On exiting the dungeon we were met with a flurry of activity.

Men scattered in every direction, stumbling amongst each other and fumbling to complete whatever task they had been assigned.

Before I could ask anything.

Fredrick was upon me.

Less men than before, that will be talked about later.

He noted as I could hear the cogs working in his head.

Then, he added:

But for now Sir, we must flee.

My heart dropped, but my face remained stern.

Not in front of my men, I would wait until I was alone, in my tent, to show my cracks.

Let's move then.

I replied without a moment's hesitation.

The frantic nature turned out to not be a result of an unknown attack of creatures of the land, or worse- pkers.

It was a frenzied hurry to pack up, with every hope of not leaving behind a trace of who we were and what we had done.

As we loaded the wagon and began our caravan East, down roads less traveled. Through the Woods of Forgotten Times, we went blazing forward.

Fredrick explained the necessary hurry.

Whatever it was that you accomplished, the realm notified every adventurer through the use of a system announcement.

By God, I muttered, continue, please.

And he did.

Apparently, the dungeons and raids were evolving, The Halls of The Three Sons, being one such dungeon.

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Sir, the land is changing and new rewards come to match the growing difficulty.

He meant the set pieces. And the wave of green adventurers frothing at the mouth with the chance of acquiring such a piece.

With my jaw clenching and my eyes betraying me, I said:

The price was too high.

Then, Magda's words, the woman apparition in that small village from an adventure that now seemed long gone, rung inside my ears like a holy church bell.

It's gong loud and clear.

Some prices are too high, her words had been.

I hadn't heeded the words.

But now I know.

I've learned something at the very least.

It felt like times had grown me accustomed to the least rather than plenty.

Hard times were upon us.

Fredrick braced himself as the wagon traversed rocky roads with speeds that didn't suite such terrain.

Gaining his composure and posture, he said:

But, we've obtained information and a world first under our belt. Many guilds of all sizes will scatter in a hurry to take on the realm's next challenge.

Many will try.

Many will fail.

Many will die.

Then they will come to us, pleading for the secrets of defeating Gigantic Gregor.

His words struck a harsh note.

The thought of all the slaughter that would come next. Of the guilds with members wishing to climb the levels of our realm, only to fall into its hells.

Then, it hit me.

A messenger raven. One with a system announcement. Fetch me one.

A squire boy who sat along the wagons edge moved with a hurry unmatched.

Fredrick eyed me, then smiled a clever smile that said without words that he understood my plan.

Too kind you are.

But you are my Captain after all.

The altruistic man.

The fool, I uttered as the squire came back sweating and wheezing with a raven as black as night with golden eyes in his arms.

Whispering in the raven's ear, I said.

The table holds a tainted meat that is the key to phase two.

Come prepared.

Hell awaits all that enters.

The Path sends their regards. A guild who's allied with all who take up the battle against the realm.

As we moved along the turbulent road, I flung the raven into the air to fly with a message to all those who wish to grow.

I would help my people.

I would boost my realm.

Regardless of the cost.