When James woke after an undeterminable amount of time. Zenaria was sleeping on his stomach, while Amber had his head on her stomach. It was odd to say the least, but not uncomfortable.

Shifting his head to see the others woke both girls. Zenaria stretched her hands above her head, yawning and grunting as her shoulders and neck cracked. A few of her bandages loosened, showing unblemished skin underneath.

Fingers started running through his hair and he smiled as Amber kept soothing him. A few minutes passed in silence as they woke up. Zenaria was the first to sit up, her soft smile reflecting his as she took off her bandages.

"Ready to head back?" he asked.

"How long have we been asleep?" Zenaria questioned.

"Doesn't matter," Amber stated. "We need to get back and head to the Underworld. The sooner we can get down there, the sooner we can start hunting The Pact."

Sitting up, James rolled his shoulders, feeling the stiff muscles refusing to loosen up. The fight had taken its toll on him, and his soul still ached. "Not sure if I'm going to be able to do much for another few days."

"That bad?" Zenaria asked as her soul brushed against his with concern.

Amber followed a second later, poking and prodding as she got a sense of him. "We'll fight anything in our way. You just relax today."

Standing, James pulled both girls to their feet. Panning his gaze around the facility, he found the stone crumbling and the doors broken open. Holes littered the structure that were starting to widen.

"Time to leave." Pointing out the crumbling holes, he added, "This place is going to collapse soon."

Taking the lead, Amber hurried back through the door they had come through in. The stairs were nearly rubble and loose stone as they struggled to climb back to the first floor. Hurrying out of the building, they reached the parking lot and looked back. The outer walls had cracks spreading through the foundation and up to the roof.

Turning to the rising sun, James took a deep breath of the untainted air. He had grown so accustomed to the scent of death that he found he actually missed it now that it was gone.

"Doesn't feel real, does it?" Zenaria asked.

"No," he admitted. "I never thought I would see the end to a rent. I don't think the canyon will heal though."

Amber started walking to the edge of the canyon. "That's fine. It just means we won't be stuck in the Underworld."

Joining her in looking over the edge, James stared into the dark recess. The vines that once climbed the walls were nothing more than black, crumbling remains. Ash drifted on the wind as a slight breeze blew off the plains.

Taking a few moments to enjoy the changes, he reluctantly turned away. He wanted nothing more than to head down into the canyon and find an entrance to the Underworld at that moment.

"You can't," Zenaria reminded him.

"Can't what?" he questioned with a frown.

"We need to gather the others. Priest is going to be pissed that we left him behind."

Chuckling, he started walking back to the dome. "That's fine. He hasn't earned the right to be part of the group yet."

Snorting a laugh, Amber started to run. "I bet that reason will go over well."

Grunting, James raced after her. Keeping just behind her, he savored watching her tail sway back and forth with each step. Mesmerized, he nearly failed to notice Amber giggling at him. It wasn't until he pulled his eyes off her butt and tail that he found her smirking.

"You can touch all you want later," she teased.

Zenaria matched his pace and huffed. "You're cleaning me first."

Holding up his hands, he took the lead. "I'm just letting you know I'm interested. Don't laugh at me."

Both ladies fell in next to him as they picked up their speed. Monsters fled from their path as they felt his even stronger soul. The sheer number of monsters was going to be a problem. How long would it take before they ran out? Would the cultivators on both sides clear them out just to trade with each other? Or would it be him killing them all?"

It was hard to say, and a problem he would leave for later. Right now, he needed to get back and pack up the group. The Underworld was waiting.

***

Two shadow clad men floated over their city. A crystal of brilliant yellow light created a false sunrise over the buildings and residents below. Beastkin, elves, dwarves, humans, and a myriad of other races walked the streets, beginning their day, clueless that a rent was just destroyed. The wasteland on the surface was receding, yet the nest in the Underworld still needed to be destroyed, and their soldiers weren't having any luck reaching it.

"What do we know about the rent?" the leader asked.

His partner moved to float in front of him. "Nothing. Venice was the only one that had passed through the rent. It's possible she finished the Valiant and gained enough power to close the rent after all of these years."

"If that's true, then she is likely the only one left alive. We should send a squad immediately to bring her back." Rubbing his chin, the leader thought over who was their best fighters. "Coral's group is free, aren't they?"

"Yes. She will likely resent rescuing Venice though."

Chuckling, the man didn't care. "We need to bring our hero home. If they burn their skills they can reach Venice within a day or two."

His partner nodded and started to drift down to the castle.

"Will you try and take a seat at the table, Venice?" The leader muttered. Glancing at the castle that once belonged to the royal family, he smiled. The Pact had killed all of the Valiants, including the last two royals a number of years ago. The man that somehow lived was now dead, and the world could truly start to heal. With news of the Valiants being gone completely, his soldiers would push harder to kill the nest. One rent was closed after all. How hard would it be to send Venice with another squad to close the Europe rent?

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Drifting toward the ground, he found he much to look forward to. Soon, the Underworld would begin to heal. Then they could take the surface world and expand their population. Everything was looking up.

***

James reached the dome a little after noon. The sun was high in the sky, warming the area as humidity from the seas thickened the air. Without the presence of death from the rent, he could finally feel what the area used to resemble, at least a little.

Mother was waiting outside the dome with a very unhappy looking Priest when they arrived. Amber and Zenaria both kissed his cheek before hurrying in to take a bath, leaving him with the angry duo.

"Did I do something wrong?" James asked.

"You've been gone for three days," Priest stated.

"Oh…"

"James," Mother started in a tone that showed just how angry she was. "If you are going to do something so reckless, at least throw Priest to the wolves."

"Hey!" Priest complained.

"Shut up!" Mother snapped. "You whole existence is to protect James, and you let him run off to close the rent without you." Turning to James, she added, "Everest has been in tears since you didn't come back the first day."

Rubbing the back of his neck, James grimaced. "I closed the rent at least. I also leveled up."

Tapping a claw against her temple, Mother narrowed her eyes. "Don't make me smack you. I'm not afraid to hit a god, I'll have you know. And those two ladies of yours. I see they ran off before I could yell at them too."

"I feel like I'm being forgotten," Priest mumbled.

Mother spun on him. "I haven't even started with you, little man. Even Mender knew better than to let James run off without his aid. With how his clothes look, James likely took several wounds. You should have been there to stop that from happening!"

"Mother, are you angry?" James joked, knowing it would rile her up.

Flames flickered in her mouth as she glowered at him. "Shall we see if you are fireproof?"

Holding up his hands, he turned back to the dome. "I'm going to go find Everest. Thanks, for the chat, Mother."

A growl escaped the dragon before her claw caught his waistband and pulled him back. "I'm not done with you! What did you find at the facility?"

Glad that they were on a topic that didn't involve yelling, James explained the facility, vines, and the energy being pumped through and collected by the plant. "I honestly don't know what the vines were connected to down in the rent. But the rent was clearly being kept alive by the vines."

"The queen?" Priest surmised.

"Maybe," Mother murmured. Tapping her claw on the ground, she turned her head toward the rent. "We need to go down and see if we can find the queen. That will be the only way to know for sure."

"Bath first," James stated.

"Did you gain any new skills with your level up?" Mother questioned.

Pulling up the notifications he had been putting off, he smiled.

New Soul Skill: Binding Words

Corruption Resistance: Level 10/10 (+1)

Soul Resistance: Level 8/10 (+3)

Slashing Resistance: Level 7/10 (+2)

"I gained a skill that allows me to set up contracts that are bound to the soul. I'll be able to enforce different penalties for the one that breaks the contract. I don't even have to do the contract between myself and another, but can do two different parties."

Priest's brows rose. "That will come in handy."

"Go take your bath while I think over your skill," Mother ordered. "Heading into the Underworld that will be useful."

James smiled at both of them, glad that the reprimand didn't carry on any longer. Hurrying inside, he found both of his ladies already neck deep in steaming water, their eyes closed as Everest was lounged in another tub. The dragon was humming a small melody as he approached.

Amber opened an eye a slit. "Come to join us?"

Turning on the water of his tub, he said, "I have. Mother let me go for now. I figured I would bathe as quickly as I can before she pulls me away again."

Everest opened her eyes. "You're a horrible person, James."

Those few words hurt more than anything Mother could have told him. Shutting off his water, he walked over to the dragon. Gently touching her head, he said, "I'm sorry, Everest. I didn't plan on being gone for that long."

"You left me," she whispered. "I didn't know if you were alive…" Tears welled up in her eyes as she turned away from him.

"I can't promise I won't do it again," he said softly. "You know what my future holds, Everest. I'm going to be entering the Underworld in order to destroy The Pact. There will be battles that will leave me battered and broken, but I'll always come back. It might just take time."

Turning back to him, she sniffled. "That doesn't make it better."

"I won't lie to you, Everest. My path is going to be filled with hard decisions and danger. One of those decisions just happened. I had the opportunity to close the rent and I took it. There are still other rents out there that have to be closed, and I'll be doing those too. And the nests, and likely killing the queens as well. My days of hazard aren't going to end any time soon."

Blowing out a slow breath, Everest nodded. "I understand."

"I'll always come back to you, Everest. And when I reach my immortal soul, you'll be one of the first to welcome my children into the world."

Giggling, Everest asked, "Kitty mate?"

"Yeah, she is. So is Zenaria and Luna. You'll have lots of siblings to play with in the future. I hope you are ready."

"More than ready, James. Just…please don't leave me worrying for days again."

"I'll try not to." Rubbing her head, he smiled. "I should bathe, and then we can prepare for the next part of our journey."

"Entering the Underworld?"

"Yup." Letting her go, he moved back to his tub and started the water again. He caught sight of Amber and Zenaria giving him warm looks, and Amber mouthed, "thank you."

Pulling off his tattered clothes, he slid into the bath. His last remaining outfit had been enchanted at least, and he had learned he truly didn't need runes anymore. Now, his clothes would repair themselves, and he had even enhanced his armor to repair itself as well. After he had made a new set of course. Taking the feathers from his old shirt and pants, he constructed a dragon hide set and reattached the feathers. In memory of Strong Beak and his sacrifice, he promised to only wear the armor when he confronted The Pact.

Sinking lower in the bath, he closed his eyes. The water was cut off a moment later before soft hands started rubbing his shoulders.

"You're too tense, James," Amber said softly.

"That feels good," he admitted.

Giggling, she draped a washcloth over his chest. "Let me help you."

"I should be washing you."

Tutting, she pressed her thumbs into his muscles, making him wince. Working in small circles, she eased some of his knots loose. "You always wash us, James. Let me do what Luna used to do. Let me care for you in her stead."

"Thank you," he whispered. He almost didn't want to admit how good it felt to have her helping him. But it also made him miss Luna that much more.

She must have sensed where his thoughts were going as she rested her hand on his cheek. "I'll never try to replace her, James."

Touching her hand, he didn't say anything. He didn't need to. Instead, he savored the moment for what it was. A step bringing them closer together.

With his eyes still closed, he wasn't ready for three sopping wet tails to smack his chest, nor the body to slip into his bath with him, parting his legs to make herself comfortable.

"Get out of his bath!" Amber growled.

"Nope!" Zenaria chirped.

Chuckling, he opened his eyes and found three tails swaying back and forth on his chest. The fibers were sticking together but he could tell she had already cleaned them. He felt his body relax after she made herself comfortable. "Thank you. Both of you."

"You're welcome—"

"What do you think you are doing here?" Mother bellowed.

All of the dragons and animals of the dome snapped their attention to the entrance. Amber started growling as she grabbed a towel to wrap herself in. Zenaria climbed out, doing the same, and James quickly followed. Before the women could march over, James tossed them clothes.

Getting dressed, James didn't care that he was still wet. Mother was growling now, and he could hear shouting from outside. It wasn't until Priest stuck his head inside and gestured for him to hurry that James truly started to worry.

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