(Zack)

"Why are you in here?" Big W asks.

"You're Gavin's affiliation," I say. "And the one who the Dark Knights follow, Big W. I had a question for you."

"How many others know you can do this?" He asks.

"All of them," I answer. "Big Breeze, Big C, Big Flame, and Big S have all known for awhile. I've entered all but Big S's on my own at least once. You're the last one I've come to for this."

He sighs, running his hand through his brown hair. Big W took on his avatar as soon as I appeared in here, and he's just as adorable as the other Crystals. How could Alexander want to hurt them? They all look so innocent.

Well, other than Big S. He's a fucking dragon. While I might find that adorable, I can see why others might be more than a little intimidated. Then again, Alexander did try to kill him when he was a kid, and he was younger than the rest. He probably had the same type of adorable that Luca has now.

"I had a question for you," I say. "I'm asking all of the Crystals this, since Big S told me what you guys were doing and has asked me to help with things."

"A question?" He gives me a curious look. "Just one? Because of this?"

"Yes," I nod. "Once all is said and done, and the Boundaries are released, what are your desires? What kind of life would you like to have? Or, well, afterlife."

Big W plops himself onto the steps leading up to his, well, his actual body. After sighing, he looks at me.

"I'd like to go back to how we were," he tells me.

"Back to being children?" I ask.

"No," he shakes his head. "Before we had to split our focus in a massive way. But I'd also not like to be outside of everything. I'd rather be there with everyone as I impart upon them quests and knowledge."

Nine. For. Nine. Do they all seriously dream of this?

"Why do you inquire?" Big W asks.

"Just curious," I shrug. "The nine of you have been keeping a terrible evil at bay for, well, countless years. You've watched everyone you care for die, most of them against him. You were killed by him and his allies. I knew you all must have had dreams and hopes, and decided I'd listen to them, even if it's not really something I can help you with. Truthfully, I was expecting a response like 'finally get to rest and be at peace' or something."

"Oh," he says, then shrugs. "Maybe one day, I would have liked that, but right now, I wish I wasn't so distanced from everyone. I want to interact with people, to give them quests and knowledge once more. Mortals. It's not really something we can do in the afterlife, though. Maybe I'll rest for awhile, then reincarnate. Or just reincarnate."

"Alright," I say. "Well, good luck, Big. W."

"What did the others answer?" He asks.

"I'm not sharing," I say. "You guys are free to share your own wishes with each other, but I'm not going to."

"Okay," he says.

"Goodbye, Big W," I say. "I'm heading back, now."

"Goodbye, Zack," he says, and I bring myself back to my house.

Going this way is much faster than going to the Dark Temples and warping that way. Luca just thinks I'm heading into the fields, but I'm really heading to the mines to obliterate monsters in another Monster Den several levels lower than the first one.

My main focus was training my Skills up, though I did acquire a few more Levels. So did my team, through the training I put them through in the last week.

Braden reached Level 6 of Hunter, the Tier 2 Ranger Class. He had a slight advantage, though, since he had trained his Mana and Intellect during the week of training in a pretty heavy way. He killed a lot of Slimes using Power Shot.

Max reached Level 1 of Adept Elementalist, placing him as the second-highest Level of the four. He would be higher, but his hyperactivity and tendency to just run around and goof around hindered him. Honestly, he probably could have made it to Tier 3 if put in the actual effort and stopped doing Fireball fury so much. If you can kill something with two hits, don't do fifteen.

Gavin made it to Level 8 Holy Squire, and with a Level 3 Wind Blade and 31 Strength, he can manage to kill a Level 1 Copper Slime in only one or two hits, so he worked on Level 2 and Level 3. He somehow figured out how to tell their Levels without Appraisal, which is impressive for someone with only 5 Perception.

Luca finally reached Level 5 Novice yesterday, which is still advanced. Having him do group and spam healing and buffs really did work wonders for his Experience, though it did, naturally, slow down, as do all things.

Because everyone has reached Level 5, I will be taking them to Talorn tomorrow to begin their heavier training. Today, however, they will be shopping for new gear. Since they began hunting the slimes, I prevented them from using the money dropped. It's more than most people where they are would earn in a week before factoring in costs such as food and other necessities.

Before all of that, though, I'm hungry. First, I check on the others by expanding out my mind, and sense them all still asleep. Then, I pull that back in, partly because I think Max is dreaming about chasing rats and Luca's dreams are… well, it's Luca, so I'm not sure what they are.

Pushing that from my mind, I walk into the kitchen and begin preparing breakfast. I can't actually see their dreams yet – I'm not sure how to work that part of my psychic powers – but I can tell what their dreams are doing to them emotionally, much in the same way I can tell someone's emotions normally.

Not that this power will be useful in a year from now, since the war will end. Who are the brothers of the vision? As the stove heats up, I try to see them again.

Bryce and I are training against each other in the yard of the house, and I try to push that away to see who the brothers really are, I'm taken to Kaelmar. There, I see Bryce as a Fallen Adventurer, dressed in the same black-and-red armor he was in before, only… his skin isn't ashen. No, he's not a Fallen Adventurer, he's-

Fucking hell! Psychic powers, will you work properly for this? Please? Let me know who the fuck the brothers are! Bryce is dead. D-E-A-D! Dead, dead, dead! He's dead, and it's far too late for Resurrection to be used on him! He isn't in that safe space of Big Breeze's anymore! He's gone on to the heavens! He can't be brought back, so stop using him and me because we interfere!

Why can't I be powerful enough to overrule my own interference? Is it really not meant for me to know who the brothers of the prophecy are?

Letting out a frustrated groan, I cancel my power and start frying the bacon and cooking the eggs and sausages. Max makes it down here first, and I have to throw him out of the kitchen because he's drooling so much. He takes a seat at the table and starts playing cards with Luca, who uses his usual cheat method. It's pretty efficient against Max and Gavin, though Braden makes it a little harder for Luca to cheat properly, since Braden seems to randomly pick his cards.

And that's coming from the person who has literally read Braden's thoughts as the boy played. Three nights in a row. He really does seem to pick cards are random to call out. And targets.

When I finish breakfast, I set it out and we all eat. Gavin and Max wash the dishes and put them away when we finish, then I have everyone gather. They've already figured out today is different, since they woke to breakfast.

"Alright, everyone," I say. "Today, I have some business. What I want you four to do is upgrade your equipment today. You have all day to do this, but there are some ground rules. No leaving Maelnor to grind out more money, you're only buying what you can afford right now. It will be better than most your ages and Levels and time in the Boundary can afford.

"No giving Luca money because he didn't earn any from kills or something," I continue, and the aforementioned brat pouts. "He'll try to act pitiful and pathetic to get some, but he's just scamming you. He actually has more money than you, Gavin. No shopping together, this is a solo exercise. No buying food or clothes or other such supplies for the trip, I'm already stocked, and have already made sure the clothes I bought have been laundered."

The beastborn who serve the Dark Knights were excited to wash them for me, and it was something I hadn't intended on. I was going to do it myself and made the mistake of mentioning it to Gold, who mentioned it to the others, who pushed him to let me let them do it.

"No buying potions," I continue. "If you actually need any while we're out, then the training is wrong and we'll be leaving. Using potions decreases the rate at which you gain Vitality and Wisdom, as you don't recover the associated resources on your own that way. If emergency healing is needed, I can perform it. Same with emergency Mana recovery."

"How?" Gavin frowns.

"Through the Transfer Mana Skill," I answer. "So again, don't buy any potions. Luca's healing should be enough, and I'll deal with what isn't. And again, Luca has money, so don't give in to the pitiful looks he'll probably give all of you."

If my estimates are correct, he still has sixteen silver left from when I gave him and his brother a gold each, based on what he said they bought. That's around what Gavin and Braden have, each. All three are substantially lower than Max on funds, but I don't think Max really realizes it. Or will use his money wisely.

"While you guys are taking care of that," I say. "There are a few things I'll be handling as well, so don't worry if I'm not home when you return."

After making sure they are absolutely aware not to give Luca any money, I send them off, then make my way to the rogues' place. Samantha is overseeing the training of her students, but I don't see Kylie here, so I walk over to the trainer herself.

"She hit her first period during the night," Samantha tells me, and I frown, not sure what that has to do with training. "Her cramps are bad, and she can't train during it right now. She's resting in her room with a warming stone to help soothe the cramps."

"Oh," I guess it's not like the movies, where they can just power through the cramps and still do everything normally. "Is there something special about the first period?"

"They're often worse than they usually will be," she tells me.

"Oh," I say. "I'm going to go check on her."

She nods and returns to instructing her students in proper knife techniques as I make my way to the bedrooms. Kylie's in hers, resting on her bed with a cylindrical rock enchanted for warmth clutched to her stomach. Hm. Must be something used for this purpose, since that's not one of the standard warming rocks. Would it work for drying clothes faster?

"Hey, Zack," she looks at me.

"Hey, Kylie," I pull out a box of chocolates and set them beside her. "Here's a box of chocolate."

"Is that from when you fought the Love Lord?"

"Yeah."

She snorts.

"Feel better," I tell her.

"Thanks," she smiles. "How are you?"

"I'm okay," I answer. "I just wanted to let you know that the team and I are heading to Talorn tomorrow, and we'll be there for a week. So if you stop by, we won't be there."

"Got it," she tells me. "Thanks, Zack."

"You're welcome," I tell her. "I'm heading out, I've got some pre-trip prep to do. See you when we get back."

"See you," she says.

I leave, making my way to the Dark Temple. There, I use the sigil to travel to Talorn. Both of the remaining powerful Bounty Beasts are dead, slayed over the last week. I did a little bit of cleanup, to prepare for this trip. There are no more Bounty Beasts, and no more Elite Monsters.

Only a Class 5 Fallen Adventurer remains of the high-powered beasts within this land.

From the Dark Temple, I make sure my equipped weapons are Zack's Blood weapons and not the Primordial Holy weapons I had forged for when I'm a paladin. With that verified, I send my tunic into my inventory and make my way towards the center of the Fallen City, where the last remaining Fallen Adventurer awaits.

She was probably in her twenties, maybe thirties, in appearance when she died, and she wields a sword, dirty, but decent, armor on her. Only a single wound is on her form, a light cut on the inside of her right arm.

"Demon Form," I trigger it, feeling my tail sprout out from above my ass, my wings forming in the gaps designed for them in my armor. "Blessing of Might."

"Lightning Blade," her gravely voice is oddly melodic for a Fallen Adventurer. "Dash."

She soars towards me, her blade coated in lightning, and I step out of the way with a Dash of my own, bringing Zack's Blood up to block her strike. Sparks dance off her blade as our swords connect, and I feel myself pushed back a little.

She spins, her sword still charged with the power of lightning as she aims at my neck.

"Counterstrike!"

Our swords clash and I feel my body move with the Skill's effect, allowing me to jab at the unprotected section of her arm. The Fallen Adventurer deflects my blade with her knife and I growl and active my Aura of Darkness, striking at her with the spade-like tip of my tail, triggering another Skill available to Demons, one I've avoided using so far.

"Strike of Darkness! Demon Sting!"

My tail pierces between two pieces of her arm guard, a trio of notices popping up as it does, the last of them confirming it took effect while the first is just a damage notification, which I dismiss quickly so I can glance at the other two.

New Skill! Demon Sting Active Using your Demon Tail, infect an enemy with a demonic blight with double effect to any unholy creature. Damage: 0.001% Maximum Health per second per Level of this Skill Regeneration Reduction: 10% per Level of this Skill Cost: 2,500 Mana You have struck a target with a Demon Sting. They better find a fucking Angel!

I don't have time to do much more than dismiss those messages, as she attempts to cut off my tail, so I pull it back. I'm definitely not inclined to let that happen! As my tail pulls back, I slash with my sword again, and she deflects the attack.

"Venom Blade," she says.

Instead of the effect taking hold on her sword, it coats her knife in a sickly green hue.

"Sorry, bitch!" I flap my wings, flying back and up, dropping marbles as I go and stop my Aura of Darkness.

With my flight speed, I'm far faster than her, and am out of her reach in moments. She tries throwing her knife at me, and while it's fast, my Blessing of Might has increased my Agility enough that I can easily slap it aside with my own sword, them I'm too far out of reach for her, on my way back to the Dark Temple.

I land on the flame sigil out front and sheathe my sword, then roll my shoulders before walking into the Dark Temple as I hear a series of explosions.

No reason to head back yet.

I feel a shudder in the fabric of the Boundaries, alerting me that this one has become stronger and more stable, that another is gone. How many are left? How many Boundaries are there, total?

As I wait for Demon Form to end, I ponder on that, then once it's over, I take off my armor to pull my tunic back on. I pull my armor back on, then make my way out front and step onto the sigil. With the marbles that blew up, her Health probably dropped a little bit more, so she will – hopefully – be dead by the time I bring my team here tomorrow morning. If not, it won't be too much of a hassle.

I doubt she'll come out to where we'll be camping to take revenge on me, and if she does, well, it's nothing I won't be able to handle. From what the Available Demon Skills information said, Demon Sting stacks. Additively, but it still stacks.

What's more, it isn't just something that leeches away Health while affecting regeneration – normally, that regen nerf wouldn't really matter, as they would still heal more per second than it does – but it also affects the actual body.

It causes it to blister, burn, and decay. And Demon Sting can only be cured by a specific Skill from an Angel. So even though they're technically healing at all times… they aren't. Technically, the Skill grows over time, adding on other afflictions as well.

And what's more, it's regeneration effect becomes the effect of any other regeneration effect added onto the pierce if the other effect is stronger. In other words, using a Level 10 Strike of Darkness with it meant that the actual Regeneration Reduction was not 10%, but 100%.

She won't be healing at all.

Unless she has a way to recover her Health such as through potions, she will be dead in less than twenty-eighty hours. Hopefully even fewer, if the Fallen Adventurer didn't realize the marbles were anything but marbles. The Strike of Darkness did a decent bit of damage, too.

Wait!

Fallen Adventurers are unholy creatures, right? If so, then she'll be dead in less than fourteen hours, since it does double to unholy things. So I'll know today if everything worked as explained.

I'd let Big S know to change that description of it to mention the full information, but with the unlikelihood anyone else will obtain the Skill before the end, I won't bother with it.

Unless… nah, if what I think is true is true, then it won't matter anyway. He's smart enough to figure things out on his own.

With everything here taken care of, I head back to Maelnor, then make my way to my house. The team is still out, so I just relax and play marbles with Aurum, a bit bummed that I used up around fifty on the Fallen Adventurer. Getting the enchanted for explosions wasn't easy, either.

Well, they weren't exactly enchanted, it was more like they were coated in a liquid that hardened around them. An incredibly volatile potion, it was only because of my special Inventory that I was able to transport them.

They would've expired in my Inventory if I used the regular one. Once it hardens, it only has a few minutes before it explodes. It took me an hour to talk Blaine into making it once I realized it would work for my plan. Cleaning the equipment after making it is apparently a giant pain in the ass.

Whatever. It worked.

Hopefully.

When my team finally returns, it's evening, and I assess their purchases.

Max just snacked all day, eating as many sweets as he could. That… doesn't actually surprise me. Luca bought himself a white leather vest to go over his tunic and a pair of white leather bracers for his wrists, along with a pair of white gloves with blue trim.

Gavin bought himself a breastplate and some metal bracers to go with it, which took up nearly all of his money. Braden bought himself some light, leather rogues' armor. Rather than for maximum protection, they protect certain vital areas while providing full range of movement and mobility.

Like my own armor.

I'm so proud of my team. Is this how Nik feels whenever I get a lot better out of nowhere?