(Next day, Erin’s POV)

Discover hidden tales at empire

Next day, Erin was extremely nervous at work, since today was the day when God Nunu was supposed to visit the grave of the previous floor master alongside his security entourage.

The old grave sweeper who had been taking care of the cemetery seemed very excited today, as he put extra effort into making sure that everything was cleaner than usual, however, his actions only made Erin even more anxious as Erin felt worried that he might accidentally trigger a trap.

Thankfully, the old sweeper was a mere mortal who could not detect mana traps, nor did he possess a keen eye to notice the changes to his surroundings, as if he did, the plan that Rocky came up with would be a no-go before God Nunu even arrived at the cemetery.

“Cheer up boy! You will get to see a God today! Just keep your head down and don’t make eye contact, but aside from that this is your big day! You will have goosebumps as he passes…. It’s the best part about this damn job” The old sweeper said, as Erin smiled at him politely in response.

His nerves were all over the place today, and although he was smiling and keeping his wits about himself, he was also simultaneously sweating, with his heart rate being through the roof.

He had never been a part of something so dangerous before, and although he possessed the same thirst for adventure like Rocky, Kronos and Buhara, he did not have a similar appetite for taking risks.

‘Everything is going to be okay Erin. This is how legends are made. You always dreamed of being a part of a Champion’s party, well these are the moments which define your legend’ Erin thought, as he tried to hype himself up to try fulfill this mission.

From time to time he kept checking on the teleportation tokens that Rocky had given him, clutching them to make sure that he had an escape route in-case anything went wrong at any point of the plan.

******

(Meanwhile, Rocky and others)

Meanwhile, Rocky and the others had already taken their positions in the cemetery, each of them hiding behind gravestones or trees, their figures blending into the shadowy surroundings as they awaited the old god’s arrival.

The eerie silence of the cemetery did little to calm their nerves, but it was the only place where they could execute their risky plan.

Just like Erin, none of them felt entirely confident about the strategy, but there was a quiet, unspoken agreement among them where everyone seemed to be hoping for the best while being prepared for the worst.

Their hearts beat in sync with the tension in the air, as every second ticking by felt like an eternity.

Rocky had chosen to conceal himself behind one of the largest trees in the cemetery, its thick trunk offering him both cover and a solid place to rest his back as he crouched low.

From his vantage point, he was the closest to the grave of the old floor master, the site Nuna would inevitably visit.

This proximity meant that Rocky would be the first to face the god when he arrived—and the first to fall if anything went wrong.

The awareness of this grim reality gnawed at him, making it hard to steady his breathing or quiet the storm of thoughts in his head.

Unlike the brash and headstrong version of himself he once knew, Rocky now found himself silently praying to the Gemini Gods, a pair of deities whose influence he had rarely sought in the past.

Today, however, placing his faith in them brought an unexpected sense of peace.

It wasn’t that he believed the gods would magically save him, but rather that surrendering the outcome to their will made him feel less burdened by the pressure of success or failure.

For the first time in a long while, he could let go of the need to control everything, as he had come to accept that whatever happened today was not entirely in his hands, and that success or failure in this mission would depend as much on divine grace as it would on his own abilities.

Even so, if things went sideways, Rocky knew deep down that he would do whatever it took to protect his friends.

They had stuck with him through the most impossible of missions, proving their loyalty time and again, and if it ever came to it, he was ready to lay down his life to ensure their survival, as he couldn’t bear the thought of any of them falling in his place, especially not after everything they had been through together.

Unbeknownst to Rocky however, both Kronos and Buhara were having similar thoughts as they crouched in their respective hiding spots, each lost in their own reflections.

Kronos, ever the stoic warrior, believed that with his near-infinite vitality, he was the one who could afford to take the most dangerous risks.

While his comrades could easily lose their lives from severe injuries, his body could withstand far more damage, and hence if it came to a deadly showdown, Kronos was willing to take the brunt of the assault, knowing his odds of survival were much higher than anyone else’s.

Buhara, on the other hand, saw things differently. To him, an honorable death was the pinnacle of orc culture, the ultimate way to leave the world with dignity, and hence, if the situation required someone to make the ultimate sacrifice, he felt it should be him.

After all, he was a proud orc, and dying in battle was a glory his ancestors revered. In his mind, the others were fragile puny beings, unworthy of the same fate.

He felt like it was his duty as the strongest to offer his life if necessary, and in doing so, he would ascend to the halls of honor his people so deeply cherished.

Each of them, while hidden from one another, shared the same somber resolve: this mission might demand their lives, and they were willing to give them if it meant the survival of their friends.

As the minutes stretched on and the tension in the air thickened, all they could do was wait—for Nuna, for battle and for whatever fate had in store for them.

——-

/// A/N – Special shoutout to patron Rosery_5ire for contributing a 5000 coin magic castle!

Your admiration and support is certainly my motivation to continue. ///

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep