The oversized rat came to a stop close to Silver Bde, swaying its head as if it was dizzy. Everyone immediately took the ce to attack.

  Melodious Edelweiss pted for a moment before pying a certain tune and produg a red note which quickly caught up with Liam, allowing him to ignore part of the enemy’s armor for a sed.

  With the party attag at the same time the rat suffered heavy damage although everyone’s most important skills were still on cooldown.

  It let out an angry hiss, smming its body against Radiant Shield.

  [-524!]

  However, what answered it was the rotation of attacks, bringing its HP dangerously low. Just as the party thought they could end the fight, the boss’s tiny eyes turned blood red.

  An oppressive air filled the cave. Not giving the party a ce, the boss opes mouth, revealing a pair of incredibly sharp teeth and bit towards the ground.

  The rat’s mouth moved unbelievably fast, crushing the stone below it with ease. In no time at all the huge body vanished into the floor. Only a desperate squeak echoed through the cave.

  The party members looked at Liam, their eyes questioning if they should follow the boss. But the path was suddenly covered by a yellow barrier.

  For a moment an oppressive silence fell on the cave. Silver Bde felt the situation wasn’t right, signaling the party to stick together. Right then low g sounds spread as holes appeared all over the cave.

  Heads peeked out, sending a shiver down everyone’s spines. Rats could be found on all sides. It didn’t take long fht of them to drop into the cave and swarm the party.

  “Careful! Shield, Felix, help me take the aggro! Don’t let them attack our bae!”

  The two men didn’t need Silver Bde’s reminder, quickly getting into position. Together the trio blocked the way for all the rats, bundling the attacks on them.

  “Good job.”, praised Liam generously while w to reduce the enemies.

  After the initial shock the fight wasn’t that difficult. Radiant Shield even stood there without moving, letting the rats attack him freely. He was just short of taking a nap.

  Silver Bde and Final Fend couldn’t be quite as leisurely but with Melodious Edelweiss’s heals they held on well.

  Soon, the first wave of rats was defeated but it was quickly followed by ten more of the spiked rodents.

  This time the party had tle a bit as one of the rats made it past the tanks. Liam was forced to draw aggro. Coupled with the reflective damage he was stu a pinch.

  The party focused on the enemy attag Liam to free him up. Only after that rat died could they fight without distra.

  However, after the sed wave a third ourally followed. This time Liam was forced to take on two rats, putting quite the pressure on the party.

  Liam appeared to be struggling, juggling his ult tain stand dodge carefully.

  But suddenly he gowards a certain hollow, before immediately pulling his eyes away.

  [Bleary Mirage: Braag, now!]

  Braag couldn’t stay as indifferent. He clearly revealed aed grin on his face as his uncher heated up, glowing in a fming red. A massive sphere was shot, flying towards the hollow.

  Bck Rat had observed the fight patiently, never daring to move. Only when it looked like the battle was nearing its end and Bleary Mirage was in a situation requiring all his attention did he finally make a move.

  The thief felt his hair stand on end as he sneaked betwees, heading for the hollow.

  But just as he was about to reach it, he felt a strange sensation, which vanished immediately. Bck Rat doubted himself for a moment, not sure whether he should advance.

  Suddenly he jolted his head to the side, his eyes falling . A massive bomb left the dwarf’s uncher, heading right for the hollow.

  Bck Rat felt his heart skip a beat. Without hesitation he immediately turned around trying to escape.

  But it was still too te. A heavy explosion shook the cave. Its edge caught the thief, dispersing his stealth and revealing him to everyone’s eyes.

  Bck Rat was shocked and jumped away from the hollow. His head turowards Bleary Mirage as a sigh escaped his lips. Suddenly he waved his hand, throwing a bck ball on the floor.

  A cloud of smoke erupted c the thief’s surroundings.

  “I lost. Well pyed.”

  Those words lingered in the cave as the smoke slowly dispersed, Bck Rat o be found.

  Liam raised his brows, a smile pying on his lips:

  “Master thief?”

  “What?”

  “A thief css purely focused on stealing. ing and going ued. It’s usually quite popur but only the best make it work.”

  “How would you rate that guy’s skill level?”, asked Braag curiously.

  “Not bad…”

  The others reacted strangely upon hearing this evaluation. Without Liam it was questionable if they would’ve detected Bck Rat. If this was ‘not bad’, then what about them?

  Liam g the faces and nodded calmly.

  “I guess what you’re thinking. Your dete skills are indeed not up to par. Something else we should put on the agenda.”

  The others smiled wryly, knowing that even more training was waiting for them. Luckily Final Fend’s shout diverted their attention:

  “Guys, we focus ba the fight?”

  Gng at the young man everyoiced his HP decreasing dangerously. Since he was only level 19, even the on rats dealt siderable damage.

  Melodious Edelweiss immediately produced a green note, healing against the damage. Simultaneously Fortune had just finished her cast, sending out an [Are Sphere] in Final Fend’s dire.

  Two rats died, lifting the pressure of him. Ultimately Final Fend still o drink a health potion before the st enemy fell.

  Uain squeaks spread through the cave. The few rats still watg appeared intimidated, slowly drawing bato their tunnels.

  Suddenly the floor trembled. A rge piece of rock broke away, revealing a furious rat king jumping out of the ground. Its angry squeaks were directed at its brethren, admonishing them for their disloyalty.

  But before the king itself mao get ata, swords and magic arrived from all sides. Letting out an unwilling squeak the boss dropped to the floor.

  Immediately the other rats lost all their shackles and scattered.

  “Another boss falls under our bde. A valiant effort, my friends.”, praised Radiant Shield with a light nod.

  Watg everyone’s faces Melodious Edelweiss felt flig sensations. She gathered her ce, asking in a low voice:

  “Aren’t you happy?”

  The others were startled, looking at each other. The fight her held a high signifior difficulty, thus not stirring their emotions. But Silver Bde’s thoughts moved quickly, answering with a bright smile:

  “I’m happy that we discovered a alent! gratutions to your first boss kill as part of Hotpot, Edelweiss!”

  “Sis, shouldn’t it be Dream Avenue now?”

  “Haha, right!”

  The friends smiled joyfully, some even g for Melodious Edelweiss. After getting to know the bard everyone could tell that she was rather shy. Maybe some aowledgement might help to increase her fidence.

  The young woman oher hand was taken aback by the rea, thanking Silver Bde in a barely audible voice.

  While the friends were talking, the bodies around them gradually disappeared. Braag looked distressed as many of the rats still carried the wealth stacks applied by his passive. The dwarf quickly reached out to one of the rats but didn’t receive aion.

  Braag realized that the bodies couldn’t be looted. With a sigh he moved towards the boss, hoping that it could make up for his losses.

  When the progress bar vanished, a pair of leather gloves appeared in his hands. They were of unon quality, increasing INT and STR, fitting perfectly for the dwarf.

  But even though Braag wasn’t a ember of Hotpot he found it difficult to get excited over the unon equipment. He wore the gloves with a ral expression while searg his iory for the rest of the loot. After a momeiced something iing, taking out a light-blue scroll.

  “Hey guys, look at this!”

  “Hmm, what makes you so excited?”, asked Final Fend with a ugh, prompting Braag to share the item in the chat.

  [Intermediate White BlizzardCategory: Unon

  Effect: Unleash a blizzard in an area of 30 meters, dealing 300 points of magical damage per sed to all affected ehe spell sts for 60 seds.

  Restris: only be used during guild wars

  A scroll famously produced by the Blizzard Tower of Svebrial academy. In case of war the entire empire be turned into a freezing hell.]

  It took only a moment for Final Fend to excim in shock:

  “What? This sounds so op!”

  Silver Bde, knowing her brother, rolled her eyes.

  “Did you evehe restri?”

  “Restri? Oh…”

  A few chuckles rang through the cave while Braag already approached the hollow which was targeted by Bck Rat earlier. He rubbed his hands in preparation as his eyes fell on the half-hidden treasure chest.