"What is that? It gives me the creeps," Victoria remarked, eyeing the object warily.

Rose felt the same way as the emissions coming off it were giving her the creeps. "I'm not sure you should be holding that, Ed. Store it in your inventory, and let's go. I want to check out that other tunnel and return as soon as possible. I could use a shower and some rest after today."

Alice, stretching her shoulders, "Me too. This has been a good day for leveling, but I'd prefer to take a break. Two levels in one day is enough for me."

"Okay, everyone. One second," Ed responded. He focused on the mysterious piece, willing it into his inventory. There was a brief flash of light, and the item disappeared. However, it didn't appear in his inventory. Instead, a blinking message appeared on his system screen. Curious, Ed opened it, only to be greeted with a quest message.

New Quest: The Rooted Menace - Saga of the Corrupted Veil

Description: Midgard's ancient lands are tainted by a shadow of corruption, born of neglect and forgotten dark deeds. Twisted creatures and malevolent artifacts lie hidden, poisoning the realm. As a chosen defender, your quest is to hunt these vile entities and restore balance.

Goal: Cleanse or destroy beings and places of corruption

Rewards:

Gold

Experience

Gear

Crafting Materials

*Note - This is a repeatable quest*

Ed shared the quest with everyone, giving them a moment to read it. "Well, that explains what was wrong with the spiders," Rose remarked after reviewing the details. "Good call on needing to explore more; we would have missed out on this quest. But how do we submit it? And, what does it mean repeatable?"

Scanning the area, Alice noted the absence of quest rewards or clues. "Maybe the prize was getting the quest? Like we had to prove we could do it even to get access?" she speculated.

"That would make a certain amount of sense, but still aggravating. Maybe we will get rewards after we 'complete' the quest again?" Ed conceded. "Anyway, there's not much else we can do here. Let's get a move on, ladies."

"Might as well," Victoria agreed, letting Ed lead the way. She playfully quipped, "Bears before beauty," giving him a light slap on the butt as he passed by her.

Rose and Alice burst into laughter at the exchange, their mirth echoing in the tunnel. Ed's ears turned bright red, and he blushed noticeably. "Oh, that was worth it," Rose said, still chuckling.

"Gross, get a room, you two," Alice teased, her smile wide as she ribbed her friends. The group's spirits were light despite their challenges, their camaraderie evident in their playful banter as they continued.

Having explored the tunnel's depths and found nothing else of significance, the group returned to the opening in the ground through which they had initially descended. Once they reached the part of the tunnel that could see out into the open sky, they took a moment to rest in the waning sunlight. They used this brief respite to eat a small meal, with Ed sharing some food with his companions who lounged nearby.

The 10-minute break seemed to pass instantly, and soon, they were on their feet again, venturing down the other tunnel. This path wound steadily downward, curving around without deviating from the main branch. They passed occasional minor cracks and alcoves, but none led away from the main tunnel. After about half an hour of walking, they found a door set into the tunnel wall.

The door bore the scars of a struggle, with scratch marks covering its surface as if something had desperately tried to get in. It was in disrepair, barely holding together, as if it wouldn't take much to break it down completely.

Ed, leading the group, approached the door. Just as he was about to place his hand on it, a pop-up message appeared, causing him to pause. "Ah, guys, I think I know why nothing was down here," he announced, turning to the group. "This is another entrance to the McFarland Mines. Looks like the spiders were trying to get in."

Victoria contemplated the potential disaster they had narrowly averted. "I couldn't imagine the havoc they would have wreaked if they had spread into here. It looks like that's what they were intent on doing anyway."

Rose added her thoughts on the situation. "They seemed to be spreading rapidly. I would imagine that the queen was from the forest and found that strange material in the wall, set up shop, and then got warped. As she spawned new spiders, they would have spread out, overpowering the old, normal, not quite as terrifying spiders."

Alice, considering the potential benefits, remarked, "Hopefully, the old versions will take back over. I bet you all that spider silk is a great crafting component."

Feeling the weight of the day's events, Ed announced, "OK, that seems like it for today, folks. I am exhausted. However, we must figure out how to get these three back up that hole in the ground. Alice and I are the only two with the physical stats to carry or assist people climbing, so it will take a few trips."

Reaching into her bag for some supplies she bought Victoria handed them over, "I have some more rope. You could climb up with one of them tied to your back in a harness, then drop some more ropes down and return for another of the wolves?"

Rose contemplated the suggestion. "Not a bad idea, Victoria. Ed, can you carry one of them like that?"

Ed responded confidently, "Shouldn't be a problem. Let's go give it a try."

They returned to the opening where they had entered, moving more quickly now that the immediate danger had passed. Reaching the hole, they looked up into the late afternoon sky. Ed waited as Alice took the rope from Victoria and skillfully fashioned a harness around Argenta's front and rear legs, creating loops for Ed to slip his arms through.

"How does that feel?" Alice asked, ensuring the setup was secure.

Ed adjusted the weight and checked for balance. "Weight is fine. Just don't move if you can help it, Argenta. I got you," he reassured the wolf, receiving a nuzzle and mental confirmation. Carefully, he began his ascent, climbing slowly and methodically. The climb took over twice as long as expected, as Ed had to be cautious without a safety rope, occasionally driving spears into the cave wall to create new handholds or foot platforms.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Meanwhile, Victoria and Rose prepared to follow. It took a few minutes for more rope to descend, and they tied themselves in, starting their climb with the assistance of the rope. Midway, they crossed paths with Ed, who was rapidly descending back down the rock face. "Have fun, mountain goat," Victoria laughed, watching his swift descent.

It took them half an hour to get everyone to the surface and settled. Once regrouped, they began their journey home. It had been a long and exhausting day, and they were all more than ready for a well-deserved shower and sleep.

*****

Bruce and Amelia had stayed up late the previous night, so they missed the kids returning home. The following day, they woke up later than usual, taking their time as they reveled in the comfort and vitality of their rejuvenated bodies. They had been exploring their new physical limits the night before, leaving them thoroughly exhausted.

Bruce, while slowly getting ready, broached the topic of concern. "Dear, what do you think about sending out scouts for long-range reconnaissance? We need to know what other groups are in the area, but it needs to be done safely."

Considering his suggestion, Amelia replied, "I think that's something General Valthorn could answer, but it does sound like a good idea. We should bring it up to him during today's meeting and get his thoughts."

"Sounds good to me, dear," Bruce agreed. "I also want to stop in and check on the kids. They haven't seen us since our race upgrades, and I want to see their shocked expressions. Who knew the end of the world could be so beneficial?"

With a playful tone, Amelia responded, "I see where Sinclair gets his prankster side from. You two have a problem, you know that, right?" She swatted his hand away playfully as she finished dressing for the day. "Enough of that, sir. Get ready, and we'll head out. We're already running behind as it is."

Bruce sighed deeply but smiled at her, his mind briefly wandering back to the passions of the previous night. He was grateful for the many years they would now enjoy together, a thought that brought a contented smile. "Yes, dear," he replied.

Bruce and Amelia went to the barracks where their kids were staying. They adjusted their eyes to the dimness as they entered through the front door. Observing the surroundings, they noticed that most beds were equipped with screens or dividers, providing each occupant a sense of privacy rather than being exposed in the open room. Amelia appreciated this thoughtful arrangement.

"They are supposed to be in these first four beds," Amelia noted, guiding them toward their destination. Peering into the first bed, they saw Alice, her head tossed over, drooling a little. Amelia chuckled to herself, finding the sight endearingly cute.

Bruce whispered to Amelia, "I've got Rose in this one, and she's sound asleep." Amelia confirmed the same for Alice. Moving to the next bed, they noticed a more extensive setup than the first two. Approaching, their eyes widened in surprise. They found Ed asleep in his bed, an arm behind his neck, and Victoria lying by his side, an arm thrown across his chest and one of her legs over his. The two had pushed their beds together and were sprawled across them.

"Oh my. I suspected but wasn't sure. Glad to know I still know my kid," Amelia remarked softly to Bruce, who was chuckling. They were about to leave when they heard Victoria stir.

"Mom? Dad? Is that you? What is going on?" Victoria's voice was confused and surprised as she pushed off Ed's chest, staring at her parents as if trying to piece together the situation.

Bruce responded with a gentle tone, "Hey there, sleepyhead. We came to check on you and found you asleep, so we didn't want to wake you, assuming you got in late or were up late." He gestured towards Ed as he spoke. Victoria's face flushed crimson, and Amelia playfully elbowed Bruce for teasing their daughter.

Sharing their recent experience, Amelia explained, "We both got to do our race upgrades yesterday. Apparently, for people who are naturally older when a system is integrated, you gain more of your youth than someone already young when they go through their first evolution."

At this point, Ed began to stir awake, instinctively sensing activity around him. In reality, it was Argenta, through their mental link, urging him to wake up as his mate's parents were standing at the foot of the bed he was sleeping in.

Ed, waking up to an uncomfortable realization, quickly sat up, his face turning bright red with embarrassment at being caught in bed with Victoria. Despite knowing he hadn't done anything wrong, he felt a sense of guilt, having known Bruce and Amelia his entire life. Then, like Victoria, he was shocked upon noticing their youthful appearances.

Bruce, observing Ed's reaction, couldn't resist a light-hearted comment. "Good morning, Ed. You look surprised for some reason." Ed tried to respond several times but was lapsing into silence, looking somewhat helpless.

Amelia, noticing Bruce's teasing, intervened. "Bruce Hagerson, stop teasing them!" she said, elbowing him harder this time.

Sitting up straighter and snuggling into Ed's side, Victoria met her father's gaze with a determined look. "Dad, Ed, and I are seeing each other. We are both adults, so you must get used to it." Her tone was firm, indicating the seriousness of their relationship.

Bruce, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender, smiled amiably. "Oh, I know. I think your mother and I have known longer than you. However, it took you a long time to figure it out on your own. Kids these days," he said with a light-hearted tone. "Not as bad as Sinclair and Rose, however. I don't think they will ever get out of their way long enough to see if things could work." His comment was so matter-of-factly stated that the room fell silent, only to be broken by Rose choking and coughing on the other side of her screen.

Amelia intervened, sensing the need to steer the conversation in a different direction. "Well, it seems like everyone is getting up. Come outside to the picnic tables, and we will fill you in on everything happening around here."

The sounds of the group gathering their belongings and making their way outside filled the barracks. Rose had to give Alice a nudge in the leg to wake her up. Less appreciative of the abrupt awakening, Alice glared at Rose but nodded, indicating she would be out shortly.

*****

The group spent about an hour at the picnic tables, enjoying a meal and catching up on recent events. However, duty soon called Bruce and Amelia back to the town hall building. With no pressing engagements, the others decided to tag along.

Upon arriving at the town hall, they found General Valthorn, whom they had intended to speak with, already there, waiting in front of the building.

"Good morning, General Valthorn. Everything is going well so far?" Bruce greeted him.

"Yes, it is, Lord Hagerson," the General replied.

Bruce continued, "Good. Good. Amelia and I were thinking, and we wanted to know if you had a group of people who could do some scouting. We hoped to find other settlements or problem zones now that we have time to deal with that."

General Valthorn responded, "Funny you should mention that, Sir. Today, I sent out a couple of long-range groups skilled at staying alive and properly scouting new zones. They will be gone for a few days, but we should expect highly detailed maps to return for miles around."

Bruce was pleased with the response. "That is great news. It's excellent to hear that you are already on top of something like that. It shouldn't surprise me," he said, laughing a little. "Oh, as you can see, the kids returned late last night. The spider forest has been tamed somewhat. Some corruption in a sinkhole caused the spiders to mutate and become overly aggressive."

General Valthorn nodded, "That is good to hear. We can still use what is left to grind some experience out of. But, it is good to know their unnatural actions will not continue."

Bruce, keen to stay informed, asked, "Any updates from New Hope? Have they had any problems?"

General Valthorn replied, "No, Sir. A rotating group of soldiers is heading over to guard and level up. We've developed a rotation through the places we can teleport to, where everyone shares guards. When they pass through here, they will be doing training time in the army. This way, we can all be on the same page."

Amelia expressed her admiration for the strategy. "That is truly an impressive idea. We would never have thought of that."

Bruce agreed, adding, "I am sorry you had to go through what you did to get here, but we couldn't be happier to have you."

General Valthorn responded modestly, "That is kind of you to say. We have also stationed a rapid response group of 10 soldiers with various backgrounds at the teleport crystal. They are to be there day or night and are part of a different rotation that the other soldiers are all vying for. It's more like an elite hit force; in case of another request, we can get boots on the ground quicker."

Impressed by the arrangements' thoroughness, Ed joked, "Are we even needed with him around?" He laughed, acknowledging the comprehensive list of measures in place.

General Valthorn, maintaining his stoic demeanor, said, "From what I understand, the other elders have more reports on city-based things. I only deal with a small piece of the pie, so I have time to think about it." People and his soldiers were counting on him to provide them with the best tools for survival.

Bruce, pausing for a moment, held up his hand. He opened his system menu screen, ready to delve into the next topic or task, only to be confronted with another message from Sinclair. It had barely been a full day since the last request, and he was already messaging again.

*Message - Teleport Portal Acrovney*

Wolf's Run,

Hey, Dad, it's not an emergency, but it has a more extensive scope than anticipated. I've found what I was looking for, which is bigger than we initially thought. I'm in a town called Acrovney, a human settlement. We will need a more extensive mobilization than before. Please inform everyone in the network and the other cities that we'll require troops. When Rose and the team arrive, please direct them to me. Love you.

Sinclair

Scanning through the information on his system menu screen, Bruce remarked with a hint of humor, "Speak of the devil. Looks like Sinclair has done something else. This time we're looking at large-scale troop movements. We'll have to talk to him about cooling his jets a little."

General Valthorn, unfazed by the news, responded with a sense of readiness. "This is fine. You never get the time you think you'll need. I'll start pulling people together and will send people out in about an hour or so." He then turned towards the Town Hall, immediately calling out orders to those within earshot and sending messages to those he couldn't see.

Curious about the unfolding situation, Ed mused, "What has he gotten himself into now, I wonder. I guess we're about to find out."

Rose, taking charge, said, "Grab anything you guys need, and let's meet over at the teleporter before heading out."

Bruce and Amelia wished them good luck and reminded them to return updates immediately. As the younger group prepared to depart, Bruce and Amelia moved off to attend to more local matters. They reflected on the dramatic changes in their lives and the unpredictable journey ahead.

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