“Do you know where the super soldiers went?” I asked a Mandrake Borple. “I was going to say test subjects, but Bawu has many of those.”

The stout mushroom man gazed up at me with unfocused eyes.

“Can you talk?”

The Mandrake Borple shook its head before walking away.

“Wait! You understand me?” I trotted next to it. “You can sign directions. Draw arrows on the floor or—” A distinct heavy plodding like giant flippers slapping the ground drew closer. “It’s here. Hide-and-seek over, I suppose.”

Out the corner ahead appeared [Lvl 46 Carrion Golem: Ladambor]. The Mandrake Borple briskly sauntered to Ladambor and hid behind its slimy scaled legs. The Carrion Golem balled its fists and growled.

“Hi there, Ladambor,” I said. “Just exploring the place. As Bawu’s student, curiosity is my number one trait.”

The Carrion Golem stepped closer, growling louder, its lips pulled back, revealing fangs. I got the message.

“Feeling too cooped up here in the tunnels. Have a nice day!” As much as I wanted to do more investigations, I galloped away before Ladambor decided to expel me. From life.

Where did they go? The six Mardukryon test subjects were missing.

Their vats were also gone—Bawu probably transferred them, or else empty vats would’ve remained.

If she released them… I didn’t want to imagine the ensuing headache if village guards found their mutated brethren cavorting in the tunnels.

I wished the missing test subjects and vats indicated Bawu was leaving to find a new hiding spot elsewhere. But that wasn’t the impression I got touring her base. Mandrake Borples and other mutated creatures constructed large pipes running through the tunnels. Bawu was staying to work on an expansive project despite knowing the incoming danger.

“Is she going to fight the Hunter-Warriors?” I muttered to myself. How would that help her revenge plan? I shook my head. A problem for later. I had plenty of time to check on the Hunter-Warriors before their on-the-morrow business.

I opened my Aritu Form Cidule and checked [Molten Corium], which had leveled up.

Lvl. 3 Molten Corium: Ancestral Flames thread through the skin of Aritu practitioners, granting them (+24% Fire Resistance) and (+7% Fire Resistance Cap). Being of such untold purity, the Ancestral Flames also warp (12% of all incoming non-Fire damage) and convert them to the Fire Element.

A slight increase in percentage values. It was easy to overlook [Molten Corium] because it wasn’t a flashy skill or a readily apparent passive. But even if it didn’t look like much now, its defensive impact would become more pronounced someday when I capped my Fire Resistance.

Next, I invested the GSP from reaching level twenty in [Cleansing Flames].

Lvl 4 Cleansing Flames: Purify yourself from ailments with the flames of the Mardukryon ancestors—85% chance to remove four (4) negative statuses. Let suffering give you strength, be resolute amidst adversity, and gain courage from the knowledge that you are never truly alone. Stand resolute until aid comes.

(Passive) For every negative status you have (Max stacks [4]):

+85 Armor and Magic Resilience, +7% Healing Increase and Received, +2% Resistance to all Elements, 1% Resistance to all Ailments

Cost: 42 Ancestral Shroud

Cooldown: 11 Seconds

From a purely defensive standpoint, it was better to level [Ancestral Constitution] since it already had a higher level. Even not considering tankiness, focusing GSPs or LSPs on one skill was the economical choice. However, I wanted to test parts of my Plaguetank build early, so I went for [Cleansing Flames].

If the same level, a fully stacked [Cleansing Flames] provided stronger defensive buffs than a capped [Ancestral Constitution]. Not surprising, as the passive effect of [Cleansing Flames] was supposed to be a ‘safety net,’ in the words of Luds, until the player could remove the ailments. Its stacks weren’t meant to be up all the time, which was precisely what I intended to do.

Lastly, I leveled [Greater Pyro Shell] with my free LSP.

Lvl. 9 Greater Pyro Shell: Glorious blessings of the ancestors coat you with a formidable barrier of protective flames that boosts your defenses and absorbs (73% of incoming damage) up to the amount of Ancestral Shroud/Energy spent to summon it added by (34% of Armor). When the barrier expires or is depleted, the damage it has absorbed is dealt to nearby enemies.

Grants: +375 Armor, +15% Armor

Cost: 28% of Max Ancestral Shroud for Mardukryon; 20% of Max Energy for other Races

Duration: 24 Seconds

Cooldown: 6 Seconds

I’d transfer [Greater Pyro Shell] into a different gear with three slots so I could link it with [Arcane Poison Empowerment] to reach level ten without needing another LSP. As for the third slot, perhaps another Link Shard. Some gave pretty good bonuses at level one, like [Arcane Poison Empowerment].

I passed through an inconspicuous crack in the walls of a wider tunnel—one of the entrances to Bawu’s base. Someone would mistake it for a large shadow in dim lighting. There should be a different path for Ladambor and other pets of Bawu; no way they fit through here.

I had to angle my shoulders to exit. I couldn’t walk out without a bit of a squeeze. This didn’t happen before.

I’m a growing boy. Literally.

A youngling, to be specific.

And a growing youngling needed new clothes. I had my eye on a couple of prospective items. Mardukryon-specific gear was preferable, as they had pretty neat bonuses. The Vinereaver’s Revenge set reminded me of something I had to visit before leaving the tunnels.

“Hello? Is anyone here?” My voice echoed in the empty cavern.

No answer, for there was no one to answer.

I double-checked my [Tattered Map]. I had marked this place in case I died during the boss fight. Inspecting the walls, I noticed traces of the tunnels made by Mon Aleh filled with rubble.

I hadn’t met any Blighted monsters on my way here; healthy monsters had repopulated the tunnels. The Blight nonsense should be over, so why hadn’t Mon Aleh returned? I killed it, yes. But that was in my own storyline.

Shouldn’t the Vinereaver mini-boss return here after its cameo in my quests?

“Maybe I can’t see it,” I guessed, “but others can?” When my party mates return, I’d have them leave the party to check. Or should I ask someone who wasn’t part of killing the Blighted Vinereavers?

“Herald?” Echoey hooffalls followed the utterance of my divine name. “Partner, are you busy over there?”

“Chimi?” I raised a brow. He was looking for me, from the sound of it. How did he know I was here? “No, I’m not doing anything right now.”

Chimichangaroo, one of the whalest whales on this mountain, entered the cavern. Five fire fairies radiating golden light zipped around his intricately carved staff. They looked like evolved forms of Nitana’s summons. Slightly bigger, more wings, and fancier gossamer clothes. Royalties of the fire fairies?

Chimi, on the other hand, wore dark blue robes with an uncanny sheen that flowed as if he was underwater. Several rolls of parchment inscribed with magical runes hang by his left flank. They were small scrolls, giving Chimi a scholarly appearance, in contrast to SpartanDonkey’s massive scrolls that could be used as a picnic mat.

“I hope I’m not disturbing anything.” Chimi looked around with a puzzled face. Seeing me standing in an empty cavern all alone must look weird. “Were you fighting the boss here? Did you kill—no, there’s no corpse with a timer.”

Infernal intercourse! Chimi couldn’t see the boss either! Did I—fine, my party and I—affect the game world? I smell an open-world quest lurking nearby. Would there be changes in the village?

“I’m just doing a little exploring,” I nonchalantly told Chimi, keeping my excitement in check.

“I could’ve sworn a boss lives here,” he said, scratching his tusk. “I must be misremembering things. Anywho, I saw you online on my friends’ list and wanted to talk to you about something.”

“You could’ve messaged me,” I said. The ‘something’ for Chimi should be Contracting others to help him become stronger, like farming materials for his Dreamweaving. My answer to whatever this was would be no. I already told him I was preoccupied with preparing for the Great Hunt.

“I prefer talking to you personally, partner,” Chimi explained. “But you weren’t in Kurghal Village. Luckily, I saw Kezo. I heard you guys are a team for the Great Hunt, so I asked him if he knew where you were. He said you were busy in the tunnels. Another stroke of luck later, and I found you!”

“That’s lucky, alright,” I said with a friendly smile. What was this guy up to? He should’ve messaged to set up a meeting to talk ‘personally,’ if that was what he wanted, instead of searching for me in these mazelike tunnels. Indeed, he was lucky to find me. “What do you want to talk about?”

“Listen, I heard you were looking for a Band of Loamy Renewal dropped by the stone monkey boss near the village. Isn’t that right?”

“I am,” I said. “Who did you hear it from?”

“From… someone… a few days ago.” Chimi shrugged. His fairy summons shrugged as well. “Can’t remember exactly who. Maybe it was Kezo.”

I nodded as if agreeing. I hadn’t told Kezo about it. Only SpartanDonkey.

It wasn’t impossible for Kezo to have learned I was looking for Moa Manot’s ring. Perhaps, Kezo overheard SpartanDonkey asking for it and then mentioned it to Chimi. A sort of double hearsay.

Though if that were what happened, Kezo would’ve asked me about it. Mr. Teamwork would be eager to help look for Moa Manot’s ring. Likelier, SpartanDonkey approached Chimi—he seemed like someone who’d have a Relic Quality ring from the early game. Why would Chimi change the story?

“I already have one ring,” I said, “and thought two would be great for the tank I’m building.”

“Sounds great, partner. Those rings are really great for low-level tanks.”

So obvious he wants me to ask instead of offering it. “Do you have a Band of Loamy Renewal?”

“I might have…” Chimi said, scratching his tusks. “I haven’t checked my stash yet.” It was evident that he had a [Band of Loamy Renewal]. “But it wouldn’t matter because you already have a Contract with SpartanDonkey. Do you? Maybe not if he’s still looking for the ring.”

“We don’t have a deal… yet,” I said, adding that last word to check Chimi’s reaction. I had a hunch about what he wanted.

“What did SpartanDonkey ask in exchange for the ring?”

“I’m not sure if I can say that.”

“I don’t mean to pry, partner. You see, I have a few Contracts with SpartanDonkey myself for materials for my Dreamweaver Ocadule. You know, the Relic Quality one I got that no one else has?”

I mentally smirked. Chimi didn’t need to mention the Quality of his Dreamweaver Ocadule each time we met.

“I was thinking,” Chimi continued, “if SpartanDonkey’s trying to get you to harvest the materials I needed.”

Everything clicked.

SpartanDonkey must’ve approached Chimi looking for a [Band of Loamy Renewal]. Chimi figured I wanted it—who else would look for such a low-level ring? Then Chimi heard from Kezo that I was in the tunnels. Chimi must’ve thought I was working for SpartanDonkey with the ring as payment. Chimi tracked me in the tunnels to check if I was gathering materials I previously refused to collect for him—he wanted some rocks that had special pigments for textile dyeing.

Confirming my suspicions, Chimi said with a wink, “What if we cut out the middleman? The ring for collecting materials for me?”