We were walking out of the swamp, the East Forest around us thick with mist and the smell of mud, reeds, and water.
Zeref and Kael's little rivalry, the constant bickering, teasing, and one-upmanship, was in full swing until my screen pinged.
[Rank S Bosses Unlocked]
I froze mid-step, my boots squelching in the mud, heart thumping like a drumline gone rogue.
All three of us stared at our notifications.
And I knew.
I knew those faces.
Kael's sharp, smug little smirk.
Zeref's oh-so-annoying "I know something you don't" look.
No words were needed, they were telling me without speaking: "Bosses. Again. You're going. Whether you like it or not."
"No. No no no!" I flailed my hands like some panicked NPC, waving them like they could ward off destiny itself.
"I… I'm not doing bosses right now! I'm...leveling! I need to focus on my quest! My precious EXP! My… my sanity!"
