Kaden made it halfway to the Farmhouse before the door burst open and a gray blur jetted out, crackling with lightning. He kneeled down and caught Vip as she leaped. The minor shocks from her [Lightning Aura] hurt but were worth holding her. “Girl, I’ve missed you.”

*Love*, Vip repeated over and over. When she stopped whining, she started groaning, and when she stopped groaning, she flopped, laying limp in his arms.

“Vip?” Eve stepped out of the farmhouse, dressed in dark red armor. “Are the wolves—Sara! It’s them! Petri! Kaden and Ashi are alive!”

The back door of the farmhouse burst open and Sara came stumbling out in a night gown, then ran for them, giving Kaden and Ashi hugs. “We were so afraid. We came out of Foul Water Swamp with the aggro broken but no clue where you would be. I knew time moved differently in Vichor, but we didn’t know if it would be weeks or years.”

“Mother did not keep us,” Ashi said. “How long has it been for you?”

“Eleven days since we got out of the swamp, three weeks since Gigantorrod awakened. Mr. Dervish wanted to know the moment you showed up.” She dispatched her parrot. “I’m sorry, I’ve been up all night. We’ve been running Charm missions for the [Dei].”

As they walked back to the farmhouse, Sara explained. The Charms of Veela that kept monsters at bay weren’t charged by the priests and priestesses. No, they were charged by having adventurers carry them into the field and fight. It was their courage that formed the power to keep monsters at bay.

Kaden didn’t want to join the Dei, but he’d take the quest. “Did Eve level?”

“I did.” Eve blushed. “Mostly due to your incredible idea. We had damage on a hundred and sixteen [Torrods] when [Gigantorrod] slaughtered them. And I got massive XP when a group ambushed Circe, blaming her.”

The farmhouse…looked different. The roof shingles held a green patina. The wood was white. “What happened here?”

“Your [Assistant]. It literally never stops working. A week ago, it started spending hours injecting mana into a single shingle, or a board,” Eve said.

Kaden carried Vip into the bedroom, ready to change—and stopped.

The bed was discheveled.

“Sorry,” Sara said. “There’s a [Raid Boss] attacking the city, and it damaged the tower Petri and Wren were using. She took my room, I moved down here.”

A Raid Boss? Not nearly the threat of a World Boss, but powerful enough that Dominion would need time to injure it. “Is the tower fixable?”

“Eventually. We lost a field, a bunch of fence, and the servant’s quarters. It really didn’t like Dominion.”

“I’ll sleep in one of the towers,” Kaden said. “Dominion acts to protect me, it’ll hit the [Raid Boss] harder. You two share this bed.”

“No.” Ashi said it softly. “I will sleep downstairs. This is your room. Trella was a friend, I do not mind keeping watch. Perhaps I will tell her all of the ‘Kaden’ things you have done.”

Sara practically vibrated with joy. “Actually, I’ll be the one sleeping alone. I’ve been having a great time with Cutter’s [Healer], Rey. He’s sweet. He’s low pressure, it’s probably not going to last, but while it does? I’m so happy. I hate feeling this happy, it’s just going to catch fire and burn. But I love it, too.”

“I will meet him. He must be found worthy,” Ashi said, the threat not veiled. “And should something need to burn? Call and I will answer.”

Kaden couldn’t help smiling. “He doesn’t mind the Horror? And it doesn’t mind him?”

Sara gave a so-so wave of her hand.

That truly did make him grin. “So, Operation Trella was fifty percent successful. Ashi, you’re up next.”

While Sara groaned and turned away, what Kaden thought would be a playful, fun moment hit Ashi. She looked lost. Almost staggered. “I am not ready to speak of this. Please.”

“I’m sorry.” He retreated to the living room—and grinned as he recognized a familiar face. “Wren! You look happy! All it took was unleashing a World Boss!”

Wren wore no armor. She carried no shield, her tunic was covered in pockets, but what hit Kaden was what she truly didn’t carry—the weight that had laid over her. “I’m here to study that wonder of yours. That Assistant is literally transmuting the materials. It’s taking forever to do it, but I want to build something similar.”

And beside her on the couch sat a reed thin, short woman with curly red hair and glasses. Her dark gray, close-fitting clothing looked familiar. Not like Ashi’s wrap, or the Vichorean clothing he’d worn at first. “You’re Petri.”

She answered in flawless Vichorean. “I am Petrichor Jan, [Researcher]. The Messenger Dragons have spoke of you and Asha Vanter Opton Rahm.”

That was uncommon. Kaden had heard Ashi’s full title exactly twice, once from Metami, as Yuna Vanter Apton Rahm. “Ashi! There’s a friend here!”

“Asha. Vanter. Apton Rahm.” Petri spoke it again, slowly, as though she thought he couldn’t hear. “Show respect for the line.”

Kaden pointed to the master bedroom. “Whatever you want to call her, she’s in there. Be gentle, she’s had a rough day. She just discovered she won’t be able to ascend like her family.”

Petri’s look of complete horror matched how Ashi had reacted. Petri rushed to comfort Ashi.

Something glinted above, and the [Assistant] drifted through the wall, then descended, spiralling.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

*[Primary Bootstrap Completed]*

*[Integrity Maintenance Ongoing]*

*[Requesting Reconnection to Supply Chain][Y/N]*

Your [Assistant] requires permission to access FarPortal networks. Grant permission and set a budget for supply maintenance.

Permission was easy, he selected the ‘Yes’ option.

Budget? How could he set a budget if he didn’t know what it wanted to buy. The monthly stipend from the Guild seemed reasonable as a test. “One Gold.”

*[Accepted.]*

The Assistant drifted across the Farmhouse and into the kitchen, where it scanned the enchanted cold-box and the meal storage. Eve stopped what she was doing and spun to look at it. “Kaden, is this thing supposed to be talking to me?”

“Maybe. It wants permisssion to resupply. Try telling it what you’d want it to get.”

Eve grew more animated, opening the cold-box and excitedly pointing and talking—actually talking—to the [Assistant].

Kaden was fairly sure it was a machine. “Think you can replicate that?”

“No. But I’m going to enjoy failing,” Wren said. “I couldn’t get [MultiSpeak] but the [Polygot] skill I bought translates most of what Petri says. What’s ‘Apton’?”

“That’s not Vichorean, it’s the language the Royal family spoke before they founded Vichor. Asha is her actual name. Vanter Opton means ‘with the power of.’ Jagi was ‘Vanter Dura,’ ‘the fury of.’” And now, seeing how comfrotable Petri had been next to Wren, Kaden had a clue why Jagi had never been able to impress her. Kaden left Wren on the couch and headed down to the basement.

He’d never been one afraid of the dark, and not afraid of bodies, and definitely not afraid of Trella. She looked asleep. It made no sense, to speak to a corpse. The soul wasn’t there. It wasn’t Kaden’s right to say what the Party would do on arrival, but he knew his answer.

The Hatred Mark was quiet. Nasty wasn’t on this plane.

He was going demon hunting.

###

For three nights, he let Ashi mourn. For three nights, he collected a spent charm of Veela and carried it out into the darkness, slaughtering the night spawns—at least the weaker ones. But as Veltron’s day of Rest approached, Kaden sought out Sara. He found her in the city, in the market place, watching a [Fire Mage] perform with a bulky [Healer] man at her side.

Cutter Karn sat off to one side with a [Swordsman] rubbing her shoulders. She caught Kaden’s gaze and nodded for him to approach. “If it isn’t the man who woke the World Boss. Sara says you’re heading to Hell. Going Demon Hunting?”

“I’ve got a score to settle with one of the Daughters.” More than that, he had mission. The Demon’s Daughter held the key. He didn’t know what key, but one way to deal with a Hatred Mark was to end the Demon holding it.

“You should be slowing your approach. You don’t have another level floor until fifty. It’ll seem like you’re growing slower, but when you don’t have to gain level thirty four six times, it’s faster.” Cutter looked across to Sara. “Look to join Hunting groups rather than strike out on your own. Run Faction Quests. Be smart.”

“Says the woman who was shrieking like a demon as she attacked a hundred [Torrods]?” Kaden asked.

“I don’t have an upper limit on buffs. I’m a one woman Raid Party. Add someone like Eve to debuff and even I don’t know what I’m capable of. Your Party Leader likes Rey a lot.”

Cutter seemed to be edging toward something. And Kaden had enough enemies. “And?”

“I’ve given her a standing Hunting Party invitation. We’re going to move down to the Buried City soon. It’s the gnomish infestation source and a treasure trove. Minimum level is thirty. Unless you’re in a Hunting Party.”

There had to be a catch here. “What do you get out of this?”

“Eve’s debuffs. Let’s not pretend, she doubles my power. Sara could probably kill that Raid Boss harrassing Verona on her own if she’d fight smart. You and the [PolyMage], I don’t know about. Total question marks, but I’d risk it for Eve anyway. And, it keeps Rey from moping.” Cutter paused. “You’re the problem. If you say no, they’ll follow you.”

Hunting Parties. He’d need to talk it over with the others, privately.

And Mr. Dervish, and Bryce.

“I’m open to the idea. When do you start?”

Cutter’s laugh wasn’t cruel. “It’s Faction Crusade. The Potari have been trying to beat back the gnomes for ages. Go to the Mage’s tower, pick up the quest—all of you should do that.”

Gnomes. “You know about Eve’s title, right? Queen of Entropy? Hostile spell casters suffer catastrophic failures. She once caused a few of their battle wagons to explode without even being involved.”

“That’ll keep the little bastards off us,” Cutter said.

Kaden had different ideas. “This buried city. Is it like, an actual city?”

“Yes. Buildings. Houses. Markets. All of them infested with gnomes, gnomes who will kill you.”

His idea grew just a bit. “So. Let’s say someone—me—had a [Stealth Aura]. And let’s say I hid Eve. Could we wander into the city and let their machinery go amok? Or move through it, and sabotage their defenses?”

“You need to go to the Mage’s tower. You need to all go. And when you do, ask about Strike Quests. After this performance.”

Kaden had other places to be. He headed to Dervish’s Summoning Services, no longer feeling out of place in the crowd of Adventurers, even though many were fifty levels higher. The Second Tier had changed his understanding. He waved for the nearest attendant. “I need to talk to the big man, and he wants to talk to me.”

While he waited, Kaden approached the nearby display and reached out with [Taming] at the [Drake] contained within.

You have tamed a Beast. Due to past history, your connection with this Beast is stronger.

Past history. “You—you’re the Drake. The one that helped us at the city gate.” When he’d first died.

*No. Help. Obey.*

“You helped. You couldn’t disobey the binding.” Kaden checked the Drake’s Status.

[Drake]

The majestic drake is feared by Beast and Adventurer alike. While their breath weapons are not like that of dragons, being able to incinerate their prey even once a day is once a day they won’t be challenged. This one is no longer content to live in the confines of men.

Skills: Wrath of the Furnace, Flight, Claw Strike, Rending Bite

Talents: Gripping, Fire Within, Eternal Flame

Curiously, [Flight] was unavailable. Kaden couldn’t help selecting [Wrath of the Furnace]. If he could pick skills from any creature he tamed, Dervish’s Summoning Services would be his private shopping expedition for skills.

“See my problem?” Mr. Dervish’s deep voice came soft and quiet. “Can’t bind him. Won’t stay tamed. You know which one that Drake that is, right?”

“I encouraged it to disobey the binding it was under. How much is it?”

“Fifty thousand gold. I drop the price every time it escapes—and it will escape, unless I apply a new obedience binding every time it’s fed. I could make you a deal.”

That made Kaden laugh. “I’ll make myself a better deal and wait until it escapes.” He sent a thought, a feeling to the drake, of the Holding. Of FangWood.

“That won’t make you legally its owner, and sooner or later someone’s going to kill it,” Mr. Dervish answered.

“I’m going hunting in Hell soon. You’ve…met…Ashi’s mother? She says the key to breaking the binding on me lies with a Demon’s Daughter. I mean to go find her.”

“You won’t need to, after today. Today we fix what Treadle broke. We have it ready.” Mr. Dervish spoke with confidence. “I gave him over to the Sisters to motivate, and damned if that didn’t get it done. We made some changes to the circle to keep that binding contained once I rip it loose.” The Centurion gave a sigh. “It ain’t going to be fun, and Jackie ain’t back to ease the pain.”

Kaden couldn’t help hoping. “Why can the Drake break bindings so easily and we can’t?”

“Two reasons. People are meant to join together. Meant to be stronger and better and happier when we’re part of a group. Beasts—especially ones like that—ain’t. Second reason, is that what snared you was meant for a Goddess. Meet me down at Beast Control. I’ll be glad to fix what I helped break.” Mr. Dervish headed out.

Kaden spent the next couple minutes obtaining [Painless] from a undead alligator, and [Fire-Born] from a juvenile [VolKraken] in case [Wrath of the Furnace] caught him. This time, there would be no stopping him. No holding back.

It was time to destroy the Binding, then bring Trella back.