Post by Damien Briar 1:25 PM, April 10th, 20XX

How can we not suspect this entity? It has infected everyone and everything with its forced peace.

Congratulations! You have become official partners with Lorevinel Silvercat! You agree to share hardships for the foreseeable future, until a time when you both agree to part. Be warned! Since Player Lorevinel is currently a free-roaming prisoner of the Ravenborn clan you will have the burden of dealing with your team’s finances. The Ravenborn clan is entitled to half of whatever PMk Lorevinel receives as an individual, but your team does not owe them anything. So, when the Ravenborn clan attempts to collect, you don’t have to give them anything! How exciting for you!

Don’t have to give them anything? Something told me it wouldn’t be that simple.

“Lore...”

“Yes, partner?”

“Did you know that I’d be in charge of our money?”

“As a prisoner, I have no right to control a team’s finances. By the way, once we get out of here, I’ll need you to make a few sales and purchases for me.”

A vein ticked in my forehead. “You’ve had a partner before, haven't you?”

“Not exactly. For a week or so I was part of a small official five-man team.”

“And what happened?”

His cheeks tinted red. “Well, the phrase, ‘did not end well,’ is an understatement.”

“What are we in for?”

“Why think about that when there is a boss we can fight?”

“Lore,” I warned.

He sighed. “Years ago, a very good friend of mine wanted to help me get around the whole 50% tax on everything so she helped me by adding me to her official team as the healer. For a time, I used money freely. It was nice. When Jethia Ravenborn figured out what we’d been doing, she killed my team… repeatedly, until they kicked me.”

“That sounds—”

“Don’t worry! I have a plan!”

“Yeah, right.” Skepticism coated my voice.

“I’ve been searching for a way to rid myself of this collar for years. I have a plan and I’m not going to mess it up at the final hour.”

With a sigh, I decided to trust him. “Okay.” I tilted my head at the rat king. “What are we doing for the final boss?”

He scrutinized the hulking rat who sat on his throne in a massive cavern filled with stalactites and stalagmites. Many glowing quartz-like crystals jutted out from the walls, floors and ceiling at odd angles.

“For now, we should use the same method we used on the Rat Knights in the last room.”

“You don’t know what he’ll be like?”

“When it comes to the dungeon bosses, the PPVS likes to prevent ennui.”

“Right, so I’ll go in there first and attempt a backstab while you sneak in and support me. If possible, I’ll kite the boss. If there’s a trick to taking him out we’ll figure it out and hope we don’t die since the last checkpoint is like a half-hour away.” I grinned.

“Don’t forget to use those healing potions we found.”

“Ew. But they taste like fecal golem.”

“They’re not that bad and I have a limited amount of mana.”

“They are that bad, but fine, I’ll use them.” With a grimace, I placed the gross potions in a quick access part of my inventory.

I took one last look at the room and tried to memorize the map. The huge boss looked back at me with his beady red eyes. Maybe it was just me but, I had this strange feeling like we were being watched.

I slapped my cheeks and readied my swords. “Let’s go murder a boss!”

I cast Add Earth and Invisibility then ran into the cave.

The Rat King stood with a grin. He hadn’t attacked us while we were outside of his cavern but as his gaze followed me as I zigged and zagged toward him I realized that he’d been waiting for us. He stomped. The whole cavern shook. At 20 feet from him, I tripped on a rock that totally sprung up out of nowhere. As I rolled and broke invisibility the rat king snickered like a certain cartoon dog.

Lore reached my side and helped me to my feet.

“Too clumsy.”

“My ass. There was a random rock!”

“Excuses!”

The rat king, who looked like a brawler on several different types of steroids, took out a wizard staff, complete with a crystal that matched the glow-quartz keeping the lights on. The dichotomy had my eyes bulging. A beefy caster? The hell!

White mana spiraled around the staff and entered the crystal.

“Lore!”

“I see it! Scatter!”

All of the quartz within the cavern brightened like a flashbang. I threw myself against a stalagmite and closed my eyes. Too late!

My pupils ached. Everything turned black. I couldn’t see!

“Hey!” I said with a wave.

“Shut up!” Lore whispered, the sound coming from just next to my ear, even though he wasn’t.

“But I’m blind!”

The ground rumbled.

I froze. My knees locked up. The feel of my sword’s hilts reassured me. I clutched them tighter and waited. Tyrannosaurs-like rumbles closed in on my location. The heat and stench that wafted off something beside me sent a shiver down my spine. I swallowed.

In a soft murmur, I said, “The boss is right next to me, right?”