Sweat dripped down Joe’s temple as Rose frantically slammed the elevator button. Behind them, the bear-sized Guardian roared, its heavy footfalls shaking the floor. The elevators weren’t coming back. They needed another way to escape death.

  Joe accessed his encrypted chat.

  Joe: Poppy, why aren’t the lifts working?

  His heart skipped a beat when her reply came through.

  Poppy: Emergency on Floor 4. Defense protocol activated. Hurry, hurry Joe! Stairs not far from the core. More Guardians coming!

  With a surge of adrenaline, Joe pressed Dawn’s back and urged her forward. “Take the lead—get us back to the tower’s core!” He spun to the ratfolk trailing behind and tugged the smaller figure closer. He could save one. “You’re coming with us!”

  The little ratfolk simply nodded and limped after them.

  They bolted past the motionless elevator doors, their footsteps joined by a swelling crowd of ascenders, all following as if Joe and his crew had the answers—or worse, as if they were being chased by something even deadlier.

  A glance over Joe’s shoulder revealed chaos: the leader of the Merry Miners barreling through the hallway like a human wrecking ball, knocking other ascenders into the walls. Screams filled the air as blood splattered in violent arcs against the ceiling.

  Lagging further behind, the limping ratfolk’s furry cheeks puffed with the effort. His tiny hands gripped his sides like he was holding his guts in. Joe glanced at TJ, their shared look saying what neither of them had to. If the Guardians didn’t tear the poor guy apart, the stampede of ascenders would finish the job.

  Hal’s voice cut into Joe’s mind like a disapproving parent. “Don’t even think about turning back to rescue him. There’s not enough time.”

  “There’s always time,” Joe shot back, clenching his fists.

  TJ side-eyed him like he’d sprouted a second head. “You arguing with your imaginary friend again? Fine, I’ll get the furry bastard. You keep moving before someone has to rescue your sorry ass.”

  Joe hesitated for half a second, then nodded, sprinting to catch up with the group. He couldn’t resist a quick glance over his shoulder, relief flooding him as he spotted TJ not far behind. The ratfolk was clinging to his back, legs wrapped tight around TJ’s waist, little paws clutching his neck.

  Brian smiled when they caught up. “Well, well. Look who just earned himself a new eternal honor—World’s Best Dad.”

  TJ huffed, adjusting his machete in one hand while awkwardly patting the ratfolk on the head with the other. “Yeah, yeah. Don’t get used to it, squirt.”

  The lightness of the moment shattered as a bone-chilling roar echoed behind them. Joe’s stomach dropped. He didn’t need to look to know the Guardians were gaining ground.

  Enormous and relentless, the hulking guardians swept through the crowd. Joe’s stomach churned as he witnessed one rush past three terrified ascenders only to take hold of a fourth who was cowering against a wall.

  Joe narrowed his eyes, the guy’s hoodie was smeared in the tower’s blood. His screams died as the guardian’s jaw unhinged and swallowed him whole.

  Dawn skidded to a stop at the edge of the hall near the core, shaking her head. “Nothing! We’ve circled the whole damn thing—there’s no stairs!”

  The sound of her voice pulled Rose out of her horrified trance.

  “Where the hell are the stairs?” TJ growled, machete raised like he was ready to hack the problem into submission. The ratfolk on his back whimpered, burying his face in TJ’s shoulder. TJ sighed and gave the little guy another awkward pat. “Relax, buddy. You’re not rat stew yet.”

  Joe activated his Quick Wit ability, scanning the chaotic corridor as more ascenders crammed into every crevice, their panic amplifying the chaos. His pulse pounded in his ears as he gasped, “They’re targeting specific people. I haven’t seen a single ratfolk get eaten.”

  Rose snorted, brushing a streak of blood off her cheek. “Well, I’m not waiting around to see if I’m next.”

  “Blood-marked!” Brian’s voice boomed above the crowd as he pointed across the corridor. “It’s the ones who cut the wall—they’re the ones getting targeted by the guardians!”

  Joe’s brow furrowed as he shook his head. “Not all of them.” His gaze darted to the ratfolk still clutching to TJ’s back, his wide eyes pleading silently for protection.

  A notification flashed in his vision.

  Poppy: Map updated. Go, go now. Don’t wait.

  Dawn’s eyes flicked to the left. Without a word, she darted to a jagged corner of the corridor and dropped to her knees. Her fingers found a bony protrusion near the floor, tugging hard until a hidden shaft hissed open with a suctioning sound. She gagged, covering her nose. “Ugh! Smells worse than moldy cheese and slimy cornhash!”

  TJ leapt to her side, taking a deep breath and exhaling with a grin. “Smells like morning stew to me. Thank the gods my memories override these new human senses.”

  “No time for nostalgia. Move it or lose it!” Gaia ignited her mana bracelet, casting a soft light as the Blanche Brigade and Titan Slayers ducked into the shaft. One by one, they disappeared up the spiraling staircase, leaving what little carnage behind that didn't follow.

  Before they reached the top of the stairwell, frantic footsteps echoed far below. Joe’s blood turned to ice. The idea that their actions might redirect the Guardians’ rampage to the fifth floor churned his stomach.

  Exiting into the fifth-floor corridor, Joe took a deep breath, scanning left and right. The air here was thicker, heavy with the faint, sour tang of decay. Dawn brushed past him, her fiery hair tied back, her eyes distant as she scrolled through her user interface map.

  “Which way to the common room?” Joe asked, his voice sharper than intended. The common room was supposed to be a safe zone—if the Guardians followed, it’d be their only chance to survive, as long as no one cut the wall on the fifth floor.

  Dawn frowned, her fingers twitching as she adjusted her overlays. The rest of the Titan Slayers and Blanche Brigade spilled into the corridor behind them, spreading out.

  After a tense moment, Dawn pointed to the right. “This way.” Her voice was steady, but her hurried steps gave her away. She moved quickly, guiding Luna and Ryan ahead while the others followed.

  TJ stumbled out of the stairwell, the ratfolk still clinging to his back like a kid on a piggyback ride. The little guy’s fur was matted, his whiskers trembling.

  Joe stepped closer, his stomach twisting as he caught sight of dark red streaks smeared across the ratfolk’s paws. “Did you attack the tower walls?”

  The ratfolk froze, his wide eyes darting between them. “N-no! I couldn’t get into the lift. I panicked—thought I could burrow into the wall and hide.”

  Brian groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You’re blood-marked. The tower doesn’t care about intent. You’ve got its blood on you, and now the Guardians will treat you the same as anyone who attacked it.”

  Joe shook his head. Tag, you’re it. Terminator-style.

  Rose shifted uncomfortably, gripping her staff. “Let’s not wait to find out if they’ll turn on us too. The common room’s supposed to be a safe zone—they can’t attack us there, right?”

  Brian hesitated, stroking his goatee. “Everything I’ve read says it’s true. I’m 99% sure.”

  Dawn raised an eyebrow. “What about the other 1%?”

  Joe exchanged a knowing glance with Brian. “That accounts for the Lich. He’s about as changeable as a long range weather forecast.”

  Ryan and the Blanche Brigade exchanged a few confused glances, but most of them nodded like they got the gist.

  Dawn’s gaze flicked back to her map, her pace quickening. She led the way down the corridor, guiding the group as they trailed behind. Without the Willy Wonka-style elevators dropping them neatly into position, they were left stumbling through the fifth floor like tourists lost on a subway.

  “How much further?” the ratfolk whimpered, his voice thin and shaky.

  “Nearly there,” Dawn replied a little too quickly.

  Joe arched an eyebrow. Was she being honest, or just trying to keep the little guy from freaking out?

  “Um, I…I need to go pee,” the ratfolk blurted, his voice rising an octave. His paws twitched against TJ’s shoulders.

  “Hold it,” TJ barked, his machete swinging loosely in one hand. “A bathroom break could get us all killed. You’ll go when we get to the common room.”

  “But I need to go now! I’ve a sensitive bladder, it’s the size of a walnut!” He squirmed, his voice cracking with desperation. “All the stress is playing havoc with it!”

  “Your brain’s the size of a walnut too. If you want to get down and pee, you’re on your own.” TJ tapped his machete on the wall. Joe caught the look in TJ’s eye. It was an empty threat.

  Heavy footsteps echoed behind them, cutting the argument short.

  Joe’s stomach dropped. “Listen,” he hissed, freezing in place. The group stilled, tension crackling like static.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  It was unmistakable now—the rhythmic pounding of boots and the uneven gasps of breath.

  The group picked up their pace, the ratfolk bouncing with every hurried step TJ took.

  Ascenders, jacked up on adrenaline and pure fear, were closing in fast.

  A gruff voice shouted from somewhere behind them. “Fupa, no! Don’t be a hero” The words were followed by the unmistakable sounds of a struggle—scuffling feet, the sharp clash of weapons, and guttural cries of pain that tore through the air like a blade.

  Joe turned his head, his mind racing. Whatever was happening behind them was catching up fast. If they didn’t figure out a plan, they’d be next.

  Around the bend, ascenders stumbled into view, their faces pale and panicked. Behind them, shadows shifted, and the low hum of the walls turned into a throaty growl.

  Joe’s mind raced. Seconds. They had seconds.

  “Go,” he said to Dawn. “I’ll catch up.”

  Dawn hesitated, her grip on her blade tightening. “Joe—”

  “Go,” he insisted, louder this time. “Keep Ryan and Luna safe.”

  “Hell no, not without me.” TJ’s machete gleamed as he stepped forward, his ratfolk passenger clinging to his neck like a lifeline. With a swift motion, TJ eased the trembling creature from his back and handed him off to Brian. “Here. Go with Uncle Brian.”

  Brian took the ratfolk with a grunt, hoisting him onto his shoulders like a sack of flour. The ratfolk’s wide eyes darted, his small claws gripping Brian’s collar as though his life depended on it.

  “Please don’t pee on me.” Brian glanced upward with a resigned sigh.

  “Weapons are useless. We’ve got to use our brains.” Joe activated Quick Wit. At Level 4, his Shadow Step ability was capable of increased range. He hoped it’d extend to those who were near him.

  “Yeah, I know.” TJ shifted his grip on his machete, his expression grim. “I’ve got concepts of a plan, but that won’t do shit to save anyone. So, what’ve you got in mind?”

  Joe quickly explained as shadows curled around their forms.

  “Hope fortunes on our side.” TJ stepped as light as he could given his size. The walls rippled behind them, and the low growl grew into a roar. Joe’s breath caught as he and TJ approached the carnage. The first hulking Guardian loomed into view over the heads of what was left of the Merry Miner Brotherhood.

  Its eyes glowed, dead and soulless.

  Something else grabbed Joe’s attention. The guardian’s cheeks bulged and shifted, grotesquely distorted like an overgrown hamster jacked up on steroids. Its black lips bunched tight, almost like they’d been sewn shut. The flesh peeled back with a gruesome schlop, revealing something worse: a saliva-coated hand.

  Joe’s stomach lurched. It had to belong to Fupa. The Merry Miner’s clawed fingers sizzled and bubbled, coated in whatever acid-like secretion dripped from the guardian’s mouth.

  Memories from a half-remembered biology class hit Joe. Digestion begins in the mouth. Of course it did. Tower guardians didn’t just consume their prey; they melted them down with turbocharged saliva.

  Nearby, the leader of the Merry Miners fought to hold back the last remaining member of his faction, his muscular arms shaking with the effort. “He’s gone. Nothin’ we can do for him!” The dwarf’s voice cracked, but his resolve didn’t. He yanked his companion out of the guardian’s range, dragging him toward safety.

  The smaller miner struggled free, tears of frustration mixing with the streaks of blood on his face. He flung a fiery blast at the guardian’s bloated belly. “I hope ya choke on his mingey hair, ya lousy shagger!”

  The blast fizzled on impact, a useless spark against the guardian’s thick hide. In response, the creature’s fleshy mouth slackened, and Fupa’s bony arm flopped free in a grotesque reflex, dangling for a moment before being slurped back inside like a wet noodle.

  Joe pressed his hand to his mouth, fighting the urge to retch.

  Slurp slurp, motherf—

  Joe gulped, his stomach doing flips. His thoughts veered dangerously close to the AI from one of his favorite novels back on Earth.

  TJ’s voice cut in, grim and humorless. “Well, he did say he likes it nasty.”

  Joe’s Shadow Step ability had kept them unnoticed until now. All around, eyes began snapping toward them.

  Joe sucked in a breath. “Think that’s our cue to leave.” He nodded to TJ. “You know what to do.”

  TJ nodded and bolted back the way they came, his steps nearly silent. Joe let out his breath and pulled up the chat window in his interface.

  Joe: Hey, Poke_Master, got any insight on why these guardians are so damn unstoppable? Doesn’t matter what level we are—our only options are run or die.

  The reply came almost instantly.

  Poke_Master: Remember our deal. Attacking the tower head-on is madness if you do it alone. What you’re seeing now is a mere taste of how it defends itself. I see you and TJ have a plan to slow the guardian down.

  Joe: You think it’ll work?

  Poke_Master: Better odds than brute force. You saw what happened to the Merry Miners—those guys could rip a bear apart bare-handed, and it didn’t help them.

  Joe closed the chat, his attention shifting to the corridor ahead. TJ was already waiting, pacing back and forth.

  “Ready?” Joe jogged to meet him.

  TJ gave a curt nod, scanning the shadows with sharp eyes.

  Joe didn’t see any sign of the soldier-green totems TJ had in his inventory, but he trusted him. If the protection array worked as promised, it might buy them enough time to regroup with the others and make it to the safe room.

  The sound of a distant roar made Joe’s chest tighten. Another yell from behind confirmed what he already suspected—another Merry Miner had fallen.

  “Outta my way!” a gruff voice bellowed.

  Joe barely had time to sidestep as the leader of the Merry Miners barreled past, his broad shoulders brushing the shimmering green barrier as he sprinted through. The protection array flared like a bubble touched by oil, but it held firm.

  Joe and TJ exchanged a look, then took off at a dead sprint. The reek of the guardian’s breath was thick and sour, spurring them forward.

  They darted through the barrier. Joe’s pulse pounded in his ears. If the array failed, they were done for. TJ’s totems weren’t system-bound, a relic from his homeworld, but there were no guarantees.

  Behind them, the guardian roared, an ear-splitting sound that rattled Joe’s skull. He risked a glance back. Relief washed over him as the beast slammed into the barrier, its claws skidding off the shimmering surface. The array held.

  "Good to know it works against guardians too." Joe caught his breath.

  Up ahead, the Merry Miner leader had slowed, his shoulders heaving as he turned to face them.

  “If this bastard tries anything…” TJ muttered, not loosening his grip on his machete.

  “Relax, I ain’t gonna fight ya.” The dwarf grunted, his tone rough but void of malice. “Lost my map guy, so for all I know, I’m stuck in the asshole of this tower. But I’m willing to bet you lot know where you’re going, don’tcha?”

  TJ looked like he was ready to go through the dwarf for a shortcut.

  Joe stepped in, raising a hand to stop him. “We’re heading to the common room, same as you. You can tag along—on one condition.”

  The dwarf’s eyes darkened, his stance shifting as if daring Joe to push. “I wasn’t asking permission.”

  Joe held firm, his voice steady. “I know. But you’re on your own now, and we both know how we feel about Andras. You’ll want to hear my terms.”

  The dwarf grunted but didn’t protest further allowing Joe to outline the terms.

  They took off in a sprint toward the common room. Joe pulled up Dawn in the chat for directions.

  “How long will that barrier hold?” the dwarf asked TJ as they ran, his tone edged with unease.

  TJ kept his focus forward. “Long enough, I hope, to get us all to safety.”

  The dwarf snorted. “I’ll get in first, seeing as I’m a green zoner. No hard feelings.”

  Joe swallowed his frustration at the elitist nonsense, focusing instead on the path ahead. According to Dawn, they weren’t far. Joe's heart lifted at the sight of Dawn approaching the common room entrance. The others following close behind her.

  “Ryan, Luna, you’re up first,” Gaia ordered, gesturing for them to step forward.

  Ryan hesitated, stepping back to let Luna pass, but the Merry Miner leader barreled ahead.

  Dawn stepped up, blocking his path with an icy glare.

  Rose joined her, gripping her staff. “I’d say dirt before the broom, but in this case, I’d make an exception.”

  The dwarf sneered and jabbed a thumb over his shoulder. “Out of my way, elf. Waste more time arguing, and you’ll have one pissed-off guardian breathing down your necks.”

  He reached out to shove Luna aside, but Gaia stepped in, her eyes blazing. “Her name is Luna,” she snapped. “Lay a hand on her, and you’ll be dead before it gets near her.”

  The dwarf turned to Joe, his expression twisting into a mockery of camaraderie. “Hey, Joe. You just gonna stand there and let a member from another faction threaten me?”

  Anger churned in Joe’s gut, but he forced himself to stay calm. “Not now. Let Luna in first—she’s been through hell already.”

  The dwarf crossed his arms, stubborn as a boulder.

  “What in the name of a titan’s asshole are you playing at?” TJ growled, stepping forward with his machete glinting at his side.

  The dwarf smirked, raising his hands as if in surrender. “Hey, we’re on the same side now.”

  Brows shot up all around.

  “What the hell does he mean?” Dawn asked, her focus snapping back to the dwarf.

  “I’m an inactive member of the Titan Slayers,” he said, his tone casual, like he’d just announced he used to play for the local sports team.

  Joe’s stomach lurched as he realized too late that they’d been so focused on the argument, they hadn’t noticed the guardian creeping closer. Its grotesque form loomed out of the rippling, living wall, its movements smooth, almost like it was mimicking Joe’s stealth skill.

  Joe’s instincts kicked in. He lunged for the common room entrance, which hissed open in response. “Get in, everyone!”

  The Merry Miner didn’t need to be told twice. He barreled through, shoving past anyone in his way. Gaia followed, guiding Luna inside with her protective hand never leaving the kobold’s shoulder.

  But the guardian ignored them all, its focus narrowing on Brian, who still carried the trembling ratfolk on his shoulders.

  Tag, you’re it, Joe thought grimly as dread coiled in his gut.

  “Brian!” he shouted, but the warning came too late.

  The guardian lunged, its cavernous mouth yawning open as if to swallow them whole. Joe scrambled forward, his body moving before his brain could catch up, but Ryan beat him there.

  Ryan threw himself between Brian and the beast, arms outstretched. “Everyone, get inside!” he barked, his voice like a whip crack.

  The guardian slowed, its hulking form swaying with unnatural grace.

  “Back off!” Ryan growled, puffing out his chest and spreading his arms wider, trying to look as large and threatening as possible.

  Joe fumbled for a smoke pellet, tossing it toward the guardian. The acrid cloud billowed up, obscuring its grotesque form. Joe darted around the creature, grabbing Brian by the arm and hauling him toward the entrance.

  But as the smoke cleared, the strangest thing happened.

  The guardian froze, its snout stopping mere inches from Ryan’s face. It tilted its massive head, sniffing the air. Its fleshy nostrils flared, and then it recoiled, as if the smell of Ryan was somehow repellent.

  Ryan leaned back, his nose wrinkling as he waved a hand in front of his face. “You need a breath mint, pal,” he muttered, his voice wavering despite his attempt at humor.

  Joe didn’t waste the opportunity. Guiding a dazed Brian and the trembling ratfolk to the entrance, he shoved them through. The transparent door hissed shut behind them, leaving only Ryan and the guardian outside.

  Ryan stood motionless, his scaled arm raised. The guardian’s gaze locked onto it, its head tilting with curiosity.

  “Go back to where you came from,” Ryan commanded, his voice steady despite the fear flickering in his eyes. “We’re no threat to you.”

  For a tense moment, nothing happened. Then, slowly, the guardian began to back away.

  TJ let out a long breath as the creature pressed itself against the wall. Its grotesque form rippled and melted, seamlessly blending into the living, breathing surface until it vanished.

  “Holy shit, that was amazing,” Grizzle said, his voice breaking the silence. “I’ve got a theory about what just happened—”

  “Hold that thought,” Joe cut in, his gaze scanning the corridor. His pulse was still pounding, and he wasn’t about to let his guard down.

  Ryan looked pale and shaken, his legs unsteady beneath him.

  “You can tell us all about it once we’re safely inside the orange zone common room,” Joe helped Ryan across the threshold.