Jake glanced at the map. Enter the cavern and Teleport to the level above. How hard could that be?

Judging from the two dozen goblins in the cavern, pretty damned hard. The mangy bastards were gathered around three campfires roasting some kind of meat. They were in this for the long haul.

Back-to-back Teleport spells might work, but the jump to the next level was close to the edge of his safe range even with a full five-second cast. That meant ten seconds total, including a long-distance Farsight cast.

Ten seconds out in the open with a bunch of goblins. What could go wrong?

He checked the map for ways around, but it didn’t look promising. This was the only spot close enough to safely Teleport up a level for miles. A detour would cost hours that Valbort might not have.

Jake chuckled to himself. “Safely.” That word didn’t mean what it used to.

Alright. Option 1: Fight them. Wearing them down with hit-and-run tactics could work, but it would be risky and slow without any backup. Option 2: Hide. Could he sneak past them?

Probably not. The Farsight spell wasn’t showing a lot of cover in the cavern. That left option 3: A distraction. What did goblins love most in the world? Jake frowned. Nothing, really. They weren’t sentient. They were very keen on trying to murder him every time they saw him, though.

Wasn’t it strange they were here? So many goblins concentrated in one place wasn’t exactly unusual, but right at the worst possible spot? He was no stranger to bad luck, but with all these tunnels, why here? It was almost like they were waiting for him, troops deployed to bar his route.

Either way, he had to get past them. He took a deep breath and shouted toward the cavern, “Come quickly, we’ve got injured!”

He ran down a side tunnel and waited. Would they take the bait?

Scuffling feet echoed up the tunnel. How many were coming? He activated a short duration Detect Life. Almost all of them. Three remained behind, each tending to their own fireplace.

Three on one was much better odds.

“Over here!” Jake cried out. “Come on, they need help fast!”

The clattering of goblins headed toward him. He allowed himself a brief smile as he silently cast Teleport. The dark tunnel wall vanished, replaced by the light of three fires.

Three goblins turned. Their jaws hung open for a moment. Dual cast Firebolts incinerated two of them. The third charged, straight into more deadly fire. Almost too easy.

Jake ran for the spot indicated on the map and cast the long-range Farsight. He glanced at the cavern entrance. How long until the goblins got back? What if his aim was off?

A slightly fuzzy image appeared in his mind. Right on the edge of his range and barely any light. How good far were the walls? Jake bit his lip. He wasn’t sure. No time for another spell. He curled up as tightly as he could and cast the Teleport spell.

Clattering and stomping echoed into the cavern. Goblins rounded the corner, weapons at the ready.

“Raka-fa!” The world went black and Jake plummeted onto a dusty rock floor. He landed on his ass. Painful, and rather undignified, but it could have been worse. He stood up and dusted himself off.

“Enmir.” The last of his mana formed a silvery orb above him, illuminating the narrow tunnel. The surface couldn’t come soon enough.

***

Cara stepped forward and only just caught herself before saying something people would expect her to regret. Other people, not her. It’d be totally worth it, too, if it weren’t for the whole mission-to-complete thing going on. “Phelan.”

The edge of his lips twisted like a snake. “You may have missed it gallivanting around on your honeymoon, but I’m a Prowler now and we’re in a war. That’s ‘Phelan, sir,’ Lookout.”

She bit her lip and glanced across at the other Lookouts. Little Kegan’s gaze dropped to the floor. Aidan was already staring at the ceiling, raking his hands through his long hair with an expression that doubted the point of living. Nola shuffled awkwardly and looked out the window. A smile flickered across her lips. Probably a bird out there.

Cara sighed. They had a mission to complete. This wasn’t the tree to die in. “Phelan, sir.”

He smiled like he’d won, as if this was the battle that mattered. “Good. Our orders are to find out what’s out there and report back. They believe we’re not up to engaging the dungeon spawn threat, but we’re better than that, aren’t we?” He sneered and looked pointedly at Cara. “Most of us are, anyway.”

Cara clenched her fists. Cocky as ever in that top-notch hand-me-down leather armor that he hadn’t earned, let alone made himself.

Phelan pulled himself up straight and oozed smug superiority. “We get a shot, we take it. Any questions, no questions, move out.”

Phelan led them down to the forest floor, silencing Cara’s attempt to talk to the others. She scowled back at him, but this was his mission. Kicking up a fuss would only make it worse for the others.

Once they were down on the forest floor, Phelan lined them up, looked them up and down, and shook his head. “Kegan, you’re upfront. Aidan, stick close to me, I’ll protect you. Nola, Cara, stay back and out of the way.”

Cara frowned. Why would he waste Nola’s eyes at the back? Other than because he was an idiot. “Why don’t we—”

“There’s no we here, Cara! Shut up, and do what you’re told. Move it, all of you!”

Clenched pain settled into Cara’s jaw as they traveled in silence. What a dumb, pointless waste. Sure, Nola wasn’t all that good with a bow, and maybe bringing her did slow the entire group down, but watching animals was her life. Perception and Identify were her thing, why not use that?

And Kegan upfront? Why? Because of his Dexterity and Evasion? Yeah, brilliant plan, put the ambush archer out front. Great plan there, dumbass. At least he knew enough to keep the mage safe. Never mind that Aidan specialized in Protection and Life magic and might be the toughest of any of them to kill.

Fire rampaged through her, but she kept her mouth shut. His mission, not hers. She’d do it better when she was a Prowler. Not that she’d ever be one. Her, leading? No way.

After less than an hour of travel, Kegan held his palm out to the side. Everyone came to a stop. What could he see? Cara’s grip tightened around her bow. With the dense forest foliage, it was so damned hard to see anything from the back.

The tree-song screeched and clawed at her mind. What in the Deep-Forest was happening?

She crept forward, only for Phelan to glare back at her. She settled for shooting him a death stare. If only looks could kill.

The tree-song settled back down into being a wounded animal, a step up from a dying one. Even so, the mass of its pain weighed down on her. Was it more corruption?

Phelan snuck up to Kegan. They whispered to each other and stared out into the forest.

Time marched forward. What was going on? Why wasn’t Nola up there? Cara bit her lip. Should she move up and get an angle to see?

The idiot Prowler beckoned them, finally. Cara snuck up beside him and peered through the forest. Her heart sank. There it was, another corrupted tree defiling her forest.

“The dryad grew that out of the ground,” Phelan hissed.

A dryad had been here, and Nola hadn’t gotten to Identify it? Cara clenched her fist. What in the Deep-Forest was Phelan playing at?

Phelan sneered at her. “You took one down alone. This’ll be a cinch for real rangers. Aidan, you open with a firebolt. They’re vulnerable to that.”

The mage’s brow pulled tight. “I’m not—”

“You know the spell, don’t you? Keep firing until it’s dead. Kegan, get in close and distract it. Nola, Cara, stay out of the way. No one fires until Aidan does.”

This was a terrible plan. Cara shook her head. “Phelan, we need to—”

“There is no we! Shut up, follow orders, do as you’re told! Understood?”

Blood pounded through her. Who did he think he was? She sighed and nodded. A bad plan executed well couldn’t be worse than a disorganized mess.

They moved into position. Cara notched her faithful arrow and lined up her Sniper Shot. Without the Stealth Attack bonus, she wouldn’t do anywhere near as much damage, and she’d only get one shot with her myrellium arrow.

Aidan’s fire magic would more than make up for that, right?

Her ribs crushed in on her chest. It would have to.

“Enkir!” The firebolt hit the corrupted tree, illuminating the forest and the target in a fiery red.

The tree turned and charged. This was it. Cara gritted her teeth, activated Fire on her bow, and took her Sniper Shot.

Critical hit! 30 piercing damage dealt! Leaking Sap injury inflicted!

Vulnerability exploited! 45 fire damage dealt! Burning status effect inflicted!

The other three arrows glanced off the creature’s thick bark. Kalkarka! Cara notched another arrow and aimed at the rapidly closing monstrosity, its huge legs stomping against the ground as it spread fire through the foliage.

Aidan already had another red glow around his hands. Kegan advanced, shooting pointless arrows as he went. Fire would decide this, not useless arrows.

Cara swallowed. All on her and Aidan. She activated Piercing Shot and loosed another flaming arrow.

Glancing blow! 15 piercing damage dealt!

Vulnerability exploited! 32 fire damage dealt! Burning status effect inflicted!

Even less damage. How much Deflection did this thing have? Her jaw clenched, and she snatched another arrow from her quiver.

Kegan bounded forward, skipping from side to side like a leaf on the wind. Evading a lumbering tree was nothing compared to dodging arrows as a party trick.

Arrow notched. She took aim. They had to down it fast, before it killed someone.

A mass of dark green vines darted out from the towering dungeon spawn and surrounded Kegan. Nowhere to run. The vines seized his limbs, yanked him into the air, and nearly ripped him apart.

Kegan Tolabar So’aroaska

HP: 47/255

Helplessly suspended in the air, the diminutive ranger screamed. Pain wrenched at Cara’s heart as she drew the bow to its full strength.

“Enkir!”

Aidan’s firebolt hit. The towering tree crumbled to the ground. Its vines withered away, dropping Kegan into the dirt.

840 XP received!

They’d won, despite that crappy plan. Kegan groaned on the ground and Aidan rushed to his side, green magic already swirling around his hands.

Tension rushed out of Cara’s body. Now there was just the fire to deal with. She switched her bow to water, activated Rapid Shot, and set about dousing the flames.

It didn’t take long. All clear, she stepped back and smiled at her handiwork. “Good job everyone.”

“Downed one yourself, did you?” Phelan snarled, advancing on her. “Yeah, and I’m the Divine Emperor. Look what you did to Kegan!”

“Me?” Cara shook her head and glared back at the imbecile. “Your plan sucked!”

“Maybe Jeremy believes his pet’s lies, but I know better. Anything else you want to come clean about?”

She clenched her bow. Murder was never the answer, no matter how tempting. “Did we get the intel we needed?”

“Kegan. That was your job. What did you get?”

With Aidan’s help, Kegan staggered to his feet. “Level 20, 485 hit points, 30 Strength, 13 Dexterity, a bunch of Endurance, 4 Intelligence, good Willpower, and 0 Personality.” He winced and forced out a grin. “Pretty angry for something without a personality.”

Phelan stared at him. “That’s it?”

“Yeah? Well, that, and a crap ton of Armor and Deflection. At least four figures of Armor.”

Probably a fair bit more than 1728 Armor, too. Cara bit her lip. Don’t say anything, don’t say anything, don’t say anything. “If you’d just let Nola do her job, we’d know more, wouldn’t we?”

Everyone stared at her. Three sets of eyes wide with shocked agreement, and one furious Phelan.

His lips pressed together, and he raised an eyebrow. “That sounds like insubordination, Lookout.”

Unbelievable. “As in not following orders, Prowler?”

Phelan’s eyes narrowed, but he blinked first. “Don’t do it again. Follow me. We have a dryad to track.”