Later that night, the Neon Moon was alive.
Laughter rolled across the packed restaurant as plates clinked, mead flowed freely, and music drifted through the open space. Lanternlight reflected off polished wood and gold trim, casting the room in warm hues.
Jax sat at the corner booth with the Vixens, relaxed for once, enjoying the rare luxury of a night without urgency.
Llandra swirled her glass slowly, studying the deep red wine inside. "This is excellent," she said, surprised. "You secured the rights to this vintage?"
Jax nodded. "Small vineyard outside Frostveil. Family operation. They needed capital."
Nyxian smirked. "Of course you did."
Conversation overlapped easily.
"A pool. In a carriage," Bunny said, shaking her head in disbelief. "I'm still not over that."
"Did Jax really decapitate a boar with a single strike?" Zee asked, eyes wide.
Nyxian grinned. "Not decapitate. Exploded the neck. Much cleaner."
"Gryphon steaks are supposed to be legendary," Bunny added. "When do we get those?"
I have the Neon moon saving us some," Jax replied calmly.
"And that bed," Nyxian sighed dreamily. "I refuse to sleep anywhere else ever again."
Laughter erupted around the table.
For a moment, everything felt perfect.
Then Llandra set her glass down.
Her tone shifted—subtle, but unmistakable.
"Jax," she said. "What is your plan for our first official mission?"
The table quieted.
"We're only E-rank as a group," she continued. "What direction are you intending to take us?"
Jax folded his hands together, rubbing his palms slowly as he thought. He knew how this would sound.
"Our official mission," he said carefully, "will be a standard herb-gathering quest. Lily Herbs. Near Crystalshire."
The tension eased—slightly.
Nyxian tilted her head. "And the unofficial mission?"
Jax exhaled once.
"We will be clearing Crystalshire Cave," he said evenly. "Harvesting its crystals. Securing the beasts. And establishing a trade route between our towns."
Silence.
Bunny blinked. "That's an A-rank cavern. We aren't allowed to raid an A-rank mission."
"Correction," Jax replied calmly. "They won't pay us to clear an A-rank cavern. But hunting beasts and harvesting materials is perfectly legal."
"I fear you're moving too fast," Llandra said, concern etched across her face.
"You are powerful, Jax," Zee added softly. "But the rest of us…"
The table's mood shifted—festive warmth giving way to unease.
To jump from E-rank straight to A-rank content wasn't bold.
It was unheard of.
And everyone at the table knew exactly how many people died attempting it.
Llandra studied the others, saw the strain in their expressions, then straightened.
"I don't believe we're ready," she said firmly. "Not yet."
Before Jax could respond, a large hand settled on his shoulder.
"Well," a familiar voice rumbled, "I reckon you might want to step outside, my boy."
Brannic stood beside the table, Merriweather fluttering excitedly at his side.
Jax looked up, surprised.
Brannic jerked his chin toward the door.
Jax rose immediately.
The Vixens followed.
"We'll be right back!" Bunny called cheerfully to the waitress as they hurried outside.
A reinforced carriage waited in the street, a heavy trailer hitched behind it and stacked with secured crates.
Brannic rubbed his hands together. "Built to your specifications, lad. And let me tell you—pure bloody genius."
He pried open the first crate.
Inside lay a massive double-bladed sword.
Red-scaled metal gleamed under torchlight, streaked with pale white veins like cooled magma. Jagged edges ran along both blades, the design impossibly large—unbalanced by any normal standard.
"I call her Peacemaker," Brannic said proudly.
Jax stared.
Slowly, reverently, he reached for it.
"Wait—no—Jax!" Merriweather gasped.
Too late.
He lifted it effortlessly.
Gasps rippled through the group.
Jax stepped into open space and casually twirled the blade, rotating it around his body, behind his head, switching hands with ease. He hurled it twenty feet down the street.
The sword spun once—
Then curved back.
Perfectly.
Landing in his hand.
He planted it into the dirt.
Jax stood six-foot-two.
Peacemaker stood taller.
Brannic swallowed. "That thing weighed near six hundred pounds. Took four of us to lift it. Six to load it."
Jax glanced around. "Feels fine."
Nyxian snorted. "Of course it does."
Merriweather cleared her throat. "The final transmutation requires binding."
She produced a small crystal blade. "A strand of hair from each of you."
They complied.
Golden light surged through the crates as Merriweather worked.
"Now," she said, breathless, "the weapons and armor will feel weightless to their rightful owners. To anyone else…"
She smiled sweetly. "They'll feel every ounce."
"Not for Jax," Nyxian muttered.
The next crate opened.
Nyxian froze.
A black-and-red whip lay coiled inside.
"Lilith's Kiss," Brannic said.
Nyxian lifted it—and smiled slowly.
With a flick of her wrist, it moved like a living thing. Then the handle split.
Two whips.
Her laughter was wicked.
"Be careful," Merriweather warned. "We added poison from the great serpent's glands. Natural healing will not save your enemies."
Next came Starpiercer. It was red from the Dragon Armor, but she could tell by holding it, it was perfectly balanced. It was light, mobile and deadly.
Her System screen popped up.
Starpiercer - +10% to Perception, Accuracy and Speed.
Then Sanctaris, Zee's staff—radiant, humming with power. It too was Red in design with dragon claws that held an orb at the top.
As she held it, her System screen popped up.
Sanctaris - +10% to Perception, Mana and Intelligence.
Both Zee and Llandra were experiencing the same information at once. And both had the same reaction.
"Whoa!"
Finally, the armor.
Light. Flexible. Dragon-scale infused.
Each piece enhanced strength, speed, agility—or defense, endurance, perception.
Fire immunity.
Temperature regulation.
Magic resistance.
And something deeper.
A living warmth.
When they finished, the Vixens stood taller.
They felt unstoppable.
They felt invincible.
Llandra stepped forward.
"You were right," she said quietly. "We are ready."
Jax met her eyes and smiled—small, knowing.
"I know."
And somewhere deep beneath Crystalshire…
The cave waited.