After Jeanne’s extra lesson, I had to head to the warehouse to meet up with everyone.

  To my surprise, Neo turned out to be quite helpful with my idea. She managed to convince Roman to talk to Cinder, requesting her permission for Bke’s pn. Obviously omitting that it was my mentor pn. Thankfully, Cinder didn’t probe further and simply stated, ‘I don’t care how, just get me dust.’

  Following her explicit orders, I met up with Bke and we hopped onto a train without bothering to pay. We took advantage of the hour-long ride to enjoy a satisfying lunch. Bke, with her ever-hungry stomach, appreciated the meal immensely. I still had plenty of food stored, even though it wouldn’t spoil. I figured it was a good time to start consuming it and free up some space in my inventory. It’s a mystery whether I have limited or infinite space, but it’s best not to take any chances.

  “This pce is horrible,” I commented, surveying my surroundings and the numerous destroyed buildings around us.

  “And it’s infested with high-level Grimm, so we need to stay on guard,” Bke added, peering around a corner.

  “Don’t remind me,” I groaned. Although we haven’t encountered a single Grimm so far, which is both a good and bad thing. I’m leaning toward the good side since it means we’ll finish sooner than expected.

  Without a word, Bke swiftly dashes toward the next ruined building, signaling me to follow. I take a quick gnce around, confirming that the empty, desote streets hold no immediate threats, and hurriedly make my way to the other side, seeking cover behind a nearby wall. Honestly, I doubt all the secrecy and caution employed by Bke would make much of a difference. After all, Grimm can easily track us down based on negative emotions or scent or something. However, she’s the one leading this mission, so I will follow her orders.

  Although, I soon find out that there is a path for us through the buildings and the crumbled walls. A lot of debris is lying around, so we are a bit careful with our steps to avoid tripping over a rock or sprain a foot.

  Curiosity tugs the strings at the back of my mind as I observe our surroundings. The buildings we pass through are uncannily vacant, devoid of any signs of… anything, really. That stands out too much for my liking because even abandoned homes had decaying furniture or traces of the past owners. Yet, here, it’s as if all life had been completely sucked out, no trace of anyone ever living inside these buildings.

  I pause for a moment, shaking my head to clear the unsettling thoughts. In a grim-infested zone like this, dwelling on such thoughts could be very dangerous and completely irrelevant for my task at hand.

  After some time, we use our combined strength into py as we effortlessly move a sizable piece of fallen roof, unveiling a hidden trapdoor. Without hesitation, Bke opens the small door and leaps down into the dark room below, leaving it open for me to follow suit.

  Double-checking my surroundings, I jump inside and nd in a dark room. My innate night vision kicks in, revealing scattered objects within the room. Unlike the barren buildings above, this room still has things, furniture in terrible condition. However, a thick yer of dust coats everything, testament to years of abandonment.

  As our feet hit the ground, the force of our nding erupted a plume of accumuted dust, engulfing the surrounding air. The dense cloud invades my nostrils, provoking an immediate fit of coughing that I swiftly recover from. Blinking away the irritation, I scan the scene to find Bke already next to a broken shelf, using the strength of her shoulder to push it to the right.

  Before I can get any closer to help her, the furniture gives way, revealing another hidden passage behind it. As I cautiously approach, my gaze nds upon a set of stairs leading down into the depths. Not even my natural night vision could see through that.

  With a swift motion, I summon Roman’s gift and turn on the light. Those bastard atlesians certainly know how to build practical tech. I can’t help but appreciate it, especially that it is in my hands. With Bke taking the lead, I follow closely behind as we begin our descent. The stairs beneath my feet consist of an amalgamation of anything strong, really; wood, rocks, or wall debris prompting me to grip onto the railing for stability just in case, because tripping over wouldn’t be nice.

  The improvised stairs seem to stretch endlessly, only descending deeper and deeper, until we finally reach a small nding where the makeshift stairs continue their descent, much to my dismay..

  I would have preferred a vertical rope or something instead of stairs.

  A deep sigh escapes my lips, realizing that it will be a long while before we arrive at whatever pce we are going. “Since this seems to never end, care to tell me what got you this… bad?” I ask her. “You always look exhausted.”

  Bke pauses for a moment, her steps faltering slightly, but she ultimately keeps walking. “Things… haven’t been going well, Ma’iq. And I can’t tell you much without involving you, the st thing you want. But I cannot allow myself to rest until everything is fixed.”

  Dammit, there goes the idle talk.

  “And yet, despite having my own set of problems, I don’t allow them to eat my life away. “I reply, my steps slowing a bit when I actually think of my dire situation.

  She shakes her head, a hint of exasperation on her face. “It’s not the same, Ma’iq. These… problems involve a lot of people, people who are counting on me,” she insists.

  I let out a heavy sigh, choosing to remain silent as it is a dead end for a topic. My gaze fixed again on the steps below us. Some segments now consist of the same material, indicating a subtle change in our surroundings.

  After a while, a faint light catches my attention, an ever-growing opening that draws nearer with each step we take..

  This serves as our signal to quicken our pace and I turn off the light, as it is no longer needed. Upon crossing the threshold, I take off my mask and send it to my inventory before taking a moment to absorb the sight of the entirely new ndscape spread out before me.

  The sight before me reveals another city in ruins, though it appears to be in much better condition compared to the city above us. I can say that with confidence, since I make out mpposts and old signboards, albeit with no functioning energy, for obvious reasons. It becomes apparent that we’re standing atop a building, offering a vantage point over this underground town.

  Although, why is there an underground city under Mountain Glenn to begin with?

  However, my moment of taking in the view is abruptly interrupted as a hand firmly grabs my wrist, pulling me away from the spectacle. I turn to Bke with a furrowed brow, ready to express my annoyance, but she remains focused on walking, paying little attention to my irritation.

  I simply pull out from her grip, making her turn in surprise. “I can walk by myself, thank you very much.”

  “Sorry,” she murmurs, her ears drooping slightly. Despite her apology, she doesn’t let it hinder her as she leaps off the building, nding on the ground below.

  I let out another sigh, resigning myself to the situation, and follow suit, standing at the edge of the building. From my perspective, the distance to the ground isn’t that far, so I jump off, nding firmly on both feet. Without wasting any time, I head in the direction Bke had passed through.

  However, I don’t get very far before I spot Bke peering cautiously around a corner. She raises her hand to signal me to stop, catching me off guard. Leaning slightly to get a better view, I see the distinct shape of Beowolves, which prompts me to get away and press myself against the wall beside her.

  I am not scared of those low-level Grimm.

  I’m not afraid of these low-level Grimm, but what concerns me is the potential for a chain reaction. If we engage them, I know for a fact that more and stronger Grimm will come, and overwhelm us with infinite waves, since we have no city walls to escape to. It’s in our best interest to avoid combat.

  Seemingly sharing my sentiment, Bke doesn’t prepare for an ambush or instruct me to do so either. She simply watches the Beowolves attentively until they disappear from sight. A sigh of relief escapes her lips, and she turns to face me.

  “The supplies are at the train station. We need to hurry,” Bke announces before bolting towards the broken streets.

  I’m not given much of a chance to respond, so I swiftly increase my pace to catch up with her, as we need to stick together. As we dash across the streets, I steal quick gnces at my surroundings, absorbing more details. The abandoned underground city reminds me a bit of the rustic charm of vilges. Some buildings still dispy faded store signs, tainted by grime.

  However, our brisk run comes to an abrupt halt as the ground beneath us trembles, the sound echoing loudly through the air.

  We exchange a gnce, initially filled with confusion, which quickly transforms into deep concern as the shaking shows no signs of stopping.

  Instinctively, I summon my cws, prepared for any incoming attack, while Bke unsheathes her bde, scanning our surroundings frantically for any signs of trouble.

  But just as abruptly as it began, the trembling ceases, leaving us more confused than anything, as something like that wouldn’t just happen and stop out of the blue.

  Both of us stand, ears perked up, attentively listening for any signs of danger. I can feel a shiver coursing down my spine, heightened by the eerie silence that envelops the area, punctuated only by the sound of our own breaths.

  Suddenly, a building colpses nearby, causing us to swiftly turn our attention towards the source. A thick cloud of dust billows out, blocking our sight. However, within moments, we discern a dark silhouette emerging from the dissipating cloud, a rge, ominous figure.

  With a deafening, distorted roar, the grimm disperses the remaining dust, fully revealing its form to us.

  In that moment, my heart skips a beat as I come face to face with a nightmarish manifestation standing before us.

  A pair of menacing red eyes lock onto us, emanating an intense and undiluted hatred. However, my attention shifts to the grotesque features of the monster of darkness and the dual sets of jaws adorned with spiky, uneven teeth. The first, situated on its small circur head, while the second, located on its stomach.That’s when I finally see the Grimm as a colossal, hulking presence, relying on two disproportionately small legs to support its immense weight.

  Yet... something about this grimm is eerily familiar to me. It stirs a sense of recognition deep within.

  Until something clicks in my mind and my eyes go wide in unprecedented realization.

  “Why is a Goobbue here?!” I blurt out.

  Bke jerks her head back in confusion. “Goobbue?”

  But our attention returns to the peculiar grimm as it unleashes another deafening roar, demanding our full focus.

  As the initial shock subsides, a pn formutes in my mind, and I position myself in front of my mentor. “Bke, climb the buildings and attack it from above. I’ll do my best to keep it distracted for as long as possible.”

  “Are you sure?” she questions, her concern clear despite the urgency of the situation.

  The Goobbue reaches its limit, charging at us with both sets of jaws gaping wide with the full intention of shredding us to pieces.

  “Yes!” I shout, charging against the grimm.

  “Keep it close to the buildings!”

  With my focus solely on the advancing grimm, I hardly register the st part of Bke’s shouting. As the creature lunges towards me, I notice that leaping over it isn’t an option. Instead, I react swiftly, sliding between the narrow gap formed by its undersized legs, aiming to deliver precise sshes to weaken its lower limbs.

  As I slide between those ridiculous small legs, I ssh as deep as I can while the other hand stabs what I assume is the crotch area of the monster.

  To no one’s surprise, I did absolutely no damage to the grimm. In fact, it only seems to further enrage it, as it unleashes a primal roar and its head swells ominously.

  My eyes widen with a sudden realization, instinctively recognizing the impending danger. I scramble to my feet as quickly as possible, heeding my gut instinct to distance myself from the hulking monster. It turns out to be the right decision, as the Goobbue releases a voluminous spray of bck mist, enveloping a substantial area around it.

  The disgusting stench emanating from the cloud is unbearable, burning my nostrils. I reflexively pinch my nose and mouth, trying to ward off the urge to puke and lose my lunch.

  Regaining my composure, I gnce upwards and catch sight of Bke leaping towards another building, which is much closer to me.

  Taking note of Bke preparing a devastating attack, I understand that it’s essential for me to hold my ground. Seeking to provoke the Grimm further, I quickly grab a rock from the ground and throw it at the creature with all the strength my right arm can muster.

  To my surprise, the rock finds its mark, striking one of the beast’s fangs and shattering it.

  The grimm recoils momentarily, seemingly affected by the unexpected blow. However, its crimson eyes soon fixate on me, and it unleashes another thunderous roar, revealing four menacing rows of those deadly teeth. Anything caught inside that would be reduced to pulp in seconds.

  With a sense of urgency, I grab a rger rock and throw it towards the Goobbue open ma. However, much to my shock, the grimm almost instantly closes its jaws, pulverizing the rock into mere dust.

  But there is no time for contemption as the Goobbue charges towards me, the mouth in its stomach gaping wide, ready to eat me whole. Simultaneously, its head begins to swell again, albeit at a slower pace compared to its first.

  Anyone else would have run away by now, but in my case, I couldn’t contain a mischievous smirk forming on my lips.

  Why?

  Because, in that moment, I catch a glimpse of Bke finally leaping from a nearby building, executing a perfect plunging attack onto the Grimm head, stopping it dead on its track. Her strike brings the creature to an abrupt halt, eliciting a deafening screech as it thrashes and jerks its head in a desperate attempt to dislodge her.

  Unfazed by the creature’s frenzied movements, Bke seizes the opportunity and utilizes that desperate thrashing to her advantage. With her bde still embedded within the monster, she slides down its writhing form, effectively cleaving it in half from head to foot.

  Not taking any chances, Bke leaves behind a fire clone in her pce. The clone detonates, causing the massive grimm to crumple to the ground, dead.

  Lowering my arms, I release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. Relief washes over me, and I find myself rubbing the back of my neck.

  I’m really lucky that Bke is very skilled. I don’t know how I could kill that thing by myself. Probably I would have tried to lure it towards a building to trap it or maybe do a stupid charge and try to pluck its eyes.

  [Congratutions! You have leveled up!]?

  That’s actually pretty good news.

  ‘Status’

  Ma’iq RakhanRace–Feline FaunusAge 17Css: The pugilistLevel–7 (16%)Mentor – Bke BeldonnaApprentice– Jeanne d’ArcHP – 450/450 [45 regen per minute]MP – 1850/1850 [350 regen per minute]SP – 1871/2100 [200 regen per minute]STR–28 (+1)END–36 (+1)DEX–45INT–34WIS–30CHA–26LCK–10Status:

  Well fed: 6:21 minutes remainingMentorship: 25% exp increase

  Wait what?

  I don’t dismiss the status window and look closely at the st part, a 25% experience increase thanks to the mentorship.

  I take a moment to think and look at the approaching girl and the retaliation hits me.

  That new status never appeared back in the fighting day in Menagerie, unless that shard I absorbed granted me this extremely useful status. That’s the most pusible expnation, and I fail to see any reason to compin.

  In fact, it’s fantastic!

  It is exactly what I needed to catch up with all the lost time!

  “Are you okay?” Bke expresses concern, causing me to shake my head and dismiss the status window.

  “Yeah, just a bit startled by that grimm. Like… where did it even come from?” I quickly redirect the conversation, hoping to divert her attention.

  Furrowing her brow, Bke pauses and pces a hand under her chin. “You called it ‘Goobbue’, and you seem to know about it. It’s a grimm I’ve never seen or heard before.”

  I actually set myself up for this one. I want to sp myself hard for this mistake.

  Chewing on my cheek for a moment, I desperately searched my mind for any fragment of information that could help me to give her an expnation. I found myself at a loss, realizing that the name had escaped my lips unconsciously.

  Suddenly, an image of a river and ponds fshes vividly in my mind, accompanied by the familiar silhouette of the grimm, albeit with none of the spikes.

  “It’s a species native to Vacuo,” I begin, the pieces coming together in my mind. “They’re known to hide themselves along riverbanks or oasis, usually trying to mimic rge rocks. Any poor bastard that gets too close for a drink falls victim to their ambush. You never want to get caught in those jaws.”

  That image of the rock being pulverized is still very fresh in my mind.

  Bke nods in understanding. “That’s dangerously clever, hiding in ambush in a desert in a pce where people would likely go without hesitation. But that doesn’t expin why it’s here in Vale.”

  “Beats me.” I shrug. “Maybe it was taken by a river as a newborn and stayed here until it grew to that ridiculous size.”

  My theory fails to convince Bke, evident by the furrowing of her brows. However, before we can delve further into the matter, a loud series of howling echoes in the distance, the unmistakable sound of beowolves.

  We clearly overstayed our welcome. And we don’t want to stay here and endure infinite waves of grimm.

  “We need to leave,” she states, taking off in the opposite direction.

  “Couldn’t agree more.” I respond with a dry chuckle, increasing my speed to keep up with her.

  After what feels like minutes of running, we reach an abandoned train station, a simple but open train station. The rails are lined with numerous deserted freight cars, some overturned and scattered.My attention then shifts to another direction, where I spot destroyed tents and an abundance of litter strewn across the area.

  Turning to face Bke, I ask. “What exactly are we searching for?”

  “Crates and boxes, mostly crates. Many of them were left outside before the grimm attacked,” Bke expins, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of the described crates.

  “Any color, material, size?” Knowing details would help me a lot in finding them, after all.

  “White or wood, that’s mostly how they looked.” She crifies, her gaze looking for anything simir that she described moments ago.

  I join in the search, scanning the area once again for any sign of the desired crates. However, my mentor proves to be quicker in locating our objective.

  “Over there!” she excims, pointing in a specific direction before hastening towards a small pile of broken and dirty crates.

  I’m getting a bad feeling about this. Everything is a mess. But I cannot stay behind and watch her do all the work. She asked for my help for a reason, after all. I move closer to the garbage pile, but my attention is diverted when a group of rats scurries come out from their hiding, causing me to startle and jump back. But they merely scatter in all directions, their tiny bodies disappearing into the debris.

  Honestly, that was dumb.

  I quickly redirect my attention to Bke, who is frantically throwing and moving crates with an increasingly desperate expression on her face.

  She quickly looks at me, her amber eyes pleading with me. “H-help me find anything.”

  I turn my gaze back to the pile of broken crates and let out a sigh. Finding something in good condition seems highly unlikely, but I won’t voice my doubts to her. They say that hope is the st thing to be lost, after all.

  I move to the other side and begin kicking down crates, hoping to uncover at least one intact. However, my efforts are met with unexpected surprises. As I kick another crate, a rat leaps out, emitting a high-pitched shriek that nearly causes me to lose my bance and fall on my ass.

  I pnt my foot down and watch the little fucker run away and hide in a small hole in the ground.

  With a groan, I drag a hand across my face before resuming my search, this time being careful to not find any nasty surprises. I kick aside broken crates and debris, scanning for anything that appears intact.

  Finally, my efforts pay off as I come across a pair of closed crates tucked away amidst the mess. Quickly, I pull them out and open one of them to check the contents. A good sign is that everything inside is in good condition: crackers, bags of rice and oatmeal.

  Driven by curiosity, I decide to explore the second crate, where I discover a collection of water bottles alongside more crackers.

  I scratch my head, looking at the other crates I recovered. I guess it would be safe to assume they are filled with food. Very simple and basic food, but enough to calm a hungry stomach.

  I stack the crates one atop the other, creating a makeshift tower before pcing my hand on top and watch them dematerialize into nothing.

  [Food crate added to you inventory]x6?Despite my best efforts, my search for more supplies proved pointless. I only kept finding garbage and empty bags, thanks to the rodents.

  I rub the back of my head, feeling a mixture of frustration and pity, gncing over at Bke, who is fervently tossing crates aside in a desperate attempt to find more. The expression etched on her face tells me that she is only finding the same garbage as I did.

  I let out a heavy sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. I take another look at the sea of rubbish. I can’t help but feel pity for Bke. There must have been at least a hundred crates’ worth of food.

  Almost everything is lost.

  Ouch.

  I think she might need some moral support, so I walk up to her only to find her on her knees with her hands covering her face in shame. I try to reach for her, but she weakly gestures towards a pair of crates next to her.

  Her voice trembles with disappointment as she speaks, her head still bowed in dejection. “This... this is everything I could find,” Bke confesses, her words carrying a sense of defeat.

  In silence, I walk towards her findings and store them with the rest.

  [Food crate added to your inventory]x2?“I found six on my end,” I comment, attempting to lift her spirits. However, my attempt falls short, as she becomes more miserable with the revetion. “It’s something, right?” I persist, hoping to fix that slip up.

  Especially that negativity attracts grimm.

  “You’re... you’re right,” she finally admits as she gets up, her voice tinged with a mix of exhaustion and gratitude. “It’s been weeks since we abandoned everything.”

  “Exactly! Besides, I can teach you how to make hardtack.” I pause for a moment and give her a smile. “The fishermen back in Kuo Kuana taught me in case of long voyages. It’s incredibly easy to make and really cheap. Although, I must warn you, it has an acquired taste... rather bnd, if you ask me.”

  That finally gets a faint smile from her.

  “Anyways!” I cp my hands. “What else are we looking for? Unless food was the only thing we needed, then I guess we can call it a half-successful mission?”

  Bke maintains her smile, but she shakes her head gently. “Sadly, no. We still need to find the dust, remember?”

  “Ah, right, the dust,” I snap my fingers with a mischievous smirk.

  Bke takes the lead once more, and we make our way toward the train carts. With a subtle gesture, she signals for my assistance in sliding open the doors.

  With our combined strength, we easily open the rge doors. Yet, much to our dismay, an empty container is revealed to us.

  “No...” Her voice quivers, her eyes widening in disbelief as her ears droop low.

  I cautiously stick my head inside the cart, double-checking for any hidden contents. As, my search yields nothing but a desote, hollow space. “Perhaps, another cart?” I suggest, attempting to keep the past optimism alive.

  Without a word, Bke is already in motion, hastening toward the next cart. Mispced determination guides her as she takes it upon herself to open it. Yet, as the doors swing open, the sight that greets us is yet another barren compartment, devoid of any speck of dust.

  A growing sense of worry gnaws at me. This dust, all the dust that should be here, was my only excuse to avoid Cinder. If I were to return empty-handed, I shudder at the thought of what she could do to me. But it’s still too early to give up and I quickly move on to another cart.

  To my dismay, the outcome remains the fucking same. Each cart I open greets me with nothing, that hope slowly dying out.

  Fear tightens its grip around my heart as the consequences of my failed incursion start to sink in.

  “Shit.”

  I slide open yet another door, only to be greeted by the same fucking result, amplifying the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.

  I swiftly leap over the cart’s roof, scanning the area to locate Bke. It takes me mere seconds to spot her as she stands before yet another door, succumbing to despair. The repeated disappointment seems to have taken its toll on her spirit, causing her to sink to her knees in resignation.

  I can’t help but empathize with her. The weight of the situation is soul-crushing. Bke had pced all her hopes in this mission, and it appears increasingly likely that we will leave empty-handed, much to my horror.

  And I’m already thinking of what excuse to tell my bitchy boss. That if the grimm don’t come in droves with this much hopelessness, we are oozing.

  Fuck… What a fucking mess.

  And Neo will very likely suffer the consequences as well, since she is the reason this mission was allowed.

  Shaking off those negative thoughts, I jump off the cart and make my way toward Bke, who is clearly in a less than optimal state. Her words escape in a mumbled whisper. “It’s all gone. All is gone.”

  “There has to be something left, right?” I try to maintain the optimism alive. “I mean, surely you guys had a secret stash somewhere.”

  In an instant, her ears perk up, her head snapping towards me as she locks her golden eyes with mine. Witnessing possible the st spark of hope in her return.

  “You’re right!” she excims, her voice filled with newfound vigor. Without wasting any second, she rises to her feet and runs towards a ruined building nearby. I’m momentarily taken aback by her sudden change in demeanor, but I quickly regain my composure and follow her.

  I catch up to Bke just in time to witness her frustration manifesting in the throwing and kicking of broken pnks and chairs aside. It’s in this chaotic flurry that she uncovers yet another trapdoor, secured by a simple metal lock. Without a moment’s hesitation, she brandishes her weapons, slicing through the lock with precision.

  As the door swings open, Bke exhales a long sigh of relief, her hand instinctively resting against her chest. “They are still here.”

  I share the sentiment since we won’t be leaving empty-handed and my ass is safe.

  I step closer, leaning over Bke’s shoulder to catch a glimpse of the hidden basement. My eyes go wide in surprise as I take in the sight of a lot of crates stacked high and filled to the brim with dust.

  “Is that raw dust?”

  She nods, giving me a smile. “It might not be refined dust, but raw dust still has a lot of uses. It will have to do.”

  Not wasting another moment, I leap inside the storage room, my hands reaching out to touch the crates.

  [Dust crate has been added to your inventory] x43?That’s really a LOT of dust.

  And all those freighter carts were supposedly filled with dust. Taking a moment to think about the sheer scale, it comes to my understanding that it makes sense. Kuo Kuana might not be Vale but they still need a lot of dust to keep functioning.

  A tinge of guilt seeps in as I consider my payment. But my safety is still a priority, as bad as that sounds to others. Nevertheless, I will still take six crates as payment.

  Ascending the dders, I emerge from the basement, finding Bke waiting for me with a happy expression.

  “Mission success?”

  She nods, a smile gracing her lips. “Yes. I just wish we could have recovered more, but I should be thankful that we managed to recover this much, considering the dire circumstances.”

  As I push myself up from the ground, I deliver a firm kick to the trapdoor, sealing it shut behind us. “So what’s next? Unless there is another secret basement, we need to open.”

  Bke stops outside and turns to look at me. “Sadly, that was the only one. We only need to return to Vale. But first we need to find the handcart and put it on the rails so…” she suddenly stops as her ears perk up in full attention.

  instinctively, my own ears follow suit, pricking up in heightened alertness.

  Scanning our surroundings, I struggle to detect anything out of the ordinary. However, my focus shifts downward as I notice small pebbles and debris trembling, gradually shifting and sliding along the ground.

  Summoning my cws once again, I raise my guard and mentally prepare myself for the approaching Grimm. Catching Bke’s eye, I exchange a meaningful gnce with her, receiving a confirming nod in return.

  As the rumbling beneath us intensifies, the ground shaking with increasing ferocity, chaos ensues. The stack of crates teeters precariously, tumbling down in a cascade of wooden wreckage.

  With unspoken understanding, Bke and I break into a sprint, making our way to a more open field away from the building that could colpse on us at any minute.

  As the ground continues, our movements become more cautious, each step calcuted to avoid tripping and stumbling on the unstable ground. Finally, we reach the safety of the rails and come to a halt, coinciding with the sudden stop of the mini-earthquake.

  Which only confuses us even more.

  “What was that?” I ask.

  She shakes her head, her gaze fixed on the ruins. “I don’t know, only a herd of goliaths could cause something like this, but they never stay for too long underground. They prefer the surface.” She answers without taking her eyes off the front. “They are responsible for the destruction of this base, but they should have been long gone.”

  “That kinda makes sense, but something that big we would have noticed by now.”

  She narrows her eyes. “I know.”

  As I rack my brain, contempting possibilities, my thoughts inevitably turn to the weird system of Grimm waves. However, our encounter with the Goobbue can hardly be cssified as a full-fledged wave, and we have managed to move through the ruined town, avoiding fights. Still, the absence of any significant Grimm presence raises more questions than answers.

  Gncing around once more, I take in the scene before me—a desote tunnel and scattered rubble, nothing particurly noteworthy standing out in the ruined cityscape. Yet, a persistent feeling in the pit of my stomach urges me to investigate further. I lower my gaze, fixing my scrutiny on the ground itself as stupid as it sounds.

  Moving forward with cautious steps, my eyes remain fixed on the ground, searching for any signs or anomalies that might offer any sort of clue.

  Then, abruptly, I come to a halt, my attention arrested by a small crack in the ground which could be dismissed as a natural consequence of the crumbling environment. However, it doesn’t look natural.

  Those thoughts come to reality after that seemingly normal spot explodes right in my face, sending a flurry of dirt and stones cascading in every direction. Instinctively, I raise both arms to shield my face from the debris but not fast enough as some dirt reaches my eyes, blinding me.

  “Ma’iq!”

  Amidst the explosion, Bke’s voice barely audible pierces through. But loud enough to force open my eyes and catch a glimpse of a thing coming straight at me. I don’t even know what it is, but my instincts scream at me to move, which I promptly do and frantically rub my eyes and recover my sight. Right in the nick of time as my sight locks onto a pair of recognizable long mandibles, poised to rip my face off.

  In a split-second decision fueled by adrenaline, I channel my strength into a powerful uppercut, striking the myrmidon squarely on its head. With a resounding impact, I twist my arm and drive the creature downward, forcing its rge form against the ground. With its head pinned, I retrieve my cw from the insectoid head and crush the grimm under my boot.

  Without allowing myself a moment’s respite, I forcefully kick the lifeless body aside and leap back, fully focused on the newly formed hole, assuming a better fighting stance.

  It is then that Bke swiftly arrives at my side, her weapon drawn and aimed at the exit point.

  “Why are Myrmidons here?!” she excims in shock, her words catching me off guard.

  Confusion wrinkles my brow as I look at her. “What do you mean, why are they here?” I ask. “I’ve fought them in Emerald Forest.”

  And the amount I’ve killed is nothing to scoff at.

  Bke breaks away from her concentration to look at me incredulously, as if I’ve just say something impossible. “They are native only to Menagerie, they have never been encountered outside the kingdom.”

  My eyes widen, realization dawning upon me as I grasp the implication. The appearance of the Myrmidons here is undeniably linked to me and the Goobbue as well. It’s as if their presence is somehow connected to me. The weight of this realization doesn’t sit well with me, causing a knot of unease to tighten in the pit of my stomach.

  As if the situation couldn’t become any worse, the earth beneath us rumbles once more. However, this time, the tremors do not intensify; instead, they culminate in a violent explosion, causing the ground to rupture open. From the newly formed chasms, hordes of Myrmidons emerge, charging relentlessly toward us.

  We instinctively turn to our left, only to witness more holes erupting, spewing forth a never-ending stream of Grimm.

  Even more explosions go off around us. I frantically look around our new nightmarish surroundings, and a wave of dread washes over me as I behold a sea of bck and white closing in on us. My body instinctively takes a step back, my mind screaming to run away and never look back.

  Instinctively, I look at Bke, urgency etched across my face. “Run or fight?!” I excim in a frantic tone, the weight of the situation crashing down on me.

  Instead of answering, we both pivot to the left as another explosion goes off, our eyes widening in horror as another set of fissures tear open, unleashing an onsught of Grimm. The swarming horde engulfs our field of vision, obscuring everything in its path.

  “BLAKE!” I shout desperately, my voice carrying a mix of fear and urgency. The train carts we had encountered earlier are quickly engulfed by the relentless swarm of Grimm, their existence swallowed whole.

  An entire tide of Grimm charges straight at us.

  A fucking Grimm tide.

  “THE TUNNEL!” she yells, her grip tight on my hand as she pulls me along, propelling us forward in a desperate attempt to outrun the encroaching monsters that hungrily gnash at our heels.

  The tunnel ahead seems ridiculously far, the true distance distorted amidst the chaos and the ants closing in from every direction. Dread fills my being as it becomes evident that they might encircle us before we can reach the sanctuary of the tunnel.

  “DON’T STOP!” Bke’s urgent shout snaps me back to reality, and focus on running straight to the tunnel.

  As if the situation couldn’t worsen, the path before bursts, but this time not with more holes and emerging ants. Instead, enormous insect-like creatures burst forth from the ground. My eyes widen, my heart skipping a beat as I recognize the Centinels, who are now blocking our only escape route.

  With an incredible dispy of strength, Bke pushes her legs to the limit and takes the lead, her bde gleaming as it sshes through the first Centinel, cutting it in half. She swiftly moves on to the next, and the next, successfully clearing our escape route.

  I push my legs to their limits, desperately trying to catch up to her. However, out of the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of a Myrmidon leaping towards me. Reacting on pure instinct, I abruptly halt mid-step, allowing the monster to pass by harmlessly. But to my dismay, it wasn’t alone. More ants followed suit, attempting to bite off a piece of me.

  Without stopping, I seize the next insect, using its writhing body as a makeshift shield against the next attacker. With a swift motion, I hurl the Grimm at the oncoming tide behind me, hoping that it would slow them somehow. However, a quick gnce over my shoulder shatters any hope as I watch the horde trample over the bodies.

  As I refocus my attention to the front, I watch as Bke successfully kills the st of the Centinels, but her speed noticeably diminishes. Seizing the opportunity, I quickly close the gap between us.

  Before I can utter a single word, she thrusts a gun into my hands.

  A small gun but a gun nonetheless, but… where and when did she even get this thing?

  Shaking off my confusion, I instinctively grip the small weapon and start firing at the relentless horde. With the overwhelming mass of monsters, I don’t even bother to check, as the sheer number assures me that my shots are finding their mark with each pull of the trigger.

  I continue firing relentlessly until a sudden click emanates from my gun. Curiosity prompts me to inspect the weapon, searching for any potential malfunctions, only to realize that it has run out of ammo. The realization doesn’t escape Bke’s notice either, as she hastily tosses a small magazine towards me. However, my reflexes betray me, and I fail to catch it, watching helplessly as it plummets to the ground.

  Impossible to recover, as it soon disappears from sight.

  “Fuck!” I scream in sheer frustration. In an act of resignation, I send the empty pistol into my inventory, as it is useless.

  I have nothing to fight back at a distance now.

  Wait a minute!

  I didn’t go to the weapons shop to sightsee!

  In my hands, a pair of grenades materializes, ready to have their pins pulled. And if I use all of them, it might even be enough to create some distance from the swarm.

  “SAVE THEM!” However, Bke’s frantic yelling interrupts my pn.

  I don’t even consider arguing. I abandon my initial pn and continue running straight towards the tunnel entrance. From the corner of my eyes, I catch glimpses of Beowolves packs closing in on us from both sides.

  But our focus shifts as we finally, and thankfully, reach the entrance of the tunnel, where Bke activates her sembnce right on the entrance.

  “USE EVERYTHING!!” Bke’s urgent command rings in my ears.

  No need to tell me twice.

  I only bother to remove one pin before throwing absolutely every single grenade I have bought into the fire. The consequences are immediate as a deafening explosion rips through the air, accompanied by a powerful shockwave that sends us hurtling through the air, crashing onto the ground. Thankfully, our aura cushions most of it.

  As I lie on the ground, my body aching and my breaths bored, I turn my head to catch a glimpse of the entrance, the ck of entrance better said. A profound sense of relief washes over me as I see nothing but dirt and debris, our only escape route now sealed, keeping those bastards out.

  I hear Bke let out a sigh of relief as she rises to a seated position, her exhaustion more than evident. However, I choose to remain lying on my back. It’s a brief moment to gather myself, to catch my breath, and recover from the whole thing.

  Fuck.

  Me.

  That was too close.

  Way too fucking close.

  Never in my fucking life I would have thought to actually encounter a fucking grimm tide, much less fight one, if I could even call that a fight. But how the fuck did one form in the first pce?

  Just how?

  Attack in waves my ass.

  I will just stay here for a while.

  [Congratutions! You have leveled up!] x2?Or maybe not.

  Ma’iq RakhanRace–Feline FaunusAge 17Css: The pugilistLevel–9 (39%)Mentor – Bke BeldonnaApprentice– Jeanne d’ArcHP – 470/470 [45 regen per minute]MP – 1910/1910 [350 regen per minute]SP – 1005/2300 [200 regen per minute]STR–30 (+1)END–38 (+1)DEX–47INT–36WIS–32CHA–28LCK–10Status:

  Mentorship: 25% exp increase

  No fucking shit, I got two levels from that.

  And the amount we killed wasn’t even a droplet of that horde, but I cannot help but feel frustrated in losing potential growth. And I need to unlock a new job, preferably one that increases my strength stat, or soon it will be my lowest stat.

  Nevertheless, there is something positive about everything so far. We succeeded in Bke’s mission, so that only leave to get back to the city safe and sound.

  Which is easier said than done since we have no other path but the abandoned trail rails to reach the city.

  Before I can fully process our predicament, a sense of arm floods over me as both my ears perk up to the rumbling sound resonating everywhere. Strong impacts against the blocked entrance, jolting me back to the present moment.

  Exchanging worried gnces with my mentor, we quickly regain our footing and start running at a slightly less frantic pace, delving deeper into the tunnels. Fortunately, the darkness isn’t as oppressive as the stairs we went through earlier, our natural night vision once again coming in handy.

  After a while of relentless trotting, we slow down. It is during this time that an opportunity arises, prompting me to turn to Bke with a questioning look on my face. “Bke, why were you shocked to see myrmidons here?”

  She gnces back over her shoulder before meeting my gaze with a worried expression. “Myrmidons are native to Menagerie, Ma’iq. They shouldn’t be here,” she expins, gesturing towards the ground. “And certainly not in such overwhelming numbers unless...” she pauses, her voice trailing off.

  “Unless?” I persist.

  A look of realization fshes across her face, and she swallows audibly. “Unless there is an alpha leading them.”

  Her response makes me frown. “An alpha? I suppose that could expin it, but can they really control a tide?” I ask, my voice tinged with skepticism.

  “I don’t know for sure. Alphas are incredibly rare, and it takes decades for a single Grimm to evolve into one. Besides, they tend to stay far away from settlements,” Bke replies with a troubled expression.

  I grimace at the thought. “Well, this mountain certainly feels like a forsaken pce, but still... a fucking Grimm tide?”

  Bke’s ears ftten against her head as she wraps her arms around herself. “We’re lucky to be alive,” she murmurs. “No matter how skilled or strong you are, a tide o is a death sentence for vilges, and even more so for hunters.”

  “Don’t remind me.” I let out a sigh in exasperation. “It’s just fucking crazy how fast everything went to shit.” I rub the back of my neck, trying to ease some knots forming.

  Bke comes to a sudden stop, causing me to pause as well in slight confusion.“We need to warn the city,” she decres.

  But that only gets an incredulous look from me. “Bke, they will ask questions. What are we gonna tell them? Yeah, there are lots of grimm in mountain Glenn. Oh why were we there? We were picking up supplies abandoned by the White Fang.” I finish with sarcasm clear into my voice.

  She shakes her head, dismissing my concerns. “It won’t be a problem. It’s not uncommon for scavengers to venture into Mountain Glenn. They won’t question us too much.”

  I cross my arms and meet her gaze for a moment. However, ultimately, I let out a sigh of defeat. “Whatever… Where are we exactly?” I gesture towards our surroundings.

  “We’re in the old underground railroad,” Bke expins. “It’s a direct route that connects to the city of Vale.”

  “How long will it take us? I don’t really like being down here and worrying about the grimm behind us.” I motion over my shoulder with my thumb.

  Bke pauses, contempting for a moment. “It should take us about half an hour to reach the first checkpoint, and hopefully a safe pce.”

  After her response, I fall silent, realizing that I don’t have any more questions for her at the moment.

  “I sent your message.”

  “What?” I stop and look at her in confusion.

  “I’ve sent your message to your friend, and I made sure that it reached the city.” She says, making my eyes go wide. “But I don’t know how long it will take for the answer to come back.”

  Despite everything that just happened, a smile makes its way on my face at hearing such news. “Thanks. At least that’s something nice to hear for a change.”

  Hopefully, Levi will reply soon. There is a lot to tell her.

  “You are welcome.” Bke smiles back.

  Yet that sweet moment doesn’t st as our ears perk up once again, catching the distant rumble reverberating through the tunnel, telling us that the monsters haven’t given up on trying to catch us.

  “Run.”

  No discussion there.

  As we press on, racing across the railway, a deafening roar reverberates through the tunnel, sending a shiver down our spines and compelling us to be faster.

  “Over there!” Bke shouts, her voice filled with urgency, as she points towards a metallic door etched into the sidewall on the left. In a dispy of her agility, she reaches the door first and yanks the door open.

  I dash across the door, feeling a surge of relief as Bke sms the door shut behind me, securing it with a metal pipe.

  But she doesn’t stop there. She dashes to the right side of the room and starts pushing a big shelf towards the door, successfully blocking the entrance. Only then she gives herself a moment to rest, and sits on the floor with her back resting on the wall.

  “That should be enough. I hope it is enough,” she breathlessly mutters.

  I, too, find myself catching my breath, my body leaning forward as I support myself with knees. Moments pass as I pant, allowing my racing heartbeat to gradually slow down.Once I regain my composure, I inspect the new room we’ve entered. It is a rge ckluster bedroom, evident from the numerous disheveled bedrolls scattered about and ill-maintained tables.

  And very dark.

  But that isn’t a problem, as Bke quickly turns on a mp that she picked up from somewhere and pced it on top of the biggest table in the room.

  Not the best source of light, but good enough, I guess.

  Taking another look at the room, my gaze nds on a cluster of crates piled in a corner. “Looks like a small hideout.”

  Bke nods in agreement. “This is one of the safe-houses we built time ago.”

  She moves towards the crates and retrieves one of them before pcing it on the table, revealing a cache of ammo nestled inside.

  She grabs one magazine and reloads the built-in gun in her weapon.

  Meanwhile, I summon back my pistol and begin scouring the area, hoping to find a simir magazine or at least one that fits my weapon. However, my search proves fruitless, as I come across only a half-empty magazine, prompting a disappointed sigh to escape my lips.

  However, my efforts yield only half a magazine, prompting a sigh of disappointment.

  But it isn’t like I need the gun that much. My aim has been horrendous so far, but I can still learn how to aim and fire one, so I will keep it safely stored in my inventory.

  Wait, what time is it?

  I retrieve my scroll and unlock the screen, revealing the time dispyed: 7:38 PM.

  “It’s already that te?” I excim, the realization sinking in. “The sun was still up before we went underground.”

  Bke, too, gnces at her scroll to verify the time and lets out a prolonged sigh of disappointment. “This has taken far longer than expected,” she admits, a tinge of frustration coloring her voice. “To reach Vale, we’ll have to pass through four more checkpoints.”

  “Four?”

  She nods. “And they are at least two and a half hours apart from each other. If we rest half an hour, we should be at the next checkpoint before eleven and have some time to sleep before finishing the rest.”

  I frown, holding my chin in thought. “Half an hour to rest. I can live with that.”

  Taking advantage of our current position, seated before the table, I delve into my inventory and bring out some food. The aroma wafts through the air, capturing Bke’s attention. Her eyes betray her hunger as they fixate on the meal before us.

  It’s a humble dinner for both of us.

  And then comes a nap.

  Sure as hell, we need one.

  Although, I should have packed a proper bedroll, because the ones here are not only dirty, but very old.

  The first thing I will do when I get back is to take a shower.

  -Neo Politan-

  It was ughably easy to come and go.

  Every. Single. Time.

  Now she only needed to send the file to their contacts in Ats and watch everything come crashing down. She had never cared about politics or what other idiots did, but she knew she had to bear with it.

  It was all part of her grand pn.

  However, she couldn’t deny the giddy feeling that washed over her as she anticipated watching everything explode in their faces.