I totally forgot. The spoils this quest comes with. I kneel beside the Hive Queen's corpse, searching through the decaying flesh. My fingers close around something hard and warm. I recognize that feeling. A gem. But something is unusual about it. I pull it out to have a close look at it because it has a totally different cut from the previous ones I collected before. This one is more of an oral shape like a diamond. And, it is also massive. Easily the size of my fist, pulsing with deep crimson light that seems to shift between red and purple. It's beautiful in a disturbing way. Like crystallized blood with veins of darkness running through it.QUEEN'S CORE ACQUIRED. VALUE: EXCEPTIONAL. I add it to my bag which I later named "The spatial ring". And move to the crocodiles. The biggest crocodile's gem is the same size as the queen. But the only difference is the color and shape. It was emerald with a hexagon shape. The rest gems are circular, smaller than the big one but still v

This is a deja vu, but with uncertainty mix into it. "We should go alert the guild authorities." Brixen suggests. "It will be easier for get all protectors onboard." That's a good idea, but the problem is that they won't believe you unless they see it themselves. Even the guards only think it's another horde attack. "We can try your guild? Maybe if you say something, they'll believe you." I utter. "If it isn't from my father, I'll just be a noise to their ears." "It's our only option." I chip in. "Beside, who said you have to be the one to talk to them." Brixen pause. "My father is a very difficult man." "Thats not news to me." Brixen sighs. "Fine. I'll do it." We arrive in front of the Crimson Aegis headquarter, Brixen still clinging to my back. He slides off carefully, wincing as his feet hit the ground. He still looks pale after hearing that. I grip his shoulders. "Remember our plan. You go to your father and be persuasive.” “I'll try —” “No trying.” I interject “

What is he going to do to me? Does he wants to use me as bait? Manipulate me into submission? Brixen sees my quiet shiver. “It's ok.” He assures me. “Matter of fact, he is rather impressed with what you did back there.” I look at Brixen. He has no idea why I'm in this state. Why is he urging me to talk? He didn't hear the silent threat that came from the commander. "Clearly." the commander agrees. "Hearing only good things about you, you'll be fit to be a surveyor." I want to laugh. Me? A surveyor? Whatever Brixen said to the commander must have given him a lasting impression about me. Or an exposed trail. “There's no need to force him to speak if he doesn't want to.” the commander smile. “Follow me.” As we follow him closely behind, my eyes catches movement to the side. One of the raiders from that first night is wearing fatigues like cloak. Our eyes meet briefly and he quickly look away. Guess he is still guilty of that. “Have you ever fought before, Mister Sullivan?” The

It happen so fast that I didn't have the time to even blink. I barely dodge a punch that could shatter my head into tiny pieces if not for the agility. And make a run. "Stop him!" Sienna's voice cuts through the chaos. "Don't let him escape!" I didn't care which directions I'm running into, but anything to avoid getting shredded to pieces. A protector shot a spike arrow to my side. Digging right into a building wall ahead of me and pulls himself forward. Only stopping few inches before me. He carries along a female protector who leaps out of him in an instant and swings her double blades at me. I avoid every strikes as much as possible but she is so fast that a few of her strikes are crave on my flesh. The agonizing pain mix with dreads flush across my body. She only stopped after I jumped high enough to get onto a window. Guess her gear only works on ground. Sadly, I can't say the same for the others as many of them have different ways to go on air. One only needs to

I crash-land face-first in dirt. For a moment, I lie there, tasting soil and blood. Wondering if any part of my body is still works properly. My ribs throb. My leg screams. Everything hurts. But I'm alive. The penalty zone pulled me out before the titan crushed me. I push myself up slowly, spitting dirt, and take stock. I'm in a void again. But this time. It is not the endless black of before. It looks like I'm in a dungeon. The system pulses. [PENALTY PROTOCOL ACTIVE.] [FIRST CHALLENGE: THE KEEPER'S MAZE.] [RIDDLE: SECURE THE KEEPER'S TOKEN OR BE DEVOURED.] [TIME LIMIT: THIRTY MINUTES.] Great. A maze, a token, and something that wants to devour me. Things keep getting better. Ironically. Heavy footsteps echo behind me. Getting closer. I turn slowly to see what it is. Its a bull. But not a normal bull. This thing is eight feet tall at the shoulder, muscles rippling under dark fur. Its eyes glow red in the dim light. In its massive hands, it holds a