Jax watched the numbers count down.
WORLD TREE RAID ENTRY WINDOW
TIME REMAINING: 00:08:47
They were cutting it closer than he would have preferred.
Grim and Steed thundered down the road toward the World Tree, the two massive Shadow Bulls pulling Jax's carriage at a speed that would have terrified any normal team of horses.
Fortunately, they weren't normal.
Neither was the carriage.
The levitation system had raised the wheels above the road, allowing the carriage to glide over uneven terrain while Grim and Steed concentrated entirely on one thing.
Running.
Inside the dimensional space, the Vixens barely felt the movement.
Pixelle paced across the table in her natural three-inch form.
She looked at Jax.
Then the System clock.
Then Jax.
Then the clock.
Finally, she pointed at it.
"You do see that, right?"
Jax nodded.
"I see it."
"Because it appears to be getting smaller."
"That is generally how countdowns work."
Pixelle stopped pacing.
"I am aware of how countdowns work."
Nyxian stretched comfortably across one of the couches.
"Relax. Grim and Steed know where they're going."
Pixelle looked toward the wall.
"You trust them to get us there?"
"Completely."
"You can't even see them."
Nyxian smiled.
"They know better than to disappoint me."
Jax glanced at her.
There was actually some truth to that.
The Shadow Bulls had developed a particular respect for Nyxian.
Jax wasn't entirely sure why.
He had also decided he didn't want to know.
Llandra stood and adjusted her armor.
"We should prepare."
That changed the mood.
Jax looked at the timer again.
00:07:31
"Agreed."
The Vixens stood.
Pixelle stopped pacing.
This was it.
For the others, entering another raid wasn't particularly unusual anymore.
For Pixelle, everything was new.
Her first raid.
Her first time entering the World Tree.
And, although Jax didn't realize the significance of it yet, her first time actually seeing him fight.
Jax smiled.
"Let's go conquer a tree."
The World Tree appeared above the forest long before they reached it.
It was impossible for something that large to hide.
Its trunk towered above the surrounding canopy, disappearing upward into an immense network of branches that seemed to stretch across the sky.
The raid camp had grown around its base.
Tents.
Supply wagons.
Adventurers.
Merchants.
Healers.
Porters.
People turned as Grim and Steed charged into the clearing.
The two Shadow Bulls slowed.
The carriage descended until its wheels touched the ground.
Jax stepped outside.
Then immediately checked the countdown.
00:04:38
"See?"
Pixelle flew through the doorway behind him.
"We have four minutes!"
"Exactly. Plenty of time."
"That is not plenty of time!"
The rest of the Vixens emerged.
Nyxian raised her hand.
Grim and Steed dissolved into darkness.
He had taken three steps toward the World Tree when someone called out.
"Darquebane!"
Jax stopped.
Llandra looked toward the enormous entrance in the World Tree.
Then toward the timer.
"Jax."
"We have four minutes."
"Three minutes and fifty-one seconds."
"See? We're making great time."
Llandra sighed.
Jax turned toward the voice.
A group of adventurers was preparing nearby.
He recognized them.
The Iron Bastion.
They were the adventuring group they had passed on the road before reaching the Fairy Kingdom.
Their leader approached, helmet tucked beneath one arm.
His eyes went first to Jax.
Then to the carriage.
Then to the empty space where Grim and Steed had been.
"So it was you."
Jax smiled.
"Usually is."
The man laughed.
"We saw those Shadow Bulls pass us. No driver. Nobody sitting in the carriage. We spent the next hour arguing about whether someone had lost control of it."
"Nope."
Jax motioned toward the carriage.
"Dimensional interior."
The man's expression changed.
"All of you were inside?"
"Yep."
"And the bulls just knew where to go?"
"Yep."
The man looked at the carriage again.
Jax recognized that look.
Interest.
Curiosity.
Possibility.
Jax smiled.
Llandra saw the smile.
"No."
Jax looked at her.
"What?"
"I know that expression."
"What expression?"
"The merchant expression."
"I don't have a merchant expression."
Bunny nodded.
"You definitely have a merchant expression."
Nyxian smiled.
"It's very sexy."
Jax reached into dimensional storage.
Llandra closed her eyes.
"Jax."
A business card appeared between his fingers.
Jax handed it to the adventurer.
"Barb. Next time you're looking for a carriage, call her."
The man looked at the card.
"We already have a carriage."
"Not like this one."
Jax pointed behind him.
"Dimensional living space. Bedrooms. Kitchen. Bathrooms. Living area. Separate dimensional storage in the rear for weapons, supplies, equipment, food, medical gear, whatever you want."
The man's eyes widened.
"You have all of that in there?"
"And refrigeration."
"Refrigeration?"
"Cold storage while you're traveling."
Jax pointed at the card.
"Call Barb."
Bunny leaned toward Zee.
"ABC."
Zee nodded solemnly.
"Always Be Conquering."
Jax pointed at both of them.
"It's actually, Always Be Closing."
"Not for you, it's not. It's Conquering."
"I can live with that."
The Iron Bastion leader laughed.
Llandra did not.
"Jax."
He looked at the countdown.
00:02:19
"Oh."
Llandra stared at him.
"Yes. Oh."
Jax started backing away.
"Call Barb!"
The man raised the card.
"What do I tell her?"
"Tell her Jax sent you!"
"Will she know what that means?"
"It means, you will get a discount!"
"Really?"
"Absolutely!"
Jax turned.
"Vixens!"
They ran.
The World Tree entrance loomed ahead.
Adventurers throughout the camp began turning toward them.
Some recognized Bunny first.
Others Llandra.
Then the whispers spread.
"The Vixens."
"That's them."
"Jax Darquebane."
"They actually came."
Jax ignored them.
Mostly.
00:01:42
They reached the final staging area.
Jax stopped.
Bunny nearly ran into him.
"What are you doing?"
"Can't enter a dungeon looking like this."
Jax reached into dimensional storage.
Peacemaker emerged.
The massive double-bladed Godslayer sword settled into his hand.
Whispers erupted around them.
Then Infernal Requiem appeared at his hips.
Bunny grinned.
World Breaker materialized in her hands.
The enormous hammer struck the ground with a heavy thud.
Llandra summoned Starpiercer.
Zee brought forth Sanctaris.
Nyxian flicked her wrist.
Lilith's Kiss uncoiled beside her.
Pixelle hovered among them.
For several seconds, she simply looked around.
The joking had stopped.
The Vixens had changed.
Not dramatically.
Not consciously.
But something about them was different.
Llandra's eyes were already studying the entrance.
Bunny rolled one shoulder and shifted World Breaker into a comfortable position.
Zee's fingers tightened around Sanctaris.
Nyxian's smile remained, but Lilith's Kiss moved almost lazily beside her.
Jax rested Peacemaker across his shoulder.
Around them, the whispers continued.
"The Crimson Vanguard entered four days ago."
"They've already got four days on them."
"Think the Vixens can catch them?"
Someone else yelled.
"You're running out of time!"
Jax checked.
00:00:53
"Plenty."
Llandra grabbed his arm.
"Move."
They moved forward.
The entrance had already begun to flash, indicating that the time was running short.
Ancient bark shifted around the enormous opening.
00:00:38
Jax crossed first.
He turned.
Bunny.
Zee.
Nyxian.
Llandra.
Pixelle flew between Llandra and Nyxian.
The group entered.
00:00:07
The entrance sealed.
Silence.
Jax stared at the wall of bark.
Then smiled.
"Plenty of time."
Llandra stared at him.
"Seven seconds."
"That's six more than we needed."
Nyxian laughed.
Bunny lowered World Breaker.
"I thought we were going to miss it."
Zee nodded.
"So did I."
Pixelle flew directly in front of Jax's face.
"I told you the countdown was getting smaller."
Jax looked at her.
"You were right."
"Thank you."
Nyxian walked past them.
"You'll get used to that."
Pixelle turned.
"I wasn't talking to you."
"I know."
Jax laughed.
Then looked around.
The laughter faded.
They weren't standing inside a hollow tree.
A forest stretched before them.
Ancient trees rose toward a canopy so high that Jax couldn't see where it ended. Massive roots twisted across the ground. Soft green light filtered through leaves despite there being no visible sky.
The air itself felt different.
Heavy.
Dense.
Jax could feel mana everywhere.
Pixelle slowly flew forward.
Her expression changed.
"This is incredible."
Jax looked toward her.
"You've never been inside?"
Pixelle shook her head.
"No Fairy Queen has entered the World Tree in generations."
She turned slowly in the air.
"I have spent my entire life beneath its branches."
Her voice softened.
"But I've never seen this."
Jax gave her a moment.
Then he lowered Peacemaker.
"Alright."
The others looked toward him.
"We take this raid one floor at a time."
Darkness gathered beneath Jax's feet.
Pixelle noticed.
She turned toward him.
Jax raised one hand.
"Come Forth."
Three shapes emerged from the darkness.
Pixelle stopped moving.
The first was enormous.
Fang's serpentine body poured from Jax's shadow, coil after coil sliding across the forest floor until the giant Shadow Snake raised his head above them.
Pixelle backed away.
"What is—"
Another shadow emerged.
Gryph spread his wings.
The Shadow Gryphon lifted his eagle-like head, scanning the canopy before folding his wings against his body.
Then the third shadow rose.
A knight.
Black armor covered him from head to toe.
A heavy shield rested upon one arm.
A longsword hung at his side.
A cape flowed behind him despite the still air.
Warden lowered himself onto one knee.
"My liege."
Pixelle's mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Jax nodded.
"Rise."
Warden stood.
Pixelle flew closer to Bunny.
"He talks."
Bunny smiled.
"Yep."
Pixelle looked toward Warden.
Then Jax.
"He called him 'my liege.'"
"Yep."
Jax studied the forest.
He could summon more.
A lot more.
The question was how many he actually needed.
He looked toward Warden.
"How many shadows do you think we'll need to clear this floor?"
Pixelle's head snapped toward Jax.
Warden looked around.
His violet eyes moved across the trees.
The roots.
The darkness beyond the path.
He remained silent for several seconds.
"From the mana levels present on this stage, my liege, I would recommend twenty knights, five mages, three archers, and two High Orcs."
Jax nodded.
"That should be sufficient? Should we bring in Loki?"
"For this stage, the others should be sufficient. We can save Loki."
"Okay. Let me know if we need more."
"Of course, my liege."
Pixelle stared at Jax.
Jax raised his hand.
"Come Forth."
Darkness spread across the forest floor.
One after another, shadows rose.
Twenty armored knights.
Five robed mages.
Three archers.
Two massive High Orcs.
Pixelle slowly turned in the air as the force assembled around them.
Thirty shadows.
Plus Fang.
Plus Gryph.
Plus Warden.
Warden drew his sword.
Without Jax giving another command, the shadows moved.
Knights formed the front.
Archers repositioned behind them.
Mages spread out.
The High Orcs moved toward the flanks.
Gryph took position above.
Fang disappeared into the undergrowth.
Pixelle floated toward Bunny.
"Jax just asked his shadow how many shadows he should summon."
Bunny nodded.
"Warden's usually right."
"But Jax is taking tactical advice from him."
"Of course."
Pixelle looked toward the armored figure.
"He's a shadow."
"He's a general."
Bunny rested World Breaker across her shoulder.
"He understands Jax's army better than any of us. No point wasting Jax's mana by bringing out more than we need."
Nyxian looked over.
"Does Jax have a limit?"
Everyone went quiet.
Pixelle looked at Bunny.
Bunny looked toward Zee.
Zee looked toward Llandra.
Llandra frowned.
Nyxian looked at Jax.
"Well?"
Jax considered it.
"I assume so."
Pixelle blinked.
"You assume?"
"Yeah."
"What is it?"
Jax shrugged.
"No idea."
Pixelle stared at him.
Nyxian grinned.
"See? Mystery."
"That isn't a mystery. That's something he should know."
"I've never needed to find out."
That somehow made it worse.
Pixelle turned toward the thirty-three shadows surrounding them.
"This isn't your limit?"
Jax looked around.
"No."
"Half?"
"No."
"A quarter?"
Jax thought about it.
"Maybe one percent."
Pixelle stared at him.
Bunny patted the tiny fairy gently on the back with one finger.
"You'll get used to that too."
Warden raised his sword.
The shadows moved.
Jax smiled.
"Let's go."
They encountered their first monsters less than two minutes later.
Three creatures burst from beneath the roots.
Jax barely had time to inspect them.
The Shadow Knights hit first.
Steel flashed.
One creature fell.
Two arrows struck the second.
A magical blast hit the third before two knights finished it.
Pixelle raised her hands.
The fight was over.
She slowly lowered them.
"Oh."
Warden continued forward.
Nobody else had stopped.
Pixelle hurried after them.
The next group was larger.
Eight this time.
Warden shifted the formation.
The High Orcs moved forward.
Knights split left and right.
The mages attacked from behind.
Gryph dropped from above.
The entire encounter lasted seconds.
Pixelle didn't cast a spell.
Neither did Zee.
Llandra hadn't fired an arrow.
Bunny hadn't swung World Breaker.
Nyxian hadn't used Lilith's Kiss.
Jax hadn't moved Peacemaker from his shoulder.
They kept walking.
Another attack.
Then another.
Fang began appearing from places Pixelle hadn't realized he could fit.
Sometimes the first sign of him was an enemy suddenly disappearing into the undergrowth.
Other times an enormous serpentine head erupted from behind a root, struck once, and vanished again.
Warden never stopped.
He adjusted.
Directed.
Repositioned.
Occasionally he spoke.
"Archers."
Three arrows flew.
"Left flank."
Five knights moved.
"Mages."
Magic erupted.
Jax said almost nothing.
Pixelle finally flew beside him.
"Are you controlling them?"
Jax looked at her.
"Not really."
She looked toward Warden.
"He is?"
"Mostly."
"You just let him?"
"He's better at it than I am."
Pixelle stared at him.
Jax shrugged.
"That's why he's the general."
Ahead, Warden raised his sword.
The entire formation stopped.
Instantly.
Pixelle almost flew into Jax's head.
Warden looked toward the trees.
Fang emerged from the undergrowth.
The giant serpent lowered his head.
Warden turned.
"Enemies ahead, my liege."
"How many?"
"Twenty-seven."
Jax glanced toward the Vixens.
Bunny's expression brightened.
Warden continued.
"The current force is sufficient."
Bunny's shoulders dropped.
"Aww."
Nyxian laughed.
Warden turned back toward the forest.
His sword lowered.
The shadows advanced.
Pixelle watched them disappear between the trees.
Then looked toward Bunny.
"You're disappointed?"
"I brought a hammer."
Bunny lifted World Breaker.
"I want to hit something."
Pixelle looked at the enormous weapon.
Then at Bunny.
Then back toward the shadows.
She wasn't sure which was more concerning.
The first stages passed quickly.
Too quickly.
Pixelle had expected danger.
She had expected monsters.
She had expected the World Tree to test them.
Instead, she found herself walking behind an army.
The shadows didn't tire.
They didn't hesitate.
They didn't argue.
They didn't panic when attacked from the sides or behind.
Warden changed formations.
The army obeyed.
Fang scouted ahead.
Gryph watched from above.
Jax occasionally asked a question.
Warden answered.
And the Vixens kept walking.
Pixelle began to understand something.
She had heard stories about Jax Darquebane.
Everyone had.
The impossible adventurer.
The merchant who seemed to appear everywhere.
The man who had somehow surrounded himself with some of the most dangerous women on the continent.
She had seen his inventions.
His businesses.
His strange ideas.
She had seen him cook dinner for an entire kingdom.
She had fallen in love with the man.
But until now...
She had never actually seen what happened when Jax Darquebane entered a dungeon.
And apparently, neither had she seen the Vixens.
Bunny was humming.
Zee and Llandra were talking quietly.
Nyxian had offered Pixelle another ride twice.
Jax looked almost bored.
Then the forest changed.
Warden stopped.
This time, he didn't immediately continue.
Jax noticed.
"What is it?"
Warden studied the clearing ahead.
"Something considerably stronger, my liege."
Bunny's head snapped up.
A grin spread across her face.
"Finally."
The ground shook.
Pixelle's eyes widened.
Massive roots erupted from the earth.
The shadows immediately formed ranks.
The ground split.
Something enormous began pulling itself upward.
A body formed from twisted trunks and ancient roots.
Two enormous arms tore free of the earth.
Green magical light burned within hollow eyes.
The creature towered over Warden.
A System notification appeared.
ROOTBOUND COLOSSUS
MID-BOSS
Pixelle's playful expression vanished.
"I know this one."
Jax looked toward her.
"Good."
"It regenerates."
Warden raised his shield.
The Colossus roared.
"It draws mana directly through its roots. Cutting pieces off won't stop it as long as it remains connected to the ground."
Warden's sword rose.
The Shadow Army moved.
"Wait!"
Pixelle flew higher.
"It also releases poisonous pollen when it's damaged. If enough of it accumulates—"
Warden's knights struck.
The Rootbound Colossus swung one enormous arm.
Four shadows were thrown backward.
Pixelle gasped.
Jax didn't move.
The knights rose.
One had been torn in half.
Jax barely reacted.
Darkness gathered beside him.
"Come Forth."
The destroyed knight rose again from his shadow and immediately returned to formation.
Pixelle stared.
The mages attacked.
Magic exploded against the Colossus.
The archers fired.
Warden charged.
His blade cut through one of the creature's enormous arms.
The severed limb crashed to the ground.
Bunny grinned.
Then roots twisted around the stump.
Wood grew.
Pixelle pointed.
"See!"
The arm began rebuilding itself.
"That is what I was telling you!"
Jax watched.
Warden attacked again.
The High Orcs struck the creature's legs.
Fang coiled around one massive root and tore it free.
More roots erupted from the earth.
The creature regenerated.
Warden stepped backward.
Jax could see it now.
The shadows could win.
Probably.
Eventually.
But this was going to take a while.
Bunny stepped forward.
"Can I hit it?"
Jax held up one hand.
"Wait."
Bunny sighed.
Jax studied the Colossus.
Then smiled.
"Dante."
Pixelle looked at him.
"What's a Dante?"
Jax raised his hand.
Darkness spread across the clearing.
"Come Forth."
Something moved beneath Jax's shadow.
Pixelle stopped breathing.
The darkness expanded.
And expanded.
The shadows nearest Jax immediately moved aside.
Warden stepped back.
A massive head emerged.
Then a neck.
Then shoulders.
Pixelle flew backward.
Wings erupted from the darkness.
The force of them opening sent leaves exploding through the clearing.
Pixelle tumbled through the air.
Nyxian caught her against her chest.
"I've got you."
Pixelle barely noticed.
She was staring upward.
And upward.
And upward.
The Flame Dragon rose from Jax's shadow.
Dante spread his wings.
The clearing darkened beneath them.
Heat rolled across the battlefield.
The Rootbound Colossus suddenly didn't look very large.
Pixelle grabbed Nyxian's clothing with both hands.
"That's a dragon."
Nyxian smiled.
"Yep."
Pixelle looked at Jax.
"You have a dragon!"
Jax looked over.
"Yes."
The Rootbound Colossus roared.
Dante turned his head toward it.
Pixelle felt the magical pressure change.
She had lived beneath the World Tree her entire life.
She knew mana.
She knew powerful creatures.
She knew what overwhelming magical pressure felt like.
Dante wasn't merely powerful.
He felt like a catastrophe waiting for permission.
Jax pointed.
"Burn it."
Dante inhaled.
Pixelle's eyes widened.
"Oh."
Fire erupted.
The clearing became daylight.
The Rootbound Colossus disappeared inside the inferno.
Flames engulfed its trunk.
Its branches.
Its roots.
The creature screamed.
Dante didn't stop.
Fire poured across the clearing.
The Colossus tried to regenerate.
New wood grew.
Then immediately burned.
Roots attempted to retreat into the earth.
Flames followed them.
The ground itself began glowing.
Finally, Dante stopped.
Smoke rolled through the clearing.
The Rootbound Colossus remained standing.
Barely.
Half its body was gone.
The other half burned.
Pixelle stared.
Dante inhaled again.
"Oh, Goddess."
The second blast erased what remained.
Silence followed.
Fire crackled.
Smoke drifted through the trees.
Dante stood in the center of the clearing.
Jax looked at the burning remains.
Then sighed.
"There go the materials."
Pixelle slowly turned toward him.
"Materials?"
Jax pointed at the enormous pile of burning wood.
"I could've used some of that."
Pixelle stared at him.
Then at Dante.
Then back at Jax.
"You have a dragon."
"We've established that."
"A dragon."
"Still true."
"A dragon that just destroyed a World Tree guardian."
Jax glanced at the burning remains.
"It was mostly wood. That's kind of his thing."
Warden lowered his head.
"My liege."
Pixelle stared at Warden.
Then at Dante.
Then at the thirty shadows waiting silently for their next command.
Then at Bunny, who looked disappointed she still hadn't gotten to hit anything.
Pixelle had thought she understood what powerful meant.
She was beginning to suspect she needed a new definition.