Surprisingly, and thankfully, the rest of the waves did not come. After Rudgar was defeated, the event went from wave 12 to 15 and was completed. A ding and confetti burst around me in myriad dazzling colors that only the system could create. The completion ceremony was underway.

Events, especially group ones, are graded and individually rewarded afterward. This system justly rewards those who merit the spoils. No one simply tags along; if you do, you receive only the experience and honor of being there, never the spoils.

Only the victors receive the spoils. Only victors bathe in the artificial confetti and contrived bells of glory.

With a sigh, I dropped down, my body finally allowing the exhaustion to take over. Just as my eyelids fought their final struggle, I thought of Rodger. I needed to help him; I felt as I urged myself to move but was met with a force that not even my will could overcome.

Fatigue was the greatest equalizer.

With a final push, urging everything out, drawing the final droplet of strength out of my wrung-out body, I collapsed, eyelids shutting as the black of sleep drew me into its pleasant embrace.

As much as I wanted to frown, the relief of the battle of being victorious sent me down with a smile on my face.

**********

A cold embrace awakened me with a start.

Sorry, Captain, they wanted to ensure you weren't in a coma or asleep like last time.

God damn it, my words grew loud and angry, but at the sight of who I talked to, they grew meek and retreated inside themselves.

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No, Rodger. Is that you? How in the realm did we heal the dot? My words chattered through frozen teeth as his eyes held mine, and we shared a communal smile.

It was an uphill battle, but that's an understatement of what you did, Captain. The way you moved, fought, and then at the end….that strength you showed. I know you've drawn up on that hidden power of yours before but not like that…before you called upon it in times of need…but now it's as if, it's as if it's yours to command

His eyes grew glossy, and his words became more praise than necessary. Becoming more apostle than ally is the last thing I needed. No more smoke up my ass; I needed those who could see me for the man I needed to be.

I need aid, not praise.

Cutting his words off, I derailed his compliments before they could sputter into more.

Don't worry about that. Power is power. What is more important now is our well-being, specifically yours. What happened?

In a matter of minutes, he explained everything that had transpired as I fought. He explained how the herbs nearby were helping alleviate the situation, but nothing was potent enough to heal the entire dot.

Then, I was victorious, and the system rewarded everyone. At first, the whole party dismissed the message, seeing that most of the rewards would no doubt be going to me, but a message appeared for all, and they were all adequately surprised.

With barely the force to open up the system, Rodger found that inside his message was a Panacea, an elixir capable of healing damn near anything. Something that could make their little squad into rich men if sold at the auction house. And that's precisely where Rodger's thoughts went to first.

Before doing what he should have, instantly consuming the thing, he asked Rafael and Shadeo what he should do. They instantly berated him as a fool and told him not to waste any more of their time with ignorant questions.

So, he ate the herb and was cured as if it was just another tiny poison he was inflicted by.

I considered them good men, all three of them, as I looked at my new squad for what they were: reliable men with good intentions. No doubt they had their flaws, their edges rough, but how could I ask for perfection when I am full of my flaws myself? Some are so jarring that I shy away, locking them away from even myself.

With a sigh, I looked up at the sun looming overhead. Midday, it was already the afternoon by the look of things.

Do you think they wait angrily? I chuckled at my men but held a kernel of fear inside. Even if I had just stopped on the seed of apocalypse himself, I didn't know if I could fend off a woman like Jude.

There is power beyond fighting, beyond strength, I thought as I remembered the words I had spoken to that butler.

Who cares if they are angered? Who cares if they go on without us? They will never speak it to our faces. No, they will cower once they see our Captain holding that!

With a bulbous index finger, Shadeo pointed over to where Rudgar had been slain. In a pool of dried blood, his battle-axe was stuck into the ground like some myth, like a fairytale come to life.

No, I grumbled, not a fairytale come to life, but part of the lore of man.