A sharp sound rang out. The party members ed their necks, watg the airbor spit out spiky needles looking somewhat like a bee’s stinger.

  To everyone’s shock the first attack fell straight on Balm. Its speed was incredible high, leaving Balm no time to dodge.

  [-1019!]

  Balm shuddered seeing a third of her HP gone in an instant.

  “Don’t stop in one pce, guys! Keep moving!”

  Silver Bde woke everyone up. They followed her advice, running around in random patterns.

  Ainger flew like an arrow, aimed as Silver Bde. But the tank noticed it quickly, dodging without trouble.

  But the ant didn’t let up. For whatever reason two more stingers aimed at Silver Bde, both hittiy air.

  Seemingly exhausted the i only managed o attack. The bck tip shot through the air, aiming right at Final Fend.

  “Hehe, that was a mistake!”

  The young man grinned, using his skill [Fme of Punishment]. A dark e, almost bck fire engulfed his on. He quickly held the arm ed in a before his chest.

  With a loud g the solid stinger crashed into the metal. Final Fend was forced a step back, but he didn’t care, watg the ant in the sky.

  Sparks flew wildly from the collision. The others were fused when the fire surrounding Final Fend’s on directly went out.

  But then a strange, pained sound came from the air. The dark fme mysteriously appeared around the airbor, fiercely burning its body.

  [-566!]

  The enemy’s wrathful eyes focused on Final Fend.

  “Guys, my skills draw aggro! You attack!”

  “Well done!”

  Fortuared at the ant in the sky. She didn’t dare to use her are bolts. She could already imagihe looks after not nding a single one of the difficult to trol spells.

  Thus, she opted for a normal attack. A magical sphere shot at the enemy.

  [-765!]

  The moment the flying aaliated. It suddenly plunged form the sky, aiming for Final Fend.

  “Bring it on!”

  The young man looked upwards with aed smile, happy to be at the ter of attention. He almost wao wave a red cloth, enjoying himself greatly.

  In the blink of ahe ant was close to the ground. It clicked its mandibles, seeking to rip a piece of flesh out of Final Fend.

  At the st moment the young man suddenly turned his body to the side. The ant missed miserably.

  [Stance -22]

  Right then a dark-clothed man appeared out of nowhere. Two daggers stabbed at the ant’s back.

  [-749!]

  “Damn, how fast!”, pined Bloody Edge. “I missed an attack!”

  “It’s not that bad. We got this!”, enced Silver Bde although she had to watch helplessly as the ant rose bato the air.

  The moopped for a moment. Balm immediately saw her ce. She used her improved [Holy Strike] again.

  A spear of brilliant light struck the ant’s head perfectly, instantly followed by a wave of healing energy.

  [-430!]

  [+175!]

  Balm’s passive triggered. It grahe recipient of every third heal an increase in attributes. Silver Bde and Braag profited directly.

  While the tank looked helpless, Braag shouted excitedly.

  “Good timing! Look at this!”

  With those words he used his [Triple Boom] skill. Three bbs sailed through the air. They aimed for the flying oppo… and missed miserably.

  Explosions could be seen, ripping trees and pnts apart. Braag coughed awkwardly feeling the other’s eyes on him.

  “Ehm, I have never been someoh great aim.”

  “Now I know why you choose that css.”, joked Final Fend.

  However, he was quickly forced to shut up as the elite attacked again. This time Final Fend tightened his muscles, standing in the way of his oppo.

  [Stance -24]

  A heavy impact shook his body. Final Fend and the ant both tumbled backwards.

  This time Bloody Edge and Watchful Eye were both prepared. Their ons crashed into the bck carapace.

  [-557!]

  [-754!]

  [-377!]

  Atack left Fortune’s staff. Finally, the carapace couldn’t hold on anymore. A sphere of dense marated the ant’s body, ending its life.

  “That’s it!”

  “Nicely done!”

  “Serves yht, stupid i!”

  The party celebrated happily. Final Fend stood over the ant’s dead body, scoffing lightly:

  “This wasn’t that difficult!”

  Braag opened his mouth, just about to agree when Watchful Eye interrupted:

  “We aren’t do!”

  “What?”

  “Listen carefully.”

  The party members shut up their mouths, straining their ears. They could vaguely make out more buzzing.

  Silver Bde frowned, feeling strangely restless.

  “Fend, quickly take the loot! We’re leaving!”

  “Why the hurry?”, asked Balm in fusion.

  “Don’t dawdle, move!”

  “Ok ok, sis.”

  Final Fend quickly reached out to the body on the floor. Under Silver Bde’s urging he directly put the loot into his iory, following the rest of the party into the jungle.

  The party ran away but the buzzing only became louder. Silver Bde gnced over her shoulder, looking towards the clearing some distance away.

  Her heart skipped a beat. She saw more than a dozen flying ants looming over the clearing. They wandered around aimlessly as if having lost their target. Although those mobs were es, they were incredibly troublesome to fight.

  The others noticed the situation as well.

  “Ok, you were right, sis. As always.”, admitted Final Fend begrudgingly.

  Meanwhile, Fortune recorded the flying ants closely, trying to make them look as threatening as possible. At the same time, she didn’t fet to ent:

  “roup barely escaped disaster. But now we lost our clue. How should we proceed now? Will we have to cel the quest?”

  “Sometimes tactical retreat is the best option.”, spoke Bloody Edge in a deep voice.

  Silver Bde rolled her eyes. In her opinion Fortune was overly dramatic. She gazed at the hill not far away.

  “I have a hunch that we will find our wares there.”

  “I agree with the young dy.”

  The others nodded as well. Under Silver Bde’s lead they approached the hill again, now from anle. Fighting through groups of ants they slowly got closer.

  But from time-to-time loud buzzing could be heard. Cursing inwardly the group was forced to escape. Once, Final Fend suggested fighting the flying ants and be doh it.

  But when they waited for the oppos, they realized that the group of enemies was only growing.

  Without hesitation, they instantly turned and ran.

  All of this wasted quite some time for the group. When they got closer to the hill, the time to log off was already approag.

  The party decided to stop for the day and tiomorrow.

  Gradually everyohe game.

  Liam returo the real world as well. He stood up slowly with a smile on his face. After leveling with the party for a few days he spent the afternoon together with Serena. He felt somewhat guilty since he told his friends he would prepare for the dungeon.

  But he also felt the o spend some time with his sister. He carefully asked her how she felt about the private teacher and the aboul Discroup.

  Fortunately, Serena appeared more than happy with both of them. She talked for a long time about the new friends she made and the beautiful sights she had seen.

  A heavy stone fell form Liam’s heart now that Serena’s education was ba traow he could focus on the dungeon for the few days. And right after that, the gold exge should open soon.

  “Sir, we’ve reached our destination.”

  Liam suddenly snapped out of his thoughts. He thahe driver of his taxi, stepping out of the car.

  He found himself in front of a special building. Heavy, armored vehicles rolled over the rge court. A solemn atmosphere hung around the rge block void of any unnecessary decorations.

  Men and women in uniform frequehis pce.

  Liam looked around curiously as he ehrough a gss door. Stern eyes instantly focused on him from behind an armored reception.

  “Wele to the iigation unit, citizen. How I help you?”

  “Hello. My name is Liam Varsmith. Detective Sullen asked me to e in.”

  “One moment.”

  The receptionist scrolled around on a s, obviously firming something.

  A sed ter he Liam.

  “I am sorry, mister Varsmith, but I ’t seem to find anything about this.”

  Liam was taken aback.

  “Maybe I got the name wrong? What about Detective Kolb?”

  “I’m afraid there is nothing here.”

  Liam frowned, staring at the receptionist deeply.

  “Sir, I’m afraid I ’t help you.”

  “Are you sure? I have been stabbed a few days ago. You don’t find anything about it?”

  “No. I’m sorry citizen, but I have to ask you to leave now. If you think there was a mistake, you hand in an official pint.”

  The receptionist stayed polite but his voice was clearly more forceful. Liam uzzled by the situation. For now, he had no option but to retreat.

  Outside, Liam stayed for a while hoping for the slim ce of entering one of the detectives.

  But eventually he could only go home with an unwell feeling.