The climb to the top floor was not particularly challenging.

  More Undead Assassins stood in their way, but they were easily dispatched by the Runebearers, who had adjusted their formation to best receive the assassins. They ascended another five stairs.

  As they received a stop order from John, Suna couldn’t help but throw a gaze below where the third Tiefling line fought. Perhaps only five Tieflings carrying a basket full of potions made it to them. The others… their fate was unknown.

  Suna glanced at John, who somberly stared at the endless darkness below. A spire of stairs consumed by shadows, on which their steps were littered with the corpses of Undead Assassins. It was no guarantee that all assassins had died; some ought to still be hidden, deciding that the first two lines were too tough for them, which means if the Tieflings below managed to escape up… then they would still be hunted down.

  It was a cruel strategy to sacrifice them for speed, but one that Suna had agreed with.

  “John,” Noa called. The Bulwark stood with all of his armor. Ahead of him was a wide corridor that vaulted far above and ended in stark darkness. Windows so high up lined the walls and let in a sliver of icy light. Suna shivered from the cold that had crept into his body even after all the climbing he did.

  The Bulwark pointed forward, his armor clinking. “The throne room is closed.”

  Two vast gates ahead of them reminded Suna of the gateway toward the underworld. It stood stout, and strangely, two small handles, no, perhaps not small, two normal handles placed just at a normal height.

  “We’re going in first, then?” Reki asked.

  The office worker downed another Mana potion and thanked the support Tieflings. He wiped his lips, hefted up his shield, and stood beside Noa.

  “I reckon the Runebearers deserve some rest now,” he said with a grin. The Runebearers now surrounded the gate. Amidela began running back, no doubt trying to get commands from John.

  John, meanwhile, just stared ahead at the running Amidela, seconds after wrenching his vision away from the staircase. “Yes, we shall take the frontline,” John said to them, breathless and distracted, almost in a hurry. “But, let me reorient the Runebearers first, we’ve lost a couple on our way… I will make sure that our plan to target the Undead Shadow Rebel first, while the rest of the Runebearers keep the Godknight at bay with their ranged spell properly implemented.”

  John ran forward to meet Amidela, turning on them.

  “Please get ready, this won’t take long.”

  “All right,” Wendy said. “Let's finish our final formation, too,” she said to Suna.

  “Hmm. Noa and Reki in front, John and I will do all the damage while Wendy provides extra shield,” Suna said, assuming it was their best position. It was strange to talk about this; it's like they were in the military.

  No, not military. A bloody video game.

  A twitch pulsed above him, his rabbit ear jerking, and Suna could sense him. The [Undead Godknight]. He felt evil from the [Necromancer], but truthfully, he did not fear the lord of death as much as he feared this knight. He was reminded of the Permafrost Knight, how there was almost nothing he could do against him; it felt like a going againts force of nature itself. And now this [Undead Godknight]… Maybe it was because of his rabbit ear… Like a rabbit that detects prey and wants to hop away, Suna's knee buckled.

  His balance was broken, and he staggered to one knee.

  “Suna?” Noa noticed first.

  Wendy quickly knelt, checking his face, and Noa picked a health potion from the support and handed it to him.

  Suna waved him away, “No, it's not me… It's this…”

  “Eyebag! You’re alright there?” Reki went down on him. “Hold on, it might be a curse. This is because you made a Pact with Bad God!” he began chanting. “By the light, I, a shepherd of those who are lost, shall return an—”

  “Stop, you will just make me worse,” Suna grunted and wobbly stood. He stepped forward, and a wave of pressure overwhelmed him. This was not him. It was the cloak—the pure fear of a rabbit about to face a predator.

  What a horrible timing to find its weakness.

  He bit his cheek and tasted metal as tears started to brim around his eyes, trying to use pain so he could reorient himself.

  This is not the time to be scared…

  Suna leaned on Wendy and Noa’s shoulders, and he stood, intending to fight no matter what.

  “What did you say, you little…” Reki growled.

  “Relax, Reki,” Noa said, holding up a hand. “It’s the cloak, is it? Should you fight with it?”

  “I just need to get used to it. Besides, this will keep me aware of our distance. I’m an archer.” Suna reminded him.

  “Well, that's convenient,” Wendy mumbled.

  “Come on then,” Reki said. The office worker heaved a breath and closed his eyes. “Actually, hold on a second…”

  Reki began chanting again. It's quite lengthy, and once he was done, a massive Warhammer coalesced out of thin air as a striking golden light above the Orator. He dropped his shield and, holding his spell Warhammer in two hands, Reki looked like some warrior of gold.

  The Warhammer was quite simply designed, with its golden surface that shone like glittering gold and had some aspect of light that looked like a mirage to Suna’s eyes, but it was undoubtedly real as Reki held it.

  “I’m ready, I’m joining the damage dealers.”

  “What with this suddenly?” Suna asked. To change the position like this…

  “I’m taking into consideration that you might want to run around and shoot,” he explained. “Having more people to deal heavy damage to our target will draw their attention better than having two shields.” Reki turned, and the orator let out a huge groan like a dying walrus.

  “What is it?” Suna said, snapping his Gale bow into existence and drawing an Emberwind in one smooth practice motion. Noa moved quickly, hefting both of his shields in front of him, and Wendy tapped her staff, and a translucent barrier appeared around them.

  This…

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  This was like Suna was inside a tank, with his bow acting as the tank’s barrel.

  “Reki!” Noa shouted, “Enemy?”

  “They’re kissing,” Reki hissed. “Look, John and Amidela.”

  Suna peered above Noa’s shield, and sure enough, the two Tieflings were full-on making out. Some of the Runebearers behind them even cheered.

  “Inappropriate!” Reki shouted. He moved Noa’s shield away and bristled with fury. “This is not the place…”

  Suna and Noa grasped Reki’s collar just above his armor, jerking the office worker's body back behind them.

  “What do you think you're doing!” Wendy snapped, “You coldhearted glass…”

  “We’re about to fight to the death here!”

  “Come on, Reki,” Noa said, “Let's just… go bypass them.”

  The bulwark walked forward, and Suna followed him, leaving Reki and Wendy giving each other a cold stare. They shortly followed.

  Suna glanced back at both of them. “This is kinda familiar,” he said, lowly to Noa.

  They passed John and Amidela. Noa playfully tapped John on the shoulder and gave him a thumbs-up. Suna could see the Tiefling’s cheek redden, even on his already red body. But John did not care. Amidela’s bluish hair tumbled along his face, and they spoke softly to each other.

  “Slea and Reki’s fight, you mean?” Noa asked, as they made their way to the Runebearers.

  “Exactly, and somehow it's…” Suna tried to find a word, but he could not find one. What was this feeling? He missed this, the banter and even Reki’s attitude that he had found annoying back then.

  “Comfortable?” Noa asked, grinning once he saw Suna’s face lit up in realization. “All the more reason to survive then. Look at them.” Noa motioned forward.

  The Runebearers seemed a bit too… ecstatic. Some of them even hollered, like this was something they’ve been expecting for a while.

  “In the camp,” Noa started. “John has been going around telling everyone about his eyes on Amidela. Even we humans. To the point, he asks me for advice. They were beginning to accept us; I could sense some hesitation at first. But Slea duels with the queen. Our fight against the Undead Sisters. And our time hunting the Undead Assassins to get stronger. All of those compounded.”

  Noa continued.

  “Things kept changing, who knows what will happen in another day.”

  “Noa the Bulwark!” One of the Runebearers exclaimed. “A fine show before our fight, no?”

  “Truly, Edward!” Noa grinned, about to clasp the Tiefling's hand.

  The Tiefling was smiling. So wide with his joy. Which was all the more cruel when his head got separated from his neck.

  Blood splurted.

  Noa held the dead Runebearer’s body, which stumbled to his armor, smearing the Bulwark shoulder plate with blood.

  A silence followed, then…

  In front of him was a figure made out of shadows, a complete shadow. His body burned with darkness, and for a moment, the darkness vanished. Revealing a polished disjointed plate around its body, chained together to allow movement in the important parts. And covering them all was a cloak that swirled as if someone held it up.

  [Undead Shadow Rebel. Lvl 66]

  The Shadow Rebel's face was covered, and Suna thought it was just darkness, that was, until two yellow eyes shone and a pair of golden smiles formed.

  The assassin lifted one hand, and Suna’s knee snapped down. His body froze; a prompt appeared in his vision.

  [Stage Three Drowfication User has granted you his presence.]

  [Offer Service?]

  [Yes/No]

  Shadow crawled around his body, tightening around his limbs and even grasping his neck. His lips opened forcefully, and Suna could feel his words about to come out, a word he would regret.

  “Y—Ye…”

  “Suna!” Noa screamed. The Bulwark erupted with sudden movement and bashed forward with his shield coated with his Mana.

  The Shadow Rebel danced backward in a light step, his cloak swaying with him, revealing more conjoined metal. That cloak covered his hands, and that mocking grin still colored his dark, fleshless head.

  The hum of slicing wind rushed forward from all directions, toward the Shadow Rebel. Noa, meanwhile, hefted both shields and covered Suna, who's still unable to move.

  The Rebel’s cloak flared up, and he lightly jumped and spun in the air. Suna's eyes went bulging open as he saw the cloak defy the wind and kill the magic completely. The Undead silently cackled as he side-stepped a charging Runebearer and tripped it with one foot. The Rebel tapped his foot up and down and weaved through the Runebearers’ strikes.

  He treated them like a child.

  That was until the Rebel slammed into an invisible barrier, halting its movement. A Runebearer managed to be in the right spot at the perfect time. He thrust forward, thief sword about to impale the Shadow Rebel’s heart. Then, the Rebel’s mouth went wide, and a shadow of a ghastly face appeared above the Rebel’s head, opening its mouth and chomping down on the Runebearers’ head.

  Another headless body fell, and the Rebel laughed. The ghastly face returned to him, and he tilted his head at Suna.

  How did he not see this one coming? Such a strong monster. Was it because the [Undead Godknight]’s presence overwhelmed him? Perhaps so, or perhaps it just had a way…

  More Runebearers charged, and each of their attempts was met by the expert maneuvers of the Rebel. It danced and danced, and summoned that ghost again, and this time brought its dark teeth down upon two Runebearers at once, and bit half of their body in one crunching clasp of flesh and bone.

  “Suna! What happened to you? Can you fire?” Noa shouted, still shielding him while the Runebearers were being killed in front of them.

  Wendy and Reki appeared beside him, and the office worker did not waste any time. He joined the fray with his long, shining warhammer in his arms.

  “Wait, Reki!” Noa called. He looked down at Suna and Wendy, and hesitation filled his eyes.

  “Go!” Suna croaked. “Both of you go!”

  Wind blasted beside him, sending his hair flapping. John and Amidela rushed into the fight together.

  “You! Go! I can halt his movements from anywhere,” Wendy told Noa.

  The Bulwark hesitated once more before giving a nod. “Don’t die again,” Noa said and ran into the battle. Reki swung his Warhammer like the weight did not matter, but the Rebel was somehow able to dodge with incredible speed as if it glided through the floor.

  The Shadow Rebel jumped into the air and slammed his legs into one Runebearer, splattering a head across in an explosion of blood. It landed and saw Noa and decided to try him. The Rebels dodge more slices of wind from John and Amidela, skipping over toward Noa. A cry escaped Reki, but Noa stood strong.

  Suna rasped; the shadow tightened around him. Why? What is this… wait… shadow…

  “Noa!” Reki screamed.

  The Rebel bolted through the air and delivered a kick to Noa’s shield. The [Bulwark], who was ready, received the attack, and the expanding clasp of the blast resounded through the fortress. Suna’s heart almost dropped, but what greeted his sight was Noa still standing firm and able to receive the Rebel attack.

  However, it was not over.

  The Rebel hopped up onto Noa's shoulder with one leg and launched itself at Suna and Wendy.

  “Suna! Wendy!” Noa called, turning around, even dropping his shield.

  Time slowed down, and Wendy was in front of him. A brilliant white shield formed in front of her, and the Rebel smashed it apart with a punch that sent light scattering like glass. Wendy’s dress fluttered away as the ghastly face appeared above both of them, about to chomp at them.

  She was about to achieve the same fate as the dying Tiefling, split in half with this mocking magic.

  That was until Suna tripped Wendy with his leg. The Lunarian stumbled to her knees.

  He spotted her purple eyes widen as she fell, while Suna lurched in with Gale Step building under his feet. He launched across, and Suna saw the eyes of the Rebel. Widened in disbelief. Satisfaction filled him. It must’ve wondered how he resisted that shadow binding.

  It was not by refusal. The answer was the Shadow Arrow clutched in his right hand, and the light around his feet that borrowed the power of darkness.

  Still though… the answer is “No.” He grinned and zoomed forward, slamming the arrow deep into the Undead Shadow Rebel's chest. They went flying forward, and Suna made out an excited, wide-open grin on the Rebel’s face as they crashed through the gate, blasting it open, and went tumbling down inside.

  Suna spun into the room; he did not exactly have time to adjust his Gale Step power. The body of the Undead tumbled not far from him inside the dark, wide room, whose vault was as large as a fancy cathedral.

  The Rebel stood in one motion. Fast, so fast that Suna had not even put any leg power into standing.

  The Rebel's hand dipped into his cloak and revealed a thin black sword. He suddenly stood in front of him, about to strike down. In an instant, a similar sword clashed against the Rebel’s sword, and a foot whipped the Rebel’s stomach, sending him spinning back.

  A one-horned Tiefling stood tall above Suna, his midnight cloak flared in the sparse light, and those different colored eyes stared down at him.

  “Suna.”

  Suna smiled, standing. It looked like his teacher did not lose his bearing. “Nice to see you again, James. I wish it were under a different situation,” Suna said, summoning his bow, and faced the Rebel, who was now laughing like a madman.

  The Rebel summoned another sword, and it was ready, eager to fight.

  “Be prepared, that one is just half of it.”

  Suna glanced back, and his lips wry into a smile.

  Ah, this might be a bit too much.

  A knight stood behind, so regal that it was almost inconceivable that it was an undead. Blue shimmering armor glinted in the darkness. There was no opening shown by it, an absolute warrior.

  The Undead Godknight stood, and in its arms was a claymore bristling with Pyre-flame.

  [Undead Godknight. Level 70]

  Patreon!