Validation from a titan like Caden Marlowe sent a jolt of adrenaline through Ash Valor. He relayed the praise to the rest of Galeforce Squad, their morale skyrocketing. They had tasted blood, and now they wanted the feast.
Anyone who had ever graced a Planar Broadcast knew the drill: the moment your name flashed across the sky for every Awakened to see, your private inbox became a war zone of spam. Ash had learned his lesson. He’d toggled his privacy settings to 'Friends Only,' silencing the white noise of thousands of strangers.
Even so, the pings from his inner circle were relentless.
"Ash, you're Level 160. How the hell are you bagging Level 190 bosses?"
"Death Strike? You absolute madman!"
"Damn, brother. Hell of a job."
But Caden Marlowe’s message was the outlier. “Ash, when are you hauling your ass back to the Guild?”
Ash didn't even blink at the erratic train of thought. Caden was a genius, and geniuses were rarely linear. “I’m hitting the grind, Caden. I’m not coming back until I’ve squeezed this zone dry.”
Gaining nearly a full level in a single day was a drug no one wanted to quit.
“Fine. Forget I asked,” Caden replied.
There were things Caden couldn't say—like how he had planned to execute a cinematic, one-shot kill on a massive Void-insect before the Plane opened, purely for the Guild’s highlight reel. He’d already scouted the camera angles and practiced his victory speech.
Instead, Caden was currently standing in a desolate wasteland, staring at empty space. "This is bullshit," he muttered to his partner. "A whole sector and not a single boss in sight?"
The man beside him remained silent, a cold shadow.
"Fine," Caden sighed. "Boss or no boss, we stick to the route."
Ash felt the itch to push deeper into higher-level territory, but he forced himself to stay the course. Stay steady. Don’t get cocky. The current leveling speed was already bordering on the absurd.
Whenever a stray flyer drifted too close to the squad, Ash brought it down with surgical precision. If it was outside his reach, he let it go. Efficiency was his only god.
A week blurred by in a fever dream of steel and experience points. Galeforce Squad tore through the ranks, their levels skyrocketing to 168. The loot was a mountain of coin and raw materials, with the occasional piece of Iron-Tier gear clattering to the dirt. Ash had to purge his inventory several times just to make room.
"We’re burning ten gold to make one," Ash noted, checking the ledger. "The margins are shit, but the time saved is priceless."
Every second counted. Before the game fully merged with reality, they needed every ounce of power they could muster.
On the seventh day, Ash spotted two figures dancing through a swarm of monsters.
"No way," he breathed. "Talk about small worlds."
It was Caden Marlowe and Declan Ward. The two legendary Assassins were currently locked in a brutal dance with a Level 200 Undying Dire Ape. The beast stood fifteen meters tall, a mountain of necrotic fur and muscle. Its roar carried a psychic weight that made the Galeforce members wince, their HP bars dipping from the mere sound of it.
The ape slammed a fist down, the earth heaving and shattering for fifty meters. A cloud of pulverized stone and dust choked the air. Despite its bulk, the creature moved with terrifying, predatory grace. One clean hit would turn a lesser player into a red smear.
But the two Assassins were ghosts. Ash watched, mesmerized, as flashes of steel and Shadowsteps flickered around the titan. The ape’s massive HP pool was evaporating in chunks.
"So that's where the bosses went," Ash muttered. "These two are clear-cutting the map."
Seeing Caden in action was a religious experience for the squad. They watched, breathless, as the master Assassin navigated the chaos.
"Look at that movement," Grant Fang whispered. "He’s not even dodging. He’s just... not where the hit is. Every time, by a hair’s breadth."
"And look at the output," Nina Fang added, her eyes wide. "Every single strike is a Weak Point hit. His burst is disgusting. He just took off a third of its health in one rotation!"
"I'm recording this," someone whispered.
Grant Fang looked at Ash with a smirk. "Captain, compared to this, your 'stand back and shoot' style looks a bit... basic. You’re basically just cheating with range."
Ash glared at him. "Grant, you literally hide behind summons. If you say one more word, I’m kicking you off the bird."
"You can't," Grant countered, patting the giant eagle beneath them. "Blackwing is mine. You'd be the one falling."
Ash rolled his eyes. "Fine. Let's go say hello to the legend."
Caden Marlowe flickered out of a shadow, his blades dripping with ichor. He looked surprised to see the squad so far from civilization. For a moment, a grin touched his face, but it vanished instantly as he glanced at the horizon.
"Keep moving!" Caden shouted toward the sky. "It’s not safe here!"
"We can help!" Ash called back.
"Get lost!" Caden barked.
Ash hesitated, his fingers itching for his bowstring, but before he could decide, Caden vanished. He reappeared above the ape’s head, driving a dagger deep into its throat. The sheer force of the blow shattered the beast’s remaining health.
[Planar Broadcast: Caden Marlowe has achieved the First Kill of the Abyss Undying Dire Ape. All Awakened: All Stats +10.]
[Guild Notice: Caden Marlowe has slain the Abyss Undying Dire Ape. All Skystrider Guild Members: All Stats +100.]
A pillar of golden light engulfed Caden as he hit Level 195. He didn't even look at the loot. He was staring at the sky, waiting.
"YES!" Caden roared, pumping a fist. "Finally! A broadcast!"
His terrifying intensity vanished instantly, replaced by a shit-eating grin. He waved at Ash’s squad. "Alright, you don't have to get lost anymore."
"Talk about a mood swing," Ash muttered, bringing Blackwing down to land.
"Damn, Ash," Caden laughed, wiping his blades. "I was worried you were going to Death Strike my kill. I’ve seen your range."
"I only help, Caden. I don't poach."
The stat boost felt incredible. Ash had lost count of how many times Caden had carried the Guild’s progression on his back. Most of the Galeforce members had only heard Caden’s voice in comms or seen his face on the rankings. Meeting him in the flesh, surrounded by the corpses of Level 200 monsters, was something else entirely. They offered their respect, treating him with the deference a veteran of his caliber deserved.
Declan Ward, however, remained a wraith. He gave Ash a sharp nod and immediately slipped into stealth.
"Caden, I’m heading out," Declan’s voice echoed from the shadows. "Eternal Guild needs help with a City Defense Siege. I'm moving to the front."
Caden waved him off. "Go on. Try not to die."
Declan had been an elite mercenary for Skystrider during their darkest hour. Now, his contract was up. "I won't. I'll see you on the Plane in a few months. With your talent, it’d be a waste if you weren't there."
As the Assassin’s presence faded, Caden shouted to the empty air, "Thanks for letting me have the last hit!"
"You caught that, huh?" Declan’s voice drifted back. "Don't mention it. You know I hate the spotlight."
Caden turned back to the squad, his ego thoroughly stroked. He was in a rare, approachable mood.
"Congratulations, Caden. You’re officially world-famous," Ash said.
"Sir, I recorded the whole fight," Vera Laine added, her voice bright. "Do you want a copy?"
"I'm an Assassin too," Cole Fang muttered, staring at his own daggers in shame. "But it feels like we aren't even playing the same game."
Caden soaked up the praise like a sponge. "Keep the video. If you want, post it in the Guild channel. Let the rookies see what a real boss looks like."
Vera, sensing an opportunity, smiled. "Actually, with your permission, I’d like to post it on the forums. It could serve as a warning about these types of bosses—and a tutorial for other Assassins."
Caden shrugged, trying to look humble and failing. "Sure, why not. Might save some lives. You’re Vera, right? Here, take this. It dropped from the ape."
He tossed her a ring. Her eyes went wide. "An Epic-Tier ring? Sir, I can't—"
"Take it. I have no use for it."
Ash stared, dumbfounded. That worked?
Rex Holloway whispered to himself, Note to self: Always be recording.
"We appreciate it, Caden," Ash said, steering the conversation back to business. "We’ll let you get back to it. We’ve got levels to grind. Good luck on the next broadcast."
"Hold up," Caden said, his eyes narrowing as he scanned their party. "You guys are Level 168 already?"
"We’ve been working hard," Ash said modestly.
Caden looked at his own Level 195. At this rate, these kids were going to catch him.
[Caden Marlowe has requested to join your party.]
Ash stared at the notification. "Uh, Caden? What are you doing?"
"I’m tagging along for a few days," Caden said nonchalantly. "Maybe we’ll find more bosses. Plus, I could use the XP."
"You want to... leech XP? From us?" Ash asked, his brain short-circuiting.
"Leech? Don't be a dick," Caden snorted. "I’m the carry. We’re moving to the Level 230 zone. With me there, you won't die. It’s better for everyone."
"Caden, the XP penalty for your level—"
"It’s still faster than me hunting solo," Caden interrupted, a flash of exhaustion crossing his face. "I’m tired of clicking one monster at a time. Assassins don't exactly have AoE, you know?"
Ash looked at the squad. They were all nodding frantically. Having a Level 195 god-tier Assassin as a bodyguard was an offer you didn't refuse.
"What’s your Talent Grade skill, anyway?" Grant asked, unable to contain his curiosity.
"Grant, that's rude," Ash said, though he was leaning in to hear the answer.
"Standard stuff," Caden said with a shrug. "First strike out of stealth deals 100x critical damage. Normal crits are 10x. Then there’s Shadowstep, Phase Step, the usual."
The two Assassins in the squad looked like they wanted to throw their weapons into a river.
100x critical damage. Caden’s base attack was likely around 700,000. That was seventy million damage in a single hit.
"Did you even use a Berserker’s Draught for that boss?" Ash asked.
Caden looked confused. "Are you guys so rich you pop potions for every boss? I only use them if I think I might actually lose."
The Galeforce members looked down at their feet, thinking of the mountain of consumables they burned just to clear trash mobs.
"Caden," Ash said, his voice level. "Your arrow-rain skill? I used to think instant-cast AoEs were trash for bossing. Low scaling, no punch." He watched Ash fire a volley. "But for grinding? Holy shit, it’s beautiful."
The next twenty days were a slaughter. With Caden Marlowe directing them, their route became a tactical masterclass. They didn't just grind; they hunted. Every boss in their path was systematically dismantled.
[Ding! You have reached Level 170. All Stats +100, Range +20m, Attack +17,000, Attack Speed +0.2]
[Ding! You have reached Level 180. All Stats +100, Range +20m, Attack +18,000, Attack Speed +0.2]
Ash’s effective range hit 1,070 meters. He invested a fortune into a Level 180 Epic-Tier set, his combat power surging. Caden hit Level 206, his bragging in the Guild channel reaching new heights of arrogance.
But the peace was a lie.
"It's too quiet," Caden remarked, looking at the horizon. "The air feels like it’s waiting to shatter."
As if on cue, the sky turned a bruised, sickly purple.
[Planar Broadcast: Peerless City is under attack. All Awakened Level 100+ are ordered to mobilize immediately.]
[Warning: Over 100,000 True Monsters detected. Peerless City is in imminent danger of falling.]
Peerless City. The jewel of Azure Prime. The fortress that everyone assumed was invincible. If Peerless fell, the world fell with it.
"We have to go back," Grant shouted.
"We'd never make it," Caden said, his voice cold and analytical. "Even with a Rift Gate, the travel time is too long. The city's fate rests on Evan Valor and the elites currently stuck in the dungeons. The monsters timed this perfectly—they struck while the heavy hitters were locked in instanced zones."
A hundred thousand "True Monsters"—meaning bosses—backed by billions of trash mobs. It was an apocalypse.
"We can't change the outcome at Peerless," Caden said, turning to Ash. "But we can change the outcome of the war. Ash, you want to gamble?"
"Gamble on what?"
"We don't go to the city. We go to the source. We hit a Void Rift. If we can collapse even one, we give humanity a foothold. If Southhaven’s nearby rifts are cleared, it becomes the new capital for the survivors."
Ash looked at his squad. They were Level 180, geared to the teeth, and battle-hardened. He was Level 182.
"Lead the way, Caden," Ash said.
"Good. Grant, turn this bird around. We’re heading for the Southreach Range. If we pull this off, we're legends. If we fail, I'll be the first one to hit the dirt." Caden’s eyes flashed with a manic light. "I used to solo boss rooms for fun when I was Level 50. Now I’m Level 200. Let's see if the Abyss can actually bleed."
"Vera," Ash said, his mind racing. "You’re in command of the squad. I need to focus on my own output."
"Captain, I don't know anything about Void Rifts," she said, her voice trembling slightly.
"None of us do," Caden cut in. "But you’ve got the best tactical head here. Treat me like a soldier and give the orders. We’re all in."
Ash didn't waste a second. He liquidated his War Merit—over ten thousand points—into 110 million Gold.
"Fifty million for Level 4 Soulbound reinforcement," he muttered, the system interface blurring before his eyes. "Purchase Undying Crystal Cores... upgrade Chitin. Level 2 reinforcement for the full Level 180 set. And I need a backup Epic bow in case of reflect-damage mobs."
When he was done, he had 12 million left. He spent 10 million on an Epic-Tier Class Skill Tome.
[You have Awakened Skybreaker Arrow: Unity Protocol – Earthshatter.]
(Effect: Consolidates Multishot into a single, devastating strike. Damage equals the sum of all arrows, including Crushing Blow, Crit, and Death Strike procs. Cost: 50,000 Mana. CD: None.)
With his current buffs, Ash’s base attack hit 1.6 million. With a full Earthshatter proc, he was looking at twenty million damage per shot. His Soulbound weapon reduced the mana cost to 40,000.
If I have enough mana, Level 200 bosses aren't monsters anymore, Ash realized. They're prey.
As they crossed into the Southreach Range, the system chimed.
[Regional Quest Triggered: The Southreach Front.]
[Objectives: Eliminate Void Rifts at coordinates (156, 784) and (635, 709). Six targets identified.]
"Vera, what’s the status on Chitin?" Grant asked.
Ash shared the stats directly to the party HUD.
[Undying Skeleton (Chitin): LV180 Epic-Tier]
[HP: 2,160,000 | Attack: 125,091 | Defense: 102,352]
[Skill: Phantom Summon (Lv.6) – Each clone inherits 60% stats.]
"Two million HP and 100k armor?" Grant whistled. "That's not a summon, that's a main tank."
"Alright, listen up!" Vera’s voice cut through the chatter, sharp and authoritative. "Chitin stays in the center. The clones form the outer perimeter. Lyra, keep the clones topped off. We arrive in twenty minutes. Dusk, take us higher—max altitude. We need the element of surprise."
She turned to Caden. "Sir, you, Nina, and Cole are the scalpel. You three coordinate to delete the highest-threat target instantly. Do not reveal yourselves until your stealth cooldowns are ready. Hit, vanish, repeat."
"Ash, buy every mana and health potion left on the Exchange," Vera commanded.
"I tried," Ash said, his face pale as he looked at the market screen. "Everything’s gone. The Exchange is bone-dry."
"Then we make do with what we have," Vera said, looking toward the dark tear in reality looming on the horizon. "Because the world is watching."