Lukas looked at the blood smeared across the gem's rough surface, then back up at Akira. "Well, I guess if you don't want it, I'll just sell—"

His snarky retort was cut short by a high-pitched screech and the rocky escarpment began to rumble ominously, pebbles and other small stones breaking free and raining down on them. Taking a cautious step back, it quickly became apparent that the entire ravine was shaking, as if an earthquake had struck. Akira and Lukas retreated further into the lush foliage as it swayed and trembled precariously all around them.

Pulling her spear from her pouch, Akira took up a defensive position, her gaze scanning the area for a threat. Lukas himself wasted no time shoving the natural treasure into his inventory before pulling out potions and downing them in quick succession. He still couldn't take a health potion, but his stamina and mana pools were low enough that he wouldn't get through another fight without running out. As for his still lagging health…

"Akira, you'll have to take the lead," Lukas said, shifting his staff into a spear similar to Akira's.

In response, she released her aura, blanketing the area and activating her aura ability. As it took effect, Lukas felt like he'd taken some kind of stimulant as all his resources began to regenerate faster. It wasn't much compared to the effects of a potion, but it could be the difference between falling in battle and living to see another day.

"Just stay behind me," she said, her tone serious and commanding. "Take up a supportive role, cover me where you can, and use your aura."

Lukas didn't get a chance to respond before the source of the rumbling made itself known. All across the ravine, plant life burst free from the rocky walls, thrown aside by a roaring river of beasts. He could only watch in horror as fungus-covered rats the size of small dogs poured out, enraged by the removal of the gem and the death of its guardian. Looking around, he identified rats from multiple hordes, and his face paled

Fungal Vermin – lvl 36

Fungal Vermin – lvl 39

Fungal Vermin – lvl 34

Fungal Vermin – lvl 42

"They're all between level 35 and 45!" he shouted over the thundering of the stampede.

Normally a few beasts his level wouldn't be a problem—he'd be able to wipe the floor with them easily enough, even while injured. An entire wave of unknown size, however, was not something he could handle. Even Akira was in danger. She was just shy of level 68, but a horde of beasts half her level could still wear her down, waiting until she ran out of resources to finish her off. The only solace was that they were facing it together, with their combined strength—even if Lukas was scraping the barrel.

"Release your aura—all of it!" Akira shouted

The throng of rats was closing in fast, having quickly locked onto them and deciding they were responsible for stealing their treasure—which, of course, they were. So rather than argue or question if it was the best thing to do, he opened the floodgates. For the first time, he truly let the full extent of his aura loose, letting it fill the ravine and spill out of it, layering on top of Akira's, and to Lukas, it felt like he'd finally taken off a too-tight belt after a long meal.

The effect was immediate. His killing intent and absurd soul strength hit the storming rats like a truck. Panicked squeaks rang out from every direction as large portions of the charging army decided they weren't worth the risk. Groups of fungal vermin in each horde tried to flee, but with so many bunched together, they had nowhere to go. As a result, large swaths of rats were trampled and crushed while others tried to claw through their brethren to escape.

It put a sizable dent in the tsunami bearing down on them, but it was far from enough to make a real difference.

Even Akira wasn't spared—her shoulders slumped under the spiritual weight. Still, she held firm, shrugging off the pressure of his aura to prepare for the enemy.

Knowing now was the best time to act, Lukas began pulling out an fistfuls of poison vials. With little regard as to where they landed, he infused what mana he had and lobbed them all over the ravine, filling its edges with deadly necro and hemotoxins. Wanting to avoid afflicting Akira, he tried to keep a bubble of fresh air around them, leaving them surrounded by an ever-thickening wall of black and blood-red fog.

Even with all the poison, Lukas feared it wouldn't do much. The Vynx had been completely immune to his hemotoxins and resistant to the flesh-melting properties of his necrotoxins. If these rats were changed by a nature attunement like the Vynx, then he'd have precious little to contribute to the coming fight. Thankfully, notifications began rolling in.

You have inflicted [Fungal Vermin] with [Necrotic Poison (Common)].

You have inflicted [Fungal Vermin] with [Hemotoxic Poison (Common)].

You have inflicted [Fungal Vermin] with [Necrotic Poison (Common)].

You have inflicted [Fungal Vermin] with [Hemotoxic Poison (Common)].

"They're not resisting my poisons!"

Before the words had fully left his lips, Akira was on the move. Holding out her spear, a large amount of mana gathered in the weapon. As fast as an arrow, a silvery spectral spear emerged and shot toward one of the waves as though it had been launched from a cannon. Before the first projectile even landed, Akira whirled around, taking aim and firing at another horde of rats.

When the first spear struck its target, it exploded on impact, sending silver shrapnel ripping through the much lower-leveled beasts. In an instant, a dozen were dead and even more were injured, their wounds filling with deadly poison. Those beasts never made it to Lukas and Akira, succumbing seconds later and acting as obstacles for those behind them.

Akira performed an entire sweep, firing explosive spears en masse and burning no small amount of mana to do so. Unwilling to just stand around, Lukas helped in the only way he could. Dispelling his starry spear, he pulled out his training staff to support himself. Then, summoning a forearm-length dagger, he threw it into the poison mist, hoping to hit something. To his delight, he did.

You have slain [Fungal Vermin – lvl 35].

You have slain [Fungal Vermin – lvl 38].

Dismissing the dagger, Lukas summoned another and threw that one as well. The strategy cost more mana than he liked and was not sustainable, but there wasn't much else he could do. He continued throwing dagger after dagger, killing one or two vermin with each and hopefully injuring a few more. Meanwhile, Akira kept up her slaughter, shooting out her silver spears until friendly fire became a concern. The rats closed in, finally bringing the fight to melee.

Lukas switched back to using a sword, swinging in long arcs and flowing movements to kill and injure as many rats as he could. Each stroke of his blade cleaved rats in two—a feat made possible only by his absurd strength and the rats already being weakened by his poisons. He was just glad that some of the weaker ones were dying before they reached him. Putting them down himself would mean spending precious stamina he didn't have.

By that point, the two were pressed back to back, Lukas able to feel each of Akira's swings and thrusts as she fought—and she was a hurricane of violence. As expected, she fought with grace and poise, every one of her movements carefully calculated. A slash of her spear came with four additional silver tips layered atop the original, slicing a handful of vermin to chunks. The action was followed immediately by a twirl of her spear, slamming the shaft into the beasts behind them, knocking them back in a flash of silver light—all while roots burst from the ground, tearing into rats or disrupting the wave.

When it nearly became too much and they were almost overrun, Akira slammed her foot down, expending a massive amount of mana and stamina. All around them, in a twenty-meter radius, the ground cracked and erupted violently, spikes and spears made of sharpened roots were launched upward and skewered the vermin. Those that survived were quickly ravaged by Lukas' eager poison.

Having bought them precious breathing room, Akira returned to shooting explosive spears into the seemingly unending tide. She wasn't satisfied leaving it there, however, as she raised her free hand. "Thorn's Claimant!"

Hundreds of two-inch-long thorns flew in every direction as Akira cast her spell again and again, burning large amounts of mana and straining her channels to bypass the ability's cooldown. The effect on her body was evident in the way her aura fluctuated precariously. If she kept it up, real damage would be done to her channels—and they'd take time to heal. That being said, she had no other option. It was time to go all out and risk self-inflicted harm or die.

They held off the next wave for a few seconds—a feat only made possible by the piles of corpses impeding their enemy, but it was only a matter of time before the rats were on them again, and Lukas was slowing down. He'd already been exhausted by his previous fight, and now it was catching up to him.

The potions he'd taken before had already run their course, and despite all the boosts to his regeneration, it couldn't keep up. As his stamina depleted, his sword became increasingly heavy, his swings slower and more encumbered. With the latest wave coming down on his head, he was no longer able to kill the fungal vermin fast enough, and they began slipping through his guard.

Before Lukas had been taking small amounts of damage from the odd vermin that managed to get through, now he was struggling. The more rats that got through his defenses, the more time he had to spend dealing with them, opening himself up to even more attacks. The wounds started stacking, and his remaining health was dropping fast. Worst of all, the wounds the final vermin inflicted weren't innocuous.

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[Fungal Vermin – lvl 41] has inflicted [Flesh-Eating Fungus] on you.

You have resisted [Flesh-Eating Fungus].

[Fungal Vermin – lvl 37] has inflicted [Flesh-Eating Fungus] on you.

You have resisted [Flesh-Eating Fungus].

The prospect of these vermin being able to stack afflictions while slowly whittling someone down was terrifying. It was only thanks to his improved constitution and armor that he was able to resist the onslaught without being bogged down. He wasn't the only one fighting the vermin, though—Akira was taking on the majority, which meant taking on most of the damage.

Your ally [Elf] has been inflicted with [Flesh-Eating Fungus].

[Elf] is under the effect of [Domain of the Combat Alchemist].

[Elf] has resisted [Flesh-Eating Fungus].

Lukas was relieved to know that, thanks to his aura ability, Akira could resist most—if not all—of the infections coming her way. Taking the split second to check his notifications had cost him, however, as one of the vermin took the opportunity to leap at him unexpectedly. Its maw opened wide, clamping down hard on his sword arm.

Gritting his teeth through the pain, Lukas pulled his dagger from his inventory, ramming its blade into the rat's skull in one swift move. Despite his speed, the action distracted him long enough for more vermin to slip through the cracks. His heart hammered as he fought to stay alive, throwing off rats as though he were trying to patch a sinking ship. Swinging his dagger and starry sword with wild abandon, he was on the verge of drowning in fungal rats. He needed Akira to come to his aid, but she too was quickly overwhelmed and couldn't spare the time.

Just as Lukas was about to be dragged under, a thunderous roar echoed over the battlefield, and the ravine walls trembled once again. The fighting stopped for a heartbeat as, through the thinning haze of poison, one of the small caves letting all the rats out was forcibly enlarged. Rock shrapnel was thrown in every direction as the wall exploded, revealing a mutated fungal rat the size of a minivan. The various fungi and spores that covered its body dripped with sinister-looking ooze, and it sprouted a second pair of forelegs.

The fight stalled long enough for Lukas to identify the newcomer, and judging by its aura alone, it wasn't good news.

Corrupted Fungal Tyrant – lvl 84

Lukas' heart dropped at the sight of the beast's level, knowing full well he wasn't making it out of that ravine alive. He lamented not resting longer before taking the gem.

"Level 84!" Lukas shouted, steel in his voice.

Akira's eyes hardened as she stared at the massive rat. Without missing a beat, she swelled with mana and released another blast, clearing out the distracted vermin. "Give me the gem!"

Lukas pulled out the emerald, its nature-attuned energy rolling out through the ravine. In an instant, the tyrant and every other beast locked onto it, ready to charge. Wasting no time, Lukas handed the rough natural treasure to Akira. The gem disappeared into her outstretched hand like a stone into water. The only clue as to where it had gone was a reverberation in Akira's aura. Her face pinched in pain as her body began the process of absorbing the treasure, but she wasted no time charging in headfirst.

"It's mine!" she shouted, leaping over the sea of remaining rats. "Do what you can—but stay alive! I'm not losing my teammate already!"

Broken and bloodied, Lukas could only watch, flabbergasted, as she left him alone in the center of a vermin storm—one he would likely die in, no matter what Akira wanted. Still, his job was clear: distract the fungal vermin while she got her next title and saved them from being crushed to death.

No longer needing to worry about Akira being affected by his poison, Lukas promptly dropped a frightening amount of toxic gas at his feet and all around him. It rolled into the rat wave like a wall of fast-moving fog that would peel skin as easily as paint. As the first horrified screeches rang out, he brought his aura in, condensing it into a forty-five-meter radius to increase its effect on those trapped within. Not only that, but he strained his aura further, flexing it, pressuring his enemies, and supercharging his ability by cramming mana into it—lowering their resistances even more.

With the split second he'd bought himself, he stashed his dagger and pulled out the old reliable—the steel short sword. It was still as nicked and banged up as the last time he'd used it, and honestly, it was more likely to kill something with blunt force trauma than a clean cut. But with Lukas' admittedly waning strength, it would be enough to help him slaughter as many rats as possible.

Just as the wave approached, becoming visible through the poison haze, Akira's voice tore through the roars and screeches. "Nature's Wrath!"

Like a switch being thrown, Akira's aura shifted—its natural attunement skyrocketing and pulsing with raw power, like a runaway engine. All around the ravine, the ground exploded with rage-filled vegetation that took its fury out on the elf's enemies. Roots ensnared the legs of vermin, vines strangled the ones that got away, and blades of grass cut into everything like scalpels. None of it seemed directed—every strike was meant to cover the rats in a multitude of wounds, letting Lukas' poison take hold more easily.

Most of the boosted skill's attention was on the tyrant, and even though Lukas couldn't see the fight through the poison clouds, he could hear it—the familiar sounds of exploding spears and enraged roars told him all he needed to know.

His resource pools nearly empty, Lukas felt like he was running on fumes. He wanted nothing more than to charge into the oncoming horde, meeting them as they were shredded by the plants around them—but doing so would expend too much of his very limited stamina. He was forced to lie in wait, though not for long.

The first rats met him, already half-dead, covered in gashes that leaked blood like a strainer as necrotic flesh spread visibly across their bodies. His blade sliced through their rotten forms with ease, cleaving them in two, while the short sword turned others into paste—cracking bones and pulping muscle.

Alone in facing the tide, he couldn't kill them fast enough and was forced to stay constantly on the move, kiting the beasts through his poison, hobbling on one leg. He was a blur as he fought with unrelenting violence drawn from desperation. Soaked in sweat and blood, he took heaving breaths of putrid air to fuel his racing heart and trembling limbs.

Lukas swung a starry sword, then the steel one again and again, felling vermin after vermin, hoping the tide would subside before he collapsed.

His enemies weren't making it easy. The rats came from every direction, meaning that no matter which way he moved, some were always coming from behind. Those were the greatest threat—when his tired mind couldn't track them all, one would sneak up, biting or slashing, whittling away at his near-empty health pool.

Before long, Lukas was stuck in a haze, only breaking out of it when the ground shook and the tyrant roared with fury. He just hoped Akira's fight with the monster meant collateral damage for the vermin.

After what felt like hours, Lukas brought the blade of his steel sword down on a vermin's head, slamming it into the ground and cracking its skull open. Unable to support his own weight any longer, he collapsed to his knees, instinctively swinging his sword again—this time cutting straight through another rat's skull, spilling its putrid brains as it leapt at him.

Exhausted, Lukas roared and readied another swing, only to realize there were no vermin left to kill. He took in the field around him, seeing nothing but piles of half-rotten corpses and puddles of viscera. In the distance, the battle between the tyrant and Akira seemed to be coming to a close. It was hard to tell who was winning—both were bleeding profusely, their auras fluctuating precariously.

Through blurry, half-lidded eyes, Lukas could barely make out the attacks. The gleam and flash of silvery light were hard to miss as they fired off every few seconds. The tyrant wasn't to be outdone, though, as ooze shot from its spores and fungi. With a single step, Akira dashed away, the verdant green ooze passing right where she'd been and hitting a group of dead vermin. Within seconds, their copper-tier bodies dissolved into bubbling acid.

Reappearing nearby, Akira shot a silver spear at the massive rat, the spectral weapon exploding on contact with an open wound. With a horrible shriek, it wheeled on Akira—but it was too slow. She was already sliding along the ground, dragged by summoned roots, driving her spear deep into the tyrant's underbelly and leaving behind an afterimage that joined several already across its body.

Out from under the beast, she tried to jump away, but she was too drained and couldn't react fast enough. With an angry whip of its tail, Akira was launched into the ravine's rocky wall, where she slumped to the ground, spitting blood. She tried to rise but collapsed under her own weight.

Sensing the fight was at its end, the fungal tyrant charged the downed elf. With little time to react, Akira threw out her hand. "Thorn's Claimant!" she croaked.

Thorny spikes flew through the air, striking the tyrant's face and taking out both its eyes in a stroke of luck. The beast howled in pain, but it wasn't enough to stop its rampage.

"Akira!" Lukas shouted helplessly.

He could only watch as the fungal tyrant slammed into the escarpment, the silvery spears covering it exploding. The ravine shook once more, a plume of dust and blood vapor obscuring the two combatants. Despite that, no sound followed. The battle had ended.

Lukas' notifications flashed with urgency, but he ignored them, his body burning and twisting with pain as he tried to stand. Dispelling his sword and pulling out his staff, he screamed with effort as he got himself to his feet and hobbled toward the site of the clash. Unable to see his friend through the dissipating dust, he moved as fast as his broken body allowed.

Eventually, he made out the limp form of the giant rat, blood and ooze pouring from its body in equal measure, fouling the ground all around. Shuffling to the other side, he found Akira's prone body half buried under rubble and the tyrant. Blood ran from her eyes, nose, ears, and mouth, and she had a nasty gash on her head. Rushing over, Lukas pulled off what he could to examine her.

Panicked and fearing the worst, he put a hand to her cheek, then quickly to her neck, where he found a weak pulse. Letting out a heavy, relieved sigh, Lukas almost passed out then and there, but he forced himself to focus on helping her. Using his spiritual senses, he probed Akira's aura, finding it weak and flickering. The effects of absorbing the natural treasure were still at work, but her injuries worried him most.

He wasn't sure if she'd taken a potion during the battle, but he wasn't taking chances. Pulling one of each potion from his inventory, he force-fed them to her, making sure she swallowed. The improvements were minor—disappointingly so—meaning she'd likely already taken several.

Unwilling to leave her under the tyrant's corpse and acidic ooze, Lukas dragged her free. Only willpower and stubbornness kept him conscious. He knew he had to get them somewhere relatively safe. Walking a few feet away, he picked up her spear and placed it carefully in her bag.

Mustering every ounce of strength he had, Lukas knelt down and lifted Akira's unconscious form, slinging her over his shoulder with a growl of pain. Supporting both their weights with his staff, each step was a monumental struggle. He moved deeper into the ravine, finding one of the caves the fungal rats had flooded out of. It wasn't large, but it was enough for them to shelter in. Lukas tried to set her down gently but collapsed to one knee while doing so. He caught her, holding her head to his chest to keep it from hitting the stone, and carefully leaned her against the cave wall.

With a groan, he dropped beside her, his staff clattering to the floor. As he stared at the wooden stick, Akira's head slid against the wall, coming to rest on his shoulder, her pointed ear poking his neck. Lukas turned to her—too tired, too drained to move—he didn't disturb her.

A flash of movement at the cave mouth had Lukas summoning a dagger, sending a sharp twinge of pain through his head. Without hesitation, he threw it at what he'd seen. The dagger flew true—passing through Sera in a blur as if she weren't even there.

The goddess looked down at her stomach with a frown, and rubbed it lightly. "That tickled slightly."

Lukas let out a sigh both long-suffering and relieved as he slouched back. "I thought we were past the whole 'you popping in to startle me' thing," he said through his blessing, too exhausted to speak aloud.

She just smiled teasingly. "Oh, we'll never be past that. It's one of my favorite things about you. Enough about me, though—I'm here to help."

"Help?" he asked skeptically. "How?"

"To keep watch. She's passed out, thanks to that gem she absorbed mid-fight—very bold, by the way; I approve. As for you, you're on your way out as we speak. So while you two rest and cuddle up, I'll keep an eye on things. If something happens, I'll give you a nudge."

Lukas blinked heavily at her. "That's… thank you."

The goddess waved away his gratitude. "Please. As if I'd let you die. You're my friend," she said—a statement Lukas found surprisingly meaningful coming from her. "Besides, how would I entertain myself if you died?"

Leaning his head back against the wall, Lukas rolled his eyes. He wanted to snap back—but he was already asleep before the words could even form.

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