“Jin… are… you… there?”

  The Cryscomm flared to life in Jin’s hand. “Am I glad to hear your voice!” he said, ducking as the Anpu Statue’s fist cratered the floor beside him. “Status?”

  “We… reached… the… portal…” Ironshield’s voice cracked through the static. “But… there is… sand…storm… around the… pyramid. Your… status?”

  The transmission fizzled to a hiss. Jin exhaled, a grin cutting through the grit on his face. Knowing Old Man Sid and the rest made it through safely was more than reassuring. It motivated him. Gave him hope.

  Yet, there was something else that made this desperate fight to the death winnable.

  Sandstorm.

  That changed everything Jin had planned so far. He glanced up. There was a sliver of light at the top of the pyramid.

  Though the sanctum’s ceiling was a mess of cracks and fallen stone, it was still not enough to break through. Not yet.

  “Ka Fei! Eustace! Fall back. Now!” Jin ordered, already weaving a web barrier between his team and the statue’s next swing. Emilia’s buffs flared around him, golden light threading through the strands.

  The Berserker skidded to a halt beside him and wiped sweat from his forehead, his chest labouring for every scrap of air inside the dusty sanctum. “What’s the next play, bossman?”

  Jin didn’t look at him. His eyes were locked on the ceiling. “Emilia?”

  “Y-Yes?”

  “This is the highest floor, right?”

  The red-haired girl nodded.

  “Good.” He turned to Ka Fei. “Change of plan. We’re not chipping at that gem anymore. We’re baiting this bastard into tearing the top down.”

  Ka Fei’s face twisted. “You what?! Are you nuts or something? Collapsing the bloody ceiling on us!”

  “He-He’s right!” Despite losing his breath, Eustace’s voice was a pitch higher. “Frank, that’s suicide! We’ll get buried!”

  Jin didn’t blink. “We’ll get buried either way. Ten minutes in, and we’ve not even scratched five per cent of its HP. You got a blunt weapon? No? Didn’t think so.” He tapped his temple. “But I can see its HP. And unless you fancy a slow death, we’re doing this my way.”

  “B-But why?” Emilia asked. “W-we’re willing to do what you-“

  “Sandstorm,” came Jin’s answer. The only answer.

  “Sandstorm?” the girl continued. “What about it?”

  “No time to explain. Use your pretty head to think, alright. Are you three with me or what?”

  Eustace nodded with firm resolution, his hands gripping the hilt of his sword.

  “We got a choice?” Ka Fei shook his head and sighed. “You better know what you’re doing, bossman.”

  Emilia, after exchanging glances with the other two, finally joined in. “We have come so far. I-I’ll trust you, Frank. For now.”

  Jin cracked a smile. “Good kids. Now, let’s make ourselves a door. On the ceiling.”

  ***

  The Gem of Life pulsed like a diseased heart at the statue’s forehead.

  Ka Fei hurled a stone at it. It missed, glancing across the statue’s cheek. The second and third stones went wide, bouncing off the chest and the thick column of the neck. The fourth came close, hitting its eyes.

  “Damn! You got lousy aim!”

  “Oh, shut up, wimp! You want to try?”

  Eustace and Ka Fei were at the vanguard, trying to get Anpu’s attention. All they needed was a single hit on the gemstone at the forehead, and the one landing the hit would get the aggro, becoming the team’s tank. Knowing the risk, upon the latter’s invitation, the scout-turned DPS furiously shook his head.

  “Again,” Jin ordered, not taking his eyes off the Anpu Statue’s lumbering form. “Keep its attention on you.”

  Ka Fei wiped sweat from his brow. “You’re supposed to be the tank now. Why me?”

  “Because you’ve got the arm for it,” Jin said, already moving. “And because I need to prepare.”

  Ka Fei’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue. He snatched another stone from the ground and hurled it. And this time, it was a perfect hit. The gem flared in response, and the statue’s massive head swivelled towards him, its crimson eyes locking onto its new target. The man immediately pulled away.

  This was the opportune moment Jin was waiting for. He didn't want the enemy to thrash around; he needed it stationary. After setting the traps to topple the gargantuan statue and keep it pinned to the floor, he bellowed his next set of instructions.

  “Eustace, left. Emilia, you’re with me. Follow tight! We will trip this-“

  A crash cut him off as the other two parties barrelled from his sides, their weapons swinging wildly at the statue’s knees.

  “What the hell?!”

  Eustace yelped, throwing himself aside as a stray blade hissed past his ribs. It came from the party led by the glasses-wearing Player. They sped ahead without a word of apology. The other party, led by the hulking Player, marched forward to take the opposite flank.

  Jin’s voice turned cold. “They’re not helping. They’re hunting. Fall back, Eustace. Ka Fei. Emilia, stay with me.”

  The man pulled the Lowenhald princess closer to him, his hands like a vice. Watching the fight ahead, Jin realised the worst of the Players had come to the fore. They had seen through his plan, but instead of coordinating their attacks, they did whatever they wanted.

  These bastards weren’t just incompetent; they were competing. It was a contest to see who would be the first to immobilise the statue, defeat it, and claim the rewards. Worse, they didn’t care who they stepped on, cutting down anyone unlucky enough to be in their path.

  It was, at best, an uncoordinated mess. Not only did they fail to work together, but they also tripped over each other’s efforts.

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  Alas, the farce soon came to an end.

  “Look out!” Jin’s warning snapped through the air, but it came too late.

  The statue’s fists came down like meteor rain. The party led by the same Player who almost sliced Eustace in half didn’t even try to scatter. One second, they were there – swords raised, smug grins on their faces and fancy skills unleashed. The next second, the entire group was nothing more than red paste beneath the statue’s weight.

  Silence.

  Then Emilia retched, doubling over as bile hit the cold stone floor. Her hands shook, and her breath came in ragged gasps. “They-they just-”

  “We tried. But they chose wrong,” Jin said, grabbing her shoulder. She swallowed hard, tears cutting through the dirt on her cheeks. “W-Was I the same too? That time?”

  Jin didn’t say anything for a moment, only patting her head. “Every life is precious. Trash, nobles... death treats them all the same. Remember that. Now, can you stand up?”

  Emilia wiped her tears away and nodded. “Y-You’re right, Frank. I-I’m sorry.”

  “Save it for now. But I need you to focus. We’re still alive. That’s what matters.”

  “Y-Yeah. We are indeed still alive.” Emilia’s eyes fired up as she straightened herself, gripping her staff. “What do you need, Frank?”

  Jin didn’t hesitate. “I need buffs. Now.”

  Ka Fei blinked. “You? I thought the plan was me playing tank, and you and that wimp being the annoying flies.”

  “We lost our baits,” Jin said, his eyes on the chaos ahead. “And bait doesn’t work if it’s dead. So, I’ll do it.”

  For a second, Ka Fei looked like he might argue. Then his expression shifted. A raw, determined look flickered across his face. “Right. Yeah. Do it. But don’t die a dog’s death, alright, bossman?”

  He and Jin then exchanged a fist bump, with Eustace joining in too, though he only got a slap on the back of the head from Ka Fei.

  Emilia didn’t waste time. Golden light flared around Jin as she chanted, her voice steady despite the tremble in her hands. The buffs wrapped around him like armour, and for the first time, he finally understood the true weight of her power.

  “Impressive. Really impressive. No wonder you’re a Lowenhald.”

  Emilia shot a grin. “Told you I’m good.”

  “She’s good but too mouthy,” Ka Fei added. “Now, my buff, please, princess.”

  While the two prepared, Jin and Eustace shared a look.

  The blond whistled low. “Well. Guess everyone’s learning something, huh, Frank? Growing up sure is a pain.”

  Jin almost smiled. Almost. “Better late than never, I guess. But enough about that. Less talking. More surviving. Else, growth is useless if we all end up as ketchup."

  Eustace’s face twisted. “Eeeww… no. Luckily, I didn’t eat much or else… nope. Don’t remind me. No, thank you.”

  The short respite was cut short. The sanctum convulsed as the final pillar gave way, buckling under the statue's fury. The hulking Player’s party scrambled at their wits’ end, clawing for survival. Even Daisy and her team, despite their cautious approach, struggled to maintain their footing in the shifting ruin.

  Jin could not afford to waste any more time.

  “Everyone! Listen up. Roles have changed, but the plan stays. We’re going to trip that bastard to keep it from thrashing. Once it’s down, those other parties will swarm the gemstone. We need to hit it harder. Faster. I need that boss looking at me and no one else when it stands back up. Understood?”

  “Yes, sir!” Eustace replied. “But if the gemstone breaks first?”

  Jin smiled. “Better still. But if it doesn’t, it moves to phase two.”

  “As you say, bossman.”

  “Good. And Emilia, provide them with your buffs. But most importantly, remember to protect yourself at all times. Got it?”

  “Y-yes, Frank. As you wish.”

  And with that, the fight changed.

  Emilia’s hands didn’t shake anymore. Her buffs came faster, sharper, her voice ringing with a command she hadn’t had before. Ka Fei moved like a man possessed, hitting the gargantuan statue’s ankle with vigour and precision Jin hadn’t seen from him yet. Even Eustace, the ex-coward scout turned attacker, now displayed his courage in full force, as he fell into rhythm beside the Berserker, his sword flashing in the dim light.

  Jin smiled. He knew survival would do that to most people. To push them past their limits. Their differences. Their beliefs. It broke them down and forged them anew. All for a singular purpose.

  Jin rolled his shoulder and cracked his knuckles. “Now, let the game finally begin.”

  ***

  “Must I look so… hairy? Tail and all?”

  “That is the best I could be,” Fenrir’s voice rumbled in his mind. “Or would you prefer the statue’s look? A muzzle does not fit you well, my lord.”

  Jin smirked. “Fair enough.”

  Standing at the top of one of the broken pillars, he shot a glance forward. His enemy loomed right ahead, still fighting the other parties. Around them, the sanctum’s flickering light cast long shadows.

  Perfect.

  He stepped into the Anpu Statue’s shadow, and the world vanished. Entering the shadowsea was like drowning in ink; the real world was nothing more than a distant ripple above. Jin swam through it, emerging on the statue’s forehead. Once on it, he began striking the Gem of Life with his claws. Once. Twice. Thrice. No damage. Not even a scratch. But the statue roared, its stone face contorting in fury.

  A palm the size of a boulder crashed towards him, trying to swat him like a fly. Jin dove back into the shadows, reappearing at the back of the statue’s neck.

  “Catt, now!”

  A rope, made of the same reinforced steel, silk and adhesive threads, lashed out, bound and then snagged the construct to one of the shadows on the ground.

  “Pull!”

  Six Shadow Wolves manifested from thin air, bit into the rope and lunged into the shadow. The statue yanked backwards, its head slamming into one of the nearby pillars with its arms flailing around. Spurred by the opportunity, Eustace and Ka Fei – aided by Cattleya’s thread and sticky web balls – hastened their attacks, driving their weapons into its massive legs, trying to give it one final push to trip the gargantuan statue.

  And it did.

  The immense tension on the neck – the rearward torque on its upper body – combined with the frantic assault on its base, was too much. The statue let out a grating, stone-on-stone shriek as its massive frame finally tipped.

  It smashed into the floor of the sanctum hall with a terrifying, ground-shaking roar. The impact sent a shockwave of dust and debris upward, blinding everyone temporarily.

  "The gem! Hit the gem!" Jin screamed, already darting through the choking cloud.

  The Gem of Life, a crystal the size of a car’s wheel embedded in the statue's forehead, was now a prime and easy target. Eustace, Ka Fei, and Jin – now unamalgamated – unloaded everything they had. They drove swords, knives, greatswords and even stone debris into the weak spot, hoping for a critical strike.

  Yet, that did not arrive. Despite them trying to maximise the opening and with the monster prone, the Gem of Life proved too resilient. Too unyielding as the weapons skittered across the surface like water on glass.

  “Break away, you three!”

  The statue started thrashing around, despite being glued to the stone floor by Cattleya’s sticky web land mines. He could use the shadowsea to restrain the colossal thing and stop the thrashing further. But sinking it was impossible. Fenrir had warned him that the statue’s sheer weight and size would overwhelm his current control in an instant, risking a critical backlash. Without any other choice left, they had to stick to the original plan.

  With a grinding yet thunderous groan, the statue's limbs strained against the floor. The sticky web balls shredded. Catt’s thread snapped, sending the rope whipping back into the shadows. The window was gone.

  But there was still hope. The original plan did not change. With him now getting the aggro, the statue’s attack would be concentrated on him.

  "I just needed it to swing high. One angry, clumsy swat at the 'fly' was all the power I needed to borrow to break the ceiling.”

  The statue roared, its crimson eyes blazing as it scrambled to its feet. It raised a massive, boulder-sized fist to crush Jin. But before it could connect, he dove into the shadows and reappeared not on the ground but clinging to the statue’s shoulder.

  He used every spike, crack, and carving as a foothold, scrambling up the monster's arm and across the twisted, malignant face. The enraged statue roared, trying to shake the annoying parasite from its eye.

  "Catt! Fenrir. Rope to hand. We’ll anchor it to that pillar over there. Now!”

  As the statue swung its arm upward towards the high ceiling, trying to scrape Jin off its face, Catt’s rope once again lashed out and tethered the massive wrist to one of the supporting pillars closest to the ceiling crack.

  The statue stopped, briefly confused by the sudden restraint on its hand. Jin leapt off the creature’s head and ran across the arm to the top of that pillar.

  “Come on, you slowpoke. I’m here!”

  Pure, unbridled rage consumed the statue as the trap snapped shut. It didn't try to pull its hand from the rope. Instead, the titan channelled its immense strength to smash its trapped fist into the pillar’s weak point, shattering the very stone that anchored it.

  A deafening boom rocked the hall. The ceiling fractured, and as the pillar shattered, the structural collapse obliterated the roof above it. A massive plume of light and dust, followed by a sudden rush of warm, sandy air, flooded the sanctum. The ceiling was gone.

  “Frank! Frank!” Eustace shouted. “The sky! I can see the sky!”

  Finally, one fat and juicy piece of good news.

  Jin smirked as he looked up at the swirling, dust-filled void above them. It wasn’t a ‘sky’ as the blond claimed. But at least it was their hope, a single puncture in the tomb that had nearly become their grave.