Caelan stood at the edge of the fractured ground, looking up at the massive black tower that tore into the sky. It stretched at least a mile across, the earth around it split and cracked as if reality itself had buckled to make room.

  Solara, Garron, Mynxi, and Elyria stood with him in silence.

  Without a word, Caelan reached for his sword.

  “No,” Elyria said immediately. “Put it away.”

  “Ow,” Caelan muttered, releasing the hilt.

  Solara exhaled through her nose. “Right. First question.” She glanced sideways at him. “Virelith Press.”

  Elyria blinked. “Wait, what? A giant building just erupted out of the ground, and you’re worried about his stupid newspaper?”

  “Lieutenant,” Garron said evenly, “I do agree. There are far more pressing matters.”

  Solara ignored them both. She reached into the satchel at her side and pulled out a folded newspaper, snapping it open to the centre spread. A detailed map stared back at them—Beech & Ember marked clearly.

  She shoved it toward Caelan’s face. “Read it. I want to hear it straight from the idiotic mouth itself.”

  Caelan rubbed the back of his neck. Mynxi, meanwhile, wandered over and kicked the side of the black tower experimentally.

  “Well, you see—” Caelan started.

  Solara’s glare sharpened. “Read it.”

  He swallowed. “…‘Fucking bring it. Lots of love, Captain of the Revolutionary Army.’”

  Solara slowly turned her head toward Elyria. “I’m genuinely surprised you’re not saying anything about this.”

  Caelan tried to laugh it off, failing badly.

  “I don’t know why I would,” Elyria said flatly. “You agreed to all of that.”

  Solara frowned. “Wait, no, I wouldn’t.” She hesitated. “Well. I would at least—”

  “I was there,” Garron cut in. “A few months back. Whaa Whaa’s. Lieutenant… it was worse than the recruitment event.”

  Solara’s head snapped toward him. “When the hell did that happen? I don’t remember that.”

  “Yeah,” Elyria added dryly. “Who in their right mind would bring it up, given the very real risk of a chair to the head?”

  Caelan glanced down at Mynxi. “Little one, do you remember when Auntie Solara tried to sit on the ceiling with you?”

  Mynxi burst out laughing. “You fell and hurt your face, Auntie. It was funny.”

  Solara folded her arms. “Pfft. Why should I trust any of you?” She huffed. “I’ll ask Specialist Lyra when she gets here. She’ll know the full story.”

  The tower loomed behind them, silent and waiting.

  Lyra came sprinting up the cracked ground, breathing hard, eyes wide. “There’s something on the other side. It looks like an entrance!”

  Caelan nodded once. “Right. Let’s make sure no one enters until we know what this is.”

  They started moving along the edge of the massive block, keeping a wide berth from the fractures.

  Solara glanced at Caelan as they walked. “Don’t think you’re getting out of that newspaper conversation. I saw that interview you gave. This is not over, Captain.”

  “Fully understood, Lieutenant,” Caelan said quickly. “But for now, can we focus?”

  A couple of them chuckled.

  Lyra blinked between them. “What has happened here?”

  Mynxi, perched on Caelan’s shoulder, tilted her head. “Dad, are you trying to sound like Auntie Solara?”

  Solara kept her face perfectly calm. “My apologies, Captain. Of course.”

  Elyria looked from Solara to Caelan, confused as hell as they cut through the outer forest. “Folded like that newspaper there, Lieutenant.”

  Garron’s voice went flat. “No, Sergeant. The Lieutenant knows if the Captain isn’t willing to joke about that right now, then he’s serious.”

  Mynxi bobbed gently on Caelan’s shoulder, humming to herself as if none of this mattered.

  Lyra frowned. “It’s a little hard to believe it’s that serious, seeing that.”

  “Specialist, not now,” Solara said. “That goes for you as well, Sergeant.”

  “Yes, Lieutenant,” Elyria and Lyra muttered at the same time.

  They rounded the tower, and the air changed.

  Most of the members were already gathered near the glow, clustered around a posted notice.

  Caelan stepped in, eyes sweeping the group. “Master Sergeant. What have we got?”

  Keira didn’t look up from the paper. “Yep. You were right on the money, Captain. Limited-time dungeon.” She tapped the page with one finger. “More like a bomb.”

  Solara shook her head as she slid in front of the notice board, reading fast. “Master Sergeant, this isn’t the time for—” She stopped. “Oh wow. Yeah. That’s a bomb, alright.”

  Caelan moved beside her, brow furrowed, almost puzzled. “So if we don’t clear it before the countdown, all the monsters within spill out?”

  “Keep reading,” Keira said.

  Solara’s lips tightened. “Exactly twenty people in the dungeon at a time.” She exhaled. “Fiddling fudge.”

  “Language, please,” Caelan said automatically.

  Solara noticed the following line and stabbed it with her finger. “Well, in case you did forget, Captain, one slight issue. There are only nineteen of us.”

  Right on cue, Aurex marched around the corner with a hundred men behind him.

  He took point wearing the emerald armour Caelan had lost to him in a game of rock, paper, scissors, looking like he wanted to turn around and pretend he never left home.

  Caelan’s mouth opened.

  “Don’t say it,” Solara said instantly, already smiling. “I’m all in.”

  They both walked up, all smiles, and planted their hands on Aurex’s shoulders.

  “Rexy-baby,” Caelan said sweetly, “want to help an old pal out?”

  Solara leaned in with just as much delight. “Come on. You always talk about wanting to show off the working out you’ve been doing.”

  Aurex swallowed. “Does it really need to be me?”

  They walked him toward the board, explaining as they went.

  Caelan pointed back toward the tower. “This thing is a ticking time bomb for monsters to spill, and we’re what, fifteen miles from Virelith.”

  “And would you look at that,” Solara added brightly, tapping the notice. “Only twenty people can enter at a time. Now, who do you know that has a fighting force more than equipped and ready to go at a moment’s notice?”

  She smiled at Aurex as if she were doing him a favour. “You know it would look great in the newspaper. Aurex and the Revolutionary Army side by side, standing against the horrors. I think Mr. Pael might even allow you to get that pool you’ve been angling for.”

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Aurex gulped. “I want half.”

  Caelan turned away in horror. “Oh no.”

  Solara leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper only Aurex could hear. “What did you just say to me?”

  Aurex swallowed again, louder this time. “My foot is down this time, Lieutenant. I want half. I have a whole city to manage, and you of all groups don’t really—”

  Solara smiled. Not a single one of Aurex’s men took a step forward.

  “Are you enjoying those grant funds for new groups?” she asked pleasantly. “Oh yeah. We paid the bill. You just got your name on it.”

  “I know, I know—” Aurex started.

  “I’m not finished,” Solara said. “First, who props your city up in the economic market? Don’t remember you earning that emerald armour. The food? One of our best-kept secrets. The one we figured out. The one we shared. The one that stops your city from dying too quickly. And let’s not forget that time—”

  “Alright! Alright,” Aurex snapped, breaking. “I’ll take my fair share. They always think he’s the one to be scared of.”

  Keira wandered up beside them, grinning. “Oh, me, you, and those eyebrows in a sealed dungeon. I’ve dreamed of this day.”

  Aurex looked at the board and started to cry. Loudly.

  A large cart rolled in behind them, covered by a tarp. Corwin, Takeshi, and Hector pushed it while Bella sat on top, shouting, “Move it! Get out of the way!”

  Artimage stood proudly on the cart, arms spread. “My fellow adventurers, it is times like these that we must stand together and show who and what we are. My brothers, we stand—”

  No one listened.

  Caelan stared at him in awe. “You magnificent bastard. So beautiful.”

  “If you start giving speeches like that,” Aidan muttered to Caelan, “I’m pretending I don’t know you.”

  “Well,” Milo added, smirking, “just because he isn’t doesn’t mean he doesn’t secretly want to.”

  Caelan snorted. “What, me? Do that? Hell no. I’m a social butterfly at best.”

  “Sure,” Aidan and Milo said together.

  Caelan turned toward the cluster of men behind Aurex. “Right, who do I know. Ah. Bob. Big man. How’s the south gate treating you? You owe me a drink, you dick.”

  Bob stepped forward with a grin. “Been in the southern town for two years now. You throw the leaving party anyway. Don’t worry, I’ll explain it to Mr. Pael so he doesn’t order the city to storm the place.”

  Aurex raised a hand weakly. “I’ve changed my mind.”

  Mynxi barrel-dived into him, knocking him flat. She stared directly into his eyes, holding a pair of knives far too confidently.

  “You coming to have fun, Rexy?” she asked cheerfully. “I’ll watch you for Dad.”

  Aurex went limp. “Sure. Whatever you want.” He leaned his head back. “Right. I’m actually going to be eliminated this time.”

  Caelan clapped his hands once. “Alright, everyone, let’s head in. Bob, do me a favour—make sure no one else tries to enter. I don’t know how far you can see this thing from.”

  Everyone slowly walked into the cut-out doorway as the others continued dragging the cart in behind them. Takeshi grunted loudly, already annoyed. “Oh no, I don’t want help dragging this thing after fifteen miles.”

  Everyone just stood there staring, not a single person moving to assist.

  Hector snapped first. “It would be a lot easier if you stopped trying to do your goddamn speeches, Artimage.”

  “I thought it was helping,” Artimage said defensively.

  “Enough playing around,” Solara said. “How do you start this thing?”

  The wall behind them began to close slowly.

  “Found it,” Keira said. “Sorry, Lyra’s ass was in the way.”

  “That is my ass!” Lyra shouted. “Lieutenant, make her stop, please!”

  “Ow, what was that for?” Caelan yelped as Keira laughed.

  The door sealed shut.

  Bob stood outside watching the entrance disappear. “How do they keep surviving?” He shook his head. “Well, at least Mr. Vallis is happier.” He turned to the guards. “Right, everyone spread out. Surround the place. No one else tries anything. I’m away to Whaa Whaa’s to talk to Mr. Pael.”

  Inside the block, everything went pitch black.

  Jett screamed.

  Light flooded in as the far wall lowered, revealing Jett clinging to Solara. She dead-eyed him.

  “Specialist.”

  Jett immediately let go. “Yeah, yeah. Corner. Yes, Lieutenant.” He shuffled off and faced the wall.

  Caelan looked around. “So the zone hasn’t changed at all.”

  “Well, other than that,” Elyria said, pointing to the centre.

  A massive column stretched from the ground all the way up into the darkness above, humming faintly.

  “Huh,” Keira said. “What’s generating the light?”

  Solara sighed. “Not you, too, Master Sergeant. I get enough of that from the Captain. Right, everyone, listen up. Stick together for now. We’ll leave the cart here. Ninety-six hours until whatever this is floods the region with monsters, and based on the timing, it’ll hit at night. The city depends on us.”

  Aurex coughed quietly and pointed behind her.

  Caelan, with Mynxi already on his shoulders, sprinted for the column.

  “Go quicker, Dad!” Mynxi shouted. “Before Auntie tries to stop us!”

  Caelan laughed and ran straight into a transparent pane.

  “Get back here now!” Solara shouted. “You don’t even have your supplies, you idiot!”

  Caelan lay there as Mynxi jumped off and ran back, yelling, “Coming, Auntie Solara!”

  He rejoined the group, rubbing his head.

  “Was better when it made you sick just thinking about it,” Veyra said. “Now you can’t do anything without a wall to the face.”

  “Feeling left out, Sergeant?” Solara replied. “I thought you were too busy catching up on eight months of paperwork.”

  Elyria fitted a small bag onto Mynxi’s back, then grabbed three more. “Three bags per party of two.”

  “Why am I carrying them?” Caelan asked.

  “I’ve got a sore back,” Elyria said, pouting.

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Captain, stop moaning,” Solara said. “Each bag should last you through the dungeon. One extra per pair for emergencies. Master Sergeant, please don’t overreact.”

  Keira looked confused.

  Takeshi pulled back the tarp, revealing stacks of magazines. “Oh.”

  Keira froze. “Is that—”

  “All emerald,” Solara said. “Two hundred rounds total.”

  Keira climbed onto Solara and kissed her face. “You beautiful sparkly bitch, I love you!”

  “That’s eight thousand four hundred and seventy-one training hours, Master Sergeant,” Solara replied flatly.

  Keira stared at the ammo, practically drooling.

  Lumi pulled the tarp back further, revealing magazine holsters. “Thought you’d need these. Ten in your jacket, fifteen each here. You’re all set.”

  Keira grabbed Lumi’s hand. “You are and always will be my bestie.”

  “What kind of bestie wouldn’t make her friend the most terrifying bitch in this place?” Lumi replied proudly.

  “Lance Corporal Lumi,” Solara said. “That’s fourteen. Watch it.”

  Keira laughed. “You just tell her you’ll do them later. That’s what I do. Right, Lieutenant?”

  “Don’t worry,” Solara said sweetly. “I’ll break you in time. Starting with you staying with me for this whole thing. I’m not letting you or the Captain out of my sight—”

  “Ma’am,” Lyra said.

  Solara’s eye twitched. “He’s already running, isn’t he?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Lyra said. “And it appears the Sergeant has joined him.”

  Keira threw on her mag holders, loading as fast as she could. “DON’T YOU LEAVE ME BEHIND, BITCH!”

  “EIGHT FOUR SEVEN TWO!” Solara shouted.

  Caelan, Mynxi, and Elyria jogged back toward the column.

  Caelan sat with Mynxi on his shoulders, awkwardly perched atop the three supply bags he was carrying. Mynxi pointed ahead, practically vibrating. “Let’s go, Dad. She’s going to catch us!”

  Caelan and Elyria stopped long enough to read the notice board at the bottom of the stairs. Two staircases split the room, one leading up and one leading down.

  Behind them, Solara came in hot. “DON’T YOU DARE RUN DOWN THOSE STAIRS!”

  Mynxi waved over her shoulder. “Bye, Auntie Solara!”

  Caelan and Elyria giggled and sprinted down anyway. Solara skidded to a stop when she noticed floating numbers beside each staircase. The one leading down read 3/10. The one leading up read 0/10.

  Solara stared at it, then exhaled hard. “Damn it.”

  The rest of the members filtered in behind her. Lyra snapped in behind Solara and saluted. “Lieutenant, I have noticed a continued violation of the rules from members today. Would you like a witness statement when we return?”

  “Impressive work, Specialist,” Solara replied, only half there.

  Garron read the flyer, voice thoughtful. “It’s almost like a miniature war zone. Interesting choice.”

  Bella scowled. “Don’t tell me that idiot has messed it up already.”

  Solara continued reading. “Divide and conquer, if I’m reading this right. Five floors above us and five floors below us, each increasing in difficulty per floor…”

  A loud bell echoed through the dungeon, freezing everyone for a moment.

  Jett, already standing in a new corner, started to weep quietly. “Can I just go home, please?”

  Aurex walked over and stood beside him, completely deflated. “I know what you mean, little guy. It only gets worse the longer they’re around.”

  Solara snapped her head toward them. “Be quiet in the corner!”

  She turned back to the group, voice sharp and fast. “Right. We’re going to have to group off according to the rules. Each floor allows two fewer people to progress, and there’s a bell, apparently, every hour to spawn the next wave at an increasing rate. Alright. Here are the squads.”

  She pointed without hesitation. “Master Chief, you’re with the Captain to the lower levels. With you will be Specialist Katie, Jett, Lyra, Bella, Lance Corporal Lumi, and Corporal Milo. The Captain will split you further as he sees fit.”

  Garron nodded once. “Everyone, make sure you have what you need. The Captain won’t wait around for us. Expect it to get out of hand fast.”

  “I’M NOT STICKING WITH YOU,” Keira protested. “SWAP ME OUT. I DEMAND IT, LIEUTENANT!”

  Solara barely looked at her. “My hip today, Master Sergeant.”

  Keira made a dramatic show of wiping a fake tear. “Bye, Lum-Lum. I’ll be thinking about you while I’m fucking this place up.”

  Lumi walked past her down the stairs and blew a kiss. “Go and be a star, my little queen.”

  Aidan eyed Keira. “Is she the first person you haven’t argued with?”

  Keira snapped, instantly annoyed. “WHAT’S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?”

  Veyra threw her bag toward Artimage as she started up the stairs. “Can we get a move on, please. Carry that. Think of it like one of your motivational speeches.”

  Solara adjusted her supply bag on her back. “You need to carry something, Sergeant.”

  Keira immediately tossed her own bag at Aidan. “Yeah, Sergeant. You should listen to the Lieutenant.”

  There was a beat of silence.

  Then Solara and the others burst out laughing.

  Solara shook her head, still smiling. “If you’re going to be like this, I might separate you from the Captain more often.”

  Keira deflated instantly. “Let’s just get this over with, alright. I’ll be good. Don’t want to be hearing about paperwork or whatever other bull you’ll make up.”

  Hector sighed. “Oops. Think she might’ve reverted. Come on, Master Sergeant. We’ll have fun our way, I promise.”

  Aurex raised his hand weakly. “Is there any chance I can just wait here?”

  “Staff Sergeant,” Solara said, not even turning, “drag him for me.”

  Braen smiled brightly. “Ok-dokie, Lieutenant. Come on, you’re coming with me, little man.”

  Aurex looked like his soul had already left his body. “We know you’re big. You don’t have to keep calling everything small.”

  Takeshi somehow appeared holding five bags. “And what am I supposed to do with all these?”

  “Well, carry them, obviously, Sergeant,” Solara replied.

  Corwin stepped in quickly. “I can take a few more, sir.”

  Takeshi’s face softened into an actual smile. “You’re too nice to be around such evil morons. Such a fine-mannered man.”

  Artimage was already sprinting up the stairs. “Now with me, comrades, unto victory. Have I ever told you all about the time I scaled the incursion base while under orbital fire—”

  The whole group groaned as they followed.

  Behind them, the counters beside both staircases climbed fast.

  10/10 above.

  10/10 below.

  95 hours, 56 minutes remaining.