The battle for level five had wound down and six was in full swing, though a few parties still scoured the fifth level to ensure it was clear. Kaden found his party behind the [Shield] line using everything that wasn’t direct combat to assist. “What are we hitting?”

  “The floor of seven is covered in tar that’s a single monster,” Trella said. “We’ll see what happens in just a moment, I ok’d a team to push seven for a test.”

  Air in the mine popped and a shock wave rushed through as flames roared up across the way.

  “Get a resurrection team in there!” Annika shouted. “Who the hell thought throwing a [Fireball] at a Tar monster was a good idea?”

  “Test went badly,” Trella said. “Seal that floor, let it burn, [Air Mages], I need the smoke contained. “In hindsight, that wasn’t the best plan. I think Kaden is rubbing off on me.”

  Eve rushed to resurrect burned and blackened mages, while Trinity braced her self and roared with her blind head.

  Trinity has used Predator’s Challenge.

  She looked around, disappointment clear.

  “Sorry,” Kaden said. “That doesn’t buff everyone else. Sara, any plants that could help?”

  Sara was already drawing a red flower from Inventory. “There’s no reason to conserve these. We’ll use all three applications.” She put it to her lips and blew, a sound that echoed out through the mine over and over.

  Sara Scylla has used Battle Trumpet x3. Damage for all allies is increased.

  “Rotate through the center, let us buff you,” Sara called out. “Kaden, can you use [Mana Well] on the [Mages]?”

  Right. He began topping them off. “If you hit heavy regen monsters, lure them back for [Harvest Wind].”

  Three hours later, they finally called level six—and seven—clear. The tar on level seven had burned the monster to death, which left Kaden free to enagage [Stealth Aura]. Except that it wouldn’t engage. That meant at least one of the adventureres was hostile to him.

  No surprise there.

  Half way down the shaft to the last floor, it finally engaged, and Kaden found the boss of the infestation. A humanoid figure with wide shoulders and a disfigured face and skin that dripped tar, it stood so tall its head brushed the ceiling, and so wide it couldn’t enter the five tunnels that branched out. The skin of its hands was covered in sticky rocks like it absorbed mine debris, and as it shifted, Kaden was certain that just under the rest of it lay more rock.

  [Tar Triumph]

  Tar Triumphs are not tar trolls, they are the potential of what all tar trolls could be. With powerful regen, fast momement, vast strength, and sheer crushing power, the Tar Triumph is the last enemy many adventurers face.

  Skills: Bash, Envelope, Burning Sacrifice, Summon Lesser Troll

  Talents: Immovable, Fearless, Dense

  That was enough for Kaden. He retreated, summoned Wisp 71, and began to explain. “It’s entirely possible for this group to kill that boss. But to do it, you’re going to need to cooperate in a way you never have. The minion skill is what kills. You’ll be overwhelmed if you let it summon. Sara?”

  She took the attention like a pro. “Summon skills normally only summon out of sight. If we keep line of sight down all the small tunnels, it won’t be able to bring more to the battle. Then there’s the issue of damage.”

  “It deals a lot of crushing or smashing damage and will try to envelope and suffocate,” Eve said. “That said, envelope leaves it vulnerable and crushing damage is the most easily healed. [Healers] will need a front row seat to the battle. [Shields] will have to rotate in and out.”

  “Killing it requires burst damage,” Kaden said. “Anyone with a bow works together as a unit, time your volleys. [Harvest Wind] will reduce regeneration. Debuff as much as possible, it’s worth more than any damage you can do. Scouts, use ranged damage, [Backstab] when it’s occupied. [Swordsmen] and other melee, your only role is when it uses [Envelope]. That’s when you close and cut it up.”

  The mine fell silent.

  Kaden thought it was implicit, but apparently not. “Trella will choose tunnel parties. It is your job to spread out and ensure it can’t summon minions. Tunnel parties line up with [Shields], they are your escort. When we charge this monster, your first priority is getting into position.”

  And one last thing remained. “You are capable of doing this. I am here to make sure you succeed. Whether it’s me killing the monster’s mana and health regen, Sara raising yours, Eve [Plaguing], Ashi lighting the way, or Trella’s potions, it’s you who get it done. Remember this battle. We’re stronger together than you could possibly imagine.”

  Your skill with Leadership has increased.

  Fancy speechs did the trick? Ridiculous.

  “Everyone knows your assignments. Listen to my Deceptions, follow them to the correct tunnel, spread out. We move when Kaden says move.” Trella waited as groups moved to behind shields.

  “Go.” Kaden let the parties swarm down the shaft, even as the boss roared out a challenge to the first [Shields] to reach it. By the time he reached the bottom, every tunnel had healers hiding in it, protected from the monster’s bulk and every tunnel had archers shooting in time.

  The center of the mine room looked like a winter wonderland, covered in ice and filled with floating snowflakes. The Boss was a tier two monster, and it fought back, slamming rock-fists into the [Shields] surround it.

  But [Plauge] and [Harvest Wind] were not tier one debuffs.

  It wasn’t a terribly agile boss to start and now it barely moved.

  And in the darkness of the mine, the Solar Dragon on his shoulders glowed, radiating warmth and comfort to everyone who could see it. It cast a long shadow in front of Kaden, and Trella’s deceptions gladly rose to taunt the monster, then receded as it smashed them.

  When a lucky smash broke a [Shield’s] neck, they dragged it backward, while a sturdy [Swordsman] stepped in to take a blow.

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  Tar Triump has used Summon Lesser Troll.

  From one of the tunnels came a scream, and the party there withdrew to fight the minion. But one minion instead of six was a win.

  A glowing frog illusion hopped into the center of the [Shield] circle, distracting it for a single smash, then Ashi returned to healing, while Sara stacked [Hailstorm] with Benson as often as mana allowed.

  “It’s going for [Envelope!]” a [Shield] yelled as tar poured out over the edges of his defense.

  The Shield wall stepped back. [Swordsmen] surged through, striking with [Double Cut] and [Mortal Blow] before scrambling away.

  The boss began to glow deep inside, an orange that spoke of destruction.

  Tar Triumph has used Burning Sacrifice.

  “Back! Shields, block the tunnels. Everyone else, up the stair!” Kaden drew the [Eldritch Shield] as the boss began to focus. This wasn’t an explosion, it was a focused blast attack.

  He checked the [Match Lizard] on his collar and pulled the Solar Dragon into his soul, then walked forward, facing the Tar Triump. With each step, he drew it away from the stairs. Away from the tunnels, until only bare rock stood at Kaden’s back. “Come on, you bastard. Impress me.”

  Molten tar exploded out, bursting into flame. It flowed until it coated Kaden. Until the rock at his feet glowed. Until the air filled with smoke and the world was nothing but ash and flame.

  When it cleared, Kaden stood, still on fire.

  The [Tar Triumph] was reduced to a shadow of itself, a shadow that stumbled, spent.

  “We going to stand here all day, or is someone going to kill that?” Kaden asked.

  A [Sly Foot] shrieked a battle cry, appearing from nowhere to [Backstab] the boss, who collapsed into a pile of ash.

  This mine is no longer completely infested.

  This mine is operational.

  Mine integrity is at 68%.

  Mining operations will commence shortly.

  Kaden stood, dripping fire, as everyone else began to cheer.

  ###

  Removing ash from his equipment would be a full-time job, Kaden decided. He’d met up with Trella and Sara on the fourth floor and proceeded upward. “One of them is hostile. Stealth won’t engage.”

  “I’d be shocked if it’s only one,” Trella said. “How is the mine operational?”

  That question was for Sara, who didn’t seem surprised at all. “About that. There’s always a fine line for resettingly a town. A question of how soon is too soon for anyone but Adventureres to brave it. But [Miners] are hearty sorts. They’ll just as soon live in a [Mine] as any building. Guyver Arn put out word there was a Mana Ore mine opening, he had ten volunteers. And there’s something else you should know. Maybe it’s better if you see it.”

  Of course there was. There was always something else.

  As he emerged into the night, two things hit Kaden quickly.

  First, someone who wasn’t him had arranged a feast with tents and tables and a hundred adventurers boasting and drinking and judging from the sounds, using the tents. Secondly, there were far too many people.

  Everywhere, fairy lights glowed and people rushed through the streets.

  “Where did all these people come from?” Kaden asked. “Why do they look like they’ve been through a war?”

  “Gigantorrod destroyed three villages today,” Sara said. “We had planned to move slowly. To bring in the mayors and form a council, some merchants. Sometimes, plans must adapt.”

  Captain Blanco had been moving through the feast, but now he headed toward Kaden. “Look around you. All of this starts with determination. With decision you made. The choice that you weren’t going to let go.”

  “We’re not ready,” Kaden said.

  “You’ll never be ready. If I gave you ten years you’d still be repairing and recruiting one at a time. You know what the rescue knights told these people? You won’t be alone in the wilderness. You won’t be abandoned to the monsters. And they came.” He glanced to the gate. “I’ll be right back. Last thing we need is a wandering boss.”

  Sara rushed over and brought back a man and woman who wore laborer’s heavy cloth smocks with gloves and bags. “Kaden, these are our mayors, husband and wife, meet Todd and Kaldi Bonerock. They were mayors of a town in Xilphius before the surge.”

  Kaden shook their hands and then looked to the chaos around them. “This isn’t what we intended.”

  “These people need a home. The time may not be our choosing, but making it, that is our choice,” Kaldi said. Her accent was short and clipped her words. “Now we act. At sunrise, the beacon will discharge and let us establish a proper town. Before sunrise, we have wounded to treat, an inventory to perform, and more. You’ll need to stick around until then.”

  “Trella, you’re welcome to feast. Sara and I have work to do.” Kaden mentally reached out through the soul bond for more help.

  Trella glanced to the feast. “I am going, but primarily to make sure no one kills anyone else. Ashi is hunting outside the walls with Eve. Since she’s got Garm with her, they’ll probably be safe.”

  Probably.

  At first, Kaden tried to help. At first, he went door to door, knocking. Then he stood at the FarPortal, handing out potions. And near dawn, Todd Bonerock approached him carefully with Sara in tow. “Why don’t you go enjoy the feast? Please? And take Ms. Scylla with you. I know you want to assist but have you considered how it looks?”

  “No.”

  Todd pointed to him. Upward. Across. “Look at yourself. You’re covered in tar where you’re not burned. Until an hour ago, you were literally on fire and ignoring it. You’re wearing armor that looks like Death itself crafted it. Your monster is following you everywhere and she is for all intents and purposes a dragon.”

  Kaden summoned the solar dragon. “It’s an easy mistake to make. This is a dragon. That is a TriTerror. You can tell because of the three heads.”

  “I think we’ve done our part here, for now,” Sara said. “Let’s go relax. Kaldi is writing up a list of needs we can review later.”

  That was when it hit Kaden. Most of these were commoners, or maybe a low class like [Ditchdigger]. They couldn’t understand that skin sometimes boiled off and it was just fine, or that if a monster broke off fangs in your shoulder, it was really a gift, because now you had two free fangs. Or poison. They probably didn’t appreciate a good poison. “I’ll be over there, if you need me.”

  He ate and drank, and watched to see who, exactly, was the one who was hostile.

  But dawn found him still awake, sitting near the fire, charring meat with Trinity while Vip curled up in a ball beside him.

  You have founded a Town.

  Your [Authority] is extended.

  You must now choose a name for a town based on curent party members and acquaintances: Ashiton (Ashi Rahm); Eville (Evelyn Black); Shadowshack (Trella Sonos); Scyllington (Sara Scylla); Ultimate Domain of Death and Darkness (Sevin); Shield Town (Wren North); Meat (Trinity); Fast Fast Fast Fast (Vip).

  Kaden laughed as he looked them over. Eville was very tempting. What would be a good name for a place where commoners could live in peace? A name that wouldn’t attract attention.

  You have named your town Faust.

  Trella sat up beside him. “Where did you come up that name? Faust? I thought we agreed on Eville.”

  “Vip wanted something like it. Faust isn’t slow.” He exchanged a knowing glance with Vip, who happily put her head back down. In her opinion, naming a town was great but napping was better.

  Something snapped into place as the sun shone down, draining into the solar dragon. The moment a collection of buildings became an actual town, blessed by the System, a deterrent to monsters and infestations.

  It roused sleeping Adventurers and brought weeping from the refugees who had fled here.

  Sara emerged from a tent, lacing up her armor and pulling up her pants. “It’ll do as a name. I did think we’d agreed on Ashiton.”

  Captain Blanco spoke with the mayors, then beckoned Kaden over. “I was telling them, I don’t have knights to spare, but I can train volunteers for [Town Guard] which will put them on the path to [Knight] and then [City Knight.]”

  “We’re grateful. Faust has to stand on its own eventually,” said Todd. “We’ve signed the trade agreements Evelyn Black drew up for us. Truthfully, it doesn’t seem like Verona is getting much from us for the first few years. Once the mine is working? Yes. Until it’s fully functional, it’s almost charity.”

  “The System doesn’t agree,” Captain Blanco said. “Kaden, mind taking a quick trip with me? I have something I want to show you and something I want to teach you. Both will be worth it.”

  Kaden quickly spoke with Trella and Sara. When he returned, Captain Blanco spoke with a [Swordsman]. “All right then. You’re from Istris. We’ll take him to your capital. We’ll have him tried by your law. Agreed?”

  “Please.” The Swordsman stumbled as Captain Blanco clapped his back. “I just want to say I wish I had the courage you do.”

  “You’re young,” he answered. “Not even second tier. When you are second tier, come find me in Verona. I can help you develop that courage.”

  He turned on the slumbering adventurers. “Everyone evacuate. I’ll be back at noon. I’d better find most of you gone. These people have enough to do without you ‘helping.’”

  Kaden disbanded the barrier around the [Assassin] and ignored the man when he stabbed Kaden in the chest, instead throwing him over his shoulder. With Trinity in his soul, he followed the Captain of the City Knights into a FarPortal.