The world snapped back into colour.
The boss's massive form dissolved into scattering motes of green-gold light, its roar echoing into silence as the dungeon walls shimmered and softened. For several seconds, no one moved. No one breathed. No one spoke.
Just the soft glow of three remaining spirits:
Lumi
Frostbite
Emberpaw
…all trembling, panting, battered—still alive.
Everyone else… was gone.
Terror.
Bramble.
Les.
Moggy.
Mossball.
Tiger cub.
Echo.
Tom
And Luna
Most of them had vanished into white motes the moment the boss's AOE hit—no bodies left behind, only the faint shimmer of dissolving spirit light.
And Luna—
Luna had taken the blow meant for Sofia.
Her tiny dragon body had flared with desperate starlight before bursting apart in a soft, heart-shattering explosion of brilliance.
Riley still felt the echo of it in his chest.
But they had won.
Somehow… impossibly… they had won.
Hayes sank to one knee, catching his breath. His shield flickered with the last of its durability.
Hayley wiped her eyes, half-laughing and half-sobbing. "We… we actually did it."
Kalyani clutched Emberpaw to her chest, shaking. "I thought we were all going to die—"
Rezion dropped to the floor, exhausted. Frostbite slumped across his lap, licking his arm weakly.
Jonathan leaned against a broken pillar, staring at the place his tiger cub had vanished. "I… I'll get him back tomorrow. Right? He'll come back at the healing center… right?"
Riley placed a steady hand on his shoulder.
"Yes. They all will."
Aria winced as she tried to stand, one arm limp, armour cracked.
"Next time—" she groaned, "—we should bring more health potions."
Sofia choked out a laugh, shaking as Lumi curled around her neck, still glowing.
"No amount of health potions would have saved us from that AOE…"
Riley nodded slowly.
"That move was supposed to wipe the party," he said quietly. "The fact that we're still standing means we outplayed the mechanics… barely."
Hayes let out a soft exhale.
"Your callout saved us. When the boss shifted to its high-attack form… that warning gave us time to brace."
Riley didn't say anything.
He was still thinking about Luna.
How bright she'd glowed.
How bravely she'd stood in front of Sofia.
How young she was…
But there was no time to dwell.
A shimmer of light formed in front of the group—
A reward chest.
But not a small one.
A massive, ornate, vine-covered chest taller than Aria.
Aria gasped.
"Oh. Oh HELLO??? Look at THIS UNIT."
Riley stepped forward as the chest unlocked with a melodic chime.
DUNGEON CLEAR REWARDS — VERDANT HOLLOW (HARD)
FIRST HARD-CLEAR BONUS AWARDED.
Everyone held their breath.
Then—
1 Gold Coin
Everyone froze.
Even Hayes swore under his breath.
"That's… that's more than most players earn in a week."
+ 1 Additional Gold Coin
First-Clear Bonus
Aria screamed.
"WE'RE RICH. WE ARE ACTUALLY RICH."
+ 40 Silver Coins
Lumi's 20% Luck Bonus Applied
Sofia stared.
"That's enough to buy a house…"
Rezion choked.
"My whole life savings didn't reach one silver…"
Verdant Essence Crystal times 1
"Another one!" Hayley says shocked
Hayley gasped.
"We can evolve another Nature spirit's affinity… this is HUGE."
Material Bundle - Rare
Glowroot times 4
Ancient Bark times 2
Verdant Silk times 3
Spirit Moss times 1
Jonathan whistled. "Crafters would kill for this."
"Kip is going to love us" sofia says quietly
Then the Weapons
— Sunderleaf Greatblade "hayes this can be yours"
— Emberbrand Dagger Kalyani for you
— Frostbite Fang-Spear handing it to Rezion
— Verdant Claw Gauntlets Aria
— Sapling Call Rod Sofia
— Starlit Recurve a Light Bow Skin. I'll take this one
— Hunter's Courage Knife, "Jonathan would you like this? Jonathan nodding furiously
— Bloomstrike Shortblade Hayley this can be yours
Aria screamed again.
"WE GOT A FULL ARMOURY IN A BOX???"
Sofia held her new rod gently, smiling through tired tears.
"It's beautiful…"
Riley lifted the bow skin—the starlit design glittered like Luna's own glow.
He swallowed.
"…She'd like this."
Hayley nodded softly.
"And she'll see it tomorrow."
Finally—
Blueprint Acquired: VERDANT FORGESHARD
Allows crafting of low-tier Verdant-infused gear.
Kalyani squealed. "THIS COULD SET US UP FOR WEEKS."
Riley smiled faintly.
"This… was worth it."
Hayes nodded.
"It was."
And then—
With a soft hum, the dungeon floor lit beneath their feet.
DUNGEON COMPLETE. EXITING INSTANCE.
Light swallowed them.
They reappeared in a burst of green-gold light outside the Verdant Dungeon gate.
And immediately—
The whole plaza went absolutely feral.
"WHAT?!"
"NO WAY."
"IMPOSSIBLE—THEY CHEATED."
"They must know devs!"
"They cleared HARD?? HARD???"
"We couldn't even beat the mini-boss on easy!!"
Dozens of teams stared at them—injured, frustrated, half their spirits out of health, some in tears from repeated failures.
Aria whispered, eyes wide,
"…did we just become celebrities?!"
Jonathan stepped back nervously.
"People are… looking at us."
Rezion was already being pointed at.
"Look—he has an Ice Husky!"
"That's how they beat the last phase!"
Kalyani hid behind Sofia.
"I don't like attention…"
Hayes narrowed his eyes.
"They're not praising us—they're angry."
Sofia nodded softly.
"They think… we cheated."
Hayley muttered, "Let's just leave quietly."
But then—
A glowing system message rang across the entire zone:
SERVER ANNOUNCEMENT — FIRST HARD CLEAR!
Team: Unnamed Party 8 Players
Next Hard Clear Rewards Reduced by 50%
The plaza erupted.
"WHAT?!"
"That's INSANE."
"HOW? HOW DID THEY DO IT?"
"WE COULDN'T GET THROUGH THE DOT SPAM!"
"They MUST have used something!"
Aria leaned close to Riley.
"We need to run before someone tackles us."
Riley simply smirked.
"No. First… I have messages to send."
He opened his inbox.
Message to KIPP:
Put all Mirage Draughts on the auction market.
Price should be 10 silver EACH minimum purchase.
Do it the moment I say GO.
A moment later, Kipp replied in all caps.
KIPP:
"WHY?? 10 SILVER??? ARE YOU TRYING TO GET ME ARRESTED???"
Riley typed only two words:
Do it...
Aria peered over his shoulder.
"What are you plotting?"
Riley smiled slightly.
"Step two."
"Aria."
"Yeah?"
"Post the full dungeon recording to the forums. Title it:
'HOW TO BEAT VERDANT HARD — FULL CLEAR'"
Aria's grin spread so wide it nearly split her face.
"WITH PLEASURE."
She hit upload.
The plaza around them was still in chaos.
Still yelling.
Still pointing.
Still accusing.
But Riley?
He just looked at the village horizon.
Tomorrow… everything would change.