Chapter 26 - Intrusion

The four of them sat crowded around a table in the tavern, their evening meal spread between them.

“So, how do you both know Miss Celia?” Alina asked.

Rikka took a swig of mead to wash down her mouthful, then wiped her lips with the back of her hand. “We were in the same raiding party down here on Sixty for a couple of years,” she said, taking another gulp. “She quit about eight years ago, went off to run an apothecary on Twenty-Five. Still supplies our potions. She gives us better prices than what we’d get from the local shops.”

She tilted her head. “And how do you two know her?”

“We spent some time in her shop,” Renji said. His tone was flat, but his words felt heavy. “I was poisoned by an assassin’s blade. Alina and Celia saved my life.”

Alina leaned in and quickly recounted the events of the assassin’s attack on Floor Twenty-Five, and Rovan’s betrayal.

Rikka’s expression hardened. She gave a sharp nod. “Celia vouched for you. That’s enough for us. We’ve got your back.”

Gromul grunted in agreement as he nodded.

“Thank you,” Renji and Alina said together.

Alina leaned in, lowering her voice slightly. “Rikka… what are we getting ourselves into? It’s our first time on Floor Sixty.”

I want to grow strong enough not to be a burden here, Alina thought.

Gromul set his tankard down with a heavy thud. “The monsters here don’t fight like beasts. They’re smarter. Ambushes, flanking, even formations if you’re unlucky. Sometimes you’ll see a leader—like an Orc Chieftain with a pack under him.”

Alina’s brows knitted. “Why would anyone want to live down here?”

“Various reasons,” Gromul said, tearing a chunk from a chicken leg. “Better loot. Glory. And for most… the Branch of Paths. Legend has it that it’s on Floor Seventy. Find it, and the Labyrinth might open back to the surface.”

Renji’s eyes narrowed. “So people really do want to go back up?”

“Among humans and elves, aye. Dwarves?” He grinned through his beard. “We don’t mind being underground most of the time.” He pointed his chicken bone at Rikka. “Rikka here is a true believer in returning to the surface.”

Rikka nodded. “Life in the Labyrinth isn’t unpleasant, but it feels a little off. Can’t really explain it.”

Before Alina could reply, a deep clang filled the air—iron bells ringing across the settlement. Tankards rattled on tables, chairs scraped back, and shouts filled the tavern as people surged for the door.

Alina shot to her feet, looking around. “What’s happening?”

Renji was already rising, hand on his sword. “An alarm. Enemy attack, I’d bet.”

Rikka slung her bow over her shoulder. “Good instincts. Means something broke through.”

Gromul shoved aside his empty plate and hefted his axe. “Happens sometimes. Nothing for it but to fight.” Not wanting any to go to waste, he drained the last of his mead and slammed the tankard onto the table.

“Let’s move,” Rikka said, motioning sharply to Renji and Alina. “Looks like Floor Sixty’s giving you a welcome party.” She winked, then added with a grin, “Way to break you in on your first night.”

The four of them spilled into the street, joining a tide of scrambling adventurers. Armour clattered, boots pounded, voices shouted, all rushing toward a plume of smoke rising in the distance.

Renji noted the heightened urgency—but without panic. A strange comfort filled him, being among veterans who knew exactly what they were doing.

“This way,” Rikka called, breaking into a run. The other three followed close behind.

***

The group arrived at the town gate—or what was left of it. Charred wooden shards were strewn about, and fighters had formed a loose half-circle around a trio of trolls brandishing spiked clubs. They stood at the archway where the gate had once been. The air reeked of smoke and charred wood.

Renji scanned the area. Something had caused an explosion. But what?

Rikka approached a human male in plate armour who was barking orders. “Dave, what happened here?”

“A firedrake took down the gate,” he replied, eyes never leaving the trolls. “Earth mages need to raise a wall to block the archway. Isolate these three trolls before monster reinforcements arrive!” He barked at a group of mages about to engage the trolls. A stone wall emerged, taking the place of the shattered gate.

“Where’s the drake now?” Gromul asked.

“It flew off. Can’t search for it now—gotta keep the monsters out of town,” the man shot back.

A roar pierced the air above them. The drake with reddish-brown scales flapped its wings as it soared over the palisade, heading deeper into town.

Dave glanced at Gromul and Rikka. “Can you handle that? I need to hold the line here. There are more monsters outside the wall.”

Rikka nodded. “Newbies, we need to bring it down.” She pointed sharply at the flying beast.

The four of them broke into a run after the firedrake.

“Rikka, can you get its attention?” Gromul asked, not breaking stride.

“Not unless I get closer—or it comes lower,” she replied.

The drake circled the district, spewing fireballs at random targets. Mages on the ground raised barriers, holding off most of the damage for now.

“If I can get on that roof.” Alina pointed to a flat-roofed, three-storey building overlooking the town square. “I should be able to reach the drake with magic.”

“I’ll break down the door and apologise later.” The dwarf readied his axe as they neared the building.

“We’ve got this,” Renji said firmly. He glanced at Alina. “Ready?”

Her cheeks coloured faintly; she knew what he was about to do. “Y-yes,” she replied, steadying her voice.

He scooped her up, one hand under her knees while her arm went around his shoulder for balance.

Gromul relaxed his grip on the axe, while Rikka arched an eyebrow with a smirk.

Renji broke into a sprint, channelling magic essence into his legs. With Alina in his arms, he leapt onto the roof of a two-storey building, then again up to the roof of their intended target.

He set her down gently.

Other mages across the district hurled spells skyward, but none struck true.

One word popped into Renji’s mind. Buckshot.

He laid a steadying hand on Alina’s shoulder. “Use as many small ones as you can manage, instead of one big one. You’ve got this.”

“Right.” She nodded, raising her staff toward the circling drake. Its fifteen-metre body was an imposing sight, wings casting shifting shadows across the square.

Her hair fluttered as two dozen ice lances materialised at her sides, each roughly the length of her forearm. The blue gem at the tip of her staff pulsed faintly.

Renji froze, wide-eyed.

With a thought, the ice lances shot upward. Half struck true, shattering on impact against the drake’s scales. A few tore through its wings, leaving ragged holes. The beast shrieked, banking wildly.

“What the…” Alina whispered, staring at her new staff. This was the first time she had cast with it, unaware her old staff had been suppressing her power.

Rikka let out a low whistle. “Girl’s got game.”

“Get ready—she’s got its attention now,” Gromul rumbled, hefting his axe as he and Rikka charged toward the centre of the square.

The drake circled again, wings beating harder as it searched for the source of the assault.

Renji picked Alina up once more, surprising her this time. “Sorry. We need to move. We can’t fight here.”

He leapt down from the roof, reinforcing his legs with magic essence for the landing.

“Let’s go.” He set her on her feet and the two sprinted to rejoin Rikka and Gromul at the square.

“Well done.” Rikka winked, giving them a thumbs-up.

The drake’s gaze locked onto the party, and it dived.

“It’s coming.” Gromul grinned, eager.

Rikka nocked an arrow, pulling back her bowstring. Renji noticed the arrowhead wasn’t typical. It looked brass-tipped, with small claw-like protrusions.

She channelled wind magic into the bow, and it pulsed faintly green for a second before she loosed the shot. The arrow streaked forward, leaving a spiralling trail of green light.

It struck the drake’s shoulder, sending bolts of electricity through its body. Its wings seized up, and the beast dropped into an uncontrolled dive, crashing into the ground and skidding toward the party.

Gromul slammed his fist into the cobblestones. Two walls of stone erupted from the earth to block the drake’s path.

That’s not enough, Renji thought, calculating the beast’s mass and momentum.

“Alina, you too!” he barked.

“Got it!” she acknowledged, planting her staff and raising two more walls of ice behind Gromul’s barrier.

The firedrake ploughed through, shattering stone and ice. Shards rained down as the monster forced its way forward before grinding to a halt just short of the party.

The drake got to its feet, shaking off debris. The stun from the lightning arrow fading, it let out a roar before gathering magic essence at its maw.

“Now it’s angry,” Rikka muttered.