Kaelyn.
6'0". Defined physique, broad shoulders, sculpted abs.
Every movement looked deliberate, firm, grounded, like someone who didn't need weapons to win.
Boros, the tank, leaned on a gigantic warhammer, a shield strapped to his back.
Riven, the assassin, stayed silent, always watching.
Ethan drew their attention.
"You're the group that defeated this city's boss?"
Kaelyn turned her head and scanned the entire group with a look that seemed to measure strength and usefulness in seconds.
"That's us."
Ethan continued.
"We just wanted to understand what happened. We received the fragment before we even entered the city."
Her gaze narrowed.
"A fragment?"
"Yes," Ethan explained. "You didn't know? Each city on this floor is dominated by one of the seven deadly sins. We fought Lust, Gluttony, and Greed before we got here. When we approached… we got the notification."
He paused.
"So we assumed someone had already defeated the boss. And apparently… it was you."
Kaelyn crossed her arms, her muscles tightening slightly, intimidating on their own.
"Hm. Makes sense."
She frowned.
"But I still think it's weird for me to crush a boss… and for the system to hand the reward to another party."
Sienna stepped forward.
"Maybe because we were already collecting them. You mind?"
Kaelyn looked to one side.
Then the other.
She didn't see anyone.
Then she lowered her gaze slowly until it landed on Sienna.
"Oh. It was you talking, Shortstack?"
Sienna froze for a second.
"S–Shortstack?!"
Her eyes ignited with instant fury.
Kaelyn's group laughed, Boros loudly, Riven in a muffled way.
Kaelyn lifted an eyebrow, amused at the fire she'd started.
"Don't take it personally. I genuinely didn't see you down there."
Sienna took a step forward.
"I swear I'm gonna kil—"
Marcus grabbed her around the waist.
"Nooo, Sienna! Calm down!"
Emanueru chuckled softly.
"Don't let go of her!"
Kaelyn tilted her head, still smiling.
"Impulsive. I like that. But impulsiveness without reach doesn't do much."
A vein in Sienna's forehead looked ready to explode.
Ethan tried to save the situation.
"Actually, we wanted to understand something. A group as strong as yours… how have we never crossed paths before? You're clearly above average."
Kaelyn inhaled, turning serious for the first time.
"Because we were trapped."
Elenya blinked, surprised.
"Trapped?"
Boros answered.
"We entered a dungeon not long after they announced we were stuck and explained the whole floors thing. The portal closed behind us. We had to survive inside."
Riven added.
"The place felt endless. The monsters didn't disappear after you killed them. Like they were real animals."
He continued, voice low.
"Each room had monstrous birds, like those hawks on the first floor, only much stronger. There were lizards, wolves…"
"We were in there for weeks," Boros said. "No contact with anyone. We survived eating the animals we killed."
Emanueru frowned.
"That explains a lot. It must've been really hard. I'm glad you made it."
Kaelyn nodded.
"When we finally found the exit, weeks had already passed in here. We didn't know anything about the sins, the fragments, or the cities."
She breathed out.
"But surviving that dungeon was the best training we could've gotten."
Sienna crossed her arms, still sulking.
"And only now you decided to show up?"
"Easy, easy, Shortstack." Kaelyn stepped forward, looking Sienna up and down. "We got out of the dungeon four days ago. Don't get nervous. Growing takes a lot of energy, I know. It's hard for the body to keep up with the ego."
Sienna tried to charge with everything she had.
"I'M GONNA WRECK YOU RIGHT HERE!"
Marcus had to lift her like a sack of potatoes.
"NO, NO, NO, NOOO!"
Kaelyn's group was laughing hard.
Even Ethan almost laughed, almost.
Jay scratched the back of his neck.
"Are you guys always like this?"
Boros answered with a shrug.
"Most of the time. She likes provoking people."
He hooked a thumb toward Kaelyn, proud.
"And when someone gets mad enough for her to keep going… she doesn't know when to stop."
Kaelyn looked back at Ethan, now with a respectful seriousness.
"So you defeated four deadly sins… and received the fragment from the fifth that I defeated."
Ethan nodded.
"Seems like the system chose a fixed bearer for the fragments. Maybe to make sure they don't get hidden by someone who doesn't want to finish the game."
Kaelyn went quiet for a moment.
"I don't like it."
She crossed her arms again.
"I think like this: if I earned something, it should come to me, and I decide what happens to it."
She sighed.
"But if the game wants it this way, I won't fight it. Keep the fragment. I don't need quest items to prove I'm strong."
She tilted her face, a dangerous smile forming.
"But if there's a legendary weapon at the end… then we'll talk differently."
From Marcus's shoulder, Sienna shouted:
"Yeah, you better not fight it, you freak! You look like a heron with those long legs!"
"Shortstack, shortstack, shortstack…" Kaelyn sang, fueling Sienna's fury even more.
Emanueru whispered to Ethan:
"They're gonna kill each other one day."
Ethan replied without taking his eyes off the scene:
"The question is… who wins."
They both looked at Kaelyn.
Then at Sienna, still kicking the air.
Marcus sighed.
"…I'm betting on Kaelyn."
"I HEARD THAT, MARCUS!!!"
Kaelyn finally turned away with her group.
"That was interesting, Ethan. I hope to see you on the front lines."
She took a few steps, then stopped.
"And… Shortstack."
Kaelyn waved two fingers at Sienna, mocking.
"Try not to grow sideways."
Sienna roared with indignation.
"I'M GONNA KILL YOU!!! GET BACK HERE!!!"
Kaelyn just laughed, walking like someone born to stand among the strongest.
Riven and Boros followed behind her, relaxed, as if they knew no one there would dare to attack her.
When the trio disappeared down the next street, Ethan finally breathed out.
"This floor… completely changed the game."
Jay nodded.
"She's a monster."
Marcus added:
"And Sienna just found the worst kind of rival possible."
Sienna huffed, still furious.
"She's not a rival. She's a target."
Ethan smiled.
"Then let's get stronger."