The last of the Wraiths glanced at their fallen boss, then at Carter. Nobody wanted to be the next one down. One by one, they faded into the dark corners of the warehouse and slipped out into the night. Scavengers through and through—they knew when to call it quits.
Carter stood there, catching his breath. The mana potion’s rush was wearing off, just like Lena said it would. Now came the crash: a slow, gnawing chill deep in his bones.
Level 13 reached. Five skill points up for grabs. New quest: hit Level 15. Progress: 2 out of 2.
He headed for the desk tucked away at the back. There it was—a small black box stamped with Property of Ascendant Corp. Carter popped it open and smiled. High-grade System chips, stacked tight, plus a digital ledger.
“Not bad for an hour’s work,” he muttered.
