"Thank you again for saving my life, heroes." This from the still shaken young woman who, despite her radiating an imposing presence with her broad shoulders and well defined physique, showcased all the more as she quickly donned a form-fitting body suit of pearlescent scales followed by a bejeweled glove of crystal and silver in one hand and what looked like a naked shield boss or tiny buckler in the other and a sheathed saber at her hip, still wore the haunted expression of a girl who had just survived the most horrific death sentence imaginable by the most unlikely of circumstances.

And clearly she was just as mystified by her unexpected saviors as she was grateful, peering intently down at the comatose youth at their feet.

"What happened to him?"

Chu Hua's strained gaze met Elva's own. "I fear he pushed himself harder than he thought, taking down those abominations, your corrupt guildmaster most of all."

Elva flashed a bitter smile. "Believe me, once word of his crimes gets out, he will not be missed." She sighed and shook her head. "And he hinted at so many tantalizing secrets. It truly is a pity..." she shook her head, startled out of her sudden reverie by the continued banging, hooting, and serpentine hissing just barely heard from the hallway and chambers beyond. "Are you all sure that thing will hold?"

Aroust, their duelist, flashed the young noblewoman a bemused smile that didn't quite touch his cold dark eyes. "More than sure. And if it needs reinforcing, the cracks will give it away."

She paled at that. "That's not exactly reassuring."

Elof, the young warrior with a now powerful yet sleek and graceful physique, flashed her a boyish smile. Such a contrast to the blood-rune covered shaft of the naginata he held so casually, the katana-like blade secured to the shaft radiating a killing aura so intense that the young noblewoman couldn't help but flinch, as if feeling its pressure upon her soul.

A pressure the young adventurers before her didn't seem to sense at all.

"No need to worry, Miss. We're old pros a this by now. In all the times we've used our castle defense, only once have any beasties ever broken through."

Her eyes widened at that, she flashed the lad a bemused smile. "Really. Faced down lots of horrors, have you?"

Elof positively beamed. "Like you wouldn't believe, ma'am. Like you wouldn't believe."

She nodded. "Good to know. Who's responsible for your magical fortifications?"

"The guy taking a nap by your feet, ma'am," Elof said as Chu Hua gently lifted Jack's snoring head up and placed a pillow under it before promptly lying by his side and holding him close.

She blinked at that. "I see."

Elva spent long moments gazing intently at the adventurers before her, peering finally at the former guild head who had radiated such deadly killing confidence when he had thought himself the master of all. Only now, his final expression was one of bug-eyed disbelief, three limbs either crushed or cleaved free of his mangled body, once priceless near indestructible armor shredded by massive rents in his abdomen and chest, thanks to weapons possessing edges so hideously sharp that they seemed to crackle and sparkle as they sliced even the mana thickened light in the air.

"You all really do have a Delver's greatest asset, I think," she said at last. "Blind luck. I do hope you realize how dangerous a game you're playing, how close you all just came to death."

And so silently and gracefully it was as if she had been peering down at her all along, Chu Hua had slipped free of her lover and was standing beside the startled noblewoman before she could even blink, as Finesse and Speed now shockingly close to 30 manifested itself in unexpected ways.

Yet Chu Hua was nothing if not gracious, honoring the stranger with a sixty degree bow, and soft-spoken words that wouldn't ruffle so much as a feather.

"This humble delver would be grateful for any insights you might have regarding the battle you just witnessed."

Elva's brows knitted together as she spent long moments taking in the unassuming yet strikingly beautiful girl with high cheekbones, soft full lips, almond eyes the mirror of her obvious sisters, and lush silky hair the color of glossy midnight, now free of her helm, after lying beside the man she had obviously claimed as her own.

"I assume you would be the tactician of the group Amir mentioned with his dying words."

Even as she said the words, Elva's wince made it clear she was having second thoughts about saying anything. Perhaps fearing that a single misspoken word might offend her saviors, or put her own safety in peril.

But all Chu Hua did is share a soft smile and dip her head. "Correct. And I hope that secret remains between us when we eventually leave this place and, I suspect, find ourselves in your care."

Elva flashed a relieved smile. "Gladly. And rest assured, after saving me from a fate I really think might be worse than death, helping your party learn the ropes is the least I can do. Particularly since I can tell you've never seen a glove like my own before. Have you?"

Chu Hau solemnly shook her head as a beaming Elva offhandedly twisted several gears on the exotic looking gauntlet, lining up a quartet of gemstones just so, before chuckling softly. "Then you're in for a real treat! I won't spoil the surprise just yet, though."

She frowned then, gazing back at young Percy, who's catatonic stupor had turned to a deep restless sleep, before finally giving a satisfied nod as her hand brushed his temple. "I think, given time and rest... he should be okay."

Chu Hua's youngest sister beamed at that. "He should! We did use an Elite Tier Healing Touch on him." Su Li then gazed sadly at the dozens of pools filled with viscous oil and the bloated bodies distended horribly with their bloated burdens, nothing left of their minds save lingering horror and the barest traces of a metabolism so slow that it's only function was to keep the blood from coagulating and the body from rotting until the larvae within had finally hatched.

"My only regret is that none of our magics will save these poor souls." She then shook her head, furrowing her pretty brows. "But please, explain to my sister and the rest of us the flaw in our tactics you claim to have spotted?"

Lady Cristova chuckled easily. "Actually, your tactics were brilliant. Somehow stopping Amir from taking direct control of your bodies, as if you were little more than puppets being pulled by someone else's strings." She paled and shuddered. "And I won't bore you with the horror of what that experience is like. Just know that I'm glad that you were spared it."

Then her gazed hardened. "And you were right to move and strike as one, as your sister no doubt compelled. Because Amir is, or was, a true master of this game. He might have been cursed with a fool's confidence, but he had good reason. Because as fast and deadly as you may all be, he was even faster. Had you not thought to simultaneously strike at six separate parts of his body at once, using weapons that gave you the reach needed to act as one unit, as well as the leverage and devastating power polearms alone can bring to bear that no sword can match... I fear all our tales would have taken a bleak turn indeed. Because the weapons you wield are the only reason why any of you are alive right now."

That declaration earned sudden cold silence, all eyes gazing intently into her own, but Lady Cristova was lost in her own world, as if reliving horrors in her mind's eye. "Had you all been foolish enough to meet him with sabers and shields or the like, Amir would have effortlessly parried or twisted free of the closest pair of blades to face him before forcing his way past all resistance with strength far greater than anything you can imagine."

Her demeanor paled as she took in their deadly blades once more. "Of course, smart tactics and weapons with reach and leverage hardly matter someone like Amir. Not alone. Did you not somehow also manage to get ahold of artifacts able to cut through the most resilient armor imaginable, armor even an elite tier adventurer would be proud to wear, you would still be dead."

She shook her head in awed disbelief. "Even as I gaze upon the edges of blades crackling with energies released from shaving the liquid effluvia of living Nightmare, I still can't believe your weapons actually managed to cut through his wards, natural body resilience, and most especially, his armor made from the heartscales of a greater drake. Piercing through the headmaster's defenses as if they were no more real than a dying man's delusions, even as he nearly slipped right past your guard. But not quite without leaving his bloody feet behind."

Shrill laughter pointing to a woman far closer to the edge than her calm features implied suddenly filled the massive incubation chamber. "And had your weapons not been sharp enough to cleave right through his shins, were you not all blessed with the crimson sheen of his lifeblood adorning your features, it would be he, not you that would have risen above your broken corpses, killing you with the same ease that he has killed countless overconfident adventuring parties before. Because as deadly as your polearms are against incoming foes, once he's inside your guard, those twin short swords would have cleaved through your flesh like a hot knife through butter while your arms were tangled up along five-foot shafts you couldn't hope to bring to bear right on top of one another. Becuase if Central records are right, and he really had ascended past level 20, his pair of envenomed short swords would have cut right through the lot of you, in the blink of an eye."

Elva spent long moments just gazing at the half dozen dread blades forged of Mithril and blood on such casual display before her, the real force multiplier that had made all the difference in a battle that should have killed at least a handful of them as the group grew silent, all of them all too able to imagine what their last few seconds of life might have been like, had their final match gone just a bit differently.

As one, every single party member save Jack himself bowed humbly and low before a suddenly red-faced Chu Hua.

"Jack, how are you feeling?" Chu Hua's heartfelt concern made him smile as it always did, easing him out of the momentary blind panic, afraid he would see a grinning mad-eyed Amir laughing over his friend's corpses... but no.

That monster was dead.

His friends were alive.

And he now had the psyche and soul of a 20th level Guild head as a loosely knotted skein carefuly secured in the pouch his mother had given him, right alongside the psyche and soul of a Level 17 Mind Lord, prizes radiating such terrible potential, safely secured in a pouch more dark and glorious than he could possible have imagined when his mother's gentle gaze had looked upon him with such maternal poignancy, what now seemed a lifetime ago.

The eyes of strikingly beautiful elf, the mirror image of all his older sisters.

The eyes of mother who had loved and held him close to her heart since the day he was born.

The eyes of a Grey Witch.

A weaver of souls.

One of the Four Horsemen that had changed the political landscape of the continent he had once called home, well over a century ago.

Her gifts now unquestionably his own as well.

Even as he held the mithril-edged sheer, now more sword than scissors, manifesting in his right hand almost instinctively, a far more terrible weapon, he realized, than anything his mother had ever shown him, even when he was lost with his sisters in the deepest of trances, so striking was the confluence of skills, fortune, and peril that had made him who he was, what he was, after surviving so long in the deep. No matter that he was, technically, a level 0 nobody now adventuring with level 14 giants.

Because far more important than any particular level, his band of shieldbrothers and sisters he would gladly fight and die beside, most especially the girl he hoped to marry, were tied by bonds of trust.

And the darkest of secrets.

Secrets now witnessed by the stranger now among them.

A stranger whose life they had unquestionably saved.

A noblewoman dressed in exotic mesh with a jeweled gauntlet and shimmering shield of force she held even now, radiating exquisitely complex magics Jack couldn't even begin to fathom, who paled before Jack's gaze.

As if knowing he was somehow passing judgement.

Her life now in his hands.

"Jack?"

And somehow, Chu Hua knew.

The gentle gaze of an adoring lover instantly that of the hard commander forged in the crucible of battle, who would do whatever it took to keep them safe against all threats, no matter the guises they were.

A silent message conveyed to the entire group, and Elva, no fool, quailed, eyes widening as she sensed the killing gazes of not just one but nine people who had taken out a Level 20 headmaster just an hour ago.

She paled and slowly raised her arms, daring to say aloud what another would have been too afraid to say anything at all, just hoping the terrible moment would pass.

"Please." A single word from a throat constricted with growing dead.

A panicked girl's eyes locked with Jack's own. A child's terror and hurt, as if betrayed by the hero she had been so desperate to come to her rescue... pierced the ruthless ice covering Jack's heart.

Making him shudder in sudden disgust, unable to believe what a tiny, ruthless part of his mind had almost considered... but no. Best not to even think of it.

"Hi. My name's Jack." He flashed an apologetic smile. "Sorry, you're not catching me at my best. I'm always a bit groggy after a power nap."

And her relieved laughter, so grateful that Jack chose to play the goof to cover for too long a moment's pause, wondering if he should order her death, made Jack feel absolutely horrid.

And relieved.

This was a human being with hopes, dreams, aspirations, and for all he knew, a beloved and a family of her own.

How could he even for a moment think of taking her life with the same ruthlessness that he had been cutting down absolutely everything... and everyone... who had dared to cross him since long before he had dared the deep?

He shuddered with something close to disgust, with himself, not the girl now smiling so warmly, gently clasping his hand with her own. "Hi, Jack. It is truly a pleasure to see one of the heroes who saved my life hale and back on his feet. My name is Lady Elva Cristova, Federal Agent of the Guild, and right now I look forward to nothing so much as escaping this hell hole and feting you all with the honors and accolades you all so richly deserve as heroes of the Guild, and of my house."

Jack forced a smile, his gaze locking with her own. "One of the greatest gifts you could give me or my friends is the simple gift of confidence. The peace of mind of knowing that whatever techniques or tactics or spells you might have caught sight of, whether certainty or suspicion, will never be revealed to another without our knowledge and consent."

"You have my word on it," she said so quickly, so fervently, that Jack had barely paused for breath, as she clasp her hand in his. "On my honor as a Federal Agent, on my Oath as a Delver, I will never reveal the trusts you have shared with me without your consent. Should I break that Oath, may my foundation shatter, and my Delves end in death."

Jack blinked, eyes widening as he felt the sudden frisson connecting them, he didn't even need to hear the words of his interface: oathbinding is now in effect! resonating in the back of his mind to know she had just done something profound.

Jack swallowed. "I... thank you. Knowing you'll keep our confidence means more to me than you know."

Her smirk made it clear she could imagine all too well.

And Jack winced, recalling the words 'federal agent' all too well aware of how expertly the federal agents of his own world were at interrogating suspects, or their own. "But I don't want you to get burned or destroyed by your own oath. If your supervisors need a report... by all means, let them know we're masters of the glaive and naginata, and you suspect they were using a combination of banes and elemental magic, even if you didn't catch on to the specifics. And if they ask were our weapons magical, you're free to say something along the lines of... 'they must have been, or else how the hell did they save my ass?' or something like that. Whatever you like, really, if you want to mention us at all." he said with a sheepish smile when she filled the chamber with relieved laughter, now turnin to catch the gazes of his friends. "Honestly, I don't even mind you taking the credit. My only goal right now is to get out of here safely, preferably with the aid of a friend who can explain the way of things here, ideally without having everyone's eyes, and attention, focused our way."

Jack was relieved by the number of thoughtful nods his friends displayed, though Elof and Su Li furrowed their brows at the thought of surrendering their glory to another.

"Don't be a fool, sister. You know damn well what happens when any common soldier dared to show up their commanders, or worse, Father. And we don't even know where the hell we are, or how big the serpents might be in this strange land, who might take offense to our glory in this strange land, or simply be looking for easy prey." A flash of thought Chu Hua used her tactician perks to shout over their party interface, for all of their benefit, Jack supposed, when Su Li paled and Elof winced.

Lady Cristova positively beamed. "Thank you, Jack. I think that should work out perfectly for all of us." She then solemnly dipped her head. "From the bottom of my heart, I thank you, heroes." Her relieved smile left Jack feeling both grateful and all the more mortified for how close he had come... to things he desperately strove not to think about.

"Think nothin' of it, me lady! We be glad ta help!" Affirmed Barlton, his reproving, brotherly gaze sent Jack's way making it clear they were all to be on their best behavior, pure knights in shining armor, and absolutely no berserking bloodshed.

Jack did all he could to suppress a wince. Was he really that bad?

Aroust's gaze mirrored Barlton's far too closely, as far as Jack was concerned.

Before he gave an elegant bow of his own. "Lord Aroust of Clan Keindish, at your service, Lady Cristova. It was our honor to come to your assistance."

Lady Cristova's eyebrows politely widened. "An honor, Lord Aroust, though I confess to not being familiar with Clan Keindish. Which commonwealth do you hale from?"

All of them blinked at this. "We originally hale from the Free Duchy of Greyspeak, Lady Cristova," Aroust slowly said, before turning to catch his lover's gaze. He gently squeezed her wrist, as if to distract her from her fierce, predatory stare.

"Love, where do you and your sisters hale from?"

"Jade Empire."

Aroust smiled back at an increasingly perplexed Lady Cristova. "There you have it. Jade Empire."

Lady Cristova flashed a polite, apologetic smile. "I fear I'm unfamiliar with either locale, though I look forward to your elucidation in the days to come." She then looked around her, taking in the vaulted chamber of horrors, the bubbling pits of green ichor filled with groaning, near mindless victims who's bloated bodies writhed with the swarm of larvae slowly devouring their bodies and minds from within.

She paled, looked ready to sick up, desperate hazel eyes flinching away from Amir's twisted countenance, contorted by agony beyond comprehension when Jack had torn free both psyche and soul.

A feat Jack himself was desperately trying not to think too closely of, and could only hope that, promise or no, the noble adventurer and federal agent had no true idea of what exactly it was that Jack had did, only that it was effective.

Lady Elva's gazes then fixated on the pair of arched entrances, now sealed tight with reinforced runes glowing crimson in the ill green sourceless light washing over them, even from here.

She took a deep breath, slowly turning around to face them once more. "I take it the abominations have been somehow warded from this chamber?"

Jack smirked and nodded. "More than that. They're shut off from the chambers beyond as well, and I actually managed to separate several more along the corridor facing the far wall... so now there are 5 squid heads who are effectively our captives, for all that they had been desperate to break into their spawning chamber before finding themselves caught in our trap."

Her eyes widened. "How did you..." she then abruptly shook her head. "No, no need to give me details. Your secrets are your own," she said with a friendly wink before her gaze turned thoughtful, giving a slow, considering nod of approval. "However, that being said... The UCA could definitely make use of more delvers of your caliber. So how would you all like both a Guild and Federally Sanctioned mission?" She flashed a teasing smile. "Though more and more they're one and the same these days, of course."

His friends immediately cheered and nodded.

"Quest time! About time!" Said an excited Drake."

"We're happy to hear it," said a far more cautious Aroust.

But all Jack said was: "The UCA? What exactly is the UCA?"

Now it was Lady Cristova gazing at Jack strangely. "Are you serious?"

"As the edge of my blade..."

Elva gave a disbelieving shake of her head. "You've honestly never heard of the United Commonwealths of America?"

Jack ignored the pounding of his heart, the icy tingle shivering up and down his spine as Lady Elva Cristova quickly painted with the broadest of strokes a country that Jack knew all too well of a lifetime ago.

For all that this America had an odd fusion of technology and magic since it's founding, for all that the nation had never expanded past the Mississippi, for all that nobles were actually a thing here with a parliamentary democracy including a House of Commons and a House of Lords, other things were strikingly similar.

"Wait, you guys actually have televisions, automobiles, rifles, videocassette recorders, movie theaters, public schools, and libraries? And malls?"

Elva was gazing at Jack with increasing bemusement. "Of course. And the best Magitech you'll find anywhere. But as far as these computers that you mentioned, that level of magitech requires so much power and expertise that only the most powerful nobles, conglomerates or intelligence branches of our government have the infrastructure to set up and support such endeavors." She eyed him with increasing curiosity, even as Jack's friends were now looking at him with increasing disbelief and incomprehension. "But as far as these DVDs, Iphones, personal computers, and internet you mentioned? No. We have nothing like that."

Her eyes lit up with a hunger beyond their immediate survival. "Does your nation possess such marvels? Are you perhaps part of a trade consortium or technological exchange program? If you're looking for a sponsor..." she positively beamed. "The House of Cristova would be happy to guide you through all the political and legal red tape that would hinder a revolutionary alliance!"

Now it was Jack flashing an apologetic smile. "Regrettably... I know the concepts, but not how to actually build them."

Elva's enthusiasm quickly cooled. "So, you're saying your duchy has no access to these technological innovations?"

Jack turned to Drake, who chuckled ruefully.

"Honestly, I have no idea what the hell Jack is even talking about." He furrowed his brow. "What either of you are talking about, actually."

Elva bowed her head. "Then please forgive our rudeness, and let us turn back to the topic at hand." Her hands spread wide took in the entire chamber and, Jack assumed, the dungeon beyond.

"By the power vested in me as an agent of Guild and Government, allow me to offer a quest of grave significance to nine upstanding members of our Guild."

Veti cleared her throat. "Um... actually... Greyspeak is just a tiny bit at odds with the Guild at the moment."

Elva blinked, gazing at the party for long moments. "Then how?"

"We have a stable dungeon under our Arcane Academy," Drake quickly explained.

"Indeed." Elva's furrowed brows were replaced by a look of resolve once more. "Then allow me to offer a quest of grave significance to nine newly deputized members of the Guild."

"Um..."

"- who's cooperation will not only assure their good standing and esteem within the country they clearly have neither passport nor greencard to enter, but would also potentially save the lives of countless innocent innocent souls and assure us continued access to the major power supply for all of York City's major metropolitan area!"

Jack froze at those words... "Wait... wait, wait, wait! Are you seriously saying this dungeon's the de facto power plant for New York City, circa 1980s?"

Elva stared at Jack for long moments, as did his point, to the point his cheeks felt like they were on fire. "If I didn't know better..." she shook her head. "Neither the place, nor the time, Elva."

So instead she flashed a brilliant smile. "Right now we are all just underneath the 3 mile long island housing this stable dungeon that we had originally intended to serve as a backup power hub for York City, capital of York Commonwealth. 80 or so miles north of Philadelphia, the capital of Penn's Woods Commonwealth, and 320 miles South of Pittsburgh, the capital of Massachusetts commonwealth."

Jack frowned. "I thought Harrisburg was the capital of Pennsylvania?"

"Jack!" hissed an alarmed sounding Drake.

A still puzzled Jack turned to his friend. "What's up?"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

Jack blinked, taking in too many pairs of eyes focused just a bit too intently at him. "I... it's just... never mind." Desperate to change the subject he asked. "So, Lady Elva, what exactly is the mission?"

Elva's expression turned solemn. "Unfortunately, our primary power plant was... let's just say, overrun. Which makes it more imperative than ever that we stabilize and clear this Delve in time for our technicians to permanently anchor and stabilize it as a power source. The problem, of course, is that this wasn't a White Tier Delve suitable for training novices at all, but an Orange tier infestation that must be fully cleansed before we can convert the spawning chambers into additional crystal charging bases."

"And what exactly is this quest worth, for the group who saved a noblewomen, took out a corrupt headmaster, and defeated multiple Mind Lords already?" asked a bemused Drake.

Elva positively beamed. "I'm authorized to offer you up to 7 million tax free dollars."

Jack's eyes widened, but Aroust furrowed his brow.

"And what the hell is a 'dollar work?"

"The dollar is now pegged to the mana crystal," The blond-haired agent quickly explained. "Each dollar is worth exactly 1 millicrystal. So 7 million dollars is the equivalent of 7000 baseline mana crystals, to spend or use as you see fit." She flashed another winning smile. "Not only that, I'll see you all fitted with green cards and passports before the week is out, citizenship just a quick couple of tests away! To say nothing of the boon you will earn for saving my life, and I will do all I can to smooth your way for as long as we're here."

Her gentle smile hardened. "The only caveat is this: No matter how tough or bitter the struggle, do not close the dungeon. Do not, I repeat... do not claim the core!"

All of them blinked a the steel suddenly in her voice. "Even a partial success will earn you a commendation. You've already more than earned a boon of gratitude from the Cristova Clan. So long as you do not cross that single line, your opportunities here are unlimited, even should you choose to escort me out of this dungeon and delve no further than you already have."

Jack frowned. "Elva... this place was... is... infested with Abominations. Harvesters who might have enslaved any number of influential figures in the city above. Mind Lords we saw working hand in hand with a level 20 Guildmaster. Wouldn't it make more sense just to claim the core and close this rift between mundus and dream altogether?"

Jack thought his concern more than reasonable. But the flash of steel in the girl's gaze made it seem like he had just threatened to bomb the city above.

"Do you have any idea what would happen to the city if you killed the mana flow, Jack? Our institutions? Our electricity? Our water supply? In the dead of winter?"

Jack winced. Now that he thought of it, in all the disaster documentaries he had seen made it clear that at least as many people died from exposure and lack of clean water and sanitary conditions as from the original disaster. "Good point. That would be bad."

"Very bad," she agreed. "In ways I doubt you can even fathom, being so new to our realm." She gave a bitter chuckle. "Don't get me wrong, Jack. I hate the idea of even a handful of Harvesters acting covertly in the city, doing god knows what, like a tumor that might stay dormant, or metastasize at any moment. But losing power is the equivalent of shotgunning a cancer patient. One illness might kill you, the other certainly will." She flashed a bleak smile. "The fact is, you're not even licensed to be here. This Delve was closed when we transmuted it to additional power supply, years ago. To find that Amir was flouting the laws, sneaking newbloods in here... I had so wanted to believe it was for a good cause. That he was using a formerly White Delve to train up newbloods so they'd have a chance against anomalies when they sprung up, planning on making sure they avoided the core at all costs."

She gave a bitter shake of her head. "Perhaps that's the reason why I let my guard even partially own. I had so wanted to believe it was all for a good cause." She chuckled ruefully. "That damned bastard. I was busy formulating up my report to put him in the best possible light, flouting or strictest quarantine for the most noble of reasons, to assure that no more new bloods would die on his watch, when I let him lead me and Percy here for what I had thought would be an impromptu training session."

Her face twisted in an angry glare. "It was only when I found myself paralyzed and moving at another's command that I realized what a fool I had been, wanting to believe the best of Amir... forced to accept that I had been led by the nose from the start, my mind frantically replaying everything I had uncovered, replaying it all in the darkest of lights. Only then did it all click together perfectly. Only then could I acknowledge how uttelry I had been swayed by his charisma from the very bloody start! Like a complete and utter fool."

"Don't be too hard on yerself, lass," said a sympathetic Barlton. "After all, our foe be Level 20 or even more. Not fair ta expect the humble likes o you and me ta overcome that bit of mad power, now is it? Let's just count our blessin's that we're alive to tell the tale, and he's the one forced ta face the angry glares of his ancestors."

Chu Hua nodded. "We survived against a superior opponent. One who in the end was overconfident and stupid. Let that be a lesson to all of us."

Jack nodded. "Now the only question is, do we take the mission, or do we exercise the common sense to see the sun again and leave this madness behind, just giving our thanks in having managed to survive this long against foes that have always out-leveled us?"

Aroust smirked. "To say nothing of any boss monster. Assuming Amir wasn't it."

Drake nodded, than smirked at Jack. "As if we don't already know what we're going to do."