Author's Preface
Blue, Darrien and Yuki gathered outside the guild, the three of them quiet as they stared down the road. Aaron and Olivia appeared in an up-armored Humvee driving toward them. The Humvee came to a stop in front of them, and Aaron jumped out.
"Well, what do you think?"
"That's so badass." Darrien ran up and started punching the armor on the door. His sister stared at him through the window. All he could see were her eyes. He screamed and jumped back.
"A little much, don't you think?" Blue asked.
"Not at all. The Buckeye Guildmaster can travel in nothing less than this."
"Huh?" Blue stared at Aaron.
Olivia finally stepped out. Aaron smiled. "Yeah, I need some fresh air, and apparently Darrien has his ranker raid this week."
"I... what? I didn't schedule shit. I was still debating whether it was worth it."
Olivia stepped in front of Darrien. "Oh, it is worth it, little brother, and I scheduled it for you." Olivia looked at Blue. "I'm sorry, but I will be taking this one. Your guildmaster has approved it already."
"You really going to let this happen, Blue? I thought we were brothers?"
Blue shrugged. "If we are, then our sister still scares the shit out of me. Sorry, bud, my hands are tied. You heard her. Eve approved."
Olivia grabbed Darrien and disappeared, leaving Darrien's bag sitting on the ground.
"So, you ready?" Aaron tapped the roof of the Humvee.
Blue looked back at Yuki, who simply nodded. "I am. Let's go pendant hunting."
The three drove down the road until they reached the edge of Dublin. A new wall was being constructed to expand the stronghold. Awakeners could be seen for miles piling scrap metal and stone into heaps, while those with flux levitated the materials and melted them together. Those pieces would eventually become the wall itself.
At the gate leading out, the three stopped at a checkpoint. An Association guard stepped forward with his hand out.
"You need permission from the Association Leader to leave the stronghold."
Aaron rolled his window down just enough for the guard to see his face.
"Oh..." The guard turned and gestured toward the gate. "LET THEM THROUGH!"
Aaron drove through the checkpoint and into the wasteland. The roads out here were nonexistent. The highway itself was in rubble, forcing them to drive parallel to what had once been Interstate 70.
Blue looked over at Aaron. "How did you find the locations of dungeons with treasure that just happened to be jewelry?"
Aaron laughed. "Well, the first place we're going to check just so happens to be a dungeon I failed to clear when I became a ranker. By now, I'm sure it has broken open. But there was a room full of jewelry and other valuables. Like the monsters were hoarding shiny things."
"Wait, we're going to a dungeon you failed to clear?"
"I mean, yeah, but that was before I could control my powers. I was still weak then. This time will be different. If the dungeon did break, though, we'll have to fight our way to it." Aaron grinned.
Blue sighed. "I'm not sure why I expected this to go smoothly."
They drove for another forty minutes before Aaron finally stopped the Humvee. He looked back at Yuki, then at Blue.
"This is it. Oh, and the shiny comment I made? It's because the monsters are like big-ass ravens that walk on two feet. They use wind magic and can fly, so be prepared."
Aaron led them through what used to be a cornfield. In the distance, Blue saw barns and houses, all ripped apart. Some of them barely stood anymore. He scanned the area.
"It's awfully qu—"
Aaron's hand caught his mouth.
"Dude. Seriously."
"My bad."
Aaron stopped in the middle of the field and looked around. "I could've sworn it was over there."
He pulled out an old map of Ohio that had been folded over dozens of times. Fourteen X's were marked across it in red ink. Blue peeked over Aaron's shoulder.
"What are all those?"
"Gates we failed to clear. The reason the land looks the way it does now." Aaron stared at the marks for a moment. "It's my reminder. It also gives me something to look forward to. The chance for retribution and to send these monsters straight to hell."
Aaron placed a finger on the map. "Now, it should be right over there." He looked up. Nothing. "It says it should be just east of where we are."
Yuki cleared her throat and tapped Aaron on the shoulder. Aaron spun around and saw her pointing in the opposite direction.
"That way is east."
"Ah, yes. Of course."
The three of them stared into the distance. A few miles away, what looked like a flock of birds circled high in the sky.
Aaron folded the map and tucked it away. "That's it, and that's them." He cracked his knuckles as a wide grin spread across his face. "Let's go fry up some fucking birds, shall we?"
Aaron walked toward the dungeon as the ravens circled overhead. Yuki summoned her spirits and owl companion, but Aaron held his hand out to the side.
"You two stay here and watch. If any of these ravens run, or I miss them, you can handle them. But I have a score to settle with these fuckers."
Aaron summoned dozens of swords into the air above him. Not the greatswords like he'd used in the basement. These were smaller straight swords, meant for one thing: speed. Over thirty hung in the sky, all pointing toward the ravens. One large raven near the center of the flock noticed Aaron and cawed. The ravens stopped circling the dungeon. They all looked down at Aaron before diving toward him.
He flicked his wrist once.
Blue watched as the swords danced between the ravens. He looked at Yuki. "He has perfect control over them. Holy shit. Makes me feel like he holds back a lot when we spar."
Blue turned his attention back to the fight as the swords blocked the ravens' attacks and sliced through their wings and claws. One by one, the ravens fell to the ground as Aaron continued walking toward them, stomping on their heads as he passed. After the last raven fell, Aaron stood in the middle of the massacre. He let out a long, deep sigh as Blue and Yuki approached.
"Feel better?" Blue asked.
"I do. They were a lot weaker than I remember, though. And there were a hell of a lot more of them."
Blue looked around at the ravens scattered across the ground. "Well, if anything, it was efficient."
"I hope so. I spent years perfecting these swords for these little fuckers. The first time I encountered them, they were too fast and nimble, and I was too weak."
"Well, can't say you are now."
Aaron laughed. "That you are correct about." He looked toward the dungeon. "Shall we go see what goodies they've got stored in the gate?"
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