The only one who stepped forward through the shattered doors and into the hallway, however, was Nick. “There’s nothing to come at, bro. You’re already defeated.” Nick hoisted his weapon, a blunt casting mace that looked almost like those the Dark Knights were known to use.

But no one can get the Dark Knight class this early, Malik thought as he took in a deep breath and prepared for this final skirmish. “I’m not down until I’m down, and before I fall, you’re coming with me!” Malik shouted. He dashed forward, sword in hand, and cut straight at his former friend. Nick, however, just stood there. Just before Malik’s blade cut into him, a strange purple glow erupted from Nick’s shield. Shadowy tendrils reached out, caught Malik’s sword, and then held it firmly in place. Unless he let go of his weapon, there was nothing he could do. Thus, he watched as Nick slowly lifted his own weapon in return.

“No, I’m not. I’m not ever going anywhere with you again. Trash on the sidewalk should be thrown into the proper bin and then buried deep.” Nick brought down the blunt head of his mace over and over again on Malik’s face. Malik was enraged, but he couldn’t do anything but watch as his health quickly vanished, each attack leaving him more damaged and stunned than before. The only thing he could hear as his vision faded to black, and the death process started all over again, was the sound of a man clapping behind Nick.

You were supposed to be the worthless one, Malik thought as he let go and accepted another death—the last he’d ever give Lucas’s dungeon.

——-

Lucas dropped his clothes and backpack next to the bath and crawled in. While Nick and Katie had argued against expanding the large heated tub and making it even more luxurious instead of focusing on the water dungeon first, Lucas, Liu, Viola and Bonnie had all agreed that some pleasures should always come first. Lucas had plenty of time to finish building his dungeon, but if he couldn’t enjoy the perks, then what was the point of being king of the hill?

While the design was fundamentally the same as it had been before, the bath was not much larger, and additional sets of piping allowed it to heat up even faster. A small staircase had been added to one side, too. There was one area where a few people could let their feet soak, and then another area, the area Lucas had just plopped himself into, where ten people could sit down and enjoy the hot water of the nice bath.