The cold wind was whipping at our faces and her hair danced in the wind.

"It's actually quite more spacious than I had realized," Aisha said; she was referring to Harlow's Flow-cart.

Harlow scoffed.

 

As it seemed, Aisha had taken the others to the Dungeon outskirts with her one Flow-cart this past few days.

It had been three days since then, and she hadn't delved anymore. She was waiting for me to recover and for her father's sparrow messenger. It never arrived.

 

Now we were all aboard Harlow's Flow-cart. Obviously, she was the one driving it, with pride on her face.

Although her cart was faster than Aisha's, its roofless build and the wide boot which could house all of us, including Loki and a good deal of luggage, didn't offer the Half-Elf the commodities she had grown used to.

 

"I mean, it's really well-built. Did you make it yourself?" Aisha asked.

Alistar and I shared a look. We knew how this was going to turn out.

"My Flow-cart was not built for carrying… Citizens. I built it for... practical people," Harlow answered with a haughty frown.

I could hear Roana whistle a note of surprise.

 

Aisha tightened her jaws, and we knew it was about time we intervened. Nova beat us to it, though… a thing of which I was sincerely thankful.

 

"Do you remember that form you were talking to us about!?" She asked an Aisha ready to wage war.

"I think you-" Aisha started before being pulled by Nova, "What? Which Form?"

"The one you showed Roana and me, remember!? Right, Ro, right?" Nova answered, trying with all her might to pull Roana into the conversation.

Roana rolled her eyes around, sighed, but joined in, "Yeah… that mind Form, to strengthen Willpower, how was it called?" She asked.

They managed to distract her just in time.

But, no, Harlow hadn't woken up on the wrong side of her bed, she had received a nasty surprise in the morning, just as we woke up, and Aisha had been the one responsible.

If there was something that made Harlow mad was someone berating her tidiness.

By no means was she unclean; it was the opposite: she had her own sense of order based on the fact that she was the one that cleaned, cooked, and did most of the house's work.

So, she had her own rules and placements.

When a, just woken up, Aisha lamented for the fact that the breakfast table had been half-filled with Harlow's tech junk, she –my girl– had just turned the corner. She stood there petrified by what she had heard, and oh… Harlow wasn't one that let things slide easily.

If her well-hidden jealousy had been walled up beneath a bulwark of a superior demeanor, being directly berated had cracked that wall.

And I so wished not to be there… I was the reason why Aisha was there with us, and I would have gladly kept these two young women apart if I could.

 

So, yeah… our first full party delving was gonna turn out great!

 

***

 

I dropped down from the Flow-cart and stretched a little, Loki copying me as I did. We were all thankful that the mood had not exploded.

However, nothing could stop me today, not even my party's bickering.

My quiver today was full to the brim with Blow arrows.

This time I had made them myself, repaying Logan's equipment with hunting for him quite a bunch of creatures in the two previous days.

The Soul fractions I had received from them had been… ridiculously low, practically ignorable, and they had been mostly creatures from nearby zones.

In their defense, they were all below level thirty-five; still, before the Wyrm hunt, those creatures would have given me at least a few hundred Soul fractions. Now they gave me Soul fractions in the order of single digits multiples of ten.

I had prepared eighteen Crystal Blow arrows and only six Stone Blow arrows. After all, thanks to the intrinsic nature of Flow and Shade, and my Trick Shot, Crystal Blow arrows doubled the damage.

However, Blow arrows were not the best I had; my most important weapons were my companions.

My sister, naturally.

 

Nova Nightfold, Flow Battle-Mage Level 33 (117,468/330,000), Healer Level 41 (228,176/400,000)

Health: 200%

Stamina: 198%

 

Agility: 18

Constitution: 18

Strength: 20

Focus: 22

Perception: 10

Willpower: 23

 

Strengths: Solar Blades, Flow Shield, Healing Spring, Willpower, Loke Nightfold

Weaknesses: Loke Nightfold

 

Alistar.

 

Alistar Migs Guardian Level 34 (311,228/330,000), SpearFisher Level 34 (189,664/340,000

Health: 100%

Stamina: 95%

 

Agility: 15

Constitution: 33

Strength: 22

Focus: 7

Perception: 18

Willpower: 16

 

Strengths: Constitution, Duress, Icy Fortitude

Weaknesses: Focus

 

He would soon unlock another Perk. Which was nice.

Roana, the scariest among us.

 

Roana Dowson, Psyomancer Level 33 (42,355/330,000), Seer Level 33 (298,588/330,000)

Health: 100%

Stamina: 94%

 

Agility: 10

Constitution: 10

Strength: 10

Focus: 22

Perception: 34

Willpower: 21

 

Strengths: Commands, Focus, Perception, Willpower

Weaknesses: Poor defensive abilities

 

Faruq, our hard-hitting speedster.

 

Faruq Jameel, Flow Blade Runner Level 33 (94,585/330,000), Speedster Level 33 (106,874/330,000)

Health: 100%

Stamina: 97%

Flow Capacity: 100%

 

Agility: 23

Constitution: 21

Strength: 21

Focus: 21

Perception: 10

Willpower: 10

 

Strengths: Agility, Dash, Metal Flow Body, True Grit

Weaknesses: None

 

Aisha, the heavy weapon.

 

Aisha Mustafa, Thermomancer Level 35 (287,950/350,000), Politician Level 40 (258,699/400,000)

Health: 100%

Stamina: 95%

Flow Capacity: 100%

 

Agility: 10

Constitution: 10

Strength: 10

Focus: 40

Perception: 12

Willpower: 32

 

Strengths: Focus, Thermodynamics, Thermal Resistance, Willpower

Weaknesses: Agility, Strength

 

And, of course, Harlow.

 

Harlow Raive, Armorer Level 33 (75,895/330,000), Clock-technician Level 41 (392,458/410,000)

Health: 100%

Stamina: 89%

 

Agility: 10

Constitution: 24

Strength: 29

Focus: 22

Perception: 6

Willpower: 20

 

Strengths: Armored, Armor, Constitution, Strength

Weaknesses: Perception, Loke Nightfold

 

Together with Loki and I, we were eight; we were becoming a tad too many for taking only one of the many paths as an ensemble.

Creatures like that would submerge us, so, under Alistar's Kobold friends' suggestion, we decided that we would split the party in two.

The idea was to cover all roles.

We had Loki and Faruq that were both fast and agile.

Nova and Aisha as heavy-hitters.

Alistar and Harlow as tanks.

And, finally, Roana and I as ranged fighters. The problem with us was that we were both on a Shade budget.

While the others would continue fighting until they could not do it anymore, we were tied to our Stones reserves.

 

Considering many factors, like, roles, Skills, Attributes, and cohesion as a whole, we had split the group into two parties.

Party A, composed by Faruq, Aisha, Harlow, and I. At the same time, the others composed Party One.

We had chosen this apportionment because of many factors. Some of these factors were, for example, Harlows' higher attack power compared to Alistar's and the constant powerful attacks that Nova would be able to unleash on the enemy, which, in turn, would cover for Harlow's power output.

Aisha being in this group was tied as well to the presence of Nova on the opposite team.

Faruq was in team A with me instead of Loki because, this way, we would have eyes on the opposite team.

And, finally, mine and Roana's inconstant damage output were balanced by the team's overall compositions.

Still, Nova had yet to be tested in actual combat. However, I was sure that her Solar blades would fare wonderfully against these creatures.

I knew they were still not enough to cut directly through the tech creatures simply, but they would unleash enormous damage on them.

I was even juggling with the idea of having her use one of the few Dark Crystals I had left for a rainy day to increase her Solar Blade’s level further. But before that, I wanted to see with my eyes her current Skill level's potential.

So, we separated, heading to two different metal paths.

 

***

 

The lake was still frozen, but here and there, I could see traces of movement behind the ice; I already knew how this was going to turn out.

And, frankly, I kind of wished to see how the Dungeon would answer us if Nova and I were to join on a single path now that she had grown so much.

"What are you laughing to yourself about?" Harlow asked.

"Uh? Oh, I was thinking about those couple of Technogators that will attack us as soon as we put our first steps on the path."

"Couple? You mean like, two at the same time?" Aisha asked.

I nodded, "Yeah, they're in the waters, there, and there," I showed, pointing.

Aisha looked at Faruq for confirmation.

"Yeah, they love the Captain; there must be something in his nature that attracts them," he shrugged, "Maybe the captivating look of his eyes."

"Oh, come on, you'll make me blush. Anyway, there they are," I said as I walked toward the metal path's jagged connection with the greenery of the Freelands.

I barely had the time to shoot a regular arrow into the sky when they appeared. One from the right, the other from the left, this time they did so, simultaneously, they didn't even fit in the slim path.

 

Technogator of the Fallen Lake, Level 85 (1.258.998/8.500.000)

Durability: 100%

 

Agility: 30

Constitution: 255

Strength: 162

Focus: 158

Perception: 110

Willpower: 0

 

Strength: Aquatic, Massive metal body, weight

Weakness: Very slow

 

Abilities: Death Roll, Locking Target

 

The one on the left was of a slightly lower level.

"Can you take care of one?" I answered, waiting for the arrow to begin its descending course.

Faruq nodded, "We should be able to, right Aisha?"

"Yeah. At least there's Flow in the air."

Harlow's armor closed folded on herself, the helmet the last thing clicking together.

Damn, she was sexy even in there; what was wrong with me?

 

***

 

I was still chuckling to myself as I ported in mid-air, catching the arrow and placing it back on my bow to be reshot.

The buzzing wasn't even remotely as strong as before when we were attacked the first time. If it had nothing to do with my level increase, then my name was not Loke Nightfold.

Still, as I aimed at the Technogator who had followed my appearance in the sky, the tail of my eye went to Nova's party.

They were faring better; they had been introduced to massive tech-gorilla-looking beasts. I did not know those could appear here, but they would definitely be easier to take down than these overgrown gators.

Right after I shot my regular arrow, I threw my knife in the sky, toward the plains.

 

The next moment I was in the creature's belly. One thing I had learned was that I had to not feel as if I was trapped, or I could abuse my amount of Stone in an attempt to make the creature explode from the inside out as I transferred out of it.

I placed my feet on its jagged metal insides, thankful that there were not pieces of metal that could harm me, then I shot two Crystal Blow arrows in the direction of its core, doubling them both with Trick Shot.

I was out of that melting inferno the very next moment I shot the second one.

The whispers confirmed to me the kill as I rolled on the grassy terrain.

 

You've earned 24,617 Soul fractions. Soul fractions for next TechnoHunter level: 302,751/430,000

 

It was almost a quarter of what it had initially been… incredible.

I turned and hurried in my companion's direction.

It was a fierce battle.

Faruq had taken the role of the off-tank, kiting the beast when he was ready for it and threatened them with its Death Roll; Harlow tanked it and distracted it with her Flow-shots.

Her armor had been modified to lessen the Flow accumulation strain in her body to recharge her guns.

Lastly, Aisha focused on unleashing heavy damage upon it.

She took the chance to send her Flare directly inside of the creature's mouth, always choosing the right time to do it.

 

They took a few minutes to put it down, but they did so without ever getting themselves in danger, not too much at least.

I just stared; I did not want to steal their Soul fractions; they needed them much more than I did. Meanwhile, one of my eyes joined Loki, gauging at how Party One was faring.

They were doing better than us; fighting smaller creatures made them advance that much faster than us.

I could see Nova literally plow through the droids; it looked like she was having fun. It made me smile.

"That was good exp," an out of breath Aisha said with a smile on her face, "kinda exciting too."

Harlow's helmet opened up, "You handled that well, city-girl, I gotta give you that."

"Oh, thank you, however…"

Damn, I didn't like that: "however."

"...I don't know how your armor really works, but I think you might be a little rusty or maybe not really experienced at this."

Faruq and I shared a look; he was kinda amused, I wasn't at all.

 

Harlow let out a breath, possibly to calm herself down, "Yes. You are right on that part… I'm not a true delver; I really just started a few months ago," she answered, surprising me with her calm behavior.

"Oh, that explains things! Then I'll be happy to help with whatever you want to know," she answered.

They shared a sincere, knowing look that I wasn't expecting at all.

"Then I'll take you on your word," Harlow answered.

 

Did they resolve their bickering? Just like that? Wow.

"Alright! Then we can afford to speed things up a little; we're being left behind by the others, see?" I pointed.

"That's so not gonna happen," Faruq answered, gripping his swords. "Come on, Captain. I can't be beaten by that overgrown lizard, not in speed."

"Then let's go!" Harlow uncharacteristically shouted.

Girls always managed to surprise me.

Still, we sped up, but it wasn't even a few hundred meters later that another commando of mixed tech-creatures welcomed us. However, the lack of gators was much welcomed, and judging by the weak buzzing sensation now vibrating through my whole body; these creatures were of no real danger to me.

 

***

 

Once again, like the previous time I was here, true troubles started as we approached the median ring.

We had encountered enemies three times after we dealt with the gators. We had not really caught up with Party One, but we had definitely closed the distance between us.

 

You've earned 1187 (x9), 2158 (x3) Soul fractions. Soul fractions for next TechnoHunter level: 337,908/430,000

 

But, while we joked about relieving the tension, and I checked my whispers and thought how weirdly Soul fractions behaved and rounded up when they started diminishing, the buzzing caught up with me.

 

It felt like being hit by electricity, I had never been zapped before, but I guessed that to be exactly how I would feel if I had.

I stopped walking just as I was hit by that feeling.

"Captain?"

"Prepare yourselves; this is going to be worse than last time," I did the same.

But more than worried about us, my attention went to Nova's party. I had ignored them for a while, but if at this point we were about to be welcomed but those many creatures, it was likely that they had as well. And they would be fighting against them at this very moment.

So, I synced an eye with Loki's reality, and the chaos of it disclosed in front of my vision, mixing up with my own.

I was welcomed by a droid getting mauled by Loki's claws, but my attention focused on Nova.

Her shield kept shattering one after the other, but at the same time, she was dancing in an accelerated Form of the Spiral around the battlefield. Roana had been dealing with Technoperegrines by herself, behind Nova's shields, and Alistar round-up creatures for Nova to unleash her rage upon with her swords.

All in all, they were doing quite fine by themselves.

I disconnected from them, then asked myself, Why did it seem easier than last time for them?

It couldn't only be because of Nova's massive power increase; there should have been something else behind that treatment.

Then I believe I realized it.

It was Loki.

Yeah, Loki's presence likely didn't count toward the Dungeon's response. So maybe they counted as three people, while here there were four of us.

"Loke, come back here, please," Harlow said. "How many of those are there?"

She said, getting me to focus back on our situation. My other sight disappeared, and I took in whatever there was in front of us.

"Fucking Moon's cunt…" Right, maybe I had to stop swearing so much; I was speaking with the Sun itself after all.

 

But in front of us, something like eight dozen or so among them droids, Technorhinos, dogs, peregrines, and even a few of those gorillas I had seen Party One fight, were coming at us.

"Those are likely a hundred sons of bitches coming at us…" I sighed… why couldn't it just be night? I would wipe the floor with them…

"Prepare for the harshest battle you've ever fought. Don't you dare give them even a meter. Today this metal path belongs to us, and I swear on my grandfather's soul, we will reach the median ring!"