered, forming a full crowd, blocked only by the military guards.

Hero

Althowin Alegarra

7 Shard Hero

That was odd. Where was the rest of the information?

Althowin adjusted her sleeves as they approached. “Took you long enough. I don’t actually have all day, you know. I have things to do. Clients to see.” She gestured toward a distant clock tower.

“We’re here now,” Chorsay said.

“You are.” Althowin’s index appeared. “Hogs that aren’t going into the dungeons go stand over there.” She pointed to her left. “Anyone going for a shard, go over here.”

Sylmare and Siora went to Althowin’s right, while everyone else but Veph moved to the left.

“Why are you still there?” Althowin asked. Her index vanished.

“I’m not partying with them,” Veph said as she fiddled with her wand.

“Of course not, but we’re getting this figured out.” Althowin gestured with her right hand.

Veph rolled her eyes, tucked her wand up her sleeve, and fixed her ponytail as she walked. “Let’s hurry this up.”

“That’s what I’m saying, you brat.” Althowin approached the other group and narrowed her eyes as she looked at Potilia.

There were few things that made Potilia feel like she was going to die. Holding eye contact with Althowin was apparently one of those few things. Potilia felt herself shrink, but Chorsay’s hand appeared on her shoulder.

“You’re on the wrong side,” he said gently.

“What?”

“You too, Cix. You’re joining their party.” Chorsay gestured toward Sylmare, Siora, and Veph.

“What?” Potilia said again.

“Why?” Cix’s face was hidden by her purple hood, but Potilia recognized the tone. She was already annoyed. The umbra turned toward Chorsay, revealing her scowl.

“I need you all to be in a position to protect yourselves and to protect others. Sanem and Raif aren’t going in anytime soon, but they’re Nimble Hogs, and we will keep them safe. Lera, it’s up to you. I didn’t want to make this decision for you.”

Lera, who hadn’t been around lately, sighed. “What kind of hero company only has Shard Heroes?”

“One that will survive.” Chorsay placed his other hand on Cixilo’s shoulder and guided her and Potilia toward Althowin. “You both have the skills and knowledge to achieve great things. We’re past the point of spies. We need fighters.”

Althowin’s fox ears twitched. Potilia had no doubt the 7 Shard Hero heard everything. At times, it seemed like she could even read Potilia’s thoughts. “The Golden Bulls blame all of you for Andres Orben’s death. Stepping foot in Nagyati is now more dangerous for you than any of the gods’ towers. If you all go to the Subterranean and succeed, what is the single difference between you Hogs and the Bulls?”

“Shards,” Cixilo said quickly.

“And that’s the only difference you need.” Althowin half gestured to her compound. “Shards are all you need.”

“I’m not a hero,” Potilia whispered.

“Not yet.” Althowin leaned uncomfortably close to Potilia’s face. Her breath smelled minty. “You might be the most equipped out of this lot. Good.” She patted Potilia’s face with her metal hand. “I’ll rely on your support.”

“For what?”

Lera slowly approached. “Can I join?”

Althowin leaned her head to the side and gently pushed Potilia away. “You look capable.” Her index appeared. “Kind of.”

“I don’t know if I’ll go all the way, but I’d like to try.”

Potilia smiled at Lera. She was a good soldier. After her husband died, she hadn’t been as social with the rest of the Hogs. Always the first to take a job. Rarely in Atrevaar for more than a day or two at a time.

Althowin waved over her shoulder toward the other group.

“Are we just taking anybody?” Veph asked, obviously annoyed.

A firm look from Chorsay shut her up.

Katalin and Ernie stumbled out of the front door and looked around with wide eyes. Potilia suppressed a laugh. She had spent quite a bit of time with the two alchemists, and they always acted so tough, smart, and put together. They currently didn’t look like any of those things. They were as caught off guard as everyone else in the mess.

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

The crowd never stopped shouting for Althowin or Veph. A few people seemed more excited upon spotting Katalin and Ernie.

Potilia’s life was one of anonymity, for the most part. She couldn’t even imagine having so many people shouting at her.

“This is your party,” Althowin said, gesturing to Sylmare and Siora.

Veph made a point of stepping aside.

“Party?” Ernie asked. “For what?”

“You’re all going to get your shards. Congratulations.” Althowin stepped away from the Hogs to guide her apprentices to the right group. Katalin didn’t seem as surprised as she happily waved at the Nimble Hogs.

Chorsay waved back.

“How much of this did you know?” Potilia whispered.

“All of it.” He patted her on the back, nearly tossing her to the ground. “It’ll be good for you. Good for us all.”

“But I—”

“I’ll find you more while you’re gone so you don’t feel like you’ve missed out.” Chorsay held a stack of books in front of Potilia. “They’re dense, so you shouldn’t be able to work through them too quickly while you’re in there.”

Potilia immediately took the armful of books and stuffed them into her bag. Her kanabo stuck out awkwardly, but she didn’t want to be seen walking around with it when most people didn’t know about her other job.

Sylmare watched her closely. Potilia hoped they would get a chance to talk privately. What a weird situation. If they had to talk in private, Potilia doubted she could get all the words out.

“Join us,” Althowin said.

Chorsay took a moment to gently touch everyone’s shoulders. “Be safe, you three.”

Cixilo gave him a hug before heading over. Lera patted his forearm. Potilia leaned against him, trying to forget about all the people looking at her.

“I’ll be safe, right?”

“I’m actually hoping you will help the others, Po.” Chorsay put his hand on her head. “You’re strong enough for this. You just need to use that brain of yours. You’re the smartest person I know. There’s nothing in there that can surprise you. On those isolated floors, be sure to keep your wits about. You aren’t alone. If Owin is done soon, I’ll head to Kriergow and wait for you to emerge.”

“You better.”

He patted her head. “Now get moving. Althowin doesn’t want to wait any longer.”

Potilia hurried over to the huge group. Veph stood beside Althowin with her arms folded. She looked utterly bored, though it was always difficult to read her.

“This is way too big,” Siora said.

“No. Not for you all.” Althowin smiled. “You’re a bunch of no-talent heroes, and you’re going to stay that way until you get that first shard.”

Veph nodded.

Althowin rolled her eyes. “You’re going to travel as one big party. Entering the tower while intending to be a party is enough to give some party mechanics, but to truly get the full share of experience and ability to manage to stay together properly, you will need to be part of the same organization.”

Potilia’s eyes widened.

“I’m not going to make you join Void Nexus,” Althowin said immediately. “My idiots here aren’t part of anything yet, and they’re not going to be career heroes.” She scratched her face. “No offense, I guess.”

“Leave Void Nexus,” Veph said.

“But—” Sylmare shut up upon receiving a look from Veph. She simply nodded and opened her index. Siora beside her did the same.

“Same for you lot,” Chorsay said.

Potilia did as she was told. It wasn’t like she couldn’t just rejoin the Hogs anyway. There was no reason for it to be a big deal.

Invitation from Althowin Alegarra - Leader of Alegarra Alchemy Inc. to join Alegarra Alchemy Inc.

Accept?

Katalin snorted. “That’s the best name you could think of?”

“We can workshop names once you get the job done,” Althowin said.

“We’re joining your hero company?” Siora asked.

“Not a hero company. A temporary adventuring collective.” Althowin smiled. Her fox tail swished through the air behind her. “If anyone asks, what is it?”

“A temporary adventuring collective,” Cixilo said quickly.

Althowin looked at Chorsay. “I like her.”

Potilia focused on the word Yes until she got confirmation that she had joined the new organization. As she used Examine on those around her, everyone else appeared with the same organization tag, except Veph and Chorsay.

“Are you all ready to leave?” Althowin asked.

“No,” Ernie said. “Aren’t you making us break your rules?”

Althowin scowled. “Yes. But I need you two alive and capable.” She glanced at Veph and Chorsay. “The Three Heads didn’t take well to my threat, and the Golden Bulls are already set on wiping out the Hogs for killing Andres. Everyone here feels differently about the stupid goblin, but one thing is certain: we cannot let Verdantallis fall into war again. My threats won’t mean a thing until I act, until everyone realizes I’m not bluffing. And right now, I can’t go kill the Three Heads. It would only make things worse.”

“What about Owin?” Katalin asked.

“He’ll manage. From what I’ve heard, he’s probably already stronger than most of you here combined.”

Chorsay grunted. Ernie nodded.

“I’ll be reaching out to his current guardian to escort him here right after he emerges from the Ocean.” Althowin had her index up, looking through something as she spoke.

Potilia looked at Chorsay and mouthed the word Guardian?

He mimicked adjusting a tie.

Oh, Vondaire. Potilia rolled her eyes.

“Get ready to leave. I’ll walk you to the portal.” Althowin turned to her apprentices and took a backpack from her own back. “This has everything you’re going to need. Some percussion grenades, some pipe bombs, ingredients and empty bottles for everything you would need. Antidotes, health potions, mana potions if one of those idiots needs one, shields, and some buffs. There’s enough health potions in here to keep you alive through anything, and of course, a list with all the things I need you to collect while you’re down there.”

Ernie took the bag and looked inside. “This is—”

“A specter bag, yeah. Yours to keep.” She reached inside the bag, pulled out another, and shoved it into Katalin’s arms. “Just stick your old bags inside.”

“You’re sure about this?” Katalin asked, making eye contact with Potilia.

“You only need to fight on the isolated floors. You both have abilities and spells to help with the boss.” Althowin smacked the bag in Katalin’s arms. “I put Boss Buster ingredients in there for you, but the gods will call it cheating if I give you one. Make it yourself, or something close. An original creation would be good. And Ernworth . . .”

Ernie grunted. “I know, I can’t use bombs correctly.”

“Well, no. Which is why you need to go the other alchemist route. There is just about every type of venom and poison in that bag. Keep those antidotes close. I know you can figure it out.”

Ernie’s whole aura changed. He nodded.

Althowin turned and noticed Potilia watching. “Do you need something?”

“How’s Miya? She’s my friend.”

“She’s fine. She’ll be a real alchemist before you even get back.” Althowin shooed Potilia away and kept talking rapidly to Ernie and Katalin.

Chorsay guided Potilia toward the portals as they trailed behind the others. “I’ll check on Miya before heading to Minolitana Prima. I’m sure she’s doing well, and now she’ll have Sanem and Raif to keep her company.”

“They’re staying?”

He smiled. “They are. Althowin wants them to be safe and Atrevaar isn’t safe for us anymore. They have quarters in her compound. She’ll be showing them there once you’re all on your way.”

“There’s so many of us.”

“Show them who’s the strongest.” Chorsay patted her shoulder. “Go catch up.”

Potilia nodded and ran to catch up to her new party. Sylmare, Siora, Lera, Cixilo, Katalin, Ernie, and herself would be going all the way to Kriergow, to the Subterranean Dungeon. Potilia squeezed her backpack straps. After all the reading she had done, she had no idea how a dungeon looked on the inside.

***

Cetanthro was a broad term for a variety of mobs in the Ocean. Anything fish-like, from what Owin could tell. So broad that some were close to normal looking, and some were simply ugly.

The small group gathered in the pass was ugly. Really ugly. They were big, broad cetanthro with gray, rough skin and mouths that took up most of their face. As they talked to one another, Owin caught sight of their weird spiky teeth. They had beady green eyes far back on each side, making it so they talked to each other by facing slightly away.

“Imagine going through life not being able to look forward,” Shade said.

“I could’ve been a cetanthro mob that escaped.”

Shade squeezed Owin’s shoulder. “The horror. Imagine, not being able to breathe outside. You’d walk along the real ocean floor, alone or with fish that don’t talk. I hope. I haven’t been down there, but I assume regular fish can’t talk. Otherwise, I ate a lot of creatures that can talk, and I really prefer that’s just a thing you do.”

“What?”

The cetanthro spotted Owin and waved him over. Their gills stuck out a bit, acting like a collar around their jerkins. The small group carried clubs and hatchets, which hadn’t been the common weapons through the Ocean. He hadn’t expected anything new with the cetanthro to appear on the eighth floor.

Ocean Mob

Grahvy

Anguin Bruiser

Level 64

There were ten of the anguin bruisers, who all looked nearly identical. Little bits of their clothes or some well-placed scars separated them all in small ways, but Grahvy was the biggest and was a little rougher than the rest.

“A water elf down here?” Grahvy asked.

“I’m a goblin.”

The anguin bruiser stood at an angle so his small green eye could look over Owin and Shade. “And this is your . . . servant?”

“Yes,” Shade said. “Wait, no.”

“Yes,” Owin said quickly.

“Is he blind? The way he dresses is unique.”

Shade stuck his fingers in his eye sockets. “Was this not enough of a hint? Also, rude. People who can see can dress however they wish.”

“Who are you?” Owin asked.

“We’re the Anguin Crew.”

“Well, that doesn’t answer any of my questions. What about yours?” Shade crouched beside Owin. “Anyone who calls themself a ‘crew’ is probably not someone I want to associate with.”

“You don’t want to associate with a fish anyway.”

Shade nudged Owin. “You know me so well.”

“What’s a goblin?” Grahvy asked.

Shade pulled the lich bone knife from Owin’s belt and placed it in his hand. “Now, I’m not saying you need to quickly and violently stab all these fish . . .” He looked at them again. “Sharks?”

“We’re sharks,” Grahvy said.

“But it would be great if you did.” Shade slapped him on the back.

“Yeah, fine. Go stand behind that rock so you don’t die.” Owin lazily waved behind him. Back up the pass were a few low rocks that would provide some cover while letting Shade watch because the skeleton always wanted to watch the fights even if he was scared.

“What are you doing in this pass?” Owin asked. He bounced back and forth, shifting his weight between his feet.

“We’re going to raid the fish village ahead.”

“Anything good there?”

“Some food.”

Owin grunted. That sounded like something he could skip. What good would food do for the two of them? Owin bounded up to Grahvy and stabbed the lich bone into the top of his head. When that didn’t kill him, Owin spun and kicked the anguin in the chest.

By the time he dropped back to the ground, the rest of the Anguin Crew had gathered, ready for a fight.

Grahvy staggered, trying to plug the bleeding hole in the top of his head. “Water elf trash.”

“Oh,” Shade said from his cover. “I should’ve expected something problematic.”

Owin walked backward, letting the anguin advance. As soon as he bumped into the rock, he slipped the knife into his belt. “Grab the sword.”

“Fun.” Shade unsheathed the Incandescent Blade and passed it over Owin’s shoulder.

As soon as he fixed his grip, Owin dashed forward. He moved right past Grahvy, slashing as he sprinted. The sword carved through the cetanthro’s torso, leaving the fish wobbling as he tried to pull his guts back into his body.

The other cetanthro swarmed, as they do. Owin leapt up before they reached him, soaring above the fish. They watched, ready for him to land.

He hadn’t thought it through. The best he could do was take out one or two as he landed, leaving most to wail on him. His strength was higher, but his constitution still needed work. He could hit a lot harder than he could get hit.

“What now?” Shade shouted.

Owin slashed downward as he landed, cutting an anguin in half. Clubs and hatchets smashed into his chitin armor from all angles. He felt a few pieces of armor crack. Before they could attack any openings. Owin spun all the way around, swinging with every ounce of his strength.

The noise was one of the worst he had ever heard. All the anguin wailed and screamed as they collapsed in a circle around Owin. he had effortlessly sliced through all of their knees, and even Grahvy, who was shoveling his organs back in, was still somehow alive.

Owin leapt over the screaming, thrashing fish back toward Shade. The skeleton took the sword, waved it around until the blood washed off, and slipped it into the sheath.

“Why are they so hard to kill?” Owin asked. The only one who had died was the one he cut all the way in half.

There was now a thick cloud of blood in the water that was growing every second. Grahvy stumbled forward and fell to his knees. “Why?” he whispered as he slumped and fully died.

“Uh.” Owin took another step back.

“This was far more brutal than I had anticipated.” Shade walked over and kicked Grahvy’s corpse causing the anguin’s guts to spill all the way out. “Well, if you were hoping to loot some small intestine, I have a wonderful surprise for you.” Shade grabbed a tube-like organ and pulled it up until it caught, causing Grahvy’s body to roll. “Oh, ew.”

“Leave it alone.”

Shade dropped it and shook his hand until the blood washed off. “Are we going to listen to the choir of pain, or were you planning to finish the job?”

Owin groaned and took out the lich bone. “I’ll finish them. You do the looting.”

“Yes, commander!” Shade saluted as Owin walked past.

It didn’t take long to kill the anguin when he was able to more accurately stab them in the heart. He tried for the brain again first, but that didn’t seem to do anything. The heart killed them immediately, which would be good to know if he came across another anguin.

Shade dumped some coins into the bag and held up a plain metal knife. “Is this interesting?”

“What is it?”

“A knife.” His index appeared. “An apprentice knife? Oh, no. Waste of time.” He tossed it over his shoulder. “Onward, steed!”

“What’s that mean?”

“Oh.” Shade placed his hand on Owin’s helmet and pushed him forward. “It’s like, uh, what someone calls a dear friend. Like ‘Hey, Steed, I missed you’ or something like that.”

“Okay.”

The road forked again. Just up the pass on the left, Owin spotted a cetanthro and what looked like the houses he had seen in the other villages while the right path swerved back and forth as it continued into the dark.

“That way,” Owin said, pointing right.

“You don’t want to stab more fish?” Shade patted his head. “Just kidding.”