Investing in My Crippled Wife: Every Return Makes Me Stronger-Chapter 26: Moss Hollow Cave [1]

"Excuse me, are you Mr. Soren?"

Soren turned around.

Standing behind him was a tall, muscular young man with a friendly smile. He wore practical combat gear and had a large shield strapped to his back.

Soren nodded. "Yes. And you are...?"

"I’m Darren, the party leader. Glad to see you made it." He extended his hand for a handshake.

"The pleasure is all mine." Soren shook his hand firmly.

Darren then gestured toward the others standing nearby. "Let me introduce the rest of the team. This is my younger sister, Lira."

A petite girl with shoulder-length brown hair stepped forward and waved cheerfully. "Hi! Nice to meet you!"

"And this is Nina," Darren continued, nodding toward a young woman with long black hair tied in a ponytail. She gave Soren a brief, assessing glance but said nothing.

"And her little brother, Torin." A lean young man with messy black hair stood beside Nina, arms crossed. He acknowledged Soren with a slight nod but remained silent.

"Alright, now that introductions are done, let’s head to the Gate," Darren said, already turning toward a parked vehicle. "We can talk more on the way."

The group climbed into a sturdy off-road truck. Darren took the driver’s seat, and Soren settled into the passenger seat beside him. Lira, Nina, and Torin climbed into the back.

The engine rumbled to life, and they drove toward the Gate location.

_____ ___ _

As the vehicle moved through the outskirts of the city, Darren glanced at Soren.

"So, before we go in, mind if I ask your age and rank? Just to get a sense of the team dynamic."

"I’m twenty-two. First Circle, Mid Stage."

Darren blinked in surprise. "Twenty-two? You’re the oldest one here, then. I’m twenty, Nina’s twenty, and our siblings are both eighteen."

From the back seat, Torin and Nina both looked up, their expressions shifting slightly. Torin’s skepticism was barely concealed, while Nina’s gaze sharpened with quiet assessment.

"Twenty-two and only First Circle Mid Stage?" Torin muttered under his breath, just loud enough to be heard.

Nina didn’t say anything, but her eyes lingered on Soren for a moment longer before she looked away.

Darren shot a quick glance at the rearview mirror, clearly noticing the shift in mood. He smoothly redirected the conversation.

"Well, age and rank aren’t everything. I saw in your profile that you cleared a Gate solo recently. Azure Slime Forest, right?" 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Soren nodded. "That’s right."

"That’s impressive," Darren said genuinely. "Most people wouldn’t attempt a solo clear on their first Gate. You must be really strong and have a powerful ability to pull that off."

Soren shook his head modestly. "I mainly rely on my weapon and basic techniques. I’m still a beginner, honestly. I’m sure you’re all far more experienced than me, so I’ll be relying on your guidance today."

Darren appreciated the humility. "Don’t sell yourself short, but I’m glad to have a team player. In that case, since you’re the oldest here, how about we call you Brother Soren?"

Lira perked up from the back seat. "Brother Soren! I like it!"

Soren chuckled softly. "I don’t mind."

"Settled then," Darren said with a friendly smile.

The atmosphere in the truck eased slightly, though Torin and Nina remained quiet in the back.

Darren shifted the conversation toward practical matters. "Alright, Brother Soren, let me explain how we usually operate. I’m the tank, so I’ll be at the front drawing aggro and controlling enemy positioning. Nina handles close-range DPS with her dual swords—she’s fast and hits hard, so she’ll be flanking and finishing off targets."

He gestured toward the back with his thumb. "Torin scouts ahead and provides ranged support with his bow. He’s good at spotting ambushes before they happen. And Lira stays in the back as our healer. She’s still new, so her Mana pool is limited, but she can handle minor to moderate injuries."

Soren nodded, taking it all in."As for you," Darren continued, "you’ll be support DPS. Stick close to Nina and help pressure enemies when they’re engaged. Use your spear to cover her flanks or assist with crowd control if things get messy. If you see a clean opening, take it, but don’t overextend. Safety first."

"Understood," Soren said. "I’ll follow your lead and stay in formation."

"Perfect. Communication is key. If you’re in trouble, call out. If you see something dangerous, speak up. We’ve all got each other’s backs." Darren’s tone was steady and reassuring, the kind of confidence that came from experience.

The truck continued down the rough dirt road, the city now far behind them. The terrain grew rockier, and soon the faint shimmer of a Gate appeared on the horizon.

Lira leaned forward between the seats, her eyes wide with a mix of excitement and nervousness. "There it is!"

"Stay focused," Darren reminded her gently. "Remember what we practiced."

"I will!"

The truck pulled up to the Gate checkpoint, and after a quick verification with the official on duty, they parked and gathered their gear.

Soren stood with the others in front of the Gate, staring at the swirling portal of pale gray energy. It pulsed faintly, distorting the air around it.

Darren adjusted his shield and glanced at the group. "Everyone ready?"

Nods all around.

"Let’s go."

One by one, they stepped through the portal.

Soren felt the familiar sensation of reality twisting around him, and then his boots hit solid ground on the other side.

The cave stretched out before them, dim and quiet.

"Everyone, stay on alert."

Darren’s voice echoed softly in the enclosed space.

Soren gripped his spear tighter, his eyes adjusting to the low light. The air was damp and cool, carrying the earthy scent of moss and stone. Water dripped somewhere in the distance, the sound amplified by the cavern walls.

The group moved forward in formation. Darren led at the front with his shield raised. Nina flanked to the right, her dual swords drawn. Torin hung back slightly with his bow ready, scanning the walls and ceiling. Lira stayed close behind Darren, her staff clutched nervously in both hands.

Soren positioned himself between Nina and Torin, spear at the ready.

Their footsteps crunched softly against the uneven stone floor.

"There," Torin whispered, pointing ahead.

Soren followed his gaze.

Several large, beetle-like creatures clung to the cave walls. Their shells were dark gray, blending almost perfectly with the stone. They hadn’t moved yet, but their antennae twitched in the air.

Stone Beetles.

Darren raised his fist, signaling the group to stop.

"Six beetles ahead. Standard formation. Nina, start from the left side. Brother Soren, support her. Torin, cover from range. Lira, stay behind me and keep your guard up."

Darren took a deep breath and stepped forward, banging his sword against his shield.

The sharp metallic clang echoed through the cave.

The beetles immediately turned toward the sound, their legs skittering against the stone as they dropped to the ground and charged.

"Here they come!" Darren shouted.

The battle began.

Nina darted forward, her swords flashing. Torin’s arrow whistled through the air, striking one beetle square in the head.

Soren moved in beside Nina, thrusting his spear toward the beetle’s exposed joints.

Everything was going smoothly.

Until Lira screamed.

"Above!"

Soren’s head snapped up.

Hanging from the ceiling directly above them were dozens of writhing, vine-like creatures, their green tendrils unfurling as they prepared to drop.

’Moss Creepers!’

And they were all falling at once.