Vivi returned to the hidden dungeon with her two teachers, Eem sitting on her shoulders.

  The Stewards had cleared the dungeon thoroughly, leaving not a single wisp of ether uncollected. Host bones were spread out across chambers and tunnels. Structures were destroyed, and marks of battle were left on walls. Slash marks, and dents from projectiles.

  “One day, the Stewards will accidentally blast one of our exits open,” Rohan said, seeing a particularly deep cut in the wall. “It’s a miracle they still haven’t discovered any.”

  “The exits are well hidden,” Vivi said. “Only the apartment trapdoor is at risk of being found. Grenall safekeeps that one.”

  “Yes,” Rohan said. “You’ve been studying the map?”

  “She has memorized the layout,” Alisa said. “At an exceptional pace, at that. She will visualize the caverns starting today.”

  Vivi walked at the front of the group. She was told to lead the way to the hollow column of home base. Eem had tried to help her with the first few turns, but everyone told her shh. From there, Eem kept her mouth tightly shut, hiding her lips.

  Vivi moved slowly, having to think about every turn she took, but so far, the layout she’d memorized on the map was consistent with the caverns and tunnels she faced. Navigation was easier when every monster was already cleared. None had respawned in their faces yet.

  The quickest path to home base took less than ten minutes to walk from Aang’s apartment entrance. Vivi found the base without issues. She climbed into the column and entered home base.

  Inside, the Hollows’ main members were sitting around a table, including Rensfig and the alchemists. The table was cluttered with blueprints, pieces of parchment, and potions. Everyone looked serious with the exception of Ven, who leaned back on the couch. Rensfig had bags under his eyes. Aang leaned on the wall, waiting.

  “Welcome,” Ven said as Vivi entered. “That’s everyone, then.”

  “Hellooo,” Alisa said, grinning. “The start of a cycle. My favourite.”

  “Every day is your favourite day, Alisa,” Rohan said.

  Alisa sighed. “Any day where nobody gets brutally murdered is my favourite day.”

  “How’s Vivi?” Ven asked. “Causing any trouble? Has she gotten along with the Union?”

  “She’s the silent type,” Alisa said. “She doesn’t cause trouble, but she doesn’t talk much either. Her secretive nature has caused rumors again. Some are bad, but it’s mostly just speculation about her supposed strength.”

  “That’s fine,” Ven said. “Have you been happy as a member so far?”

  Vivi answered with a simple, “Yes.” The Hollows had treated her with more care and kindness than Fellwater had in all its years combined. Vivi still had her doubts and worries, but most of that was a result of spending too much time away from a smithy. Her hands urged to get back to carving runes. She hoped Aang would have news regarding her smithy today.

  The Hollows waited to hear if Vivi had more to say. When she didn’t, Alisa shrugged and said, “The quiet type indeed.”

  “It’s been a busy end cycle,” Aang said. He stood straight and took a step forward. Everyone’s attention went to him. “Many ends need to be met for our plans this cycle to come together. As always, we will begin with progress updates. Lydi, Feni, how are the potions?”

  “Ready to be tested again,” Lydi said. She rested her face on her hands, though her fingers were covered by her long sleeves.

  “Tests with lesser monsters show that the potions offer cores more protection,” Feni said. “We fed three vials to an ether stick before it eventually blew up. The ether stick’s core grew tenfold. These are much better results. Although, we can’t tell how the potion will react with a boss monster.”

  “If you believe in the potions’ potential, we will test them out,” Aang said. He turned to the next person. “Rensfig, how is the adamantite katana?”

  “It fucking snapped,” Rensfig said.

  Aang lifted his eyebrows. “Elaborate?”

  “There’s nothing to elaborate,” Rensfig said. “Sometimes, things don’t go as planned. I failed to carve the veins. The sword couldn’t withstand the current of ether.”

  Aang bit his lip. “I see. That’s unfortunate.”

  “You’ve caused me a lot of stress, Aang,” Rensfig said. “As a runesmith, there is nothing more important to me than witnessing Vivi’s methods with my own eyes. I have had to wait two weeks, and I still don’t know when she can showcase her work.”

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  “We will get to that,” Aang said. “First, I want to make sure everyone’s jobs are fulfilled. Ven. Any clues regarding the Stewards’ previous hauls?”

  “Nothing. We suspect the Stewards sent at least one skill to Ingfried, but we don’t know what that was.” Suddenly, Ven grinned. “However, Grenall and I found something far more interesting. We found Zand’s transmission chamber."

  Everyone’s heads perked up. “You mean, the intelligence room?” Rohan asked.

  “I don’t know what they call it, or what the room specifically even is,” Ven said. “Grenall was let in for a quick visit by pure chance. Wheryn had business in the transmission chamber while discussing reports with Grenall. Instead of waiting, Wheryn chose to let Grenall inside to continue the discussion. They were inside for less than two minutes.

  “The chamber is located behind the examination rooms behind two strictly guarded hardstone doors. Inside, Grenall saw tens of thousands worth of ether locked in orbs. Real containers, stacked to the brim with wisps. We suspect those are the wisps that Zand sends to King Ingfried.

  “More importantly, Grenall spotted what he believes is a long-distance transmission device. He described it as a pyramid-shaped metal thingy filled to the brim with runes, connected with wiring to two writing boards. This can’t be anything but Zand’s intelligence network. Those writing boards are what the Stewards use to send information outside of the facility.”

  “That’s definitely a transmission device,” Feni said. “I used one in the academy.”

  Aang listened closely and paused to think. “Interesting. Good work, Ven and Grenall. This will be useful in the future. Was there anything else?”

  “Some news, as always,” Ven said. “Bwern’s men are supposedly planning a raid on the Union’s operations in the free dungeon again.”

  “The usual empty threats,” Aang said.

  “Yes,” Ven said. “There was one interesting bit of news, however. A guard has died.”

  Aang raised his eyebrows.

  “It happened on an outside raid with three wolves and six nimrods,” Ven said. “All were found dead. Their bodies were hung on trees with vines. Their clothes were torn, and their bodies were torn apart. Everyone was injected with venom when they died.”

  Lucius appeared from Vivi’s core with a curious expression. “What kind of venom?” he asked.

  Ven was surprised to see Lucius appear, but he quickly continued. “Paralysis venom. Their eyes were purple when they died. The group was deep in the forest when it happened. Apparently, defense duty hasn’t provided as much ether as the guards would have liked lately. Monsters haven’t been attacking. Outside raids have become more enticing as a result. Now, however, the guards are hesitant.”

  Lucius frowned, thinking for a bit. “Vivi, this might be our fault.”

  What do you mean?

  “Paralysis venom that leaves purple eyes,” Lucius said. “That sounds like knot-claw venom. Remember the spider summons of the boss we spawned on the fourth level?”

  Vivi paused. You mean, this could be the Twilight boss’s work?

  “Yes,” Lucius said. “The boss’s presence would also explain why monsters haven’t been attacking Zand. The Twilight Shaman could be gathering a force of monsters under its command. Shaman-type monsters are prone to raising an army of monsters. They also like to grow stronger if they’re left alone. It’s likely that the boss has grown in power.”

  This is serious, Vivi thought. Should we mention it?

  “You can if you want to,” Lucius said. “Right now, we are too weak to defeat that boss. With the whole gang combined, we could perhaps stand a chance. What happens outside the walls doesn’t concern us.”

  Right, Vivi thought. Let’s focus on Zand. If guards die to the boss, that’s not our problem.

  “Keep your ears open for more news,” Aang said. He turned to Rohan and Alisa. “Let’s discuss our new arrival. Is Vivi ready to hunt bosses this cycle?”

  “Vivi has shown exceptional progress with the sword,” Rohan said. “She is slowly learning how a sword should be gripped. We have moved from practice swings to real-time practice against ghost blades and goblins.”

  “Has her fighting shown results?” Aang asked.

  “She fights like a savage,” Rohan said. “I don’t think her fighting style can be taught out of her. However, she is slowly incorporating fundamentals into her fights with monsters. She can defeat a ghost blade with a steel sword and without the use of ether.”

  “On my side, Vivi has learned to control her ether at a basic level,” Alisa said. “Her skills are on par with nine-year-olds who have practiced their whole lives. It will take some months before channeling practice shows results in combat.”

  Vivi disagreed with the last part of Alisa’s assessment. Channeling practice had already honed her instincts by a significant amount. Even without ether in her body, Vivi felt more aware. She was generally more in control of her body’s movements.

  She still struggled to control many wisps at once. In a real all-out fight, Lucius would have to go back to their old strategy of simply pushing as many wisps into Vivi’s body as he could. However, channeling practice had clearly improved Vivi’s senses.

  “Vivi is still inexperienced,” Rohan said. “But I believe she can be let into a controlled raid. Fighting tougher monsters at full force will offer valuable experience, now that she knows how swords and ether are supposed to be wielded.”

  “Good,” Aang said. “You have answered everything I needed to know. Vivi will join our hunt this cycle. Is there anything notable someone wants to add?”

  “We could add to our food budget,” Alisa said. “It’s been a while since Gaven cooked anything half decent.”

  Ven rolled his eyes. “I have nothing to add. Let’s hear what you have planned, Aang.”

  “Very well,” Aang said. He stood proudly and regarded all of his members. “It has been six cycles since we earned our last skill. One skill every six cycles is not nearly enough. This time, I am prepared to kill all five bosses for results to show. We will earn a skill.”

  The others listened with serious expressions. Lucius grinned.

  “We will brew three bosses for two weeks,” Aang said. “If that is not enough, we will wait another five days with the last two bosses. Lydi’s potions will be tested with each boss.”

  Aang turned to Vivi. “The most important job belongs to Vivi. The smithy is done.”

  Vivi’s head perked up. Finally. She’d been waiting for this throughout the whole end cycle. She followed Aang through the rightmost door on the opposite side of Rensifg’s workstation.

  Aang grinned as he showcased his newly built smithy. “By the end of this cycle, I intend to have the Hollows to finally rival the Stewards in strength.”

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