Even after getting into Milla's car, Luke sat glued to the phone screen. Right away, there were far too many notifications to take them all in. A lot had happened since Luke had entered the dungeon. The influencer woman texted to say she'd found a whole bunch of people for him to heal, then had proceeded to text him every ten minutes to ask where he was and why he wasn't responding, cursing him out for the collaboration opportunity of a lifetime. People to heal were a good thing, of course, but that would have to wait. From now on, he wouldn't have trouble finding ways to grind through healing, at least.

  A not-so-brief message from Alan made Luke grin, then frown at the end.

  "Luke! I'm alive and well. The physicians ran several tests, and they all say the tumor is gone and that my brain matter is restored somehow. Thank you. I have noticed slight changes in my cognitive abilities, but only of the positive kind. Seems like you have given me many more years to live out my life. For that, you have my word I'll use them well. The funds I promised should be in your account by now, and there will be more where that came from once my colleagues and friends know about the service you can provide! Also, you should reconsider joining my guild. You'll have all the resources you could ever need. I'll even let you handpick your own team."

  Cognitive changes were expected, but it was a little strange to hear that Alan saw an improvement after what amounted to brain surgery. Perhaps the mana channels Luke created to go along with the brain matter had something to do with it, but the reason didn't matter that much right now. The important thing was Alan's health, which seemed to be fine.

  An onslaught of texts and missed calls from Johanson followed, his DIA contact regarding Ray.

  Missed calls (6).

  "Luke. We have found a credible witness who says Ray touched the orb when we spotted him in the park. The witness claims he did not disappear into the Tutorial Dungeon upon touching the orb."

  "We have arranged a location that you may use to practice healing. Gathering information about possible patients now. The director has signed off on your using DIA property when healing."

  Then, perhaps an hour later.

  "Responses are flooding in regarding healing. So far, we have 116 volunteers in the Chicago area alone."

  Following that, things took a darker turn.

  "Luke. We spotted Ray on a camera feed again. This time in Marquette Park. I have received information about your whereabouts, and I know you cannot receive these messages until you leave the dungeon. Please call me when you get this. More information to follow."

  Another message followed. The timestamps showed Johansen sent it ten minutes later.

  "Another portal has opened up near Ford City Mall. Ray entered it, Luke. DIA en route."

  "Shit," Luke muttered.

  Curtis turned to him. "What?"

  "A friend of mine was taken over by an evil boss from that pink dungeon a couple of days ago. Now he's entered another dungeon."

  "...What?" Curtis asked.

  Now that Luke thought about it, that gentle tugging at the back of his head told him that another portal had indeed opened up. This whole mess was making him miss things. Not good.

  "It's a long story," Luke said, leaning forward to speak to Milla, who looked like she needed some sleep. "We have to take a detour."

  "You're not going into another dungeon right now, little brother."

  He'd explained to Milla what had happened with Ray before this, of course. "I will if I have to. If Ray is in there."

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  "Luke," Milla began.

  Luke held up a hand. "Wait, there's more here."

  "Ray was among the first to enter the dungeon. He spent perhaps an hour in there, and we think he left before we got to the scene. Unfortunately, several of the Integrated who entered through the portal were found in... pieces."

  At that moment, Luke's phone rang. It was Agent Johanson.

  "Have you found him again?" Luke asked.

  "Luke! Finally! Ray was spotted near..."

  "I know," Luke said. "I read the messages. Where is he now?"

  "He's here!"

  "...What?" Luke asked.

  "Your friend walked into the DIA headquarters less than five minutes ago! He's not looking good. And Luke?"

  "Yeah?"

  "He's asking for you."

  Luke swallowed hard and peered at Milla through the rearview mirror. "We're coming."

  "Where?" she asked once he hung up the call.

  "The orb. Your headquarters," Luke said.

  Milla glanced at him in the mirror. "What?"

  "Does this mean I'm not getting a ride back to my place?" Curtis asked.

  "That's right," Luke said. "You're coming with us to help my friend."

  "Great," Curtis sighed.

  As Milla sped back into the city proper, heading for the DIA headquarters, Luke sent a quick reply to Alan, then considered getting in touch with his party. At first, he discarded the idea. They were exhausted and deserved rest, but he'd promised Penny he would let them help. Sighing, he sent a text in their party chat, then realized he had a better way.

  Luke: "Ray is at DIA headquarters asking for me. I'm heading there now with Milla and Curtis."

  Penny: "We're coming."

  Mateo: "We must rescue our friend from the clutches of evil!"

  Hannah: "I'm sorry, but I can't. There's something weird about my shadows. They're misbehaving. I think I'm just tired. Sorry."

  Luke: "It's fine. Just letting you know because I said I would."

  Was it Ray who waited for him, or was it Relian? This had to be a trick of some sort, a trap, but what choice did Luke have? Relian used Ray's skills, and that Assassin’s stealth turned him into a ghost. If Luke wanted to reach Ray, he needed to come face-to-face with him. This was a chance he couldn't waste, no matter what. As a Lifeweaver, he could help Ray. There had to be a way, no matter what sort of hold Relian had over him.

  With the messages to his party handled and his determination set, he returned to his texts. Lilly the Influencer, Agent Johanson, and Alan weren't the only ones who'd contacted him while he was away. The messages from his parents, the landlord, and the hospital could wait, but he couldn't help but be curious about Tim and what he'd experienced in the Tutorial Dungeon. Plenty of texts from Tim waited for him.

  "Luke! Why couldn't all doctors who joined at the orb become Lifeweavers? You did something, didn't you? What did you do?"

  "Hey! Answer me! I'm a Lifeweaver now, same as you! Got killed by some bullshit worm in the Tutorial Dungeon, but that doesn't matter! I have Threads of Mana and Needle of Life! You need to come and teach us now!"

  "You promised! Where are you?????? Dr. Marlene messed up when she tried to heal an old injury of hers, and now she's got internal bleeding! I tried fixing it, but the damn needle slipped. She's in surgery now, so they can go in and fix her. Had to ride back to the hospital in an ambulance. This is all your fault! You said you'd train us!"

  "Luke?! Where are you? Dr. Stergios isn't answering his phone. Haven't seen him since the park, just after the Tutorial!"

  "Luke?" Milla asked, breaking the silence.

  He blinked and pulled away from Tim's messages. "Yeah?"

  "Nymh taking the gem to DIA headquarters and Ray going there at the same time. Kind of ominous. Isn't it?"

  Luke had been tapping his fingers against the car window, but stopped once he registered what his sister was asking. He shook his head, frowning. "Let's hope it's just a coincidence."

  "The Deep Dweller said something about using the gem," Curtis said.

  "It did say that," Milla agreed.

  The memories from the time before leaving the dungeon were a little hazy, like his mind wanted to protect him by forgetting the pain and exhaustion, but he remembered once he focused on it. "Something about travel."

  Luke: "Nymh! You there?"

  No reply.

  Luke: "Nymh!?"

  "I can't reach Nymh," Luke said.

  Milla floored it, and the car lurched to a higher speed, its engine letting out a high-pitched screech at the sudden abuse. "Me neither," she said.

  "Anyone else at the headquarters?" Luke asked.

  He held his breath while his sister concentrated, trying to weave through traffic while sending mental messages through the smaller communications gems.

  After taking another moment, she shook her head. "No. Just a field agent who isn't anywhere near headquarters."

  "I don't like this," Luke said.

  "Another 10 minutes and we'll be there," Milla said.

  Curtis scoffed. "Unless you drive us off the road first." He turned to Luke. "Do you think we'd survive a crash? Integrated are hardier than normals, but it wouldn't be pleasant. Then again, seems like you can heal through just about anything."

  "What?" Luke asked, half-listening. The growing unease in his stomach wasn't just connected to the gem.

  "I'll have you know I'm an excellent driver!" Milla shouted as the car took a hard corner.

  Luke texted Tim. "Tim, listen. This is very important. You said Dr. Stergios disappeared near the orb? Have you found him? Are you still there?"