Luke had lured the Warden Captain through the fortress halls, pulling him along like prey in a hunt. When he reached the right spot, he loosed an arrow loaded with stamina. The blast tore open a breach in the wall, and in the next heartbeat he shoved the monster through the freshly carved hole. They both plummeted. Not into the courtyard lawn, but into a deep pit, dug out by him and Charlie. Loose soil gave way beneath their bodies, the crash rattling the earth.

The original plan had been similar: drag the Captain to the top floor of the fortress, break a wall, and hurl him out, cutting him off from the Wardens still swarming the fortress. But the chaos had forced an improvisation. At least now the Haven soldiers were holding the horde at bay inside, buying him the clean fight he wanted.

Luke staggered to his feet first, muscles heavy, lungs burning.

[Stamina: 23/2770]

He laughed under his breath, ragged.

"Maybe… I really am an idiot," he muttered, feeling his body tremble on the edge of collapse.

The Captain rose a moment later, fury blazing in its half-rotted face. To be torn away from the fortress it was sworn to guard was an insult it could not abide. With a guttural roar, it raised its blade and charged, the sound booming in the pit.

Luke extended his hand toward the ground. "No. Down here, you're in my domain."

Roots studded with thorns burst from the soil and walls, snaring the monster's limbs. The Captain ripped some free, but the delay was enough. Luke vaulted against the wall and began to climb. Each pull was a battle against exhaustion.

At the top, he thrust out a hand. "Charlie! Throw me Artemis!"

"Excuse me? I am not a thing you throw!" Artemis barked just before Charlie hurled the pendant his way.

Luke caught it and activated the artifact. The pocket dimension opened in his mind, row after row of wooden barrels stacked in the void. Some collected from the capital, others bought in the Safe Zone. All filled with purified water. One after another, he hurled them into the pit. Barrels shattered on impact, flooding the shaft. The Captain tried to climb, but each time it was hammered down by another crashing cask, sinking deeper.

When the water nearly brimmed to the top, Luke pulled out a heavy iron cauldron. Inside sloshed a foul concoction, still hot thanks to the stasis of the pocket realm. He dumped it all at once. Steam boiled upward in choking clouds.

The Captain roared, clawing at the walls. It planted its blade into the dirt, trying to drag itself free.

Luke sliced his own palm, letting blood drip into the boiling pool.

"What are you doing, human?" Franky's voice hissed.

From the void, Luke withdrew a vial wrapped in a dark aura.

[Beast's Darkness Mixture (Rare)]: A fusion of potent healing potion, demonic blood, and the blood of a Jormungandr has created a volatile substance. The healing essence has been completely corrupted, resulting in a powerful acid. A dangerous mistake... or a weapon in disguise.

He raised the vial.

"I'm making witchcraft," he said coldly.

"Oh no!" Artemis yelped. "He's about to resurrect Voldemort!"

Luke ignored her. He poured the mixture into the boiling pool. The liquid turned a murky green, the vapor thickening into suffocating clouds. The Captain's hand clamped around Luke's leg, claws digging into flesh. But fresh thorned roots exploded from the ground, stabbing through its arms, tearing it loose and dragging it down.

The creature plunged, swallowed by the pool, a vast cauldron now brewing a single, devastating potion of acid. The scream that tore through the pit wasn't just rage, it was pain. Luke wasn't even sure if the undead could feel pain, but that roar left no doubt. Boiling water erupted in waves of steam. The Captain clawed its way up from the acidic broth, flesh sloughing off in sheets. Brown skin blistered white in some places, raw red in others, melting like wax. Parts of its skull were exposed, the jaw hanging open in a grotesque howl.

And still, it climbed. Piece by piece, the rotting body dragged itself out of the pit, dripping acid and black blood. Luke stepped back, staring at the horror clawing its way back to the surface.

"It's the freaking Terminator," Artemis muttered.

The Captain braced itself on its sword, wheezing, throat rattling with a warped growl. Melted flesh dripped from its neck, but the eyes, or what remained of them, burned with fury.

Luke didn't raise his kukris. He simply looked at the walking corpse that refused to fall.

"You won't be fighting me," he said evenly. "You'll be fighting her."

Charlie was already at his side, sword in hand.

"She's got unfinished business with you," Luke added. "All I did was make the game fair."

A level 70 Captain against a level 28 skeleton warrior. But Charlie didn't flinch.

She let out a roar, and the air itself seemed to tremble.

[Battle Roar (Uncommon)]: Let out a powerful shout that temporarily boosts physical strength, amplifying melee attack damage and enhancing actions that require brute force.

The blade in her grip burned crimson.

[Orcslayer Blade (Rare)

Description: A crimson blade stained with the blood of a fallen Orc Captain. Deals +25% bonus damage against orcs.

[Sharp Fury (Rare)]: +10% damage when the enemy is below 30% HP.

Requirement: Level 8+ in any Fighter class]

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Luke stepped back. He knew what was coming. Charlie shot forward like an arrow. The moment she collided with the Captain, her body exploded in flame.

[Berserker Flames (Rare)]: Your body is temporarily engulfed in raging flames, igniting both your strength and speed for a short duration. During this time, your attacks hit harder, and your mobility skyrockets—allowing for ferocious strikes and rapid movement. The fire of vengeance doesn't just consume your enemies... it feeds your own fury in battle.]

The night lit up. The Captain was hurled backward, its already-ruined body hammered by her sheer force. Charlie didn't stop. She drove the Orcslayer into its chest. The creature tried to retaliate, but its armor was gone, dissolved in the acid pit. Exposed flesh was all that remained, and every strike carved away more of it.

Her steel fist, charged with stamina, struck the creature's chest head-on.

[Mark of Doom activated]

She activated another skill.

[Mark of Doom (Rare)]: Touch a target to apply an invisible seal that increases damage taken by 10%. Marked enemies become prioritized targets, making it easier to focus them down. Ideal for eliminating high-risk threats quickly. The mark remains until it expires or the target leaves your perception range.

Charlie roared again and surged forward. The Captain swung in desperation, blade sweeping wide, but she slipped past it and smashed her fist into its skull. The impact cracked bone and staggered the monster. Watching from above, Luke already had an arrow nocked. If Charlie faltered, he would intervene. But she didn't falter. She burned. Every movement was fury made flesh. Her blade carved bright arcs, her fists ignited the air, each strike forcing the Captain further and further back.

The monster bellowed and swept its sword in a wide horizontal slash. Charlie threw up her Spectral Barrier. The blow detonated against it in a spray of sparks. The shield fractured, shattered, but the recoil knocked the Captain off balance. Charlie struck instantly. Her fist crashed into its half-rotted jaw. And in that moment, something unexpected triggered. A skill that almost never activated on enemies had just triggered.

[Stunning Punch (Uncommon)]: A heavy strike with a chance to stun the target, leaving them dizzy and unable to act for a short time. Can be used in any melee engagement.

The Captain staggered, its head snapping to the side. Charlie didn't hesitate. The Orcslayer tore through its chest, and she circled the monster in a frenzy, carving its rotten body open like peeling fruit. Each swing sprayed fire and steel. By the time the creature's mind caught up, Charlie was already in the air. She leapt high, her blade flashing, stamina draining like water through broken glass. She was using the power of Force Infusion.

[Stamina: 1638/2360] [Stamina: 1227/2360] [Stamina: 893/2360] [Stamina: 635/2360] [Stamina: 418/2360] [Stamina: 193/2360] [Stamina: 1/2360]

Luke watched her bar plummet. Charlie was burning everything in a single attack. The blade came down in a spiral. Steel split the weakened skull. For a moment, it slid through like a hot knife through butter, and then the Captain's head exploded. Shards of bone and charred flesh scattered in every direction.

Charlie collapsed to her knees, flames guttering out. She leaned on her sword, driven into the ground for support. In front of her, the Captain was still standing, headless. The body twitched, raised its sword one last time, took a step, and fell with a crash. The armor disintegrated into particles. The blade dissolved into nothing. And then came the flood.

[Princess Charlie has slain a Midnight Warden Captain – Lvl 70]

[An item has been added to your inventory]

The notifications poured in, drowning Luke's vision like a rain of victories.

**The [Death Knight] class of Princess Charlie has reached Level 37! (+3 Str, +3 End, +2 Agi, +2 Vit, +2 Int, +1 Per, +2 Free Points)**

**The [Death Knight] class of Princess Charlie has reached Level 38! (+3 Str, +3 End, +2 Agi, +2 Vit, +2 Int, +1 Per, +2 Free Points)**

**[Princess Charlie has reached Level 30! Skeleton (Rank F)] (+1 bonus point to all attributes, +1 free point)**

**The [Death Knight] class of Princess Charlie has reached Level 39! (+3 Str, +3 End, +2 Agi, +2 Vit, +2 Int, +1 Per, +2 Free Points)**

**The [Death Knight] class of Princess Charlie has reached Level 40! (+3 Str, +3 End, +2 Agi, +2 Vit, +2 Int, +1 Per, +2 Free Points)**

[Princess Charlie has unlocked a new Class Skill]

**[Princess Charlie has reached Level 31! Skeleton (Rank F)] (+1 bonus point to all attributes, +1 free point)**

**The [Death Knight] class of Princess Charlie has reached Level 41! (+3 Str, +3 End, +2 Agi, +2 Vit, +2 Int, +1 Per, +2 Free Points)**

**The [Death Knight] class of Princess Charlie has reached Level 42! (+3 Str, +3 End, +2 Agi, +2 Vit, +2 Int, +1 Per, +2 Free Points)**

**[Princess Charlie has reached Level 32! Skeleton (Rank F)] (+1 bonus point to all attributes, +1 free point)**

**The [Death Knight] class of Princess Charlie has reached Level 43! (+3 Str, +3 End, +2 Agi, +2 Vit, +2 Int, +1 Per, +2 Free Points)**

**The [Death Knight] class of Princess Charlie has reached Level 44! (+3 Str, +3 End, +2 Agi, +2 Vit, +2 Int, +1 Per, +2 Free Points)**

**[Princess Charlie has reached Level 33! Skeleton (Rank F)] (+1 bonus point to all attributes, +1 free point)**

**The [Death Knight] class of Princess Charlie has reached Level 45! (+3 Str, +3 End, +2 Agi, +2 Vit, +2 Int, +1 Per, +2 Free Points)**

[Princess Charlie has unlocked a new Class Skill]

**[Princess Charlie has reached Level 34! Skeleton (Rank F)] (+1 bonus point to all attributes, +1 free point)**

And then her second class surged.

**The [Pugilist] 2nd Class of Princess Charlie has reached Level 33! (+3 Strength, +2 Endurance, +2 Agility, +2 Vitality, +2 Perception, +2 Intelligence, +2 Free Points.)**

**The [Pugilist] 2nd Class of Princess Charlie has reached Level 34! (+3 Strength, +2 Endurance, +2 Agility, +2 Vitality, +2 Perception, +2 Intelligence, +2 Free Points.)**

**The [Pugilist] 2nd Class of Princess Charlie has reached Level 35! (+3 Strength, +2 Endurance, +2 Agility, +2 Vitality, +2 Perception, +2 Intelligence, +2 Free Points.)**

[Princess Charlie has unlocked new Second Class Skill]

**[Princess Charlie has reached Level 35! Skeleton (Rank F)] (+1 bonus point to all attributes, +1 free point)**

**The [Pugilist] 2nd Class of Princess Charlie has reached Level 36! (+3 Strength, +2 Endurance, +2 Agility, +2 Vitality, +2 Perception, +2 Intelligence, +2 Free Points.)**

Luke didn't move for several seconds, just watching. This wasn't growth. It was ascension. This had been the plan all along. Two weeks of cutting wood like a lumberjack. Two weeks charting Bastion, collecting barrels, mixing volatile concoctions until an error became a weapon. Two weeks setting the stage for a moment where the glory wouldn't belong to him, but to her. Charlie had delivered the final blow. But it was his invisible work that built the theater for her triumph. Even so, a new notification blinked in front of Luke's eyes.

**Your class [Demonic Predator] has reached Level 58! (+10 Strength, +7 Perception, +6 Agility, +6 Vitality, +6 Intelligence, +5 Endurance, +8 Free Points)**

**[You have reached Level 48! Half-Demon (Rank F)] (+1 bonus point to all attributes, +1 free point)**

And with it:

**Special Event: "Midnight Siege" has been completed**

[You have successfully defeated the fortress boss. The Midnight Wardens will retreat from this place. Well done!]

Luke lowered his bow and sent it back into his inventory. The battle was over. Charlie ran toward him, practically bouncing, jabbing a finger at her own cascade of notifications. He raised a hand for a high five, but she took it wrong and crushed him in a bear hug instead.

"Ch–Ch–Charlie…" he groaned, feeling his ribs protest. "You're… stronger now. And hot as a damn forge."

Realizing what she was doing, she let go in a hurry. Luke drew in a deep breath. The plan had worked. But it wasn't over yet. There was still the second mechanism to activate.

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