Hunter realized that he was nervous as he walked through the familiar press of the Outpost. Instead of being ignored, the tieflings turned to stare at him as he made his way toward the mayor’s building. Hunter had the sense that he was walking toward an award ceremony or an execution. He couldn’t discern the look on the demon’s faces, but their levels told him more than he wanted to know. Every single tiefling had grown in level. Some were only level fifteen, but others had climbed even higher than Walt. The higher-leveled ones had red, orange, or gold-colored skin.

Unlike last time, there were no guards posted at the mayor’s building. Hunter held his hand up to knock but thought better of it. He marshaled his confidence and opened the door to step into the building. He forcefully suppressed his sense of unease.

The only thing that hadn’t changed since Hunter left was the decor within the building. It still had the appearance of a fantasy-style tavern devoid of patrons. Hunter hadn’t thought about it before, but the building’s emptiness made it fall within the uncanny valley. This was supposed to be an establishment that served other people. However, the only person it served was the mayor himself. It was a perversion of greed that only made sense in hindsight.

When Hunter closed the door behind him, the three occupants of the room looked up at him and smiled with Cheshire grins. Hunters eyes flicked between James, his grandfather, Hank, and his grandmother, Blair. The matching smiles only heightened Hunter’s sense of unease.

“Ah, you’re back, boy. Took you long enough,” Hank grumbled.

Hunter’s grandfather’s words didn’t match the man’s expression. He looked entirely too pleased. Hunter recognized the look from when Hank was bragging about a new company he backed getting a huge valuation. It was the look of predatory success. Having the expression pointed in Hunter’s direction was unfamiliar and uncomfortable. Every bone in Hunter’s body wanted him to cave and rush for his grandfather’s approval. He almost replied in the same vein but stopped himself.

That isn’t me. It wasn’t the me from before, and it certainly isn’t the me now. I’m not going to fall for these tricks.

Hunter slipped into his meditation to cope with the mental influence he was feeling. He was surprised to see that the ambient mana was tainted in a way he hadn’t experience before. It had a sluggish, slimy quality like living in the South during the height of a humid summer. Hunter had grown up in Arizona, where the air was relatively dry, but he had been to Texas and Florida and was surprised at the air’s humidity.

Has the ambient mana in the Outpost always been like this, and this is just the first time I’m seeing it? Or is this something new?

Hunter didn’t let the presence of the ambient mana distract him from his goal. He was only here to turn in his quest and receive the next one. He didn’t know what game the tieflings were hatching, but he didn’t want to play. Hunter let his face and posture relax. It wasn’t quite his Eagle Stance, but he knew he could slip into battle mode effortlessly.

“It took longer than I expected.”

The mayor tilted his head as if studying an ant that had learned to speak—a curiosity, but nothing that could affect his plans.

“Well, we have reason to thank you, young Gold. Your actions have caught the attention of the Great One. He has ordered us to bring you to him.”

James made the statement sound positive and carefree, but to Hunter, it was a naked threat. He had no desire to meet the ‘Great One,’ yet. He wanted to finish the last quest, gain what benefits he could, and then challenge the Rift Keeper. Preferably in a way that the Keeper wouldn’t see coming. He hadn’t forgotten his purpose in the Rift. He needed to defeat the Rift Keeper and find the whereabouts of the Sentinel.

“Ah, that isn’t necessary, mayor. I just wanted to turn in my quest and get the next one. I’m happy to keep helping the Outpost.”

Blair laughed at his comment. The sound was grating. It didn’t resemble a kindly grandmother. There was an edge of madness to her cackle that made Hunter’s hair stand up on the back of his neck.

“I told you that he wouldn’t come willingly, James. The boy still has no idea what’s going on. Dispense with the niceties.”

James shot Blair a sideways glance.

“Now, Blair, it would be more profitable for everyone if Hunter came along quietly.” James turned his eyes back to Hunter, and the young warrior could see the emerald flames of green reflected in his pupils. Hunter checked his level out of reflex.

Lesser Greed Tiefling: Lvl 25

Ah, shit.

Hunter quickly checked his grandparents’ level and found that they matched James. If a ghorum was level twenty, then the three individuals in front of him were more powerful than a single ghorum. Hunter’s techniques worked against single-target opponents who didn’t know he was coming. A fight against these three wouldn’t end in his favor.

What am I even thinking? These are my grandparent. Even if they’ve been tainted by greed, I’m not going to kill them.

Hunter needed more information before he decided to act.

“What does the Great One want with me?”

Hunter’s grandfather smiled. “Lucky for you, the Great One wants to reward you.” He made a show of his hands.

“Lucky for us, we’re the ones that brought you to his attention, so we get to share in the rewards.”

“Why have I caught the Great One’s attention? I thought the quest was available to everyone?”

It was James turn to answer. “It is for all humans, at least. Tieflings don’t benefit from the quest, at least not directly. We don’t level based off of killing demons. After all, they’re our own kind. We needed someone like you. Thankfully, you entered the Rift early enough to accelerate our Master’s plans.”

“And I told the Great One that it was Blair and I who brought you here early,” his grandfather added.

Hunter frowned. “Then why are you able to give the quests in the first place? That seems like something the Sent…” Hunter abruptly cut his words short. He didn’t want to reveal his reason for being in the Rift. Unfortunately, his points in Charisma didn’t give him any insight on how to cover for his traitorous lips.

James smiled at the half-spoken omission. Hunter could see every pointed fang and couldn’t help but feel outclassed. The individuals in front of him were used to playing politics and using their words as weapons. He really should’ve invested more in Charisma from the beginning. He couldn’t say that he regretted his choices up to this point. After all, they were driven by necessity, but now he was starting to see the disadvantages of not investing in all of his attributes.

“I’m assuming you were about to talk about the Sentinel that our Master has captured?” The demon’s face turned malicious as he talked about the Great One’s deeds with relish.

“It was nothing for the Great One to turn me into the quest giver for the sentinel’s quests. Unfortunately, demonic entities can’t accept quests from the Heavenly Host. They’re a bit stingy with their rewards.” He chuckled at his own joke. A trait that Hunter found increasingly annoying.

“The Sentinel’s soul energy is going to be the catalyst that deepens the Rift into a Fracture. When that happens, the Infernal Horde will be able to fully emerge onto Earth, and we will be raised above all the chattel who didn’t join the Horde.”

The gleam of avarice in the man’s eyes turned Hunter’s stomach sour. His revulsion only increased when James strode forward and clapped his hand on Hunter’s shoulder. “And we have you to thank for all of this. Without the extra soul energy generated by the slain imps and ghorum, our Master wouldn’t have had the strength to finally overpower the Sentinel.”

The demon winked, “those self-righteous angelic bastards are a pain in the ass.”

“You’re monologuing,” Blair sighed.

James just laughed again, “fine, Blair. You have no flair for the dramatic.”

He peered into Hunter’s eyes. “It’s time to go meet the Great One, boy. You’ll get to witness our Master’s rise.”

Hunter slid out from underneath James’ hand and readied his staff.

“No.”