“Yes, Hadrian wants you all to gather in the headquarters by tonight. He has an important announcement to make.”
Harper looked at Edithe with narrowed eyes.
“An important announcement? With almost no warning? Don’t tell me—”
“I don’t know.”
The red-haired woman spoke simply. She turned her gaze to the rest of Harper’s team— a Gold Rank team. They all wore nervous looks on their faces. The possibility of what was to come struck fear into the hearts of every single one of them.
undefined“Just be prepared for the worst, alright?”
With the missive sent, Edithe took her leave, not bothering to listen to the speculations and worries Harper and her team might have had. Because the truth was— Edithe lied. She knew exactly what the announcement was about. But she couldn’t say it here. Not in public where there could be an Iron Champions spy around any corner.
Edithe passed the message on to numerous other teams. Some, like Harper, who heard it took it with fear. But others were prepared, or even excited, for it.
“Does this mean we can finally show those Iron Champion bastards what we’re made of? I had been tired of sitting around and letting them do whatever they want! Has Hadrian finally talked some sense into Baris?”
Celine eagerly pressed her face up against Edithe, grasping at her hands. Edithe gently pushed the Platinum Rank adventurer back and shook her head.
“I do not know.”
“Fine! But I know you’re aware of more than you let on.”
Edithe simply smiled and shook her head.
“I am as unaware as you, Celine.”
“Hah, of course, you are! Well, that doesn’t change the fact that we can finally teach those assholes a lesson.”
Pretending to ignore the comment and excuse herself, Edithe couldn’t help but mentally agree with the rowdy Platinum Rank woman and her team. They were a group of all-[Warriors], rough but caring. And what had been happening over the past few days must have infuriated them even more than it did Edithe.
“Hey, Edithe.”
Celine spoke up as the red-haired woman exited the bar. Edithe turned back slightly, raising a brow.
“Did you need something?”
“Take care of yourself, alright? Don’t push yourself too hard.”
Edithe blinked and rubbed at her eyes. Did she look that tired? She definitely did not get enough sleep the night before, the horrors of helplessly seeing Paige’s death ingrained in her mind.
Celine continued, snapping Edithe’s gaze back up.
“And don’t worry, we’ll get you your revenge.”
“R-right. Thank you.”
Nodding respectfully, Edithe hurriedly left the Platinum Ranks alone. There was so much she still had to do, after all. She had to speak with Rachel— tell the girl that she probably wouldn't be able to visit for a while. But also…
We’ll get your revenge.
The sweet words resounded in her head, almost drawing her to it like a bee to honey. The nectar of killing the one you hated— the vindication from it— was something she had already tasted. And she realized, after Lucerna’s death, a simple thing.
I still feel so… empty.
—--
Edithe found the hardest one to speak to that day was not the Platinum, Gold, or even Silver Ranks. But a little girl.
Rachel had not acclimated to the temple well. William said that the only time she would speak was when Edithe visited the Sanctum of Elements. And when Edithe had to break the news that she wouldn’t be visiting anymore because of reasons she could not explain, Rachel did not cry. The girl spoke with a small voice but loud enough that it broke Edithe’s heart.
“Oh… you’re abandoning me too?”
Edithe had tried to reassure Rachel that that wasn’t the case. But she knew Rachel didn’t believe her. Even after an hour of trying to play with the doll, Princess, with her, Edithe knew Rachel was still sad. That the smile Rachel put on was a false one.
But the Gold Rank adventurer had a job to do. She had a company to fight for. So, she eventually had to leave.
Returning to the headquarters of the Valiant Dreamers Company, Edithe found that everyone had gathered as she had instructed. The Golds and Platinums gathered here, while the Silvers were on the training grounds. Edithe wasn’t worried about the Silvers even though they were the weakest, since Gabriel and a few other Platinums like Jeremy were already there with them.
What she was worried about was the reaction to the news that was about to be broken.
Baris arrived in the hall first. He waited at an elevated stage with his arms folded, clearly not pleased, but not unhappy either. Then when Hadrian came a little later, the older man activated his spells.
Wards were put up around the room, a barrier powered by a Platinum Ranked adventurer. When that happened, all the whisperings— all the susurrations— stopped. Heads turned to face Hadrian as he seriously addressed the room. No more speculations.
“We have decided.”
Hadrian spoke simply. Edithe raised a brow at his choice of an opening but waited for what else he had to say.
“For the past few days, our company has been attacked. Our members have been killed unjustly. And we have decided— no more.”
Taking a deep breath, Hadrian swept his gaze across the room. Edithe heard voices begin to break out— questions— but the leader of the Valiant Dreamers Company continued first, speaking over them.
“We had thought that it would be best for us to hold them off. Win a battle of attrition. This was a siege they couldn’t win, especially when we could hit back with our own allies. But they’re not just sieging us— this is already a full-frontal assault!”
His words sounded like they would be said by one in anger. But his voice didn’t reveal any of it. Because he was calm. This was not retaliation out of anger. It made sense… right?
“There is nothing covert about this. They’re doing everything they can to draw us out from our shell, to declare war on them. As if they think we’re afraid of what they could do to us. Well, even if they’ve prepared for this for months, we’re the Valiant Dreamers Company. We shall not stand idly by as the weak are bullied by the strong. Especially if it’s our own dreamers.”
Hadrian’s voice grew quiet. And he sighed deeply, finishing his speech as he spoke through gritted teeth.
“So, we have decided to make it official. No more hiding. Tomorrow, we shall fight.”
It was so sudden. After talking about waiting and biding their time for the past few days, why the sudden shift in plans? Was it bad leadership from a new leader? It should have been jarring. Edithe thought there would have been a backlash to it. But instead, there were voices of agreement. Then there was a cheer.
Edithe straightened as she stared at the crowd of Gold and Platinum Ranks throwing their support behind Hadrian. Baris seemed approving too. Even if his son went against his judgment, his judgment had chosen him to be the leader. And making decisions based on what one thought was best was part of being a leader.
Slowly, Edithe leaned back against the wooden pillar next to her. It was covered in runes, enchanted to now be more durable against fire. Only a single thought crossed her head as she cast her gaze to the ceiling above.
It’s time then. Let’s hope this works out.
And when the morning came, the leader of the Valiant Dreamers Company went to the Adventurers Guild himself. The Diamond Ranked adventurer left with no one, making the declaration for all the companies and even the Sunmere Republic to hear.
“The Valiant Dreamers are at war with the Iron Champions Company!”
The Harrowed Vindicators. They were the assassins, the bounty hunters, the ones hunting after us. They had chased Daniel and me down from just beyond the Motharis, to where we stood now. The tall mountains were barely even a speck in the distance at this point— they were so far away that it would take me a few hours to run there, even at full speed.
We had made a good headway towards Viechester before being interrupted. And now they had caught up.
My companion lay collapsed on the ground, having been struck by a crossbow bolt with enough force to send him flying back. And the others were readying their weapons against me. But… how did they catch up to us so quickly? We had not slowed down for more than a minute to talk. Why were they already here?
It must have been a distraction.
They had been setting this trap to catch us, leading us like we were a horde of monsters and they were a Mindreaper. We couldn’t flee anymore. There was nothing else we could do.
Nothing but to stand and fight.
I raised my kusarigama, waiting for the first assassin to make their move. They moved in the shadows— they were like shadows. Stalking around me, the Harrowed Vindicators prepared to strike.
There was the sound of metal being pulled. A crossbow being reloaded. My head snapped to the side—
And a bolt of lightning came crashing down on me.
[Charge of Embers] carried me straight to the Harrowed Vindicator with the crossbow. His eyes grew wide as I identified him, mere moments before bringing the flaming sickle down.
[Archer - Lvl. 65]
He was only at Gold. Not even a Platinum threat.
My kusarigama broke his crossbow in half and embedded deep into his chest. He backed away from me. I heard spells being loosed my way, knives being thrown and footfalls moving in a rush, but I did not turn my attention to them.
The chains from my kusarigama yanked the man towards me. I leapt up into the air as the assassin collided with the volley of attacks coming from his companions, the notification in my head resounding, confirming his death.
Defeated [Bloodscarred Hunter - Lvl. 65]!
Less experience is awarded for defeating an enemy with the help of others!
My gaze swept around the surroundings, at the other enemies who were closing in on me. But I caught a glimpse of a bright light. A flash. It drew mine and the Harrowed Vindicators’ attention for a moment.
Because it had struck down two of them.
Daniel stood up as the glow around his sword faded away. The assassins standing closest to him had dropped dead. He pulled the crossbow bolt out of his chest— no blood spilling out of where it struck. I recognized the Skill— the one that made his skin like iron.
“Daniel!”
I called out to him and sent a [Scorching Wave] at the closest Harrowed Vindicator. They buzzed back, keeping a small distance from the fire but hovering around it like flies.
Landing next to him, I activated [Ignition], and my body grew ablaze. The fire revealed the shadows stalking around us in the trees, keeping their distance as my companion and I stood back-to-back. He glanced over at me and nodded.
“Sorry for scaring you like that.”
“It’s fine— I’m just glad you’re alive.”
I smiled his way. He paused, then gripped the hilt of his blade with two hands.
“Thanks. They really caught us by surprise, didn’t they?”
“But now they’re nervous and staying back.”
Identifying the assassins closest to me, I found that most of them were Level 60. It had not been like what Daniel feared— none of them were even close to the Diamond level. Only one had been above Level 70, and he was keeping his distance, watching us warily.
I took a step forward, widening my stance as I held the sickle of my weapon in one hand and the chains in the other.
“They don’t seem to be that tough, huh? Well, you guys attacked us, didn’t you? Come on!”
I snarled— then realized I was talking in the voice of a Human woman. And it honestly wasn’t that threatening.
Maybe I should change back. The thought crossed my mind before a ball of darkness enveloped Daniel and me.
Blinking, I whirled around to try and find the [Hero]. But he was nowhere to be seen. This was shadow magic. Just like what Ignavare had. But it had been used to block our vision.
I took a few steps back as I heard no sounds either. Only my [Deadly Instinct] was yelling at me, telling me to flee this sphere. And I did.
[Self Haste] took over me as I sped forward, breaking free from the dome of magic. Spells and projectiles were being slung into the dark dome, the assassins blasting as blindly into it as we had been inside of it. My eyes snapped over at the caster.
It had been the Level 70 assassin. He was a [Mage], and the reason he had been staying back was clear— He’s weak, take him out!
I flung the chains of my kusarigama his way, but more Harrowed Vindicators barred my path. One of them tried rushing me, a knife in hand. But…
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