Conus inhaled sharply, his chest rising as warmth flooded into him, heavy and fierce. The troll's energy poured through his veins until his vision blurred.
[Level Up: 18 → 21]
He exhaled slowly, shoulders easing as the number burned behind his eyes. Pain stabbed along his ribs. Pulling off his torn jacket, he lifted his shirt to reveal deep claw marks. The cuts had already clotted, angry and red, but he knew they would scar. Increase in levels by killing otherworlders gave him strength, but unlike Purgatory, it did not erase wounds.
He lowered the shirt and turned. Crowley still stared at him, wide-eyed, as though he had just seen a beast slip from human skin.
"You're… a D-rank?" Crowley's voice was low, almost accusing.
Conus shook his head. "No. F-rank."
It was a lie. His appraisal now read [Level 21 (E)]. He had crossed into E.
Crowley blinked. "You killed a troll like that… as an F-rank?" His tone carried disbelief and something close to reverence.
"Cut it out," Conus muttered, brushing snow from his blade. "I wouldn't have managed without you."
Crowley said nothing, but awe still remained in his gaze.
They pressed forward until they spotted a tree, two motionless figures huddled beneath it. A boy and girl, faces pale, lips cracked, their bodies curled together under the boy's jacket.
Crowley sprinted ahead. "Darryl! Naomi!" He dropped to his knees, snapping branches. His eyes flared, beams slicing into the wood until sparks caught. A flame flickered to life, then the wind killed it. Again and again he tried, panic overtaking him.
"They're freezing! They'll die!"
Conus knelt beside him, a steady hand on his shoulder. "You have to take them out. If they stay here, they're finished."
Crowley whipped his head toward him, wild-eyed. "What about Deb?"
"I'll find her. And Lucas." Conus's tone left no room for debate. "You get them out and bring help."
Crowley swallowed hard, then nodded. He lifted the unconscious pair, one over each shoulder, and glanced back once.
"I really hope… after all this, we can be good friends."
Conus gave a rare, fleeting smile. "So do I."
Then they split apart.
Conus slid deeper into the wasteland, his body blurring through shadows as his ability carried him farther, faster. Trolls lumbered in the distance, but none touched him. Soon, he reached a cave. Its mouth gaped wide, sharp ice teeth framing darkness. Inside, the air grew heavy, muffled. His steps echoed faintly until the passage opened into a vast hollow.
Four figures lay on the frost-bitten floor.
Conus's heart lurched. He rushed forward. Deb. Lucas. Shantell. Karl. All breathing, but faint. Their skin was pale, yet the cave's shelter had spared them from freezing solid.
He shook them gently until their eyes fluttered. Relief surged, then he froze.
Aura.
Thick and oppressive. Behind him.
He turned. Three pale shapes stood at the cavern's edge. Snow trolls. Small and lean, their fur patchy and faces younger. Level forties. All juveniles.
Conus raised a sharp hand to his frightened friends. "Stay quiet."
The trolls only tilted their heads, claws tapping lightly on the stone. Curious, not yet hostile. Conus realized they had dragged the humans here. Not to kill, but out of some primal curiosity.
"Move. Slowly," Conus whispered.
They edged toward the cavern's rim. Escape was near.
Then one troll sniffed sharply and roared.
It lunged.
"Run!" Conus barked. Shadows flared as he intercepted. The troll's bulk smashed into the wall, stone cracking as he dodged. Another claw slashed. The third shrieked and circled.
Steel flashed. His dagger cut shallow lines, barely slowing them. Three against one, their raw strength shook the cave.
Conus wove between them, jumping through shadows, carving wounds for time. His ribs burned.
Then he saw it. A weak seam in the stone.
He darted to it, slashing deep. Cracks spidered upward. Ice groaned. With a final step, he hurled himself clear.
The ceiling collapsed. Ice and boulders thundered down, burying two trolls and pinning the third. Its torso writhed, claws scraping stone.
Conus pounced. His dagger drove into its neck, severing its last shriek.
[Level Up: 21 → 22]
His breath rasped in the silence. The remaining two seemed to still be alive. Lucas stumbled into him, arms clutching tight. "I thought I was dead for sure," he whispered.
Shantell and Karl muttered their thanks.
Deb stood apart, hugging herself. Conus went to her. She met his eyes, voice low. "Thank you… for coming."
He nodded.
"Where's Crowley?" She asked.
Conus hesitated, then smiled faintly. "He's the reason we found you. He went to bring help."
Deb's lips trembled into a smile.
"Hold on. We're almost out," Conus said.
They moved together, shivering, but alive. Yet dread ate at him. The land was too quiet.
"It's too quiet."
Karl muttered, "That's good, right?"
"No," Conus answered flatly.
Then they saw it.
Corpses. Dozens of snow trolls strewn across the plain, their bodies torn apart. Blood stained the snow black. At the center, the largest troll he had ever seen, dead as well. It was definitely the king.
Conus froze. His stomach dropped.
And then, worse.
The familiar man in a black dog mask stood tall, his sword resting on Crowley's neck. Crowley knelt, bloodied but alive. Beside the man was a woman in a black cat mask as well.
"Deb!" Conus called as she bolted.
"Crowley!" she screamed.
Conus lunged through the shadows. He caught her before she reached them, holding her as she thrashed.
Crowley turned his head. His eyes softened. Relief and apology filled them. He smiled at Deb, tender, as though she was the only one in the world.
Then the blade swept.
Crowley's head fell into the snow. His body slumped. Blood painted white ground red.
Deb's scream tore the sky. Conus held her as his chest burned like fire.
The dog mask blurred, reappearing in front of Shantell.
Conus shadow-stepped, dagger raised.
The dog masked man reacted, and liightning cracked.
Agony swallowed Conus. His scream ripped raw as his body charred, nerves and flesh burning black. He hit the snow twitching, smoke curling from his skin. Helpless.
The blade pierced Shantell's chest. She gasped and fell.
Karl ran, but lightning arced, cutting him down as well.
Deb's sobs filled the night before steel found her heart.
Finally, Lucas. His eyes locked on Conus, wet with tears. "Conus…"
The blade ended him.
Conus's tears burned, but his body would not move. He lay among corpses, his dagger useless in the snow.
The dog mask turned, sword raised for the final strike.
A shield of light then appeared, halting the blow.
The cat masked lady stood calm. "The portal's barrier is broken. Inspectors are coming. We need to leave now."
Dog mask clicked his tongue but he obeyed. He tore open a portal and vanished. She followed, slipping into the portal as well.
And Conus was left alone. Broken. Alone. His blood soaking the snow.