Dawnview Village glowed with morning haze as the party gathered near the central fountain, steam rising from freshly opened food stalls and the sound of lively player chatter filling every street. Word of their hard-mode dungeon clear still buzzed through the plaza like a hive of curious bees — some admiring, some accusing, some whispering theories that bordered on conspiracy.
But Riley wasn't focused on the crowd.
Today was about next steps.
Kipp was already waiting near the fountain bench, wide-eyed and jittering with barely contained energy. The moment he spotted Riley, he waved both arms wildly.
"RILEYYYY! The auctions— they— THEY SOLD OUT. Completely. All of them!"
Aria shoved past Riley like she'd been waiting to explode.
"HOW MUCH?! TELL ME WITH NUMBERS I CAN SCREAM AT!"
Kipp gulped dramatically.
"Twenty… silver… each."
Aria screamed. A long, unbroken scream that caused several passing players to flinch and one to drop his breakfast kebab.
Hayes rubbed his temple. "Unbelievable… but not surprising."
Hayley grinned. "Kipp, you're officially our little miracle factory."
Kipp blushed bright pink. "I—I didn't do it alone. Riley told me when to post the listing, told me how many to bundle, told me when demand would spike—"
Aria whipped around.
"RILEY. YOU MARKET-READING GENIUS if you weren't my brother I'd marry you."
"No, thanks " Riley said automatically.
Lumi puffed up his chest proudly.
He had known too, of course. Because Lumi always knew.
Luna bumped her head gently against Riley's elbow, eyes full of soft pride.
Kalyani, Jonathan, and Rezion watched all this from the side — still adjusting, still a little overwhelmed by the sudden shift in status that came with clearing a dungeon thought impossible.
The three exchanged a nervous glance until Riley caught it.
He stepped toward them immediately.
"Relax," he said with a warm smile. "You're with us. You're part of the team."
Riley clapped his hands once.
"Alright. Time to plan forward."
Everyone leaned in.
Riley pointed at Kipp first.
"Kipp, your Verdant recipe — keep making it. And the Mirage Draughts. But be ready."
"F-for what?" Kipp asked.
Riley tapped the side of his nose.
"Market competition. Prices will drop. First it slows, then it stops."
Kipp nodded slowly. "You mean… I need a new edge."
"Exactly."
Kipp scribbled notes furiously.
Aria blinked. "Riley… how do you know all this?"
He gave a tiny shrug. "Patterns."
He wasn't lying. Just… not explaining the whole truth.
"Our next goal is six spirits each."
The entire party froze.
Sofia blinked. "Six… each?"
Riley nodded.
"For future dungeons, for flexibility, for synergy builds… for everything."
Hayes crossed his arms. "Makes sense. We barely scraped by with two."
Hayley hugged Bramble and Tommy. "It'll be fun! Like building our own little families."
Aria pointed dramatically at her Mossball.
"MY SECOND SPIRIT DIED A HERO. I ACCEPT THIS QUEST."
Dot clicked judgmentally.
"What about you???" Aria demanded.
Dot clicked again.
Aria gasped. "YOU THINK YOU'RE ENOUGH FOR ME? THAT'S SWEET BUT INCORRECT."
Riley exhaled slowly.
"To keep from slowing down… and to avoid all of us clumping together for every fight… we split."
Hayes nodded immediately. "Smart. We're becoming too big to move as one unit."
Hayley agreed. "And it'll make training faster."
Aria grinned.
"Who's in which squad? LET ME GUESS— I LEAD ONE."
"No," Hayes said.
"Yes," Aria insisted.
"We'll talk later," Sofia whispered soothingly.
Riley raised two fingers.
Team A – Riley's Team
Riley
Kalyani
Rezion
Jonathan
Team B – Original Team
Aria
Sofia
Hayes
Hayley
The newbies blinked in disbelief.
Kalyani: "W-wait. We get to go with Riley?"
Jonathan: "Like… just us? No backup?"
Rezion: "…Isn't that unfair to you?"
Riley shook his head.
"I want to help you grow fast. And I know exactly where we're going."
The three kids stood a little taller — nervous, but proud.
Aria put her hands on her hips.
"Don't worry. My team will obviously still be better."
"Aria," Sofia sighed.
"What? It's true."
Riley gestured for the three new players to step forward.
"One by one. What kind of spirits do you want to grow into?"
Kalyani didn't hesitate.
"I want fire. Pure fire. Unrestrained, overwhelming fire — until people hear my name and think 'don't stand near her.'"
Aria hugged herself in dramatic joy.
"A GIRL AFTER MY OWN HEART."
Jonathan scratched the tiger cub behind the ears.
"I want… balance. Not just raw power. Something strong enough to fight but versatile enough to adapt. Maybe something defensive. Or fast. Or both."
Rezion patted his icy husky, whose breath came out frosty even in the warm square.
"I just want something that helps Frosty evolve. I don't care if it's rare. If it supports him, I want it."
Riley nodded approvingly.
"Good. Because I know exactly what will help each of you."
Kalyani leaned in, wide-eyed.
"You do?"
Riley smiled faintly.
"The next big dungeon opening in five days… has a Wind + Stone synergy theme. First clear reward is an Azure Affinity Gem… and a Storm-Forged Egg."
Rezion inhaled sharply.
"That… that could evolve Frosty."
"It could," Riley said.
Jonathan's eyes gleamed. "Storm-Forged? That sounds sick."
Kalyani smirked. "Azure affinity? Fire hates that. Perfect challenge."
Aria blinked.
"How do YOU know all this?"
Riley shrugged again.
"I pay attention."
Sofia smiled softly. "He really does."
Riley raised a hand for quiet.
"We'll start hunting tomorrow."
Kalyani grinned. "Azure Hollow?"
"Yes."
Jonathan cracked his knuckles. "Let's go."
Rezion nodded firmly. "We'll be ready."
Aria pointed.
"And MY team will go to Verdant Overhang for new tanks and supports."
Hayley chimed in. "Nature spirits! Healing! Cute animals!"
Hayes simply said, "Efficient."
As the excitement settled, Kipp tugged on Riley's sleeve.
"Um… Riley? Can I ask something?"
"Sure."
Kipp hesitated.
"…Do you want me to… bring in more alchemists? Two others have been helping me gather herbs. They're good. And nice. And they really want to join."
Riley didn't even blink.
"If you trust them, bring them. Just… have them sign something first."
Kipp lit up like a firework.
"I'll do it! I'll bring the best ones!"
He ran off, Mossling bouncing after him.
Riley took a slow breath.
Today we begin the spirit hunts.
Five days later — the Azure Dungeon.
But for now…
"Everyone," he said. "lets go, the sooner we start the sooner we can prepare for the dungeon."
Aria threw her fist in the air.
"YEAH WE DO!"
Lumi glowed brightly.
Luna chirped softly.
And the entire team — both teams — walked into the warm afternoon light with a clear plan, clear direction…
…and the momentum of a rising legend.