“Yeah, I’m ready to go,” Jack declared. And for all his focus and determination, it still took nerves of steel to make his way down the winding corridor, approaching the blazing enraged massive slime he had been so eager to tackle with before.

He was alone save for Sin and Sharon, their hit and run kiting tactic would only be hindered by anyone else. Sin was several feet ahead, sharp eyes on the lookout in case they stumbled into the slime around one of the many bends, his Shadow Step ability allowing him to immediately step out of range if the creature got the drop on him.

Once they engaged, Sin’s job was to do everything he could to pull one or both of them to freedom, assuming the slime knotted them up in tendrils or otherwise got the drop on them. He alone could dare that risky maneuver without risking death himself, like a rescuer pulled under trying to rescue a drowning man. His abilities gave him the only life raft at their disposal.

Sharon shared a look with Jack as the howling screetches that realistically should be impossible for a slime to utter grew louder. “You ready?” she said, her unspoken gaze also adding. “And I can’t believe we’re putting our lives in that guy’s hands.”

Jack swallowed, nodding to both statements.

His eyes popping wide as Sin appeared before them, looking a bit wild-eyed.

So castling is how he’s making the Jumps, Jack found himself thinking in the half instant they were locked in that strange communion, wild obsidian eyes gazing into Jack’s own. No explosion of air, so wherever he was gets whatever he ended up displacing. How safe was it? Did the magic automatically port him someplace safe? He hadn’t seen any odd holes in the ground when Sin returned, so that was his guess.

“The target is just around the bend,” Sin gasped. “Fire’s out, save for a couple burning tentacles on the ground.” His glittering eyes hardened. “That brainless slime maneuvered back on the ceiling and tried to get the drop on me. It was actually trying to outsmart us!”

“That’s bad,” said a worried-looking Sharon.

“No shit. Best go attack now, though. It’s back on the ground. Don’t know for how long till it slithers back up.”

Jack swallowed, breaking out in a cold sweat, his heart pounding as he tasted death just around the bend, all too able to imagine massive tendrils of slime lashing out from the horror, eager to reel him in.

He slowly made his way around the bend, heart in throat, shield in front of his face, so gripped by tension he was almost sick with it.

Twice he almost blasted the odd stalactite, sharing a quiet grin with Lauren when it turned out to be nothing.

There!

Duck now!

Before stumbling on his butt as a massive tendril of slime shot forth from the madly bubbling wall, looking just as fierce and horrific as he had feared, beyond horrified to see a face, of all things, forming from the slime.

“Move!” Sharon shrieked, Jack only then realizing he had fallen on his ass.

“Ignis Fons!” Jack screamed, scuttling away as he struggled to his feet, smashed back down when multiple tendrils tore his shield free.

Before bursting apart as multiple shimmering green orbs splashed into them, dissolving on contact, Jack’s hot flame quickly pouring on the damage, the entire slime beginning to shriek and bubble by the time Jack had scurried back sufficient to be out of immediate danger, taking in massive gasps of hot caustic air.

“Fuck, that thing almost killed me!” Jack cried, coughing as he stumbled to his feet, helped upright by Sin of all people, fighting not to bolt as the howling horror loomed over them, pouring every ounce of hot flame at his enemy that he could. No matter what happened, he knew that nightmarish image of that monstrous crashing wall of burning slime with the furious face trapped withing glaring at him before it shriveled and blackened would haunt his dreams for years to come.

Assuming he lived that long.

Greater slime slain! Experience Earned!

Elemental Armor is now Apprentice Rank 2!

Firestream is now Apprentice Rank 3!

Firestream is now Apprentice Rank 4!

Ice shield is now Apprentice Rank 4!

Shield and Weapon skill is now Apprentice Rank 1!

Sin’s eyes widened, clenching his fists, laughing in exhilaration. “This is what I live for!”

Sharon gave a triumphant cheer. “Oh fucking yes! I just hit level three! Free spell? Rank up all my spell potencies? Insta-skill up Dissolution Orb? Yes, please!”

Sin turned to Sharon, immediately quenching his high. “Save it. Don’t place your points until we’re out of battle frenzy.”

She scowled his way.

Sin didn’t flinch from her gaze. “No take-backs here, Sharon.”

“Shit. That’s actually a good point.”

Sin smirked. “I never give bad advice, Sharon, no matter what you might think.”

“Yeah, fine. Let’s just head back and see if the others advanced.” She turned her gaze to a happily smiling Jack. “Did you get hit with a bundle of experience? Any interesting class options?”

Jack grinned. “I did! It all went to my spells, mind you, but still! Apprentice Level 4 in Firestream and Ice Shield.” He frowned, “I’m not sure why my Elemental Armor went up, though.”

Sin smirked. “Look down, kid.”

Jack did, surprised by the gaping holes in his stone-like cuirass.

“I think that spell saved your life,” Sharon said. “Several of those tentacles slipped past your shield.” She frowned, peering intently at Jack. “Are you sure funneling all this experience to Tier 1 spells is your best option?”

Jack shrugged. “I’d rather be patient and wait for a good class to populate. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Tier 1 or Tier whatever spell. As long as I can get it Adept rank or better, it will open up specialist classes to me. At least advanced. I won’t be stuck with just basic. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, mind you,” he quickly said, but Sharon smiled away his attempted apology.

“It’s all right. We all know Mitch loves his class. For him, it’s freekin’ Elite. And the universe did give him a mighty fine bod. Boy, did Lauren luck out this time around,” she teased, her gaze turning serious once more. “And come to think of it, I never saw Tier 1 spells quite like the pair you’re using all the time. What’s their duration?”

“Ice Shield and Elemental Armor. And yeah, they’re tier 1, but they were custom designed by a master, so I think that makes them closer to Tier 2, actually. They don’t have a set duration. Instead, they just take up a percentage of my mana and are ‘always on.’ And they’ve saved my life a couple of times now, so...”

Sharon nodded. “There are a few low level spells like that. They will serve you well, all the way up to end game, if you invest the points in them. And you can actually hang your buff spells? Nice. Not everyone can do that.”

Sin snorted, glancing Jack’s way as they continued down the corridor. “For a classless character, you do have your tricks. I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re actually playing some kind of Jack-of-all-trades class." He chuckled softly. "Hell, maybe you’re name is your class. You just don’t know it yet.”

Sharon peered thoughtfully at Jack. “You might actually be on to something. But wouldn’t it show on his character sheet?”

Sin shrugged. “Who knows, with this fucked up world? Not all of our class perks and skills are exactly what they were in Elerium 2.0.”

And then they met their jubilant companions, and Jack’s question was answered.

“Alright. Let’s take a few minutes to plan our builds and, those of us who are ready? Make our selections. If nothing else, the buff to our stats and survival points could well make the difference between life and death. Speaking of which, it’s about bloody time I picked up Healing Hands.”

“Already ahead of you, good buddy,” Mitch declared, flexing his muscles. “Even with this system’s stupid tweaks, I mapped out my perk path last month.”

“Not all of us are able to do that,” Lauren noted. “You’re lucky not to have so much of your perk tree clouded over.”

Mitch frowned thoughtfully. “You’re right. Except for perks that have significantly changed, everything I used before shows up, even if it will take me a whopping 10 levels to get there. Maybe it’s because I was a top player at one point?”

“Though now you’re level 3,” Sin said.

“Your point?”

“Don’t get cocky.”

Mitch glared at the smirking rogue.

“You only live once,” Jacob said. “And right now we’re all level 3. Not 20. That’s his point.”

Lauren shuddered, arching her back. She bit her lip, a look rapture upon her features as her eyes widened and almost seemed to glow.

Jack looked away, almost embarrassed, Mitch hovering protectively over her. “You okay, babe?”

As if her throaty laughter wasn’t all the tell they needed, coming to herself with panting breaths, cheeks flushing prettily for all that she flashed her man a wicked smile. “More than okay, lover. More than okay.”

Jack would think her under the influence, were it not for the way her eyes sparkled with a fay light he hadn’t seen before, her sudden shift in posture and body language utterly different from the meek girl who had seemed utterly overwhelmed, just a short time ago. She gazed Sharon’s way. “I did it,” she whispered.

Sharon’s eyes widened. “No fucking way. Are you kidding me? Already?”

Lauren’s smile grew. “Cost a total of 21 points. Exactly what I’ve earned these last three levels. Every single bloody point going into the Witchery sphere.”

Sharon whistled. “Damned impressive, girl! I tried, but I just couldn’t resist boosting mana and a couple crucial class perks. It won’t be until next level before I can afford to slam 6 points into Tier 6 Enchancer Magic Potency. But you’ve already gone over the hump. You have access to 3rd Tier spells!”

"Does it really work just like in the game?" Jack asked.

Lauren smiled and nodded, eyes twinkling. "Every Rank in my Witchery sphere equals a Rank in the Underlying schools my spells are a part of. Wards, Hexes, Curses, and to a limited extent, Druidic arts and potion manufacture as well."

Jack whistled, genuinely impressed. "So each rank costs that rank in points in total, and you're earning what, 7 points per level for an Advanced class? Wow! That means you do an extra 33% damage with all your spells for each rank you achieved. That's a 200% damage bonus at Rank 6 for the Witch sphere, and you get a mana reduction too in all those schools of magic at once!"

Lauren nodded. "But to be fair, my spell selection is pretty limited in some schools, especially the Druidic Arts. But Wards and Curses are my bread and butter, and when I get lightning from the school of Air? Even an elementalist will respect the power of my spells!"

Sharon peered thoughtfully at Alex. "And don't think we're blind to your using spells incorporating water and fire, ice and stone. If you haven't already gotten the elementalist option, you should train up those skills to Adept, however long it takes. Because a basic mage only has access to one chosen school of magic, at least to start. If you actually manage to get the Elementalist Class option, you'll have access to all 4 Elemental schools of magic without restriction, and they'll all grow more powerful with every rank you increase your Elementalist Sphere."

Jack smiled, nodding in complete agreement. "Great minds think alike," he said.

The dusky skinned girl chuckles softly. "But if you wanted to take the Rune Forger class, I wouldn't blame you a bit. With our class synergisms, our artifact and item manufacturing buffs would be nothing short of Legendary!"

Jacob was beaming. “And here I was, just glorying in finally grabbing Healing Hands, holding off on boosting any other buffs until I have a chance to really think about where I’m putting my remaining points.”

“Please tell me you at least boosted your stats? We have no idea what we’ll be hit with next,” said Mitch.

“You know it, good buddy. Strength, Vitality, Quickness, and Mana.”

Mitch smirked. “Should have increased your Finesse. Accuracy is everything, and if you lose your balance with these mobs, you’re as good as dead.”

“Mitch, I only had 4 points to spend, and unlike you, I’m not a pure fighter. Besides, it’s speed that will let me strike first, hit harder, or dodge quicker. And since I also boosted my strength and vitality, attacking or dodging won’t strain my body any more than before, even though I have to generate more force to move quicker.”

“I know, I boosted all those myself. I’m just saying the extra mana won’t do you any good if you fall on your ass and get crushed under these stone fuckers.”

“You got that much right, at least,” Sin said, his mocking smile earning a scowl from Mitch. He turned to Lauren. “Did you boost your Charisma and Willpower then? The seductress look suits you. I was tired of fighting beside a frightened rabbit.”

Lauren scowled. “You’re so fucking good at making friends, Sin. I’m surprised everyone wasn’t flocking to you back in class. Oh, that’s right, they threatened to suspend you for plagiarism. If it wasn’t for us backing you up, you would have been out in the cold and royally fucked. So why don’t you quit acting like an ass all the time!”

“And yet, I’m still here," Sin snapped. "Probably because your favorite professor tried to expel me under a bullshit pretext. Now if you’re done with the peptalk, princess, maybe you can tell us what the hell it is that you can do now? Or should we be walking in like idiots, not knowing what everyone is capable of.”

Jack frowned. “No offense, Sin, and I could care less about ancient history, but how is plagiarism bullshit?”

Sin just glowered.

“It was his own paper,” Jacob finally admitted. “She was trying to burn him for using earlier research without sighting it. But the research was his own. Our professor was always like a prickly cat around him. Granted, our rogue doesn’t have the highest charisma, ha ha, but that lady just hated him on sight.”

Jack whistled. “No shit.”

Sin flashed an icy smile. “That hack couldn’t recognize an original idea to save her life. She gave everyone she liked an easy A. Anyone who didn’t kiss her ass and treat her like a princess, she did her best to crush. She was a spiteful bitch, and she knew I knew it. Well, fuck her and fuck that whole damn school. We’re alive, and she got to enjoy the sensation of every atom inside her bursting simultaneously when the universe tore itself to shreds.”

He chuckled coldly, the room going deathly silent. “The best thing about playing a Nightstalker Rogue is never having to say your sorry. Never having to kiss anyone’s ass.” His gaze hardened. “We’re here, we’re alive when all the assholes who slammed us back home are dead. Damn, I can’t tell you how fucking happy that makes me! And best of all, we have a chance to grab onto power beyond our wildest dreams, in a world just like the one we mastered together as a guild, years ago! Only now, it’s no longer just a pathetic fantasy. It isn’t a game we need to play with deadlines hovering over our asses, knowing there will always be someone to push us down the moment we get on our feet in the real world. No! Now that we’re here, this is the real world! Our classes, the power we accrue? All of it so damn real we can fucking taste it. So let’s get our asses in gear, cleanse this rupture, finish this mission, and see just how damn powerful we can make ourselves before the year is even out!”

Lauren and Sharon paled at his speech, but Jacob burst out laughing. “Damn, Sin, you got the Dark Lord patter down perfect! Ruthless as all hell. Well fuck it, as long as you remember who your friends are, I couldn’t agree more.” He flashed a sardonic smile. “With the second half of what you said, anyway. We all have a chance to accrue power that would make us living legends. And if our newest friend here is right, eternal youth as well!” His gaze turned solemn. “And as much as I miss the people we left behind, and I know all of you do as well, even you, underneath your badass exterior, Sin, the best way we can honor them now is to live long and well and embrace this second chance at life that we were given. And honestly, I can’t think of a better way to do that than by getting as strong as I can doing as much good as I can, with my best friends by my side.”

Everyone nodded at that, even Sin giving a soft chuckle. “Sure, Jacob. All the silver missions you want, since you’ll be buffing and healing my ass.”

And Jack couldn’t help smiling, surprised to find himself feeling so strangely touched when Jacob, Mitch, and the others included him in their silly group hug. Only Sin stood aloof, but his glare had softened, finally seeming a part of the group. And Jack had to admire how Jacob had taken what had all but been a declaration of war on the ashes of their homes and turned it into a motivational speech. He was almost certain a hefty Charisma modifier had been working behind the scenes there. But either way, the odd tension had left, everyone seeming at ease with everyone else, and excited to continue their adventure.

After a couple minutes checking their gears and status, Mitch gazed intently at the tunnel emitting the faint red glow waiting for them. He flashed them all a cocky smile. "Everyone finished sorting themselves? Good. Let's see just how far we can get in this dungeon without getting ourselves killed. Shall we?"

He shared a rare nod with a smirking Sin before gesturing to Jack, who forced himself back on his feet, striding along the vast, cavernous tunnel passageways by the Warrior's side. He couldn't help flashing the man beside him an excited grin.

Mitch chuckled. "A thrill like no other, isn't it?"

Jack nodded. "I can't tell you the rush I feel with what were once barely sensed flickers of magic now blazing in my mind. And how powerful my spells have become in less than a day, after hitting a roadblock with weeks of diligent practice. He chuckled softly. "All it took was me risking my life fighting elemental horrors and slime deep within the bowels of the earth. Or perhaps, an alternate earth stuck in some pocket realm, and as exilerating as this all is, I know that with a single mistake...

He cut off his own words, frowning at the ceiling and the walls all around him, seeing nothing but tunnels of grey stone. But Mitch gave an understanding nod.

"Just one mistake, and it's all over. Our dreams of power and glory ending with an ignoble death in the bowels of the earth."

"Exactly," Jack frowned, as they reached the point where the Greater Slime had been waiting to ambush them, Sin having already pulled ahead. He carefully looked all around, studying his environment.

"It's fine," Mitch said. "Sin may be many things, but credit where it's due. That Ass never let us down as a scout. Not in real life, or when we were Guild raiding."

Jack frowned back at the powerfully built man. "But what about..."

Mitch sighed. "Yeah. I was pissed as hell that he jetted. And even more pissed that he was right. There was nothing he could have done except die, if he had stayed there. And if you hadn't come... and he really had used that mace... maybe he could have saved one or two of us, even if the others would still have been toast. literally."

Jack winced. "Glad I came by then."

A powerful hand clapped his shoulder. "So am I, Jack. So am I."

Perception check made.

And Jack instantly froze, feeling a sudden prickle along the base of his spine. Feeling like the walls were all but closing in.

"Mitch?"

Mitch frowned, rhythm broken when Jack suddenly. "You're holding up the group. Don't get cold feet on us now, Alex."

"What's wrong?" Asked Sharon, just a few steps behind, Lauren and Jacob at the rear.

Jack gazed intently at the smooth stone walls on all sides. "Let's back up just a few feet." And before they could protest, he had already scooted some 20 feet back, earning a handful of glares.

"Alright, what gives, Jack?" asked Sharon, with a nod from Mitch.

Jack swallowed. "You know how we were almost ambushed before, right?"

Words that earned a couple grudging nods.

"Yes, but Sin spotted it. He's our scout, Alex. If trouble's coming, he'll alert us. We already went over this!" said Jacob.

Jack winced, hating being subjected to what almost seemed scornful glares.

"Yes, I get that. But there's no guarantee that Sin's perception check was successful."

"Well then it would be him that's in hot water, and that would be all the warning we'd need," said a cynical Lauren, Mitch nodding his agreement.

Jack held their gaze. "You know what his class is. How good Nightstalkers get at hiding when they master that Perk Path. So if Sin spent all his class points getting even sneakier, and didn't stick stat points in Perception..."

Jacob sighed and shook his head. "Honestly, Jack, it sounds to me like you might be getting cold feet, and are looking for reasons not to continue. And you know what? I can respect that. We're all level 3, and you haven't even picked a class, yet." His warm smile included Jack as much as the rest of the group. "But you're a part of the Bronze Eagles now. At least for this adventure, and if you keep doing what you've been doing so well up to now, I think there just might be a permanent spot for you in our guild, if you're interested.

Jack swallowed, genuinely touched by the friendly supportive nods the entire group sent his way.

"Don't worry, Jack. We got you covered," said Lauren. "Jacob has healing hands, and I got a Tier 3 Hex I absolutely cannot wait to try on any baddies. And in case you can't already sense it, any projectile weapon anyone or anything flings or shoots our way will skew off target. I can almost guarantee it."

Sharon nodded. "And I already enhanced Jacob and Mitch's armor, so our tanks will be tougher than ever. And after a few more levels, I might just finds access to spells that will let me enhance your own spells as well. And that's not even mentioning Jacob's defensive buff also blessing us, and his Lay on Hands skill if we need it. So don't worry about defense, Alex. We'll be fine!

Jacob nodded. "We got your back, Jack. So don't worry about a thing. Alright?"

Jack swallowed the words he knew there was no point in saying, just giving the nod they expected, earning relieved smiles in turn. "Alright," he said. "But let me do my part, since you are all more than doing yours. Just to keep us safe, alright?"

Mitch nodded. "Sounds good! Do you have any buffs you can share with us?"

Jack flashed a hard smile. "More like, ware the flash."

You have successfully cast Firestream. You have failed to damage stone tunnel.

Sharon frowned. "Why are you burning mana and alerting everything that can see your flare?"

You have successfully cast Firestream. You have failed to damage stone tunnel.

Mitch rolled his eyes. "It's fine. If he wants to waste his mana, that's on him. I just hope he can actually use the cutlass at his waist.

You have successfully cast Firestream. You have failed to damage stone tunnel.

"Alright, this is getting silly," a hard-eyed Lauren said a handful of minutes later. "I'm tired of squinting with the flash. "Jack? seriously. Get over your shit. And get by Mitch! You're out of formation, and you're just burning mana at this point."

You have successfully cast Firestream. You have struck Stone Lurker for 20 Damage and 1 Light Wound.

Quickness check made!

"Get back!" Jack shouted, smacking a momentarily stunned Mitch, taking absolutely no satisfaction in Lauren's look of horror.

"Move!"

The shriek of terror uttered by Lauren was drowned out by the sound of cracking sound and a ghastly shriek emanating from a massive horror with a dozen whipping pseudopods and a toothy maw that Jack refused to look back at, racing forward on legs clumsy with terror as fast as he could.

The awful tingle on his back, as if sensing a pseudopod preparing to lash out and real him back, propelled him to new heights of speed.

Luckily, no pseudopod lashed out for him.

Though the same couldn't be said for a furiously running Lauren as first one pseudopod lashed out for her hair, and Jack was amazed to see the limb veer off, as if somehow shoved aside.

Though the second pseudopod smacked her dead center in the back.

"Lauren!"

And somehow Jack wasn't surprised to see Mitch's blade flashing as fast as Jack could blink, the powerfully built warrior's axe effortlessly cleaving through the foul-looking pseudopod.

"Faster!" Jacob roared as Mitch scooped his girl in his arms and ran so fast it would have done any champion sprinter proud.

Before tripping over a loose rock, crashing into a role before springing to his feet, Lauren still in his arms.

And now it was Jack racing past, before exchange a wild-eyed look with Lauren, eyes saying so much as a sudden cry made it clear that Mitch and his girl were about to meet a very gruesome end.

"Jack!"

But Jack was already on it, hand jutting out as he lined his shot, ignoring the terror he felt as the horrific tendril whipping monster lurched into view, no less than four pods wrapped around Mitch, jerking him off his feet, hands too full of his girl to secure the axe now flying to the ground.

Finesse check made!

Before being sent hurtling as Jack raced forward, yelling like a madman, unleashing a hot stream of flame for all he was worth.

And this time, when he pushed himself for as hot a flame as he could manage for the creature's bulbous eyes, he delivered, for all that he felt his mana melting away.

You have critically hit your target!

Congratulations! You've learned the skill Spellboost at Novice Rank 1!

Immediately the creatures swarm of tentacles twisted around to protect its now bubbling eyes and beak, and Jack didn't hesitate to drag a shrieking Lauren to her feet as a dizzy Mitch lurched upright once more.

"don't worry about the fucking axe! Move! Move!" Roared Jacob as the three of them raced back the way they had come, about to pass a fierce looking Sharon. "Sharon, move!"

Another look exchanged and Jack spun around by Sharon's side as Mitch grabbed Lauren with a grateful nod and dashed back as fast as he could.

Because as much as Jack had to fight not to choke on the terror he felt, Sharon's intent gaze, he fierce resolve, demanded action.

She was willing to risk her life to buy them time. Jack sensed it perfectly.

And whatever the hell else happened, she would not stand alone.

"Sublimatio!" She screamed, pale green orbs shooting forth from her hands, more than Jack had ever seen before, crashing into the shrieking beast, melting tentacles off at the base before plunging into its eyes.

"Ignis Fons!" Jack simultaneously roared, still possessing two thirds his mana pool, and carefully aiming for the tendril even now whipping forward, slamming into his ice shield but finding no purchase against its slick surface, for all that he was smacked back on his ass.

"Sublimatio!" Sharon cried, eyes ablaze with something beyond mere hate, Jack lurching to his feet, covering her with his now dripping shield of ice, now conserving his mana, determined to strike defensively.

To buy them time.

Finesse check made! You have successfully struck your target.

And when not one but two of the remaining handful of Pseudopods lashed out, Jack was read, parrying one with his shield of ice and being sent flying back, groaning with what he feared was a bruised rib at the least. But not before his flames had seared the second pseudopod to a black husk as the creature howled and spat a ball of caustic acid.

Jack glanced at the furiously focused Sharon, terrified that after all his efforts... "Sharon!"

"Sublimatio!" She screamed once more, a stream of green globes slamming into the shrieking horror, drilling exactly where the earlier sets had struck, and this time the shriek was ungodly, the tunnel walls themselves vibrating as the massive ball of sizzling caustic spit that would have struck Sharon right in the head instead veered off into the tunnel wall, hissing and sizzling as it made contact.

Jack shuddered with momentary relief, having no doubt that Lauren's ward had just saved her friend's life.

Both their lives.

But now...

Jack lurched to his feet, ignoring the messages he sensed flaring in his mind's eye as he grabbed a heaving Sharon. "We have to go, now!" Sprinting down the corridor for all he was worth, and this time a Wild-eyed Sharon didn't hesitate to join them, the pair racing for all they were worth until they finall collapsed by their friends at the lip of the wide stony cavern Jack already thought of as their cleared base camp, collapsing in exhausted laughter and tears.

"What the hell were you doing?" Demanded an incensed looking Jacob, grabbing a trembling Sharon, laughing so hard tears were streaming down her eyes. "You could have gotten yourself killed!"

"Easy," soothed Mitch, powerful hand on his friend's armored shoulder. "She's alive. And she brought us time." He swallowed, haunted eyes catching Alex's own. "If those two idiots hadn't risked their lives playing hero..."

Jacob's jaw clenched, glaring at the girl who was now glaring right back at him. Before he sighed, easing his grip, gently setting her down.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Sharon snapped, hand curling into fists as she glared at the paladin.

"What's wrong with me is that you almost got..." Jacob turned around, taking a deep, ragged breath. "If anything were to happen to you, you know I'd never forgive myself, right?"

Sharon's hard demeanor immediately crumpled as she curled into an exhausted ball. "I know," she whispered, terror and exhaustion no longer hidden behind manic laughter or fury. "No one knows that better than me, Jacob. And you know I feel the same."

"Then why didn't you just run?"

"Because Jack got a lucky shot in. And I knew... I just knew, at that moment, if I acted, we just might make it. If I didn't? He, Lauren, and Mitch would never again see the light of day."

Jacob gave her an incredulous look. "Are you serious?"

Solemnly, she nodded. "I am."

This gave everyone pause. "Well fuck. I guess I owe you big time," he said, an exhausted smile, a bruised Lauren squeezing his hand before giving Sharon a heartfelt hug. "Thanks for saving my life, sister." The pair of girls held each other close, trembling with relief just to be alive, tears in their eyes.

Before flashing a grateful smile Jack's way.

"Thank you, Jack. I know that if you hadn't stuck by Sharon's side..." she shuddered. "Let's not even think about what might have happened."

Mitch dipped his head. "Sorry we gave you a hard time, Jack. As crazy as I thought your idea was, flaming the walls every twenty feet..."

Jack laughed. "I know. It was stupid, irritating to the eyes, done sporadically enough that I could recharge my mana, so why even bother... and it actually worked." He shook his head. "That's twice we almost kicked the bucket in one day."

Jacob nodded, turning to his friends. "Alright. I don't hear that creature coming, so we have a minute to decide our next move. I, for one, am seriously thinking that this madness is no longer worth risking our lives for. Not for a payoff we'd earn anyway with diligent practice and safer missions. Not when we only have one life to live."

"You're damn right," said Mitch. "Show of hands for who thinks we should quit while we're ahead?"

"Just one thing before we take any vote," said Jack.

Mitch frowned. "Alex, this isn't—"

"—Sin! Aren't you forgetting about our scout? And he happens to be trapped on the other side of an enraged abomination we might, or might not, have mortally wounded."

He locked gazes with the paladin, who groaned and shook his head. "Shit! I'm an idiot. We keep thinking he's always completely fine and two steps ahead of all of us, always where we need him to be and looking like we're idiots for taking to long in making our next move. But now..."

Sharon nodded. "And now there's this gigantic beastie..."

"A stone lurker," said Alex.

"Sure. Point is, we have a horror to face and a friend to save, even if he's as much asshole as friend."

Lauren clenched her jaw, face taking a definite pallor. "I can't tell you how much I absolutely hate the idea of going back to face that... and Sin's the most obnoxious, smug..."

"Member of our party, someone we've known in both our lives," said Jacob, gently.

Lauren sighed, shaking her head, tightly clenched fist the only clue as to how anxious she was. "Yes. Yes to all that." She swallowed, jerking a quick nod. "Alright, everyone recharged? Let's do this."

Jack nodded before wincing, the pain of bruised ribs finally hitting him.

Jacob frowned. "You okay, Jack?"

"Yeah, just bruised something on the inside. I think it's a rib, but..."

"I get it. You're saving your mana to stay on the offensive. Internal injuries aren't something to fuck around with, though." And before Jack could say a word, he was suddenly bathed in a golden light as the paladin laid his hands on Alex's chest, and like a miracle, pain far worse than he had realized was suddenly gone."

Jack blinked and smiled. "Thanks. That actually feels a hell of a lot better."

"Better enough to face a horror?"

Jack smirked. "Close enough. And Lauren? Thanks for putting up those missile wards on all of us. I'm pretty sure you saved me from getting my skull crushed, and Sharon from a really nasty acid burn."

Lauren forced herself to smile, even though the anxiety she felt as they raced toward, not away from the nightmare waiting for them, was apparent to all. "Good, at least I did some good."

She furrowed her brow, a determined look coming to her gentle features. "And this time, I'm pulling my weight. Why the hell did I commit 21 damn points to learning third tier spells if I'm too much of a coward to actually shoot one off?"

Jack had no good answer for that, only proceeding ahead at a very cautious pace, both horrified and relieved to hear monstrous screetching ahead.