Xavier was the last to step through the portal to Hunter’s Home. He’d scoured the battlefield, looking for some kind of proof that he’d killed The Nightmare. Some remnant of the demon’s body. But when he had commanded it to die, it had destroyed the thing rather thoroughly.

  Hopefully saving these people will be proof enough, he thought.

  The System should recognise that he had completed the Hunt Quest without some sort of trophy to bring back to the barkeep. It would be a pretty dumb System if it didn’t.

  It’s a shame I don’t have a piece of the demon to hold onto, though. If I were able to assimilate its parts into me—when I reach C Grade—it could offer quite the significant boost.

  But assimilating properties into his body was something he’d put on hold since he’d attained his new race. He’d sensed that it might somehow… Taint the dragonkin that he had become. He was missing out on different traits that he could learn, along with all the stats he would gain, but something told him there was more to this race than he knew… A lot more.

  And if he started to change this race with the Assimilation skill? He might not be able to access its true potential as an Altered Dragonkin…

  So maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing that he hadn’t gotten something of The Nightmare to bring back, though it was certainly disappointing from a loot perspective.

  He grinned as he stepped through the portal, the Hunter’s Home tavern appearing in front of him. He’d done it! He’d defeated The Nightmare and saved Liana’s husband from the clutches of that sadistic demon!

  I killed a powerful, Level 380 C Grade beast!

  He was shaking his head as he stepped through the door into the tavern, a little bit in awe of all that had happened, and all that he had accomplished. But now that he had completed his task, what had happened to the Spirit of Vengeance—to Volkarin—swept back into his mind. A pained expression replaced his grin as he thought about the dragon spirit.

  Volkarin fought to the end to protect me from The Nightmare. He fought because he believed I would win.

  The dragon spirit wouldn’t be dead—no more dead than he already was, at least—but he would be injured. And if what Xavier had heard was true, he’d be injured enough that it might be a very, very long time until he could be summoned again.

  And that just wouldn’t do.

  I’m going to have to do something about that.

  That was the next thing on his agenda, before going to face the C Grade Elemental Dragon. Because if there was no way that he could bring Volkarin into this world, how could he expect to use the vessel he was trying to get from the Elemental Dragon?

  There has to be a way…

  The barkeep, Felicia, looked over at Xavier in awe. Her eyes were wide as Champions flooded into her tavern. Xavier wondered if she had been watching what had happened with one of her little birds. Wondered if she’d already known he would be on his way. He supposed even if she did, the shock was still fresh, for it had only been moments ago that Xaiver had defeated the demon.

  “You did it,” Felicia said. She looked around at all the Champions in the tavern, clearly recognising many of their faces. Which was quite a feat, Xavier thought. The woman must have seen countless Denizens like these ones over the years. To be able to remember them was pretty amazing. “You defeated The Nightmare. And…” She motioned a hand at the gathered Champions. “I thought all of these people were dead.”

  That got the attention of the rest of the Champions in Hunter’s Home. Those that weren’t new to the floor had heard about what he could do. Those that had just gotten here looked on in slight confusion, deciphering what was happening.

  Looks of respect and fear were scattered all around the place, directed toward him.

  Which reminded Xavier of something—he needed to get off this floor. His gaze trailed over each of the Champions in the bar as he recalled what Felicia had told him.

  I’ve been gaining the wrong kind of attention. Someone here could want me dead.

  Not that anyone here would be able to defeat him. That was certainly something he was coming to know was true. After what he’d been able to do…

  But that didn’t mean he couldn’t be careful. Besides, he was looking forward to getting the hell off this floor and moving on through the tower.

  The notifications from the fight were still waiting for him. Before he looked at those, he headed over to the bar and ordered the people he’d freed the drinks and meals they’d been promised—he couldn’t imagine how hungry they must be, having been stuck inside The Nightmare for so damned long. And it wouldn’t just be the physical hunger, either. They would be craving the comforts that a place like this could provide.

  And there was something else he needed to do. After ordering the food he turned to face Liana’s husband. “Ardon,” Xavier called out. “There someone out back who wants to see you.”

  Ardon looked oddly nervous as he walked down the hall of Hunter’s Home, toward the private room that Liana had rented in the back. It almost seemed as though the man was worried about this encounter.

  He’s changed, in the time he’s been trapped. He worries she won’t recognise him.

  Before they reached the room, Ardon stopped him. “I’m sorry,” the man said.

  Xavier frowned. “Sorry?” He tilted his head to the side. “What do you have to be sorry about?”

  “The Nightmare, it—it made me do something during that fight. It had complete control over my mind, and it made me use my powers.” Ardon’s head had been lowered in what looked like shame. He raised it to lock eyes with Xavier. “I’m the reason The Nightmare was able to adjust to your Time Alteration spell. Without me, it wouldn’t have had the knowledge, or the means.”

  Xavier sighed. “Of course,” he replied. “You’re a Time Mage. Like Liana.” He shrugged. “But whatever that thing made you do, it’s not your fault. It wasn’t your choice.” Xavier thought about putting a hand on the man’s shoulder but stopped himself—that would be weird, right? Would he feel weird if someone did that?

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  The fact that I don’t know probably means I need to spend more time around people…

  “So, how did The Nightmare do it?” Xavier asked. He knew that The Nightmare had control of one of Xavier’s split minds. That was how it had influenced him. But he’d never figured out how the demon had been able to adjust for the time lag. “I don’t recall the demon using a Time Alteration spell.”

  “It wasn’t a Time Alteration spell that it made me use,” Ardon said. “It was a Mind Speed spell.” He frowned when Xavier raised an eyebrow. “You don’t know what a Mind Speed spell is?”

  “No, I do. I’ve heard of it. Liana told me about it.”

  Ardon’s frown deepened. “You saved me for Liana…” He glanced at the door. “What…” He swallowed. “What does she mean to you?”

  Xavier smiled. “She was my instructor. She taught me how to use my time magic.”

  Ardon’s eyes widened. “She did? But the way you used that Time Alteration spell… The power you wielded…”

  Xavier mulled what the man had told him around in his mind, about how The Nightmare had used him. Mind Speed was a spell that allowed the user to speed up either their own mind, or the mind of someone else. It was like having your own time dilation field that only worked on the speed of your thoughts. Xavier hadn’t realised it could be used in the way The Nightmare had, but something still felt off.

  “I’m a quick study,” Xavier said, responding to Ardon’s implied question about how powerful he was. “If you used a Mind Speed spell on The Nightmare, how come it took so long to adapt to the speed of my Time Alteration spell?”

  For a moment, Ardon looked confused. “Are you kidding?”

  Xavier shook his head. He didn’t see the humour in his question.

  “Your Time Alteration spell is incredibly powerful, and fast. I couldn’t keep up with it. The Nightmare forced me to strengthen the spell. It tortured me into doing so, even though it already controlled my mind. It’s a bit of a haze, but I must have gained twenty ranks in the process.”

  “Your Mind Speed spell wasn’t fast enough to keep up,” Xavier stated.

  Ardon still looked a little confused. “Well, of course it wasn’t. I’m only D Grade. How am I supposed to keep up with a C Grade like you?”

  Xavier stopped himself from smiling and correcting the man. Now wasn’t the time. He turned to Liana’s room, unlocked the door, and opened it inward.

  Ardon’s face changed dramatically the moment he saw his wife lying on that bed inside of the time dilation field.

  “She didn’t know if I’d be able to save you, and she didn’t want to have to spend another moment here missing you. So she did this. You have something really special with that woman, Ardon. I hope you realise that.”

  Ardon’s eyes watered. A tear flowed down his cheek. Except, he didn’t look sad. No, he was smiling. “Oh, don’t worry. I know.”

  Xavier wasn’t sure if he should be here for the reunion. This seemed like a deeply personal moment, and even standing there watching the man tear up felt awkward. Like an invasion. He turned and was about to head back to the main room of the tavern when Ardon put a hand on his shoulder.

  “Come. Let’s wake her together.”

  Xavier stiffened at the man’s touch but relaxed quick enough. He nodded, stepped into the room, and closed the door. He stood at the foot of the bed while Ardon walked around to stand beside Liana’s head.

  The man beamed down at Liana with a love Xavier wasn’t sure he’d ever seen before. Up until that moment, fear had been wafting off the man, just as it had wafted off all of the other Denizens that had been with him inside The Nightmare. That fear had lessened somewhat, with each step he’d taken, especially when he’d entered the Hunter’s Home tavern.

  But it wasn’t until he stood before his wife that the fear disappeared completely.

  Xavier wondered what that kind of love felt like. It certainly wasn’t something he’d experienced before.

  Ardon put a hand through the time dilation field. Were he not a time mage, doing this should have made him move through time just as slow as the person inside the field. But the man clearly knew how to manipulate Liana’s magic. The two of them had trained together extensively. There was a bond between them—it wasn’t something Xavier would be able to pull off, even though his raw power was on another level to the two of them.

  The woman came to in an instant. Her eyes flashed open. Liana saw Xavier standing at the foot of her bed. Then her gaze shot toward her husband. Tears flowed, and she burst out of the bed to wrap her arms around Ardon.

  The awkwardness Xavier had been feeling melted away at the sight of the joyful, heartfelt reunion. He hadn’t just saved Ardon and the others from The Nightmare, he’d done this. He’d reunited loved ones with loved ones, just as he’d done for his friends back on Earth.

  This is something to be proud of.

  It made him think about his goals. Not his immediate goals on this floor, but the ones in the back of his mind. The protection of his own planet, Earth, and the countless people who still lived there. The saving of the entire sector from the threat Empress Larona had searched him out to fight against.

  And the goal the older version of himself had brought to his attention, and the Voice of the System had spoken to him about.

  The goal to save the entire universe.

  These things hang heavily on his shoulders. But watching the two people before him embrace. Watching the joy and peace he had brought them… It brought everything he needed to do home.

  Xavier enjoyed fighting. He enjoyed power. That was something he couldn’t deny. There were other things in this life he wished to do. Hobbies he wished to pursue. Entertainment he wished to consume.

  But ultimately, if he spent every waking moment of his life in a fight for his life, or the lives of others, he knew as long as he kept being challenged, it would make him happy.

  That, however, wasn’t something he wanted for everyone. As much as he thought everyone in the Greater Universe needed to learn how to fight, and needed to advance and become strong, he didn’t wish for it to be that way.

  If I fight, those who don’t wish to won’t have to.

  He wondered if he’d heard those words before. If he’d read them in a book before the System had come down and changed his life, or if they’d simply sprouted in his mind in the moment he needed them.

  Xavier had never doubted his goals, but saving those people, watching this reunion… It solidified things for him.

  Liana, whose eyes had been closed as she’d held her husband tight, opened them to look at Xavier. “Thank you,” she said. “Thank you for everything.”

  She did not break the embrace with her husband. Instead, she moved one of her hands away from him and summoned something to it. It was something Xavier recognised. A Communication Stone. She tossed it over to Xavier. “I owe you a debt, Xavier Collins, and intend to repay it. This way, at least, we can remain in contact until that time comes.”

  Xavier frowned, looking down at the stone. “You don’t owe me anything, Liana.”

  “I do,” Liana said.

  Ardon kissed his wife on the cheek then disentangled himself from their embrace—this brought a harsh look from her, but a warm smile melted it. The man faced Xavier. “We both owe you a debt of gratitude.” He nodded at the door. “As do the people back in that tavern. I have no doubt that every single one of them has now become an ally you can trust. What you saved us from… There are no words to describe it. If I could banish that time from my mind I would.”

  “You’re leaving the floor now, aren’t you?” Xavier asked Liana.

  The woman nodded. “Not just the floor. I think… I think it’s time I left the tower.” She took her husband’s hand. “We have lost time to make up for.”

  Xavier smiled. Lost time.That was something the two of them shouldn’t have trouble regaining.

  “Thank you for teaching me so much, Liana.”

  Liana smiled. “Thank you for learning.” She tightened her grip around her husband’s hand. “I daresay I wouldn’t have him back if you hadn’t.”

  The two of them didn’t linger in the tavern long. They didn’t even stay for a drink. They simply headed for the door back to their respective Staging Rooms, walking hand in hand. Liana nodded to the barkeep on the way out. Ardon nodded to the gathered Champions he’d spent a torturous time with, who were all eating their meals and drinking their drinks.

  The men, women, dwarves, elves, and lizardmen stood as their comrade in misery exited the floor, interrupting a meal that they no doubt had been craving for years. It wasn’t until Liana and Ardon had disappeared that they’d sat back down.

  Xavier’s smile didn’t leave his lips for a long time after that.

  Accidental Champion!

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