They hadn't fully repaired the arena. We stood at its center as Grace introduced us, much like in the first round, but I had trouble focusing on her words. Deep gashes still scarred the stone around several spectator boxes; even the ceiling bore dark burn marks—etched reminders of what nearly killed Erik.

  But that wasn't why I felt distracted.

  The moment we stepped onto the arena floor, Valor started acting like a caged animal. It wasn't the usual prickle of being watched—this felt warped, stretched thin, like seeing my reflection in a funhouse mirror through some sense I hadn't known existed two weeks ago. Cass was too busy ogling her new sword to notice, but Malcolm caught it immediately. He pulled his hood back as they announced our names.

  "You good?" he asked quietly.

  I nodded, trying to project confidence I didn't feel. "Yeah. Valor's just... off. Danger feels real, but I can't place it. Don't want to be a liability."

  I made a mental note to meditate later; maybe Ted would have something useful to say.

  "Kid, your Seal's mostly fine. If something feels off, it probably is,

  "Don't mention it.

  "Ted says it's fine... but I'm not convinced," I muttered.

  "You know it's weird that you have a spirit in your soul-space, right?" Malcolm said with a chuckle that didn't quite hide his concern.

  "Oh, you don't know the half of it. He's started eating the food I store in there. I'm keeping an inventory now."

  Malcolm's eyebrows shot up in horror. "Not the cheese buns."

  "Oh, he demolished those first," I said, and saw Red's head snap toward me at the mention of his favorite snack.

  , his posture seemed to say.

  I laughed despite the tension. "Katie and I'll make more soon... whenever her bakery's back up and running."

  The announcements ended, and the ground beneath us shifted with mechanical precision. Sand gave way to stone, and as it did, the odd tension I'd been feeling through Valor snapped—vanishing like a severed wire.

  Things felt almost normal again.

  Shaking it off, I focused on our surroundings.

  We stood on a narrow peninsula surrounded by a churning ocean, the actual arena walls barely visible through the distant magical veil. Ahead of us, a lighthouse-like tower rose from jagged rocks. Two massive wooden doors guarded its base, creating a natural choke point on the path leading up the hill.

  The Spire, I guessed.

  "Your objective is to defend the beacon at the top of the Spire from monster assault," Dara's voice echoed around us with professional clarity. "Should the beacon be destroyed, or the Spire overwhelmed, the event will end. You have five minutes to prepare before we release the monsters."

  We started jogging toward the tower. It didn't take long to spot the defensive advantages someone had built into the structure. Malcolm and I noticed them simultaneously.

  Suspended nets full of large rocks hung over the approach like medieval siege defenses, and the tower itself was lined with balconies and narrow arrow slits perfect for ranged combat. Everything had been designed to create a kill box directly in front of the doors.

  It couldn't be that easy.

  Inside, the doors opened onto a wide staircase spiraling up to the top platform. Safety nets lined each level—helpful for preventing falls, less so if you planned on throwing monsters off. The roof itself was open to the sky, framed by pointed stonework that reminded me more of a bell tower than a lighthouse. I stepped to the edge, looking down the path we'd taken, then out over the ocean crashing against the rocks below.

  "What if there are flying or climbing monsters?" I asked, strategic gears turning. "Malcolm, you should probably stay inside and use the arrow slits. If anything gets up here, you'll be close enough to intercept—especially fliers."

  Malcolm gave a slow nod of approval. "Didn't even think about air support. Good call. I'll stay up here and keep watch on the beacon. I can fire from just about anywhere in this setup."

  "Okay, Cass? Cass!"

  She blinked, snapping out of whatever sword-induced trance she'd been lost in.

  "I know the weapon is incredible," I said, trying not to grin. "You and I are ground forces. If they overwhelm us, we fall back and use the doors to bottleneck."

  She nodded and gave the massive blade—a Hullcracker, apparently—a test swing that cut the air with a satisfying whoosh. Thea had explained its inlaid force runes could switch it from slashing to devastating blunt-force trauma. Cass was clearly in love. Despite its size compared to her usual weapons, her grip was confident, her movements smooth and practiced.

  "Stairs are wide enough for quick charges. If Malcolm needs backup, I'll be up there in seconds."

  Just as we finalized our strategy, the air at the room's center shimmered, and a tall glass pillar materialized from floor to ceiling—the beacon we were meant to protect.

  "One minute warning," Dara announced directly into our ears.

  I shaped Winchester's orb into hammer-form as Cass and I bolted down the stairs and through the doorway. Just as we cleared it, my bracer flared with sudden heat.

  A startled yelp echoed behind us, followed by a string of creative curses.

  We'd completely forgotten about the tethers. Malcolm dangled halfway down the stairwell, caught in a safety net like a spider.

  "This is going to be harder than I thought," I muttered, staring up at him. "Okay, new plan: we stick together. If things go sideways, we slam the doors and hold the line upstairs."

  Cass nodded, but Malcolm, now free and brushing himself off with wounded pride, didn't look thrilled. "Wouldn't it make more tactical sense to fortify at the top and—"

  A resonant chime cut him off, echoing through the area like a funeral bell.

  Several gravelly howls followed from down the path—a sound that triggered something primal and terrifying. It wasn't just fear; it reminded me of how I'd felt when I first met Maris. Fear that was external. Artificial. Weaponized.

  Malcolm's face went grim. "Lycantox. I'm sure of it. Don't let them bite you if you can help it. Their venom reacts with mana in... unpleasant ways."

  I expected Red to be tense, hackles raised, but his ears pitched forward and he let out a string of loud, deep barks—like he was challenging them to try something.

  A few wolf-like monsters padded up the path, their mottled gray fur stark against glowing crimson eyes. I was wondering if glowing red eyes were standard issue for all monsters when dozens of smaller fox-like creatures darted up behind them. They looked like fennec foxes... if fennec foxes had rabies and demonic possession.

  "Oh, come on," Cass groaned. "Vulpitrix. We've got those on La-Roc. Same poison as the wolves... they're not playing fair."

  Red's barking made the creatures hesitate, but it didn't stop them. The mob was at least fifty strong now. As they drew closer, I could see foaming maws and lolling tongues dripping dull blue ichor. They were rabid, skittish, and fundamentally wrong.

  I glanced at the others, then at the narrow kill zone around us, and made a quick executive decision. I slammed the heavy wooden doors shut and dropped the iron bar across them with a resounding thunk.

  "Alright," I said, managing what I hoped was a confident smile. "Not sure a bunch of wolves are gonna break these doors down."

  We climbed the first set of stairs and peered out through arrow slits. Below, the monsters milled about in aggressive confusion, snapping at one another, clearly unhappy about being packed into close quarters. After a tense minute, one of the larger Lycantox lunged, tearing into a cluster of Vulpitrix and splattering one across the stones in a spray of blue gore. It ripped a small, pulsating mana pearl from the carcass and swallowed it whole.

  "Gross," I muttered, shaking my head. "But hey, at least they'll solve the problem for us, right? This doesn't seem so bad."

  Cass shot me a look that clearly said —right as a guttural screech cut through the air. It sounded like a squealing pig until the source emerged: a massive boar-like creature plated in overlapping metal scales that scraped and groaned with every step. A thick dome of bone, or maybe chitin, armored its head like a battering ram. As it approached, it began pawing at the ground with ominous intent.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  "I need to stop saying things out loud," I sighed, just as it exploded forward, plowing through smaller monsters like a freight train through bowling pins as it barreled toward our tower.

  "I don't know what that thing is, but it has to be at least Class-D," Malcolm swore, already forming a bow-and-arrow mudra with practiced speed. He loosed several bolts of crackling plasma that scored deep lines across the boar's plating but didn't even slow it down. "I can't take it alone."

  The boar hit the door with a deafening CRACK. The barricade groaned as ancient wood splintered beneath the devastating impact.

  "It's backing up for another charge!" Malcolm called down urgently.

  I nodded grimly and braced one side of the shuddering door, glancing at Cass. "Let me know the second it moves! We'll open the door and let it in. I doubt it can stop once it commits. Then we slam it shut behind and deal with it in here."

  Cass grinned with predatory anticipation and cracked her knuckles. "Let's fuck it up."

  Through the stone walls, I could feel Valor trying to push outward, its reach muted—maybe from the architecture, maybe lingering soul burn. I couldn't track the smaller monsters individually, just a vague churn of a hostile presence outside.

  "It's coming!" Malcolm shouted. Valor pulsed a sharp warning as the boar focused its murderous intent. I could feel it clearly now—like a speeding car aimed directly at me.

  "Wait..." I said, holding Cass back as she tensed beside me like a coiled spring. "Wait... Now!"

  We heaved the barricade aside and yanked the door open just as the boar thundered into view. A blur of plated fury tore past us in a rush of displaced air and pure violence. Cass staggered as the door swung hard, but I scrambled clear just in time. The creature smashed into the far wall with a thunderous impact that shook dust from the ceiling.

  Before we could catch our breath, two Lycantox darted in behind it like opportunistic shadows. We slammed the doors shut and dropped the barricade just as claws scrabbled frantically outside.

  One wolf bounded up the stairs, only to erupt mid-leap in a spray of yellow ooze from Malcolm's perfectly placed shot.

  The other skidded to a halt when it spotted Red.

  My dog stood at the base of the stairs, fur bristling with a raw energy that made the air shimmer, all seven tails fanned out like a war banner. He let out a deep, rolling growl that seemed to come from somewhere deeper than his chest.

  To my astonishment, the monster flinched. It lowered its head. Whimpered.

  Red inhaled, then barked once. The sound cracked like a gunshot, and a ripple of pressure blasted through the room that made my bones vibrate in harmony. The Lycantox ballooned grotesquely and popped, painting the wall with yellow gore.

  I stumbled back from the mess, staring at Red in amazement.

  He stared right back with an obvious message:

  And then the boar, dazed but recovering, let out a furious squeal and began turning its considerable bulk around inside the confined space.

  The creature locked eyes with me, and I sighed. My damaged Valor aura might be muted, but apparently not enough to prevent it from flagging me as the primary threat. It began pawing at the stone floor, prepping for another devastating charge, and that's when I realized the tactical problem.

  I was still standing directly in front of the doors it had just failed to break down.

  "Ah, fuck!" I shouted, scrambling sideways just as the boar exploded forward. The floor cracked under its hooves as it closed the distance with terrifying speed. I was mostly out of its path, but it veered slightly mid-charge, trying to catch me anyway.

  It got what it wanted—barely. One tusk glanced off my side, the impact jarring through my hardened scale armor and spinning me across the room like a rag doll. I slammed into the stone floor, pain spiking through my shoulder in white-hot waves. Sitting up, I found my left arm completely limp, blood soaking through my shirt and dripping onto the floor.

  Broken collarbone... . And definitely gored besides.

  Fortunately, the boar hadn't corrected its aim completely and crashed headfirst into the wall beside the door, dazing itself thoroughly. Cass and Malcolm didn't wait for it to recover. They launched coordinated attacks the moment it stumbled.

  Unfortunately, the impact had completely wrecked the door's hinges. It looked like the splintered frame and the boar leaning against it were the only things keeping the entrance from collapsing entirely.

  I winced as even thinking about moving my arm made my vision throb with agony. I reached instinctively for a healing potion, but Ted was already yelling in my soul-space.

  "Use the life mana, kid! Like the Dick guy showed you!

  Right. I didn't have time for proper concentration, but I pushed as much raw mana as I could manage into the Compassion aspect of Valor. The shift happened fast. Cool, soothing green energy poured into the injury like liquid relief. I shoved it straight into torn muscle and shattered bone, felt a sharp pop as my collarbone reset itself, and the pain dropped from a scream to a dull throb in seconds. The skin knitted itself back together.

  It probably burned as much mana as a potion would have cost, maybe more, but potions were expensive and this was instant.

  I smiled as the implications hit me. Turned out, I could heal myself. Quickly. Could I use this on others, like with Devotion?

  Not really the time for experimentation, but then again, what better laboratory than a life-or-death situation?

  Carefully getting to my feet, I flexed the arm. Still stiff and slightly numb, but movement returned quickly.

  Curious, I tried drawing on the Light aspect instead. For a moment, my hands glowed with a faint radiance.

  Across the room, Cass was systematically assaulting the boar with the Hullcracker. The blade now hummed with silver light, each strike leaving spiderweb cracks in its armor plating. Malcolm kept blasting its head with searing arcs of plasma, but his frustration was visibly growing. The attacks were doing barely more than scorching the surface.

  Red bounded over and sniffed at the blood still clinging to my arm. He whined low, ears pinned with worry.

  "It's all good, buddy," I said, feeling Winchester hum eagerly in my grip. "All healed up."

  The boar staggered upright, shaking its massive head. Not out of the fight—just angrier. Cass's strikes were cracking through its defenses. Malcolm's plasma was cooking it slowly. But neither was putting it down decisively.

  Right. Maybe we needed something with more kick.

  Experimentally, I shoved as much Light mana as I could generate into Winchester, which absorbed it like a starving animal.

  The hammerhead erupted in blinding yellow radiance, washing out the room's colors in an instant burst of holy fire.

  , I thought, squinting through the glare,

  The monster lowered its head again, locking that malevolent gaze on me with murderous intent, but this time I was ready. Planting my feet in a proper combat stance, I swung the glowing hammer in a heavy, two-handed arc just as it lunged with desperate fury.

  The moment Winchester connected with its plated skull, I felt a violent tug on my mana reserves like someone had pulled a drain plug. A blinding flash erupted across my vision, and for one heart-stopping moment, the world went completely silent. The force of impact shot through the weapon's haft and rattled my entire skeleton. This wasn't anything like using refined mana with Winchester.

  My sight returned just in time to witness a rainbow detonation bursting from the boar's head like a firework made of death. The shockwave blasted the creature backward with devastating force. Its face was gone—just a mangled stump leaking orange ichor. The impact had shattered half the armor plating along its front; cracks oozed the same viscous fluid as it rolled limply to a stop against the stairs.

  Cass stared wide-eyed with awe and terror. "Gaia's tits, Ben!"

  I staggered as my vision swam, the Emberseed around my neck flaring desperately to life. Whatever I'd just done hadn't drained some mana—it had emptied the entire tank. All of it. I needed to be way more careful with power experimentation.

  My legs went unsteady without mana reinforcement, and I had to shake my head to clear the dizziness.

  Cass pointed suddenly toward the entrance. The hinges finally gave out with a tortured creak, and the barricade collapsed in a splintering crash that echoed like thunder.

  "Shit!" Malcolm shouted from the stairs. "Door's down! We need to get upstairs. Now!"

  Cass didn't wait for further discussion. She was already halfway up the next flight, moving with deadly purpose. Pure muscle memory dragged me toward the steps, but I couldn't help hesitating beside the boar's steaming corpse. I scanned desperately for a mana core.

  Nothing. Seriously? After all that effort?

  The flicker of disappointment barely had time to register before Lycantox and Vulpitrix started pouring through the open doorway like a living flood. I turned and sprinted for the stairs, catching up to Cass and Malcolm just past the base of the next flight, careful not to stretch our magical tether.

  We pounded up the stone steps two at a time, boots hammering in frantic rhythm.

  "Did you just obliterate that monster in one hit?" Malcolm asked, sounding equal parts horrified and impressed.

  "Team... effort," I panted through burning lungs. "You guys... softened it up. That hit... drained way too much mana. Need to stop... experimenting mid-combat..."

  "Okay then, Breaker," Cass muttered from ahead, voice bone-dry.

  At the top landing, Valor flared with sudden alarm: pursuing Vulpitrix and Lycantox, closing fast. But something else stirred on the edge of my senses. Something... familiar.

  I ran to the rooftop edge and looked down.

  Dozens of king-crab-like monsters were scaling the tower walls, their spiked, jointed legs boring into solid stone as they climbed with mechanical precision.

  "Hey!" I blinked in recognition. "Look at that—Carapax!"

  A flicker of nostalgic fondness was immediately crushed by vivid memories of those claws turning solid stone into shredded rubble.

  "Oh come on, fucking Carapax?"

  "Think you can hold them off?" Cass called, her voice tight with combat focus. "We'll handle whatever gets through the stairwell!"

  "Guess we'll find out!" I yelled back just as the first Carapax crested the wall, pincers snapping as it hissed at me with primal hatred.

  What followed could only be described as organized chaos. More Carapax flooded over the walls, skittering across stone with sharp, chitinous legs that sparked against the architecture, only to meet Winchester's hammer head-on. Each impact shattered carapace like ceramic, sending fragments flying in deadly sprays. I barely had any mana left after my explosive light-show, but raw physical strength was more than enough against these Class-F monsters. The problem wasn't individual power—it was the sheer numbers. Dozens swarmed the rooftop simultaneously, and I could barely keep pace, smashing them back over the edge or into component pieces before the next wave clambered into striking range.

  Behind me, Cass was a whirlwind of silver light and dark steel, the Hullcracker tearing through Lycantox and Vulpitrix before they could establish any foothold. The few that slipped past her deadly guard were vaporized mid-leap by Malcolm's precision plasma bolts from the stairwell or torn apart by one of Red's concussive barks that turned monsters into abstract art.

  It was an absolute monster slaughter. I lost count of how many chitinous crabs and frothing wolf-things we'd eliminated before a deafening gong rang out across the arena. The illusion collapsed instantly, dissolving the surrounding tower into shimmering motes of dispersing light, and suddenly we were back on the familiar sand of the arena floor.

  Exhausted beyond measure, I dropped onto my back with a grateful sigh, the cool grit soaking into my sweat-stained clothes as I caught my breath. We were all splattered in streaks of yellow, orange, and blue monster gore, and the cloying, fishy stink of crab seemed permanently fused to my nostrils.

  The quiet didn't last long. That warped, uneasy pressure Valor had tried to warn me about earlier returned with a vengeance—heavier this time, more distinct and threatening. It settled over me like an approaching storm front, and I pushed myself upright just as Grace's amplified voice boomed across the arena with unmistakable authority.

  "There has been a development. For your safety, please follow the designated officials to shelter points immediately. All Seekers and above, report to your assigned Liaison for further briefing."

  I exchanged looks with Cass and Malcolm. They appeared just as exhausted and confused as I felt.

  Before any of us could say a word, Dara's voice buzzed directly into our ears, low and urgent with barely controlled panic.

  "We have a serious problem. There's a monster attack happening outside the arena. Right now."