Returning to Malencia should have been something grand. The future problems had been disposed of, the economy was safe, and with the help of Jesse Esstrey could drag this city kicking and screaming into the industrial revolution. Instead, it''s wet and quiet outside, fear is on an all-time high after the frantic raids that saw soldiers, demons and eldritch horrors busting down doors. The only ones that are having true fun are the kobolds, who integrated nicely into the liquidators. Their propensity for setting traps makes them excellent ambushers, paired with the equipment given as a standard to liquidators.


    Well, the fact that the rain is all blood might also have something to do with it.


    Holding out her claw from the balcony of the keep, Esstrey notes that the blood doesn''t seem to belong to a creature at all. Blood is usually magically linked with its source due to the nature of blood magic, but it''s just... blood. Furthermore, it''s actually charged with a small amount of blood magic in each drop. An amateur bloodmage might not recognize the spell engraved in the blood, but Esstrey knows it all too well. Bloodrage, every singular drop has a small piece of distilled anger. It probably wouldn''t take even five minutes of exposure for the average human to go berserk. Most people must have rushed to get indoors when blood started falling out of the sky, but arrogant demons, oblivious horrors, and the poor might become an issue concerning this.


    "Cathy! Get a message to Crendell! I need every liquidator out there YESTERDAY! Set the curfew to include everyone not capable of covering themselves fully against the rain, anyone who doesn''t comply will be arrested, anyone who resists will be SHOT!" Esstrey is incredibly happy that they rushed production on those suits, albeit initially meant for the corrupting forest, the makeshift hazmat gear should do well against the rain.


    "Tell Kharn and Rowan to get some people to keep the sewers clean while you are at it, if those get clogged the streets will be running red with blood in more ways than one. Make sure to cover yourself against the rain as well, I don''t think you are immune. I''m heading for the adventurers guild to make sure those arrogant nutjobs don''t go on a mass stabbing spree, mind giving me a ride?" Cathy gives a quick bow, acknowledging her ladies requests and worries, and makes a portal to the adventurers guild for Esstrey to go through.


    Arriving at the guild through the portal, Esstrey sees some adventurers taking a smoke break outside. A mage between them keeps the blood away from them, but considering their lax attitude, they most likely don''t know about the bloodrage spell engraved within the drops.


    "Fuck it reeks out here, I get that things have been a little apocalyptic lately, but does the weather really have to act this goddamn melodramatic?" The adventurers aren''t shocked when Esstrey emerges from the rain drenched in blood, the entire city has gone through some stuff lately.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    "Greetings gentlemen, a mandatory curfew will be announced soon for anyone not capable of fully protecting themselves against the rain, I would request of you to head inside after your break." Esstrey keeps a close eye on their reactions, attempting to find any irate behavior, but this lot seems properly protected by the mage with them.


    "Something wrong with the rain? Other than... ya know..." The axeman leans on his axe while tossing the butt of his cigarette aside, he gestures to the rain while staring at Esstrey.


    Before Esstrey can answer the man, someone leaps out of the dark and begins clawing at Esstrey. She shoves the figure on the ground, where the snarling man desperately tries to turn around to bite in Esstrey''s claws. In response to the man''s continued resistance Esstrey begins to lift and vigorously shake the man, after some seconds of shaking the man like she''s an opportunistic entrepreneur shaking the hands of an oil baron, the man falls unconscious. The axeman that watched the display approaches outside the magical bubble to try and help, but Esstrey''s glare freezes him in place.


    "GET BACK IN THE BUBBLE NOW! DO NOT TOUCH HIM!" Esstrey''s previous sophisticated demeanor melts as the axeman withdraws back inside the bubble. Grabbing the ragged man, she throws him inside the guild for them to deal with.


    As she floats back outside, the sound of footsteps comes closer, a squad of liquidators tense from the atmosphere. Their trained movements and wary looks at Esstrey indicative that their coats protect them from the blood.


    "Captain Krenkov reporting for duty ma''am, we got reports of a free-for-all in sector D7. Surveillance tried to count the casualties, but couldn''t risk getting close. Casualties are almost completely restricted to the lower district so far, but there have been some demons and horrors that had to be put down in the middle and upper district." Krenkov tries to get a read on the superior of his superior while he gives his report, despite being absolutely drenched in blood the mermaid looks... healthy and of a good state of mind. It makes sense to him that such a wet environment is good for an aquatic being, but he didn''t expect her to be immune to the magic that even affects the strongest mage after some time and exposure.


    The bell tower sounds in the background while Esstrey thinks their situation over, Krenkov must have been close by already to get here so fast to support her, but with less than a dozen men going into that brawl at D7 would be endangering their lives. Not to mention, Crendell is most likely putting together a concentrated effort to subdue that situation.


    "Captain, we will be heading for sector D2 to suppress the situation there, if possible bring the afflicted to me, I can decrease the effect of the rain. If anyone gets any tears in their clothing, prioritize getting inside." Esstrey''s decision confuses Krenkov for a moment, they aren''t going for D7?


    "Ma''am, the afflicted in D7-"


    "Are a self-solving problem. Bloodrage this concentrated doesn''t make the afflicted distinguish between friend or foe. We will move to an area that we can suppress, Crendell will mobilize a force for D7" The men shuffle nervously at Esstrey''s reasoning. Many of them participated willingly against the nobles for their ruthless and alien decisions. They can understand Esstrey''s logic, so now those decisions are only ruthless.


    They aren''t sure whether that''s much better.