The scent of sulfur and metal lingered in the air.
Warm blood seeped into his linen, tracing a path from his hand to the edge of his sword. Before him lay a familiar corpse
Of his comrade.
No, his former comrade.
People he had trusted.
They had betrayed him.
A bitter taste coated his tongue.
Like a spectator at a comedy skit, the demon watched with quiet amusement.
Something stirred within him.
Why?
Why would they do it?
What did I do?
The culprits spoke, but the buzzing in his ears drowned out their words.
An excuse?
They didn't have a choice?
Laughable.
His knuckles tightened around the hilt of his sword.
How did it come to this? How could I not know about it?
Why did they let this happen? Why me?
Questions surfaced one after another. But the answers never came.
His legs trembled.
When did it start? Before they entered the dungeon? When they left? Or was it yesterday?
Maybe it was inevitable.
Maybe—
["His fate had been sealed the moment he stepped into the tavern."]
***
The dimly lit tavern reeked of alcohol and sweat. Tobacco smoke and the scent of burning oil from the lamps clung to the air. Laughter of adventurers, hushed whispers of gossip, and the clinking of glasses echoed throughout the room.
Against the far wall, a clock loomed, its second hand ticking with mechanical precision.
It struck twelve—noon.
Yet the muted glow inside, the dim light filtering through the windows, suggested otherwise.
But no one in the tavern seemed to find it odd. They carried on with their usual nonchalance.
In the secluded corner away from the revelry, two men sat in silence.
One exhaled sharply. The other barely moved—his expression eerily still, save for a slow blink.
Ishar drummed his fingers against the scarred wooden table, his gaze flicking to the clock, then back to the man across from him. "So... what did you want to talk about?"
Kael muttered, "Tomorrow... We're heading back into the dungeon."
Ishar blinked. "What do you mean...we're heading back into the dungeon? Didn't we just crawl out of the dungeon just two days ago?"
Kael nodded. His confusion was reasonable—no sane person would attempt another dungeon run this soon.
Unfortunately.
"Just like I said."
He stared at Kael.
Ishar stared at him. "I still don't get it. Why? What's going on?"
Kael sighed. "I know it sounds crazy, but we don't have a choice. The situation demands it."
"What? That makes no sense. Explain."
"A new dungeon has surfaced. Governed has issued an order for our team to be at it tomorrow."
Ishar leaned back in his chair; lips pursed. "You know...I never liked that guy."
Kael shot him a look.
"Fine, fine. I won't say anything." Ishar raised his hands in mock surrender.
Kael scratches his cheeks, his face one of hesitation.
Ishar's brows furrowed. "There's more?"
Kael exhaled. "Well, there is a reward."
"Oh, that's new." His eye gleamed with anticipation.
"If we destroy the core…" Kael let the words hang.
"Come on, don't make me wait."
"He would recommend us to center."
Ishar sucked in a deep breath.
"..."
All of a sudden, he jolted up, raising his voice. "A recommendation to the Center?!"
The tavern fell silent. Everyone turned their head to him. The weight of their gaze settled heavy on him. He coughed and sat down again. The room resumed its usual noise.
Kael facepalmed. Leaning in, he hissed, "Don't go shouting that around. You'll have every rat in this place crawling for a piece."
Ishar nodded blankly. "Yeah, you know how much it means to me. My father might be there."
Kael's face darkened. "Yeah."
"I at least want to meet him. Just once." Ishar's fingers curled against the table.
Kael nodded weakly.
"Well now... that sounds interesting." A rough chuckle sounded behind him.
Ishar turned around.
"Jake." His face darkened.
A white, blonde-haired man stood with his arms crossed. A sneer on his face.
"You sure miss your daddy, don't you, daddy's boy?"
Ishar's jaw clenched. "Jake. Don't mess with me today."
He grinned. "Oh? What now? Gonna run and cry to your daddy?"
Before Jake could take another breath, Ishar shoved his chair back with a sharp screech, rising to his feet in one fluid motion.
Without hesitation, he drove his fist straight into Jake's smirking face.
The impact was solid. A satisfying crack echoed through the tavern as Jake's head snapped to the side. He staggered back a step, blinking, before his tongue flicked out to taste the blood trickling from his split lip.
For a moment, silence reigned.
Then—
The tavern erupted.
"Yeah, get him, boy."
"My bet's on the Governor Brat."
"Cheers for governor brat."
In an instant, the tavern became a den of bets and jeers.
Jake let out a short chuckle, cracking his knuckles. "Let's put the rat in its place."
They stared into each other's eyes. Eyes communicate everything they need to know.
Both are not willing to back down.
Ishar lunged, his fist cutting through the air with weight and momentum.
Jake maneuvered aside. And threw a punch. Only for Ishar to block.
Jake spoke. "Enough playing around."
[Trait: Titan Fang [D] Triggers.]
His fist swung like a sledgehammer.
Ishar's eyes widened—too fast. He barely managed to cross his arms.
The impact sent him tumbling.
Jake didn't waste the opening. Another jab. Ishar staggered.
Using the distance. He tired to counterattack. But Jakes fist was faster.
Before he could strike.
His instincts screamed to defend.
Every strike felt like his bones grinding other, like shards of glass scraping beneath his skin.
The barrage was relentless.
Ishar tried to think of a way out of the barrage.
But Jake didn't give Ishar the chance to adjust or counterattack.
The audience went silent.
Ishar's defenses collapsed; his limbs felt numb.
[Skill: Reaver's Snare [E] Activated.]
Jake's fist sank into his stomach like a piledriver.
The impact of it sent him crashing into the table.
With a grin. "A rat dreaming of heaven, huh?"
He moved forward to end it.
"That's enough, Jake."
A firm hand slammed onto Jake's shoulder.
Kael.
His expression was dark. "If you want to fight, fight someone your age."
Jake's grin lingered for a moment—then faded.
"Tch. Maybe next time."
He turned and strode toward the exit, vanishing into the crowd.
The tavern booed.
"What the hell?"
"Who ends a match like that?"
"So who won?"
Kael shot them a glare.
The tavern fell back into its usual rhythm.
As if nothing had happened.