After helping Marissa and her group by wrapping up the Wyvern corpses, he chose to take a break, feeling satisfied with his contribution to making them a bit stronger. He then returned to his room to concentrate intensely on managing his mental band and limiting the influence of the Berserker Fog on his mind. During this process, Guin offered him some advice on becoming a more focused person.
“You need to be able to turn this off and on at least outwardly. Marissa could have been a good choice as a Chosen. Khaliun does seem ok but I doubt she was anything special as a soldier but we will see. But you do need to find and make a Chosen. You will be crippling yourself if you don’t.”
He nodded and smiled up at the ceiling excited for his date tomorrow.
“If you keep smiling like that your face may get stuck that way.” He rolled his eyes and thought about pointers that his dad used to give him.
“You know, son. The Temptations and music from my childhood really taught you how to treat a woman. Now all you do is to do the little TikTok dances. Y’all don’t even know how to dance with a woman. Come with me, let me show you how my dad taught me…”
Dad. I was never as smooth as you but if you are up there in the sky send some of your luck down for me tomorrow.
He woke up with a purpose. He had made sure he looked nice, he brushed his hair and put on his tailored black pants and tan tunic and boots before making his way to Bruno’s. Bruno’s was a large outdoor cafe where dozens of people ate with friends and loved ones.
As he reached Bruno’s he saw Celeste and she looked like something out of a painting. She wore tight black leggings with a short white dress that stopped a few inches above the knee and high heels. . As he walked over to her he cleared his throat as she looked at him and smiled as she stood up. Even with his shoes on she was tall. She had to be just over six feet he thought as he walked over and hugged him.
“I am glad you made it. I just got here. You look quite good, your clothes are clearly better.” Marcus smiled and handed her the folded dress. As she opened it up and saw the sun dress fully. She looked at him and pecked him on the lips as she led him to her table and sat down across from him. The waiter came over and as he ordered coffee Celeste got what looked like a 32 oz Tbone steak and eggs with biscuits. As she began to devour it she looked over at him.
“So what are your plans today?” Marcus thought for a moment before responding.
“I am looking for people that can join my team. I need people with potential or people that are used to fighting.” As she continued to eat she spoke between mouthfuls.
“What are you offering?”
“I am offering a large increase in stats and the chance to rise and protect humans. For those that stay with me you will continue to gain stats as I rise, we rise together. “
“How many stats are you offering up front for this team you have?”
“Around 75 stats that can be distributed in any way you wish. I can promise an additional bump in less than six months that''s considerable to this if not more.” Celeste stopped eating entirely and looked him over.
“What’s the catch?”
“Anyone that accepts this is bonded to me forever. It''s not slavery or anything but all of the bonuses anyone would gain disappear if either of the bonded die. I have no control over your actions nor you mine. “
“That’s it? What are you planning on doing with your life and all of that?”
“I plan on expanding humanity to make it safer for all. I seek to dive deep into the undead territory and either route or cull their numbers accordingly. Then push humanity to a golden age so that everyone can grow and feel safe. For this I need people. As I grow, everyone around me grows at a higher rate.
“Any pay?"
“What do you feel is reasonable?"
“Well how does 25 percent of everything you make sound?" Marcus thought about it for a second and felt like that was a bit too much.
“How about 5 platinum marks per month and 5 percent? "
“You have that right now? To offer?" He nodded as he pulled out 3 platinum marks and 200 gold marks as even people around him started to look at him greedily.
“Deal." Marcus looked at her strangely as started to move the coins back in his purse.
“I am looking for experienced fighters or gear users. Someone at least level 10+" She nodded and pulled out her citizen card. It had her full name, address and her level….she was level 25???
"Wait a second you are level 25 but you work as a ... .ummm massage place?" Celeste leaned in as she spoke.
“Yes, I am a card carrying Rose Escort and have been a part of the Guild of Roses since I was 18.”
Marcus'' eye browed his eyebrow.
“What is any of that?” She smiled and put her knife and fork down and dabbed her mouth.
“I am assuming wherever the hell you come from does not have Escort Guilds. Basically just like any other trade we have apprentices, journeymen, and masters. Our line of work can be considered very dangerous. Hundreds of years ago basically most escorts banded together against the sex trafficking and abuse and trained its members how to fight and most journeyman escorts are at least level 20. Most masters are at least 250+. When we are not whoring, we do raids against bandits that deal in flesh. There is also a long standing oath that those that harm or kill us tend to meet untimely and painful deaths.” He thought for a second and smiled.
This could actually work.
“So you plan on joining just like that? You don’t need anything else or whatever?” She shrugged.
“I know schemers. No schemer worth their salt would come up with a pitch that bad. That tells me that you aren’t lying. Especially since you are bringing this up on a date with an Escort. I have an eye for people. You have to be in my line of work. You seem a little unstable but your foundation is solid. I can tell you aren’t gonna peel my skin from my skull or some other shit. “ Marcus'' jaw was on the ground as she took all of his coins, even the few gold marks he had put in his purse and looked at him expectantly.
"So how does this work?” Marcus held out his hand and touched her forehead when a window appeared in his vision.
Would you like to make Celeste Raven, Chosen?
He clicked yes as her stats appeared below in his visual HUD.
Celeste Raven
Level 25
31 kills kill level 26
STR:10
DEX:15
CON:15
INT:20
WIS:15
STA:18
Attunement: 185/196
You have 75 stat points to assign.
As he looked away to her he could see her also see his HUD and her eyes grow large as she saw his stat total. His weakest stat dwarfed her largest one.
"How would you like this distributed? I have 75 of them? “ He saw her think for a moment before saying.
5 in Constitution, 10 in Strength, 10 in Dexterity, 20 in Wisdom, 10 intelligence, and 20 in stamina. Without a second thought he assigned the points as his own stat totals rose by the same amount.
Celeste Raven
Level 25
31 kills kill level 26
STR:10(+10)= 20
If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
DEX:15(+10)= 25
CON:15(+5) = 20
INT:20(+10)= 30
WIS:15(+20) = 35
STA:18(+20 = 38
Attunement: 185/196
She smiled as she saw her stat totals rise and leap up in the air and rushed over to him and kissed him so deeply he felt his heart flitter.
"I am yours to command, hot shot. How do we save humanity? “As he felt his own stats rise looked his stats quickly as she pulled away from the kiss.
Level 50
77 more kills till level 48
STR: 80 (+10) = 90
DEX: 47 (+10) = 57
CON: 82 (+5)= 87
INT: 35 (+10)= 45
WIS: 35 (+20) = 55
STA: 45 (+20) = 65
Attunement: 185/325
Loot Coins: 20
“Well, umm I have to defend the town and leave tomorrow so you want to idk ... .train so we know what we can do?” Celeste shrugged as she adjusted to sit better on his lap.
“What about after we defend the town? What''s your grand plan?” Marcus smiled and clapped his hands together.
“I am going to push into the Undead Frontier and make a way for humanity.” Celeste looked confused and cupped his face as she looked down at him.
“Honey, that''s a mission statement. What''s your PLAN?” This time she asked more firmly as she held his gaze.
“That''s about all I got so far. I''m just gonna go there and kill stuff and get stronger than kill more stuff and allow humanity to conquer and take over the territory until there are no more undead or at least they are limited. Then continue doing that until I get rid of all of the monsters.” Celeste moved his cupped face closer to hers till his face was inches from hers.
“That’s the dumbest shit I have ever heard in my life. So you are gonna go there and even though you are exceptional there are other people and monsters just as strong as you are if not stronger. My Guildmaster would wipe the floor with you. What makes you think you are gonna be so successful?”
“Look at my stats again.” He said as her eyes looked off distantly as her eyes went wide.
“How….how often can you do this?” She looked at her intensely as if she was looking for any lies in his speech.
“Every 25 levels.” Celeste then slowly got up and placed some silver marks on the table as she grabbed his hand and pulled him away from Bruno’s.
“Where are you taking me?”
“Out of the City?”
“Why?”
“You have to trust me.”
“I will trust you till just outside of the surrounding villages.” As Celeste quickly led him out of the city and to just beyond the villages Celeste looked him up and down before looking over her shoulder and around before she spoke,
“Who else have you told that you can do this?”
“I told Khaliun something similar to this but nothing specific. I told her I planned on reaching Level 50 before the attack is over. I didn’t tell her about stat points. I just told her I can make her stronger.”
Celeste looked at him and spoke calmly. “You can’t tell anyone else about that or we all become a target. If what you are saying is true it means that I am your weak link and I make you vulnerable. We need to discuss some ground rules and a basic plan. With that she reached into her purse and pulled out two compact folded chairs, a folded table, and a pen and pad.
“Let''s work through this mission statement and form a plan. Every 25 levels we get a massive power spike and can take on more and more powerful threats quickly. We need capital. I thought you were some super rich prince or something at first but if what you say is true then you really can do something. “ Marcus asked the obvious question.
“Why do we need capital? To secure your payment or something.” She shook her head and pulled out the 5 platinum marks.
“We need capital because we need a vehicle, resources and a TEAM. So you plan on recruiting Khaliun so she good at managing people so I can see how that can be helpful but currently we have a;
A Killing Machine
A Ranged Support
Then a possible level 10-15 Innkeeper and with that we plan on taking down monster groups that have existed for thousands of years with constant warring with us and one another. The same monster groups that have repelled Heros that levels were rumored to be in the 5-10 thousand range? Even with your incredible stats you are somewhere in the high 90s low 100s for an adventurer which makes you well above average but nothing compared to the real monsters in the world.” As she continued to speak Marcus got even more deflated.
“K, so how do we put this team together? What are your ideas?”
“We stand out this against the horde and gain a lot of levels. You will save 50 stat points for Khaliun at Level 75 and I can probably sway her to our cause. You definitely aren’t the charismatic type. To be honest you could find better. We need to pool our boxes together and get an AirShip. Then we need a loyal driver. I would not make them chosen unless they can actually help us in combat. “ Marcus used the pen and started taking notes. He was never the plan it out kind of guy. He was more of a destroy it with force type of guy.
“Then we need a Crafter which you should probably make a Chosen. The crafter doesn’t need to be able to fight though but if they can that''s all the better. We need at least 2 more people that can fight. If Khaliun does join then all that means either the crafter or driver needs to be able to fight as well. We can decide on what type of fighter once the situation is resolved. Basically if everything works out our team should look like this.
You - The Leader
Me - The Brains/Tactician
Khaliun - The Quartermaster/Human Resources(possible)
N/A - Driver
N/A - Crafter
We could also use one more person that''s a Jack of all trades that can take up the position of any one of us encase one of us dies. “
“I get all of the big picture stuff but we still have to survive the attack first and we leave tomorrow. What can you do exactly.I know you are supported and all of that. How does that all work?” With that she stood up and looked around before she stripped down her bra and panties and reached into her purse and pulled out a long black leather duster with silver metallic accents. Soon after she pulled out white leggings with silver and purple accents along with a purple mesh undershirt and white combat bra and black combat boots.
“Ok well you look well dressed. What can you do exactly? You look like a Steampunk Goth woman.” She finished it up by putting on two different gloves. One was white and the other was purple.” She quickly made a finger gun with her purple glove and shot a purple bolt of energy at his chest as it hit him. It knocked him off his chest as it singed his chest with what felt like a purple laser. She made a finger gun with her white gloved hand before she pointed at him and shot him in the chest as he felt this health quickly tick back up to green. As she offered him a hand he smiled and pulled her down to him as he chuckled at her and she grumbled.
“Hey asshole! My gear is mainly white, stop trying to stain my gear!”
“And my shirt and pants combo costs a gold mark.” As Marcus leaped to his feet he moved to unhook his whip that was wrapped around his waist and pulled out his whip from around his waist.
“I mainly use a whip and boomerang combo. I am starting to work on my new Hammer as well. My Boomerang returns to my hand and my whip can extend and uses sound as a base and teleportation as a base for my boomerang. I am a bruiser that wants to stay in the close to mid range. Long range is really my weakness. “ She looked at him and nodded before continuing.
“I am a Medium-Long Ranged Support. I have my gloves but I also have Earth Staff that allows me to create slabs of Earth on the ground to block off entrances. Through my gloves are my bread and butter, I am Mastery 3 in both. Seeing you use a whip and boomerang I will stand about 20 feet from you and keep you in the fight or at least harass bigger enemies. “ Marcus nodded as she stood up.
“Lets train then for the rest of the day and get ready for tomorrow.” Celeste nodded as well as they began.