Later that night, the Neon Moon was alive.
Laughter rolled through the packed restaurant while plates clinked endlessly beneath warm lanternlight. Music drifted from the corner stage, mead flowed freely, and every table buzzed with festival energy.
For once—
there was no urgency.
No looming disaster.
No battle.
No politics.
Just food.
Friends.
Momentum.
Jax sat comfortably at the corner booth beside the Vixens, leaning back while the others talked over one another.
Llandra slowly swirled the dark red wine in her glass.
"This is excellent," she admitted, pleasantly surprised. "You secured the rights to this vintage?"
Jax nodded.
"Small vineyard outside Frostveil. Family operation. They needed capital."
Nyxian smirked immediately.
"Of course you bought a vineyard."
"I didn't buy the vineyard," Jax corrected.
Pause.
"I bought the distribution network."
Nyxian pointed accusingly.
"That somehow sounds worse."
Bunny shook her head in disbelief.
"A pool. In a carriage. I still can't process that."
"Did Jax really explode a boar's neck with one punch?" Zee asked softly.
Nyxian grinned proudly.
"Not exploded."
Pause.
"Okay, slightly exploded."
"Gryphon steaks are supposed to be legendary," Bunny added. "When do we get those?"
"I had the Neon Moon reserve some cuts," Jax replied calmly.
Nyxian sighed dreamily into her drink.
"And that bed…"
She looked genuinely emotional.
"I refuse to sleep anywhere else ever again."
Laughter erupted around the table.
For a few moments—
everything felt perfect.
Then Llandra slowly set her wine glass down.
The shift in atmosphere was immediate.
Subtle.
But real.
"Jax," she said carefully, "what exactly is your plan for our first official mission?"
The table quieted.
Jax folded his hands slowly.
He already knew this conversation was coming.
"Our official mission," he said carefully, "will be a standard herb-gathering request near Crystalshire."
Bunny visibly relaxed.
"Oh. Herbs are easy."
Nyxian narrowed her eyes immediately.
"And the unofficial mission?"
Jax exhaled once.
"We'll also be clearing Crystalshire Cave."
Silence.
"…Excuse me?" Zee asked politely.
"It's an A-rank cavern," Llandra said flatly.
"Yes."
"We are not an A-rank party."
"Technically correct."
Bunny blinked rapidly.
"We aren't even supposed to LOOK at A-rank missions."
Jax raised a finger calmly.
"To be fair, the guild isn't paying us to clear the cavern."
Nyxian stared at him.
"That is not helping."
Jax leaned forward slightly.
"The cave contains crystal deposits, rare beast materials, and a potential trade route between towns if secured."
"You are moving too fast," Llandra said quietly.
"You are powerful, Jax," Zee added softly, "but the rest of us…"
She trailed off.
Because everyone at the table understood what A-rank actually meant.
Veteran adventurers died in places like Crystalshire Cave.
Entire parties vanished there.
The warmth around the booth slowly faded into tension.
Finally, Llandra straightened.
"I don't believe we're ready," she said firmly.
Before Jax could answer—
a massive hand settled onto his shoulder.
"Well now," a familiar voice rumbled, "sounds like I arrived at the right time."
Brannic stood behind him grinning beneath his beard while Merriweather hovered excitedly beside the dwarf.
Jax looked up immediately.
"…You finished?"
Brannic jerked his thumb toward the door.
"Boy."
His grin widened.
"Get outside."
The Vixens followed immediately.
"We'll be right back!" Bunny called toward the waitress as they hurried into the street.
Then everyone stopped.
A massive reinforced carriage waited outside beneath the lanternlight, a heavy cargo trailer attached behind it.
And stacked across the trailer—
ironbound crates.
Four workers strained around the largest crate using reinforced lifting poles and thick leather straps.
The crate groaned loudly as they slowly maneuvered it down from the carriage platform.
The moment the massive container finally hit the ground—
the carriage visibly rose several inches.
The suspension released with a loud metallic creak.
Bunny's ears shot straight up.
"…What in the world is inside that thing?"
Brannic rubbed his hands together proudly.
"Built exactly to your specifications," he said. "And let me tell ye…"
His grin widened.
"Ye are absolutely insane."
The workers finally managed to shove the enormous crate upright.
Breathing hard.
Sweating heavily.
One of them muttered,
"Why does a sword weigh more than my house?"
Brannic ignored him completely.
Then pried the crate open.
The street fell silent.
Inside rested a massive double-bladed sword.
Dragon-scaled metal gleamed deep crimson beneath the lanternlight while pale glowing veins ran through the weapon like molten stone cooling beneath volcanic rock.
The weapon looked impossible.
Too large.
Too heavy.
Too brutal.
"I call her…" Brannic said proudly,
"Peacemaker."
Jax stared silently for several seconds.
Then slowly stepped forward.
Merriweather gasped instantly.
"WAIT—"
Too late.
Jax grabbed the weapon with one hand—
and lifted it effortlessly.
Every nearby employee as well as Merriweather froze.
The workers who had just spent ten minutes lowering the crate looked emotionally devastated.
Jax tested the balance once.
The massive blade spun smoothly around his body as though it weighed nothing at all.
Behind his back.
Across his shoulders.
Around his hips.
Perfect control.
Then—
he hurled it down the street.
The massive weapon spun violently through the lanternlight—
before abruptly curving backward.
Returning directly toward him.
Jax caught it cleanly.
Then planted it into the dirt beside him.
The blade stood taller than he did at 6'4" tall. Even impaled in the ground it was still about 1 and a half feet taller
Silence.
Brannic swallowed heavily.
"That thing weighs near six hundred pounds," the dwarf muttered. "Took four men to move the crate and six to load it."
Jax blinked once.
"Feels balanced."
Nyxian covered her face.
"Of course it does."
Merriweather floated forward quickly clutching glowing crystals.
"The ownership transmutation still needs binding!"
She pointed dramatically.
"Hair!"
Everyone blinked.
"…What?" Bunny asked.
"Ownership enchantments," Merriweather explained excitedly. "A strand from each intended wielder allows the weapon to recognize its master."
The Vixens reluctantly surrendered strands of hair while Jax quietly added one of his own.
Golden light surged across every crate as Merriweather completed the final transmutation.
The magic settled instantly.
"Now," Merriweather announced proudly, "the weapons are bonded to their rightful owners."
She pointed toward Peacemaker.
"If disarmed within range, they can call their weapon back to them."
Bunny blinked.
"Like Jax throwing the sword?"
"Exactly."
Merriweather grinned proudly.
"Additionally, all Vixen weapons now possess Light as a Feather."
The Vixens tilted their heads.
Brannic explained proudly.
"They'll feel near weightless in yer hands while maintainin' full force on impact."
Nyxian's eyes widened.
"That's absurd."
"Aye," Brannic agreed proudly.
Then the dwarf glanced toward Jax.
"Though not Peacemaker."
That caught everyone's attention.
Llandra frowned slightly.
"You didn't add the enchantment to his?"
Brannic slowly grinned beneath his beard.
"No."
The dwarf folded his arms.
"Because our dear Jax specifically requested somethin' else instead."
Jax immediately looked innocent.
Nyxian narrowed her eyes.
"…What did you do?"
Jax casually looked away.
"We'll talk about it later."
That answer worried everyone significantly.
The next crate opened.
Nyxian froze.
A black-and-crimson whip rested perfectly coiled inside.
The handle gleamed dark red beneath the lanternlight.
"Lilith's Kiss," Brannic announced proudly.
Nyxian lifted it slowly.
Then smiled.
Dangerously.
The whip cracked once through the air—
then split cleanly into two separate whips mid-motion.
Nyxian's eyes widened.
"Oh…"
Her grin became wicked.
"Oh this is wonderful."
Merriweather cleared her throat carefully.
"We integrated the giant serpent venom into the enchantment matrix."
Nyxian blinked.
"…You poisoned my whip?"
"Professionally."
Nyxian looked emotional.
"I love both of you."
The next crate opened.
Bunny tilted her head curiously.
Then froze.
Inside rested a massive warhammer.
The weapon was beautiful.
A long blackened handle reinforced with crimson dragon-scale grips led up into an enormous square-headed hammer forged from layered red-and-obsidian metal. Pale glowing veins pulsed softly beneath the surface like dormant fire trapped beneath stone.
The thing looked devastating.
Brutal.
Heavy.
Absolute.
Brannic grinned proudly beneath his beard.
"Now THIS," he declared, "is a proper weapon."
Bunny stepped forward slowly.
Almost reverently.
"…For me?"
"Who else?" Brannic snorted. "Ye're the one punchin' monsters in the face."
Merriweather fluttered proudly nearby.
"We reinforced the core three separate times because Brannic was convinced you'd somehow break the first version."
"I was RIGHT," Brannic barked defensively.
Bunny carefully wrapped both hands around the hammer handle.
Then lifted it.
Effortlessly.
Her eyes widened immediately.
"It's so LIGHT!"
Brannic pointed proudly.
"Light as a Feather enchantment."
Then his grin widened.
"But the impact still lands with the full weight."
Bunny blinked once.
Then experimentally swung the hammer.
The weapon moved so quickly it whistled violently through the air.
CRACK.
The shockwave split a nearby wooden crate in half.
Everyone jumped.
Bunny froze.
"…Oops."
Brannic looked emotional.
"That's my girl."
A translucent screen appeared before Bunny's eyes.
WORLD BREAKER
+10% Strength
+10% Agility
+10% Speed
+5% Endurance
+5% Dexterity
Bunny's jaw slowly dropped open.
"OH MY GODS."
She swung it again—
then spun once.
Then laughed.
Not politely.
Not elegantly.
Pure joy.
The hammer was thrown. But suddenly came back.
Bunny gasped.
Then yelped as the weapon reappeared instantly back in her grip.
Her ears shot straight up.
"IT CAME BACK!"
Merriweather clapped excitedly.
"The recall enchantment recognizes ownership!"
Bunny looked seconds away from crying.
"This is the greatest day of my life."
Nyxian folded her arms.
"You say that at least twice a week."
"Yes," Bunny replied immediately, "but this time I have a giant hammer."
Next came Llandra's bow.
The moment she touched Starpiercer—
she felt it.
Perfect balance.
Perfect tension.
Perfect movement.
A translucent screen appeared before her eyes.
STARPIERCER
+10% Accuracy
+10% Perception
+10% Speed
Llandra inhaled sharply.
"…Whoa."
She tested the bowstring once.
Then experimentally loosened her grip.
The bow hovered beside her hand instead of falling.
Llandra's eyes widened immediately.
"It recognizes me…"
Merriweather looked absurdly pleased.
"Of course it does."
Zee stepped forward next.
Sanctaris shimmered softly as she lifted it, crimson dragon claws wrapping elegantly around the glowing crystal core at the top.
The moment her fingers closed around it—
her own screen appeared.
SANCTARIS
+10% Mana
+10% Intelligence
+10% Perception
Zee's eyes widened instantly.
"Oh my gods…"
Then came the armor.
Dragon-scale infused.
Lightweight.
Flexible.
Every piece felt alive.
Warmth spread across their skin the moment they equipped it.
Strength.
Agility.
Speed.
Defense.
Intelligence.
Mana increase.
Magic resistance.
Temperature regulation.
Fire immunity.
The Vixens slowly stood taller as they equipped each piece.
Not because the armor changed how they looked.
Because it changed how they felt.
Dangerous.
Llandra looked toward Jax again afterward.
The uncertainty from earlier was gone.
Completely gone.
"You were right," she said quietly.
Jax tilted his head slightly.
"About what?"
Her hand rested against Starpiercer.
"We are ready."
Jax smiled faintly.
Small.
Certain.
"I know."
And somewhere deep beneath Crystalshire—
The cave waited.