“Boss, you go rest,” Orion declared, puffing out his chest. “Leave this to me!”

  “Yeah, we’ve got this,” Rena and Hazel added, both looking eager for a fight. They were still pulsing with the power of Fenris’s blessing and hadn’t gotten a real chance to use it. The buff would surely disappear once the quest officially ended. If they were going to enjoy this god-tier power, it was now or never.

  For once, Kael agreed with Orion. With only a dozen minutes left on the timer, he was confident they could hold the line. He gave them a nod and slowly walked back into the stronghold to recover, his movement speed still crippled by the weakening debuff.

  A few moments later, Lila descended from the watchtower and joined the others at the east gate.

  “Lila, how many are there?” Rena asked as they gathered around her. “Which gate are they coming for?”

  “Between four and five thousand of them,” Lila reported, drawing her greatsword. “And they’re all heading this way.” She hefted the massive blade with one hand and raised it high. “Dawnbreaker finished the hard part. Now it’s our turn to clean up. Give it everything you’ve got!”

  “YEAH!” the others roared in response, taking their positions.

  As the horde of monsters scrambled up the mountainside, however, the party’s tension melted away. A quick inspection revealed the nature of the threat, and they all breathed a sigh of relief.

  [Two-Tailed Scorpion] - Lvl 32

  HP: 155,000

  Magic Attack: 6,100

  .....

  [Ogre Brute] - Lvl 34

  HP: 220,000

  Physical Attack: 8,500

  .....

  They were just level 30+ minions. Under normal circumstances, a tide of thousands of them would have been a serious problem. But with the blessing from the well, the party’s defenses were so high that these creatures couldn’t even scratch them. This wasn’t a defense; it was a slaughter.

  Orion made the first move. He slammed his staff into the ground, activating a complex runic array he had prepared earlier.

  [Gale Force Ward]!

  Centered on his Windbreaker Charm and supercharged by the 5,000 bonus Spirit from the well water, the effect was spectacular. A sixty-yard field of swirling wind erupted around the gate, slowing all enemies within it by 35% while granting allies a 35% boost to movement and attack speed, plus ten extra yards of range.

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  Fueled by his massively increased Intellect, the ward’s damage-over-time effect was also surprisingly potent.

  -10,021

  -11,192

  -11,813

  …

  With a war cry, Lila activated [Bladebound] and shot into the dense pack of monsters like a silver comet.

  -21,831

  -20,755

  …

  A trail of damage numbers followed in her wake. She followed up with a sweeping [Dragon Slash], sending three waves of energy tearing through the horde. The monsters swiped and bit at her, their attacks bouncing harmlessly off her shield.

  -1 (Absorbed)

  -121 (Absorbed)

  -323 (Absorbed)

  A single Power Word: Shield from Rena was now worth fifty thousand health—more than these mobs could chew through in a lifetime. Hazel, not one to be left out, had stowed her shield and was now wielding a gigantic, spiked mace. She charged headfirst into the fray, swinging wildly and sending bodies flying. Her damage was mediocre, but she was having the time of her life.

  From the back line, Orion was a whirlwind of activity, flinging expensive elemental talismans as if they were free. Since teaming up with Kael, his financial situation—both in-game and in real life—had improved dramatically. The days of penny-pinching were long gone.

  Compared to the chaos of the other three, Rena was an island of calm. She had expected to be frantically healing, but no one was taking any damage.

  She had skimped on learning the Priest’s few damage spells to save skill points, so there was little for her to do but watch Orion’s flashy pyrotechnics with amusement.

  Fifteen minutes later, after they had slain several hundred monsters, the system notification they’d been waiting for finally arrived.

  [System]: The Blackwind Brotherhood teleport nexus has been successfully established.

  The besieging monsters, however, didn’t seem to notice. They continued their mindless assault on the gate.

  Suddenly, a long, piercing cry echoed from within the stronghold. A black silhouette soared into the sky above them.

  The figure took a deep breath and unleashed a thunderous shout. The sound was a physical force, a shockwave that rolled down the mountainside. Every single monster below was struck by the same, impossible number:

  -500,000!

  In an instant, the remaining four thousand monsters collapsed, wiped out in a single blow.

  Stunned, the party looked up to see a familiar figure floating down. It was the Second Chieftain, Bork. And somehow, he was now level 45.

  Kael walked out to meet him. Were you recovering or grinding levels in a hyperbolic time chamber? he thought to himself. How did you level up so fast?

  He kept the thought to himself, of course. As Bork landed, Kael approached with a warm smile. “Welcome. Did the First Chieftain come as well?”

  Bork let out a hearty laugh. “Haha, no need to bother the big boss for something like this. He’s holding down the fort at Starlight Village. He sent me to handle things here.” He walked over and clapped Kael on the shoulder. “Ullr, you’ve done us another great service. Name your reward. I’ll speak to my brother on your behalf.”

  Kael quickly waved his hand dismissively. “I didn’t come for a reward. I did this for our brothers in the Blackwind Brotherhood.”

  Orion, standing nearby, had to physically restrain himself from rolling his eyes. Not for a reward? Then what in the hell have we been doing for the last three days?

  But Kael’s caution was deliberate. He had no memories tied to this questline and was navigating it carefully.

  Bork beamed, pleased by Kael’s humility. “Your aid has been invaluable. I found this chest at the bottom of a lake long ago and have never been able to open it. Today, it is yours. Perhaps one day you will find a master locksmith who can.”

  Kael accepted the ornate box. As he examined its intricate lock, an unexpected system message appeared.

  [System]: The lock on this chest is exquisite. It likely requires [Grandmaster] Lockpicking skill to be opened.

  Grandmaster? Kael thought, a slow grin spreading across his face.

  What a coincidence.