Ehrwin had blood on his hands. Blood of his former companions, Marsh and Yokel.

No matter how many times Dolly tried convincing him that it wasn’t his fault, he couldn’t help but blame himself. It was he who either conceived or agreed to flawed plans. It was he who had led them to their untimely demise.

When will I learn?

Despite the haunting reminder of his past failures, he appeared to be on the verge of repeating the same mistake.

The group trudged forward through the Murky Mire, the heavy, viscous mud grabbing at their boots with tenacious fingers. Their footsteps echoed like heavy thuds, punctuated by sickening squelches as they struggled to maintain their footing.

The desolate wasteland around them was dotted with the skeletons of dead trees and overrun by snarling vines that choked the life from everything they touched. Scattered across the terrain were murky pools of water, their dark surfaces mirroring the cloudy sky above.

The storm had come and gone, leaving in its wake a silence so complete it was almost palpable. Only the mournful croaks of distant frogs broke the stillness, and the air hung heavy and damp, clinging to their bodies like a second skin and drenching their clothes with moisture.

Their guide Bog led the way in front. “We are but a mere stone’s throw from our destination. Beyond those mournful willow trees lay our common foe. I implore you to make ready yourselves for what is to come,” he said, pointing at the two twisting willow trees that stood ahead, their branches twisting and contorting into knots that merged together to form a natural archway.

“I think we should stop for a moment,” Ehrwin spoke up, drawing everyone’s attention. He wasn’t sure why he made the suggestion. Sometimes he tended to speak impulsively, without fully considering the impact of his words.

The weight of the moment settled upon him as he wondered what he could possibly say to them. He was never one for speeches or rousing words, and yet, here he stood, searching for something to say.

“Flint, you go scout the area and find a good spot for you. I want you in a place where you can use that bow of yours to full effect. Take Bog along.”

“Uh,” Flint grunted in assent. Ehrwin would’ve frowned at that six months ago, but after spending half a year in his company, he just knew which grunt meant what.

“A wise decision,” Bog said, nodding his head approvingly.

“Meet us back here when you’re done.”

Flint nodded, then smoothly turned and started down the path.

“Chief, I need to piss,” Gaul said.

Ehrwin rolled his eyes. “Sure, do it over there.” He gestured in the direction of a pool of water beyond the dead trees.

“Aye.”

Ehrwin watched as Gaul made his way to where he had pointed, then turned his gaze to Dolly who was fixated on him.

He took in her expression, noting the intense look in her eyes and the way she held herself. The moment was heavy with unspoken words, and he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of unease as he met her gaze.

“What—”

Ehrwin started as Dolly’s hand wrapped around his member, the very fingers that had broken the manhood of many with ease. Her touch was strong, unyielding, and sent shivers down his spine.

“You thought I wouldn’t notice?”

Ehrwin’s throat went dry as a knot of anxiety formed in his gut. Has she figured it out? That he was a fraud?

“You’ve always played dumb, acting like you don’t get my hints, eh, chief?”

“I...um,” he stuttered, struggling to find the words.

Her sparkling emerald eyes fixed on him, she breathed softly, lips slightly parted. The look on her face, framed by her curtain of bangs, made her even more captivating.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

Ehrwin glanced around nervously, checking if Gaul was nearby. Thankfully, he was nowhere to be seen. And thankfully, it wasn’t what he had initially thought she meant.

“Come with me,” he said, grasping her arm that had clung to his member.

He guided her behind a massive, weathered tree trunk and pressed her against it, his body language conveying a sense of domination. He then leaned in, placing his hand against the tree beside her head with a loud thud, effectively trapping her between his body and the rough bark.

“Finally letting yourself be true to your desires, eh, chief?”

“I’ve wanted to bed you since the moment I first saw you.”

“What’s been holding you back?”

“Once this is all over,” he whispered into her ear, “I'll give you so much pleasure your moans will echo through the night.”

Dolly snorted in laughter as Ehrwin felt a stab of insecurity, wondering if what he had said were too cringe. He didn't have much experience with this stuff, neither in his past life nor present.

Blessedly, her lips curled into a lascivious smile. “Can’t wait.”

They stood in silence, looking into each other. The mist of the Mire swirled around them, but they were lost in their own world. Ehrwin reached out and gently cupped her face in his hand, feeling the warmth of her skin. Her eyes fluttered closed as he leaned in, their lips meeting in a soft and tender kiss.

The kiss was electric, sending a jolt of desire through his body. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close as the kiss deepened. The mist seemed to part, as if giving them a moment of privacy in the otherwise treacherous landscape.

“Guys? Where’d everybody go?” came a familiar voice from a certain goofball.

Ehrwin reluctantly broke away from their passionate embrace, his lips still tingling from their kiss.

“We’ll pick up right where we left off when this is all over,” he whispered, his voice low and husky.

Dolly smiled, her fingers lingering on his chest as she replied, “I’ll hold you up on that,” before slowly releasing him.

They quickly straightened their clothing, trying to compose themselves before Gaul’s return.

“Over here,” Ehrwin called.

Gaul frowned. “What’re you guys doing up here?”

“Waiting for you to be done pissing, asshole,” Dolly snapped, her arms crossed in defiance.

“Looks like Flint’s on his way back,” Ehrwin said.

Flint had the usual blank expression, a familiar sight to all of them. Bog trailed behind him closely.

“Get a good look at what we’re going up against?”

Flint grunted in agreement.

Time for a pep talk. The pep talk he should had given a while ago instead of sending Flint away to scout.

“Listen up, everyone,” Ehrwin began, clearing his throat. “This’ll be our final challenge. We’ve been through a lot together. We’ve hiked through forests, crossed deserts, sailed a sea, and won battles. But we’ve also lost friends along the way. Yokel and Marsh are no longer with us, and the best way to honor them is to finish what we started.”

“Aye!” Gaul yelled, pumping his fist in the air.

Dolly didn’t seem as moved by his words as Gaul, her gaze lowered momentarily as if weighed down by the memories of Yokel, her former lover.

Ehrwin inwardly cringed, wishing he hadn’t brought up Yokel. What's done was done. No point fussing about it now.

He thrust his hand forward, palm down. “No retreat,” he declared.

Blessedly, Dolly shook off her sadness and placed her hand above Ehrwin’s, her resolve matching his. “No surrender,” she added.

Gaul’s massive hand came next, slapping down on top of theirs, his voice rumbling with conviction. “Death before dishonor,” he affirmed.

Flint added his hand to the stack with a determined grunt.

“For Marsh and Yokel!” Ehrwin shouted. The rest of the group, except Flint, echoed his words in unison, and threw their hands in the air.

“Lead the way, Bog.”

This was it. The climax of his journey. He'd be lying if said he weren't nervous. Nevertheless, he pushed out his chest and strutted toward the archway.

Gaul Hammers, strode alongside him, his massive hammer perched on his shoulder. He exuded an aura of intimidation with every step, and was worth a hefty sum of 600 gold coins – more than Flint and Dolly combined. Although he could be a bit thick in the head at times, but in a battle, he was the first person anyone would want on their side.

Dickbreaker Dolly had her hand on her hilt. With a bounty of 250 gold coins and a reputation for breaking dicks with ease, she was a force to be reckoned with both on and off the battlefield.

Eagle-eyed Flint carried his bow and quiver on his back, ropes coiled over his shoulders, his silence communicating his resolve. With a bounty of 300 gold coins, he was regarded as one of the best criminal archers in the continent.

Six months he’d spent with this group. Not every moment were great of course. There were ups and downs, but If he were given the chance to pick his teammates again, he wouldn’t hesitate to choose the same group.

As they walked through the archway formed by gnarled branches of two willow trees knotting together, Ehrwin couldn’t help but feel his heart pounding. The mists gradually cleared as they approached their destination, revealing a large expanse surrounded by twisted, dead trees with thick trunks, the air thick with the putrid smell of death.

In the center stood a creature that defied all of Ehrwin’s prior knowledge and experiences - a monstrous being with the body of a horse, a man’s torso without hands, long necks and three heads that resembled those of a crocodile with razor-sharp teeth capable of tearing a person apart in one bite.

Ehrwin named the heads - lefty, middler, and righty.

According to Bog, the left and the right head could stretch at great lengths to attack, giving it superior range; only the middle head could stretch a few meters to defend its body. Its hooves also gave it the advantage of speed. Ehrwin cursed under his breath, realizing they were at a disadvantage against this beast.

“That is her husband? How the fuck did they even shag?” Dolly asked.

Ehrwin needed to piss. Always needed to piss before a fight. He really should have joined Gaul and relieved himself rather than sucking face with Dolly. Well, too late for that now. Too late to piss, too late to run.