The mobs howled inside the loot room as a chorus of thuds, rumbles, and clatters resounded from the other side. Gunnar grinned picturing the tables and crates rolling around in that enclosed space as this space-time turbulence sent them all reeling.

For awhile, the entire backstage area swayed, so that Gunnar and his crew had to drop on all fours to maintain control. The floor tilted at a sharp angle, but this position held fairly stable, with only minor swaying, as the crypt seemed to level out.

Silence fell over the room.

And then, the pounding returned from the other side of the door.

It required moving uphill, but Gunnar led the way into the back staging area. There were large curtains hanging above the stage and ropes dangling down from the rafters—all at a bizarre angle due to the untethering—with two ladders on either side leading up to a catwalk.

Beyond the stage and partway down the hall, Gunnar could see the door to the Soul Room, a bright blue glow emitting from the open door. A figure emerged and closed the door behind her.

Lex hurried over to them. At the angle of the crypt, she was practically running downhill, her flowing elven gown pluming behind her.

“What are you doing?” Gunnar asked as she approached.

Lex smiled as she reached him. “I’ve done all I can do for the Crypt Keeper. Thought I could do more good out here.” Gunnar could see that her large Mana pool was completely depleted. The dawn elf drew an elegantly-carved bow from her shoulder.

Em scowled as she looked the elf up and down. “Who’s this exactly?”

Gunnar shrugged. “Er, one of the slaves from the ship.”

“And you are?” Lex asked. “Didn’t see you here earlier.”

“I came to save his ass. Again. I’m Em. His… friend.”

Gunnar blushed.

Judging by this interaction, he wondered if Em was here for more than the Nighthawks…

An explosion at the loot room door jolted all of them. Flashes of red magic shot out from the edges of the door. It held, but Gunnar doubted it would withstand another bolt.

They had a minute at best until the mage’s cool down ended.

Gunnar motioned to the backstage ladders.

“Em and Lex, you’re with me. I want the rest of you up there! We’ll draw them under. Our first priority is that mage.”

“Running low on ammo, mate,” Cork muttered.

“Then, grab anything you can drop on them.”

This room had become a makeshift home for the hobos the past couple days, and there were bed rolls and cookware scattered all around. A broken coffin had been left at the base of the stage, and Cork and the others hastily picked up stones, as well as pots and pans and other random items, and made their way up the ladders.

Two large cauldrons, which Angus had used for his dark ceremonies, stood at either end of the stage. The hobos had used them for cooking, but Gunnar had a different use in mind.

He stationed Em and Lex behind them, while he took center stage.

“Douse the torches,” Gunnar commanded.

The chamber went dark, but for the faint glow of the laser-like grid lining the walls and floor.

And then, the room exploded with crimson light as the door burst open.

All fourteen of their enemies poured through the opening. Kohli was at the front. A couple of the mobs bore torches that cast dark shadows around the room. Gunnar just hoped there was enough cover above from the curtains and rigging.

Kohli grinned wickedly as he approached. “Looks like your friends went packing.”

Gunnar just stood there, his saber armed. Em and Lex both nocked arrows.

“Get it?” Kohli asked. “Cuz they’re a bunch of hobos?””

“You never were very clever,” Gunnar said. “Or funny.”

“Yeah? Well, I’ve always been the better fighter.”

“That why you let all your mobs and noobs do your dirty work?”

Kohli glowered at him.

His army slowly stalked toward them. The mage lingered toward the back of the group, though she too drew closer. The ground shifted slightly beneath Gunnar’s feet, as though a small wave had passed beneath them somewhere underground.

“It doesn’t have to be like this,” Gunnar said. “You really think being Sykes’ dog is any kind of future? Even if you take me, he’s still lost valuable assets today. And a whole hell of a lot of his cronies.”

“And what? My future’s with you?” Kohli gestured around widely, a sword in his right hand. “Look around, Gunnar. You lost.” His eyes settled up above, and then, went wide.

The floor shifted, so that Kohli and his crew approached at an even steeper angle. Several dropped to their hands and knees to maintain balance, while a couple toppled over with the jarring movement.

“Now!” Gunnar cried, pointing his saber like a Revolutionary general.

All at once, stones rained down from above. Em and Lex each tipped over their cauldrons, and the shift sent them careening toward the mobs.

One clocked a goblin right in the chest, sending him flying back into the chamber wall. The impact killed him instantly.

The other cauldron glanced off a pair of thieves, and then went flying into the air, narrowly missing the heads of several mobs.

The stones dealt a lot of damage, but the real win was the chaos.

The mobs were so focused on missing the bombardment of stones and pots and pans from above that it distracted them from the attacks below.

Em and Lex fired arrows over the fray, dealing quick damage to the mage. The woman’s Mana pool was deep, but her Health was low for her level, and she quickly dropped into dangerous territory.

In a rage, she fired a bolt of magic up at the catwalk, taking out one of the dwarves, and sending one half of the catwalk hanging precariously, with several of the hobos and freed slaves scrambling to reach the ladders before the whole thing came tumbling down.

“Get that mage!” Gunnar shouted.

Em landed an arrow in her shoulder, then Lex fired a perfect shot, drilling the mage through the forehead. She dropped dead.

Kohli roared in anger and charged forward. Gunnar held out his saber to meet him, and just barely managed to parry the first attack.

The thief’s eyes were pure fire. He leapt forward, swinging his sword maniacally. Gunnar kept his feet under him, parrying that blow too. With the next attack, Gunnar leapt to the side and dealt an attack of his own. Kohli was ready, and swept his blade to the side, brushing away the blow.

But the maneuver left him open to the side.

Lex let loose another arrow, and it struck Kohli in the shoulder. He grimaced, and Gunnar leapt forward and landed another blow to his side.

[You have dealt +40 Damage to Kohli!]

The thief staggered back and downed a potion, bringing his Health back to 60%.

One last volley of rocks rained down from above. The catwalk shifted sharply, nearly coming loose from its holds entirely. Hank the Kobold leapt and swung from one of the ropes hanging from the rafters, landing on a thief’s back and digging his teeth into the man’s neck. More hobos and slaves followed.

But Gunnar fixed his attention back on Kohli. The thief charged again, so quick Gunnar wasn’t able to block him this time. A sharp sting shot through his thigh, as Kohli spun away.

His own Health, still low from the battle in the loot room, dropped to 30%.

The battle raged around them. Em must have run out of arrows, because she had joined the main battle, wielding long daggers. All Gunnar’s crew had swung or climbed down from the catwalk. He was pretty sure they were winning. He just needed to hold out long enough.

Kohli grinned and gestured for Gunnar to attack.

An arrow flew past the thief’s head, narrowly missing. Kohli turned toward Lex and drew a glowing blunderbuss from over his shoulder.

Shit, an enchanted weapon!

Gunnar’s heart dropped as the blast struck the elf in the chest, sending her flying off the back of the stage. He recalled with dread the obliterating power of Sheira’s magic dealing crossbow. This hadn’t appeared quite as powerful, but Lex did not get up.

Rage completely consumed him. Gunnar raced forward, leading with a feint, then activating Enhanced Blow, he brought his saber down on the thief’s exposed right shoulder.

[You have dealt +40 Damage to Kohli!]

The thief grunted and backed away. The attack had rendered Kohli’s sword arm nearly useless. Kohli managed to cock his blunderbuss and aimed, but Gunnar leapt to the side and rolled.

The magic blast roared past his head, the sorcerous energy searing his face.

Gunnar shot to his feet and charged.

The thief parried the first attack, but his bad shoulder had significantly impacted his speed. Gunnar’s next blow landed on that same shoulder again.

[You have dealt +30 Damage to Kohli!]

Kohli was forced to shift his sword to his other hand, but it was clear the man had not practiced ambidextrous attacks much. His left-handed blows were easy to parry, and Kohli was trying too hard.

With an over-extension, he left himself vulnerable. Gunnar swept the sword out of his hand with a flourish.

Kohli grimaced. “I’ll be back, just you wait.”

Gunnar said nothing.

He drove his blade into the thief’s chest.

[You have dealt +80 Damage to Kohli!]

Blood gushed from the wound as Gunnar withdrew his blade. Kohli’s Health bar plummeted to zero, and he collapsed on the ground. A pool of blood quickly formed around his still body.

[You have defeated Kohli - Level 14! Here’s 50 XP!]

A message popped up in his vision.

Lex: Gunnar! Defy the gods, it's the only way to…

But the message never finished.

The battle raged all around, but Gunnar leapt over the stage to find a mob standing over Lex’s unmoving body.

With Enhanced Blow, Gunnar made quick work of the man.

Gunnar dropped to the elf’s side. His gut wrenched at the sight of her white dress covered in blood—from the spellshot and multiple stab wounds from that other thief.

Her bright eyes had already dimmed.