The party assembled near the Ironspire Outpost, a desote hub surrounded by jagged cliffs and crimson skies. The air carried the faint metallic tang of danger, and the eerie silence made every footstep sound like an invitation for trouble.

  Devon stood a few paces ahead. He seemed focused, but I caught how his eyes flicked toward Ethan whenever the tter moved. Their exchange st night—well, fight—still hung like a storm cloud waiting to burst.

  Fi and Mason, on the other hand, seemed determined to pretend nothing happened. They cooed to each other with a mix of their friendly banter. It was almost comforting, their pyful rhythm breaking up the tension.

  Selene approached me, her dagger strapped neatly to her thigh. “How’s the new toy?” she asked, nodding toward my dagger.

  “Feels like it’s part of me already,” I replied, slightly flourishing the weapon. “The poison stacks are going to be a game-changer.”

  She smiled faintly, her sharp eyes scanning the area. “Good. We’ll need every advantage we can get today. Plus, it looks good on you.” Her compliment burned my cheeks.

  Kaelion’s voice suddenly crackled through the party chat, his commanding tone cutting through the silence.

  “Alright, listen up. We’ve got reports of Riftcrawlers converging near the Spine Hollow, and their numbers are off the charts. If left unchecked, they’ll overrun the outpost in a matter of hours. Your job is to clear them out and secure the hollow. Understood?”

  “Crystal,” Devon replied, his voice steady.

  “Good,” Kaelion said. “See you when you get back.”

  The path to Spine Hollow was as treacherous as the enemies waiting for us. Narrow ridges fnked by sheer drops made every step a calcuted risk, while the distant sound of skittering cws set my nerves on edge.

  Fi was the first to break the silence, her twin swords glinting in the dim light as she twirled them absently. “So, Boss, what’s the pn? Go in swinging, or are we doing the whole ‘strategic approach’ thing?”

  “Strategic,” Selene said before I could reply. “We don’t need to repeat the Thornback Hydra disaster.”

  “That wasn’t a disaster,” Mason said, his hammer resting on his shoulder. “We won, didn’t we?”

  “Barely,” Selene shot back.

  “Fi, you and Mason will take point. Devon, you’re our wall. Ethan stayed in the backline and covered us with ranged attacks. Selene and I will fnk and clean up stragglers.”

  Devon nodded, his expression softening slightly. “Solid pn.”

  Ethan gave a slight nod, his bow already in hand. “Got it.”

  The first wave of Riftcrawlers hit us as we entered the hollow—massive, insect-like creatures with chitinous armor and glowing blue eyes. They swarmed from the shadows, clicking mandibles echoing like a death knell.

  Fi was the first to engage, her twin swords fshing in a blur of motion as she darted between enemies.

  [Skill Activated: Bde Dance] [ Bleed effect applied]

  “Stay still, you creepy little—!” Fi growled, narrowly dodging a swipe from one of the rger Riftcrawlers.

  Mason charged in behind her, his hammer smashing into the ground with enough force to send shockwaves rippling through the enemies.

  Skill Activated: Earthshatter [AoE damage and stuns enemies for 3 seconds]

  “Nice work!” I called out, darting toward a group of smaller Riftcrawlers. As I spun into the fray, my new dagger felt weightless.

  Skill Activated: Lacerating Strike [poison stacks to all enemies within range]

  The Riftcrawlers screeched as the poison took hold, their movements slowing as green tendrils of energy pulsed from the wounds.

  Devon held the line effortlessly, his greatsword cleaving through the swarm like a scythe through wheat.

  “Ethan, now!” he barked.

  Ethan’s arrows flew true, each finding its mark with deadly precision.

  “Good shot,” Devon muttered, though his tone cked warmth.

  Ethan gnced at me briefly before nodding. “Just doing my part.”

  The tension between them was apparent, but they were putting it aside for now.

  As the st wave of Riftcrawlers emerged, rger and more menacing than before, I activated my ultimate ability. “Abyssal Maw!”

  The ground beneath the Riftcrawlers cracked as the dark energy surged, swallowing them whole. When the light faded, only silence remained.

  Quest Complete: Clear the Spine Hollow

  Reward: 8,000 XP, 5,000 Gold, Rare Loot Chest.“Good work, team,” I said, breaking the tension. “Let’s return to the outpost and turn in the quest.”

  Selene pced a hand on my shoulder, her voice calm. “You handled that well.”

  ?????°???°?????

  [Entering Safe Zone]

  [Phoenix Ascendent guild]

  As we lingered near the guild’s central meeting table, Kaelion approached with his usual air of authority. His presence was commanding, his polished armor reflecting the light as if he were the embodiment of the guild’s fiery namesake.

  “I trust your mission was a success?” Kaelion’s voice carried the weight of both expectation and curiosity.

  “It was,” I said, stepping forward. “The Riftcrawlers have been dealt with, and the Spine Hollow is clear. No casualties, no hiccups.”

  Kaelion’s sharp gaze swept over the group. His eyes lingered briefly on Devon and Ethan as if silently gauging their state. “Good. It seems the team dynamic is holding together; I knew I could count on you six..”

  Kaelion gestured for us to sit around the rge circur table. “You’ve been here for a while now,” he began, his tone direct. “And you’ve proven yourselves capable. But I have to ask—have you given any more thought to officially joining Phoenix Ascendent?”

  The question wasn’t unexpected, but it still caught me off guard. I gnced at the others, unsure how to respond.

  Devon was the first to speak, his voice measured. “We appreciate the offer, but we’ve always worked better as a smaller, independent group. That’s how we operate.”

  Kaelion nodded, though his expression didn’t change. “And yet, with the challenges ahead, having the resources and support of a rger guild could be the difference between success and failure. Especially with these glitches running about.”

  Ethan shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his hands csped before him. “I’m sure Kiera will figure it out,” he said, his tone light but supportive. “She always does.”

  Devon’s jaw tightened slightly but didn’t rise to the bait this time. Instead, he simply said, “We’ll think about it.”

  Kaelion’s gaze flicked to me, his expression unreadable. “Do that. But don’t take too long. Opportunities like this don’t stay open forever.”

  As Kaelion walked away, Fi blew a low whistle, leaning back in her chair. “Man, he’s intense. Does he ever just... chill?”

  “Probably not,” Mason replied, his tone amused. “Guys like him are all about control. It’s his whole thing.”

  Selene sat beside me, her calm presence grounding as always. She leaned slightly closer, her voice low enough that only I could hear. “You’re quiet. Thinking about what Kaelion said?”

  “Partly,” I admitted, gncing at her. “But mostly just... everything. The Guardians, the fragments, Ethan and Devon...”

  Selene pced a hand on mine, her touch reassuring. “You don’t have to shoulder everything alone, you know. We’re here for you—for all of it.”

  I smiled at her, squeezing her hand. “I know. And I’m grateful for that. For you.”

  Selene’s lips curved into a soft smile. “Good. Because I’m not going anywhere.”

  As the evening wore on, the group slowly started to rex. Devon and Ethan managed to keep their interactions civil, though I could see the occasional tension in Devon’s posture. Fi and Mason’s pyful banter filled the air, lightening the mood and reminding us why we worked so well as a team.

  Before long, Kaelion returned with a stack of scrolls, each bearing the guild’s phoenix emblem. “If you’re still undecided, perhaps this will sway you,” he said, pcing the scrolls on the table. “A dungeon raid is being pnned for Scarlet Citadel, and we could use a team with your skills. It’ll also help you prepare for the upcoming Abyssal Forge dungeon.”

  As he walked away, the group exchanged gnces, the prospect of another dungeon stirring excitement and apprehension.