They crossed back over the perimeter barrier a few minutes later, boots hitting reinforced metal plates instead of dirt. The instant Lucen stepped through, the difference hit him, like someone had unplugged the tension from his chest.
The dungeon was behind them now. The break had closed. The pulse of danger that had been threading through every breath? Gone.
He inhaled deep. Stretched his arms. Let the sword rest across his back again, blade stained at the tip.
The guild checkpoint tent buzzed with low chatter and clinks of armor and coffee cups. People were sitting, checking their systems, typing quick summaries into the mission logs.
A guy near the rear had a bloodied wrap around his shoulder and was bragging loudly about how he "tagged the core beast's leg just before it fell."
Lucen walked past him.
Gen nudged him from the side. "You want to claim the final hit?"
Lucen grunted. "I'm not writing a blog."
Gabe waved them over. "Here."
