The refugees came together as Deandre’s body was thrust into the Auxiliary Room.

Rather than collectively freaking out, they lifted the now famous speedster and pushed him above their heads, as if he were crowd surfing at a concert, toward Penny’s clinic.

Rick’s Energy vortex was becoming dangerously small, but he continued to slowly grow the Auxiliary Room, allowing the refugees to breathe easier. The people on Luca’s floor had an easier time but were more fearful. Rick had burned much of the glowing Talamalo, making it darker. They truly had nothing to fear as he’d already informed his minions to leave the people alone, but the refugees had no way of knowing that.

Penny and Danny were already tending to people with minor wounds, and Deandre was being passed directly to the front. Thankfully, most of the adults were in the area and the children were further back in the Auxiliary Room, making it easier for them to move the larger man.

Moments later, Jimmy and Kara pressed in. “Jimmy, what’s going on out there? Kara’s back? Where are my parents?” The questions flooded out of Rick.

Jimmy’s face was pale, “I… I don’t know man. It’s bad out there. I haven’t been able to talk to Kara at all.”

Before Rick could press him anymore, Jimmy quickly explained everything that had happened outside.

“So Gus is basically a goddamn kaiju now?”

Jimmy threw his hands up in the air, “I don’t know man. Kara, what the hell did you give him?”

Kara’s face was covered in dirt and she had dark circles under her eyes. “It’s part of what he sent Rick’s parents out to retrieve.”

“Part of it?” Jimmy asked, cutting her off.

Her eyes drooped and she nodded slowly, “Yes. There’s an entire cavern filled with these shards in the snake dungeon. Of course, it’s guarded by a very nasty boss. Between Rick’s parents and I, we couldn’t kill it so I had to steal one while they distracted it.”

“What happened to them?” Rick pressed while Jimmy translated.

“They stayed at the little outpost by the snake dungeon. It’s also been attacked by Chrotos, but not a full offensive. There aren’t nearly as many people out there, but the ones who are are strong,” Kara explained. “I would have said a few could even challenge Gus, but after what I just saw out there, I don’t think so. In any event, there are at least thirty people there who could mop the floor with the Spell & Sword.”

That made Rick feel a little better. While they weren’t safe from the Chrotos, at least they were surrounded by capable people.

“Okay, thank you for letting me know. It sounds safer there than here, at least for now. Let’s get back to this stuff you took from the dungeon. It’s some kind of stone or metal and it transforms people into giants? What the hell?” Rick asked and Jimmy paraphrased.

“No… I don’t know exactly how it works, but the shards enhance your powers. It’s definitely dangerous though. I only used it for a few minutes and I felt like I came down from a cocaine binge after. The way Gus was using it,” Kara paused and shuddered. “I don’t think he’ll survive.”

The three friends had a moment of silence as they thought about the implications. It had been something they’d planned on for quite some time, but Kara may have killed Gus when they actually needed him.

“I don’t think anybody else will survive it either,” Jimmy said.

“Did you seal the entrance so that those bastard Chrotos can’t come in?” Rick asked.

“Yep, but that also means no survivors can come in as well.”

“Do you think our hazmat suits will be enough protection to go check?” Rick asked, not exactly keen on the idea of sending Jimmy out again.

Kara shook her head, “I wouldn’t risk it. We’d need something safer and more durable.”

Jimmy nodded, “Surely the shop will have what we need, but I’m low on funds. Probably can’t afford it.”

“I’m doing okay on funds. If the dungeon shop doesn’t have what we need, I can boost your stipend and transfer more Credits to you,” Rick suggested.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“Okay, we’re wasting time. Let’s check the shop quickly. The Spell & Sword are still out there,” Jimmy said. “Kara, can you go check on Deandre? He might know where they are.”

The exhausted Kara sighed, “Of course. After this though, I’m getting a drink and taking a much-needed nap. I can’t go out there again today, Jimmy. I’m sorry.”

Jimmy looked at her with concern in his eyes, “I know. I wouldn’t ask you to. You need some rest.”

“Ask her what she wants to eat and drink. I’ll make sure to have it ready for her at Atrono’s place,” Rick said.

Jimmy relayed it to his girlfriend and she looked up with tears in her eyes, “Chicken noodle soup, garlic bread, and a pinot noir if you have it.”

“Of course. It will be waiting for you at Atrono’s place.” Rick said and then directed his words to the centaur, “Atrono, be sure to have a spot ready for Kara, please.”

The centaur bowed alone in his large home, contrasting the crowded exterior.

“I’m surprised they left him there like that,” Rick said to Jimmy as he started looking through the shop.

Jimmy shrugged as his eyes glazed over, also looking at the shop, “It was madness out there, dude. They might not even have realized he’d been left behind.”

“I don’t want you to be alone looking for them, but I don’t know who the hell could go with you.”

“I will go,” Atrono’s voice sounded out. He’d been one step ahead of them and had already purchased the equipment he’d need to go outside. It looked like a deep-sea diving suit for a horse. A large dome of thick, clear plastic for his head and a metallic, but flexible copper-colored suit, covered in hard metal tubes. He’d even had a human-shaped version of it for Jimmy.

Jimmy had been rattling off ideas to recruit anyone willing to go with him with an announcement until Rick cut him off. “Atrono said he’ll go with you. He already bought a suit for you too. Why don’t you head to his place real quick and game plan.”

“That guy’s growing on me. I’ll be there in a few minutes if I can squeeze through these people,” Jimmy said.

Rick turned his attention back to the clinic. Kara had barely just gotten there, but Penny and Danny were both working on Deandre. Both looked pale from using their powers. Deandre was still unconscious, but his breathing seemed to be fairly normal.

“I think he’s going to be okay,” Danny said as he scratched Penny’s head. She leaned into it and wagged her tail, seemingly agreeing with Danny’s assessment. While the pair was good at what they did, they didn’t have any real medical knowledge. When Kara walked in, despite the protests of the people closest to the door, Penny bounded over and sniffed her, inspecting her for any wounds.

“I’m okay, girl. I’m just here to check on Deandre. How’s he doing?”

“He was empty before, but me and Penny helped fill him back up,” Danny said.

Kara nodded, “He had a lot of blood loss. It’s still amazing to me what you guys can do beyond health potions. He would have died without you or a blood transfusion.”

Rick looked around the clinic and was glad to see that they still had plenty of water and other supplies. He’d need a mountain of trash before he could start producing anything regularly again. Even burning the rest of the water, clover, and tamalo wouldn’t be enough to completely top his vortex off. He’d likely have to burn the rest of his resources to feed everyone in his domain now.

Some of the people on Luca’s floor were now talking about leaving the dungeon, so Rick burned the door. They certainly didn’t like it, but he wouldn’t let them out until Jimmy and Atrono scouted the outside.

A quick scan showed him that Luca and the Snatchers were following his orders to leave them alone.

The Drow, however, weren’t as obedient. They had left their area without a word.

“I hope you’re not about to go attack those people,” Rick said to their group.

“We would never disobey your wishes,” Nym whispered. “We’re merely training our scouting abilities.”

“Okay, but try not to spook them,” Rick said, trusting that his minions wouldn’t lie to him. Instead, he burned a good chunk of his red clover from the first floor and began to produce simple bowls of pasta for the people on Luca’s floor. Hopefully, that would help to calm their nerves.

“We’re ready,” Jimmy’s voice echoed in the fishbowl of a helmet that now sat upon his head.

“Yes, but could you do me a favor?” Atrono asked. “Rather than squeezing through the crowd and risking widespread panic due to my presence, could you build a dungeon door within my home?”

“Of course,” Rick said and burned more clover to produce the door. Once he topped off his Energy, he promised himself to create more doors for Jimmy and Atrono’s convenience. “Jimmy, can you guys go to the first floor rather than opening it to the outside? If the Chrotos are waiting or the death cloud is ready to seep in, I don’t want it on the Auxiliary Floor.”

“Good call, Rick. First floor it is,” Jimmy said and made the proper adjustments on the door access.

“Be careful, guys.” Rick said. He could see Atrono trembling like a leaf under the suit, but the centaur’s face remained determined. Surprisingly, Jimmy didn’t have a trace of fear on his face. He’d been through so much lately, that his nerves had hardened. He’d watched his friend transform over only a few short weeks. The first time Jimmy had put himself in danger, he’d acted similarly to the way Atrono did now.

Jimmy gave Rick a salute and grinned, “Don’t worry, man. I’ll make sure the horsey gets back safe.”

“Insufferable,” Atrono muttered as they went from his home to the first floor.

Jimmy opened it once more to the outside and was immediately pushed back.

A creature covered in green, pulsating blisters rasped, “Help me, you mother fuckers.”