As soon as the cart pulled up in front of the grand entrance of the Overblown Castle, there was this vibe of seriousness hanging in the air. Its towering spires shooting up against the clear blue sky and the massive walls gave off some major awe vibes. Marshmallow and his crew hopped off the cart, totally caught up in the epic architecture in front of them.

Stepping into the courtyard, the place was buzzing with Wyolanders who had gathered to welcome their leader back. "Look over there, Raven's back!" one of the warriors shouted out. You could hear the mad respect in his voice. He must've been super relieved to see his leader back in one piece, especially someone as top tier as Raven.

But then, all eyes quickly shifted to Marshmallow and his friends, sparking off whispers and curious looks. "And who are these guys? Haven't seen them around before," a young archer remarked, trying to get a better look. The new squad seemed to have lit up some gossip among the castle's Wyolanders.

"That dude... he's gotta be the one, the Jolly Rank everyone's been buzzing about, the first pick in the Cube, Marshmallow!" a bearded guy concluded, pointing at Marshmallow with a mix of awe and disbelief. The air was thick with energy, some were clearly psyched about his presence, others not so much, hiding their skepticism. They knew this guy could be a game-changer or a total flop. If he wiped out the enemies, great. But if he bit the dust? The enemies would snatch up his two hard-earned Unique Skills. No wonder not everyone was throwing a welcome party.

Lynx, picking up on the intense stares, sidled up to Marshmallow. "Hey, don't sweat it. Getting all this attention is pretty standard here, especially for the newbies." He whispered, trying to chill the vibe.

"Well, a tag like mine isn't exactly common," Marshmallow replied with a half-hearted smile. "But didn't expect this much side-eye."

For real, the tension was starting to thicken. Even though there were other new faces besides him, all eyes were glued to the Jolly Rank. Like they were checking out a wild beast in a cage, sure, some might look on in awe, but most would be freaked.

With the crowd still sizing him up, Marshmallow took a quick second to check his gear, almost forgetting about the backpack he had during the last fight before blacking out. Digging through his stuff, he was hit with a shocker: Eldrin's potions were gone.

But he calmed down for a second. "They must have used them to patch us up," he muttered to himself, realizing that their close brush with death must have been dodged thanks to those potions. Frankly, after that showdown with the Novgovians, they were pretty much like burnt barbecue leftovers. He was a little bummed about losing the potions, but the fact that they were still kicking was worth far more than any loot.

Amidst the hustle and the crowd cheering their leader's return, Lynx turned to him, eyes sparkling with excitement and almost begging. "Raven, come on, can I give Marshmallow and his crew a tour of the Overblown Castle? Just a couple of hours, I promise. It's not every day we get a Jolly Rank dropping by!"

Raven, arms crossed, gave Lynx that boss look. "You know we're swamped, right? Got a lot of urgent business to do."

"But think of the crew's spirits!" Lynx shot back, clenching her fists and looking downcast. "A little downtime and a show of our epic headquarters could do wonders, right? Besides, who better to play tour guide than me?"

Raven let out a half sigh, eyeing the group with those calculating peepers. "Alright," he gave in, "but only two hours, not a minute more. And after that, I want you all in the main hall. We've got stuff to discuss and can't afford to dilly-dally."

Lynx was pumped, already eyeing the first stop on their tour. "You hear that, guys? Two sharp hours then it's nose to the grindstone. Follow me, the Overblown Castle's got loads to see and we're not wasting a second!"

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Marshmallow, still kinda reeling from the welcome wagon, looked to his buddies for some backup. "Uh, yeah, guess so," he managed, trying to muster a smile. "But maybe we take it easy, yeah?"

Dam, never one to skip a chance for a quip, threw his hands up. "I'm just along for the ride, but if we pass a tavern, count me out."

Lynx chuckled, turning to Dam with a knowing grin. "Oh, we've got taverns galore here, but that's for after the tour. I'll be keeping an eye on you!"

Samantheye, always the one to bring it back to reality, caught Lynx's eye. "Hope this tour's got some strategy spots, not just gardens and taverns."

The Goat Horse, who'd been quietly tuning in, chewed on the air thoughtfully for a moment before chiming in. "As long as there's grub along the way, I'm good with whatever."

With that, Lynx started moving, and the squad followed. As they headed to the first stop, Lynx's laughter filled the courtyard. "Don't worry, we'll cover it all: strategy, snacks, and yes, even taverns," she said, throwing a cheeky glance at Dam.

***

During the tour, Lynx dived into the daily life organization inside the Overblown Castle, revealing strict hierarchies and clear-cut responsibilities. With her typical zest, she explained how the Wyolanders had turned the ancient fortress into a bustling hub of resistance and coordination.

"The lower ranks, E and D Ranks, mainly handle the castle's internal management," Lynx began, pointing out a group of young warriors busy restocking food supplies in the kitchens. "From cooking to cleaning, and maintaining weapons and armor, there's always something to be done. But don't think it's any less critical; without them, the castle couldn't function."

As they moved along corridors adorned with banners and armor, Lynx led them into a vast area set up as a training space, where the higher ranks, C and B Ranks, engaged in intense combat sessions. "This is where our best show their mettle. When they're not out hunting Novgovians or delving into dangerous dungeons for precious resources, they spend their time here, honing their skills."

The air was filled with the sound of strikes and the clash of weapons, serving as a constant reminder of the dangers lurking beyond the castle walls. Marshmallow and his friends watched in awe as a B Rank performed a series of complex maneuvers with a sword that emitted a bluish light, a hallmark of a high-level enchanted weapon.

As they neared the training area for A Ranks, Samantheye shot Lynx a curious look. "And the A Ranks?" she asked, almost as if trying to figure out what set these elite players apart from the rest.

Lynx slowed her pace, casting a glance towards the closed door leading to the A Ranks' private training room. "The A Ranks?" she began, "We're a different story. We don't train with the rest of the group, mainly because our skills are on a completely different level."

Marshmallow watched her intently. It was clear she took great pride in her abilities.

She referred to the A Ranks as "we," as if they were a distinct breed. Is a Very Unique Skill really that much stronger? Indeed, when I faced that Novgovian Leader, he was insanely more powerful than anything I'd encountered in the Survivor Game. Now that I have his Very Unique Skill, I need to learn to harness it as soon as possible!

Dam, who had been following the conversation with growing interest, stepped closer. "So, they train alone because they're too strong?" he asked, raising an eyebrow with a playfully skeptical expression.

Lynx nodded, her smile broadening at Dam's straightforward summary. "Exactly. Our strength is such that having others around during training could be... problematic. And let's be honest, there aren't many of us. Consider that in the entire Survivor Game, out of a thousand players, there are only eighteen A Ranks, evenly split between the two factions."

Marshmallow, who had been listening quietly, chimed in. "So, how many of you are here at the Overblown Castle?"

Lynx leaned casually against the wall beside the door. "Including me and Raven? Five," she said with a hint of pride. "Each of us brings a specific element, something that makes us unique and ridiculously powerful."

The Goat Horse, who had been quiet until then, made a sound that was a cross between a murmur and a whinny, almost as if trying to grasp the power Lynx was describing.

"It must be amazing to watch you guys train," Samantheye commented, her voice tinged with admiration but also a hint of anxiety.

Lynx smiled, lightly pushing the door open with a finger. "Oh, it is. But not today, I'm afraid. Their training is... let's say... private. And intensely exaggerated, like everything else here." With a laugh, she turned back to the group. "Come on, we've got a lot more to see. And remember, here at the Overblown Castle, everything is exaggerated!"