The bugs were massive, each one easily the size of a large dog, their elongated, segmented bodies covered in a hardened chitinous shell that resembled layered armor more than anything natural.The surface wasn't smooth. It was ridged and uneven, with dark, glossy plates overlapping one another, faintly reflecting the dim light around them in broken, shifting patterns.Their legs were long and jointed, ending in sharp, hooked tips that dug into both the ground and the walls with ease, allowing them to cling and move from any angle without losing balance. Some clung to the walls, others to the ceiling, their movement unsettlingly fluid as they shifted positions with minimal sound, save for the constant, low buzzing that filled the corridor.Their wings were thin but wide, almost translucent, beating at a rapid pace that created a steady vibration in the air. Despite their size, they weren't clumsy. The way they hovered, adjusted, and repositioned themselves made it clear—they were fast,

Cain turned toward Hera, caught slightly off guard by the remark. Of all people, she wasn't someone he expected to hear that from."Ah… well, thank you," he replied, the response coming out more awkwardly than he intended."I suppose that's to be expected, considering you're a mage," she added, her tone neutral as ever before she turned and walked away without another word.And just like that, the twins closed in on him again.Cain let out a quiet breath, already bracing himself. Mostly because of Ava."That was quite thrilling! Weren't you excited?" Ava asked, practically bouncing in place, her energy completely out of sync with the situation."No."How could I be? I could've died."Good job...surviving," Avery said calmly from beside her.That, at least, was easier to respond to."And you…Too," Cain replied, matching her tone."Did you see my moves?" Ava jumped back in without missing a beat. "I went whoosh, and then bam, and then bodies were just dropping everywhere.""Yeah… you we

"What is happening, Adel?" Barack demanded, dropping to one knee beside Quasi, his voice edged with urgency as he leaned in closer. "His condition is getting worse.""It's the venom," Adel replied, her voice tight despite her effort to remain composed. "The portion that had already spread through his system is reacting.""Then do something about it.""I've already done everything I can," she said, frustration beginning to creep into her tone. "What's already inside him isn't something I can simply extract. At this point, forcing it would only drain my mana for no real effect."Barack's expression darkened immediately."Do you hear yourself right now?" he snapped. "This is Quasi we're talking about, the one who's carried this team through half of these fights."Adel hesitated, clearly torn."But if we're attacked again," she said, her voice lowering, "and someone else gets injured, I won't have enough mana left to support them. I have to think about that too."Barack's gaze hardened as

"Ah, well, that's because he can suppress his rank. Drop it by a tier."Cain went quiet for a moment as he tried to process what he had just heard, his mouth slightly open in disbelief."He can lower his rank by a tier?" he repeated, as though saying it aloud might confirm it wasn't real. But Ava didn't deny it.Cain let the information settle for a brief moment before speaking again."Then...why is he raiding a C-rank rift instead of one that matches his actual level?"Ava gave him a look, like the answer should have been obvious."I mean… if you can walk into a lower-rank rift where your chances of survival are much higher, wouldn't you choose that?"The logic was simple enough. Practical, even. And in most cases, it made sense. But Cain's answer was 'NO'. He would not choose that.With the system he had, choosing safety over growth was never even something to consider, because if he ever stepped into a lower-rank rift, it wouldn’t be for comfort or ease, but purely for progression,

"If they are tracking us," he said, his voice lower now, more measured, "then tell me… how do you think they're doing it?" The tension in the air rose. It seemed like everyone had the same suspicion. Cain sniffed lightly, as if testing the air again, before giving the slightest hint. "What answer do you want to hear?" Barack's expression hardened almost immediately, the shift in his face sharp and unwelcoming. Before the moment could stretch any further, Adel stepped forward, placing herself between them, cutting the direct line of tension before it could escalate. "If the Blood Skitter can track us somehow, then there's no point in running, is there?" she said, her voice steady despite the situation. "We should stand and fight. I believe we can take it down together." ‘Or get rid of the one leading them straight to us.’ The thought crossed Cain's mi