The return journey to Hajimari Village felt different. Sanji could sense Yuki and Akane's presence through the Party Link not their thoughts, but their emotional states and general condition. It was like having a constant awareness of his teammates, even when they weren't in direct line of sight.
When Akane stumbled over a root, Sanji knew it before she even called out. When Yuki's MP dropped below fifty percent, he felt the depletion as a subtle fatigue at the edge of his consciousness.
"This skill is incredible," Akane said, marveling at the sensation. "I can tell exactly where you both are, even with my eyes closed."
"More than that," Yuki added, her analytical mind already working through the implications. "The experience sharing is more efficient too. We'll level faster as a party now. And combination attacks we need to experiment with those."
They'd also gained significant experience from completing the trial. Sanji checked his status:
Status Window:
- Name: Sanji
- Level: 8
- Class: Adventurer
- HP: 220/220
- MP: 130/130
- Strength: 10
- Agility: 11
- Intelligence: 15
- Wisdom: 15
- Luck: 10
Level eight. They were getting stronger, approaching the level needed for the dungeon. But Sanji knew that levels alone wouldn't be enough. They needed better equipment, more skills, and most importantly, they needed to master their new Party Link ability.
By the time they reached the village, the sun was setting. The streets were quieter than usual players were either out hunting or staying inside, afraid of the increasing danger from both monsters and other players.
As they approached the inn, a familiar figure intercepted them. It was Kenji, the player they'd saved from the shadow wolves days ago. He'd leveled up since then now at level five and looked considerably more confident.
"Sanji! I've been looking for you," Kenji said, slightly out of breath. He glanced around nervously, then lowered his voice. "Can we talk? Somewhere private?"
Sanji exchanged glances with Yuki and Akane. Through the Party Link, he felt their wariness but also curiosity.
"The inn," Sanji said. "We'll get a private corner."
Inside, they secured a table away from other players. Kenji ordered drinks for all of them his treat, he insisted then leaned in close.
"I owe you my life," Kenji began. "So I'm going to tell you something that could get me killed if the wrong people find out."
That got their attention.
"The Crimson Fangs aren't just claiming territory," Kenji continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "They're planning something bigger. I overheard their officers talking when I was hiding from a monster patrol near their camp. They're organizing a raid on the dungeon you've been hearing about the level-ten one."
"That's not surprising," Yuki said. "Large guilds will naturally target dungeons for the better loot."
"That's not the problem," Kenji said urgently. "They're planning to seal the entrance afterward. Use some kind of item or magic to make it so only Crimson Fang members can enter. They want to monopolize it."
Sanji felt a cold anger building. "That would lock out independent players from the best leveling content. Everyone else would fall behind."
"Exactly. And there's more. Ryoga is recruiting aggressively. He's promising protection and resources, but once players join, they can't leave. Anyone who tries gets killed by their own former guildmates. He's building an army, not a community."
Akane looked horrified. "That's... that's essentially slavery. Join or die."
"Why are you telling us this?" Yuki asked, her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What do you gain?"
"Nothing," Kenji said. "Except maybe a clean conscience. You saved my life when you didn't have to. I figure I owe you the truth about what's coming. The Crimson Fangs are planning their dungeon raid in three days. If you want a chance at that dungeon, you need to get there first."
Three days. Sanji did the math quickly. They were level eight now. With intense grinding, they could maybe reach level nine, possibly ten. It would be tight, but possible.
"Thank you for the warning," Sanji said. "We'll be careful."
Kenji nodded and stood to leave. "One more thing. There are other players forming resistance groups. Small parties like yours who don't want to bow to guild tyranny. If you're interested, there's a meeting tomorrow night, midnight, at the old church near the north gate. Password is 'free blades.' Just... think about it."
He left quickly, glancing over his shoulder as if afraid of being followed.
After he was gone, the three of them sat in silence for a moment.
"It could be a trap," Yuki said finally. "To identify and eliminate independent players who might resist."
"Or it could be genuine," Akane countered. "We're not the only ones who think the guilds are going too far."
Sanji activated his Game Master's Eye, trying to glean any residual information from Kenji's presence. His skill showed him faint traces sincerity markers, fear indicators, but no deception signatures.
"I think he was telling the truth," Sanji said. "But we should still be cautious about the meeting. Whether we attend or not, we have a more immediate problem. If the Crimson Fangs are raiding that dungeon in three days, we need to hit it first."
"We're only level eight," Yuki pointed out. "The recommended level is ten. That's a significant gap for dungeon content."
"But we have advantages they don't," Sanji argued. "My Game Master's Eye can reveal traps and weaknesses. Our Party Link makes us more coordinated than a hastily assembled raid group. And we're more mobile three people can move faster and quieter than twenty."
"He's right," Akane said. "Quality over quantity. We've proven we can punch above our weight."
Yuki considered this, her fingers drumming on the table. Finally, she nodded. "Fine. But we do it smart. Tomorrow, we grind to level nine. We buy better equipment use all our saved coins if necessary. We stock up on potions, antidotes, and rope. Then the day after tomorrow, we scout the dungeon entrance. If it looks manageable, we attempt it. If not, we retreat and find another path forward."
"Agreed," Sanji said.
They spent the next hour planning their grinding route for tomorrow, identifying the most efficient monster spawns and calculating the experience needed. By the time they finished, a strategy had formed they would hit the eastern forest in the early morning before the Crimson Fangs established their patrols, then move to a reportedly dangerous area further north where level eight and nine monsters spawned.
As they prepared to head to their rooms, Sanji's Game Master's Eye suddenly flared with warning. Danger. Close.
He spun toward the inn's entrance. A player had just walked in a woman with cold eyes and leather armor dyed crimson. Her level showed as nine, and the red cloth around her arm marked her as Crimson Fang.
Miyu - Level 9 - Assassin
Threat Level: High
Special Note: Scout/Spy for Crimson Fangs
She scanned the common room, her gaze passing over Sanji's party without seeming to pause. But Sanji's skill showed him the micro-expressions, the subtle tells. She'd identified them, logged their presence, and was now pretending not to notice.
"Don't react," Sanji murmured to his party through the link. "We're being watched. Crimson Fang spy, by the door."
Through the Party Link, he felt Yuki and Akane's spike of alarm, but to their credit, neither of them turned to look.
"Let's go to our rooms," Yuki said casually, stretching. "I'm exhausted."
They stood and headed for the stairs, moving normally, giving no indication they'd noticed anything wrong. But once they were in the hallway upstairs, Sanji pulled them into his room.
"She's tracking independent players," Sanji said quietly. "Probably reporting to Ryoga about who might be threats or potential recruits."
"So they know about us now," Akane said nervously.
"They knew about us already from our encounter at the vine serpent grove," Yuki corrected. "This just confirms we're still active and getting stronger."
"Which means we're on their radar," Sanji said. "We need to be more careful. Vary our routes, watch for tails, never discuss plans in public areas."
The weight of their situation was becoming clearer. They weren't just fighting monsters anymore. They were caught in a web of guild politics, territorial disputes, and power struggles. Every decision had consequences.
"Get some rest," Sanji said. "Tomorrow we push hard. The sooner we're strong enough to handle ourselves against guild interference, the better."
After Yuki and Akane left for their rooms, Sanji sat on his bed and pulled up his status window. He distributed his new stat points, continuing his balanced approach. Then he examined the Party Link skill in detail.
Party Link - Active Effects:
- Experience sharing efficiency: +25%
- Status awareness: Real-time HP/MP sensing
- Distance communication: Up to 100 feet
- Combination attacks: Unlocked (requires practice)
- Bond strength: 67% (increases with time and shared experiences)
The skill had growth potential. The more they worked together, the stronger the link would become. Eventually, they might unlock even more advanced features.
Sanji lay back, staring at the ceiling. Three days until the Crimson Fangs made their move. Three days to get strong enough to beat them to the dungeon. Three days to prepare for what could be the most dangerous challenge they'd faced yet.
But he wasn't afraid. With Yuki's tactical brilliance, Akane's improving skills, and his own Game Master's Eye, they had a real chance.
Sleep came slowly, his mind churning through strategies and contingencies. In his dreams, he saw corridors of stone, glowing runes, and shadows that moved with malevolent intelligence.
The dungeon was calling.
Morning arrived with unexpected weather rain drummed against the window, the first precipitation since they'd arrived in Alkhali World. Sanji watched the water stream down the glass, marveling at the attention to detail. Even the weather systems were fully realized.
He met Yuki and Akane downstairs. They ate quickly, then headed to the equipment shops. It was time to spend their accumulated coins on serious upgrades.
The blacksmith, an NPC named Genji, had better equipment available than Sanji had realized. It was just expensive prohibitively so for most players at this stage. But their efficient grinding had accumulated 347 bronze coins between them.
"I need a better sword," Sanji said, examining the options. "Something with higher durability and attack power."
Genji showed him a steel longsword with a subtle blue sheen enchanted with a minor durability bonus. 120 bronze coins.
"I'll take it."
Yuki upgraded her staff to one with better magical amplification. Akane purchased a reinforced bow and a full quiver of improved arrows. They also bought a set of proper light armor for Akane her starting equipment was barely holding together.
By the time they finished shopping, they'd spent 285 coins. It hurt to see their savings evaporate, but the upgrades were necessary.
They headed out into the rain, making their way toward the northern forest. The weather actually worked in their favor fewer players were willing to hunt in the rain, which meant less competition for monsters.
The northern area was noticeably more dangerous. The trees here were twisted and dark, and the monsters reflected that corruption.
Corrupted Bear - Level 8
Dark Wolf - Level 9
Plague Crow - Level 8
They engaged a corrupted bear first. The fight was brutal the creature had immense HP and devastating physical attacks. But their new equipment made a difference. Sanji's steel longsword cut deeper, Yuki's upgraded staff cast faster, and Akane's improved bow had better range and penetration.
More importantly, the Party Link let them coordinate with unprecedented precision. Sanji didn't have to call out every action his teammates could feel his intentions through the bond, anticipate his movements, and adjust accordingly.
They developed their first combination attack organically during their third fight. Yuki cast Ice Nova to freeze a dark wolf in place. Akane fired an arrow coated in Sanji's sword oil. Sanji followed up with a powerful overhead slash at the exact moment the arrow hit.
The combined damage was more than the sum of its parts some kind of synergy bonus from the Party Link.
Combination Attack Discovered: Frozen Strike
+50% damage when all three elements combine correctly
"Did you see that?" Akane exclaimed. "We just invented a combo!"
They practiced it repeatedly throughout the day, refining the timing. By late afternoon, they could execute Frozen Strike consistently, turning difficult fights into manageable ones.
Level Up!
Level 9 achieved
The notification came simultaneously for all three of them. They'd done it reached level nine in a single day of intense grinding. They were now within reasonable range of attempting the level-ten dungeon.
As they made their way back to the village, tired but satisfied, Sanji couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. His Game Master's Eye picked up no immediate threats, but the sensation persisted.
The Crimson Fangs knew about them. Other players were forming resistance groups. The dungeon awaited. And somewhere out there, in the code and magic of Alkhali World, was the answer to how they'd all been trapped here.
To be continued...