The sun continued it's slow quest across the mid-morning sky, warming the crisp Autumn air. The long, vibrant, green grass swayed gently in the breeze. The buzzing of various bugs droned on in the background, mixed with the occasional chirping of bird songs.

The peaceful air of the meadow was broken by the heavy stomping of hundreds of metal boots; crushing the undergrowth and packing down the soft soil. The grinding of wagon wheels pulled by dozens of beasts of burden accompanied the procession from a short distance behind. The rattling of armor pieces of so many knights, the thick musk of sweat and eager anticipation, and the fierce air of intent to kill set the local wildlife into a panic before they fled with all haste.

Upon a hill, some ways ahead of the large military company, three figures laid prone, their focus intent on the frenzy of activity far below.

The captain, the highest ranked of those gathered, was the first to speak. "What's the target's status?"

Laying next to the captain was the scout. He was a seasoned professional with a commendable stage of advancement, and quickly utilized his magics to peer through the foliage and into the valley far below. "The enemy has indeed detected our approach, as you suspected, sir. The Vex seem to be pulling back into a defensive position around the hive opening."

The captain smirked. "Guess they realize we're not pulling any punches with this."

The shrieking of the insect-like species was loud, even from this distance. Battle fury and blood lust filled the air as the Vex swarm prepared for a battle they could never win. Even now, contracted adventurer parties scoured the area for any possible escape tunnels the Vex might have prepared. An explosion sounded somewhere in the distance as a cave-in was forced to further entrap the parasites.

"The enemy has entrenched themselves within the hive's entrance. They appear to be barricading the door with the bodies of their juggernaut units. Activity within the surrounding forest appears to be minimal. They seem to have recalled all reaper units. I don't even see any traces of their spitter units, sir."

He raised his eyebrows. "They're panicking. This raid might be even easier than we had hoped."

The last figure, a herald from the capital and deliverer of the extermination order, used a minor artifact to enhance her own vision, confirming the scout's words. "It would appear so, captain." She made to stand. "Shall I inform the city lord of the good news?"

"No. Inform him we are preparing to start the attack. We'll keep our expectations practical and realistic. There's no telling what we'll face once we're inside."

She nodded, then pulled out a communication device of some kind and began to speak quietly into it. The sun continued to climb higher in the sky as the army readied for the assault. No matter what they faced inside, it was certain to be a very bloody day.

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Alexa pressed her hands hard against her ears as Johnathan lit the fuse. The lightly-armored man rushed back towards Relcter's tower shield in a dead sprint, diving spectacularly behind him and towards safety. Despite the impressive cardio, it was another fifteen long seconds before the explosives actually detonated.

The impact struck the shield with the force of a cannon, knocking even the heavily armored and fully braced paladin back a step. The two individuals cowering behind him felt the shock wave even with the shield between them and the source. Alexa shook her head to clear the ringing that somehow managed to penetrate her earplugs. She let out an annoyed sigh.

The heavy dust cloud obscured the cliff side where the cave once stood. There was no signs that this particular cave had been linked to the Vex hive in any way, but exploring the cave to find out was just plain stupid. So, it was agreed that simply blowing up every cave or hole in the ground they managed to find was a more than sufficient solution. Plus, the state was paying for the alchemical reagents used, so there really wasn't a reason to act sparingly. The pile of rubble that remained marked the tenth hole they'd closed over the last few hours.

The trio of D-rank adventurers were quite grateful how smooth things had been going for them so far. While the assault had begun hours ago, they hadn't come across even a single Vex as they closed tunnel after tunnel. All in all, it was shaping up to be an easy job. Alexa was feeling rather hopeful about the whole thing.

The Vex were not a fun opponent to encounter. It didn't matter which variety, they were all pains in the ass. Between the thick, neigh-impenetrable armored carapace of the juggernaut types, to the razor-sharp blades of the reaper types, it was always a bad time. And that was just when fighting them individually. And one never faced just one Vex. She shivered at the thought.

This hive had been terrorizing the region for some time now. It had taken months to find the hive, an in that time, the swarm had leveled two villages, slaughtering thousands in their endless hunger and need for expansion. Dozens of wagons had disappeared from the roads, leaving naught a trace. They'd potentially eaten hundreds of travelers in the short time they'd been allowed free reign.

This party, the Platinum Fists, had been sent out many times already to take care of roving scouting parties. Each encounter always required extensive use of healing magics and recover potions. Given how much of that sweet, sweet reward money was immediately burned to rent the services of a healer, Alexa felt quite confident in saying that she really, really looked forward to watching these fuckers burn.

She was still content to let the soldiers do the burning, though. Blowing up caves at a safe distance? That was more than enough contribution for her, thank you very much.

"You used too much. Again." Relcter gave Johnathan a stoic, but slightly disappointed look.

"Hey, if I'm not paying for it, I'm not about to waste my precious time measuring each bottle. As long as the hole is gone, does it really matter?"

"Yes."

"No, it doesn't."

"Then I'm sure you'll be happy to walk back to camp to resupply, no?"

Johnathan hesitated. "W-well..."

Alexa slammed a palm against his back. "And since you seem to insist on rendering us deaf, I'm sure you won't mind buying us all a round back at camp to make it up to us, yeah?"

He groaned and gave the two a deadpan look. "Fine." Then, a mischievous smile spread across his lips, as he grabbed Relcter and pulled the other man in by the neck, rubbing his knuckles into the paladin's head. "But I get to choose the tavern!"

Relcter immediately stiffened up in protest, though the smile on his face never faded. "I'm going to regret this, aren't I?"

Alexa let out a laugh. "Probably. We all know how much you hate crowds and noise."

It was true. Relcter was the type of person who preferred a nice, quiet drink in the evening, rather than a loud and rowdy tavern. Johnathan was exactly the opposite.

"Come on, guys," Johnathan said with a grin, "we've got like, only two more kilometers of ground to cover, and we're done. Let's wrap this up quick. I'm getting thirsty!"

The two others nodded. The faster the hive was wiped out, the sooner they'd get paid. And that meant cutting off as many escape routes as possible. And with how expensive their gear was, the faster they could pay the bills, the better. The trio set off, making sure to take care not to get lost in the woods. The sun was already high in the sky, and none of them wanted to get caught out here after dark.

The party heard some fighting in the far distance, meaning some other team probably found a live tunnel. The three exchanged glances, but it wasn't their place to interfere. Many adventuring teams tended to get finicky about receiving help, or "stealing glory" as they called it. There weren't any shouts for help, so the Platinum Fists just kept moving, chatting quietly.

"Anyone got any plans for their share of the bounty?" Johnathan asked. The other two shook their heads. The tank shrugged. "I'm saving up to propose to my girl, to be honest."

"Really?" Alexa asked. "You've been dating her for what, two months now? You're finally popping the question?" She felt surprised. She always took Johnathan as the adventurous, single type.

"Yeah." He said with an awkward chuckle. "She's the one. I just know it. I know it's a bit soon, but, I don't want to let her slip through my fingers." He paused to look at his teammates. "What about you, Alexa? You seeing anyone?"

The fighter shook her head. "Nah, not really. I'm more focused on improving myself than finding love." She shrugged. "Besides, most men can't keep up with me, especially in bed."

Johnathan let out a whistle. "Damn. You have a type? I know a few guys who are looking for a strong lady in their life."

She laughed. "Thanks, but I'm fine for now. Let's focus on finishing the job, then we'll talk about my love life."

The trio walked in silence for a bit, before Alexa spoke up. "So, Relcter, anything exciting planned for the bounty?"

He was unusually somber as he spoke. "My daughter."

The other two went silent as he continued.

"Mary is taking good care of her, and she's been recovering well, thankfully. But... Not completely. I... I found someone that can help finally heal her. But, the price..." He paused, and his tone took on a note of frustration. "It's ridiculous. But it'll heal her. She'll be healthy again. Not just treat the symptoms, but truly heal her. She'll walk again. She'll..." He clenched his fists. "I have to do it."

Alexa placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure she'll be fine. And she's got the best father anyone could ever ask for. And if you still need more after this bounty, we've got your back, buddy. Right, Jonathan?"

"Hell yeah we do. You can count on us."

Relcter smiled, but his expression hardened quickly. "Thank you. I'll remember this."

Alexa nodded, then turned her attention to the path ahead, a forced cheer in her tone. "Alright. Let's get going. We've still got a lot of work to do, and the day is young!"

The trio kept walking, and Alexa's mind wandered. She couldn't help but think about the lives the Vex had destroyed. How many of the families and friends of the victims would never get the opportunity to avenge their loved ones? She knew just how many people were waiting back in the city with baited breath, desperate to receive news of the monsters' fate.

The bulk of the army's main force had already delved deep into the heart of the nest. The eerie chittering of the insects had long since grown silent, the battle front far too deep underground to hear anything at all. The team's communication stones had been pinging them every hour or so, keeping them up to date on their progress. By now, the pyromancers had already moved in, scouring anything and everything they could behind the vanguard. A single surviving egg could mean another hive could pop up anywhere. Something that was in everyone's best interest to avoid.

This was a full extermination. Not a single Vex could be allowed to survive.

"I see another cave. Other there!" The scout pointed. Without pausing, he grabbed his bag and rushed forward, already pulling out the next explosive vial. In his eagerness to finish up this refreshingly easy job and escape back to civilization, he made the one mistake no adventurer ever should.

He got careless.

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