Kael noticed it the moment he opened his eyes.

  Aiko was staring at him—intently. Not with suspicion, but something close to it. She was reading him, trying to piece something together.

  “I haven’t seen that kind of reaction to a core absorption before,” she said, voice even. “Is everything alright?”

  Kael hesitated.

  That was unusual, he admitted to himself. The rush. The pain. The sheer gain from a single core. Was it the monster? Or something in him?

  He didn’t know.

  But right now, it didn’t matter.

  A grin tugged at his lips—genuine, almost involuntary. His body still felt like it was vibrating, alive with a rhythm he hadn’t known was missing.

  “I’m feeling better than ever,” he said, letting the grin show.

  Aiko’s eyes lit with subtle relief. She nodded, her posture easing just slightly as she tucked her worry back behind composure.

  “You looked like you were in pain at one point,” she murmured. “Had me worried for a second.”

  Then she straightened, business returning to her voice. “If you’re good to go, we should sweep the rest of the floor. We need to know it’s clear before nightfall. Days last about thirty hours here, but we’re already on the slide. A few more hours, maybe.”

  There was a hint of concern in her voice—small, but real.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Kael nodded, his moment of euphoria slipping back into focus. They moved out side by side, silent and careful, navigating around loose stone and the thin trails of water that crept down from the broken ceiling above. Every step was deliberate. The fading daylight made it harder to spot hazards, but so far, the cracks and gaps in the walls let in just enough to see by.

  For now.

  Aiko paused at a half-broken doorway, one hand raised. She leaned in slowly, her eyes narrowing.

  Then she pulled back, quiet and fast, and gestured for Kael.

  He joined her soundlessly. She leaned close and made a series of sharp, deliberate motions with her hands—pointing toward the open door, then toward the far side of the hallway.

  Kael peeked around the edge.

  A monster. Same type as before. Crocodilian hide. Humanoid frame. Levitation.

  But it wasn’t moving. Just… sitting. Facing away from them, posture slouched, almost like it was resting.

  Kael caught the plan easily. Distract. Lure. Turn it toward him so Aiko could strike from behind.

  He nodded once.

  Aiko crouched, blade already loosened in its sheath, her stance low and tight. She tucked herself against the wall, still and ready.

  Kael took a slow breath. Then grabbed a loose pebble from the ground.

  He tossed it.

  The sound of impact cracked through the air like a gunshot.

  The creature jerked upright—then floated upward in one clean motion. It turned sharply, eyes landing on Kael, and without a sound it rushed forward.

  Kael ran.

  Not aimlessly—he guided it, drawing it past the doorway and deeper into the corridor, letting it commit. His feet struck wet stone. His breath stayed even.

  When the timing felt right, he skidded to a stop and spun to face it.

  Three disks of compressed air snapped into being between them, spaced tightly.

  Behind the monster, he caught movement—Aiko lunging out of the dark, sword flashing with charged energy, cutting low and fast—

  And then he saw it.

  A second monster. Behind her. Moving fast, silent. Its claws extended.

  Coming up right behind her.