Edan proceeded carefully. He knew this was all a setup. What really annoyed him though was whichever way you cut it, Aser came out looking good. If Edan did prove to be useful in the lead, it was Aser who suggested it. If Edan fucked up and missed something, Aser would be able to call out his shortcomings.

Of the two, Edan didn’t know which he preferred.

The walls of the dungeon were smooth and almost square in shape. When they reached a T intersection Edan frowned.

“This looks man-made.” He said to no one in particular.

“Of course it is,” Aser replied, his tone bored. Almost dismissive. “The first floor and the hole are the only natural things around here. Everything in between was carved out by instructors, or Sect Elders. They use the Vitalis dense atmosphere for farming, experimenting, or training the next generation.”

Edan almost nodded his thanks. Almost.

“If you had listened more and slept less in class you would know this.”

“So close,” Edan muttered. So close to a normal conversation, he thought.

“Which way do we go?” He said instead.

Aser rested his hand on the pommel of his sword and looked at Edan coldly. Edan could see the cruelty beneath the surface. The malice. Edan refused to look away.

“You’re leading, runt,” Aser growled, looking away.

“I’m so close to walking your evil ass into a bed of flowers,” Edan whispered back, too low for the rest to hear.

Aser’s face flushed red and his lips thinned. Edan gave him a smile before picking the path to the right. He could see a few scraggly flowers clumped together along the left path and wasn’t eager to try his luck with those.

Edan shouldn’t have bothered. There were flowers along the right path as well, though these were few and far between. Wilted and brown, the clumps were easy to avoid. Edan wasn’t sure how much distance was needed before you alerted the glops pretending to be flowers, but just to be safe, he hugged the wall where he could. He noticed with amusement that the other eight did the same.

Ashina called a stop when they walked past a cluster of red crystals growing from the wall.

“We should take some of these,” she said, her usual sour expression thoughtful. “They likely contain fire attund Vitalis. Maybe an alchemist would buy them, or if one of you is looking to cultivate a fire-based path, it may help.”

“Trust the Gold Throne disciple to find something worth tokens.” Kaneel laughed. He pulled a knife from a sheath at his hip and used the tip to pry a crystal from the clump. It popped free from the wall and he caught it in his palm. “It’s warm.”

“I’m not a disciple yet,” Ashina said, pulling her own dagger. “I still need to birth my system and receive sponsorship.”

There was something about the way she said it that rubbed Edan the wrong way. He watched everyone crowd around the wall, dividing the cluster up amongst themselves and excluding him.

There’s no uncertainty Edan realised. Ashina had said the words but didn’t believe them. There was none of the fear Edan had felt when thinking about receiving sponsorship. There was no doubt that she’d get accepted by the Golden Throne Sect.

If the Edan from a week ago had been standing there he may have tried pushing to the front of the group to claim his own share of the loot. He may have resented Ashina for her confidence. He may have even left the group and gone off on his own in the hopes of finding something that would impress Master Sims. But he wasn’t the same Edan from a week ago.

Edan just needed to survive today. He just had to allow his body to soak up as much Vitalis as it could in the hopes he could use it later to push his body, mind, and soul to level 29. He didn’t need the loot. He didn’t need to impress the Sects, or whomever may be watching.

He had sponsorship. Edan just needed to survive long enough to reach it.

“Let’s keep moving,” Aser ordered before gesturing for Edan to lead on.

The rest of their search was uneventful. The only incident was when Yaw had stepped on Ashina’s heel and she’d threatened to gut him with his own blade. After that, everyone spread out a little.

Reaching a dead end they turned back. Surprisingly Kaneel led with the rest following in reverse order. Edan ended up at the back of the group with Aser. That itching, suspicious, feeling came back and Edan slowed his pace so Aser couldn’t get behind him.

He could feel the animosity rolling off the other student like a heat wave. With the rest of the class ahead of them it seemed the act of civility was dropped.

“You shouldn’t be here.” Aser hissed at Edan, his eyes angry slits. “You got lucky during the ranking matches. Brier is a fucking disappointment. I doubt she’ll receive sponsorship now.”

Edan kept his eyes forward though he watched Aser out of the corner of his eye. If the other man reached for his sword Edan was ready.

“My father suggested we get rid of her altogether. She was only kept around because she was…fun. Like her mother.”

The way he had said fun made Edan’s skin crawl. They’d reached the original intersection and Kaneel looked over the group's heads. Aser waved towards the stairs.

“We may as well head down to the next level, this one's a bust!” His voice had returned to the friendly, cordial tone he used with everyone else. The mask was back on.

Once everyone continued on, Aser turned back to Edan.

“My father also suggested we get rid of you.”

“Why?” Edan growled back, not bothering to keep his voice down. If Ashina and Yaw heard, they didn’t turn around. Lorien skipped along in front of them, talking to Nose. “Why do you hate me so much? I haven’t done a single thing to you!”

Aser actually looked shocked, the red stain on his cheeks began to creep down his neck and he fought to control his temper. Edan watched his hands, they clenched and unclenched on the handle of his sword.

If Aser was going to draw, it would be now. Edan heard his heart beating in his ears and adrenaline flooded his system, preparing him for a fight.

“Aser, do you want to take the lead to the next level?” Kaneel called out hopefully, breaking the tense moment.

A smile slid across Aser’s face as he moved forward.

“Of course!” Lorien and Nose made way for him as Teeth watched the interaction. Aser turned back. “Edan, you coming?”

“Fuck no!” Edan looked at him like he was crazy. Edan was getting whiplash from the constant tone changes.

“Come on,” Aser laughed, though the amusement didn’t reach his eyes. “Think of it as a reward for saving us earlier.”

“Yeah,” Teeth added, watching Aser for approval.

“Go on, ru-uhhh, Edan.” Nose added, though he stuttered saying Edans name.

“You deserve it, Edan!” Lorien added.

Edan wanted to slap his forehead. She actually looked like she meant it.

“Nothing but wind between those ears,” Edan muttered as he walked past the oblivious woman who slapped him on the back in congratulations.

Edan once more joined Aser as they walked down the narrow stairs to the third floor. Edan hugged the wall on the way down, staying as far away from the edge as possible. In contrast, Aser walked with a hand on the railing and even paused to look over.

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

The third floor was open, and like the first, large crystals dotted the landscape. Dried brown grass covered the ground and Edan bent down to feel one. He had expected it to be brittle and to break apart into dust, but the blades were soft and bent under his touch. It just looked dried up.

Walking forward cautiously Edan looked around. Sprouting from among the brown grass were ridges of blackened spikes. As thin as Edan’s wrist, the centermost ridge rose as high as his arm above the grass. The ridges on either side of them slowly decreased in size until the last ones were barely above the blades.

“What are those?” Yaw asked. “Branches?”

“Too uniform,” Edan said, looking back at the other man. “I say we avoid them.”

Something moved out of the corner of his eye and Edan’s head snapped to the side.

“They’re moving,” Aser called, drawing his blade with a hiss and pointing to the closest line of spikes.

Edan drew his own daggers as the ridges slid towards them, cutting a serpentine path through the brown grass. Behind him, the other students prepared their weapons.

“Can you see what it is?” he asked.

“No!” Aser snapped.

“It’s coming closer!” Yaw called out nervously.

“Is it a snake?” Ashina asked, crouching with her naked blade exposed.

The ridges slid deeper into the soil as they approached. The action reminded Edan of a shark submerging, its fin slipping beneath the waves.

“Underground!” Edan’s warning was muffled as the creature burst from the ground in a spray of dirt and gnashing teeth. Clumps of grass flew like shrapnel as the creature flew through the air.

Then it was among them.

Edan dove aside on instinct. He felt something large brush past him, heat searing his skin. Turning his dive into a roll, Edan sprung back to his feet, a dagger in each hand. He narrowly avoided being bowled over as Yaw went flying past.

[Ember Hound - lvl 31]

It looked like a cross between a snake and a dog. Its long, thick, powerful tail snapped through the air, pushing Lorien and Kumi off balance as they blocked. Its elongated body allowed it to turn and twist out of the way of Tooth's saber. Two thick taloned feet merged with a barrel-like chest and the creature hopped forward to snap at Nose. Serrated teeth closed on nothing as Kaneel’s blade chopped down on its snout. The sword barely pierced the creature's thick black hide.

Rivers of lava ran along the cracks in the thick plates that made up the creature's natural armor, and fire dripped from its mouth as it sniffed the air. The snout was wide and smooth, and where there should have been eyes, there was only a bony ridge.

“It’s blind!” Edan yelled.

The hound turned to him, its tail knocking Kaneel over and its bulk pushing Nose back. The powerful front legs bent.

“Fuck.” Edan had time to say before the creature lunged towards him.

Edan threw first one dagger, then the next. Both were aimed at the joint of its shoulder but only the first found its mark. The creature flinched as the blade bit into it and the second blade glanced off a hardened plate.

Edan dove aside again, the heat from the creature close enough that he felt the hairs on his arm burn.

Ashina was there then, her sword flashing out across the creature's snout, pushing it back. Aser moved in from the side, his duel-colored sword rising and falling in a powerful slash that dug deep into its thick neck.

Blood poured from the wound, burning the grass and sending foul-smelling smoke into the air.

The creatures screeched, thrashing wildly. Kumi blocked its tail with his staff, the force sending him sliding back. Lorien stepped forward and stabbed at the muscle along the hound's leg with her trident.

Aser stepped back from the snapping teeth and Ashina slid under its over-extended head as she tried to slash its throat. The creature surged forward, seeking out Aser, and pushed Ashina over, its thick taloned feet almost trampling her. She rolled out of the way, dust covering her armor.

Yaw screamed with rage as he reentered the fight. His blade rose and fell as he hacked at the creature. It turned, the blows its hide couldn’t deflect sunk into flesh but that only seemed to make it angrier.

It twisted around, snapping at Nose as he attacked the base of its tail. Edan used the distraction to his advantage and sprinted forward. He pulled the two punch daggers from his back as he ran. The creature’s mouth snapped closed an inch from Nose’s, well nose, and Nose screamed as boiling saliva from its mouth splashed across his face.

Edan jumped, his daggers leading the way. He hit the creature's back, his blades sinking deep, and stuck there. The hound's flesh burned his skin and it bucked to get him off. Edan screamed as he held on to his daggers, unwilling to give them up. Gritting his teeth against the pain, Edan pulled one dagger free. He almost went flying as the creature sprung into the air.

Using the daggers as holds, Edan pulled himself up its body. The creature, unsure which attack to deal with first, twisted and turned, hopping on its powerful legs to dislodge Edan, only to hiss and snap as someone else darted in to attack it.

When he lost his grip on one of his daggers, Edan grabbed desperately at one of the ridges. The skin on his palm burnt and he almost let go, but he was so close. Pulling his remaining dagger free from its back, Edan pulled himself forward. The creature lurched and Edan felt a second of weightlessness as he was flung into the air. With a bone-jarring thud, he landed on its back, narrowly avoiding being impaled on a spike as the air was blasted from his lungs.

Aser flipped over the lashing tail before his sword flickered across the creature's leg, severing a nerve. The leg buckled and Edan slid forward. Taking advantage of the movement Edan pulled his dagger free and jammed it back down with all his strength at what he hoped was the base of the skull. Bracing a foot against a spike, and using the handle of his dagger as an anchor, Edan slid another dagger from his chest and drove it down beside the first. Weighted more for throwing, it didn’t sink as deep as the first, but Edan didn’t care. His last dagger was pulled free and joined the other two.

With a grunt, Lorien drove her trident into the bottom of the creature's jaw, Kumi jumped into the air and brought his staff down across its muzzle like a club, pushing it down. Lorien braced the butt of the trident against the ground and the force of Kumi’s blow drove it deeper into the soft tissue.

Ashina slid under the creature, trusting the trident to keep it erect, and sliced its throat. She scrambled out of the way as hot blood spilled.

With a final thrash and gasping hiss, the creature fell still and Edan threw himself off it. He hit the ground and rolled away. His skin felt hot and tender.

[Ember Hound - lvl 31 slain]

[Experience gathered]

[Vitalis gathered]

Edan heard the others arguing and rolled over enough to see them standing around the dead body. Nose’s face looked horrible. Blisters covered his cheek and forehead, and a patch of skin near his brow wept clear fluid. Yaw was hunched over, holding his ribs. Ashina was covered in dirt and brown blades of grass were tangled in her hair.

Getting to his feet, Edan made his way over gingerly.

“...ard to tell who made the killing blow.” Kumi was saying. Edan noticed he was leaning heavily on his staff and seemed to be favoring his left foot.

“And we each contributed equally,” Aser answered. “It just so happens that of the eight of us, four are from the Four Star Heavenly Sect, and as such we get the first choice on loot.”

Kumi didn’t look happy, and neither did Ashina, Yaw, or Lorien, but there wasn’t much they could say.

“Hold up,” Edan called. His throat was dry and he had to swallow before continuing. “What loot and don’t I have a say?”

“It’s a graded beast, you idiot.” Aser snapped, too tired to pretend to be civil. “That means it will have a core, not to mention its hide and claws. And you don’t have a say because no one here will listen.”

“I’d listen!” Lorien chirped up.

“As would I.” Kumi agreed, though whether in support of his fellow sect member or because he actually agreed with Edan, Edan didn’t know.

Ashina looked between Aser and Edan.

“The Golden Throne stands with the Four Star Heavenly Sect.” She said.

And just like that, Aser and his group began digging around the skull of the creature to find its core. Nose pulled out Edan’s daggers and tossed them to the side. Edan thought of saying something, but he hurt everywhere and was too tired to bother. He limped over and collected them before wandering off to find the second one he had thrown.

Luckily the metal shone amongst the dull brown grass and he found it with little difficulty. Standing up straight he brushed a little dirt from the blade and slid it into the sheath. As he turned back to the group movement caught his eye and made him swear out loud. His slow walk turned into a limping run as he yelled out.

“We’ve got more!”

Turning at his shout, the others looked around in worry. Their concern turned to dread as they noticed three more lines of spines swimming through the grass.

“Fuck the core, we need to run!” Edan yelled, pointing towards the stairs.

The others didn’t wait for him, they took off sprinting. Those, like Kumi, who were too injured to go all out hobbled along, glancing over their shoulders with worry.

Aser was still on top of the dead Ember Hound and as Edan drew level with him, he saw the other man pull out a red stone from the bloody hole in the creature's head before slipping it into his pocket.

Then Edan was past him. Edan was more than happy to leave Aser behind to be eaten. He doubted the man would provide a tasty meal, but hopefully, he was tough enough to slow them down.

Ashina reached the stairs first and turned up, heading to the safety of the second floor. Kaneel hot on her heels. Lorien had slowed enough to swing Kumi’s arm over her shoulder and was helping him along. Tooth and Nose had slowed down, their frantic gazes aimed over Edans head.

Edan looked over his shoulder. Aser was right behind him. And behind him were four hounds. They sprung from the ground in a shower of dirt before diving back in, their forms slipping into the soil like a drop of water being absorbed.

Tooth and Nose made it to the stairs and started up. Edan slid the last meter, almost barreling into the railing. He could hear Aser breathing behind him and the rumble of the approaching hounds.

Edan turned to go up the stairs and got a boot to the face. His nose collapsed with a crunch, blood bursting from his nostrils to cover his chin. His head snapped back and he stumbled, his arms windmilling as he missed a step. Stars and tears swam in his vision.

Arms grabbed him around the waist and hurled him back. He felt his waist hit the railing with a jarring impact and he grasped onto it blindly.

“My father said to get rid of you.” Aser’s voice reached Edan as the man left him behind.

Edan didn’t have time to clear his vision. Through his tears, he saw a mouth full of sharp teeth snarling at him as a hound hit him square in the chest and they both went over the railing.