Markus Ward caught the wood minion’s punch with one hand.

The creatures were fast, but they lacked strength.

He pulled, and the monster stumbled. Its wooden body was too sturdy for direct punches, but that was hardly an obstacle.

The minion's arm broke at the joint, and he swept its legs before it could recover.

He made quick work of its remaining limbs and moved on, not bothering to give it a second glance.

Markus was a simple man who enjoyed his simple life. He had his garden, his kitchen, and plenty of trails to walk. He didn’t have kids or grandkids of his own, but the roaming mob of neighborhood kids was always eager to help him with his yard and garden in exchange for stories and baked sweets.

It was the peaceful retirement he had dreamed of, and now the end of the world had come along to ruin it.

Markus volunteered at the botanical garden in his free time and had been leading a winter lights tour when the sky was blocked out by a shifting dome of purple, green and blue.

When the words had filled his eyes, he’d thought he was going insane.

But he didn’t have time to contemplate what was happening or what a Scenario was, as the snow-covered paths had transformed into a verdant forest, and the monsters had attacked.

The tour was made up mostly of families. Of children.

Markus had left the wooden monsters in splinters, but one had gotten past him.

When it took a swipe at a child, its hand passed straight through without resistance.

They couldn’t hurt the children, but the adults were a different matter.

That had made the plan simple.

The families were nice people, but they didn’t know how to hurt a fly.

Once again, that was Markus’s job.

He pulled up the Scenario screen with a thought.

A rich, gentle voice with a faint British accent spoke into his mind.

Scenario: The Grove Lord

The Grove Lord has claimed this garden as his own, and his minions do not take kindly to trespassers.

If you wish to leave, you must defeat the Grove Lord at the center of his domain. But be careful. His attendants are not ones to sit idly by.

Markus had torn through nearly two dozen attendants but had yet to stumble upon the Lord. He had a feeling that was about to change. The forest was thicker than the botanical garden was in summer, but the layout hadn’t changed. There was only one place he had yet to check.

He came to a split in the path and turned left into a lush grove.

The scent of fresh flowers poured into his nose.

A circle of lattice was overgrown with flowers and vines, and the structure was circled with stone benches, each just as overgrown with dense vegetation.

Sitting in the middle of it all, his antlers covered in blooming pink and blue flowers, was the Grove Lord. Well, Markus supposed he could be another attendant. But the figure had an air of command that Markus had seen before.

This was not an underling.

The Grove Lord was a tall, slim figure with delicate wooden limbs and a face made from twisting vines.

Two glowing amber eyes settled on Markus, and the Lord inclined his antlered head.

“I did not expect someone to come alone.” The creature's voice was deep and masculine, a sharp contrast to his delicate form.

Markus walked forward, his eyes scanning the underbrush for an ambush.

“This isn’t how I expected my night to go either. Life is full of surprises, I suppose.”

“It is, isn’t it?” The Grove Lord folded his arms behind his back, and the vine that made his mouth bent into a smile.

How was he speaking, exactly?

Markus paused a dozen feet from the man and arched a grey brow.

“Any chance we can talk this out?”

The spruce needles that made up his eyebrows raised.

“Talk? Why?”

Markus shrugged. “I like talking more than scrapping. You haven’t charged me yet, and you’re talking right now, so you aren’t a dumb beast. How about we settle this like reasonable adults?”

The Grove Lord was silent for a few long seconds, then he threw his antlered head back and let out a deep, booming laugh.

“Oh- I,” he sighed, wiping a trail of sap from his eye. “I will admit, I was not expecting that.” He sighed. “What is your name?”

“Markus.” He tipped an imaginary hat to the wooden man.

“I would like to talk this out, Markus. I would like that very much.”

Markus shifted his stance as his heart fell. The Grove Lord sounded…sad.

“Unfortunately, I cannot.”

“Why not?”

“…” the creature's face settled into a cold mask.

“Ready yourself.”

He sensed finality in the Grove Lord’s words, and Markus prepared to kill.

He was sixty-four and was not the fighter he once was. Hell, he hadn’t been in a serious fight for almost fifteen years. But Markus had never stopped training.

The Grove Lord rushed forward, vines and branches dragging after him in a small wave.

Markus sighed. He really thought he’d never have to do this again.

The fight was a short, brutal thing. The Grove Lord was stronger than Markus, slightly faster, and could attack with vines and other plants.

Markus, on the other hand, was old, his hip hurt when he tried to kick too high, and his punches lacked the power they once had.

But despite all that, Markus knew how to fight. He knew how to fight like Babe Ruth knew how to play baseball, and the Grove Lord did not.

He didn’t let the vines and sloppy punches slow him down. He took the hits he needed to, broke the man's block, and advanced.

When it was done, Markus was bleeding and bruised, but the Grove Lord was dead on the dirt, his neck broken.

Words filled Markus’s vision.

By clearing a Scenario by yourself, you have gained a rare Class.

Titans Advance

Rarity: rare

Purpose: to advance

Scope: singular

Class Skill: The Titans Advance

Effect: you have a meter. Moving fills the meter, and stopping or being pushed back will quickly drain it. The higher the meter, the stronger you are.

Range: self

Duration: X

Energy cost: medium (only takes effect when the meter is emptied)

Cooldown: none

A wave of power crashed over Markus. His cuts scabbed over, his bruises lightened, and his exhaustion was wiped away.

The physical exhaustion, at least.

As he stared down at the Grove Lord’s corpse, he felt very, very tired.