Mathew was killing waves of enemies up closer in melee. He had summoned both his wisps to help out now that Mark and a few others ran off when a flare went off. Mark said not to worry, but he knew something bad was going on.

Luckily Patrick was there to fill him in. “That’s one of the flares. Different colors, different meanings. Red is all the main leaders need to group up for a life emergency. More than likely one of the tunnels has some other people there and are causing problems, we have a traitor among us, or the beasts were too strong. Either way, now that Mark is there, and so is Adam and Jon, it’s taken care of.”

Mathew nodded, and thanked the mage. It helped put him at ease. “What’s some other ones I need to know?”

“White means run away and regroup at backup spots. Green is non-emergency, but important. The example was for harvesting resources or something really weird is seen. Blue is the one you never want to see. All captains are to group up near it. Means those three brothers can’t fight something alone. Haven't seen that one yet at all.”

Seven goblins died in a small explosion from Whis. Meanwhile, Wispy continued to snipe the Golem’s cores with help from Mathew. Jeffery was enjoying himself in the melee fray. Already he had acquired a handful of kills alone.

The south tunnel group continued to carve through the endless enemies. Mathew glanced once more behind him to not see anything. Whatever was going on was on the other side of countless tents. He couldn’t hear anything over the sound of battle.

Just as he returned his attention to a group of goblins a blue flare shot into the air.

“Oh shit.” Patrick muttered. Everyone practically stopped fighting, staring at the flare. It was so bad a few people were caught off guard and attacked. Patrick grabbed Mathew’s shoulders. “Go! I can cover this for you. Not forever though. Mark told me you were strong, you can help more than I can there. I’ll keep everyone safe here.”

Mathew said nothing and ran. Jeffery and the two wisps were right behind him. The wisps were more dragged along, as they had to stay near Mathew no matter what.

He maneuvered around tents and temporary buildings and came to a horrid sight. Blood was everywhere. Several dozen people were dead. Those that were alive created a circle around a pair of people fighting.

Mark was currently using some sort of buff skill similar to Leo’s. He was dueling someone controlling blood. Mathew saw Jonathan and Adam standing to the side and ran to them.

“What’s going on! Why is nobody helping him?”

“It’s his dueling power.” Adam said. “If we step in, Mark will be in a weakened state. We can only wait and pray.”

“Fuck that, with all of us we can take him.” Mathew was about to summon his chains, but a hand stopped him.

“No, we wait. That’s the plan. If Mark falls, then we go in. Not a moment sooner.” Adam said.

Mathew glanced at Jon, who was missing an arm. He didn’t didn’t ask why, that much was obvious. Instead he glared at the blood mage. “Who is that guy?”

Mark was now showing his advantage fully. Every attack left a wound on Aaron. Even with his healing powers, they were starting to pile up. However, Mark was piling up his own wounds. The effects of his icy swords slowing down Aaron was showing.

“Aaron Kinko. He’s the guy who killed Ben.” Adam said. “We’ll kill him. Don’t worry. Nothing stands against us and survives the ordeal.”

Mathew nodded and watched. Beth ran up next to them and was filled in as the fight continued. Mathew watched and was impressed. He was sure if Mark used that power on him, he was done. However, he was curious how that affected his summons.

Mark’s movements started to wane. His aura was dimming. Adam clenched his mouth. “He can’t end it himself.”

“Are you sure? He seems close to ending it.” Mathew asked.”

“Yes. He’s only used this ability a few times. But, he’s always ended the fight by now. Aaron is a monster. He needs to be killed now where we have him.” Adam said. “I can’t do it alone. Beth, You, and I will have to finish this.”

Mathew stared at Mark and Aaron fighting. “How much can I trust you all?”

“All the way. There is no other choice.”

Taking a deep breath Mathew nodded. “Okay. Beth, you stay out of the fight. I can’t fight with you cleanly. With my summons however, I can. Adam, keep me alive. I’m going in as soon as Mark’s ability ends. Beth, get him out, keep him alive.”

“What, no! I’m fighting with you!”

Adam put a hand on her shoulder. “Mathew, I hope you know what you are asking. You are doing the same thing Mark is doing.”

“That’s where you're wrong.” Mathew said as movement turned inside of him. “I’m doing the opposite. Mark is fighting alone. I thrive on an unfair numbers advantage.”

Aaron and Mark’s duel was coming to an end. Mark was slowing down, but pushing himself further and further each moment. So much so, Aaron could easily tell. “You are running out of time. A shame, I was almost going to let you live.”

Mark grunted. “Fuck you!” He thrusted forward with both his swords, but was stopped halfway as a spear of blood went through his chest.

A red fured torpedo slammed into Aaron knocking him to the side. Beth was there next to her father and grabbed him as he fell to the ground. “I got you Dad. Come on, Adam can heal you up.” Tears were running down her face.

Mark’s face was pale from blood loss. “Wait, if your here then who-”

Mark watched as he saw Mathew’s wolf gnaw on Aaron’s arm. Icy chains enveloped him, restraining his movements. Mathew himself was close behind, a ginormous [Mana Bolt] charged on the end of a black rod.

The magical attack lurched forward, followed by a smaller attack, and a series of faster blue beams. Jeffery let go of Aaron as all the attacks exploded around the blood mage.

Smoke cleared out of the way to see half the chains broken from Aaron attacking them with his own weapon. Mathew walked forward slowly. “You are done here. Mark wore you down enough to where you have nothing left.”

Aaron smirked, putting on a bravado voice. “Oh? You seem young. Did they send in baby brother to end it? Are you not taking me seriously here? I am death! I am the Grim Reaper! You all die when I want you to, and live when I want you to. There is no being done here.” Aaron whipped his [Blood Weapon] and shattered the last of the chains.

“You think a couple wisps and a wolf is enough to help you? You won’t stand two minutes with me.”

Mathew shook his head. “I think they are plenty of help. Too bad you came here all alone Aaron. You have nobody.”

Another large energy formed on the end of that black rod. Aaron just grinned. “You think I came here with no plan? I can’t die! I am immortal! Blood is life, and as I said, I choose who lives and dies and when. You killing me only delays your survival.”

Mathew didn’t respond with words, instead an Axiom infused attack sailed forward toward Aaron. He sidestepped to dodge it, but it turned in the air, forcing him to block it.

He ran forward toward Mathew. He just needed to get in close, and the mage would be dead.

Mathew was surprised the blood mage was still alive after two nearly maxed out attacks. He back stepped as he controlled his wisps to continue their peppering of attacks. Jeffery ran to intercept Aaron, a burst of speed coming from seemingly nowhere. The only answer being a blue glow surrounding him.

Aaron was forced to defend against the wolf. As he did so, chains once again sprouted around his body. He was running low on fresh blood, yet the kind he was using was strong enough to bash through the Novice ranked ability.

A giant blood hammer formed to knock Jeffery out of the way. “The deal with summoners is, if you take out the Summoner, their summons all go away!”

With a leap, Aaron flew toward Mathew. The hammer morphed into a spear and it plunged forward. An infernal steel blade stopped the attack as Agnox manifested in the air. “About damn time Boss!”

“No time for banter Agnox, just help me kill him!”

Agnox exploded his flames outward and started his surge against Aaron. Agnox hadn’t fought in several days. He was at peak readiness.

His lone sword slashed over and over, pushing Aaron back a few steps. His aerial assault was not something Aaron was used to. “Got anymore tricks?” Aaron asked as he was then besieged from behind by Jeffery.

Mathew didn’t overwhelm Aaron with unyielding and powerful attacks. He wore him down slowly with an array of attacks. So many that he couldn’t possibly defend from all sides. Aaron was visibly growing angry.

The blood armor exploded outward with spikes, and using that opening Aaron slashed his blood whip toward Mathew. One of the wisps was instantly destroyed, before Mathew could get a [Mana Shield], his attacks were too fast.

Letting Agnox and Jeffery get in a free attack, he went to kill the other one. A thin shimmer of mana solidified to block the attack however.

Aaron returned his focus against the two melee opponents. He saw a blue glow around them both. Obviously Adam buffed and healed them.

He stole a glance toward the brother he was just fighting, Mark. He saw him on the ground, looking at death's door.

A frown showed on Aaron’s face. “I guess I’ll have to settle with one dead for now. Yet I can’t leave without a parting gift.”

“You are not going anywhere.” Mathew shouted. Yet, no more chains appeared to surround Aaron. He smiled. “Can’t chain me up anymore? Running low on Mana? Pity.”

Aaron kicked back Jeffery and knocked Agnox to the ground with a swift motion. “If you are out of mana, that means I can just kill you that much easier!”

Twin blades went for Mathew. The rod disappeared and a long spear reappeared in its place. Mathew changed his stance and whirled his spear around, forcing Aaron back. “No. The pity is that you assumed I was out of mana.”

A giant ball of light crashed down onto him from above. He didn’t expect such a powerful attack coming from a wisp of all things.

Mathew was on top of him right as he recovered, his movements became faster. Thrusts from the spear became a dance between the two. Then came the two infernal creatures. The three of them attacked in unison, never interrupting one another.

Aaron attempted to run back, not accepting defeat so easily. He pulled out his token and readied himself to crush it. He couldn’t do it as soon as combat started, that’s how he was able to kill so many.

He held his arms outward. “I guess, you are stronger than I thought.”

“Damn right I am.” Mathew said. There were no more words, just attacks.

Aaron kept glancing outward and around himself. Blood had stopped pooling out of Mark, but he knew the man was dead. He already had what he wanted. Yet, the way this was going to end was not what he expected.

With a grimace, Aaron accepted defeat. He held his arms to the side, Mathew pierced his Axiom infused spear through his torso. Fiery blades, raking claws, and a mana blast from Whispy ended his life in a moment.

The echoing fights from the hordes was the only sound that covered Mathew’s heavy breathing. He looked around, not expecting him to give up so suddenly. A surprise attack. Something. Anything. Yet, there wasn’t an unexpected twist to end the fight. Aaron was truly dead.

Mathew looked down at his body, and watched as it melted into blood. He blasted a flurry of [Mana Bolts] down at the pool, expecting Aaron to reaper back to normal. Yet, it didn’t happen.

“I think he’s dead, Mathew.” Jon called out. “Get over here, before Mark dies.”

Mathew was confused. He walked over and looked down as Adam pumped more healing magic into him. “What? What do you mean dying? Why can’t Adam fix him?”

“I can’t fix missing flesh. Mark’s heart was destroyed. I can keep him alive a bit longer but…” The sentence fell off as Adam gritted his teeth. “I’m not enough.”

Beth was hugging her dad, crying. “You can’t fix it? I know there are pills that can fix this! You have money!”

“Pills can fix some flesh, but not a heart. We already gave him one…” Jon said. “Same reason I am missing my arm. There are limits to magic apparently.” He wasn’t being an asshole. Jon never wasn’t an asshole.

Mathew looked down at his eldest brother. There wasn’t anything he could do. He felt a build up of grief already forming as he watched Mark lay there breathing heavily.

“Mark- Damn it!”

“Mathew, don’t beat yourself up over this. There was nothing you could have done. None of us could. Even if we enacted nuclear options, someone was going to die, and that someone was me. Nobody here could have killed that monster. Jonathan already checked, Aaron Pinko isn’t on the leaderboards. Nobody who isn’t human isn’t on that list. Aaron isn’t human. That’s why we almost lost.”

Mark grabbed Mathew’s hand. “But you. You did it. You finished what was started.”

“No. He isn’t dead.” Mathew muttered. “He mentioned a plan. He died too easily, I think he is still alive.”

“Then all living McGonalds will find him, and obliterate him.” Mark said with all seriousness. “Adam, you're in charge now. You need to find Luke. With the four of you, you can kill the bastard.”

Mathew watched as his brother's life faded away.

The sound of liquid splattering echoed through a small room. A pale and naked man fell to the ground out of a fleshy mass. Aaron groaned as he slowly flexed his body. “That hurts way more than expected.”

He slowly stood up and looked around. He was momentarily confused. “Right, I was about to go into the World Quest Dungeon. I must have died there.” His memories were not moved over when he resurrected. A once per tier ability was his only trump card to prevent death. He had two more he could use until he gained the Student rank.

Aaron grabbed a pair of clothes he had prepared and sat down to think. Glancing at his menu, it gave him no clues as to how he died. However, he knew one weak on Earth and two weeks inside the quest had passed.

There was one more thing to check. His Quest.

Quest: Blood for the Blood God

Acquire unique bloodlines for your God. Once enough has been obtained, you will be rewarded with an upgrade to your body.

Physical Bloodline: 0/1

Magical Bloodline: 2/1

Mental Bloodline: 1/1

Body Bloodline: 0/1

Soul Bloodline: 1/1

Reward: Racial Upgrade

Aaron's mouth grew into a gleeful smile. He acquired two new bloodlines while inside. That was more than the one he expected. He stood up and looked outside. Aaron frowned. “Where the fuck did the Eifle Tower go?”