Final Life Online

Caria gave a low whistle again. "So that shiny rock sitting in the swamp is worth more than the entire fortress we just cleared last month."

"More than three fortresses," Sophia muttered, scrolling further. "If the mana signatures are triple-aspected like this one… it could easily break 4 million."

Aria crossed her arms, lips quirking in faint amusement. "And to think, half an hour ago it was trying to vaporize us."

Rhys smirked. "Guess we've got a talent for turning death traps into investments."

Caria grinned at that. "Now that's a skill they don't teach at the academy."

Sophia knelt by the water's edge, runes flickering briefly over her palm as she drew a containment sigil. "I'll seal it for transport. The core residue around it is still volatile—it'll need stabilization before we move it."

As the spell took form, the surface of the pool shimmered. Threads of light coiled around the egg like a cocoon, solidifying into a translucent sphere. The faint hum within it quieted to a steady thrum—alive, but calm.

"There," Sophia said, standing. "Secure and dormant. Should be safe to carry."

Aria approached and rested a hand on Rhys's shoulder. "You did good out there," she said quietly. "Not just in the fight. You kept your head when things went sideways."

He nodded once. "Can't afford not to."

She smiled faintly, a rare warmth softening her tone. "Maybe. But still—you've earned more than just a share of gold. Consider this a test passed."

Caria tilted her head. "A test? You planning to recruit him for something bigger?"

Aria didn't answer right away. Her gaze drifted toward the distant mist rising over the swamp's edge. "Let's just say… the Guild's been looking for people who can adapt. Who can work under pressure and still think clearly." Then, turning back to Rhys: "You might fit the profile."

Sophia glanced between them, curious. "You mean that team?"

"Maybe," Aria said. "We'll see."

Rhys exhaled softly. "I'll take that as a maybe worth working for."

"Good answer," Aria said, smiling slightly. "For now, let's move out before the swamp decides to respawn something else."

Caria slung her crossbow onto her back. "Music to my ears."

"Not to mention there are six more mini-bosses left," Rhys added, glancing toward the path ahead.

Aria groaned softly. "Right. No rest for the living."

Sophia checked her map display, the holographic projection flickering to life over her wristband. "Next one is the Mist Jellyfish," she said. "Though honestly, that name doesn't do justice to its terror. The last team that tried it got completely disoriented before they even reached its lair."

Caria stretched her arms over her head, groaning. "Ugh, the Mist Jellyfish again. I swear, this thing's more annoying than dangerous."

Sophia smirked. "Yeah, it's a pain in the ass boss, not a hard one. Just… really good at wasting our time."

Aria chuckled, twirling her spear lazily. "At least we know what we're walking into. Same routine as always?"

"Pretty much," Caria replied. "We'll deal with the fog, keep formation, and—" She paused, glancing at Rhys with a teasing grin. "Actually, this'll be your first time dealing with it, huh?"

Sophia and Aria both grinned. "Oh, this'll be fun," Sophia added, voice playful.

Rhys blinked once, looking at the dense wall of mist ahead. "Why?"

"Oh, you'll see," Caria said, chuckling. "Let's just say the Jellyfish loves mind games. People tend to start hearing things—seeing things. It messes with perception until you don't know what's real."

Rhys didn't even flinch. His tone was flat, calm. "So… illusions."

Sophia tilted her head. "You don't sound very concerned."

"I'm not," Rhys said simply. "The Eyes of the Ancients don't get fooled by tricks like that."

That made all three women pause. Aria raised a brow. "Oh? Confident, aren't we?"

"Not confident," he replied, stepping forward as his aura rippled faintly. "Just factual."

Caria snorted, crossing her arms. "Alright then, mister unshakable—lead the way. Let's see how your fancy eyes handle it."

They giggled among themselves, exchanging amused looks as Rhys walked ahead, utterly unfazed. The mist began to shift immediately, warping sound and space—but around him, everything remained clear. His vision pierced through the distortions as easily as sunlight through water.

Moonbounce moved beside Rhys, his hooves making barely a sound against the damp ground, runes along his hide glowing in soft silver arcs. The mist bent away from him, unable to touch the light radiating from his form.

The hum of the Mist Jellyfish echoed—a low, haunting vibration through the air. Its vast silhouette loomed ahead, drifting through the fog like a ghost, dozens of glowing tendrils rippling beneath it.

Aria opened her mouth to issue a warning—only for Rhys to vanish from where he stood.

A streak of blue light cut through the mist.

One strike.

The sound that followed was like a wave collapsing. The Jellyfish froze mid-motion, its luminescence flickering once—then it split cleanly down the center, dissolving into pale motes of mana before it could even cry out.

The mist shuddered, then broke apart completely, vanishing as if the swamp itself had exhaled.

Rhys stood where the creature had been moments before, blade lowered, steam rising faintly from its edge. He flicked it clean and sheathed it in one smooth motion. "Done."

Caria just stared, jaw slack. "You—what—already?!"

Sophia blinked, eyes wide. "He didn't even wait for the formation…"

Aria exhaled a soft laugh, shaking her head. "Well," she said, smiling faintly, "that's one way to handle it."

Rhys gave a casual shrug. "You said it was annoying. I decided not to waste time."

The three women exchanged looks—half impressed, half incredulous—before Caria burst out laughing. "You're ridiculous."

"Efficient," Rhys corrected calmly.

"Same thing," Aria said, still smiling as she motioned toward the next stretch of swamp. "Alright then, Mister Efficient. Let's see how you handle the next one."

The mist cleared completely now, revealing the stretch of swamp ahead—darker, quieter, but alive with the same faint mana currents they had crossed countless times before. The ground shimmered faintly with residual traces from the Jellyfish's collapse, but none of them paid it much mind anymore.

Sophia glanced at her sensor stone, its glow steady and familiar. "One down," she said with a calm tone. "Five more before the basin's core."