The studio lights shifted, casting a cooler hue across the set as the camera panned back to the announcer. With a charismatic grin and a practiced wave to the audience, he leaned toward his mic and raised his voice just enough to stir excitement in the air.

  “And now,” he said, voice booming with showmanship, “we move into the next segment of tonight’s broadcast—a fan-favorite for every episode!”

  The background screen pulsed with a bold new graphic: "Questions from the Crowd" flickering across it in animated lettering.

  “Every week, we comb through thousands of submissions from viewers just like you,” the announcer continued, gesturing toward the camera, “and pick out a few of the most intriguing, the most debated, and—sometimes—the most downright absurd questions, all centered around Leon and the world he now lives in.”

  He turned slightly, addressing all three guests seated at the panel. “And joining me to tackle these tonight, we’ve had the pleasure of hearing from our brilliant guests—Codex, our digital archivist; T.C., the theorycrafter who's shaken the internet more than once this week; and of course, RexValor, master of builds and tactical foresight. Gentlemen, you ready?”

  T.C. gave a relaxed nod, Codex straightened in his seat despite the lingering doubt in his expression, and Rex cracked his knuckles with a smirk.

  The announcer grinned. “Alright then. Let’s dive in. These are questions straight from the public—gamers, analysts, even first-time viewers of the program. And remember, folks, we bring the professionals in so you can get the best answers possible.”

  The screen behind them shifted once again—now displaying the first question, its text bold against a stormy grey background.

  “Question One: How is Leon supposed to solo the endgame when parties like Fennel, Grizmar, and Kael clearly outclass him in power and teamwork?”

  The question lingered on screen for a moment, the silence in the studio giving it extra weight. The camera shifted to the panel, and all eyes turned to Codex, who adjusted his glasses and leaned slightly forward.

  “I’m glad someone finally asked this,” Codex said, his tone firmer than before. “Because while I respect Rex’s enthusiasm for Leon’s potential, I think we need to ground this discussion in reality—well, as much ‘reality’ as this ‘world’ allows.”

  He clasped his hands together, his gaze serious.

  "Let’s be real—Leon’s is clever, even resourceful. But there’s a huge difference between surviving the early game and making it through the endgame. Fennel, Grizmar, Kael… those three aren’t just strong—they’re built to function as a unit. Their kits complement each other, they cover for each other’s weaknesses, and they handle a wide range of scenarios as a team. You don’t counter that with a couple of upgraded slimes."

  Codex paused, making sure the audience was following.

  "Endgame bosses—raid bosses—are built for coordinated, multi-role teams. Tanks, DPS, healers, crowd control, positioning... all of it relies on communication and specialization. Full parties handle that by dividing the load. Unless Leon somehow figures out how to split himself into five roles at once while maintaining perfect awareness across all of them, he’s going to hit a wall."

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  He leaned back in his chair, his voice a touch cooler now. “Even the most optimized solo builds eventually need support. No matter how strong you are, you can’t outmaneuver an army, or juggle three raid-level mechanics while also outputting sustained damage, while also healing, while also controlling the battlefield. That’s the domain of a party—not an individual.”

  Codex glanced toward Rex as if expecting a rebuttal. “If Leon wants to make it to the final layer of this so-called ‘Dungeon End’ alive, I believe he’ll have to form a proper team. Allies. Real ones. There’s no way around it.”

  Rex smirked the moment Codex finished, clearly seeing the challenge laid out for him. He rolled his shoulders once and leaned forward, resting his forearms on the couch’s edge.

  "Alright, Codex, I hear you," he said, calm but edged with confidence. "But let’s not act like Leon’s trying to solo the endgame like a traditional player. Three out of the five roles you mentioned? He’s already leaning into them, like I said before. His slimes are evolving fast—right now, they’ve got DPS and tanking covered, while only growing from there. And Leon? He’s clearly stepping into the buffer role. Supporting from the backline, keeping the formation together."

  Rex raised a hand, adding with a shrug, “Now, look—I’ll admit this: I don’t know the full context of Dungeon End, assuming that is the game’s real name. There’s a lot about its world, systems, and limitations that we just don’t understand yet. But one thing’s clear—Leon isn’t stupid. He might be aiming for a solo-capable build, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to reject help when it matters.”

  He pointed toward the screen looping old footage of Leon and Lila.

  “Take Lila, for example. She’s a cleric, sure—but no offensive skills to speak of. Still, she’s one of the few people Leon truly trusts. Eventually he’s going to help her grow and guide her towards a build that could support his. And I guarantee you, if he continues to build her up, she’ll eventually become a formidable healer at his side. That’s already a two-person party with potential synergy.”

  Rex turned slightly, addressing both the crowd and Codex now. “And let’s not forget Fennel’s group. They promised to back him up when the time came. That’s a powerhouse team right there. If Leon ever reaches a point where soloing isn't viable—even for him—he’s got aces in his pocket.”

  He tapped the table once for emphasis. “The thing people keep overlooking is that this system isn’t fixed. There’s infinite customization, skill evolution, gear interaction. We haven’t even scratched the surface of what’s possible. The only real item showcase we’ve seen so far? The Slimebound Boots he picked after the boss rush event. And those alone gave him a serious tactical advantage.”

  His voice grew a bit more animated, fueled by passion. “So who's to say what the highest-ranked items can do? One absurdly powerful item with a game-breaking trait—those things exist in RPGs. Always have. And sometimes, all it takes is one lucky pull to flip the entire balance of power.”

  Rex leaned back again, hands folded behind his head.

  “In the end, Dungeon End is still an RPG. And RPGs thrive on unpredictability. Builds evolve, allies appear, gear breaks the meta. Whether he finishes it alone or with a party, Leon’s journey is being shaped in real-time—and if we’ve learned anything from RPGs, it’s that anything can happen.”

  T.C. clapped his hands in applause, a wide grin on his face. “Now that, Rex, was beautifully said. I couldn’t have put it better myself,” he added, nodding with clear approval.

  Codex, arms now crossed, sat stiffly in his seat, jaw tight and brow furrowed. He didn’t respond—not because he had nothing to say, but because he clearly couldn’t say it without contradicting himself.

  The broadcaster chuckled, easing the moment with a smooth shift in energy. “Well, gentlemen, thank you for answering the first question with such enthusiasm—and to our viewers out there, I hope that helped shed some light on the great solo vs party debate.”

  He straightened in his seat, cueing the next segment with a wave of his hand toward the screen behind him.

  “Now, let’s keep the momentum going. Time for the second question of the night!”

  The panel flickered, displaying the next viewer submission in bold lettering:

  “What do you think the Steelheart family will do once Leon’s 30-day protection clause ends? Will they come after him?”