By the time Edge’s exhaustion wore off, the battle was over.

  The Claws were ruthless killers, but they valued their own lives above anything else. With two of their elites dead and Ripper nowhere to be found, their battered army turned and ran, heading for the jungle above. The defenders pressed the attack until the convicts were out of range, scoring a few final kills before tending to their wounds.

  A limping jailbird was slain by a poison-gas trap that had remained miraculously untriggered until that moment, and then the Claws were gone—the echoes of their frantic footsteps fading away a few seconds later.

  Everyone stood in stunned silence, internalizing that the siege was broken and they were still alive. Then Trapper laughed and said, “Holy shit. We won! We’re free at last.”

  With that, a cheer arose from the expedition. It was a wordless roar—saturated with the savage joy that only those who have survived seemingly certain death can know.

  Everywhere Edge looked, people were embracing, laughing, and crying as their blood dripped down to paint the rocky floor below. The support teams ran out to meet the warriors, doing their best to bind their minor wounds and suture the major as everyone processed the powerful emotions that were rippling throughout that wondrous moment.

  Tears were running down his face as he realized that while too many good people had fallen, most of the expedition was still alive, including his closest friends.

  That was when he remembered Foebinder pointing at Roth’s belt. When Edge walked over to her remains and looked inside the container, he discovered a small pile of mana seeds. Those are going to come in handy. He placed them in the stasis chamber inside his vault and rose to his feet, helping the wounded and weary as Regeneration restored his sundered flesh.

  Half an hour later, he had done everything he could. The bodies of the fallen defenders were piled along one wall—ready to be buried in the jungle above. The expedition needed to recover from their grueling ordeal, then it would be time to head back to the Ivory Plains and end the threat the Claws posed once and for all.

  But he refused to worry about it now. Now was a time for celebration and reunion. For resting, recovering, and savoring what he had accomplished.

  On that note, Edge walked over to the mess hall. He reached into his spatial storage and brought out the meat he’d harvested from the gatekeeper, along with all the fruit, vegetables, and grain he had stolen from the Claws’ storeroom so the handlers could feed it to the hungry beasts. Everyone shouted their approval when they saw the towering pile of food—eager to end their involuntary fasting.

  Violet distributed the provisions to the beasts who needed them most, then started cooking up a storm with help from the other quartermasters. Now that the most important matters had been dealt with, Edge took a good look around.

  He was surprised to discover there was plenty of seating for everyone—that he was standing inside what looked more like a small city than a makeshift refuge. The besieged hunters built one hell of an encampment while they were trapped down here. If we wind up coming back to mine and hunt, we’ll have a perfect base of operations ready to go.

  Since they didn’t have time for anything fancy, the cooks were preparing big pots of fish stew, along with skewers that were being grilled over the firepits. Not everything needed to be cooked, and there was a table where people could grab a snack to tide them over until the stew was ready. Edge handed out a few final provisions that were sitting in his vault, receiving heartfelt thanks in exchange.

  Everyone was ecstatic—overwhelmed with relief that the siege was finally over and thrilled by the prospect of feasting after being close to starvation for weeks. Even their wounds couldn’t stop their good cheer. While people had died, this outcome felt like a miracle after surviving the jailbirds’ assault.

  While the expedition rested their bodies and filled their bellies, Edge took a seat beside Trapper. He’d been worried about his friends ever since the Claws had attacked and confined him in the Savage Garden, and he was deeply relieved that everyone was still alive.

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  Jumo and Riller grinned when they saw him coming. Riller went to get Violet—who was just about finished cooking—and Jumo threw an arm around Edge. The warrior was beaten and bruised. His other arm was hanging in a sling, but his spirits were high.

  “Look who the kaiju dragged in. I knew you were alive. I told everyone you were too tough to die in some gods-forsaken dungeon. Your timing is fucking amazing, by the way. We were in a tight spot before you hit those bastards from behind and gave them a surprise they’ll remember for the rest of their lives—the ones who are still breathing at any rate.”

  By now, Violet and Riller were on their way back, with Sasha following a few feet behind. Edge wiped away tears as everyone exchanged embraces—thrilled to have the whole crew together again. Even Blue got in on the action. The azure triceratops looked worse for wear, but she refused to be left out of the reunion. He scratched the enthusiastic beast behind her horns, which earned him some nuzzles and a lick from her slobbery tongue.

  Since it was going to take a few hours for everyone to eat, rest, and pack up their gear, there was plenty of time to catch up. The hunting crew swapped the stories of their adventures, then moved to join a bigger group that included most of the deputies. Lilly, Tessa, and Melchior came over too, sharing a flask of shockingly strong liquor he’d been saving for a special occasion.

  Eventually, the group dispersed to complete their preparations, leaving Edge alone with Sasha, Mel, and Lilly. Lillian was wearing her Fox mask to preserve her alternate identity—although she was considering ending her double life, given everything that had happened since the anomaly.

  “That was way too fucking close,” Mel said, “but we made it in time.”

  “That play with the monster was dicey,” Sasha added, “and that fight with Roth was pure nightmare fuel.”

  “I’m glad we were able to turn the tide.” Lilly sighed. “But this isn’t over. I’m worried about Ann and everyone back in Puppet Town.” They chatted while draining the rest of Melchior’s flask, which he had left behind as a small way of saying thanks. Edge was carrying most of the women’s gear in his vault and offered to hold onto it until they made it back to town, which they gratefully accepted.

  While the expedition was packing their bags and getting the beasts ready to move out, Able walked over and sat down beside Edge.

  “I can’t tell you how grateful I am for the last-minute save,” the peacekeepers’ second in command began. “But I have to ask, how in the hell did you produce such powerful magic? You sent their whole army flying with that water and wind, and I’ve never seen anything like that chain before. I can tell you went through some incredible growth while you were stuck in the Savage Garden, but that doesn’t explain how you were able to use so many spells back-to-back—let alone provide an aura for over a hundred people at once.”

  Edge wasn’t surprised by the question, since everyone had to be wondering the same thing. It was clear that going forward, he couldn’t keep his powers a secret. Most of them, at least.

  When he considered how he wanted to answer, he found he didn’t care. He wouldn’t mention his Unique core—lest he tempt people with that insane bounty—but he didn’t feel like maintaining a low profile anymore. He was going to have to go all out to deal with the rest of the Claws anyway, and he was tired of lying to people he had come to think of as friends and allies.

  “It’s a long story,” he replied. “Let’s get back on the road, and I’ll fill you in while we travel. Our people are in danger, and there isn’t a moment to lose.”

  “Fair enough,” Able said, then gave the order to return to the jungle above. “But I’ll hold you to that.”

  After the wounded were loaded onto a collection of carts, everyone left the base and started to climb. They were wounded and weary but thrilled to be alive and free. One of the shadowkillers stopped to harvest the remains of the monster, and the deputies were stripping the gear from the fallen Claws. Good. It would be a shame to let it go to waste, and I’m too tired to deal with it.

  As they made their way to the surface, Edge pulled up his Guide to peruse his updates, taking in his gains from the battle.

  You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle up your core. Your new cycle is: 26.

  You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle up your core. Your new cycle is: 27.

  You have accumulated sufficient experience to cycle up your core. Your new cycle is: 28.

  You have 15 attribute points awaiting allocation.

  For defeating multiple cored opponents Stage 2 or above, several of which held additional Mortium, you have earned 13 Mortium.

  Three cycles, thirteen lifecoins, and three Rare skills—not to mention all the bounties. Not bad for a day’s work. While they walked, he pondered how to spend his points. After battling the Claws’ elites, Edge had a renewed appreciation for just how deadly they were. If he wanted to survive their powerful attacks long enough to land a killing blow, he needed to become even tougher than he already was.

  After thinking it through, he decided to put five points apiece into Disruption, Durability, and Amplification. He spent them when the expedition stopped to catch their breath and check on their injured members. Edge was too tired to focus on the sensations this time, but he was grateful for another timely boost.

  Everyone let out a cheer when they rounded a final bend and the entrance to the Sweltering Green came into view, stepping into the sunlight for the first time in weeks as they began the long march home.