After stepping through the portal, the group found themselves emerging from the same exact place they had entered the Dungeon a few hours earlier. Luckily, as it was around 3 to 4 in the morning, no one was around on the streets to see them.

Fanatic packed up his stuff and made his way down the roof of a building, landing beside the group. “Good work.”

“You too,” Octane said, patting him on the back. “Now, let’s head back.”

“Follow me,” Jim said, then turned to Finn. “Oi, kid. It’s gonna be a long walk. Ya sure ya still wanna carry that?”

“I’ll be fine,” Finn replied briskly, without a hint of emotion in his voice.

“Okay then,” Jim chuckled before spinning back around and heading off. The rest of the group followed, tired and relieved at the same time.

About an hour of walking later, the group finally arrived at the entrance to the Thousand Dragons Sect, which was disguised as a historical building that no one was allowed to trespass to the public. Jim knocked on the door twice, and two guards opened it up for them and let them inside after seeing who they were.

Of course, the first place they headed for was the front hall, where Patriarch Lei was waiting for them along with Elder Hua, who had brought Iris’s wheelchair out of kindness.

“… I take it you’ve completed the mission,” Lei said upon seeing the group.

“Yep,” Jim said, folding his arms. “Got the loot n’ everythin’. And this damn brat here decided to take the chest too, ha!”

Lei eyed Finn briefly, but then, his gaze drifted down to the ferocious beast by Finn’s feet.

“Wait… is that…”

“Indeed… I am Raiju, the Heavenly Beast of Storms and Lightning. You seem to recognize me, human.”

“…!”

Lei hurriedly got off of his throne and knelt down in front of the beast, genuflecting deeply. This surprised not only Elder Hua but also everyone else.

“P-Patriarch?!” Elder Hua yelped in surprise.

“My name is Lei Feng, honorable venerate,” Patriarch Lei said. “To think I would be able to witness your ferocious form with my own two eyes in this lifetime… I cannot believe it.”

The others stared at him, wondering if they should kneel down as well. Raiju, however, seemed quite pleased.

“Hmph… finally, a human who shows me my due respect,” he snorted arrogantly. “Oi, the rest of you… learn from him.”

“Even me?” Finn challenged. “Aren’t I supposed to be your master?”

“E-Er, well…” Raiju cleared his bestial vocal chords and changed the topic. “In any case… you may rise, human.”

“Yes, venerable beast.” Lei, hearing this, got back up to his feet and surveyed the others, only to realize something. “Rampager… where is he?”

At this, everyone fell silent, awkwardly looking in different corners of the room that wasn’t someone else’s eyes.

“He… died,” Tian Long said, speaking up for his friend. “It was an honorable death.”

“… I see.” Lei closed his eyes briefly. “I will host a funeral for him tomorrow, and let his parents know.”

“Too bad…” Jim sighed deeply, leaning against a pillar. “The bodies of those who died within the Paracausal Realm stay there, forever bound. We couldn’t recover yer friend’s remnants, even if we tried.”

“I’m aware,” Tian Long said. “His body disappeared right as we defeated the Baron.”

“He will be remembered,” Lei said briskly yet firmly, patting Tian Long’s shoulder. “For now, just get some rest — all of you. It’s been a long night.”

At these words, the tiredness finally began to kick in for the team. Normally, during these hours, they would be comfortably sleeping in the comforts of their own rooms. But today, not only did they conquer a dangerous Dungeon, but also lost a friend on the way.

As the group turned around and began to walk away, Lei suddenly changed his mind and called out for them, causing them to turn back around.

“Oh, one more thing. Regarding the heavenly beast… keep it hidden in the sect. Finn, I’m well aware you are someone who dislikes attention. If you walk around with such a powerful beast in tow, you are bound to attract attention.”

“Yes, but… how, exactly, am I supposed to keep it hidden?” Finn asked.

“All Four Heavenly Beasts have a miniature form that allows them to pass off as normal animals,” Lei explained. “Although… most dislike being in their mini-form, since it hurts their egos.”

“Damn straight it does!” Raiju roared in fury. “I am not about to change into a little tige-“

“Change,” Finn ordered, silencing it immediately. Raiju looked at its master awkwardly, then grunted and growled in annoyance.

“Ugh… fine! Why do I have to get this brat for a master…” It muttered as its body turned into a white silhouette, outlined by a blue glow. “Also… if any of you humans dare to laugh, I’ll gouge your eyes out and devour them whole.”

The light became too bright to bear, so everyone covered their eyes as the transformation took place. After several seconds, the light dimmed, and everyone opened their eyes again.

“Woah…” Iris was the first to muse in wonder at the new lifeform in front of her, eyes sparkling in excitement. “It’s so adorable…”

Raiju had turned into a smaller, cuter version of itself, like a miniature tiger with snow-white fur and the same blue eyes as its normal form. Its tiny tail and paws made it seem more like a house pet than a heavenly beast, but the annoyed expression on its face was anything but matching.

“Huh?! Who’re you calling adorable?!” Raiju growled darkly, but it came out as a cute yelp instead. “Gawr…”

“Hehe~ so cute~” Iris smiled happily and picked the tiny Raiju up from the ground — much to its surprise — and began cuddling with it in her arms, stroking its fur gently.

“W-Wha- hey! Human-!”

“Settle down,” Finn commanded coldly. “She’s not going to hurt you.”

“I know she won’t- hell, she CAN’T hurt me! But this makes me look like a baby tiger, and I hate that!”

“Aww… even its yelling is so cute…” Yun Xin murmured in awe.

“Gawr…” Raiju growled in anger, but it only came off as cute instead.

“Get used to it,” Finn said. “You’re going to stay in this form all the time until it’s time for battle, so I’d recommend getting comfortable.”

“Hmph…” It folded its tiny arms in an adorable pout and reluctantly laid down in Iris’s lap, having no other choice but to obey its master’s wishes. Iris, seeing this, giggled softly and began gently patting its fur again, as the group headed back to their dorms to rest.