Arkus Vale led from the front, sword strapped to his back and voice loud with commands. "Eyes up. Scouts, take point. We clear left first. Porters, stay in the rear unless called."
Thalen's eyes, however, weren't on the path—they were on Arkus. Every movement. Every blind spot.
5 mana stones. Ring of Grace. Wing of Heaven.
Three items. One shot.
The dungeon opened into a wide chamber. Stone golems, moss-covered and still, lined the sides. A faded carving above the doorway read: The Watchers of the Fallen King.
"This place looks like it hasn't been cleared in years," muttered one of the scouts. "Mana's thick."
Arkus grinned. "All the better. More mana, more cores."
Thalen stayed at the back, waiting. Watching. As the team pressed forward and split into formation, he shifted his weight, tilting the pack to conceal his hands. In his palm, he held give mana stone and focused his will.
Quest: [wand of justice ]
Description: [injured arkus with magic and bring justice to those who has been wronged]
Reward: 5 mana stone
Penalty: None
Status: Active
Duration: 30 minutes
" My hard earned money, daddy will miss you"
Thalen sent it—not to everyone, just one of the E-rank combatants in the group. A quiet girl named Mira, who'd been glancing nervously at Arkus since they entered.
He used eyes of desire on her.
[ Hates arkus and believes he is the reason that her team died last raid. She wants him to suffer fate worse than dead]
She wasn't a killer, not yet. But fear and faith could change anyone.
Five mana stone is enough for Thalen to convince her to sell her family
He watched her reaction. The soft blink of surprise. The look at her system window. The slow, uncertain glance toward Arkus.
"Thalen," someone barked. He jerked up.
One of the porters gestured. "We need more healing salves over here."
"On it."
He shuffled forward and dropped a vial near the injured scout—then used the moment to observe Mira again. She was gripping her staff too tight. Breathing fast. Doubt creased her brow.
"Will she go through with it?" he wondered.
He didn't have long to ponder. From the chamber ahead, a low grinding sound echoed. One of the stone golems moved—then another. Arkus shouted, "Defense positions! Frontline, engage!"
Chaos erupted. Magic flared. Weapons clashed.
Thalen knelt low, pretending to fumble with
supplies. But in truth, he was watching Mira.
She hung back at first, uncertain. Then Arkus barked at her. "Get in there or get out!"
Something in her snapped. She lifted her staff—light gathered, fierce and unstable.
Now.
And then she cast.
A bolt of pure light, wild and unfocused, crashed into Arkus from behind.
He stumbled, not dead—but furious. "What the hell was that?!"
Everyone turned.
The battle paused. Golems loomed. Tension thickened.
Thalen's heart pounded. The moment of truth had arrived—and it was only beginning.
Gasps rippled through the chamber as Mira's blast hit Arkus square in the back. The bolt of divine light had burned a hole through his cloak and seared a patch of his armor. He staggered, eyes wide with confusion and fury, spinning toward her with a snarl.
"You dare?!" Arkus bellowed.
The other hunters hesitated, caught between the ongoing battle with the golems and the sudden betrayal. No one knew what side to take—yet.
Thalen saw it in their faces: uncertainty. Fear. A perfect storm.
He reached into a hidden pouch in his side-pack and pulled out a small metallic orb etched with swirling glyphs. A low click echoed as he activated the fuse.
Time to move.
He tossed the bomb in the center of the chamber and activated his skill.
Stealth Master (Rank C) – Activated.
The moment the orb clattered to the floor, it exploded with a muffled phump, releasing a thick gray fog that swallowed the dungeon's flickering torchlight. The smoke crawled rapidly, spilling between broken tiles and obscuring sightlines.
Screams erupted. Some thought it was an enemy ambush. Others shouted orders or tried to rally formations.
Thalen was already moving.
Silent. Unseen.
He slipped behind Arkus, who coughed and backed away, blade half-drawn, eyes darting.
"Who—what—?!" he growled. "Mira? Traitor! Show yourself!"
He didn't need Mira to finish the job. She'd served her purpose—sowing doubt, dividing the group. All Thalen needed now was to drive the dagger in while the illusion of divinity held.
[New Quest Available]
[Strike down the false hunter. Arkus Vale has been judged unworthy. Act, and the heavens will bless you.]
Reward: Ring of Grace
This time, the quest went to another—Kier, a hot-headed D-rank swordsman already skeptical of Arkus's leadership. Thalen had seen the way Kier eyed him during the last two skirmishes—resentment brewed just beneath the surface.
[Hates arkus because of their last raid failure
Wants him dead]
'They are making my job more easier than i thought'
He just needed a little push or perhaps a chance. And here it was the golden opportunity
Even without seeing where the quest came from, the glow of a divine directive in the middle of a storm of chaos would feel like prophecy.
And it worked.
From the smoke, Kier's blade flashed.
You're the reason half my team died last raid!" he roared, slashing with both hands.
Arkus deflected the blow, furious now, but off-balance. "What?! Are you insane?!"
From the fog, another hunter joined—uncertain who to trust, but seeing Kier move gave her direction. More blades clashed. The fight was no longer with golems. It was with each other.
Thalen crept along the side of the room, calm within the storm. He took a slow breath.
"Good. It's working."
This wasn't divine justice. It was pressure. It was paranoia, layered piece by piece until someone snapped.
And if he played this right, Arkus would fall without Thalen ever raising a weapon.
....