The next morning…
There was no battle waiting.
No enemies lurking.
No pressure to push forward.
Only preparation.
Pixelle's declaration still echoed in everyone's minds.
A wedding.
In just a few days.
But before celebration—
There was work.
Jax got to work building a new Dimensional Gateway back to Solmere.
In just a few hours he was ready.
A dimensional tear opened.
Stable.
Controlled.
Effortless.
"Let's head home," he said.
By late morning—
They stepped through.
Solmere welcomed them back like heroes.
Because they were.
The streets were alive.
Bustling.
Thriving.
Merchants shouting.
Children laughing.
Workers building.
Magic and industry blending together in ways the world had never seen before.
Pixelle hovered beside Jax, taking it all in.
"…You built this?"
Zee smiled softly.
"We built this."
Jax didn't linger.
He had business to handle.
---
The Beast Broker
The moment they stepped inside—
The troll looked up.
Then froze.
Then grinned.
Grathok
"Well now…"
"…if it isn't my favorite investment."
Jax chuckled.
"Got some new materials."
Crates opened.
And the room changed.
Grathok leaned in slowly.
Then stopped.
Then leaned closer.
"…These…"
His voice dropped.
"…are not normal."
He touched one of the Verdant fragments.
His hand trembled.
"…You cleared something ancient."
Jax didn't answer.
He didn't have to.
The troll's grin widened into something borderline unhinged.
"I am going to make so much money."
Nyxian smirked.
"You already do."
He shook his head.
"No."
"This…"
"This is beyond wealth."
He looked at Jax.
"You're not just making me rich."
"You're letting me shape markets."
Jax nodded.
"Let's make sure to shape them to OUR favor."
The troll laughed.
"Oh, I like you."
The Forge — Family Reunited
The forge roared with life.
Flames.
Steel.
Magic humming beneath every strike.
Merriweather turned—
And froze.
"…Pixelle?"
Pixelle sprang forward instantly—
Then shot forward.
"MERI!"
They collided mid-air in a spinning hug.
Both around the same size with Pixelle's five foot frame.
"You're here!"
"I'm here!"
"I missed you!"
"I MISSED YOU!"
Jax blinked.
"…I nearly forgot."
Brannic chuckled.
"Family."
Pixelle pulled back dramatically.
"I have news."
Merriweather tilted her head.
"…What kind of news?"
Pixelle beamed.
"I'm getting married."
Pause.
"…Oh."
"…OH."
Merriweather's eyes widened.
"Wait—who?"
Pixelle pointed.
"Him."
Merriweather looked at Jax.
Then back at Pixelle.
Then back at Jax.
"…Yeah."
"That tracks."
Nyxian burst out laughing.
"Has he met a beautiful girl that doesn't want to marry him."
Jax tried to defend himself. "I've met plenty of attractive women that I'm not married or engaged to."
"Yeah, but how many want to secretly marry you?"
"How would I know that?"
"Exactly."
Jax didn't understand that logic but let this conversation die.
The Equipment Drop
Crates were brought in again.
Weapons.
Armor.
Artifacts.
Many S-tier.
All rare.
All powerful.
Brannic inspected them.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Then leaned back.
"…Good."
Jax raised an eyebrow.
"Just good?"
Brannic smirked.
"Compared to what you're already using?"
He gestured to the group.
"These are behind."
Zee nodded.
"Our current gear has evolved past standard tiers."
Jax smiled.
"Exactly."
He stepped forward.
"And now we push it further."
He placed a glowing, sap-infused fragment onto the table.
"This."
"…has healing properties."
Merriweather floated closer immediately.
Eyes glowing with interest.
"…It's saturated with life energy."
Jax nodded.
"I want that in our gear."
Silence.
Brannic leaned forward.
"…Explain."
Jax's eyes sharpened.
"Armor that regenerates."
"Weapons that stabilize and heal the user."
"Gear that repairs itself mid-combat."
"Passive healing."
"Sustained fighting without downtime."
Zee's breath caught.
"…That would change everything."
Llandra nodded slowly.
"No more attrition."
Nyxian smirked.
"…No more holding back."
Merriweather's wings fluttered faster.
"That level of infusion…"
"…would require precision."
"Balance."
"Control."
Brannic cracked his knuckles.
"…Good."
"I was getting bored."
Jax grinned.
"We're not upgrading."
"We're evolving."
Leaving It All Behind
The Vixens began removing their gear.
Weapons.
Armor.
Equipment.
Everything.
Everything—
Except Jax's twin pistols.
Nyxian raised an eyebrow.
"Not upgrading those?"
Jax smirked.
"They're already perfect."
He turned.
"Pixelle."
She hovered over.
"Yes?"
"Leave your scepter."
She blinked.
"…Really?"
Jax nodded.
"Trust me."
She smiled.
"…Okay."
Once she broke contact she shrank to her 3 inch form.
A Private Request
Jax gently pulled Merriweather aside.
Lowering his voice.
"I need a favor. In a rush."
He explained.
Quietly.
Specifically.
Merriweather's eyes lit up.
Then gleamed.
Then sparkled with excitement.
"Oh…"
"…Oh I LOVE that."
She grabbed him into a tight hug.
"We'll get started immediately!"
Like always—
Not a handshake.
A hug.
She pulled back slightly.
Smiling warmly.
"We're about to be family, Jax Darquebane."
Jax smiled back.
"…Yeah."
He stepped toward Brannic.
The two clasped forearms.
A warrior's handshake.
Firm.
Respectful.
Jax looked him in the eyes.
"You two are already family."
Brannic didn't respond immediately.
But his grip tightened.
Just slightly.
And that was enough.
Jax turned back toward the group.
Casual.
Relaxed.
Unaware of the weight of what he had just said.
But they felt it.
The Vixens.
Pixelle.
Lexi—
In her small 3-inch form, hovering quietly beside Pixelle.
They all understood.
It wasn't just his power.
Not just his intelligence.
Not just his leadership.
It was this.
The way he made people feel.
Seen.
Valued.
Trusted.
He didn't demand loyalty.
He created it.
Nyxian crossed her arms, watching him.
"…That's why."
Bunny smiled softly.
"Yep."
Zee nodded.
"…It makes sense."
Pixelle hovered closer to Lexi.
"…I get it now."
Lexi whispered back.
"…Yeah."
They weren't just following a strong man.
They were following someone building something worth believing in.
And for the first time—
Pixelle understood exactly what she had chosen.
Not just a husband.
But a future.