It had been four years since Drackenn had entered the dungeon. They had been able to sail safely to port, and everything worked out just how it should have. Three little girls were safe, his wife was alive, and they continued to progress in their classes.

  Problems came, as they always do, about seven months after they reached the port. Reports from all over the world started coming in and they were concerning. Whole countries were perishing from an unknown threat. Those that went to investigate never came back.

  Drackenn had a bad feeling since this hadn’t happened in real life. His theory was that saving his wife had altered Motholo in a way that may cost the planet every life. There was a war raging inside his mind at the thought of millions of innocent people dying because of him. He justified it by saying he wasn’t the one holding the blade to their throats. If they had worked harder in their classes, then they would be able to stop this. Who decided that his wife’s life was the cost for the avoidance of this tragedy?

  Of course, he knew this line of thinking wasn’t fair. Whatever had been unleashed on the world had already taken down two of the class masters. If someone at the pinnacle of their class couldn’t stop this then what hope did a normal class chosen have?

  Guilt ate away at him for nearly three years now and he knew something had to be done. He would not lose his wife again. That was the line he would not cross, but something had to be done.

  One night he snuck out of their house in the pirate city of Doubloon. Quietly he snuck to his ship and set sail with a skeleton crew. Their destination was the last place to fall. There was an itch in his mind that he had to scratch in order to rid himself of this guilt.

  It took them three days and two nights to reach their destination. The continent of Quaz. A great civilization called this snow-covered region their home. Drackenn knew that the Kinix had a breathtaking city close to the shore. He had been there only once and marveled at the spires of this special ice-like material they used to build. Once they found this city, he would find out what happened to make this whole continent go quiet.

  Three of them left the ship at the Kinix dock and followed the path to the city. The only sound as they travelled was the crunch of snow under their boots. Drackenn had estimated they would reach the city in about twenty miles and sure enough after about ten minutes later they saw the spires piercing the clouds in the distance. As they continued their trek, his thoughts became more unstable. The guilt was taking its toll.

  What if this really was all his fault? What if he had ended the world?

  Something caught his eye and shook him from his thoughts. They were the gates of the city. Last time he was here, he stared at them for hours. Miles of glass with what seemed to be a trapped aurora inside. He had always told himself that he would tell his kids about their beauty someday. However, standing here now showed him that the beauty was gone. Instead of the brilliant colors, there was grey and black. Half of the walls were shattered or melted.

  His heart sunk at the sight. Death had clearly come to Kilucio.

  The whole trio stopped at the entrance due to a feeling of dread and fear. It was like the whole desolated city was giving off a warning. A slight tinge at their instincts to turn back. One of them didn’t listen to their instincts.

  He had been in Drakenn’s service a few years now and was a likable guy. Caution was never his strong suit. The other two tried to stop him when they realized, but it was too late. As soon as he crossed the threshold, his entire body rotted away instantly.

  That was the moment that Drakenn realized it was his fault. This was clearly the work of something similar to that flock of undead birds. None of them were in sight, but perhaps their rot stuck to anything it touched. The only thing that didn’t make sense was why it was only confined to the city. If this was airborne and that flock continued to attack city after city, then why had it taken seven months for the reports to start coming in. He was obviously grasping at anything that could absolve him of this responsibility.

  They all turned and went back to the ship. The voyage back to Doubloon was done in complete silence. Everyone on board could tell Drackenn was not in the mood to speak.

  Aspen immediately began to yell at him as soon as he walked in the house. She didn’t like it when he shut her out. Especially with how dangerous the world had become. When he didn’t say anything back, she began to worry.

  “Okay, I’m still upset, but something happened. Please, talk to me.”

  Drackenn stayed silent and stared at the window at the kids across the street playing some game involving a magic cube.

  “Drackenn, what’s wrong? You don’t think I’ve noticed how distant you’ve become? Is it me?”

  That made his gaze snap straight towards his wife. “Absolutely not. It’s me. This is all me! It’s my fault!”

  Aspen was caught off guard by the explosion of emotion. “What is your fault?”

  “What’s happening to the world. All the death.”

  “Okay, I know you hold influence and you’re a powerful class chosen, but I don’t think you have a skill to kill millions while we are sitting on our couch.”

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  “This isn’t funny, Aspen. All I wanted was for you to get the chance to live. Why does that cost millions of lives?!”

  “Okay, now you’re definitely scaring me. What does this have to do with me living?”

  “I’m inside a dungeon. You’re an echo, Aspen. Four years ago, you died. Remember that storm?”

  “A dungeon? An Echo? Those are myths. Also, I didn’t die. I’m right here!” She motioned her hands up and down her body.

  “That’s the problem. This dungeon needed to know what I needed to overcome. Your death was the answer. It sent me back to that night. I thought it was so I could figure out how to save you or be able to get a final goodbye with you since I never got that out there, but no. The System wanted to show me this. How important your sacrifice was. You stopped whatever is rotting our world away.”

  “Stop, Drackenn! You’re scaring me. This is nonsense. How could I stop that? My life isn’t that important.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized how much she meant that. It was why she had chosen the class she did. She wanted so badly to be a positive change in the world. Sacrificing herself would be something she would do if it meant saving lives.

  “That’s the thing. Aspen, I always knew you were amazing. One of the best people in the entire universe. Your selflessness was one of the reasons why I wanted to make you, my wife. We always balanced each other and now I see even more clearly how true that was. My selfishness has ruined the world. I undid your sacrifice in this dungeon, and the System is showing me how wrong things would have went if it wasn’t for you. The System knew just as well I did how important you are. How incredible you are. How much your life is worth.”

  “Except, you didn’t actually undo anything. If what you say is true and that’s a big IF, then you are still in a dungeon. Out there hasn’t changed.” Aspen looked at her husband falling apart in front of her. Of course she was scared, but he needed her. “Also, it’s kind of conceded of you to make my sacrifice all about yourself. If I really did what you said, then I saved the world. Of course you’re allowed to mourn me. Actually, you absolutely better mourn me. Never dwell on me though. If it was costing you progress in your class, or happiness, or your life in general then do you really think I’d be okay with that? Yeah, real me died. That doesn’t mean you get to be lazy. You should be out there doing great things with the abilities you have. Be out there making the world I saved even better. You should also be telling everyone you meet how amazing I was.”

  Drackenn let a little smile slip at the joke. “Now who’s being conceded.”

  Aspen smiled back. “If I really did save the world, then I deserve to be. I may as well be the best class chosen to have ever lived.”

  “You are. You are the best person to ever live too. That’s why I struggled so much. I just couldn’t do it without you by my side. Everything felt pointless. Joy was gone. Even levelling up lost that excitement. Every time I got a level, I’d forget and turn to tell you before remembering.”

  “Wow, so you would have bragged to me about every level? That’s the real reason you’re so sad about me. You don’t have anyone to brag too.” She smiled while comforting her husband. “Look in all seriousness, Drackenn. Dead or alive, I want you to live. I want you to become the person we both know you have the potential to be. Find something, anything to be happy about. Even if that means finding someone else to love. You have my permission even though you don’t need it. It was my choice to sacrifice myself and I want you to honor that choice. I’m sorry it hurt you. I’m sure real me had no intention of that before doing something so badass. But it sounds like it was the right thing to do.”

  Suddenly all the color washed away. Drackenn found himself and his wife standing in the blinding white void yet again. In front of them there were two windows. One held an image of that nasty storm, the other held an image of him and his wife in their home. He knew what the System wanted. A choice.

  “Wow, okay, you weren’t speaking nonsense. I guess I am an echo. Why am I still here though?”

  “The System is doing something kind. It knows that I can’t make this decision alone.”

  “It really was never your decision to make. All you had to do was respect mine.”

  “You’re absolutely correct like always. I never thought of how you would feel knowing what you did. You protected me and most of the crew. The System has now showed me that you protected most of the world. Your class was The Life Shield. Of course, you would make that choice. I should have been proud and kept your memory alive instead of giving up. I’m sorry, Aspen. I see now that my path forward is to respect the gift you gave all of us, which is life. I will always love you and remember you.”

  “You better!” She gave him a little smile when a tear rolled down her cheek. “I’m so sorry that I left you alone but know that I’m always with you in your heart and in your memories. Be happy, progress, and be the person I always knew you’d become.”

  With that she faded away and he was left alone. Without any hesitation he chose the image of the storm.

  He was once again wrapped in the bubble of his wife’s love. Her fast heartbeat was all he could hear and the red of her blood was all he could see. This was the moment right before the heartbeat stopped. The first time when this bubble popped, he felt immense sadness and gripping fear. This time as the bubble popped, he smiled at the pride he felt for knowing such a selfless person and for being married to one of the best people this universe could produce.

  There was a tidal wave of magic that flooded over him.

  You have completed your Trial Dungeon!

  Bonus experience has been awarded.

  Triumph of Oneself Achievement has been unlocked.

  Aspen’s Memory Achievement has been awarded.

  Triumph of Oneself: You have completed a trial dungeon and triumphed over what was weighing down your soul. Through knowing yourself better and cleansing your soul, your resources have benefited. Stamina and Mana will now regenerate at double the rate.

  Aspen’s Memory: Your wife’s love for you has overcome time itself. Your base vitality points will now be doubled in the memory of her.

  He felt that letting go and moving forward was enough of a reward, but the System clearly thought differently. More magic flooded in and created an item for him.

  Ship in a Bottle (Legendary): This bottle contains an indestructible ship suitable for a Pirate King. Open the cork to release the ship. Press the bottle to the hull to put it back inside. You may choose a name for the ship anytime it’s in the bottle.

  Drackenn almost cried when he looked inside to see a replica of his original ship that him and his wife had built together. She had named it Beacon because she felt like it would be a beacon of hope for those in need. He decided to immediately name it. A beautiful name that people would fear, find hope in, or simply remember as they passed by. The name of the best person he had ever had the pleasure of meeting. The name of someone that everyone should know because she saved the world.

  “Aspen”.