Three hours into the effort to clear the mine and Kaden sorely needed a [Cure Headache] potion, along with a [Make Them All Go Away] potion. His notifications were a constant stream of spam, messenger birds had to take turns landing on his arm and he hadn’t killed a single monster. To his right stood a short, thin man named Guyver Arn, a [Miner] who would inspect the cleared areas. “I want in the mine as soon as you have me a branch cleared,” he said for at least the hundredth time.

  “We’ll get you there” was still Kaden’s answer.

  “Full retreat!” Trella’s deceptions called out as a squad of messenger birds sailed away. “Pull back to the mine mouth, we’ll stage and do this again. For the love of the gods, people, if you keep pulling monsters upward, we’re going to keep losing branches, lives, and levels.”

  Trinity looked at Kaden. The slight twist of her head was a question, according to [Beast Soul].

  “Killing someone to set an example won’t help,” Kaden said. “But if it will, you’re the one who gets to do it.”

  Her serepentine head wrapped around him in a hug—then jerked away as the solar dragon swiped at her.

  Kaden headed to the front as bloody adventurers streamed out. “Healers, cleanse, heal, reset. What exactly went wrong?”

  One of the [Rogues] pointed to a group. “They went ahead of us looking for loot and pulled sixteen [Tar Trolls] into the shaft on top of the [Healers].”

  “True?” Trella asked as she popped up beside the [Swordsmen]. “Do you want me to drag you through [Shadow Step] to the bottom of the mine? I mean, if you want to go deeper on your own, I can arrange it. If you don’t want to, I can still arrange it.”

  From the embarrassed look on the [Swordsman’s] face, Kaden didn’t need to hear the answer. “Everyone rest, eat something, drink. This time—the fifth time—stick to the plan. Scouts call monsters, parties engage. Backup parties, you hold that line, you’re getting paid either way. Front line, if you’re being overwhelmed, fall back.”

  “Healers stick together,” Annika said, her voice barely audible. “And you, Erickson. [Mana Well] is the best thing you can offer. You’re getting paid a bonus to keep the healers topped up.”

  “Shields will hold the main shaft,” Kaden continued. “If you can pick off something, that’s fine, but if you can’t, we’ll get to them as we descend. South East branch is the smallest but most infested. This time, we clear it completely. Any questions?”

  “Where’s the Centurions?” A [Rogue] asked.

  Kaden shrugged. “You don’t need a Centurion to get paid. Or get loot. Or get experience. I’m here, Trella’s here and Trinity is equal to an entire party by herself. And that’s before I call on my other Beasts.”

  “We go when healers say everyone’s cleansed,” Trella said. “My deceptions will handle the levels we aren’t at yet so we’re not surprised by patroling spawns. Expect a boss on the third or fourth level. If I didn’t personally tag you for Boss attacks, stay clear, otherwise, the healers will resurrect you when it’s safe.”

  “We’re ready,” Annika said. “Clear when you call.”

  Kaden watched the parties drink and snack and buff. “Let’s go. Monsters aren’t going to kill themselves.”

  ###

  Late afternoon, Kaden stood at the mouth of the mine, really wishing he had shadowy scouts who could tell him what was going on. In a way, he did.

  “Both boss-killer parties are engaged now and that [Miner] is on his way back,” Trella said. “And an [Assassin] just took out a personal grudge on one of the [Swordsmen].”

  Kaden already had [Remembrance] in hand. “Which one?”

  “He’s on his way out.” Trella waited by the mouth of the mine. “He really thinks he got away with it. Trinity, when I signal, exactly what we discussed.”

  The need to sneeze - the desperate desire to look away—told Kaden someone was using a skill to hide. Then came the soft thunk of Trinity’s armored head swinging like a club to strike someone in [Stealth].

  An [Assassin] rolled in the dirt, grasping his chest while Trinity put a single clawed foot on his knee and pressed with slight weight.

  “Tudor?” Trella asked, like her [Identify] didn’t work. “I’m looking for an Tudor Chon. He’s wanted for killing a [Swordsman] in the mine. Has anyone seen him?”

  Trinity leaned forward, and the man’s knee cracked under her weight. He drew a dagger from Inventory and stabbed her—only to find her armored head clutching his forearm. “I swore I’d get my revenge.”

  Oath acknowledged and verified: Tudor Chon would kill Wilton Farrier for taking the last chocolate donut.

  “That was a stupid thing to risk my operation on,” Kaden said. “Then you tried to stab my TriTerror. She’s the original. She’s got every skill the monster versions do and more. I’d hold very still. Her jaws could take your arm off.”

  Any chance to put the ‘terror’ in TriTerror made Trinity happy, so she kept her grip constant. Somewhat constant. Constantly increasing.

  “That’s how my class levels. You can’t punish me for following my class’s ways,” Tudor’s defiance was not very defiant. “I did nothing wrong.”

  Kaden rarely saw reason to use [Authority] but he held it in a sphere around his presence. Sleepless nights had taught him what he could and could not do. Which wasn’t much, and only in a sphere he couldn’t move without reseting, and had to concentrate to maintain.

  [Stealth] class skills are disabled here.

  [Evasion] class skills are disabled here.

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  Insufficient [Authority] to make additional changes.

  To increase [Authority], increase your subjects or establish an Outpost.

  Now he could relax. And set up a make-shift prison by stabbing golden rods he took from Inventory into the ground. “Trinity, let him go.”

  Trinity backed away along with Trella, as Kaden slammed down the third rod. It snapped up in a golden barrier.

  “Don’t try to break through that. If you do try to break through, we’ll have a [Healer] resurrect you, assuming we can find enough of your corpse.” It would be a matter to settle with the [Swordsman].

  He pulled a hunk of meat from Inventory and offered it to Trinity—then a stick of jerky and offered it to Trella.

  “What, do you think you can just reward me like one of your Beasts?” she asked. “I am hungry. But I have dignity.”

  “I have chocolate.” Kaden did, for one brief moment—then a Deception flicked it from his hands high in the air, and another caught it, then kneeled, presenting the bar to Trella, who took both chocolate and jerky.

  “I was going to give it to you,” Kaden said.

  Trella’s answer was muffled but appeared to be that Trinity would try and take it.

  Trinity’s growl was an answer he chose not to translate for the sake of peace in the party.

  Messenger birds arrived for Kaden, and after listening, he sighed. “The boss isn’t winning, but they’re not able to defeat it. It’s a [Tar Ball] and it’s regenerating faster than they can kill it.”

  “What’s the plan?” Trella asked. “We could wipe it out and let them continue.”

  “Maybe we don’t have to.”

  Together they descended through the mine through the first three floors to a throng of [Sheilds] forming a barrier. Cheers rose as Kaden approached, but he summoned Wisp 71 to light up the mine. “I’m not here to kill it. You’re going to kill it, I’m just providing support in the form a little something called [Harvest Wind].

  The Harvest Wind blows cold upon your enemies. Healing and Mana regen are greatly reduced.

  In moments, the boss-killer teams recognized the shift and altered patterns, falling back for healing and buffs, then surging forward.

  “Let the [Ice Mage] through,” Trella called.

  Benson, the [Ice Mage] from Annika’s party, hesitantly stepped thorugh the [Shield] line and began using [Hailstorm] repeatedly.

  [Tarballs] looked like their namesake, ten foot tall oozing black balls of flesh with limbs errupting from them. Their greatest threat was the rolling attack that could engulf a single target, smothering them.

  But, slowed by [Hailstorm], the giant ball was less agile, its attacks cumbersome, its charges telegraphed so much that [Rangers] began to shoot over the [Shields], stacking damage.

  “Surge! Surge!” Trella shouted. “It’s going to go critical if you don’t kill it now. Do not run, stand and fight!”

  The line of [Shields] rushed forward, allowing the stacked up Adventureres to spread out. A small group turned their backs on the boss monster, choosing to seal the path downward and puttin their lives in the hands of the others.

  This mine has been stabilized by Guyver Ann.

  This mine is not currently operational.

  Mine integrity is at 60%.

  Repairs will require (31) hours without incursion.

  That answered Kaden’s other question. He missed the moment the boss went down, but not the cheering afterwards. Not the distribution of health potions. Nor did he miss how quickly Annika collected spent potion flasks, something Kaden had taught Sara, and she passed on. Every silver counted at that level.

  As the cheering died down, Trella spoke. “Absolutely no fighting over loot. I’m taking the loot, you’ll all be paid gold. Did I mention you all get a gold? Play nice and you won’t need it for a resurrection. This was a sub-boss. From here on down, every level is packed, and the last contains a [Tar Triumph]. It’s high enough level that Kaden and I can legally take it down, though you might want to for selfish reasons.”

  “Line up for status check and health,” Annika called.

  “We can stay at this level,” Kaden said. “If you need to fall back, we fall back to here. This is the new ground zero. Do not damage the mine, if you do, it’s on you when it falls in. Literally.”

  Scouts leaped over the [Shield] line and moved downard to map the mine and monster spawns. Kaden used the moment of respite to listen to the swarm of messenger birds.

  “Gigantorrod has been driven off,” Sara said. “Eve and Ashi and I will be there soon.”

  A second bird gave him the other update. “I’ll be there to back you up soon,” Captain Blanco said. “You should just about be done, but if not, I’ll advise.”

  “Can you handle this?” Kaden asked Trella. “Trinity will back you up.”

  “It’s a mine. Nice and dark, plenty of shadows even where there is light? I’m good. Go!” Trella collapsed into a shadow and popped up to hand out [Agony Cloud] potions.

  When Kaden emerged from the mine, it was to late afternoon sun and the rush of his party, and his beasts. Vip ran ahead of everyone, crackling with lightning as she leaped into his arms.

  Ashi looked worn down, almost broken. She walked with Garm at her side, leaning on the [Ulf Ravager], while Sara kept an arm around her.

  Kaden quickly briefed them on the status.

  “You’re doing better than expected,” Sara said. “Level four, the sub-boss destroyed, and they’re pushing level five now? Are they sealing the different sections? I’ll head down and direct. My [Herald of Life] title will boost them all.”

  Eve looked to Ashi and then Kaden and jerked her head. He understood. “Good to see you, Eve.”

  “Likewise. There’s an adjustment to [Authority] in this area. Did you do that?”

  “The [Assassin] over there got greedy.”

  Eve glanced his way, and [Plauge] bubbled up on the unfortunate man. “Is healing a violation of the rules? I don’t think it is. Status cleansing should not be in any case, so if I need to, I’ll stick to that. Vip, love, you can’t go.”

  Kaden pulled the dog into his soul and focused on Ashi. “Gigantorrod?”

  The world boss had killed Ashi’s older brother.

  “I am not strong enough. I made the monster cry. I filled it with rage from pain. But Mother is mistaken to think I can kill it.” Ashi put her head on Kaden’s shoulder and wept. “I wanted to avenge Uri and free people from fear. Desire was not enough.”

  “Yet.” Kaden whispered. “You’re not strong enough yet. You will be. You know what would help? If people could see in the mine. Can you summon mana orbs for them?”

  “This much, I can do.” Ashi headed toward the mine. With Garm at her side, she’d be safe.

  The sun sank lower and lower as Kaden waited. He pulled something from Inventory he’d waited to use. A silver spiral the size of a man, Kaden hung it from the clock in the center of the village, where it began to glow pink. Not a charm of Veela, but a Beacon, which encouraged Adventurers and made monsters shy away. The pink glow settled across the walls of the town as Kaden adjusted it.

  “That’s a fine start.” Captain Blanco’s call startled Kaden.

  The captain of the City Knights was built like a monster, wide and thick, in golden armor. His dark black beard had been trimmed back, and the Justari representative clasp Kaden in a hug as he dropped to the ground. “Good work. You didn’t need me, you just wanted me. But defending Verona is my first obligation.”

  As they walked to the mine, Kaden detailed the many, many false starts and restarts, and the mine boss, and the battle for the fifth level. “I don’t think my party was ever this disorganized.”

  “Your party was led by the daughter of a centurion, trained from birth to lead. Your party had [Destiny] at their back and you at the front. Ease your judgement on those who don’t.” Captain Blanco looked to the [Assassin.] “Kill someone?”

  “A [Swordsman]. I had half a mind to take his head off.”

  “And you didn’t. That’s good decision making. Let Justice handle this. The end result could be the same, but the difference is, you make everyone safer when you let the law decide.” Captain Blanco waved to the Assassin. “I won’t go into the mine. You’re the one running the party, I’ll help you in any way you need. But you don’t need me. Help them and they’ll remember it.”

  You have received a new Quest: Race to the Bottom - The last few levels are always the worst, but the battle is worth the price. Lead your party to the bottom of the mine and make them all stronger. Reward: Faction Token (Justari), Faction Favor.

  “Thanks.” Kaden had planned to do that anyway. “Trinity, you’re off guard duty. And I think we can use your help.”