Just as Onrabell started talking, a familiar voice rang in Liam’s ears, attracting his attention.

[Challenge ‘Defeat at least one dungeon boss within the next twelve hours’ accomplished.]

[Evaluation: Rank S!]

[Possible rewards:

1. A strengthened body

2. Shadow Cloak

3. Information

Please choose, player Liam.]

Liam grinned brightly, a feeling of accomplishment welling up in his chest. His thoughts moved as he pondered the possible rewards.

C, can you give me some hints?

[…]

Come on. Don’t be stingy.

[Player Liam, please choose a reward.]

And what if I don’t? Look, aren’t we on the same side? Help me out a bit, alright?

[Request permitted. Player Liam, you will receive additional hints whenever your evaluation exceeds Rank A.]

[Hint 1: Player can at least advance towards the next stage of martial arts.]

[Hint 2: Shadow cloak with the ability to shield against all means of detection.]

[Hint 3: Information related to the player’s parents.]

Liam’s eyes lit up with elation. However, he didn’t dare to show it outside. Who knows if C would feel tricked if he did so.

Thus, he maintained an indifferent face, slowly pondering over the rewards.

All three rewards had their merits. After the kidnapping today, Liam had a strong urge for power. However, a few words clearly stood out.

‘All means of detection’ sounded like an absolute power working against common people or powerful starlight masters. Liam almost expected it to come with a catch.

However, it sounded too good to pass on.

C, I choose reward 2…

[Congratulations on finishing this challenge. Your reward will arrive shortly.]

[Item detected.]

[Inventory is being realized. Complete.]

Inventory? C, what are you talking about?

[Player Liam, you have been granted an inventory. It is able to store all items rewarded by me. Please find your reward in your inventory.]

Is this your customer service? Nice, thank you.

[…]

“Mirage, are you alright?”

When C’s voice disappeared, a question brought Liam back to reality. He looked ahead and found his friends looking at him strangely.

“Sorry guys. I was distracted for a moment.”

“My friend, you looked quite strange. What did you dream about?”, asked Radiant Shield with a knowing look.

“Nothing, nothing. Just making some plans.”

“Mhm. Sure…”

Radiant Shield winked at Liam, causing the young man to roll his eyes.

Suddenly he shivered. Glancing to the side he found Silver Blade looking at him with a strange expression. For some reason Liam felt guilty.

Wait, what’s going on? I didn’t do anything!

Liam shook his head. He turned his head to Cyclone, quickly coming up with a way to change the topic:

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“Cyclone, don’t you want to loot the boss?”

“Of course I want to! But I can’t find anything! Did it leave behind some chest?”

“Almost. Come, I’ll show you.”

With those words Liam took the lead and brought his party towards the hell portal.

“Here, just touch one of those chains.”

“Weird. Why would they hide the loot like this?”

Cyclone mumbled unhappily while putting her hand on a piece of chain almost as big as her.

After a few seconds the chain disappeared together with the remaining purple liquid and a sword fell into Cyclone’s hand.

“Nice. We’re back to rare equipment.”

The mage laughed proudly as she posted the information in the group chat.

[Crimson sword of the blood villa

Category: Rare

Level requirement: 20

Attack Damage: 20-23

Attack Speed: 0,7

Agility: +8

Effect 1: Every third attack dealt with this sword increases your max HP by 300 points for ten seconds.

Effect 2: After increasing your max HP through Effect 1 for five times, deal the remaining bonus HP as a magical damage attack. You will lose the bonus HP.

Effect 3: Every heal you receive is strengthened by 5%.

A rare weapon used by the noble beings of the blood villa. It was the spoils of war belonging to vampire hunter Zurl Moonbreaker. After selling this sword he hasn’t been heard of in a long time.]

Reading through the description, Bloody Edge showed the most surprise, revealing an eager expression:

“Is Crunaboul home to noble vampires?”

Liam looked at him with some amusement:

“Sure. They are one of the small races like the dryad we’ve seen a while ago.”

“Really? Is it possible to become part of this noble race?”

“Ew, you want to become a bloodsucker?”, asked Cyclone scrunching her face dramatically.

“Naturally. Isn’t it everybody’s dream to join such a noble race? Become immortal, find a human lover, turn them, and life in eternal romance?”

“Oh no, I’m out! What’s romantic about turning into bats, sneaking into houses and drinking blood?

Furthermore, I’m a fan of garlic.”

Liam couldn’t help but laugh listening to the conversation.

“Ok ok, guys. Everyone can chase after their own preference. If you want to become a vampire, it’s possible but it won’t be easy.

Especially as a holy nephilim you need to work hard to fix your relationship.”

A hint of regret could be seen on Bloody Edge’s face, causing Liam to smile awkwardly.

“Sorry. If I would’ve known I wouldn’t have suggested you to switch races.”

“It’s alright. Isn’t it just working a little harder?”

Liam nodded at the thief before swiping his eyes over Cyclone. A dangerous smile formed on his face.

Cyclone shivered, averting her eyes. But eventually she ended her small joke, taking the rare sword out of her inventory.

Liam and Quickstep discussed for a bit before agreeing that the weapon should belong to Liam.

Afterwards Cyclone took out a few more items, all of them of green-magic category. The mage was annoyed by the stingy boss and the others couldn’t show much enthusiasm as well.

When the loot was divided, everyone waited for Liam’s directions.

“Well guys, the end boss waits behind this portal. Let’s rest for a bit and wait for our skills to recover. If someone needs to use the toilet, now is your chance.”

Liam looked dumbfounded as all his friends suddenly went offline.

“What?! Do you need my reminder to go to the toilet? Or didn’t I give you enough breaks?”

Liam murmured to himself, complaining with a roll of his eyes. However, his thoughts were speaking differently.

Damn, I need to as well. But if I leave, we will have to start the dungeon from the beginning…

Luckily Bloody Edge returned soon. Liam ordered him to wait before disappearing on the spot. Still in the headquarters of the security company it took him some time to find the toilet. When he logged back into the game, the party was already waiting for him.

Liam reappeared at the start of the dungeon, hurrying back to the graveyard. When he regrouped with his friends, they exchanged several awkward looks before breaking out into laughter.

The scene was harmonious, and everyone was confident that the last boss would fall today.

Liam estimated that the other guilds were at most fighting the jelly creature now. But they would definitely be stuck there for a while. Especially the guilds who didn’t save Onrabell at the beginning.

He decided to share this with his friends to relieve them off some pressure. Sometimes it was better to fight free and easy without any distracting thoughts.

“Good. Let’s go then. Let’s snatch the first clear.”, Silver Blade spoke calmly.

But Cyclone was sure to see something else in her friend’s indifferent expression:

“Hehe, you are eager to see Star Gazer’s defeated face, aren’t you?”

“I’m not that type of vengeful person…”

“Sure, sure.”

Meanwhile Fortune was speaking a few sentences for her viewers. Liam waited until everyone fell silent. A change in the atmosphere could be felt. Everyone adjusted their mentality, looking forward to the upcoming fight.

When Liam saw the readiness in everyone’s eyes, he waved his hand and led the party into the large portal.

Their vision turned dark for a moment before clearing up again. The party found themselves in front of a large window with some scenes of battles carved into it.

Their view was involuntarily directed towards the world outside. It was a strange place of chaotically places houses, most of them black or red, decorated with bones and blood.

All kinds of creatures strolled between the houses looking grotesque and brutal. The party recognized demons, skeletons, and ghosts.

An oppressive air hung over the city which was baked by an insufferable heat. There was no sun in the sky, but it was dyed by an orange light illuminating the entire world.

Surprisingly lingering void energy formed a thin layer below the sky, spreading a twisted, unwell feeling.

Right now, a large army could be seen on a square outside the tower the players were in.

“Welcome to hell.”, said Liam with a chuckle.

“This is hell? I had a worse image in mind.”, commented Cyclone, pressing her face against the window.

“Well, even infernals need some structure to live.”

Silent Acacia glanced outside but wasn’t really interested. He looked around the room, somewhat impatient:

“Hell is nice and all, but where is the boss?”

“He’s waiting downstairs.”

“Shouldn’t we go find him then?”

“Sure.”

Silent Acacia’s words prompted everyone to stop looking outside and focus on the task. With resolute faces they went down a tall, spiraling staircase in the center of the room.