{You have acquired a new trait: Untamed!}

{You have learned Spirit Resistance!}

{You have learned Psychic Resistance!}

Zoe was a little too preoccupied to read the system notification, as she was seriously struggling to get to the captain’s throat. As she kicked and clawed, the beast tamer fended her off with hard swats and blocks. None of it really hurt enough to bother her, especially not with the effects of {Pain Resistance} — but within just a few seconds she was growing rapidly frustrated.

Is he even trying to hurt me? It didn’t seem like it. It felt more like he was just trying to protect himself. Is that because he still wants me alive, or does he just lack direct offensive abilities?

“Fucking hell, someone get her off me already!”

Strong hands grabbed Zoe by the shoulders. Irritated, Zoe finally reactivated {Cleansing Hellfire}. She hadn’t done so already because she was quite low on mana, but in circumstances like this, sacrifices eventually had to be made.

In any case, that got everyone’s attention. Flailing, the captain pushed back his chair and kicked her straight off of him. Zoe flew back onto the table, the edge hitting her in the back painfully. Groaning, she staggered to her feet.

“Damn hellfire,” the captain spat as he stood up himself and patted down his leather coat. “Haven’t had to wrangle one of your kind in a while. Forgot how much that stings.”

Stings? Her hellfire had burnt several other people to a total crisp!

Ignoring him for the moment, Zoe looked around. There were two other adversaries still remaining — the guy with the sword and the girl with the gun.

{Wind Dancer - 70}

{Sorlockian Gunsmith - 63}

Zoe blinked at the second path name. The fuck is that? In any case, the levels didn’t sound good. She hadn’t seen any of them fight yet — except the captain, arguably — but remembering the paladin and the cultist chieftain, she suspected there was a significant power jump somewhere between level sixty and seventy.

Sixty-six. Stage two of the awakened realm, right.

Another explosion rocked the cavern. Andric, no doubt. The captain rolled his eyes. “Alright, while your friend continues blowing up my camp, I’d like to have a little chat.”

Zoe eyed his two subordinates warily. She wasn’t going to go down without a fight, but she was still clearly outmatched. At this point, she doubted she was going to kill any of them. Survive somehow, try to run away, or kill yourself.

What fantastic options.

Returning her attention to the captain, she finally spoke. “If I recall correctly, we just had a little chat, and it ended with you attempting to enslave my mind and soul.”

Straightening his chair, the captain took a seat and gestured at Zoe to do the same. “Please.”

She shook her head slightly. “I think I’d prefer standing, thank you very much.”

“Suit yourself.” The beast tamer steepled his fingers. “I’ll put this simply. I could kill you now. I could also let you go, but I won’t.” He paused. “There is another option.”

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“You what, ‘tame’ me?” Zoe scoffed. “I honestly think I’d prefer the first option.”

“You made that particularly clear when you miraculously summoned the strength to resist me and then lunged for my throat,” the captain deadpanned. “No, I’ll give you another choice. Do what I ask — of your own free will — and I will then decide whether to spare you.”

Zoe furrowed her brow. “And what is it you ask?”

At the same time, Zoe realized that the sounds of battle had completely died down. There were no more crashes or explosions, and not even the chaotic shouting from before.

“Ah, it’s about time,” the captain exclaimed, clapping his calloused hands together. “perhaps your friend would like to hear out my proposition as well.”

Slowly and cautiously turning her head, Zoe watched as Andric calmly strode in towards them. At first she almost wondered if he had somehow won and was now coming to rescue her, as silly as it was. But then the archmage followed behind him, and Zoe pursed her lips.

“Well you appear to have come awfully quietly after making all that ruckus,” the captain remarked.

“When an archmage over fifty levels higher than you tells you to come, you come,” Andric said with a shrug.

The captain bellowed at that, slapping his knee in laughter. “Ha! Right you are!” Shaking his head, he pointed at Zoe and then back at Andric. “You should try to learn a thing or two from your friend here.” Sobering up, he leaned back and crossed his arms. “Tell me, alchemist, what brings you and your pet demoness to my camp?”

“Two of your people attacked our ferry,” Andric said. “We defeated them and commandeered their ship.”

“Killed, I think you mean.”

“Yes.”

The captain stroked his neatly trimmed gray beard. “But that’s not the reason, surely? You don’t expect me to believe that your being in the way was such an insult as to require revenge.”

“No, of course not,” Andric said. “Your people said they were looking for Logan Greensworth. We are as well.” He shrugged. “A bit of a funny coincidence, don’t you think? Since when have pirates sought the merchant king himself and not his shipping?”

“He would be worth quite the ransom,” the captain said.

“No, he wouldn’t, and you know it,” Andric said. “I haven’t lied to you. Don’t lie to me.”

Slapping his knee again, the captain whistled. “Holy cats, did you all just hear that? The gunslinger nodded, and the archmage shrugged.”You’re fucking bold, boy. I like it.”

Andric remained silent.

“Yes, well, you would be right, ordinarily. But you see…” leaning forward, the captain grinned. “He’s pissed off a lot of powerful people recently.”

“Since when has he not?” Andric scoffed.

“Ah, but usually he has a way out. Don’t expect me to tell you what I know or how I know it, but let’s suppose for the remainder of this discussion that a lot of groups are out for blood and he has few means of escape.”

“Alright. So what? You think you can get him this time? Then what? Assuming you’re right, all of those pissed off powers are going to be scrambling to get a piece of his pie. What does taking him out get you?”

The captain grinned. “He may have fucked up this time, but he’s not an idiot. Much of his assets will be not so easy to acquire.” He paused. “You said it yourself — everyone’s going to be scrambling to take what they can get. Do you know what would be the biggest advantage to have?” Andric tilted his head, and the captain spread his arms wide. “The help of the man himself, of course!”

Nodding to himself, Andric remained silent for a moment before speaking. “And you know he will help you. Why?”

“Because we’re going to protect him from everyone else he pissed off, that’s why.”

Zoe blinked. She honestly had been having difficulty following the conversation until now, but she thought she was finally starting to get it. Although honestly, she didn’t know if it was ridiculously clever or absolutely idiotic.

“So,” the captain continued, leaning forward, “you have a bone to pick, but I’d wager you have your own information as well.” Andric remained stone-faced. “You help us get Logan, and I don’t have you both executed.”

Both Andric and Zoe remained silent. The captain leaned forward expectantly. “So? What is it?”

Zoe opened her mouth to speak. “I —”

“We accept,” Andric said, quite firmly.

The captain leaned back. “Good.” He paused. “I’m already acquainted with Zoe, but I don’t think I caught your name.”

“Andric.”

“Oh, a bounty hunter?” The captain stroked his beard. “I think I saw you on several job listings.” Andric remained silent, and he shrugged. “Well then. I’m Captain Hart. Welcome to the Four Cannons. But first —”

He trailed off, craning his head to look past them. Angry shouts echoed down from the entrance. “Well, it seems another one of your friends has arrived.”

Lily, Zoe thought.

Captain Hart sat back and waved his hand dismissively. “Well, no matter. What I was going to say was…”

He pursed his lips and gave a thumbs up. “I hope you survive the initiation.”