The tide of battle turned quickly. The spiders were great in numbers, but they weren’t built to handle someone like him—a tank who could hold the line and keep their relentless assault focused on him.

Fennel’s speed and agility picked off any stragglers that dared to get too close, while my slimes chipped away at the numbers, taking out a dozen of the creatures with well-placed shots.

In total, I earned 24 experience points, within a few minutes, which was quite the significant gain. Watching the experience bar inch closer to the next level was satisfying.

Eventually, the noise of battle faded into silence. The skittering clicks, the screeches, the thuds of spiders crashing to the ground—it all stopped.

What remained was a battlefield littered with spider corpses, tattered webbing, and the stench of their fluids.

Fennel strolled over to Grizmar, his expression of gratitude, though his grin betrayed his ever-present cocky attitude. “Good timing, big guy,” he said, his voice light but carrying genuine appreciation. “Where are the others?”

Grizmar planted his massive tower shield against the ground with a thud, wiping a streak of spider ichor from his arm. “They’re waiting nearby. Tasha got injured during the mess with the Sewer Crawlers. It wasn’t life-threatening, but we decided to hunker down until she recovered.”

“Tasha?” Fennel repeated, concern flickering across his face. “She okay now?”

Grizmar nodded, his bear-like ears twitching slightly. “She’s fine. Kael tracked your scent and figured out where you were. I volunteered to come get you while they stayed back. Good thing, too. Judging by this mess,” he gestured to the battlefield around us.

Fennel chuckled, brushing off the concern with a shrug. “What can I say? I like to keep things exciting.”

Grizmar rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed. “Exciting? More like reckless. If I wasn’t here, you’d be in a web cocoon right now, waiting to be some spider’s midnight snack.”

Fennel smirked, clearly used to this dynamic. “Relax, I had it under control.”

Grizmar snorted, a sound somewhere between amusement and exasperation. “Sure you did.”

Watching their back-and-forth was entertaining ,it was clear they had a strong bond.

Grizmar’s calm, towering presence balanced out Fennel’s bold confidence perfectly.

I stayed out of it, just watching and waiting for them to wrap up their reunion.

Until Grizmar shifted slightly, his towering frame straightening as his gaze locked onto me.

The lighthearted banter between him and Fennel faded instantly, replaced with a seriousness that made the air feel heavier.

“Fennel,” he began, his deep voice steady but firm. “I’m taking you back to the party. But this one,” he nodded in my direction, “isn’t coming with us.”

Fennel blinked, caught off guard. “Wait, what? Griz, come on. Leon’s been nothing but helpful. He’s the reason I made it this far in the first place. Without him, I’d still be running for my life from that damn monster tide.”

Grizmar’s expression softened slightly, a flicker of gratitude crossing his features. “I appreciate what he’s done for you, truly. And I’m glad you’re safe. But my decision stands.”

I didn’t say anything, just letting the conversation unfold. Deep down, I wasn’t surprised. It was a reaction I’d expect, rather fennel was the exception.

“Griz, seriously,” Fennel pressed, stepping closer to his friend. “He’s not like that. He’s got a gnome by his side. Does that sound like someone who’s gonna betray us?”

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Grizmar’s eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced at Lila, who peeked out of the bag. Her small frame tensed, and she gave him a shy wave.

“I get it,” Grizmar said after a moment. “But you know how it is, Fennel. Humans... they’re trouble more often than not. Sure, there are exceptions, but the risks outweigh the benefits. I’m not dragging him—or anyone like him—back to the others.”

Fennel opened his mouth to argue, but Grizmar held up a hand, silencing him.

Looking directly at me this time he added, “I’m sure you’ve been helpful, and I’m grateful for whatever you did to help Fennel. But I have my people to think about. And bringing a human into the fold? That’s a risk I’m not willing to take.”

It was hard to argue with his logic. Through the world of Dungeon End, humans weren’t exactly the most favorably viewed race.

Selfishness, greed, and betrayal were traits so deeply associated with humanity that most other races had an unspoken rule: avoid humans.

Sure, there were exceptions. Mixed-race parties weren’t unheard of, and some managed to build trust over time.

But for every successful partnership, there were countless stories of betrayal, deceit, and exploitation.

Humans had earned their reputation as opportunists, always seeking to profit from others if given the chance.

And Grizmar wasn’t wrong to be cautious. Lila was a prime example.

She and her family had been kidnapped, treated as nothing more than tools by humans who saw their Pathfinder abilities as a means to an end. If not for sheer luck—or maybe fate—she’d still be a prisoner.

Her trust in me was rare, and even then, it wasn’t fully blind. She’d stayed by my side largely because her Pathfinder ability had guided her to me during that first delve. It had told her I could help. Otherwise, I wasn’t sure she’d still be here.

Fennel sighed, clearly frustrated but not wanting to push Grizmar too far. “Look, I get it,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “But Leon’s different. You’ll see it if you give him a chance.”

Grizmar crossed his arms, his massive frame seeming even larger. “Maybe. But I’m not gambling the safety of my people on a maybe.”

The tension between Fennel and Grizmar was heavy, and their once-friendly banter was nowhere to be found. Fennel’s tail swayed agitatedly, as he glared at Grizmar, who stood firm.

“Griz, seriously? You’re just gonna pull this crap?” Fennel growled, his frustration bubbling to the surface.

Grizmar didn’t flinch, his heavy brows furrowed as he replied, “This isn’t about us, Fennel. It’s about keeping the others safe. I can’t take risks when it comes to the team. You know that.”

As their voices grew louder and the tension escalated, I decided it was time to step in. But before I could open my mouth, a sudden cry echoed from the path Grizmar had emerged from.

“Grizmar!”

The voice, filled with panic and desperation, cut through the tension. Fennel froze, his ears perking up as recognition flashed across his face. “Kael?!” he shouted, his frustration melting into relief.

Grizmar, however, didn’t share his reaction. His towering frame stiffened, and his eyes widened with what looked like alarm. “Kael?”

Before anyone could react further, Grizmar surged forward. “Kael! What happened?”

Fennel’s ears flattened, his expression shifting to concern as he followed behind. “Griz, wait! What’s going on?”

From beyond the torn web wall, a figure leaped into view.

It was a young man—another beastman, but unlike Fennel or Grizmar, his features were distinctly wolf-like. His dark gray ears were pointed, flicking nervously as he landed with startling agility. A long, bushy tail swayed behind him, ragged and twitching with nervous energy.

“Grizmar!” Kael called out again, his voice cracking with urgency as he rushed forward.

“Kael, what’s going on?!”

He grabbed Kael by the shoulders, steadying him as he stumbled to a halt.

Kael’s chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath, his eyes wide and filled with dread. “It’s Tasha!” he gasped. “She—she got captured!”

Fennel, who had stopped a few paces behind Grizmar, froze in place. “Captured?” he repeated.

Grizmar’s grip tightened on Kael’s shoulders. “What do you mean, Kael? What happened?!”

Kael’s ears flattened against his head, and tears welled up in his eyes. “The Web Lurkers… They ambushed us. There were so many of them. I—I tried to protect her, but they just kept coming, and I couldn’t stop them all. They... they took her away!”

Kael’s knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, his hands trembling as he buried his face in them. “I failed her, Griz. I failed her…”

Grizmar crouched down, his massive hands still gripping Kael’s shoulders firmly. “Where did they take her?” he asked, his voice low and steady, though his tension was visible in the way his claws slightly dug into Kael’s fur.

Kael pointed shakily toward the dense forest of webs beyond. “Deeper into the Weblands. I couldn’t follow them—they were too fast. But I think… I think they’re taking her to their lair.”

Fennel took a step forward, his usual cocky demeanor replaced with anger. “Then what are we waiting for? We have to go after her.”

Grizmar stood, his towering frame seeming even larger as his muscles tensed. “If they’ve taken her to their lair…” His voice trailed off, but the implication was clear.

“They’re planning to feed her to their queen,” I said, my voice steady but low.

All eyes turned to me.

Grizmar’s sharp, bear-like eyes snapped to me, his thick brows furrowing as if my words had struck a nerve. Fennel turned, his tail swishing nervously, while Kael’s trembling seemed to intensify. All of them stared, waiting for me to elaborate.