“That’s not what I meant, dummy! I wondered if we got the first clear?”

  Cye’s question lingered in the air, leaving Liam with an odd expression.

  Suddenly ughter broke out, loud and free. It was a mix of relief, delight, and amusement.

  Liam also shook his head with a smile.

  But the party suddenly shut up as the annouhey longed for finally appeared before their eyes.

  [gratutions on achieving the first clear of a level 5-10 dungeon. >Achieved in: Reyr’s Curse<]

  [Your aplishment is worthy of being remembered.]

  [You choose to name your team or stay anonymous.]

  [gratutions on achieving the first clear of Reyr’s Curse.]

  [Your aplishment is worthy of being remembered.]

  “We did it!”

  With firmation in front of them, the party cheered.

  Cye and Balm jumped arouedly. Radiant Shield and Bloody Edge spoke gibberish. Watchful Eye oically. Liam, Quickstep and Silent Acacia smiled faintly. Fortune cheered before enting form the side.

  Only Silver Bde stood in pce, her body trembling, close to tears. The faces of her parents fshed before her mind.

  This is it! My first step! I have taken the lead in the fight for succession!

  Suddenly the young woman snapped out of it as she felt a hand on her shoulder. She go the side, meeting Liam’s eyes.

  “Liam… thank you! Truly!”

  “Don’t mention it. You hired us, after all.”, answered Liam with a wink.

  Not far away Balm and Cye stopped jumping as their eyes fell on the duo. They stuck their heads together, whispering:

  “Did you hear this?”

  “Yeah…”

  “Who is Liam?”

  “I don’t know. Silver Bde is your friend! It will be your mission to find out!”

  “What do you think? Is the expert some rich sed geion?”

  Fortunately, Liam didn’t notice the twossiping as he was occupied with the annou.

  “So I will he team Colville stru, just as previously discussed. Alright?”

  “Yes, please.”

  “Great. Should we make the annou now?”

  “Is there any advantage in deying?”

  “Not really. Only if you o make some real world preparations.

  Or you want to wait for Star Gazer to clear the dungeon and look at his face when he doesn’t get the first clear notice.”

  “Wouldn’t this be too mean?”, asked Silver Bde with a frown. But Liam only answered with a shrug of his shoulders.

  Such a move could be sidered tame pared to what he has watched rivaling gamers pull off.

  “I think it is alright to make the annou now.”

  “You heard her C.”

  […]

  [Server Annou:]

  [Please gratute team Colville strus on being the first to achieve the first clear of a level 5-10 dungeon. >Achieved in: Reyr’s Curse<]

  Simultaneously two other notifications appeared before all the party members.

  [Aplished achievement: First step on a long path.]

  [Received title: Forerunner]

  [Effect: Gaira life.]

  [You have cleared a dungeon before all others. No time to rest.]

  [Aplished achievement: Reyr’s retribution]

  [Received title: Cursebreaker]

  [Effect: Gain ara 5% defense against dark magic.]

  [Refresnim will remember you.]

  Meanwhile the outside world was suddenly thrown in chaos. TV and radio stations interrupted their shows to py the breaking news.

  Even people who had no time to watch got to know what happened per word of mouth.

  Suddenly only a siopic was discussed oreet and the web. Some vish people even called their friends on other ps, paring Falva Star’s progress to the rest of the federation.

  “I ’t believe it, they were so fast!”

  “Didn’t Star Gazer say he needed five days?”

  “Do you think Star Gazer got the first clear?”

  “The team is called Colville strus, of course it was Star Gazer’s doing!”

  “But doesn’t Colville strus belong to his uncle or something?”

  “Tzz. What do you know? It’s said they have long tried to get their hands on the pany. Maybe they succeeded.”

  “Hiss. Are you suicidal? Airing the Colville Family’s dirty undry in public?!”

  While some people were speg, the business world focused on something else.

  “Damn, Colville pulled a brilliant move!”

  “Yeah, look at all the advertisement! It’s on every el!”

  “That’s worth millions, insane!”

  “My employees advised me to advertise in games, but I ook it seriously before.”

  “Wow, you missed out!”

  “No, I agreed. Brb, requesting some reports!”

  “Hahaha, guess someone is w overtime today!”

  “I feel a massive shift ining.”

  “Yeah guys, i early.”

  However, the party didn’t know yet that they domihe versations throughout Falva Star and beyond. They were gradually stopping their celebrations, turning their gazes towards Reyr.

  Cye rubbed her hands as she approached the skinny corpse.

  A few moments ter she had a blue shimmer in hand, but her face uzzled.

  “Why is it level 10?”

  “Reyr will only drop level 10 items. But don’t worry, after getting out of here we will level up.”

  Liam’s expnation doused the blond womahusiasm. She stuffed all the loot in her iory, pnning to distribute it ter.

  “Are we leaving now?”, asked Silver Bde with a look at Bleary Mirage.

  “I still have a small surprise prepared for you.”

  “Really? What is it?”

  If you want, we fight a hidden boss.”

  Liam’s wrabbed everyone’s attention. A hidden boss usually meant a lot of rare loot.

  “Let’s go!”

  “Sure.”

  With a ugh, the veteran turned around and approached the wall formerly hidden by the devil’s face.

  Only now did the other party members notice that a door made from thick metal bars had been revealed there. In the dim light a single dispy could be seen behind, with a small gem on top of it.

  Liam pulled out the bck key he received in the hidden prayer room, putting it into the lock.

  With a click the door sprang open.

  Cye brushed past Liam, quickly taking the gem with a grin.

  [Refresnim’s paegory: Legendary

  Effect: Heals all curses in the world

  Refresnim, greatest of all devils, nearly almighty, created this gem for the case of Reyr’s success. You are seeing right, mortal! There is not a single lie in these words!

  What do you mean you don’t believe me?]

  At first Cye’s couldn’t believe her eyes, her breath turning hot, firembling.

  But after reading the item’s description she felt skeptical, eyeing Bleary Mirage.

  “Expert? What’s up with this thing?”

  “It’s naturally Refresnim’s deception. But retend not to have seen it. Let’s go, we should save the holy nephilim outside.”

  “So mean… t me in!”

  The party joked around, no one bming Liam. Clearly the game wahem to act like this.

  Soon, they gathered in front of the statue outside, looking at a clear iion at the man’s chest.

  “This fight isn’t difficult. Just keep up your attacks. Everyone ready?”

  “Sure.”

  “Of course!”

  “Goed fighters, you stand behind his back. Tanks, fight from the front. Let’s do this.”

  The party members scattered quickly, looking at Liam with expet eyes. The tter nodded before pg the gem on the nephilim’s chest.

  A holy light traveled form the statue’s outstretched palm to its feet. But it was only a fsh, a fleeting brilliance.

  Right after, a cold ughter breezed through the air. Cracks appeared oatue, a deep uling bck.

  Chucks of stone fell off, turning to dust before reag the ground.

  The holy nephilim’s face was freed first.

  “What have you done?”

  Before he could speak anything else the nephilim was devoured by a bck color, his face torted in pain and struggle.

  A few moments ter the stone had disappeared, leaving a tall nephilim with long blond hair, white wings and a slender sword.

  [Phahe righteous (possessed)Rank: ???

  Level: ???

  HP: ???]

  “You shall pay!”

  The man growled strangely as he flourished his sword. Radiant Shield realized that the battle had started, quickly blog the first attack.

  [Stance -10]

  The rest of the party was ready to fight, but Liam hastily stopped them.

  “Wait a few seds. We only attack when his wings are mostly bck!”

  The others were just about to relutly lower their ons when the nephilim’s wings suddenly darkened. Instantly attacks rained down on him.

  “Little pests!”

  Despite talking to the people behind his back, the nephilim couldn’t turn around. He held his arm before his body.

  Liam watched closely. Seeing a light flicker on the sword’s tip he hastily warhe tanks.

  “Don’t block! Jump back diagonally!”

  Unfortunately, the warning was a bit too sudden, causing the two tanks to choose dires poorly.

  With a swing of the nephilim’s sword, three waves of holy light shoot out in a e shape, one of them hitting Radiant Shield.

  [-98!]

  “Huh, less serious than I thought.”

  “Yeah, because of our race’s resistao holy damage.”

  “Makes sense.”

  Silver Bde and Radiant Shield assessed the damage while approag the holy nephilim again, crashing their shields into him.

  Suddenly his wings ged again, turning half-bck, half-white.

  Liam realized what was about to e, the two tanks to distahemselves from the oppo.

  “Feel my…”

  “Shut up!”