NOVPUB
Chapter 138: Clear The Ground (Happy Easter Fam ❤️)
Silence followed.
Just the sound of wind and monster guts dripping from trees.
Ragnar cracked his neck. "That was decent."
Tobias wiped his blade. "Better than decent."
From behind, Zayn gave them a tired thumbs up. "You guys suck. I got like, twenty raptors."
"Sure," Tobias said with a smirk.
A single cry echoed across the battlefield as a guard slashed through the last remaining beast.
Just like that — the dungeon break had officially been handled.
Silence returned, heavy and eerie.
The ground was a graveyard of cracked stones and twisted bodies, monster corpses splayed across the ruined terrain.
Blood pooled in trenches and soul cores faintly pulsed within crushed chests.
But despite the carnage... they’d won.
Ragnar stood tall, his massive frame casting a long shadow under the sinking sun.
He glanced around, then patted Tobias on the back with a hearty grin.
"Didn’t know you had become that strong, Tobi."
Zayn blinked.
Wait.
Did Ragnar just call him Tobi?
Even more shocking — Tobias froze like someone had unplugged his brain.
His glasses were tilted awkwardly on his face.
His expression was stiff.
And Zayn could swear — swear on the Gods — that the Hero of Knowledge’s face turned red.
Bright red.
Zayn immediately opened his mouth to say something — because how could he not?
But Tobias turned his head slowly.
His eyes locked onto Zayn’s like laser sights.
Daring him.
I swear if you say it...
Zayn blinked.
"Nope. Not doing it," he said, scooting a step to the side, right between Kara and Elisse.
His arms wrapped around their shoulders and pulled them both into a gentle hug.
"I’m just glad both of you are alright," he said softly.
Not teasing. Not sarcastic.
Just... relieved.
The warmth in his voice wasn’t lost on either girl.
Kara blinked twice, cheeks burning brighter than even red soul energy.
Elisse instinctively buried her face in his chest, only to pull back just as quickly, fanning herself with one hand while mumbling something unintelligible. 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒑𝒖𝙗.𝒄𝒐𝒎
Zayn smiled, let them go — and promptly turned to grab Seren.
"Come here, angry lizard."
"I am not — HEY — !!" Seren shrieked as he lifted her off the ground like a toddler.
"Yup, you’re light. Did you even eat today?"
"Put me down! I swear I’ll melt your face!" she yelled, flailing wildly.
"Aw, you say the sweetest things — "
PFFFFFT—!!
A glob of acid flew past his cheek.
Then another.
Then a third.
All three missed. Barely.
"Yikes! You’re worse than Elisse in the morning!"
"PUT ME DOWN!"
He did. Gently.
She punched him in the gut anyway.
Worth it.
Ragnar walked back over, hands on his hips as he surveyed the battlefield. "The guards will handle the cleanup. Soul core harvesting, monster body collection, all that boring stuff."
"Do we get paid in cores?" Zayn asked, stretching his arms.
Ragnar nodded. "Of course. We’ll get a proper share. The boss alone is probably worth a fortune."
Zayn’s eyes sparkled. "Say less."
He walked over to the mutilated remains of the sky boss, its body slowly leaking out fading traces of soul energy.
The guards hadn’t reached it yet and nobody was looking.
Perfect.
He reached out his hand — and the soul forge flared to life.
Pink and golden hues spiraled around his arm as he siphoned the residual essence into his mark.
It pulsed once, glowing faintly before settling. The easier way to use it.
Zayn grinned.
...
As they regrouped near the edge of the field, the guards saluted them with nods of respect.
One of them, a young man with a bandage on his arm, actually came over.
"You guys were amazing," he said, eyes wide. "Especially the guy with the fists and the weird glowing threads!"
Zayn raised a hand, finger-guns at the ready. "Guilty."
The guard gave a shy laugh and ran off.
Tobias was seated on a rock, still re-adjusting his glasses with a visible pout.
Kara walked by and gave him a playful nudge.
"Tobi, huh?"
"Don’t."
She smirked.
Back on the path heading south, the group walked in lazy formation.
Kara and Bran led the way, discussing the weird bone structure of the raptor beasts.
Tobias kept glancing at Ragnar every few seconds, like he couldn’t believe he’d earned the guy’s respect and was still debating whether to feel proud or have a breakdown.
Elisse walked beside Seren, smiling softly as she helped her clean acid off her sleeves with a cloth.
Zayn? He was just vibing.
Until Seren piped up from behind. "...Thanks, by the way."
Zayn turned his head. "For what?"
"For... earlier. Trusting me."
He raised an eyebrow. "You did great. Protected Elisse and everything."
She kicked a small rock. "Still... nobody ever really trusted me before. Not like that."
Zayn slowed a bit and patted her head, ruffling her hair despite the death glare she gave him.
"Well, get used to it. You’re one of us now."
Her cheeks flushed green for a second. "Shut up."
He grinned.
By the time they reached Edgeville, the sky had darkened.
Torches were being lit on the walls.
A few guards cheered as they saw the party returning.
Zayn yawned. "I’m not walking another step unless someone promises me food."
"I’ve got snacks back at the inn we’re staying," Elisse said.
He blinked. "Why do you sound like a seductress when you say that?"
"Because I am one?" she teased with a wink.
Seren gagged audibly.
Kara just shook her head.
Ragnar laughed.
It was damn cute.
...
They never made it back to the inn.
Not even close.
Apparently, saving the town from a dungeon break earned you a few perks.
Like getting dragged straight into a fully decked-out tavern, seated like honored royalty, and being force-fed what looked like twenty courses of home-cooked Edgeville specialties.
Zayn wasn’t complaining. Kara looked like she might cry from joy at the food alone.
And the tavern?
Packed.
Lanterns hung from the wooden beams overhead, casting golden light across the bustling room.
Tables were arranged in long rows.
Townsfolk raised mugs in the air, clinked them together, and toasted the party over and over.
"To the Heroes of Edgeville!"
"To the hot one with the red eyes!"
"To the terrifying child who spits acid!"
|AUTHOR’S NOTE:|
Happy Easter Fam, have a great one but send some Easter gifts over for your bro, I take castles (evil laugh)
