Out into the sun. The disc hovered away, over the forest. “Get far enough away the ants won’t follow us,” Lancelot ordered Morgan.

The disc flew at a stately pace. The slippery surface gave just enough grip Rowan wasn’t afraid he’d fall off. Bored, Rowan scanned Terry’s two party members. Wonder what level they are?

Lancelot. Fighter, Lvl 8. Merlin. Mage, Lvl 8.

He frowned. Do they have a Scan-dodging skill, too? Actually… He looked at Kaidu.

Kaidu. Hairdresser, Lvl 17.

Huh. Looks like Scan returns less when you’re in the Tower.

Kaidu raised an eyebrow at him. Rowan ignored him and turned to Terry.

Arthur. Hero, Lvl 6.

Man, Heroes level fast. Wasn’t he level four in the prison? He didn’t pass a hidden quest like Kaidu and I did, either. Combat classes sure have it nice.

Terry caught him looking and scowled. “Don’t think I won’t kick you off this disc.”

Rowan put his hands up. “I didn’t do anything.”

Terry scowled.

“Arthur, calm down. He helped you escape,” Lancelot said.

Morgan sucked in a breath. He wilted against the disc. It sagged downward, out of the sky. “I don’t think I can… much longer.”

“We should be far enough,” Lancelot said.

The disc dissipated the second they touched the ground. Rowan stumbled a step and looked around.

They stood in the center of a plain. Behind them stood the forest. To the left, a swamp tangled, dense darkness promising humidity and danger in equal measure. Ahead and to the right, only bare open earth and rolling grasses stretched to the horizon. In the distance, lightning flickered, striking from a dark cloud so far away they heard no thunder.

“Any dangers here?” he asked, cutting his eyes at Kaidu.

Kaidu grunted. His eyes glazed over, staring at something only he could see.

Frowning, Rowan pulled up his own System. On the map, their dots blinked quietly next to each other. Only an inch or so away, Jude’s dot blinked back, closer than it had ever been.

Not far beyond Jude, the big red dot bored out of the map, brilliant and imposing.

Rowan glanced at the map, then back up at the world. That storm… that must be the boss. He swallowed. “We aren’t ready.”

“No,” Kaidu concurred. “We should go back and level up. Prepare.”

“Might as well pick up Jude first, though,” Rowan commented, comparing the distances between the dots. He’s almost on top of us. Closing the System window, he peered out at the plain, searching.

Kaidu nodded silently.

“Wait, is that--that’s Level End? Right there? I thought we had so much further to go!” Lancelot exclaimed.

“The boss has been moving around the map,” Rowan replied.

“Let’s take it on,” Terry said, punching his fists together as he strode forward.

Lancelot grabbed him and pulled him back. “Level six says what? Did you even manifest your weapon yet?”

Manifest? Rowan frowned. That’s right, most non-magic combat classes eventually gain the ability to manifest a weapon. Most famous combat classes appear with a manifested weapon after the first floor, somewhere between level seven and fifteen.

He looked at his hands. Will I be able to manifest something? A gardening tool, maybe? A big shovel wouldn’t go amiss, or even a hand trowel. Anything I can smack people with, really. Even if it’s meant for gardening, there’s still plenty of useful tools.

Actually… I wonder if Kaidu can manifest anything? He’s high enough level. Rowan shot a glance at Kaidu, curious, then back at Terry.

Terry caught the glance and smirked. He flourished his hands, and a simple silver sword dropped into them. The blade caught the light, a miniature sun reflected on its surface. “Of course I have. What’s an Arthur without his Excalibur?”

“I can’t believe we agreed to these dumb names,” Morgan muttered under his breath.

“Anyways, let’s head back into the woods for now. There’s plenty to hunt in there. Let’s get this Arthur of ours to level ten, alright?” Lancelot clapped Terry on the shoulders in a familiar way.

Terry shrugged her off. “Ugh, shut up.”

She turned to Kaidu and Rowan. “Are the two of you going to be okay without an escort? I feel bad abandoning a couple of support classes in the Tower, after you helped save T--er, Arthur.”

“Ah, no, it’s okay,” Rowan started.

“Fuck them. They didn’t do anything for me. I could have escaped on my own,” Terry grumbled.

Rowan rolled his eyes. Honestly? Who even cares anymore.

Lancelot clapped Terry on the back of the head. “That’s enough from you. Not very Hero-like, hmm?”

Reaching into her pocket, she held out a small firecracker and continued, “If you’re sure. Here, take this. If you light it and we’re near, I’ll do my best to help. Can’t guarantee more than that, but… I can’t leave you with nothing in good conscience.”

“As if we need your help,” Kaidu replied haughtily.

Rowan pushed him back and smiled at her. Taking the firecracker, he stuffed it into a pocket. “Thank you. We appreciate it.”

Lancelot nodded. She saluted with her lance and led the way back into the forest. Morgan and Terry followed her. The party vanished into the woods.

Rowan flipped off the woods behind Terry. Farewell, I won’t miss you. As fast as you level, hopefully this is the last time we see each other.