Archy had been making faces at the creatures the entire time until he finally noticed them perk up and begin running off towards Lum, “I can hear them from here.”

“We can all hear them.” Third said with a dry smile.

He was happy that the monsters had taken off so quickly.

The faint sounds of battle and explosions reached their ears. Considering how far they’d walked the fact that they could hear the battle at all meant that it was definitely an intense fight. The team watched the corrupted creatures closely. Every second they waited meant another second that their enemies got closer to the prize. But if they went too soon then they would attract the monster’s attention and probably be swarmed. The moment the monsters reached manageable levels the team immediately ran through into the inner ring, killing any strays that crossed their path.

They made their way up the mountain and followed the cliff line. TidalWave lead the way as he had used the path before. He didn’t even have to stop as Archy and Seven smashed their attacks at any creature that threatened to slow the team down. They used the quest indicator to show them the way so that they didn’t get lost and in the meantime took the opportunity to scout the surroundings.

They hadn’t been able to properly see the inner ring of the woods when they’d been fighting in the fog. Unlike the fertile and lush Outer Woods, the entire Signet Woods Inner Ring had grown sickly and purple as time passed. There wasn’t a single uncorrupted wilder and even most of the outer ring creatures that were guarding the entrance had been converted.

“Damn.” Seven had wanted to find some ingredients but the entire area was wiped clean by the corruption.

Every ingredient was unsalvageable. The team quickly agreed to completely ignore the drops that came from the stray creatures they killed. The treasure was a far more pressing matter than a few silver coins.

The team bounded through the mountain with increasing speed. The monsters had actually lessened in volume until they barely ran into any. It seemed like they had all been called to fight the group of players and NPCs trying to force their way in below. Seven could even see waves of creatures moving underneath the treeline as they swarmed towards the expedition force.

“There is definitely a driving force behind them.” Third remarked as he viewed the odd formations and actions of the corrupted beings.

Despite the trees obscuring most of their above vision, the battle was relatively observable. The team could see thousands of monsters forming into a great mass. It was an amazing sight as almost every monster that roamed the gigantic inner ring was sent to delay their enemies.

In turn, the expedition force had set up gigantic paladin shields, barriers were made by the priests and the magi were sending out intense spells that killed treants and wilders by the dozens. In terms of quantity the monsters had the Lum soldiers outnumbered but when it came to quality it was like a pack of wolves had been set onto a herd of sheep.

“That’s one hell of a sight.” Archy had almost stopped to appreciate the clash of forces.

Thousands of monsters were fighting off against a group of soldiers trying to save their city. No matter how he looked at it this was the kind of classic heroic tale that would be told to the NPC’s children’s children as a legend. Except, in this case, the thirty or so NPCs were absolutely kicking ass. It wasn’t even a contest. The monsters were brushed away like ants.

“Will we be able to do that when we reach that level?” Seven gazed at the battle in amazement as she ran.

The NPCs were at a much higher level than any of the players. Fireballs the size of trees were casually thrown about with gusto by the magi and the paladins emitted a golden light that was cutting into the sky. The truth was that sheer numbers could do nothing to halt their advance. Even if they were slower now the corrupted creatures would never be able to win and would only die in the end.

The only thing stopping the expedition force from advancing was that they had to maneuver around the dead bodies of their enemies.

“Depends on your class. I wager your class is a little less flashy but still quite strong.” Third ignored the battle raging on beside them and instead scanned the crowd for particular individuals.

He didn’t want Attracting and the rest sneaking off and stealing all the treasure hoard for themselves while the NPCs were distracted. He didn’t have to worry too much, Dark Horse and Colt’s Crew were both expertly weaving in and out of the NPC frontline as they tackled dozens of creatures at a time.

Normally it would have been suicide but with their high-level helpers it was just power levelling. Third slightly regretted that they hadn’t been able to take on that same opportunity but then dismissed it. He wasn’t a fan of Attracting’s attitude and secretly he also held hope that they’d be able to claim the treasure for themselves. He felt that if the city was willing to go this far then the treasure must definitely be worth it. He doubted the paladins and magi wanted the gold but the upper city management? He was sure there was a less heroic reason for why they had been able to mobilise so fast. He felt that this was definitely no ordinary treasure.

At the very least the quest takers had to kill hundreds of monsters to even reach the location.

“I don’t think we can match that speed.” Seven was worried.

For some reason the expedition force was taking its time in moving forward but she couldn’t work out why they weren’t just running at full speed towards the treasure.

“We should be faster than them.” Spark Joy was ahead of the pack alongside Roxxy and TidalWave, “As long as they can’t see through the fog they’ll have to keep saving their strength.”

“Oh!” Seven suddenly realised why the NPCs were hesitant.

The truth was that if the magi knew where to place a single strong spell to properly wipe out the enemy forces they would have. But while the fog was present and blocking their sights they had to conserve their mana in case they destroyed woodland and no monsters. While they were affected by whatever magic was plaguing the inner woods they couldn’t be sure how many monsters were in their path. If they didn’t play it safe and conserve their mana and resources they would be screwed if the monsters simply kept on coming. With the current fog, they couldn’t see an end to the monsters.

“Once they break through the monsters they’ll catch up quickly.” Third’s assessment was more grim. “We do not know how much time is needed to defeat the boss.”

“Always the worrywart.” Archy decided to send a few arrows flying towards the treants.

He figured the arrows would get lost in the crowd and nobody would notice if he claimed a bit of experience for himself in the commotion.

“I’m sure you believe something will pop up to help us.” Third snorted at Archy’s response, “But I assure you no su-”

*ROARRRR*

The entire team stumbled and stopped as the ground around them began to shake. Third was almost sent face-first into the ground but managed to catch his balance at the last second. He raised his head to see what had caused the sudden disturbance only to be met with Archy’s smug grin as the archer bent over to help him up.

“Not a word.” Third’s face darkened.

Seven butted in before he could escalate the argument further, “What happened?”

She checked the battle but realised that none of the expedition force members or monsters cared about the sudden shaking. The ground was continuously trembling more and more but the NPCs and players were too consumed in their fighting to take notice.

Third was squinting through the cracks of the leaves, “The battle remains undisturbed. It appears that something else is about to set our world to crap.”

Archy looked at Third and gave him a thumbs-up, “Nice word choice. Very sophisticated.”

The team picked up the pace as the situation continued to worsen. At this point, even the combatants below had noticed something was wrong but they were already surrounded and they couldn’t afford to distract themselves for fear of being overrun by corrupt monsters.

“Oh-oh-oh I hear something.” Between the sounds of fighting and the leaves suddenly bristling loudly in their trees Roxxy could make out faint shrieks, “Ah,” She recalled hearing these exact same sounds a week ago when fighting in the woods.

*ROARRR*

Another loud bellow was let out and the rumbling suddenly grew silent. Seven finally found herself running into a small clearing free of trees on the cliff and she immediately looked up to see what was making all the noise. Only to find herself staring at a giant paw as it fell from high in the air and crashed down near the expedition force.

She had a brief few seconds to take in the sight of players and NPCs being blown away and trees being utterly destroyed as the weight of the pawed foot crushed them into paste. Then she looked up and saw the creature attached to the foot.

[Corrupted Behemoth Level 165]

“Well, crap.” She took in a deep breath as she realised the shrieking belonged to the fifty or so crows that were flying around the mountain-sized creature’s head, “It looks a lot angrier than last time. Before Archy shot it in the ass of course.”

“Of course.” Roxxy nodded sagely then she motioned to the team as she began to speed up, “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

Luckily for them, the corrupt behemoth’s attention was solely focused on the powerful enemies that had been making a ruckus in its territory. Seven wasn’t sure when it had been corrupted since she hadn’t seen it for a couple of days, but it was undoubtedly a lot stronger than before. They probably couldn’t afford to provoke it like they had last time even if they wanted to.

“It’s making our job a lot easier.” TidalWave noted that the NPCs had stopped completely as they finally caught a glimpse of the enormous creature through the fog.

Most of the force had been blown away into the nearby trees as the thing stepped down on them.

Seven watched the fighting force scatter to the winds as they used their spells and swords to cut through large swathes of monsters. With perfect coordination of their intentions, the force decided that it was easier to try and escape through the lower level enemies than to bunch up and give that behemoth an easy target.

They could tell they were in over their heads and forced themselves to burn through their remaining mana reserves to cut a path to escape. The monsters swarming around them caught fire or were cut to pieces as the expedition force began to scatter like the wind. Seven and the team lost sight of most of the members when they were swarmed by monsters and became indistinguishable.

The behemoth continued to draw nearer but hesitated due to the large amounts of corrupted monsters it would kill by stepping on them. The expedition force itself was trying to gather together in small groups now that they had split up. Even though they couldn’t be sure where exactly the monster was due to the fog they knew where it had been. If they did see the behemoth it was likely that they could only see at most one of its toes.

Then Seven and the team ran through the clearing and found themselves surrounded by trees again. They were safe from the behemoth due to being on the mountain and they knew that they had just gained a lot of time until the expedition force could catch up to them. Even if the smaller groups could break through the swarm it would take them far more time than before now that they had to look out for the behemoth and its crows.

“Did anyone see where Attracting and his people went?” Spark Joy frowned as she thought over the past few seconds of the battle.

She hadn’t seen Attracting or the players he had recruited.

“They’re probably doing the same thing we are.” Roxxy was still laughing at seeing the behemoth step over the players and NPCs like they were ants, “The thousands of monsters will focus on the stronger NPCs and be drawn to them. Attracting and the other players will use the distraction to completely avoid detection as they move to the dragon’s treasure.”

“We still have a head start.” TidalWave was confident.

Even though they were running the long way around to get to the treasure he knew the monsters would definitely have slowed down the other players. Attracting couldn’t be that coordinated and definitely couldn’t have predicted the behemoth’s intervention.

“Son of a-” Roxxy came to a stop as they finally arrived at a small nook that overlooked the woods in front of them.

What they saw was a giant cave mouth surrounded by withered and dying trees. The entire area was devoid of any life and the source of the corruption was clearly within the cave. They could tell from the quest that the cave was definitely the location of the treasure. The only problem was that they could see several players ahead of them. Somehow Attracting’s party had managed to beeline straight at the cave without being held back by the monsters or the behemoth.

“I swear to-” Roxxy was struggling to get her words out, “That guy has some sort of sixth sense or something. He’s always one step ahead.”

They watched with dismay as the players waded through the dead trees and made their way towards the cave entrance. The dozen or so players that Attracting had brought didn’t hesitate to follow his lead as they made their way towards the quest objective.

“They didn’t manage to bring any of the NPCs” Spark Joy stopped alongside the team as they assessed the situation, “If they’re planning on fighting the boss they might not win.”

“Especially if we stab them in the back while they aren’t looking.” Archy raised his eyebrows suggestively at the team.

Instead of replying Roxxy pointed towards the cave entrance, “Look.”

There was a cloud of purple dust and dirt rising from the ground as something came out of the cave and closed in on the players.

“What the heck is that.” Archy peered closer and tried to see through the dust.

His eyes quickly widened as he spotted scales and large shadows jumping inside. A couple of seconds later the dust settled to reveal dragon-like creatures that were covering ground faster than a car on a road.

[Corrupted Drakeling level 35]

The players following Attracting jumped back and suddenly began to unleash a series of attacks as the monsters drew near. But most of them seemed to hesitate as they realised that these monsters were a lot stronger and quicker than the ones they had just been fighting alongside the NPCs.

There were at least two hundred of the monsters making a straight path towards Attracting and his party. They let out growls and yips as they took on the brunt of the player’s attacks but they continued to move as a horde and began to split apart to surround their prey.

They were clearly going in for a swift kill.

“Those guys are dead now.” Spark Joy was amused as she gazed down at the players.

No matter how skilled they were the drakes were simply too fast and powerful to avoid. They would have to fight off at least two hundred rabid monsters that had been strengthened past their original forms. It was a lost battle.

Seven’s team continued to make their way down as they carefully viewed the unfolding battle. They knew that Attracting’s force would lose but they wanted to find an opportunity to sneak past them.

Attracting evidently didn’t think the battle was lost as he led his team straight into the horde. Players and drakes clashed and Sevens team was impressed. The drakes had the numbers and power but Attracting’s players were skilled enough that they hadn’t been overrun immediately. They had great skill and ability but it was honestly only a matter of time.

Seven wondered what he had in his pocket to get him out of this mess.

“He needs a miracle.” Archy was happy.

This made the team’s job a lot easier. They would just need to figure out a way to sneak past the drakes. They slowly made their way closer, trying to circle around the battle.

Then a booming voice called out towards Attracting from the other side of the clearing, startling them.

“KNIGHTS OF MAGNOLIA, CHARGE.”

“Oh crap.” Archy would recognise that voice anywhere.

It was his stupid cousin, Leo.

Hundreds of hooded players came out in droves from the treeline and made their way to the drakes. Archy watched in horror as his cousin moved at the front and shouted orders. The drakes seemed startled by the sudden intrusion and began to pull off of Attracting and his players, focusing on the more immediate threat.

Attracting and his crew were soon joined in battle as the knights smashed into the horde and the overwhelming drake advantage dimmed. They were hardly coordinated but their quick movements allowed them to catch up to the struggling players to lend them aid.

Seven could see Archy’s face grow more and more tense as he viewed the unfolding battle.

“What the hell kind of surprise is this.” He muttered.

Seven was more surprised at the number of hooded players than their presence. They had to have in the upwards of three hundred members present and fighting against the drakes. She whistled as they smashed into the drake horde, using their superior numbers to completely overwhelm the enemy.

‘And they’re all dwarves.’ She noted with joy.

“Elegance was not something considered in the making of this plan.” Third narrowed his eyes, he suddenly realised something disturbing, “I do not see Attracting or any of the other players.”

Seven double-checked and found that he was right. Not a single member of Dark Horse or Colt’s Crew could be found. They had definitely been there when the knights first arrived. But now after a few seconds had passed they were nowhere to be seen.

“They probably went in to fight the boss directly.” Roxxy was already starting to move down towards the battlefield, “We have to try to make our way around those guys right?”

“No.” Archy shook his head, “I can talk to them.”

“Because your cousin is their leader?” Seven inquired as the team began to make their way down.

“Something like that.” Archy’s face was dark.

She could tell he had some choice words he wanted to say to his cousin.

As they made their way down they could see that the knights had made quick work of the drakes. Most of them were injured but their numbers had allowed them to make a swift victory.

A knight turned around as Archy and the team came into view and waved his hand, “COUSIN. WE CAME TO HELP YOU.”

“You came to what?” Archy stopped at him and then shook his head, “How did you even know we’d be here?”

“Your friend told us of course.” Leo saluted and lowered his voice as he got closer to Archy, “You know, that Attracting guy.”

“WH-” Archy’s shout was promptly cut off as Third clamped a hand over his mouth.

“I will make this quick. We did not ask you to come and Attracting’s team is currently our opponents.” Third knew they were pressed for time. “What did Attracting say to convince you to come and help him out?”

Attracting’s players could already be killing the boss as they talked.

“He um,” Leo looked at Archy’s furious face and realised that something wasn’t right, “He told me something only a friend of Archy would know.”

Archy was about to shout a response when he saw his team looking at him. He took a deep breath to calm down and decided to private message his cousin. A few seconds later his face grew stormy and even Leo looked pissed.

“Uh-oh, what’s happening?” Roxxy could sense the bad atmosphere.

“Don’t worry about it.” Archy’s expression told them otherwise but then they saw the Knights of Magnolia tensing as well.

Leo was sending a message into whatever chat the mass of players occupied. Then as one they all turned towards the cave mouth with their swords drawn out.

“KNIGHTS OF MAGNOLIA.” Leo turned to the hundreds of players, “MOVE.”

As one, the entire knight's corp began to move towards the cave entrance. Archy ran alongside them and the team rushed to catch up to him. The moment they reached the entrance itself the knights suddenly halted and looked forward warily.

Nobody knew what was inside the cave mouth.

For all they knew, all the players inside were celebrating over a defeated monster body and taking all the treasure. Or they were all dead.

“QUIETLY.” Leo shouted to the group.

TidalWave, Roxxy, and Spark Joy each made their way to the top of the herd. They were the fighters that would be in the frontline if anything unexpected happened. Third and Seven went to the middle of the pack to avoid being picked off. They were following Archy closely. Secretly they weren’t sure that Archy wouldn’t run off and do something dumb. He looked fairly pissed, to say the least.

They looked around cautiously as they made their way deeper into the depths. The air had turned a dark shade of purple. There were wisps of purple smog cornering the players from all sides.

“This doesn’t look good.” Roxxy noted to TidalWave as they made their way further in.

“The purple smog? Definitely poisonous.” He nodded.

“No,” Roxxy shook her head, “The size of the place.”

The cave tunnel could easily fit the hundreds of knights and allow them room to dodge the purple smog.

“Whatever is up ahead is probably designed for fighting a lot of enemies.” TidalWave caught on, “We’re walking into a bad situation.”

“But he doesn’t know we’re coming right?” Spark Joy was optimistic.

They had hundreds of players and her own team she was confident in. That meant that little could sway her view that they had an overwhelming advantage in this fight. Then they saw the light.

“Oh.” Spark Joy didn’t know what else to say.

The moment they emerged from the cavern they were met with a strange sight. Almost as tall as a city wall was a giant black bulbous cocoon in the middle of the room. It was strung from the roof to the floor by a large tendril and was exuding a thick purple smog. The team could hardly see the walls or the ceiling around them due to the poisonous gas. And on top of the cocoon was a priest sitting down and patting its ‘head’.

“Of course.” A man’s voice boomed towards them, “I expected no less. You five always were exemplary no matter what challenges got in your way.”

The gas slowly cleared from the floor and players began emerging from within. They looked like they had been relaxing before and some were showing surprise as they spotted the knights. There were only slightly more than a dozen in all and compared to the size of the Knights of Magnolia and the cocoon they were hardly noticeable.

IEatTortillas, Dark Horse and Colt’s Crew.

“But you’re a little too late.” Attracting grinned, “The monster is mine, and a few hundred little dwarves isn’t going to be quite enough to stop it.”

“What? He is seeing this right.” Seven almost wanted to ask him what army he had to back up his words.

They outnumbered him and his players by the hundreds.

“He is.” Third said grimly, “Which does not bode well for us.”

“Let me make you a deal.” Attracting smiled as the cocoon underneath him began to tremble, “You are here to get the treasure. I am here for the monster. We can easily just go our different ways.”

“Ha.” Archy let out a dry laugh so loud it echoed through the chamber, “Then you shouldn’t have made it personal.”

The rest of the team stayed silent. They didn't want to give up when it came to Attracting this time. He had just pissed them off too many times. Seven couldn’t even guess what Attracting had told Leo to get the knights to help him get into this cave. She was sure he was going to regret this soon.

“I figured it would go like this.” Attracting finally lifted himself into a standing position and stamped lightly on the cocoon, “Wake up.”

Then Seven saw it. It wasn’t a cocoon, or a ball, or a simple glob. It was a monster with dozens of eyes crisscrossing its body. Each one was bloodshot and they moved rapidly as they took in the entire cavern’s radius. She could see that the monster wouldn’t miss a single hair on a player's head if it was concentrating properly.

[Mulwarth the Corruptor Level 45]

“Well, that doesn’t seem so bad.” Seven commented.

The knights apparently didn’t think so either and they prepared to charge straight towards Attracting and the boss.

“Look at the ceiling.” Third said grimly.

Seven took his advice and squinted as she tried to work out what lay behind the thick smog. She could vaguely see something in the depths of the darkness that seemed to be moving. It was only a single puff of smog here, and something poking out there. But it seemed that there was more to this room than was revealed at first glance.

‘Is it more monsters?’ She shuddered.

Attracting raised his wand and pointed towards the horde of players, “Kill them.”

Leo raised his sword as the boss let out a ghastly shriek and pointed his weapon towards it.

“KNIGHTS OF MAGNOLIA ATTACK.”