Callie PoV 

I glanced at all the adventurers surrounding me, at the various looks they were giving Azalea and I. Between despair and disdain, but more despair, I hoped. Those that didn’t seem to believe us would learn soon enough. If Azalea said she had seen the approaching horde, then she had seen the horde, in my opinion. I didn’t need to verify it for myself. The little fairy might get on my nerves sometimes, and I’m pretty sure it’s deliberate a lot of those times, but she was still my friend. She hadn’t done anything to warrant me not believing her. 

The expedition leader turned a sharp eye on us both. “Are you absolutely certain?”

Azalea opened her mouth to respond, most likely to say something cheeky, but I spoke up with a confident nod before she could. “Yes, I stumbled upon the Open Dungeon that the Lich’s presence has created. Azalea saw the horde approaching as she flew over the forest scouting. Send out scouts to confirm it; we’ll need to know where they are and where they are going and coordinate an offensive against them.” I took a deep breath. “If Azalea is correct in how many there are, then we’ll need to maximise our chances in defeating them.”

The dark-haired Battlemage narrowed her crimson eyes in thought as she looked between Azalea sitting on Kelcie’s shoulder, her arms crossed as she pouted for some reason, and me, standing calmly at the edge of an undead infested forest. With a sigh, she turned and looked behind her at one of her attendants. “Send someone for Dodgers, and his scouts, please. Tell them it’s urgent.”

The attendant nodded, before rushing off. Presumably to find Dodgers himself, or find someone who could. 

Letting out a breath I hadn’t even realised I had been holding, my shoulders dropped a little as I relaxed. She had believed us, at least enough to send out verification. I wasn’t surprised as Tyral did seem to be a competent leader from what I had seen. Every time I looked at the expedition leader, I couldn’t help but get a nagging feeling that I knew her from somewhere, I just couldn’t remember from where. 

Pulling out a map, Tyral brought it over to me. Breaking me out of my thoughts. “Right, point out where you found this open dungeon, and describe it for me. Spare no details,” she commanded briskly, her tone brooking no arguments. 

Humming quietly to myself, I examined the well-made map carefully. “Here.” I pointed, tapping the map lightly. The map updated itself with a small red stylised X where I had pointed. “I can lead the scouts you send straight there, we’ll want as much intel that we can get on the dungeon as possible. From what I know of Liches, they’re incredibly dangerous foes.”

Tyral gave a sharp nod, her dark hair swayed in its ponytail. “How do you know it’s a Lich though? A Skull Lord or even a Boneclaw could possibly be strong enough to form an open dungeon.”

I shuddered, as I recalled what I had seen. “I saw a Death Knight…” I trailed off in a whisper. 

Even the high level Battlemage paled a little at that. 

“A Death Knight? This is starting to sound like my favourite expansion! Are they really as dangerous as you make them sound?” Azalea asked as she snuggled into Kelcie’s shoulder. 

I frowned at the fairy’s strange words, I was becoming more and more certain that she was an Offworlder. It just made too much sense to be anything else. Unless she really was crazy, so, I’d say about a fifty-fifty chance. 

“They are the most dangerous minions that a Lich keeps as its personal bodyguards. Incredibly strong and very hard to kill.” I shook my head. “The Roy– the library I went to frequently had a decent amount of information on them, and they’re in a lot of ways even more dangerous than the Lich is.”

Tyral shook her head and sighed. “We’ll have to clear out the open dungeon before the horde arrives. And if there are as many undead as you say, then we’ll need the help of the Royal Army.”

Pursing my lips in thought, I considered her words. “The Voren Royal Army? How many soldiers would they have left to spare? Most are on the frontlines. It’s a minor miracle we got so many adventurers for this expedition.”

Another adventurer I didn’t know, nodded his head. “She’s right. I have a cousin fighting on the frontlines. He said the King has had to send most of their army, it’s brutal,” he shuddered afterwards. 

We all fell silent for a moment, all of us had heard stories of how bad the fighting was against the dragons and their dragonkin army. Over the past few years, the collective armies of the mortal races on this continent have slowly been pushed back. The last two attempts from the dragons had only failed because the elves had provided us with their strength. After the total communication blackout from our elven allies on the south eastern continent, most had given up hoping for their support for a third time. 

“I might be able to get one of our kingdom’s allies to provide some soldiers. I’m good friends with a prince. I’m sure he’d help us, if I was to request aid,” Tyral said, almost absentmindedly. 

I tried not to scowl at that idea. Princes were awful, even if he did come, he’d most likely want to take command and ruin everything with terrible plans. I couldn’t help but sigh. That wasn’t strictly true, there was one prince I knew that wasn’t like that, but there’s no way in all the hells that I’d contact him, not unless we had no other choice. 

“Hey, are you okay? You’re all Scowly Mcscowlerson over here.” 

Azalea landed on my shoulder and poked me in the cheek, startling me from my morose thoughts. Clearing my throat, I put on my best diplomatic smile. “Yeah, of course! Why wouldn’t I be?” I was even diplomatic enough to ignore what she’d called me. 

“You just seemed to be really down about something,” the fairy said with a shrug as Kelcie came over looking a little worried at me. 

Shrugging, I kept my smile on my face as I looked at my friends. “I’m fine. Just worried about all these undead about, and surviving the next little while, you know?”

Before either of my friends could respond, Tyral walked up to me and placed a hand on my shoulder. “Are you up for sticking around for a bit longer? We need to know as much as we can about this open dungeon you’ve found.”

Nodding, I smiled at the expedition leader. “I can do that. Firstly, it’s in an old, abandoned Mansion…”

~

Azalea was once again on Kelcie’s shoulder, laying in the crook of her neck, looking up at Kelcie with rosy cheeks and a beautiful smile. It was incredibly endearing seeing those two finally acknowledge and accept their feelings for each other. As I watched, that strange rainbow-like aura that the fairy had been giving off slowly expanded to cover Kelcie, before shrinking again, like a slow heartbeat. 

Shaking my head, I looked away from my friends and squeezed Raya’s hand gently. Our party and two dozen other adventurers were currently making our way towards the open dungeon through the forest, where the Lich was hiding. It was our number one priority before the horde got here. 

The rest had either stayed at the base camp, preparing for the invasion, or gone off to scout for the best place to hold off the horde. 

Just up ahead I noticed Tyral stiffen, and immediately held up a fist for us to stop. “Okay, just past where I am standing is the perimeter of the dungeon. Does everyone remember what they’re doing?”

Tyral waited, looking each adventurer in the eye as they acknowledged her, before she spoke up again. “Good. Distraction teams, make your way in, and be careful. If you’re getting overrun, let us know and get out while you can. The rest of you, form up on me.”

Ryel skipped over to us from where she’d been standing apart from the group, working on something, as Kelcie and Azalea moved closer. As soon as Ryel joined up, I started moving forward. The second party assigned to the distraction followed shortly after. 

Caution: 

Now entering an Open Dungeon

Minimum recommended level: 30

I shivered as we moved through the perimeter, immediately feeling the temperature difference. The weather had slowly been getting colder lately, to the point we had a light snowfall several days ago. 

Azalea giggled quietly all of a sudden as we walked. “Sorry, Ryel. You should go back, you aren’t level 30 yet.”

“Lucky for you, there isn’t a mental age recommendation!” Ryel replied, poking her tongue out at the fairy. 

Letting out a fake hurt gasp, Azalea held her left hand to her heart. “I’ll have you know, I am very mature for a fairy, thank you very much!”

Ryel grunted, trying not to snigger. “Must be a pretty low bar.”

Azalea opened her mouth to respond, but I held up a fist. “Quiet,” I hissed. My [Threads of Darkness] ability was telling me something evil was nearby. 

Rolling her eyes, Azalea replied, “But why? The point is to be a distraction.”

“Shh, hear that?” I asked quietly, looking around. 

For several moments there was no sound, until bushes nearby were violently ripped apart as two very lanky undead appeared, screaming high pitched screeches. 

Wight (Rare)

Power Level: 350

Both had identical power levels, and even looked similar. They looked like tall, malnourished and lanky humans with chalky skin. They were unarmed save for the vicious serrated claws instead of fingers and sharp teeth. They resembled skeletons with their skin still attached. 

I heard several exclamations of surprise or fear from my fellow adventurers, which I ignored in favour of launching myself at the Wights. Coating my twin swords in red lightning, I slashed at the first Wight, before barely dodging a vicious slash from the second as I felt Raya’s healing seed ability settle on me. 

One of the Wights screeched as Azalea hit it with a powered [Telekinetic Pulse], knocking it on to its back. I grunted in pain as the fallen Wight managed to slash my ankle after it fell, which only hurt for a moment before a warm tingle rushed through it as Raya healed it almost instantly. 

Not getting anymore time to think, I threw myself into killing the two enemies before more arrived. Thankfully, by then, more of the adventurers with us had finally reacted, shooting fireballs and arrows at our enemy, and within moments, both Wights were good and properly dead as my sword stabbed the last one. 

“Good work, keeping those things focused on you!” A jovial voice called out as a heavily armoured man put his hand on my shoulder – far too familiar with me than I’d prefer. I didn’t hate men, but I was far too often hurt or disappointed by them to want much to do with them. Only the youngest of my older brothers had been decent, until he sided with my father. 

I used [Inspect] as I shrugged my shoulders, thankfully making his unwelcome hand fall off. 

Thomar

Level 52 Warrior (Common)

“Someone’s gotta do it, no one else in our party, except for Kelcie, is remotely tank-like,” I replied, looking over to make sure my party was safe. Thankfully none of them had been in any danger, yet. 

Thomar glanced at my party as well, his eyes slowly looking Raya up and down like she was a piece of meat, before he spoke. “I see. Well, it is a good thing they have you then!” He laughed boisterously. “Let’s go and destroy some undead.”

“Yes!” Azalea shouted excitedly, pumping her little fists in the air. I heard Ryel giggle as several more screeches from Wights echoed in the distance. 

Chuckling, Thomar saluted Azalea, fist thumping his chest. “That’s the spirit, Lady Fairy.” His grin was infectious and he seemed well-meaning, perhaps I had misjudged him after all. I did have the habit of doing that. 

~

Wights, ghouls, zombies and various undead beasts fell at our feet, in ones and twos, or groups at a time. Thomar took point, taking the most aggression from the undead as we steadily made our way closer to the Mansion. Kelcie and I flanked him, keeping any stray enemies from getting past us, while the rest of our parties either healed, or fought from a distance using spells or weapons. 

Contrary to my fears, even Ryel did really well. She stayed back like we had asked her, using some strange home-made crossbow and threw countless bombs at the undead. From smoke bombs that made the creatures miss us more often, but didn’t cause us any issues, to actual bombs that exploded. I shook my head and smiled, those bombs always made Ryel and Azalea whoop with glee whenever she used one. 

We’d been fighting for about half an hour when a cold breeze swept through our ranks. As snow began to fall, our group became alert to any dangers. I shivered as [Threads of Darkness] practically screamed at me that something evil was nearby. 

An undead creature that used to be human, eerily floated into view, with ice and snow swirling around her like a gentle tornado. 

Marineer Carringwood 

Power Level: 845 

Frost Banshee (Champion)

A loud gasping sob drew everyone’s attention towards Kelcie, the banshee’s included. A cold and malicious smirk broke out across the undead’s face as she stared into Kelcie’s eyes. “Well, well. If it isn’t, Kenneth, still pretending to be something he’s not. Don’t worry, boy, I’ll help put you out of your pathetic misery.”

My eyes widened as I realised what she meant, and so much more of Kelcie made sense now. 

“HOW DARE YOU!” 

A loud screech and a purple blur blew past me so fast that I was buffeted. I stumbled and nearly fell, catching myself at the last second. 

Looking up, I watched in amazement as Azalea stood toe to toe with a much stronger opponent, purple light blasting out of her violently, kicking up wind as the two fought. The fairy was tiny compared to the Frost Banshee, but her fury was large. 

Flying faster than I had ever seen her, Azalea twirled around Marineer, purple and ice blue light exploding between them violently. The shockwaves could be felt from even where we stood, some distance away. The snowfall intensified as the banshee wailed and spat screeching insults at Azalea. In short order, it was almost impossible to see anything but snow and random bursts of purple or ice blue light as the two continued fighting. 

“We need to help her!” Kelcie yelled, panicking as she started pushing forward through the snowstorm. “Her power level is nearly double Azalea’s.”

I nodded, before realising she wouldn’t see me. “You’re right, I’ll head to their left, you go right,” I yelled out. “Raya, cover us. Ryel? Get ready to throw some of those bombs.”

Without looking to see if the others had acknowledged me, I rushed forward, hoping to surround the banshee and help kill her. 

As I passed Thomar, I was pretty sure I heard him call us crazy as he just stood there watching the fight. Coward. 

Rushing forward, I ignited the red lightning on my swords, slowly pushing my way through the storm, heading towards where the blue flashes were occurring. 

A loud screech broke through the howling wind as I heard the banshee scream, “ENOUGH!” 

Suddenly a loud explosion of light and sound crashed into me, sending me backwards as the storm instantly broke. Just in time for me to drop my swords and catch Azalea before she could tumble off into the forest. 

The fairy spat out some blood, and wiped her mouth. “Thanks, Callie.” She drank down an entire mana potion while leaning against my chest panting heavily. Her once almost pristine armour was torn and cut in several places and she was bleeding and bruised. The little fairy’s fury remained undimmed though, as she glared murderously at the now visible banshee. 

Raising up slowly in the air, the banshee lifted up her arms, ice blue light spilling out of her hands like mist. “You’ll die like the worm you are, little daemon.”

Azalea lifted off of my chest, her wings buffeting my face briefly. “I don’t think so, bitch, let me show you the power of a fairy,” the fairy growled, her eyes flashing a bright purple. To say I was shocked at hearing Azalea swear was an understatement, I don’t think I’d heard her ever cuss before. 

The blue light from the banshee coalesced into a ball of light that cracked and split into a beam of energy that Marineer fired at Azalea. Before I could shout a warning, with a thunderous boom, lightning leapt out of Azalea and directly into the path of the beam, except this wasn’t her normal attack, purple, green, blue, red, yellow, all the colours of the rainbow formed a single lightning bolt that tore into the banshee’s attack, ripping it apart and forcing a scream out of the undead. Steam exploded and covered the area in thick fog as the lightning hit the snow. 

I could feel the heat of the attack as the very air vibrated in shock, and even as Azalea dropped her hands, it still felt like the world was recoiling. Panting, the fairy all but collapsed as I caught her again before she hit the ground. 

Cackling could be heard as the steam began to dissipate. “Really? That’s the power of a fairy? You are as pathetic as Kenneth is.” 

While Marineer might’ve been still alive, glaring with hate, she was in a bad state, smouldering and twitching from Azalea’s assault. 

Surprisingly, Azalea giggled in my arms. “I was only a distraction, you evil, foul monster. Won’t be missing you!” She cheerfully yelled out. 

“What the…?” The banshee said, turning around in time to see Kelcie step up, and with a mighty swing of her scythe, behead her.

Frost Banshee (champion) slain!

2,500xp

As the body dissolved into the light blue particles, a loud clatter echoed around the clearing as Kelcie dropped her weapon and collapsed to her knees, sobbing. Azalea was instantly at her side, holding her gently, making soothing noises. 

I walked up to join my party as we all surrounded Kelcie, letting her know we were there for her. Ryel rushed up and hugged her on the other side of Azalea, and Raya and I stood nearby, watching over them. 

Thomar clearing his throat got my attention. “So… that happened. What do you want done with him? You’ve got to feel horrified, right?”

I was confused for a moment, before I noticed that he was looking at Kelcie. 

“What’re you talking about? She’s done nothing wrong. In fact, she’s done far more than you did in that fight.”

Thomar looked at me with confusion clear on his face. “You heard what the banshee said, he is a guy.”

The clearing went deathly silent as I strode up to the idiot, glaring right at him. “You would take the word of a monster over me, or anyone in my party? You’re even stupider than I thought,” I hissed at him. 

“Wow, wow, calm down there, little lady. I was just trying to protect you all from predators,” he spouted. 

I snorted. “We just faced one, and you just stood there. Fat lot of good, you were.” 

Glaring at me, Thomar crossed his arms, like he was going to continue to argue, when one of his party members, a ranger, walked up and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Come on, it’s not worth it. If they want to be ungrateful, let them.”

Snorting again in laughter, because he was right, they weren’t worth it, I turned around and ignored the bigots as I moved back to my party. Just as I did, a notice popped up in front of me. 

Congratulations! The Lich has been slain and the Open Dungeon cleared. 

Rewards: 10,000xp, 

Bonus experience: 5,000xp

Ding!

Congratulations! You have reached level 32

Despite the bigots, and the fight, as well as the up and coming fight with an overwhelming horde, I started feeling good about our situation. If my party, my friends, my family, could fight for one another like Azalea just did, what chances does the undead have?