For several seconds, no one spoke.
The chamber beyond the hidden wall wasn't large.
It didn't need to be.
There was only one thing inside.
It rested on a raised platform of intertwined roots, surrounded by a soft golden-green glow.
A seed.
At least, Jax assumed it was a seed.
It was roughly the size of a coconut, with a dark brown shell crossed by thin golden veins. The veins pulsed slowly with mana, almost like the thing was breathing.
Pixelle had stopped flying.
Her wings moved just enough to keep her hovering.
"No way."
Jax looked at her.
"You know what it is?"
Pixelle slowly moved closer.
"A World Seed."
Zee's eyes widened.
Llandra inhaled sharply.
Even Bunny seemed to understand the significance of the name.
Jax didn't.
"I'm going to need more than that."
Pixelle looked at him.
"You know how I told you World Trees form?"
"When too much mana builds up in one place."
She nodded.
"When mana becomes too concentrated, the world needs somewhere for it to go. Eventually, a World Tree forms. It draws in that mana, spreads it, changes the land around it."
Jax looked toward the seed.
"So this grows another World Tree?"
"Eventually."
"Eventually?"
Pixelle landed beside the platform.
"If this were planted somewhere barren, the land around it would begin changing. Mana would fill the area. Plants would grow. Trees. Animals would come. Things that couldn't survive there before eventually could."
"Even a desert?"
Pixelle nodded.
"Given enough time."
Jax looked at the coconut-sized seed again.
"And eventually we get another one of these?"
"A World Tree," Pixelle corrected. "Not necessarily another World Seed."
Zee stepped closer.
"And another World Tree means another raid."
Bunny's ears rose.
"More treasure?"
"Eventually," Zee said.
Jax smiled.
Now he understood.
A World Tree wasn't just a dungeon.
It was a renewable source of rare materials, artifacts, magical resources, and things the world might not have seen for thousands of years.
"How much?"
Zee looked at him.
"How much what?"
"What's it worth?"
She stared at the seed for several seconds.
"Billions."
Bunny's ears shot straight up.
"SHOES!"
"No," everyone said at once.
Bunny frowned.
"What?"
Llandra looked almost offended.
"This could transform an entire region."
"Into a very wealthy region."
"We're not selling it," Jax said.
Bunny sighed.
"I know."
She looked longingly at the seed.
"But still. Shoes."
Jax stepped toward the platform.
"Anything I should know before touching it?"
Pixelle shook her head.
"I don't think so."
"Comforting."
He carefully lifted it.
It was heavier than he expected, warm beneath his hands, and the golden veins brightened slightly at his touch.
Zee immediately pointed at him.
"Personal storage."
Jax looked at her.
"I wasn't going to put it in my pocket."
"I mean your System Storage. Not the carriage. Not a crate. Not one of ours."
Llandra nodded.
"I agree."
"So do I," Pixelle said.
Jax shrugged.
"Fine by me."
The World Seed disappeared.
Jax looked back at the enormous treasure chamber behind them.
"Alright. Let's collect our treasure."
He summoned the Shadows.
Darkness spread across the floor as armored figures rose one after another.
"Pack everything," Jax ordered.
The Shadows immediately went to work.
Jax looked toward the women.
"If there's something here you want to keep personally, take it. Otherwise, we'll pack it all up."
Nyxian disappeared almost immediately.
Jax watched her go.
"I know exactly where she's going."
A few moments later, Nyxian returned wearing the necklace she had been admiring earlier.
She held it against herself.
"Well?"
Jax smiled.
"Looks good."
"I know."
She walked away.
Zee had already found several of the ancient books.
She opened one carefully, scanning the pages.
Then another.
Then a third.
Jax stopped beside her.
"You want those?"
Zee looked at the small pile.
"I was thinking about it."
"Take them."
"All of them?"
"If you want them."
Her eyes moved toward several more books.
Jax laughed.
"Take those too."
Zee smiled and immediately began collecting them.
Across the room, Bunny was crouched over something.
Nyxian walked past her, stopped, then backed up.
"What are you doing?"
Bunny held up an ornate pair of armored boots.
Nyxian stared at them.
"Those are men's boots."
Bunny looked at her.
"They're still shoes."
Nyxian considered that.
"Fair."
Llandra was quieter.
Jax found her standing before one of the opened compartments, holding a small artifact carefully in both hands.
It was intricately carved, covered with patterns that looked vaguely Elven, but not quite.
"This is old," she said.
"How old?"
"I don't know."
She traced one of the designs with her thumb.
"Some of these patterns appear in our oldest temples. Others are similar to symbols used by the earliest Elven royal houses."
"So Elven?"
Llandra shook her head.
"No. Older."
She looked fascinated.
"I think things like this may have inspired what eventually became Elven culture."
Jax smiled.
"Then it's yours."
Llandra continued staring at it.
"I want to give it to my parents."
Jax raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
She nodded.
"As thanks."
Jax leaned slightly closer to inspect it.
"Giving the King and Queen an artifact that predates their kingdom."
Llandra smiled.
"They are difficult people to shop for."
"I can imagine."
More compartments were emptied.
Then Bunny found the seeds.
Not one container.
Several.
Some held seeds neither Jax nor Bunny recognized.
Others were immediately familiar to her.
She carefully picked up one of the containers and inspected its contents.
"Jax."
Something in her voice made him walk over.
"What?"
"These are fruit seeds."
"Okay."
"No. Look."
He looked.
They looked like seeds.
Bunny apparently saw considerably more.
"This variety already grows around Solmere. My family has bought and sold the fruit before. But these are different."
"Better?"
"I think so."
Pixelle flew over and landed on the edge of the container.
She examined them.
"They're extremely healthy."
Bunny was already looking through another container.
"These could be worth more planted than sold."
That got Jax's attention.
"Better crops?"
"Maybe better yields. Better fruit. I won't know until we grow them."
She opened another.
Her eyes widened.
"I know these too."
Jax smiled.
"Alright. Those are yours."
Bunny looked up.
"Mine?"
"Your family knows farming. You know what to do with them better than I do."
Bunny carefully closed the container.
Jax pointed toward two Shadows.
"You two. Those containers are priority."
The Shadows immediately moved to collect them.
Bunny watched as the armored warriors lifted the boxes with the same care they gave the priceless artifacts.
Then she smiled.
Eventually, the treasure chamber began to empty.
Everyone had found something.
Except Jax.
Bunny noticed first.
"What did you take?"
Jax looked over.
"What?"
"For yourself."
"Nothing."
Bunny stared at him.
"Nothing?"
"Nope."
Nyxian looked down at her new necklace.
"Nothing here strikes your fancy?"
"Nah."
Zee looked around the rapidly emptying chamber.
"Jax, there's at least two hundred and fifty million gold worth of treasure here."
"Probably more."
"And you don't want anything?"
Jax shrugged.
"I came for the adventure. And to spend my moments with you girls."
The Vixens went quiet.
Jax glanced around the chamber.
"The treasure was just my way of keeping score to see if I was winning or not."
Bunny stared at him.
"You're a Merchant."
"I didn't say I wasn't keeping the score."
Nyxian smiled.
"That was disturbingly romantic."
Jax frowned.
"I wasn't trying to be."
"That's why it was disturbing."
Bunny looked around.
"So we're still taking everything, right?"
Jax stared at her.
"Of course we're taking everything."
"Okay. Just checking."
Far below, the World Tree began to move.
The adventurers gathered around its base barely reacted.
They had seen it before.
A portion of the enormous trunk shifted. Roots moved and intertwined, slowly creating a path down from one of the extraction points.
"Another group quit."
"How many is that today?"
"Third, I think."
A man stood and stretched.
"Looks like another group of survivors."
"Any healers available?"
A woman nearby raised her hand.
"I've got healing magic."
"Give them room when they come down."
The pathway finished forming.
Someone appeared at the top.
Then another.
The conversations slowly stopped.
Armored figures marched down the path.
Black armor.
Black weapons.
Glowing eyes.
"What the hell are those?"
"Shadows."
More appeared.
Some carried crates.
Others carried weapons.
One carried a chest overflowing with jewelry and artifacts.
Another carried several carefully secured boxes.
A man squinted.
"Are those seeds?"
The adventurer beside him shrugged.
"Looks like it."
"Why are they carrying them like that?"
"No idea."
Then Jax appeared.
Hands empty.
Black trench coat moving lightly in the breeze.
He walked casually behind the procession of Shadows.
Then came the Vixens.
Llandra carried Starpiercer.
Bunny rested World Breaker over her shoulder.
Zee walked with Sanctaris.
Nyxian had Lilith's Kiss at her side.
Pixelle flew beside them.
The crowd went silent.
"That's them."
"The Vixens?"
"Yeah."
A man stared.
"Gods."
From somewhere nearby came a woman's voice.
"Yum."
Another woman looked at her.
"Which one?"
Her eyes moved slowly across the Vixens.
"All of them."
Then someone pointed toward Jax.
"That's Jax Darquebane."
A woman near the front stared.
"He's even better looking in person."
"Wait."
A man pushed his way forward.
"I was here when they went in."
Someone laughed.
"So?"
"That was four days ago."
"Three."
The man turned.
"What?"
"It was three days ago."
"No, it wasn't."
"I was here too."
Someone else shook his head.
"No way."
"They couldn't have cleared it."
"Then why do they have all that?"
The Shadows continued down.
More crates.
More artifacts.
More treasure.
The murmuring grew louder.
Jax reached the bottom and walked toward the waiting carriage.
He placed one hand against the rear of it.
The dimensional storage compartment opened.
The Shadows immediately changed direction and began carrying the spoils inside.
That was when the crowd started moving closer.
Not threatening.
Curious.
Excited.
Confused.
"How many floors?"
"Fifty," Jax answered.
The crowd erupted.
"Fifty?"
"How long did it take?"
"Just under four days."
"That isn't possible!"
Jax shrugged.
"Apparently it is."
"What was the hardest floor?"
"That depends on what you're good at."
"What kind of monsters?"
"A lot."
"That's not helpful!"
Jax laughed.
"Alright. Ask me something specific."
While Jax answered questions, Nyxian wandered away.
It took him a minute to notice.
"Where's Nyxian?"
Bunny pointed.
"Over there."
Nyxian stood at the World Tree registration point with one hand against it.
Then she frowned.
Jax walked toward her.
"What are you trying to do?"
"I was going to register us again."
Jax stopped.
"We just got out."
"I know."
"Why?"
"There was another bracelet in there that matched the one I took."
Jax stared at her.
"You wanted to do the entire World Tree again for a bracelet?"
"It matched."
"Of course."
Nyxian touched the registration point again.
"It won't let me."
"What does it say?"
"Since we successfully cleared the World Tree, we're banned from registering again for one hundred years."
The crowd behind them went silent.
Then exploded.
"They cleared it!"
"The tree confirmed it!"
"Three days!"
"Four!"
"THAT'S what you're arguing about?!"
Jax ignored them.
"If you wanted the other bracelet, you can have the one we collected."
Nyxian's eyes widened.
"I can?"
"Sure."
"I can have a second one too?"
"Yeah."
Nyxian vanished toward the carriage.
Bunny's ears rose.
"Wait. We're allowed to take more than one thing?"
Jax looked at her.
"I said take whatever you want."
Bunny ran toward the carriage.
Zee blinked.
"I did see another book."
She followed.
Llandra hesitated.
Then followed Zee.
Pixelle looked at Jax.
"I saw something too."
"Go."
She shot after them.
Jax stood alone.
"Glad we established rules."
The questions resumed.
"How dangerous is it?"
"Very."
"Would you recommend doing it?"
"Yes."
That answer surprised several people.
Jax looked around the crowd.
"The treasures reset. There's an enormous amount of wealth inside that tree. If you're capable of making the attempt, make it."
"What should we prepare for?"
"Everything."
"That isn't helpful either."
"It will be when you get inside."
Nyxian returned wearing two matching bracelets.
She looked extremely pleased with herself.
Someone called out.
"Anything we should know before going in?"
Nyxian's expression changed.
"Yes."
Everyone looked toward her.
"When you hit the bridge floor in the forties—and believe me, you will know when or if you get there—do NOT eat a big lunch before you do that one."
Someone chuckled.
Nyxian pointed at him.
"I am serious."
He stopped laughing.
"Do. Not. Eat."
She walked around the back of the carriage.
A few seconds later, everyone heard dry heaving.
Jax looked toward the carriage.
"She isn't actually throwing up."
More dry heaving.
"Probably."
Bunny leaned toward him.
"She looks a little green."
"She always looks a little green after thinking about that bridge."
Pixelle chimed in. "For me, the maze was the most fun floor."
Someone else asked, "What about the maze?"
Pixelle immediately flew higher.
"I saved everyone."
Jax closed his eyes.
"Oh, here we go."
Pixelle turned toward the crowd.
"As Queen of the Fairies, it is my duty to protect those placed in my care."
Bunny smiled.
"Fortunately, when we encountered the living labyrinth, I was able to take command of the entire forest and safely guide my companions through."
Pixelle placed one tiny hand against her chest.
"It really was nothing."
From behind the carriage came Nyxian's voice.
"It really was nothing."
Pixelle spun.
"I HEARD THAT!"
Bunny raised a finger.
"I could've gotten us through."
Pixelle pointed at World Breaker.
"BY DESTROYING IT!"
Bunny shrugged.
"We would've gotten through."
Jax nodded.
"Technically correct."
"STOP HELPING HER!"
The crowd laughed.
Another adventurer stepped forward.
"What happens on Floor Fifty?"
That quieted Jax.
He considered the question.
"Before you enter the fiftieth floor, I suggest you look for and read the rules of Floor Fifty."
The adventurer waited.
"And?"
"That's it."
"That's the only advice?"
"For the final floor? Yes."
"Why?"
Jax glanced back at the World Tree.
"Out of respect for the World Tree. It set up the test for you to discover. I'm not going to take that away from you."
Nobody argued.
Jax climbed aboard the carriage.
"Good luck."
Word traveled faster than they did.
By the time the carriage reached the Fairy Village, thousands of tiny lights filled the sky.
Fairies.
Everywhere.
The moment the carriage appeared, the village erupted.
Pixelle flew ahead.
"LEXI!"
A purple blur shot toward her.
"PIXELLE!"
They collided in midair.
Lexi wrapped both arms around her.
"You're back!"
"Of course I'm back."
Pixelle pulled away and puffed herself up.
"I had people to protect."
Jax heard Nyxian groan.
"Oh, gods. It's already getting worse."
Pixelle flew above the crowd.
Slowly, the village quieted.
Their Queen raised both hands.
"The World Tree Raid has been conquered!"
The village exploded.
Cheers.
Screaming.
Fairies flew in every direction.
Pixelle waited until the noise finally began to settle.
"And I am pleased to report that I successfully guided my companions through many terrible dangers!"
Jax looked at Bunny.
Bunny looked at Jax.
Neither said anything.
Pixelle continued.
"There were monsters!"
Cheers.
"Ancient traps!"
More cheers.
"A living labyrinth!"
Pixelle paused dramatically.
"Which I personally conquered!"
The fairies went insane.
Jax rubbed his face.
Nyxian leaned toward him.
"By tomorrow, she kills Rootzilla herself."
"By next week, we weren't there."
The celebration continued.
It took nearly an hour before they managed to escape the crowd.
Lexi eventually pulled them aside.
"I need someone to explain something to me."
Jax looked at her.
"What?"
Lexi opened her System.
"How did I gain this much Experience?"
Jax's expression changed.
"Wait. Experience?"
"Yes."
"Not iPoints?"
"Those too. But I know the reason why for those. And how we earned them."
Jax stared at her. Thinking of the iPoints, he smirked.
But that wasn't what she was asking about.
"You leveled?"
"Several times."
Jax looked toward the others.
Then back at Lexi.
"You weren't with us."
"I am aware."
"You didn't fight anything."
"I am also aware of that."
Jax thought about it.
Then it clicked.
"The Shadows."
Lexi tilted her head.
"What?"
"My Vixens gain Experience from things killed by my Shadows."
Lexi stared at him.
"So…"
Jax smiled.
"You're a Vixen."
Lexi blinked.
"I thought we established that."
"We did."
Jax pointed toward her System.
"Apparently it agrees."
Lexi looked down at her notifications again.
A slow smile appeared.
Then disappeared.
"So I stayed here doing paperwork while all of you fought ancient monsters, discovered lost treasures and conquered a World Tree."
"Pretty much."
Jax smiled.
"But you didn't have to put yourself in danger, puke your guts out on the Bridge of Bile, or stick your hands into dead beasts to pull out their best cores."
Lexi considered that for several seconds.
"Well…"
She held up one finger.
"I did get a few papercuts."
She said it with such seriousness that Jax almost believed her.
Nyxian immediately moved beside her.
"Oh, darling."
She gently took Lexi's hand in both of hers.
"You poor thing."
Lexi nodded solemnly.
"It was difficult."
Nyxian kissed the tip of her finger.
"You're so brave."
"Thank you."
"I don't know how you survived."
"Neither do I."
Jax stared at both of them.
"You two are ridiculous."
Nyxian reached out her hand and Lexi landed on it.
"And yet you got all the Experience without being covered in monster guts."
Lexi smiled.
"I am beginning to feel better about my decisions."
Pixelle suddenly gasped.
"Oh!"
Jax looked at her.
Something about the sound immediately concerned him.
"No."
Pixelle blinked.
"I haven't said anything yet."
"I don't like that 'oh.'"
She smiled.
"You owe me a favor."
Jax stared at her.
He remembered.
"Oh, no."
"Oh, yes."
Pixelle flew directly in front of him.
"I am officially cashing in my favor."
Jax sighed.
"Fine. What do you want?"
Pixelle smiled brightly.
"Marry me."
Silence.
Jax blinked.
"That's not a favor."
"It is the favor I want."
"A favor is helping you move."
Pixelle's smile widened.
"I am moving."
Nyxian immediately started laughing.
Jax pointed at Pixelle.
"A favor isn't supposed to be a lifetime commitment."
"Well it's the favor I want."
Bunny crossed her arms.
"I don't know, Jax."
Jax looked at her.
"I heard she saved your life."
Jax stared.
"You were there. You know that didn't happen."
Bunny nodded.
"Yeah, but that's not what I heard."
Zee covered her mouth.
Jax pointed at her.
"Don't."
Zee lowered her hand.
"I heard she saved all of us."
"From who?"
Zee looked toward Pixelle.
"Pixelle."
Pixelle nodded.
"A very reliable source."
Jax looked toward Llandra.
"At least one of you has some sense."
Llandra straightened.
"A life debt is taken very seriously in Elven culture."
"LLANDRA."
The corner of her mouth twitched.
"I am simply explaining the diplomatic implications."
Nyxian nodded seriously.
"Personally, I think marriage is the least you can do for the woman who heroically saved four Vixens and a summoned hero."
"She moved some trees!"
Pixelle put both hands on her hips.
"Heroically."
"You all know that's not what happened."
Five innocent faces looked back at him.
Lexi raised her hand.
"I wasn't there."
Jax pointed at her.
"Thank you!"
"But I heard she saved you."
Jax lowered his hand.
"I hate all of you."
Pixelle smiled triumphantly.
"So… wedding in three days?"
Jax stared at her.
"How did we get from a favor to three days?"
Nyxian shrugged.
"You really should've negotiated better."
Jax looked around at his wives.
Then at Lexi.
Then at the tiny Fairy Queen hovering smugly in front of him.
Bunny smiled.
"I heard she's great at saving people."
Jax closed his eyes.
"I really need to stop giving people favors."