After leaving the Great Rift Valley, the scenery of the Dylan Kingdom's grasslands remained breathtaking. A vast expanse of green stretched endlessly, undulating like rippling autumn waters, shimmering under the gentle breeze.
Even the most critical bard would feel compelled to compose a poem in praise of such beauty.
Of course, the sight would be even more pleasant if not for the presence of three out-of-place figures.
These three were none other than Punk, Kang Kai, and Bahanger—the survivors of their brutal encounter within the Great Rift. Yes, Bahanger was still among them.
The tenacious dwarf had somehow managed to survive Tishachar's self-destruction. Though severely injured—his skin entirely burned, every bone shattered into fragments, and an arm completely missing—he had clung to life. If not for Kang Kai's three precious healing potions and a well-placed kick to stimulate his failing heart, he would have succumbed.
Moradin's divine protection had played a role, shielding him from the worst of the blast, while his own berserk fury had mitigated some of the damage. Kang Kai's timely intervention had ultimately pulled him back from Kelemvor's grasp. Though Bahanger remained in a deep coma, with the resilience of a dwarf and proper treatment upon their return to Dolazi City, he could regain about 60% of his former combat strength.
The other 40% was lost forever.
Kang Kai now carried the unconscious warrior on his back. Punk estimated that the first words out of Bahanger's mouth upon waking would be a loud exclamation of "Moradin above!" followed shortly by the realization that his prized warhammer was no more.
For Kang Kai, who remained blissfully unaware of the unfolding disaster in Dolazi City, things had never seemed brighter. With Tishachar—their most troublesome adversary—eliminated, and a high-quality antidote recovered from her space ring, dealing with the rest of the city's infected believers would be as easy as snapping his fingers.
From the ranger's perspective, all that remained was a triumphant return, distributing the antidote, and saving the people. A classic hero's ending, perfectly in line with his righteous ideals.
Completely at ease, he happily chattered away, telling Punk about his hometown and future travel plans. In his voice, even mundane details became engaging:
"Do you know the story behind my hometown's name—Rock Rabbit Creek?
Once, a young druid girl had a magical rabbit as her animal companion. Together, they wandered rocky fields, explored mineral-rich mountains, and danced on the islands of Lake Vina. Together, they fought against a tyrannical noble who oppressed the poor...
But time is cruel. Eventually, the demon rabbit, blessed with exceptional talent, ascended to a higher level of existence. Meanwhile, the girl, unable to surpass her mortal limitations, aged and passed away. Hundreds of years later, the villagers laid her to rest in the most beautiful stream they could find, while the magical rabbit stood unmoving in the water, waiting for a companion who would never return.
The rabbit remained there, motionless, until the end of its days. Thus, the stream became known as Rock Rabbit Creek."
Kang Kai spoke with deep emotion, his voice carrying over the grassy plains like a wistful ballad.
Punk, however, remained unimpressed.
"This nonsense was clearly made up to entertain children. Most demon rabbits are violent and territorial, driven by nothing more than their base instincts. The only thing beautiful about them is their fur. It's obvious that some ignorant peasants fabricated this story. And you actually believe it?"
His tone was full of disdain.
He had no patience for sentimental tales. What truly occupied his thoughts was returning to Dolazi City as quickly as possible. He needed to extract vitality from fresh victims to restore his injuries. If it weren't for the legendary equipment Kang Kai carried, Punk would have already left them behind. As it stood, he still needed to find the right moment to eliminate the ranger.
Kang Kai, burdened with the injured dwarf, refused to accelerate. Bahanger, with his grievous wounds and lack of protective energy, wouldn't survive a supersonic sprint across the plains. So, despite Punk's irritation, he was forced to match their slower pace.
Unfazed by Punk's ridicule, Kang Kai simply shrugged with a smile and said, "You just don't understand how to enjoy things, do you? It's called fun. Ever heard of it?"
He shook his head in exaggerated disappointment, but his tattered clothing made the gesture comically pathetic.
Punk, as expected, ignored him.
Slightly embarrassed by the lack of response, Kang Kai quickly changed the subject.
"Hey, look over there! That rabbit's fat enough. Seems like it's been feeding on the evergreen grasslands."
He pointed excitedly at a plump, red-eyed rabbit peeking from the tall grass.
Punk sighed. "That was a pathetic attempt at distraction."
Still, he acknowledged that the rabbit did look particularly well-fed for the season.
Kang Kai nodded thoughtfully. "Female, but not pregnant. That means tonight's dinner is settled."
Punk raised an eyebrow. "The protagonist of your touching rabbit story was a rabbit, wasn't it? And now you're eating one?"
Kang Kai laughed. "Eh, don't worry about the details. The important thing is that we eat, right?"
With that, he flicked a small stone with his boot. The moment it struck the rabbit's forehead, the creature collapsed, dead before it even realized what happened.
"All set! We'll camp here for the night. Bahanger needs proper treatment, or he won't make it to Dolazi City."
For the first time, Kang Kai's tone turned serious. The dwarf's condition was worsening. His exposed muscles, stripped of protective skin, oozed fluids uncontrollably, and his body temperature had been rising steadily.
Setting Bahanger down gently, Kang Kai retrieved a polished iron pot from his magical storage while using his energy to clear out a patch of grass. He had already decided—they were spending the night here.
For official-level powerhouses, traveling at night posed no real challenge. But Kang Kai had made his decision, and Punk, who was still waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike, saw no need to argue. If anything, a longer delay only worked in his favor.
Seeing that Punk wasn't objecting, Kang Kai brightened. "Great! I'll show you my hometown's special way of cooking rabbit stew. You won't regret it."
Without another word, the ranger's demeanor shifted. His hands moved with practiced precision as he prepared the meal. Holding the iron pot aloft with his wind energy, he formed a sharp edge on his nails with precise control of his aura. In a blur of movement, he expertly skinned the rabbit in a series of smooth cuts.
"Hey, Punk! Give me some salt and water, will you?"
Kang Kai didn't even glance up as he swiftly removed the rabbit's organs.
Punk sighed. He hadn't bothered carrying cooking supplies, but something as simple as salt and water was trivial for a mage of his level.
With a flick of his wrist, he conjured a minor alchemical spell:
Lesser Matter Extraction — Separates basic elements from raw materials.
Under the effect of the spell, moisture was drawn from the air, purified, and gathered into a half-meter-wide floating orb. Simultaneously, white crystals formed from the minerals in the soil, coalescing into a small pile of salt.
"Will that do?"
Punk tossed the ingredients toward Kang Kai, watching as the ranger scrambled to catch them.