Chương 52: Sprung

Ethan stood at the settlement gates, shifting slightly as he tried to deal with the itch that had been irritating him for the last few minutes. Leah nudged him lightly.

"Pay attention." Ethan resisted the urge to roll his eyes and straightened slightly. Around them stood nearly a thousand members of the Broken Dawns, filling the space in front of the gates. It was roughly half of the settlement's total force. Most of them were below level twenty, but even so, there were quite a few individuals Ethan could pick out as strong just from the way they held themselves. At the front stood Alex and Thane, speaking quietly while they waited for the last of the stragglers to arrive.

"Remember to stick close," Ethan said. Leah snorted.

"I'm not a child. But yes, I know." They had already gone over it the night before. Whether Leah should come had been a difficult decision. On one hand, Ethan didn't want her anywhere near an active conflict, especially not one involving the guild she technically belonged to. On the other hand, he wasn't willing to leave her behind either. Not so soon after finding her. She also seemed more than willing to tag along. Even fighting for it, so he had agreed.

And truthfully, she wasn't much weaker than a lot of the people here. Especially the non-combatants who would be tagging along.

"Everyone listen up!" Alex's voice cut through the crowd, pulling Ethan's attention forward.

"The time has come for us to get rid of these pests and secure peace for the level," Alex called out.

"I believe in every single one of you. Go forth knowing you're fighting for a brighter future. That you're fighting for the safety of new arrivals and freedom for everyone." He paused briefly, letting the words settle.

"The Valkyries want to create chaos in a time where peace is needed. Do not accept this. Purge it from this level with everything you have. And know that when you return, the rest of the guild will be here waiting—along with the countless lives you've protected." Alex gestured to his side.

"Thane will be in charge. Most of you already know him, so his name should be enough. For those that don't, let's just say Thane likely holds the most firepower in the entire guild. I expect everyone to follow his commands." Thane stepped forward, his large frame impossible to miss. He looked over the crowd, brows slightly furrowed, then gave a short nod.

"Right. Let's move." Ethan nearly facepalmed. At least Alex gave a decent speech. Looking around the group it seemed to do the job. Which was lucky because Thane wasn't one for words, but Ethan knew exactly how dangerous he was when it came down to it, and that was weeks ago, before he had gained levels from the Colossus. The gates behind them began to open, Thane exited first, followed by the Broken Dawn. Bystanders watched from the sides, many of them confused, or curious.

Most of them were new arrivals, unaware of just how much things had changed since leaving Earth.

"Let's go," Leah said, stepping into the flow. Ethan nodded and adjusted his pack, settling the strap into place against his armor. He had chosen to wear everything except his helmet, which hung from his bag. He didn't expect to need it immediately, but armor had long since become second nature to him. It felt wrong not to wear it, even in the desert heat. Plus the added stats made it stupid to not have it on. So Ethan stepped forward, leaving Highrocks behind once again.

This time, though, he wasn't sure when he would return. He had already said his goodbyes to Mark and Sarah, telling them he likely wouldn't be back for a few months. When he did return, they would have the option to join him and head toward the mirage. After some back and forth, they had agreed. Even if they didn't fully believe what he had told them, they would soon understand when the system made it clear. —~~— They walked through the day. A thousand people moving together didn't make for speed.

It was a slow, grinding pace as scouts moved ahead, checking the terrain before the larger force followed. Even with their numbers, they traveled light. Most carried packs similar to Ethan's, but he did notice people carrying nothing at all. Ethan eyed those individuals with a slight bit of resentment. Storage skills weren't uncommon, especially for those willing to invest in utility over immediate power, but for him, it just wasn't feasible. So, instead he watched them, feeling a little jealous.

The plan was simple. Create room between them and Highrocks, before setting up and waiting for the Valkyries to arrive. So by the time Thane finally called for a stop, the sun had begun to dip lower in the sky, but they still had plenty of time to make camp. They had covered a decent distance. Highrocks was now little more than a jagged outline on the horizon, barely distinguishable from the surrounding formations. Ethan dropped to the sand, pulling his canteen free and taking a long drink.

It didn't take him long to notice people approaching, he looked up and saw Nivia and Thane coming toward him. He hadn't had a chance to speak with Thane since returning. It left him in a slightly awkward position. He wasn't officially part of the guild, which meant he wasn't included in planning or leadership, despite being the most experienced here. Not that anyone other than Leah knew that though. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Ethan capped his canteen and looked between the two of them, watching them approach. Ethan gave them a nod and called out.

"How's it going?"

"It's good to see you as well, Ethan. I heard you managed to find your sister. I'm happy for you." Ethan paused, that was more words than he was expecting.

"I did," he replied with a smile.

"We'll stay here for the rest of our trip," Thane continued.

"Scouts are already heading out in rotations. We'll keep eyes on the surrounding dunes and wait for the Valkyries to show themselves." Ethan nodded without hesitation.

"Good call. No point pushing any further. If things go bad, you don't want to be too far from Highrocks." Thane glanced at him briefly, then gave a small grunt of agreement.

"Exactly." There was a short pause before Thane continued.

"When they arrive, we'll try to talk first. See if there's any chance to avoid unnecessary losses."

"We both know how that's going to go," Ethan said. Thane's expression didn't change.

"Yeah. Still has to be done." He shifted his weight slightly, then added, "I want you there. When we meet them." Ethan raised a brow.

"Backup?"

"Something like that." Ethan considered it for all of half a second before nodding.

"Sure." It was pointless. They both knew it. After everything the Farscribe book stated there was no illusion left about what Desmond was doing. This wasn't a misunderstanding. It was a misguided power grab, with a shadow organization guiding him. Ethan had already pieced together enough to form a suspicion, though he wouldn't know for certain until the second level. Still, that didn't change anything here. Talking wouldn't stop what was coming and they all knew it. Thane gave a short nod.

"Good." With that, he turned and moved off, already being pulled back into whatever planning he had going on. Nivia remained, she shifted her weight, glancing toward the camp where the non-combatants had already set up cooking stations. The smell of food was beginning to drift through the air as large pots were stirred and portions prepared.

"Looks like we've got a bit of time," she said. Ethan followed her gaze briefly before looking back at her.

"What's on your mind?" She smirked slightly.

"You owe me a rematch." Ethan huffed a quiet laugh.

"You're really set on that, huh?"

"I've been practicing," she replied.

"Figured I should test it before things get messy." Ethan pushed himself up from the sand, rolling his shoulders once as he stood.

"Alright. Let's see what you've got." —~~— Ethan sat with Nivia and Leah, eating a late lunch as the desert heat pressed down on them. They had been waiting for the entire night and half a day now, and aside from the occasional scout report, nothing had changed. For Ethan, the time hadn't been wasted. He had spent most of it cultivating, steadily guiding mana to his core. It was progressing well but he wouldn't reach the next tier on this level, nor did he want to.

That was something to pursue later, once he had access to a different cultivation manual, which he would only find on the second level. He had a few ideas on where to look and what would suit his path. He just needed to get his hands on it. So he would hold off. Making sure he didn't advance any further. But that didn't mean he couldn't get to the peak of tier one.

"They're here! They're here!" The shout cut through the camp. Every head turned. Even Leah and Nivia, who had been mid-conversation, snapped their attention toward the commotion.

"The Valkyries. We've spotted them!" Ethan felt his breath hitch, his pulse quickening just slightly. Around him, the camp erupted into motion. Thane's voice rose above the noise.

"Everyone prepare yourselves. Nivia, Ethan—let's go." He was already moving.

"Lead the way," he ordered the scout. Ethan stood, grabbing his helmet from his bag before handing the pack off to Leah.

"Stay safe. I'll be back soon." She nodded, taking it without argument. Ethan slipped the helm over his head as he fell into step with Thane and the others, the world narrowing slightly as his vision adjusted to the slit. After ten minutes of walking, they crested a dune and Ethan saw them. The Valkyries. They were fewer than he expected. For a brief moment, Ethan almost questioned why they would even attempt this. The numbers didn't add up.

Not unless they were far more confident than they should have been—or far more desperate. Below them, the opposing force came to a halt. Someone pointed up toward the ridge. Ethan reached inward, brushing against his core, feeling his mana full and ready. Four figures broke away from the Valkyries and began making their way up the dune. Ethan's gaze sharpened as he spotted Desmond. Two other men flanked him, along with a woman. Alice. His focus lingered on her for half a second longer than necessary.

The last time he had seen her wasn't his proudest moment. In fact he had jumped her for the book. He shifted slightly. Nivia and the others beside him looked just as tense, ready to move at the slightest sign of danger.

"Relax," Ethan muttered under his breath so only they could hear. The four approached and stopped a short distance away. Desmond looked exactly the same—robes flowing lightly in the desert wind, no visible weapon, marking him as a mage. His eyes swept over them, calculating. Ethan glanced at Alice, hoping she wouldn't notice him, which she didn't seem to, courtesy of his armor.

"It doesn't need to come to this," Thane said, his deep voice carrying easily. Desmond scoffed.

"Of course it does. This level needs a leader. And the Broken Dawns are not capable of providing one. Especially with your dead guildmaster." Thane shifted slightly.

"What do you know about that?" he asked, unease creeping into his tone.

"I know everything," Desmond replied.

"I'll give you one chance. Join me. Help secure this level. Or I'll take it by force." Ethan let out a quiet snort. The man really didn't know everything. If he did, he wouldn't be standing here so confidently. After all, the guild leader at least had a pulse.

"What are you laughing at?" Desmond's eyes snapped to him. Ethan met his gaze through the slit of his helm.

"You're a fool. Even your leader could see that. Anyone with half a brain can tell this is a shit idea. Turn around, go back to Mountford, and forget this ever happened." A flicker of silence passed between them. Ethan watched him for a reaction, feeling the mana in the air shift ever so slightly.

"Don't," Thane warned. Ethan watched Desmond carefully. A part of him wanted it to happen. Wanted the man to make the first move so he could end this immediately. One burst of [Mana Infusion], one clean strike, and it would be over before it even began. The rest of the Valkyries would crumble the moment their leader fell. But he held himself back. He wouldn't ever be the first to break a summit. Around him, tension thickened.

The scout beside them looked like he might collapse on the spot, and even Desmond's companions didn't look entirely steady. For all their talk, most of them weren't used to this. Not really. This wasn't monsters. This was people. And Ethan had to remind himself, none of them had probably taken a life before.

"Ethan's right," Thane said after a moment.

"Maybe not in how he said it, but the point stands. This doesn't need to happen. Are you really not willing to turn around?" The desert wind passed between them, making the sand swirl at Ethan's feet. He felt daggers piercing his heart, and turned to see Alice glaring at him. Fucking Thane just dropped him in it. Unaware of Alice's stare and Ethan's sweating neck, Desmond answered.

"I'm afraid the only way this ends is by me taking over this level."