They moved through the winding tunnel that led from the fourth level upward. Yue kept a curious gaze on the walls, her eyes wide with wonder—until one of the pressure plates suddenly clicked just behind Avan as he passed.

  He turned his head with a smug grin.

  Yue gave him a blank stare, stepped closer, and punched him in the shoulder. Then immediately shook her hand with a pained grimace. "Ow! What the hell are you made of? Brick?! That actually hurt!"

  Chuckling, Avan replied, "Level fifty-three, not quite a hundred yet. But close enough to be tough, huh? And what's your level, adventurer extraordinaire?"

  Yue blinked. "Wait—what? You're Bronze tier already?! You were below me when we met! I just hit nineteen! And you're a healer now too?!"

  Right. I always forget about my Identification skill… Ugh, idiot.

  He laughed lightly. "Alright, alright. I was joking earlier. I’m using an ability—Akkalon’s Sphere. It lets me manipulate objects within my aura as if I were touching them. So traps? Disarmed or rearmed without lifting a finger."

  Yue raised a hand to hit him again but hesitated, then lowered it with a groan. "You have got to be messing with me. You’re casually rearming traps with your mind and talking about seeing me naked like it’s nothing? People would kill for that ability! You better not have used it like that, Avan, or I swear—"

  They both laughed, their banter easing the tension.

  Half an hour later, they reached the stairwell. Avan plopped down, cross-legged, and summoned a steaming mug of tea from his storage. Yue’s jaw dropped slightly.

  "Seen something interesting, foxy?" he teased, then handed her a second mug. She sat beside him, silently accepting the cup.

  "I don’t even want to ask anymore," she muttered. "Aura, ridiculous leveling speed, and now storage magic. Most adventurers would stab you for that."

  Avan sipped, unconcerned. Later, he explained his ambush plan: they’d wait at the bend, letting any pursuers struggle through the traps first. Yue agreed with a nod and followed him back through the corridor, where he disarmed and reset every trap along the way.

  Near the stairwell, he summoned blankets and lay back. Yue watched him with an incredulous stare.

  "We’ll hear them coming," he said. "Unless you know anyone in Cyntha who can walk through traps without triggering them?"

  Yue shook her head. "Maybe a dozen bronze tiers, max. You're probably the scariest person in or around Cyntha right now." She gave him a grateful glance and lay down beside him, quickly drifting off to sleep.

  Avan watched her face thoughtfully.

  She’s been through too much… Losing her parents, her friends. And here I am, living some twisted dream while the same kind of pain follows people here too. The old saying—break or become stronger—it always felt like a game mechanic. Level up, beat stronger enemies, repeat. But in real life, death is permanent. Still… the comparison sticks. And here I go again, overthinking like a damn philosopher.

  He summoned two orbs of Origin energy, dimmed to resemble the night sky—swirling with faint specks like distant stars.

  Beautiful. Looks like pure potential. Oh right—my passive skill literally says that. And I’ve got a ton of stat points saved up. Let’s see...

  With a grin, he reviewed his stats, chuckling to himself while allocating the points.

  Fifty to Intelligence. Fifty to Spirit. Fifty to Dexterity. Twenty to Wisdom and Vitality each. Feels good.

  His body thrummed with power as the numbers shifted in his mind’s eye.

  Stats

  Strength: 75

  Dexterity: 130

  Vitality: 95

  Intelligence: 110

  Wisdom: 75

  Spirit: 105

  Hours passed. Avan practiced with his orbs in the dark, until distant voices and shouts echoed down the hall. A smirk tugged at his lips.

  Showtime.

  He peeked around the bend. Five adventurers moved cautiously, one hopping on one leg with a spear through the other. Avan snorted as another figure failed to help, only worsening the wound. After a harsh yell from the rear, a towering woman strode forward and yanked the spear out in one swift pull. The victim’s scream echoed through the entire floor.

  Avan stayed still, observing. The woman—likely the leader—gestured for silence and pointed ahead. Another man, probably a rogue, began disarming the next traps. Then he spotted one of the traps Avan had accidentally left exposed and called his allies over. While distracted, he took one step too far—

  —and was promptly sawed in half by a hidden blade.

  Oops. Guess that’s on me. Not that it makes capturing Yue any easier, does it?

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Their leader destroyed another trap with her massive blade. Her movements were fluid, experienced. The rest of the group followed at a distance—a ranger with bow ready, two mages in brown and blue robes. As they neared, their conversation became audible...

  Avan remained crouched, watching the intruders from his hidden vantage point as the last of the triggered traps fell silent. The quiet tension in the corridor was palpable, broken only by the muttered curses and heavy steps of the remaining invaders. His eyes narrowed, focusing on the woman in front — the leader. She moved like someone familiar with danger. Her movements, her posture, the way she swung her blade to destroy the trap mechanism... none of it was sloppy. She was experienced, disciplined — a real threat.

  That sword isn’t just for show. She's no amateur. And the others... one archer, two mages. All with some training, but they're following her lead without question. That means she's either earned their respect or fear.

  One of the men, a mage in brown robes, began speaking nervously. “I swear, Seff, this quest is at least bronze-tier! Who sends people into a dungeon without even a whisper at the guild? Something about this stinks.” He waved his arms around, visibly shaken.

  The other mage, Seff, replied with a sigh, “You swear a lot, Milan. And you panic even more. You should’ve never been approved for a mage class with that attitude.”

  Avan listened from his crouch, arms resting on his knees, brow slightly furrowed as he analyzed the group's internal dynamic. He could hear the ranger’s cautious steps as he checked the floor for more traps, and the silent judgment in the exchange between the mages told him volumes.

  Milan, clearly offended, snapped back, “Just because you had it easy healing townsfolk doesn’t mean you get to judge. Some of us had to fight monsters to gain experience, not just read books and bandage bruises!” He pointed at Eve. “And remember how that voice struck her with lightning the moment she tried to force the door? You healed her, yes, but you didn’t object to the quest either!”

  The party went quiet at that, and even the ranger, who had been focused on the corridor, turned around to glance at them. The silence that followed was heavier than any argument.

  Avan stepped away from his spot with a sigh and looked toward the sleeping Yue. He crouched beside her and gently spoke, “Yue, they’re here.”

  She blinked awake, rubbing her eyes slowly. Her expression shifted as she processed his words and the distant sounds of cursing and scraping. She quickly sat up, brushing her fiery orange hair back and frowning at the noise.

  Avan gave her a reassuring smile, stretched with an audible pop from his joints, and walked toward the corridor bend like it was a morning stroll rather than a confrontation. Yue blinked at his relaxed demeanor, then giggled as she noticed he was still only in his underwear, carrying himself with the grace of a warrior and the absurdity of someone heading to a picnic.

  She covered her mouth to stifle her laughter.

  Avan smirked as he stepped around the bend, arms raised. The adventurer group immediately tensed. Bows were raised. Spells charged. The woman’s massive blade dropped to her side, ready to swing. They stared in silence as Avan stopped twenty meters from them, hands still raised casually. After a long pause, he slowly lowered them with a grin.

  “Couldn’t help but overhear your lovely conversation,” he said. “Milan, Seff. And of course, the musical butchering of those poor trap mechanisms, Eve. Or should I say, your quest to capture my companion here — Yue — who, by the way, I rescued from a goblin cage not too long ago.” He tilted his head slightly. “And now I hear someone commissioned her abduction under the lie of a missing niece?”

  Behind him, Yue stepped cautiously into view, standing just behind his shoulder. Her expression was guarded, wary — but strong.

  The traps are mostly useless now, but the distance will help if they charge. Better keep them talking for now.

  Avan gestured toward Yue. “This is Yue. And she’s not someone’s lost relative. She’s the hunted. And now she’s under my protection.” His voice dropped, laced with warning. “If any of you try anything… I won’t hesitate.”

  He locked eyes with Eve, knowing instinctively she was the only real problem here. Her response was slow but calculated. She raised her sword — not to strike, but to slide it back into the sheath on her back. Then she grinned.

  “Fair enough,” she said. “I believe you — for now. And if I’m honest, I don’t want to find out how a fight between us would end. Especially not with those orbs of yours floating around.”

  Her teammates looked surprised, but obeyed her signal. Spells were dismissed. Bows were lowered. Avan nodded slightly, relaxing just a fraction.

  “Since you already know our names,” Eve continued, “how about returning the favor? I hear that’s what polite people do.”

  Avan chuckled. “Polite? From bounty hunters? Well, I suppose I can humor you. I’m Avan. And you’ve already met Yue.” He bowed with exaggerated flourish, and Yue gave a small, nervous wave. “Hi.”

  “Good. Now that we’re all acquainted,” Avan said, straightening, “what do you plan to do? Keep chasing someone who was kidnapped and hunted by goblins?”

  Milan stepped forward before Eve could reply. “Honestly? I never wanted to accept this quest. And now that we’ve lost Jun, I want answers. We should report this to the guild. Let them trace whoever commissioned this madness.”

  “After Yue confirms it all,” Eve added, “we’ll escort you to the guild. No tricks.”

  Yue stepped forward, voice shaky but firm. “He’s telling the truth. Avan saved me from a goblin cage weeks ago. My childhood friends… they were already dead by then.” She clenched her hands tightly, tears threatening her voice.

  Eve studied her for a moment, then nodded solemnly. “Then we’ll bring the report. If this quest was forged or manipulated… someone’s going to pay.”

  Yue still sat on the cold stone floor, her arms wrapped around her legs as Avan leaned casually against the tunnel wall. Her eyes were red from emotion, but they burned with newfound resolve. When Eve finally stood, strapping the massive sword across her back in one smooth motion, she stepped forward.

  "I’ll document everything and report to the guildmaster. This isn’t some simple retrieval quest. Someone deliberately tried to mislead us—perhaps even manipulate the entire guild." Her voice was calm, but her eyes were sharp with understanding.

  Avan nodded in agreement, the floating orbs behind him gently pulsing with soft light. "And whoever it was, they clearly didn’t expect Yue to survive, let alone for her to find someone like me."

  Yue slowly rose to her feet, brushing dust from her clothes. "They’ll know everything. Names, faces—if I remember any—and what they did to me. I don’t want pity. I want justice."

  Milan, the brown-robed mage, took a cautious step forward. "Then we’d better get moving before whoever’s behind this sends another group. We’re not far from Cyntha, but if they were able to manipulate the guild once, they may try again."

  Eve gave a short nod. "We’ll escort you. Officially. Once we’re back, we can also make sure you’re both listed under guild protection—at least temporarily. That’ll make things a little harder for any future bounty nonsense."

  Avan exchanged a brief glance with Yue. She seemed hesitant, but her nod was firm. "Then let’s go," she said quietly.

  They moved as a group, stepping carefully around the remaining traps Avan hadn’t disarmed. His presence was now fully integrated into the group’s dynamic—half guardian, half mystery. Milan kept stealing glances at the floating orbs, while Eve seemed more amused than anything else.

  When they finally stepped out into the sunlit clearing beyond the tower’s entrance and goblin caves, Yue shielded her eyes for a moment. It had been days since she had last seen the sky. Behind her, Avan emerged slowly, his gaze lifted toward the horizon as if measuring the path ahead.

  Without a word, he sent a silent mental command. The invisible bond responded.

  Stay here, Horny. Keep the meadow safe. I’ll call when it’s time.

  He felt the faint impression of agreement ripple through the link before it faded into the background of his awareness. He didn’t know how long they’d stay in Cyntha, or what challenges lay ahead, but one thing was certain—this was only the beginning.

  As the group began their journey toward the city, Avan walked a step behind Yue, silent, but watchful. His fingers curled slightly as the orbs followed like shadows, and somewhere deep in his thoughts, a single idea echoed like a warning bell.

  Time to step out of the shadows—but only on my own terms.