Varik landed beside him with a splash and a thud.
Lucen added, "Okay. That was stupid."
Varik wiped blood from his cheek with the back of his wrist.
"Yeah. But effective."
Lucen looked at the corpse.
Then up at Varik.
Then down at his soaked coat.
Then up again.
"…I'm not dragging it out."
Varik nodded once.
"Wouldn't make you."
Lucen exhaled.
'System better be generous after that.'
And as if on cue—
[EXP GAINED: 14,280 (Boss Clear — Rift Core Node: Leviathan)]
[LEVEL UP: 20 → 22]
[Trait Progression: +1 Unknown Flag Registered]
[Quest Flag: Rift Integrity Collapse In 4:02]
Lucen stared at the countdown.
"Four minutes until what?"
Varik turned, already stepping over the body.
"Until the lake explodes. Move."
Lucen followed.
Fast.
Because of course the damn thing had a detonation timer.
—
Lucen ran behind Varik, boots slapping against wet stone, soaked to the thighs and still catching his breath.
"Left tunnel or right?" he called.
