They had left Nirah laying there as he was, the dungeon now was his grave. The only thing they took was his pouch of monster cores and supplies. Sargon couldn’t take the rest of Nirah’s equipment as it did not feel right.

The boy was still deeply upset about what had happened and was still somewhat displeased with Lee. However, he could not leave her to fend for herself in the dungeon. Lee was a support type and could never make out of the Babel Labyrinth Dungeon alone.

The mood was foul and no one really talked. The silence was interrupted only when some monsters attacked and they had to coordinate their actions. The party had made it out of the fifth floor since the badger monster was not there anymore.

They were making their way through the fourth dungeon. It seemed that bad luck was clinging on them, a particularly large swarm of [Warrior Ants] and [Worker Ants] had assaulted them. There were more than a dozen of [Warrior Ants], a number too large for Sargon to feel comfortable about.

He was the only melee type left in this party and will have to take the brunt of the attack.

“There are too many of them. I am unsure I can keep all of them out.” Sargon admitted.

“We can’t go back. You will have to do it.” Lee knew that they cannot run away, not this time. If they ran, not only they risked of getting lost but running into another swarm and getting trapped in between the two.

“Demi, I trust you to cover my ass. Here I go!” Sargon shouted as he charged into the ants before they could charge at him.

“[Dark Blast]!” Demi-Ura chanted her spell out load letting Sargon know that she was there for him.

A swirl of dark energy whizzed past the boy hitting a [Warrior Ant] straight in the head, shattering it into a spray of goop and pieces of chitin. Another blast did just the same, taking out one more monster.

Sargon lunged with his weapon towards the closest overgrown ant, instantly splitting its head in two and killing it. The momentum was there and things were going on well but there were still too many insect warriors to feel confident in victory.

Insects were about to run past him towards Demi-Ura and Lee, but he could not allow that to happen.

“No you don’t, [Swipe].”

He used his melee skill to swipe at the ant’s legs, swiftly separating them from the body. The ant lost its balance and toppled on the stone ground.

“[Swipe].”

He swiped at another which was trying to pass him. It moved to the side dodging the blade but Sargon had the ants attention and it no longer targeted Demi-Ura who was just in front of Lee.

Sargon kicked the dust and pebbles at the insects. He shouted and jabbed at them keeping their attention. It was working but only for the [Warrior Ants].

“I give you power and strength!” Lee shouted while slamming her staff on the floor.

The staff pulsed emitting a wave of golden particles which washed over the party. This had a noticeable effect on Sargon, his strikes became more powerful and his heavy breathing less rugged. Not only he had more strength but felt less exerted.

He had taken down one more of the ants and was keeping the swarm in check. However, a number of workers, the ones who managed to avoid his blade, slipped past him.

“They broke through. Come back!” She shouted to Sargon. Normally it would be Nirah who protected the rear but he was no longer here.

Sargon couldn’t do that, he was too busy with [Warrior Ants], even slight loss in concentration could lead to getting seriously injured.

“It's okay.” Demi-Ura stepped forward to meet the smaller ants.

Lee was sceptical in Demi-Ura's ability to protect them; Demi-Ura was a caster after all.

Demi-Ura began to stab and slice at the upcoming swarm of the workers. She used her tail skilfully and didn’t let a single ant to get past. Not only her tail was in action but her legs too, she stomped and kicked the ants, squishing them or sending them flying.

“How about some help here?” Even with the strength and stamina enchantments, he struggled to keep the oversized ants at bay.

“[Confuse]” Demi-Ura mumbled in between her kicks sending a dark cloud of magic towards two of the [Warrior Ants].

A dark cloud clung on their heads; the ants stopped moving abruptly. Sargon used the opportunity given and killed confused ants without resistance.

From there on the victory was guaranteed. With Demi-Ura’s help, Sargon dispatched the rest of the warriors and then cleaned off the workers. He got minor cuts and bruises here and there but nothing Lee couldn't heal.

“Thanks. Having a healer sure is handy.” He rubbed tingling spots on his arms and legs, the spots where the cuts been a minute ago.

“You were good too. I don't know how you managed to keep a dozen of [Warrior Ants] from slipping past you.” She praised Sargon honestly. She was impressed because even Wasi would lose aggro from one or two ants then they got swarmed.

“It's because I have gained a new skill, [Taunt]. It requires a lot of concentration but helps to divert attention to me.”

“I see, sound very useful.”

“One question?” Sargon asked before wiping his sweat from the brow. “Why am I so tired, now? Like more than usual?”

“This is how my skills work. They enhance strength and stamina but there is a cost. To put it simply it borrows the strength and stamina from your future self. Also, you had some healing done. It will go away after some rest.”

“Speaking about the rest, we should get some. After all…” after all they did not get enough because of that incident, was what Sargon wanted to say but couldn’t. That would put them in a bad mood again.

“Let’s finish harvesting the cores and find a good spot.” He continued.

Both women nodded in agreement it was a good idea.

They have found a small cave; fait blue crystals barely illuminated its surroundings. It was spacious and relatively safe place to lay down and even catch some sleep. Lee offered to keep the watch so that Demi-Ura and Sargon can catch some sleep.

Sargon closed his eyes and quickly drifted to sleep.

…

“It is gone. Tch! That witch, she got it first.” Lee swore louder than she thought she will.

“Huh, what?” Sargon asked rubbing his eyes.

Lee was going through his sack.

“Money and cores, she took it!” Lee threw Sargon’s sack away angrily to her side.

“Demi-Ura? Can’t be…” He did not want to believe. “Why were you going through my belongings too?”

Sargon found it suspicious. Even if they got robbed, why Lee checked his sack before waking him up?

“Ohh amm… I had to be sure. My loot is missing too.” She did not sound convincing.

Lee went to her belongings and opened her loot sack.

“As I thought” She whispered and continued louder “Look my stuff is missing too and she is the only one missing. That thieving witch took it all.” She sounded angry.

Sargon did not want to believe that Demi-Ura betrayed him, but then again she was the only one gone and their stuff was missing.

“Weren’t you supposed to be on a watch?” Sargon asked quizzingly.

“Amm… About that. I don’t know how she slipped past me… At first, I thought that she was gone for the toilet break, but now it is clear what happened.”

“Hmm” Sargon just sat there thinking what to do.

“If I find her I will kill her! All those cores are worth a fortune.” Lee grumbled.

They had quite a hoard of them. It was two parties worth of cores and they had been at it for a few days already. Sargon had to admit they had lost a large sum of potential earnings.

“Any idea where she might have gone? You knew her did you not?”

“Well, you see…” Sargon didn't know much about Demi-Ura and he was ashamed to admit it.

“No way, I was sure you two were close and yet you know nothing about her. That dirty vixen had you!”

“Who’s dirty?” Demi-Spoke out from shadows.

The sudden cold voice and figure appearing seemingly out of nowhere abd startled both Lee and Sargon.

“Eh?” Lee turned towards the voice.

Demi-Ura stepped out of the shadows, in her hands was the supposedly stolen loot. Lee couldn't believe her eyes, she didn't understand why Demi-Ura was here.

“You found it? Did you retrieve that from the thieves?” Lee asked.

“No... The thief is you.”

“That doesn't even make sense!” Lee was not the one with all the loot here.

“I am confused. Please explain.” Sargon asked, his eyes darted from loot to Demi-Ura and back to loot again.

Apparently, Demi-Ura had suspicions something like this will happen so she took the loot for safekeeping and hid in the shadows to watch over both Sargon and Lee. Then she saw Lee going through their bags, clearly trying to steal the cores.

“You are accusing me of something I did not actually do. This is ridiculous. And you believe her, Sargon?”

“Actually, I do.” After all, Lee's behaviour was suspicious.

“So be it! I'm not going to be in this party. Good luck finding another healer, I am off.” Lee stormed out of the room in anger. “I hope you two die!” She added just before disappearing around a turn.

“This dungeon run… It has been only bad luck so far.” Sargon was feeling upset at the turn of events.

“Really?” Demi-Ura pointed at all the loot they still had with them.

There was a lot of stuff for two people.

“Well, we got a lot of cores, but was it worth it…”

Demi-Ura gave him a shrug and added “Go buy cookies.”

“I guess I will, but with your share, I will be able to buy a lot of them. Are you sure you don’t want any equipment and other useful stuff? You could do with a good robe or something.”

“No! Cookies.”

“Okay, It is your money after all.” He for sure will be upgrading his equipment seeing how easy it was to get killed here with his own two eyes.

The two gave it a couple more minutes so they don't catch up with Lee and make things more awkward than they needed to be and continued towards the exit out of floor 3. Then they made it through the second floor. However, as the two were approaching the exit towards floor 1. Another party approached Sargon.

It would be all good and well but the tree strangers coming towards Sargon and Demi-Ura looked hostile. They were clutching their weapons and had angry looks on their faces.

“It's them! He killed Nirah and she stole all of our loot!” Lee pointed at the two.

“Bastards! Don't worry Lee, we will teach him a lesson.” A spear fighter spoke. He looked very similar to Nirah, even his equipment was alike. Probably a brother or at least a cousin.

“They will pay in blood.” Another spear fighter spoke. He too had a basic spear and a leather vest for protection.

The third man was more reserved and didn't shout any treats. He had a longsword and an actual chest plate made out of copper.

“Oh no.” Sargon looked at Demi-Ura. “I got a feeling they would not listen even if I tried.”

She nodded in response before disappearing in shadows “We have to fight.”

Sargon was still unsure how she does that. He will have to ask later.