The pocket world welcomed them home with light instead of noise, gold washing over the gathering ground the instant Almond, Lily, Rudra, and Ainen stepped back through its border.
[Hell-Mode Quest Complete: Rumble in Resort]
[1st Place Reward: All members of Ananta Regalon Kingdom elevated to Tier-40 lifeform.]
Four hundred people felt it land at once, the same held-breath weight from the ocean's own reward, deeper this time, settling into bone and blood like something that intended to stay.
Big D was already at the border to meet them, arms crossed, and for once his gruff face didn't bother hiding the relief underneath it.
"Forty-four coins," he said. "Heard the number before you finished walking through the gate. Whole ground's been buzzing since."
"We're glad to be back," Almond said, and meant it more than the words let on.
It took less than a minute for the good feeling to crack.
