The branch walker's shriek cut off as my axe sank deep into the bark-like skin at its neck, nearly cleaving head from body. Its claws ceased scrabbling at Garrett's shield, and the legs spasmed as it collapsed. Goo splattered onto the ground as I hopped back, wrestling my axe out.
“Good work,” Garrett said as he straightened.
Nina lowered her spear, the point dark with monster sap, and Finn wiped his short sword clean with a rag.
“Yes!” Eryn pumped her fist, an arrow still nocked but not drawn.
Garrett shrugged the corpse off his shield and gave his spear a flourish.
“Five down and how many more to go?”
He held up his hand for a high five.
I slapped his palm, grinning.
“Doesn't matter. We'll handle them.”
“Scavengers!” Edwin's voice echoed from far down the left branch. “Status?”
“All clear!” Garrett called back. “Just a couple of wooden dudes and three crystal-eyed mini monsters from the right branch. Nothing we couldn't handle!”
“Branch Walkers,” I said, wiping ichor from my axe, unable to resist. The adventurers would know the monsters’ names, having upgraded their spatial storage. “And Sap Seekers.”
“You sure?” Garrett asked, and I nodded. “Branch Walkers and Sap Seekers,” Garrett shouted. “All dead!”
“Good work!” Edwin's voice faded. “Hold your position!”
“Hey!” Eryn said, stepping closer, a funny look on her face. “How'd you know what they're called?”
Here it comes.
It was all I could do to keep the smile from my face.
“Just, you know...” I tried to look anywhere but at her intense green eyes. “Overheard the adventurers?”
“What were those stinky worm things called then?” she asked, crossing her arms. “The ones from earlier?”
“Blightpedes,” I said, unable to hold back a small smile.
Her eyes went wide.
“I know the adventurers didn't tell us that. We were all there together when—” She grabbed my shoulders and yanked me close. Her touch made my heart skip as the scent of leather and herbs filled my nose. “Show me! Activate it!”
How can she smell this good during a dungeon run? No, don't even go there. There will be enough time once you're both home safe and well.
“I don't know what you're talking—”
“The eye sigil! Show me!” She shook me slightly, her face inches from mine. “Now!”
Unable to hide my grin any longer, I activated the mark and the tattoo lit up.
Eryn shrieked and jumped back, clapping her hands excitedly. Not many scavengers invested in their spatial storages, but it doubled the odds.
“You upgraded your spatial storage! You sneaky bastard!” She slapped my shoulder hard enough it had to sting her palm. “When? How? Why didn't you tell us?”
“We did it last night,” I said, taking her stinging hand and gently rubbing it. “And I wanted to see how long it would take for someone to notice.”
“Or you wanted to make sure the loot rules were stacked in your favor first,” Garrett said, laughing. “Well played, mate! And don't worry, a deal's a deal. You fill your slots before we start trading up.”
“Thanks.” I touched the corner of my eye. “What's it look like? I haven't had a chance to see it properly.”
Eryn leaned in close again, studying the mark.
“It's pretty cool. Like a triangle pointing downward with a short line crossing through the middle. I'd never notice it from afar unless you activate it.” She traced the air near my face. “Makes you even more handsome, actually.”
She thinks I'm handsome? Well, yeah, of course she does. Just look at my... muscles from all the smithing and swinging an axe around.
“More handsome because he's about to get rich!” Nina said, and Finn joined her in laughing. “Seriously though, smart move.”
“Thanks, guys,” I said, smiling. “It'll all be good for Dawnwatch.” Then I rubbed my hands together. “So, about this loot.”
Garrett laughed.
“Eryn, you and Ash take one branch walker and one sap seeker each, with the last sap seeker going to him. Then all have five each, except…” He pointed a finger at me. “You with seven, you cheeky bastard, you!”
I clapped Eryn on the back and went to swipe the carcasses into my storage, noting how she had no trouble storing these less stinky monsters.
“Can't believe we've all, well, not Ash, but the rest of us, have a full inventory with unknown monsters,” Finn said, smiling. “What do you think they'll be worth? If anything? You never know with these things.”
“A lot,” Garrett said, peering into the right tunnel. “These five will get me the mind gem I need for level nine, easily. Even if none of them yields one directly.”
“What class are you going for once you get the gem?” Nina asked.
I eyed him too for a moment, genuinely curious what he was going for.
Garrett raised his eyebrows and shook his spear and shield.
“Hello? What do you think?”
“Fine. What about you, Finn?”
“Any I can get my hands on.”
“Why? You on the run and need the class pardon or something?” I bumped him with my shoulder, chuckling.
The smile dropped from Finn's face. His shoulders tensed, and something cold flickered in his eyes.
“Watch your mouth, apprentice.”
The tone of his voice made my stomach drop.
Shit. He is on the run, isn't he?
“Back off, Finn.” I kept my voice steady, though my pulse quickened. “I didn't know, and I don’t care.”
“Yeah? Well, maybe I don't like people making assumptions about me.” He jabbed a finger into my chest. “You think you know me? Think you're better than me because your daddy gave you a fancy tattoo?”
“He's not my—” I caught myself, took a breath, and squared my shoulders. “Look. How could I know? We're on the frontier here. A pioneer's past is just that, past. It stays behind once they come out here. Now, I've got no problems with you, Finn, as long as you've got no problems with me. We're all just trying to get by, right?”
Finn's jaw worked as he studied my face. The tension hung thick in the air, and Nina and Eryn shifted uncomfortably. Garrett's hand stayed steady on his spear, but he didn't move to intervene, and there was no way I was about to back down.
After what felt like forever, Finn's shoulders relaxed slightly.
“Yeah,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry for snapping. Ain't nothing bad. I just got caught by surprise is all.” He gave a weak smile. “Guess I'm still getting used to that whole 'fresh start' thing.”
“We all are,” I said, offering my hand.
He removed the brass knuckle before clasping it firmly and nodding at me.
“Speaking of fresh starts,” Garrett said, clearly eager to move past the tension. “What class are you aiming for, Nina? We all know Eryn is going to be a healer.”
Nina's eyes lit up.
“Sorcerer. Or warlock. Any caster, really. I prefer to blow the bugs up from afar.”
“Really?” Eryn lowered her bow. “I thought you'd go for something more... stabby.”
“Nah.” Nina twirled her spear. “I'm going to be a mounted mage.”
“But—” I started.
“I know they can't survive the corruption,” she said and shrugged. “But there's got to be something riftside I can ride.”
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
I caught Garrett's eye and waggled my eyebrows.
“Something to ride, eh?”
“Oh, grow up!” Nina swatted at me with her spear shaft.
“Never!” I ducked, laughing, and was glad to see Finn crack a smile.
“What about you?” Finn asked, the earlier edge gone from his voice. “What's the great blacksmith's apprentice planning?”
I straightened and lifted my axe, giving it a flourish.
“Warrior.”
“Tank or damage?” Eryn tilted her head.
I paused.
“Honestly, I haven't decided, but I like to kill things so probably damage dealer? I also like the idea of protecting the group, but a level sixty damage dealer—” I whistled. “I saw one once.”
“No way!” Nina said.
“Yes way.” I paced around the room, glancing from one branch to the next, listening to the distant sounds of fighting from Edwin's group. Below us, all was still quiet.
“When I was fourteen, Madrigal Ironweave saved our street during a surge. Full plate armour, black with gold trim, and an axe blazing like lightning. And confidence to match. When he struck, monsters twice his size just... came apart around his axe. Even the ground cracked when he activated his skills, killing them by the dozens.”
“Really?” Eryn asked, poking me with a finger in my shoulder. “You never said anything about that.”
I caught myself, gesturing with my axe and lowered it.
“Why would I? It's not like we share everything, right? And yes, that's the level sixty warrior I'm aiming for. That kind of presence.”
That kind of power.
“Heh, interesting. Have you ever seen him again?” Eryn asked, ignoring my closeness comment.
I shook my head.
“Nope. I try to follow news about him, though there isn't much known about the guy. You know how it is with the higher levels. Most of them don't like to be in the spotlight.”
“Yeah, they—”
A scream echoed out from the tunnel Edwin and the others had entered. For a moment, we all froze before I made for the opening. The scream echoed again, a monsterly wail piercing like a red-hot blade plunged into quenching oil. My knuckles were white on my axe shaft as more shouts followed, backed by the sounds of combat—the clank of steel, crackle of ice spells, and Edwin's voice rising above it all.
“Heal me!”
Finn lurched forward, but Garrett's hand snapped out, catching his shoulder.
“Let me go!” Finn tried to wrench free. “They need help!”
“Maybe.” Garrett's grip tightened on the man. “But rushing in blind won't help anyone. If they're in trouble, they'll fall back. We stay put.”
“But—”
“But nothing.” Garrett's voice hardened. “They're either strong enough to win or smart enough to retreat. Either way, we will only be in the way.”
“We're of no help in such an enclosed space,” I said, not liking our words, but they were the truth.
More ice crashed, the sound of Benedict's magic thundering through the wooden tunnel. I winced at each impact, remembering the casual way he'd frozen those monsters earlier. If someone so powerful was struggling, then what could we even do?
“I could support with my bow,” Eryn said, already nocking an arrow. “Maybe from the back—”
Nina shook her head.
“And what if you hit one of them instead? Or worse, distract them at the wrong moment?” She planted her spear. “Besides, what happens if something comes up behind us while we're all down inside the tunnel?”
Before anyone could answer, shouts erupted from below. Steel rang, mixed with screams.
“Falling back!” Marcus's voice echoed. “Kill the trash mobs!”
“Three bells!” Garrett cursed as he ran over to the entrance down and bellowed. “What's the situation?”
No answer came. Just more sounds of fighting, growing fainter as Marcus's group retreated.
“What do you see?”
Cold sweat trickled down my spine as I looked between the three tunnels, making sure we weren't caught by surprise.
“Seven, no, wait, eight monsters chasing Marcus and his group back down to the first floor,” Garret said.
This couldn't be random. The timing was too perfect and the attack too coordinated.
The dungeon is testing us. Something is definitely wrong and shit is about to hit the fan.
“Any sign of their adventurers?” Nina asked.
Garrett shook his head, and I shushed her.
“Quiet. Don't attract the monsters up.” I pointed into the tunnel. “We need to find out what happened to Edwin first. Then we can attack the monsters from behind.”
The screams grew louder from Edwin's tunnel and were accompanied by the wet sound of tearing flesh and splintering wood. My heart hammered as I walked closer, trying to pinpoint exactly what was happening. Benedict's ice magic crackled again, and a roar erupted from within the tunnel.
Light flashed, throwing shadows around the bend, followed by Edwin's cries of pain.
“Help him!”
That was the voice of the silver-bearded healer.
“I can't!” Benedict's voice cracked. “The corruption is—”
Something heavy slammed into wood, and a man screamed.
“Eyes up!” Garrett snapped. “Movement!”
Three Ring Beetles scuttled from the second left tunnel, followed by a rambling Branch Walker, its eyes glowing. At the same moment, the stench of rot hit me as three Blightpedes undulated from the right passage, their black bodies glistening.
Are they trying to box us in? Trash? What the hell is going on?
“Garrett! Nina! Left tunnel!” I shouted. “Finn, with me on the right! Eryn, support where you can!”
Garrett slammed his shield down on the first Ring Beetle, not even protesting my snappy order. Nina's spear darted in from the side, stabbing at the monster's eyes. Behind them, the Branch Walker clicked against the wood.
An arrow whizzed past my shoulder, thudding into the tooth-filled maw of the lead Blightpede. The creature ate it up like a snack, its segmented body rippling as it pressed forward.
“Come on then!” Finn yelled beside me, raising his short sword with one hand and the brass knuckles on his other.
I hefted my axe and we met the monsters. The first Blightpede snapped for my leg. I sidestepped and brought my axe down, the blade biting deep into its side. It felt like chopping a bag of wet rice. The creature’s attack missed, giving us an opening. Finn darted in, sword stabbing at its head while I wrestled my weapon free.
Behind us, Garrett grunted as he and Nina fought to keep the monsters inside the tunnel. Nobody needed it pointed out that if the monsters got past us and onto the platform, we'd be surrounded and die a most horrible death.
“Watch out!” Eryn's arrow took a Blightpede in the mouth as it lunged for my arm. I pulled away and spun, axe cleaving downward, but the blade glanced off its slick hide.
I activated my sigil just as Finn screamed for me, and I saw a light yellow aura covering the monsters.
Rusted ruin!
“These are stronger!”
There was nothing I could do as the third Blightpede's teeth clamped onto Finn's sword arm. Blood sprayed across his chest and Finn screamed.
I danced around, hacking at the monster, all the while dodging the others. Finally, my axe found purchase behind its head, and it flopped once and lay limp, seemingly deflating.
A crash resounded from behind – Garrett was losing his footing. Finn roared and mounted the second Blightpede, brass knuckles slapping against its head again and again, blood pouring from his right wrist where the hand was gone.
Before I could engage the last Blightpede, Garrett's shout drew my attention.
“Incoming!”
I cut down on pure instinct, slicing into the monster and turned.
My throat closed up as a true monster lurched from Edwin's tunnel. Eight legs, four ending in ragged stumps, supported a massive body of rotting wood and writhing fungus. Ice covered the parts where it was wounded, but then the face came into view. Human-like features were twisted in a perpetual scream, half-alive, half-decayed, like the corruption itself had torn it apart and stitched it back but everything was wrong.
My eye sigil activated, and I cursed under my breath. A deep crimson aura surrounded the creature.
A variant monster called the Woodweaver.
“Someone cover that tunnel!” Garrett cried and stumbled as a Ring Beetle battered his leg and the Branch Walker's claws raked his shoulder, tearing through his leather armour. Nina jumped around, stabbing down at a Beetle, doing her best to stay away from its mandibles.
I glanced at Eryn. Fear had drained the color from her face as she drew another arrow but couldn’t release it. Brown crap splashed around Finn as he hammered the Blightpede. There was still one left, and the Woodweaver was coming.
The image of Madrigal Ironweave facing down a horde of monsters flashed through my mind. He’d been just like us when he started out, a scavenger having risen through the ranks.
A calm settled over me, one that I had never felt in such a situation.
“Finn! Hold for your life! I’m sorry!” I gripped my axe tight. “Just hold! Eryn, kill that portal-pissed Blightpede or he’s dead!”
The spider-thing screamed as I charged at it. I was committed and had to either attack or be killed. Before it could strike, I swung hard at the nearest limb, but my axe bounced off with a crack that jarred my bones. Pain flared up my arms and I cried out in surprise. It was like hitting a steelhusk tree.
The monster lunged, that horrific face snapping at me with teeth more fitting a gargoyle than a living being. I dove and rolled, coming up beneath its body. My axe found the joint of a back leg, but it barely scratched the surface.
Behind me, Nina screamed.
The spider's head bent down, doubling over and snapping at me. I poked its face with my axe, as much on instinct as plan, and it gurgled in rage and scrambled to get away from me. Despite it being inferior to the weapons our adventurer parties had used, the axe was extremely sharp and it still drew blood.
A leg caught me in the ribs, hitting harder than the time I'd lost grip on the mayor's horse mid-shoeing. My back cracked against the wall, pain exploding through me and for a moment, I though that was it.
Get up, get up, get up! Get up or they're all dead! Eryn, too!
I blinked my eyes clear just in time and scrambled aside as another leg stabbed down where I'd been a second ago. I rolled with the dodge and came up behind it. As the monster turned, I saw one of the remaining legs limping.
That one's already cracked! Get it! Go!
I feinted left and the monster turned its body to intercept, but then I struck out right, putting everything into a single blow at the damaged leg. The axe bit deep and something broke. The spider staggered on its three legs, shrieking. The sound drove ice picks into my skull, but I couldn't stop. Not when our lives were on the line.
“Die!” Garrett's voice went high as he cried in rage and pain. “Fucking die already!”
I pressed in again, ducking under the monster's attempt to bite. Another leg came for me, but I could see its weak spot. With all my strength, muscles built in long hours of hammering in the forge, I struck, and my axe found the joint.
Black blood splashed as the limb fell right off.
The creature screamed again. So did Nina, calling for her mother.
I didn't care. I couldn't. I had only one job to do, and that was making sure that this spider monster didn't get the others. If I ran, they’d be dead anyway. If I managed to hold it back long enough, the others might still live…
Chop, chop, chop.
Like felling a tree, I swung my axe hard and fast, aiming at the exposed joints. The monster tried to get me with one of its remaining legs, but it couldn't hold itself up and fight at the same time. Another swing, and another leg cracked. The spider collapsed with a loud hiss. It still had its mouth, but I darted around and stayed away from its face.
I wanted to look around the room and see how everyone else was doing, but I couldn't. Even a single misstep could end me. I climbed up the hind part of its body and stepped on top of its back. It was large, with a torso body, but because of all the legs and jagged edges, I barely managed to keep myself from falling.
The monster twisted its head around, but it couldn't quite see me. With a wicked grin, I got to work on its neck. Each blow was harder than the last. My arms burned. Sweat and blood stung my eyes, but I didn't stop.
Again.
And again.
And again.
I could feel my ears ringing and arms burning. My right wrist hurt so bad that for a moment I thought it had broken. Then, my voice caught up and I found myself screaming endlessly. My voice was raw, and dark blood covered my hands, arms, and the axe.
Wood splintered, corruption spurted, and then the head came free.
I gasped for air. Even my lungs burned. The platform swam before my eyes, and I had a hard time staying on my feet. There was blood everywhere. I blinked it away and searched for the others, praying to anyone willing to listen that they were alive.
Finn sat propped against the wall by the right tunnel, cradling his severed hand in his lap. Three dead Blightpedes lay around him, of which two had multiple arrow shafts sticking from their faces.
Eryn stood in the middle of the room, her left hand grasping the air above her empty quiver, again and again, eyes wide open and letting out a silent scream. Tears were rolling down her cheeks and pooling at her chin.
Garrett knelt by the second left passage, bleeding from his shoulder. His shield lay dented and torn beside him.
And Nina... she lay on her belly in a pool of red, a Ring Beetle's mandibles buried in her back, looking at me. She blinked her eyes twice and tried to roll, but she winced and stayed put.
Then all the sound came back at once, and I could hear myself breathing amidst the distant echo of battle coming from far inside Edwin's tunnel.