Dark shadows flew down the chasm, and I focused on one of them. They reminded me of the wraiths from the volcano.

  [Chasm Ghoul, Level 99, Predator, Inedible.]

  We entered the chasm as a group, confronting the Ghouls, weapons out and ready to go.

  Kabi jerked back as the first creature came close, then halted, not moving after him.

  The creatures had rushed us, yet as soon as we grouped up, they stayed away. It was only if someone broke off from the group that they would try to attack that person.

  The strange tactic meant we were all really close to one another as we traveled the dark chasm cutting through the mountain. But it also meant we didn’t need to fight see-through humanoid creatures that made you freeze when they touched you.

  Kabi swiped at one, and the wraith attacked him before we moved close enough to the group. “My arm’s numb!” he yelled.

  “That happens,” I said with a frown. The wraith hadn’t vanished after touching Kabi.

  That wasn’t good.

  I explained what’d happened to me in the caverns.

  “Then we stick together,” said Lenna, from Dengu’s back.

  So, we kept going, though bit by bit the shadows in the chasm lightened as the path crept up and the walls on either side fell away. As soon as the walls were gone, the ghouls disappeared, leaving us alone.

  Brightly purple sunlight warmed me from above as I tried to figure out the catch.

  Everything inside me screamed this had to be a trap.

  The pathway led to a large, rocky cavern that opened onto the side of the mountain. As soon as I stepped closer, I felt the presence inside. The creature, whatever it was, remained hidden, though I knew it was there.

  Off to one side, the path was blocked by a stone with five impressions heading directly to what must be the path for the Floor boss.

  We didn’t need a fifth token, but given how this entire area had gone, I wanted to actually fight something. Earn some experience.

  “So, who wants to trigger the beast in the cavern?” I asked, to get a feel for what the others thought.

  “If we clear the boss here, we should be able to rest before we head to the last one,” said Lenna, her bow ready to go in her hands. “I think a boss together is a–”

  Strange took off, zooming down the path and heading directly to the cavern.

  Impressions came to me of the cavern and how high the ceiling really was.

  Kabi and I sprinted down the sloped path, along with Dengu. Lenna stayed behind on the higher ground.

  An image that didn’t make sense appeared for a split second before Strange booked it back the way he’d come, running back to us.

  [Mist-Heart Behemoth, Intangible, Level 99, Predator, Unknown.]

  Strange dashed my way as smoke trailed along the ground, curling up behind him.

  It shaped into a massive creature standing on four legs with see-through wings curling up behind it. It reminded me of a woolly mammoth, but without a trunk or tail, with the face of a lion.

  Kabi dashed closer, along with Dengu, as I hung back, trying to get a better feel for this fight.

  Dengu leaped and sailed straight through the creature before landing on the other side.

  Kabi’s swords moved in a whirlwind, and the Behemoth just laughed before shoving out with a leg. Kabi blocked with all four swords, but still slid back on the gravel.

  An arrow slammed into the side of the creature, and it roared, trying to spot where the stinging attack came from.

  Strange used a distraction, and the Behemoth’s eyes shot to me, since Strange stood right next to my foot.

  The Behemoth flapped its wings once, shooting past Kabi. It moved faster than anything I’d seen before.

  I dodged to one side, but its wing barely clipped me, sending me flying. My armor took the brunt of the impact. I skidded along the ground before catching myself.

  Lenna used that time to hit it with another arrow, just as its tail darted at me. Dengu landed on its back, tearing at its other wing at the same time.

  I blocked the tail strike, with my armor.

  Dengu slipped to the ground as the creature shimmered. It twisted to attack him, but Kabi met the blow again, blocking with his swords. A faint shimmer of green caught my attention.

  [Mist-Heart Behemoth, Poisoned, Intangible, Level 99, Predator, Unknown.]

  Perfect.

  I lengthened my knife into the longer spear form, and waited for the creature to become solid again. It turned and swung a wing right at me, but I dodged back.

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  A shadow appeared under it for just a second as I rolled across the rocky ground. Strange raced to my side, vanishing into my shadow.

  Again, Lenna hit it with an arrow as it attacked.

  Dengu missed with his timing, while Kabi danced around the creature, distracting it as best as he could from Lenna.

  I stabbed at the same moment a shadow formed under the giant beast as it snapped both wings out. One slammed into Dengu, the other Kabi, sending both of them across the clearing in front of the cavern.

  Strange leaped from his hiding spot at the same moment, tearing in deep with his tiny teeth.

  My spear stretched out as I stabbed it, slicing in deeper. I forced heat through the spear tip, before the beast shimmered yet again.

  Strange fell to the ground and dashed at me as the Behemoth focused all its attention on me. He outpaced the creature as it charged, vanishing as he reached my shadow.

  Yet, its damaged wing from Dengu’s attack knocked its aim off.

  I barely dodged.

  Strange leaped out of a shadow as it darted past, completely solid.

  Its charge brought it closer to Lenna, who fired as well. Her fifth arrow sank deep into the Behemoth’s side.

  The beast screamed, switching direction and charging up the incline at Lenna. Its shadow appeared under it.

  Kabi leaped up, swords dancing as he slashed at its already damaged wing. Feathers went flying as he cut into the main joint.

  I stabbed again at it, aiming for the knee on its closet leg, while Strange again chomped on and held.

  The next thing I knew, Lenna crouched on top of the Behemoth. It shook, trying to get her off its back. Strange had already fallen to the ground as it went intangible, but somehow Lenna held on, even though it was only smoke.

  Everyone backed up as the behemoth stomped around the area, trying to get Lenna off its back and prevent her from shooting more arrows into it.

  Its functional wing swiped at her, but she just ducked before firing another arrow, which glimmered in the sunlight.

  Suddenly, its shadows appeared again, and we all moved into action, striking quickly and intentionally. In mere moments, the beast was down.

  [You have gained bonus experience from surviving a level 99 Mist-Heart Behemoth.]

  [You have gained a level.]

  [You have gained a level.]

  [You have gained a level.]

  I grinned as the notification rolled in.

  Lenna leaped off the carcass with a frown. She wobbled slightly. “And down it went.”

  I moved to start the butchering process, yet before I could cut into it, the carcass turned into mist.

  “What?!” My stomach grumbled as it all vanished, leaving behind a puddle of water.

  I let out a sigh and pulled some of my stockpile of meat out before snacking on several pieces. Dengu and Strange both asked for some, so I tossed bigger hunks to each.

  Kabi's voice came from the cavern, and we all turned in that direction. “I found the token.”

  That got each of us moving.

  He came out of the cavern carrying the small token in his hand. “Nothing else was inside.”

  “We should rest before we open the way to the last bit,” said Lenna.

  “Just for a little,” I said. “I want to get out of here and find out what Kabi’s parents want.”

  “You and me both,” he grumbled, running a hand over his face.

  Lenna sat against the cavern wall, while Dengu stood nearby. I joined her, and Strange climbed into my lap like a cat before curling up in a ball. It took only seconds for him to start snoring ever so lightly.

  Both Lenna and I stared.

  “Little guy must be tired,” I said.

  “It was an intense fight.” Lenna closed her eyes. “I’m thankful I could touch it. It took forever going through my skills to confirm that before I leaped at it.”

  “That was really useful.”

  Kabi sat down next to us, his swords put away. “Not being able to hit it was frustrating. I hoped you would get that skill from eating it.”

  “It would have been useful.” I glared at the damp stone where it died. “Still, we have one more fight to go.”

  Though after the last couple of fights, a level 100 boss didn’t feel like a big deal.

  Then I saw Kabi’s level. “You broke through!”

  “Yes, I hit the halfway point,” he said with the brightest smile and relaxed look. “The only thing holding me back is my profession.”

  “You too?” I asked, tapping my head against the wall. “I’m struggling to gain levels in it.”

  Kabi nodded solemnly. “I need to find something to evolve it into. I thought I knew what, but now I’m not sure.”

  “Evolve it?” This was new information.

  “Yes, by going down a specialization, or potentially the opposite and going in a broader, but similar, direction.”

  So, even though I couldn’t go more specialized, I could go broader. That’d mean figuring out more magic stuff that wasn’t crystal-based.

  “That might work, somehow.” I needed to learn more magic.

  “Could you learn how to use runes?” asked Kabi.

  “Maybe?” I shrugged. “I suppose Cekta might be able to teach me, or Lorinee at the academy.”

  That reminded me of the painted rune on the back of my hand. The paint hadn’t flaked off, and it remained the dark color it had been when new. I still didn’t have an urge to use it for clarity, not yet at least.

  Kabi chuckled. “The Rune Masters are horrible about teaching others. Cekta learned the profession from my grandfather, and my father helped him with a few, even though it isn’t his profession.”

  “I’ll figure it out.” I’d made it this far, practically across the universe, survived not one but two crashes, and jumped through a portal. I could figure out the profession thing, too.

  We all sat in silence for longer than I thought we would. Strange small snores broke the tranquility here and there, but it was pleasant just to sit.

  “Should we get moving?” asked Kabi eventually, sounding like he didn’t want to move.

  “Probably,” I said, petting Strange’s head.

  He woke up, instantly ready to go.

  All of us gathered around the stone blocking the path to the final boss. We crossed some invisible line, and the tokens vanished from my inventory.

  All five slots filled, plus the sixth floated in the air nearby.

  [You have unlocked the final challenge for this floor of the dungeon. Good luck on your journey of growth and self-discovery.]

  The notification confused me, but we all started up the gravel path leading to the cut-off mountain top. Nothing confronted us on our journey; in fact, the sun with a light breeze felt like the perfect kind of day.

  Then the path ended at a set of steps.

  [Are you ready to confront the final challenge for this floor? Each participant will be given their own challenge to overcome.]

  “Wait, what?” I asked, confused at the notification.

  “That cannot be correct,” said Lenna. “Everyone at the academy said it was a boss.”

  “I mean, Professor Verti said it was a level 100 boss.”

  Kabi shook his head. “He didn’t say it was a beast, though.”

  My mind caught up with itself, and I just smiled. “Alright, whatever it is, we will each face it.”

  I nodded to each of the others, thinking of our strengths and of possible challenges we would be facing.

  [Good luck!]

  I jerked at the notification, concern overcoming my confidence. Something felt off. Something important.

  Strange bounced next to my foot, as my eyes opened wide. He wasn’t anywhere near level 100. Then he faded away as everything turned white all around us.

  “Guys?” I asked, as the white took over.