CHAPTER 70: BRUH

In an hour, Ace’s Sixteen and the new recruits were ready to head back to the Camp and Bank Grotto. Tyler made it official that he’d joined Ace’s Sixteen and would work with him and his Camp. A few rankers joined on the spot.

The Camp suddenly looked better than Heaven Village. When Olivier told his regulars, the village erupted.

"Edward Sawyer is gone... Veis is nowhere to be seen. Hunter casually said he’s going to gun for a safe zone himself... and other top rankers were never a part of Heaven Village! This is getting crazy!"

"Why did I spend days digging an underground camp if everyone competent is going to leave?!"

"It’s not like you had anything better to do."

"True."

In the commotion, one man froze, eyes on Ace’s Sixteen: Drew, the third Heaven King and armory blacksmith.

He stood with his hammer lowered. Behind him, his friends and coworkers from the smithy lined up, just as confused.

When he spoke, only one word escaped. "Bruh."

His friends echoed, "Bruh."

His rivals were dead set on leaving, and other competent rankers had already gone. He hadn’t holed up in his smithy, so why hadn’t anyone come to him? Wasn’t he useful and important too?

Usually energetic and jovial, Drew had no energy.

With sudden resolve, he strode toward Tyler and Olivier.

"Tyler! Olivier! How did you two not contact me about this?! I’m mad now!" Drew shouted.

Tyler turned toward him. "I can see you’re mad."

Olivier said, matter-of-fact, "Since when are we buddies or family, Drew? I don’t have to contact you at all."

"Shut up, brat! You’re my rival whether you like it or not!" Drew shot back, leaving Olivier deadpan.

Standing before his rivals, Drew rested his hammer on his shoulder. "The Camp, aye? I’m coming with you. I need a safe, competitive place to work. My buddies are coming too!"

"You’re free to follow anyone you want. The Camp takes anyone willing to contribute, but you’ll have to dig out your own smithy and home," Tyler said.

"All good! The same goes for you two, right?" Drew asked.

Tyler and Olivier looked away.

"Bruh."

—

Before Ace and his friends realized it, a small army trailed them back to the Camp.

"It’s fortunate that we met The Conductor on our way here. Otherwise, a lot of people would’ve died," Ace said.

Chaewon nodded. "Yes."

Alex, Mercer, and Marko shivered at the name. Tyler and Seraphina noticed and wondered about that being. Ace had said it wouldn’t be a problem for Tyler, but what about Seraphina?

She asked, "Maybe I should walk away from the others?"

"No. You’re more important than the others. And they won’t stop following us no matter what we say," Ace said right away.

Seraphina sank into her hood. Tyler stifled a laugh.

Nothing happened on the way back. The group was too big to attack, and the distance wasn’t that long.

Soon, familiar trees rose on the horizon. Ace began to feel at home.

A ranker from his Camp stepped out of a tree’s shadow to greet him. He was a young man around Mercer’s age with a bow and a quiver on his hip.

"Welcome back, Don Capo!"

Ace’s eyebrow twitched. How am I still not used to it? Maybe because the new ones started calling me Don Capo out of respect... I don’t want to be known as Don Capo...

Swallowing his displeasure, Ace nodded. "I’m back. A lot happened in Heaven Village, and as you see, we have new faces. We’ll expand our influence and make sure everyone contributes to the Camp. Bring the new ones up to speed. I’ll brief my own people."

"Yes, Don Capo!"

A few minutes later, people fanned out through the forest.

Meanwhile, Ace took Tyler, Seraphina, and Olivier to his Bank Grotto. They didn’t expect a valley in the forest. A huge boulder stood out like a sore thumb.

When Ace willed it open, Seraphina’s eyes widened. Tyler nodded, as if he expected it, and Olivier rubbed his hands like he was about to cause trouble.

"As expected of Don Capo. I, Big Oli, am impressed!" he said.

Ignoring him, Ace said, "Don’t wander into the unexplored tunnels. One of us did, and he died. Stay in the main room or in the Crimson Lake. It’s peculiar. Thoughts aren’t private there, so be careful. I have something to do in the Crimson Lake before you check it out, Big Oli."

Olivier nodded. "Yes, yes."

Ace left the others in Chaewon’s care and headed straight to the Crimson Lake with Cherry perched atop him. A few rankers were gathering blue crystals. They left after welcoming Ace back.

At the shore, he stared at the crystal‑clear water. A second later, he stripped and jumped in, wearing only his briefs. Together, he and Cherry swam to the dry bottom.

Touching the dry ground, he cracked his neck.

What have you come here for, Ace Avalanche? It’s no time for your second quest.

Tava’Az spoke.

Ace nodded. "I’m aware. I want to talk with Yvandra’Annah."

You can’t simply come here and ask for—

After a beat.

Only Ace knew why he’d been granted an audience in less than a second. He wondered how much Tava’Az suspected, but he didn’t let it show and closed his eyes. In a heartbeat, his consciousness slipped into a dreamlike state, and familiar laughter met him.

I didn’t expect to be glad to hear you.

I planned to make you feel this way, Ace. It came faster than I thought, though! What do you need from me today?

She sounded too enthusiastic to be useful. Ace questioned the tone, then blamed his passive skill.

I want to know if Seraphina can be saved from the Immolated’s hands. No. I know she can. I need to know how.

The Immolated? Very well. For her, there’s only one path. She lacks your edge, Ace. Only you can draw a deluge from a divinity like me and drown me in it. Power and pleasure both.

Is it me, or is she getting hornier all of a sudden?