The moment the dungeon gate closed behind them, Dawnview Plaza erupted.
Not with cheers.
With shock.
Dozens of players stared as the eight of them stepped back into the sunlight—exhausted, bruised, spirits shattered into motes minutes earlier. The whispers rose like a storm.
"Impossible."
"No team cleared Hard."
"They cheated, I'm telling you—nobody gets past the Thornlash AOE!"
"That's… that's the world announcement group…?"
"How many potions did they use?!"
"Who's the light archer—did anyone recognise him?"
Riley didn't look at them.
He didn't need to.
He felt Sofia trembling behind him, one hand pressed to her chest. Hayley guided Rezion and Jonathan through the crowd before panic set in. Hayes kept one hand on his sword—not to threaten, just to keep space.
Aria walked with her chin high and her expression smug.
Dot rode her shoulder, clicking like a queen who had conquered nations.
"Aria," Riley muttered.
"I KNOW," she said, already grinning. "Uploading everything."
She flicked open the interface.
Dungeon-clear footage.
Their stats.
Zero cheating.
Pure gameplay.
Full transparency.
"Let the forums choke on our glory," Aria said sweetly.
Dot clicked in violent approval.
Riley didn't wait for the crowd's reaction.
He opened his menu.
> To Kipp:
Release everything.
30 Mirage Draughts on auction, 10 silver each.
Right now.
A pause.
Then an explosion of frantic typing.
> Kipp:
10 SILVER EACH???
Are you OK???
Are YOU the one who hit your head in the dungeon????
People will RIOT—
> Riley:
Just trust me.
Post.
Now.
Another pause.
Then:
> Kipp:
…posted.
BUT IF I GET MURDERED BY THE MARKETPLACE I WILL HAUNT YOU.
Riley smiled.
Because it had already begun.
As they crossed the plaza, system notifications fired like fireworks.
> AUCTION UPDATE:
Mirage Draught SOLD — 10 silver
Mirage Draught SOLD — 10 silver
Mirage Draught SOLD — 10 silver
Mirage Draught SOLD — 10 silver
Kipp wasn't going to haunt him.
Kipp was going to ascend into a new tax bracket.
Hayes finally exhaled.
"We need to heal the spirits. Now."
Riley nodded sharply.
"Everyone to the Spirit Recovery Hall. Move."
The hall glowed with soft green light, each pod filled with drifting motes of essence. Attendants moved calmly, guiding exhausted players and shattered spirits.
But when Riley's team entered—
The attendants froze.
"Eight full spirit collapses?" one whispered.
"No… nine."
"Twelve?! How many did you fight?!"
Riley didn't bother answering.
They knew.
Everyone knew.
Pods slid open with soft chimes.
Lights pulsed.
And slowly…
One by one…
The spirits came back.
Terror reformed first—stone swirling like liquid clay before setting into his cub shape.
Hayes actually crouched, placing a hand on his head. "Good job, buddy."
Bramble blinked awake next, still clutching imaginary honey.
Les fluttered into existence, wobbling like he'd run a marathon.
Moggy appeared with a dramatic collapse and immediately began judging everyone again.
The tiger cub materialised with a roar too small to be threatening.
Echo reformed last—Sofia burst into tears the moment her partner took shape.
Riley stepped forward, heart pounding.
Luna hadn't returned yet.
A pulse.
A swirl of starlight.
A tiny cry—
And she emerged from the pod in a burst of soft silver glow, stumbling into Riley's arms before she was even fully formed.
Riley closed his eyes, forehead resting against hers.
"You did amazing, Luna. I'm so proud of you."
She chirped weakly and curled into his chest.
The three newcomers—Kalyani, Jonathan, Rezion—watched with wide eyes as their own spirits reformed.
But Riley wasn't done.
He turned to them fully.
"You three…"
They tensed.
Afraid.
Still expecting rejection.
As if clearing a dungeon wasn't enough to make them feel safe.
"You are," Riley said softly, "some of the strongest early-game players in Dawnview."
Their mouths fell open.
"Teams will chase you," Riley continued. "Guilds will message you. People will try to poach you with promises."
The tiger boy swallowed, voice shaking.
"Are… are you kicking us out?"
Sofia gasped. "No! Never!"
Riley shook his head immediately.
"You're welcome to stay with us. No tests. No negotiation. No pressure. We don't want to force you to stay, but we would like you to. "
Kalyani wiped her eyes before the tears could fall.
Rezion exhaled shakily.
Jonathan straightened, fists trembling.
Hayley knelt to them.
"You fought like heroes. You belong with us if you want to."
The answer came instantly.
"We're staying," Jonathan said.
"Yeah," Rezion murmured. "We're not leaving the people who believed in us."
Kalyani nodded fiercely. "You gave us a chance. We're not throwing that away."
Aria put an arm around all three at once.
"WELCOME TO CHAOS SQUAD."
Dot clicked: chaotic chirp of acceptance.
Even Hayes allowed a tiny smile.
And Riley?
He felt something settle warmly in his chest.
They weren't just strong.
They were loyal.
And in Dawnview… loyalty was worth more than any coin.
They headed straight to Kipp's workshop.
He was mid-panic.
Mid-ecstasy.
Mid-financial-transfiguration.
"RILEY. RILEY. RILEY."
He shoved a handful of scrolls at him.
"LOOK. LOOK! ALL SOLD. ALL OF THEM. 10 SILVER EACH. EACH. DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THAT IS—"
Hayes answered, monotone.
"A hundred thousand coins per potion."
Hayley laughed and then exclaimed.
"My brother the mathematician, it's 1000 coins each dumb ass, but that's still 30000 coins plus what we got from the dungeon itself. "
Kipp made a strangled sound.
"I HAVE ASCENDED."
Mossling held a sign reading: WE ARE RICH NOW THANK YOU
Riley lifted a brow.
"Can you keep going?"
Kipp laughed like a man possessed.
"NOT JUST ME. We're getting help. Two more alchemists from the guild street—both good, both trustworthy."
Riley nodded.
"Recruit them. But contracts first. Full team rights."
Kipp saluted.
"Yes, Captain Prophet Flair."
Riley blinked.
"…what?"
Kipp pointed at him accusingly.
"You KNOW things. You KNEW the market would explode. You KNEW the dungeon. I don't know how. But I'm not questioning it."
Riley smirked.
"Good."
Aria slammed her hands down.
"Alright people—we have 48 hours to mint more money than this village has seen in months."
Dot clicked a war cry.
And the alchemy burners flared to life.