《A Veteran Summonee’s Ultimate Form: Cat》 IC God Games-Chapter 1: Pre-prologue The musky smell of old paper and masculine sweat permeate the court chambers¡ªno doubt caused by the combination of a struggling air conditioner, brilliant sunshine pouring in through large windows, and the eighty seats filled with sweaty lawyers. Yes, the courtroom is packed with tall, muscular lawyers dressed in intimidating black suits and black sunglasses. They sit at attention, like soldiers, but instead of weapons, they carry clipboards and laptops. Each one carries himself like a seasoned veteran of many bloodless battles. Well, my lawyers look like that, and, of the eighty lawyers present, seventy-five serve as my legal counsel. I take a gander at the five state attorneys who sit nervously next to my linebackers that could break them like twigs. Indeed, the largest and most muscular of my lawyers are sitting around the five. Each moment, they flex their muscles to elicit the quiet but distracting whisper of flesh stretching fabric. The government lawyers¡ªtwo men and three women¡ªnervously stare forward. They are sweating, distracted, and absolutely out of their league. I wonder who¡¯s bullying these poor people? Wait, that¡¯s me. I won¡¯t deny that I allowed this charade of a case to get this far just to make a point. I glance at the ¡®Live¡¯ cameras streaming everything that¡¯s happening within the courtroom. Every news outlet is currently making sure that all Americans as well as the international audience can see this one-sided, metaphorical bloodbath. The audience can also see the petite, four-foot-eight bailiff in charge of keeping the piece. Yes, somehow, the powers that be went ahead and placed what looks like a grade schooler in a uniform and told her to protect people. ¡°Mr. Eludo,¡± the Judge begins, ¡°You state that the combined net-worth of a trillion dollars of rare metals appearing on your properties is a result of a,¡± the judge pauses, exhausted. He glances at the witness stands where two suited men, one named Todd and the other Bob -or maybe Bob and Todd?- share a knowing look. ¡±God,¡± he says the word slowly, ¡°teleporting the metals from the bottom of oceans and into all of your warehouses.¡± He pauses for a moment. ¡°This teleportation,¡± he tests the unfamiliar word, ¡°is in payment for services successfully rendered during a hero summoning to a world called Orbis. The service rendered was,¡± the judge checks another stack of paper- a document with my signature on it, ¡°Destroying the world.¡± The judge grimaces. ¡°Is this correct?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I answer completely and truthfully. The judge looks at me with annoyance and distrust. Which I completely understand. All the gods that had ruled Earth fled this mana starved coop for Orbis thousands of years ago. All they left behind are some fancy rocks and unlikely stories. ¡°You also state that you can offer no proof, correct?¡± I grin towards the camera and spread my arms. ¡°My proof is that there is no evidence of any wrongdoing. One moment there were empty warehouses, and the next, they were filled with valuable metals.¡± Stolen story; please report. ¡°Mr. Eludo. Please answer the question.¡± I roll my eyes. ¡°Yes, correct.¡± The judge nods as he goes through the documents. After several more questions, I am finally allowed to speak freely. ¡°Alright, let''s get this straight.¡± I lean forward. ¡°This entire case is a sham. There is no evidence that any malfeasance has happened. The government is just being pissy about my wealth increasing by four zeroes overnight. They want some of it, if not all of it for themselves. Not that that is going to happen.¡± I scratch my chin and feel the annoying stubble growing since the last time I¡¯d shaved. ¡°They have no legal way of accessing my wealth, nor can they explain how it was obtained. I¡¯ve had the metals tested, and the sediments on them reveal that they were under a pressure in excess of seven miles below sea level. Other than seven redacted nuclear subs designed and launched by the U.S. Military, there are no other publicly known vehicles that could travel the distance to access the metals.¡± I grin, knowing full well that I had just thrown a wrench into international plans. ¡°And even if I did have some craft capable of accessing the ocean floor, then the metals would be taken in international waters wherein there is no legality. Regardless though, the metals were obtained by a god and transported to my warehouses. You¡¯re free to try and tax me, but that would involve accepting the existence of divine beings into law, which, as much as I¡¯d hope you do, I know you won¡¯t.¡± I lean back into my seat. ¡°Is that all, Mr. Eludo?¡± the judge asks after a moment. I open my mouth to answer, but pause. A chill runs down my neck and the hairs on my arm stand up. ¡°Really? Worst possible timing.¡± The judge raises an eyebrow at me. ¡°Mr. Elduo?¡± he begins, but I ignore him. Instead, I focus on the influx of mana. My soul resonates with the all too familiar energy. I glance around, trying to pinpoint the hole into this reality. ¡°Mr. Elduo?¡± the judge asks again. I continue looking, growing ever more confused. Normally, the mana comes from one direction, but this is uniform. ¡°Something is wrong.¡± As the thought escapes my lips, I feel the mana vibrate. The judge opens his mouth to say something, but pauses. His eyes widen, as do every single persons¡¯ on the planet. In our vision, a block of text appears in the world''s most common language.
Congratulations Homo Sapiens, your species has been magnanimously chosen for the great honor of being part of the 17894th god games. Once your world is adequately suffused with energy, I will commence the testing phase upon your planet. Those who pass the trial shall be worthy of joining the god-games and becoming a gods champion. So, please take your time and prepare for the trials. -Pandora, Master of The Labyrinthian, Bestower of Laurels, Divine Lord Of Games
The block of text disappears when I finish reading. As it disappears, I can hear the sounds of distant car crashes happening all at once. ¡°So,¡± I clear my throat and pull out my phone, ¡°in light of recent events proving the existence of the divine, I would like to request,¡± I check my phone calendar, ¡°a week long break to attempt to contact my ex-employer.¡± The court room remains silent at my pronouncement. I sigh. ¡°No, that would waste too much time,¡± I admit. ¡°I would like to plead no contest to any and all wrongdoings.¡± IC God Games - Chapter 2: Prologue Begins Upon the top of his castle, Pandora gazes down upon the lowered drawbridge that stretches into the void. Colors swirl around the feet of each divinity as they cross the translucent, glowing crystal span, each according to their power and aspect. She takes the measure of each god as they arrive. Loosely speaking, they fall into three categories. The numerous minor gods are nascent beings still struggling to survive against the wiles of fate. Mid gods, true immortals, sustain themselves from the mana of their worlds and will last as long as there is mana. Typically, each world hosts one mid-level god. Major gods are rare beings, free from the shackles of worlds or mana or even physics. To them, a universe is but a toy. They usually become creators¡­ or destroyers. It opens a second eyelid. A human god from one of his seeded worlds saunters out of the void. The bridge beneath the god¡¯s feet blazes an eye-hurting violet, completely dyeing the crystal¡¯s soft white glow in black light. The newcomer strolls across the span with the power and poise of a major god. ¡°Chaos,¡± Pandora tastes the air, ¡°it seems the tides are changing.¡± Pandora continues to watch the arrivals, all the new and old divinities until no more gods are on the bridge and the appointed proper time is come. With a thought, the drawbridge begins to rise. Just then, a late arrival forms from out the void. The latecomer is a bipedal goddess reminiscent of a human in general form, except for the single large eye in the center of her head. The goddess, seeing the bridge rising, rushes across the causeway and jumps. She almost makes the jump but her foot catches the edge and she sprawls eye first onto the crystal bridge. The crystal glows a very muted rare silver-grey, insinuating the girl is a minor goddess of explosive luck. The bridge continues to rise and the goddess panics. She wipes the tears from her eye and attempts to rush down the bridge. Unfortunately, the bridge is already too vertical, and she falls forward, then begins a roll. Pandora snorts bubbles as the goddess rolls into his castle. ________________________________________________ ¡°Ughhhh¡­ Yazula is unlucky today.¡± She cries aloud. The one-eyed goddess pushes her body off the floor and looks around the stone antechamber. ¡°Yazula is also lost.¡± she announces with a pout. Then she notices the massive glowing arrows on the ceiling. ¡°No, not lost. Yazula is blind.¡± Then she remembers her timing. ¡°AND LATE!¡± she screams and runs down the hallway. After a minute of running and occasionally tripping, she finally enters a massive stadium filled with thousands and thousands of gods. She looks around, unsure if she should take a seat or stand with some of the standing gods. Confused and a bit overwhelmed, she hurries to the first god her eye falls on. ¡°Hello,¡± she says, tapping the god. ¡°Yazula has a question!¡± The god, towering over her height by three Yazulas and her mass by twenty, glares down at her with red tusks, sharp-pointed teeth, and spiked horns made to rip and tear. ¡°What do you want?¡± the god of rippling muscle and spikes asks with a deep and powerful voice. Yazula blinks rapidly. She swallows as she gazes at the monstrosity before her. ¡°Um, Y-Yazula has a Question.¡± The god wraps a massive appendage around the goddess¡¯ petite frame, eliciting a squeak of surprise. He raises her till she¡¯s eye to face with his toothy visage. He grins. ¡°And why should I answer the questions of fresh meat?¡± Yazula swallows audibly. ¡°Because Yazula is cute?¡± The monstrosity guffaws. He raises his arm back and the Goddess realizes what''s about to happen. ¡°Yazula is sorry. Yazula will not ask questions from you. So, if you can find it within your heart to not thr-ahhhhhhhhhhhhh¡± The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Like a professional pitcher, the spiked god throws the petite goddess across the stadium, her cries of panic elicit the chuckles of many gods. Finally, just as she is about to crash into a god, the god in question reacts quickly by taking a step back. Yazula screams as her body crashes into the just vacated stadium seat with a sickeningly deathly crunch that would have been the death of her, if not for the fact that she isn¡¯t mortal. Groaning in pain, Yazula gets up off the ground and finds that everyone except for her is seated. Panicking, she quickly sits down in the empty seat she crashed into, next to a bipedal god with white gloves, a top hat, and a red suit of some kind. ¡°Oh,¡± Yazula realizes. She taps the man, and the man glances at her. ¡°Yazula is sorry for almost crashing into you.¡± She apologies. He tilts his head. ¡°That''s not your fault.¡± The man looks across the stadium and locks eyes with the spiked god. ¡°I was just being targeted because I¡¯m new.¡± ¡°You¡¯re new? Yazula is new too. We should be new buddies!¡± She grins happily. The man laughs. Luck, it would seem, is by his side. He opens his mouth to say something, but stops. ¡°It seems the show is starting.¡± ________________________________________________________ The stadium falls silent and the lights go down. A single spot shines on the raised dais in the center of the stage A grey fluid slowly rises into a column until it stands two Yazulas tall. For a moment it is still, then it flows into the shape of an anomalocaris, then a woman, then a goose, then things less identifiable. The mercurial being spreads its antenna wide as it turns a full circle, to welcome the audience. ¡°I am Pandora, and I welcome each and every one of you to the 17894th God Games.¡± The crowd of gods roar into the sky. They yell and scream, creating a cacophony of noise that sounds less like a cheer and more like a zoo filled with screaming animals. Pandora lowers his arms. ¡°Now then,¡± her words echo over all the adulation, silencing everyone and thing, ¡°this next game of mine will be very different from those before.¡± Above the stadium, a holographic planet lights up. The planet is massive and covered with numerous floating islands. Underneath those islands is the planet''s half-frozen and half-molten core. ¡°For this next game, I have spent a great deal of time creating, testing, debugging, and finally finishing something I like to call a World-System. For those of you who don''t know, the World-System is a mana-based self-sustaining planetary interface, wholly designed to change and enhance living beings not just as a species, but on an individual level.¡± The crowd¡­ continues to be silent, to the growing annoyance of Pandora. ¡°Some of you may have enjoyed one or even several of the many thousands of beta test worlds. For your contributions, thank you. And now you all have the opportunity to play, experience, to immerse yourself in this, the culmination of an eon of efforts, World 177.11!¡± The crowd doesn''t cheer. Pandora sighs flame. ¡°Fine-fine. You¡¯ll understand the greatness of my system soon enough.¡± Pandora points at the hovering planet. ¡°This world is called Tristique and will be the playground for my game.¡± Six more planets rise up and float around Tristique. ¡°Tristique has six different species that I have seeded from different worlds. From these worlds, you will be required to choose a champion from among the critters that survive my tests.¡± Twenty-one bursts of light emanate from Tristique. ¡°As for the game, I have placed a blessing into twenty-one floating towers. Your champion must collect all of the blessings either from the towers themselves or from a previous champion who did. Once all blessings have been collected by a single individual, then the final tower will reveal itself. The champion that completes that tower will win the God Games and be awarded this¨C¡± Pandora raises a tentacle that flows to unveil a single, glowing, box. ¡°This is a single-use item that contains the power to transform any mortal into a god!¡± Now the cheering begins as all gaze at the simple box in Pandora''s hand. Even the Major-gods are sitting with rapt attention. ______________________________________________________ As the cheering continues, the single human god tilts his head thoughtfully toward a cheering little girl. ¡°Yazula, right?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± she stops cheering, and grins. ¡°Yup, Yazula is Yazula¡¯s name.¡± ¡°Do you plan on joining the God Games?¡± he asks. She nods. ¡°Yazula wasn¡¯t listening to what blob-person said, but Yazula thinks games are fun!¡± The man snorts and looks at one of the six seed planets. ¡°Then, how about I give you a recommendation for a Champion.¡± IC God Games - Chapter 3: Prison ¡°Franky, everything is fine. It¡¯s all going according to plan.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re going to prison,¡± Franky repeats for the tenth time. ¡°Which is part of the plan!¡± ¡°How is going to prison part of the plan?¡± he yells on the phone. ¡°Yo-you¡¯re going to prison. Some guy is going to beat you up and then make you his bitch.¡± I roll my eyes. ¡°Really Franky? Really? I know not to drop the soap.¡± I sigh. ¡°When did you become such a pessimist?¡± He frowns. ¡°Cause of the stupid dreams.¡± ¡°Memories,¡± I correct. ¡°Those are the memories of your previous life¡ªspeaking of which, why are you remembering only the shit parts? You had three gorgeous wives and nine goddamn brats. How the hell aren¡¯t you remembering that?¡± ¡°The fuck if I know! I get a lot of bits and pieces of random things. It¡¯s so very confusing. I-I remember the guild, Camelot, and some of the quests.¡± ¡°It will come to you in time,¡± I assure him, ¡°it was your first summon, so it takes a while for your body and soul to reintegrate.¡± I stop grinning. ¡°Anyway, that''s not important now. Are you following my directions?¡± He pauses for a second and takes a moment to stare at the outlines of the glass screen separating us. ¡°Yeah, I found the house and all the stuff¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re free to talk. This conversation isn¡¯t being monitored,¡± I inform him. ¡°I¡¯ve already got everyone in this holding facility on payroll.¡± He stares at me, wanting to say something, then shakes his head. ¡°Yeah, all the weapons are there. The food, guns, ammo, fuel, and the, uhh, tank.¡± ¡°Armored personnel carrier,¡± I correct him, ¡°but good. You¡¯ll need it to survive. If you want, bring a couple people with you to the hidden compound, but not too many. Eight people tops. If you have too many, then you might be targeted for the God Game, at which point you¡¯ll surely die.¡± He sighs. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll follow your directions.¡± ¡°Good, good,¡± I nod. I glance at the clock on the wall and see my time running out. I stand up out of my seat. ¡°Well Franky, it looks like it''s time for me to go. Try to stay alive, alright?¡± He sighs, but nods. I hang up the phone and walk out of the room. At the exit, several waiting guards handcuff my wrists and escort me out of the holding facility. They lead me, alongside a procession of other criminals, to a bus. We all enter and are subsequently tied to very uncomfortable seats. With my butt seated on the thinnest leather possible, the bus starts up and we are on our way. Not even ten minutes into the ride, the prisoners get bored and start talking with one-another, which elicits a ¡°Shut-up¡± from the armed guard in the bus. Which then is replied with various forms of ¡®Go Fuck Yourself¡¯ from the prisoners alongside other insults. Regardless, the constant shit-eating grin from the guard puts a big damper on the mood. After all, everyone in this bus is going to prison for life. ¡°Hey, cabron. Puto with the black hair.¡± the prisoner on the seat next to me calls. I turn to the guy, a skinny hispanic dude with tattoos all over his neck and up to his jawline. ¡°You¡¯re that rich pendejo from the news. Why yah here? Don¡¯t you have money?¡± ¡°Good question,¡± I tilt my head to the guy, ¡°You¡¯ve heard of the world message about the god games, right? Well, I¡¯m planning on joining the games, and the prison we¡¯re heading to will be the perfect place for it to happen.¡± ¡°Valio verga,¡± he curses. ¡°You¡¯re fucking nuts if you belive that shit.¡± I roll my eyes at the guy. ¡°The entire human population just so happens to see the exact same message as everyone else, and you think it isn¡¯t real?¡± He scoffs. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°You know what?¡± I shrug. ¡°You can keep thinking that. Just know that when shit hits the fan in prison, you¡¯re going to be one of the first to die.¡± ¡°Chinga tu madre! I ain¡¯t some pinche gabacho.¡± I chuckle. ¡°Really? Well then, prove it at prison. I dare you to insult the warden, unless of course you¡¯re a coward.¡± ¡°You think I¡¯m scared of some fat shitface? I¡¯ve shanked hundreds and killed a dozen already. I ain¡¯t no fish like you.¡± I grin. ¡°Prove it.¡± ___________________________________________________________ After about twelve hours of constant travel, we eventually entered the Mojave desert. Three more hours through the desert, and we eventually turned towards a rocky outcropping. As we got close, a hidden door built into the mountain opened upward. The bus drove into the hidden facility. The bus stopped in a wide hangar, under the flickering glow of artificial lights. The guards in charge of keeping us from doing anything crazy exited the bus. We sat there, waiting. Minutes later the guards returned with several more dressed in Jasperz. They unlocked the chains and herded us off and into a line beside the bus. ¡°Don¡¯t fucking push me!¡± one of the prisoners curses. With the most bored expression seemingly possible, the guard reaches to his side, unlatches a baton, flips a switch, and then jams the baton in the prisoner''s side. The prisoner screams as electricity floods his body and he drops to the floor. ¡°Get in line,¡± the guard orders. ¡°Fuck you!¡± The guard smiles as he stabs again and again until the prisoner is a whimpering mess. Once we are all lined up, the warden makes her entrance from a port-sized elevator that leads down into the extensive prison complex. The warden is a 6¡¯ 2¡±, lean, blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman wearing a German trench coat that has the American flag on one shoulder and the swastika on the other. Heedless of said red flags, the prisoners begin hooting and hollering at the only woman they¡¯ve probably seen in a long while. When she finally stops in front of the prisoners, her hands move behind her back. ¡°SILENCE!¡± she yells with the force of someone who deals with unruly prisoners every day. The prisoners all go silent¡­ all except one. ¡°Oi, bitch. You¡¯ve got a nice mouth there. I got a pair that would fit in there real nice.¡± The woman doesn''t answer. Instead, she looks at one of her guards. The guard steps forward and raises a clipboard. ¡°Prisoner 43372. Juan Garcia. He is incarcerated for quadruple homicide, multiple counts of rape, and the sale of illicit substances. No backing of any kind. He is sentenced to life in prison. Black ranked prisoner.¡± The warden nods. She then looks at the prisoner. ¡°Juan, tell me, do you like sports?¡± she asks calmly. Juan grins confidently. ¡°So long as I get to use my balls, then yeah, I do.¡± The warden nods again. ¡°Then let us play a sport. Bring mir den Golfschl?ger!¡± At her order, four guards step towards Juan. ¡°Hey, what the fuck are you doing!? Let me go!¡± He is pulled forward and held in front of all the prisoners. One of the guards ties a rope around his mouth while the others force him to stand with his legs spread apart. A fifth guard hands the warden a golf club. She does a few test swings with the club. ¡°Now, prisoners,¡± she takes position in front of Juan. ¡°I am Warden Irmgard Von Braun, and I am in charge of the prison complex under our feet.¡± She stares at the man as he is forced to stay standing with legs spread. ¡°This prison is not like the other prisons. In my prison, there is no parole. There is no reduced time for good behavior. There is no escape. Each and every one of you are here precisely because the powers that be do not want you alive, but cannot legally kill you¡­ yet.¡± She takes a stance. ¡°You all are expendable.¡± She swings forward with the gold club. A perfectly practiced swing that creates a squelching sound as it makes contact with a ball. All of the prisoners go completely white as Juan screams, only to be muffled by the rope around his mouth. His legs fail, but the four guards keep him standing and his legs spread. ¡°If something were to happen to any of you, then nobody would know.¡± She swings again. ¡°And nobody would care.¡± And again. ¡°Accidents will happen to unfortunate inmates.¡± And again. ¡°Perhaps, it will be self defense.¡± And again. ¡°We are very lucky to have a crematorium on site.¡± And again. ¡°That can fit a lot of prisoners.¡± Again, again, again. She drops the bloody golf club on the ground and gives the prisoners one last look. ¡°If you want to stay out of the morgue, then you will show your betters some respect.¡± She turns away from the prisoners and starts walking away. Only to pause a moment and glance back. ¡°Oh, and welcome to Downside Penitentiary.¡± Ic God Games - Chapter 4: Cellmate Contrary to popular belief, not all prisons are made public by the United States. There are a select few which are kept both off the maps and off the books. Downside Penitentiary is one such prison. The taser wielding guards herd the prisoners onto the massive, one hundred by thirty meter elevator that constitutes two-thirds of the room. The prisoners are lined up in the center between semi-trailers of goods, all bound for the bowels of Downside. Once the prisoners are all aboard, the elevator lurches into action. Screeching gears and dim, flickering fluorescent light set the tone for the slow and gloomy descent. Growls, whimpers, and the occasional thump come from the nearby shipping containers. The thoroughly scared convicts stay completely silent for the entire descent. A mile of concrete passes by on their trip, and after a seeming eternity compressed into only a half-hour, the prisoners finally arrive at Downside Penitentiary. More guards usher them through metal corridors for processing. ______________________________________________________ ¡°Next prisoner,¡± I hear the guard¡¯s bored monotone call as the prisoner in front of me is ushered forward. ¡°Name?¡± the processor asks. ¡°Daniel Agravan,¡± the prisoner answers. The processor checks the name on his tablet and then makes sure the prisoner is who he actually is. He taps the tablet several times and then turns to one of the guards. ¡°Black Rank.¡± A guard leaves and returns with a black bracelet. The bracelet is locked around the prisoner''s right ankle and he is ushered inside. ¡°Next Prisoner.¡± I hear the call and walk towards the processor. ¡°Name?¡± ¡°Quasi Eludo.¡± I state. The processor checks my name on his tablet, and then slows down. He looks at the tablet, and then me, and then the tablet several times. ¡°Looks like the powers that be don''t want you dead.¡± He taps the tablet and then turns to one of the armed guards. ¡°Gold Rank,¡± he states. The guard leaves and returns with a vibrant gold bracelet that he latches to my right ankle. The processor then looks to the other guard. ¡°Please escort Mister Eludo to the gold-wing of the prison and introduce him to the Gold-Blockleiter.¡± The guard nods and, quite nicely, asks me to follow. I follow the guard through long reaching, paned upper passageways that reveal the enormous scope of the prison¡ªthough more of a city than anything else below. Similar to a city, the prison complex has apartment buildings, gyms, workshops, medical areas, libraries, churches, and a massive central exercise yard. From my casual glance, I also notice that the city is separated into four quadrants, with the smaller quadrants looking better. Our trip takes us to the smallest and most well cared for quadrant. Me and the guard enter an elevator that drops us down to the city ground level. I exit to the curious whispers of many other nearby prisoners¡ªall of which have the same golden band on their ankle as myself. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°This way. We are almost there.¡± The guard leads me through clean streets and several buildings until we arrive at the largest building yet. Above the entrance, arrayed in bright gold, is the word Gasthaus. When we enter, the muted, chilly temperature of the prison outside is replaced with an inviting warmth. I am guided inside towards yet another elevator, wherein the guard presses the topmost button with his thumb for several seconds. After a moment the elevator begins to hum with classical music until we reach the penthouse. We exit the elevator and arrive in a gaudy, golden-embroiled office room with a glass view of most of the entire city. From the view, three similar buildings can be seen, including a large central building in the city''s center. ¡°Gold-Blockleiter,¡± the guard steps forward, ¡°there is a new arrival.¡± The chair behind the desk swivels away from the glass windows with the professionalism of an experienced CEO. When the man swivels to his desk, he places down the glass of wine he had been holding and then our eyes meet. The man smiles warmly. ¡°Ahh, yes. Quasi Eludo, the richest man in the world¡­ for a week. I¡¯ve been expecting you.¡± He extends his hand to the seat across his desk. ¡°Please, take a seat.¡± I walk to the leather chair and sit my butt down on the cushion. He clasps his hands together. ¡°First, let me introduce myself. I am Herman Toftoy, and I am the leader of the Gold ranked prisoners. My job is to make sure that my prisoners are taken care of and comport themselves in an orderly and proper manner.¡± He unclasps his hands, reaches into a drawer and retrieves a gold-trimmed book. He pushes that book to me. ¡°This book contains all the regulations that you as a prisoner are subject to and are expected to follow. When you have time, I highly suggest you read and memorize them all so that you do not find yourself in trouble.¡± I open the first page of the book... and chuckle. The Gold-Blockleiter smiles at my reaction. ¡°It seems you understand.¡± He reaches into his drawer again and this time retrieves a pencil and notebook. He flips open the book and stops on a page. ¡°Ahh, perfect. Prisoner 31244 recently passed.¡± He quickly writes something down on the notebook and glances up at the guard behind me. ¡°Please take Quasi to cell 821 on the eighth floor.¡± He looks up at me. ¡°Mister Eludo, please enjoy your stay at Downside.¡± With the rather short introduction completed. I follow the guard back to the elevator which then takes me to the eighth floor. I exit onto the eighth floor and into a common area with clean and colorful carpeted flooring, a small library, massage chair, video-game consoles, and a stocked kitchen. ¡°This way.¡± The guard leads me past several open and closed cells until we reach cell 21. In the cell is a single bunk bed, with a prisoner already laying on the bottom. ¡°Cillian,¡± the guard knocks on the open cell, ¡°You¡¯ve got a bunkmate now.¡± A round, short man with a magnificent beard groans as he leans up to the side of the bed. He then blinks rapidly and shakes his head. ¡°Feeck meee,¡± he curses, ¡°I must still be jaked. Is that a brat with narry a hair on his chin?¡± I grin, ¡°What are you talking about?¡± I deepen my voice, ¡°I¡¯ve got an amazing goatee,¡± I stroke my clear chin, ¡°Your eyes are just failing you.¡± He blinks again. With a decent bit of effort, he wipes both eyes with a sleeve. Then he takes a proper look at me. ¡°You''re just a wee brat. Why the feck are children in this prison?¡± The guard sighs, unamused. ¡°This is your new bunkmate. Show him the ropes. I have to get back to work.¡± Without even bothering to move me into my cell or close the cell door, the guard turns and walks back the way he came. As he leaves, Cillian burps with the professionalism of an expert alcoholic. He stands up and lifts his mattress a little to grab one of several bottles of indeterminate liquid. He opens said bottle and downs half the contents. ¡°So,¡± he asks with a grin, ¡°What the feck did you do to get inta Downside?¡± I grin back. ¡°I bribed a lot of people.¡± Ic God Games - Chapter 5: Gold Ticket ¡°Fuck me mum!¡± Cillian curses, ¡°Ye actually asked to come here? Are ye mad or stupid?¡± ¡°A bit of mad, occasionally stupid, but this was a calculated move,¡± I say. ¡°Ye¡¯r shit at math,¡± Cillian tells me. The Scottsman takes a swig of his drink and grimaces when the bottle only gives him a few drops. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you cannae gimme the reason why you¡¯re here?¡± he asks, assuming the answer. ¡°Of course I can,¡± I tell the Scottish man as he lifts up his mattress. Cillian pauses at my words, and then frowns. ¡°Is me knowin¡¯ tha¡¯ gonna to get me killed?¡± he grabs another bottle, of which there are many. ¡°Cause I¡¯d rather no¡¯ die yet.¡± he uncorks the bottle and takes a happy swig, then blanches at the taste. ¡°Feck me, ¡®is tastes like piss.¡± He takes another swig anyway. ¡°Not implicitly. In fact, it might reduce your chances of getting killed.¡± He raises an eyebrow at me. Corks the bottle, and then throws it. I catch it easily while he grabs another from his under-mattress stash. ¡°Thanks,¡± I say. I uncork, take a whiff, grimace, and then take a taste. ¡°Yup, this tastes rancid.¡± He shrugs. Lowers the mattress and then plops his butt on top of it. Then he looks at me as I sit on the only chair in the cell. ¡°So what''s your mad plan for bein¡¯ here?¡± I lean back into the chair. ¡°Well, I¡¯m sure you saw the message about the God Games, right?¡± He nods slowly. ¡°Well, first off, let me introduce myself. I am Quasi Eludo, summoned hero extraordinaire. It¡¯s my job to get summoned by gods and complete whatever they request of me. In exchange, they pay me, usually in millions of U.S. dollars, though most recently in a trillion dollars of mineral wealth¡ª but I digress. I¡¯ve met many gods, and one of these acquaintances in particular had not only heard of the God Games, but was also a part of several of them. He was more than happy to explain to me the gist of how the games are run.¡± Cillian uncorks his bottle and takes a heavy drink. ¡°Right then, here¡¯s a toast to your crazy,¡± he takes another swig, ¡°So what¡¯d yonder god-thing tell ye?¡± I grin at the Scot. ¡°He told me that Pandora has a fetish for ¡®testing¡¯ large population centers, kidnapping the survivors, and then auctioning them off to the gods as players in whatever twisted contest the God Games entail.¡± To my surprise, Cillian is listening to my every word with a smile. ¡°The usual test is an apex predator drop. Pandora releases some predator that not only fancies the testees for dinner, but is also resistant to whatever means of combat the test population has at their disposal. And disposal is usually the result; only about one percent of tested species pass, eg., survive.¡± ¡°Prison.¡± Cillian exclaims. ¡°You¡¯re thinkin Downside will be tested.¡± ¡°It will be.¡± I state. ¡°The population here is in the tens of thousands and the density is greater than most cities. Downside is a perfect place for the test, and I would argue it¡¯s the best place to be if you want to have any chance of surviving.¡± Cillian takes another swig. He then scratches his beard in deep thought. After several seconds, he begins to speak. ¡°You mentioned the tests are goin to create some monster resistant to what''s available, right?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°So, what. Are you expecting to be fighting monsters stronger than bears?¡± ¡°What? No, this prison has no guns, so whatever gets summoned wouldn''t be able to brush off the impact of a bullet- wait. Why did you mention bears?¡± He gives me the grin of a drunk that thinks he knows more than the sober guy in the room. Which is mostly true. The last shareholder reports I received are a bit dated and rather¡­ unspecific. ¡°The fightin¡¯ pits in the center of the prison have prisoners fightin¡¯ other prisoners and animals.¡± No! ¡°Fuck!¡± I yell, outraged, ¡°Is that why they listed funding for polar bears? And since when do they even have a fighting pit?!¡± I throw the gold-trimmed book across the room. It smacks the wall beside Cillian and lands, open, on his bed. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Are there even any rules!¡± I yell, outraged. Cillian glances at the blank pages of the book next to him, and then snickers. Bears. Why bears of all things? ¡°Fuck.¡± I curse again. ¡°How many bears are we talking about? Are they trained or just released? Who controls them? The guards?¡± I asked him rapidly. Cillian shrugs and takes another swig. ¡°Don''t know. I just stay in the gold district,¡± he taps his belly, ¡°as you can see, I¡¯m a wee bit lackin¡¯ in the muscle department.¡± He raises his bottle and swishes it, ¡°I prefer ta stay still by the still.¡± I raise an eyebrow, ¡°You have a still? They let you brew alcohol?¡± ¡°Gold Ranks have many perks,¡± he taps the gold band on his leg, ¡°we have access to nearly everything the guards do. So long as we ain¡¯t selling it to the other ranks, we can do anything we want.¡± A small grin rises up to my lips as an idea forms. ¡°I don''t suppose you have a workshop?¡± ¡°We do. Basement level. Nobody goes there anymore ever since the incident.¡± I stop standing and take a seat back on the chair. ¡°Incident?¡± He takes another sip. ¡°Not sure. Jeff told me that some prisoner got electrocuted down there.¡± ¡°And Jeff is¡­¡± Cillian taps the top bunk, ¡°Jeffrey Epstein, my former roommate. Poor guy died of pancreatic cancer last week. Terrible thing.¡± I go cross-eyed. ¡°Didn''t he kill himself?¡± Cillian snorts. ¡°Bah, of course not. The government just faked his death and then transferred him here.¡± ¡°Really?¡± He nods, ¡°Yup. They do it all the time. They did it with Hitler at the end of the second war and even recently Bin Laden. Elvis is a lie though.¡± Well¡­ fuck. I knew the government liked to lie, but not to this extent. ¡°So why keep them alive at all?¡± He taps the bottle thoughtfully. ¡°Mostly for information, but really for any reason they want. I know with Hitler, they kept him alive to better control the Nazi scientists they abducted.¡± ¡°Project Paperclip,¡± I murmur under my breath. Cillian chugs the rest of his bottle and then burps mightily. ¡°Ahhh, that hit the spot. I think I need a nap.¡± the Scot yawns. He turns and lays down over the bottom bunk. ¡°We¡¯ll talk more later.¡± he announces softly. Not even ten seconds later, and the man is snoring up a storm. I stare at the drooling Scot for several more seconds, then stand up and walk out of my cell. As I traverse the halls, I meet several more prisoners, none of whom so much as give me the time of day. Each one has a gold band on their leg and all give off the vibe of those who are extremely wealthy. My stride eventually takes me back to the plush living area. Several prisoners lounge on the couch, eating snacks, and staring at a TV. On the TV are two prisoners with makeshift armor and weapons. One prisoner has a massive metal club that looks like a sledgehammer and the other wields a makeshift spear, a metal stick with a shiv lashed to the end, in one hand and a slab of metal with rope attached to his other hand. Linked scrap iron covers both of their bodies as they circle each other. I watch, both surprised at the makeshift weaponry, and annoyed at the fact that the weaponry is there. Eventually the circling stops at the urging of the crowd and the sledgehammer guy engages with a probing stab. The spear guy dodges and stabs with his spear, but the sledge hammer guy is already tilting to the side. He dodges the stab with a spin, and then uses the momentum to swing his hammer. The spear guy raises his shield and I¡¯m already shaking my head at the wrong move. The shield intercepts the hammer, but the momentum continues. I hear the crack of bone over the speakers as the spearman¡¯s arm crumples and the shield plus hammer slam into his body. The man goes down with a cry of pain. As prisoner stabby falls, hammer guy follows through with his swing and brings his hammer down on his fallen foe just as the spearman screams I Yield. But it¡¯s too late; the hammer slams down and crushes the prisoner''s skull. At the explosion of brain matter, the crowd on the TV and the convicts on the couch cheer loudly. They scream and yell with bloodlust as blood seeps out of the dead prisoners'' leaking skull. Unbothered by the death, blood, and brain matter, I walk away from the TV to the elevator. Next to the elevator is a sign that says ¡®Emergency Stairs¡¯. I press down the button and await for the elevator to arrive. When it does, I enter and press the glowing button that says ¡®Basement¡¯. Music plays softly as the elevator descends. When it reaches the basement, the elevator thunks to a halt. The door opens onto a dark hallway dimly illuminated by flickering emergency lights. I step out of the elevator and proceed with caution. I smell the cloying scent of old, dry blood. I come to a set of warped steel doors at the end of the hallway. Something exploded in there. A bomb of some kind? Goddam I hope not. Those damn spears and hammers, not to mention the fucking bear, are already going to make this test difficult. I slowly open the right hand door. Darkness there, and nothing more. After a moment of anticlimax, I grope around for a lightswitch. When I find it, I press the switch and the lights flicker on. Immediately, I notice flayed and open wires sizzling with electricity, and the scent of ozone and burning metal. Steadily walking inside, I find what is burning. Dried old blood on the ground near a workstation smokes from the charged electrical wiring laying on top of it. I guess this explains the Incident. I look around and memorize the room in its entirety. I note the exposed wires and other such hazards, then I double back to the entrance and turn off the light. I re-enter the workroom and begin moving the hazards away. After a good half hour of cleaning and moving, I turn the light back on and grin at the relatively more organized room. I then spend the next hour searching and noting everything that could be useful for my purposes. I also find the source of the explosion. Under some debris, I find a destroyed and partially melted chemical station. Next to said chemical station is what looks like a destroyed car battery. ¡°Why the hell is there a car battery here? Do they have cars in this city?¡± Eventually, my question is answered when I check under the workstation and find an old tig welder missing its equally large powersource. I stare at the welder for a long moment, then I glance at the exposed wiring to the building. A grin rises up to my face. IC God Games - Chapter 6: Mother Exiting the Gasthaus, I am once again greeted by the clean- gold painted streets of the district. My eyes wander around me, noting the many prisoners giving me curious looks as I rest a freshly made rapier on my shoulder. I walk down the steps and make my way to the other end of the district. Considering the size of this district, it only takes a good five minutes until I arrive at a door guarded by two heavily clad guards. They immediately become wary of the weapon resting on my shoulder, but quickly relax once they notice my leg band and prisoner''s clothing. I glance above the guards and read ¡®Prison Yard- Gold Entrance¡¯, ¡°I haven''t seen you around. Are you new here?¡± one of the two guards asks. He is a larger man with clearly defined muscles and a little bit of stubble on his face. ¡°Yup. I arrived about eight hours ago. I heard there was a fighting arena and I wanted to test my skills,¡± I tap my shit-iron rapier lightly. The guard frowns. ¡°No, you¡¯ll get yourself killed,¡±. ¡°Now hang on a moment, Fritz¡± the other guard, skinnier and smaller, interrupts with a stroke of his mustache. ¡°We¡¯ve not had a gold-rank fight in the pits ever. I think it would be a fun spectacle.¡± ¡°Friedrich,¡± Fritz growls, ¡°the Gold-Blockleiter would not be happy for a gold-rank to die in the pits.¡± ¡°Bah,¡± Fritz waves his hand, ¡°The young lad seems capable. He¡¯s even brought a weapon. I say we let him enter. The prisoners wouldn''t kill a gold-rank unless they wanted their insides rearranged.¡± Fritz frowns hesitantly at me. I sigh. With a flick of my wrist, I spin the blade across my hand, up my shoulders, past my neck, and then down to my other arm wherein I grab the cloth covered hilt and take a stance; Blade pointed towards the door while my other hand is behind my back fully in reach of a hidden parry dagger. ¡°See,¡± Friedrich says excitedly. ¡°The kid knows his way with a blade. I say we let him in.¡± The guard sighs with a shake of his head. ¡°Fine. Go.¡± Pulling out a key from a pocket in his heavy kevlar armor, he unlocks the door and opens it. ¡°Try not to die,¡± he warns. I walk through the door, down a hallway, and finally enter the yard. _________________________________________________________________ If you¡¯ve ever been to a bazaar in a third world country, then you would have a very good idea of what the yard looks like. Shanty-made structures line the streets of the yard, all made with whatever was available and on hand. Scrap metal walls, broken furniture, discarded and repurposed clothing and sheets line every structure. And just like a bazaar, there are plenty of traders trading their goods. Lining the makeshift stores are wares ranging from weapons, armor, and clothing, to simple goods like toothbrushes and paint. At the counter of said stores are mostly silver and bronze ranked men, protected by armed and armored black ranks. Seems like a caste system of sorts. ¡°Oy, goldy. Goldy with the poker!¡± I stop walking and turn towards the yelling man. What I find is a rather short, but burly bronze rank standing behind a counter. On the counter and pretty much everywhere around the guy is an assortment of crudely made weapons. They look like pieces of metal bent and banged into the shape of weapons. Other than the hammer, everything else is probably pretty useless, if not just extremely inefficient. ¡°Wanna change that poker for a real weapon,¡± the man grins while tapping a longsword that probably weighs too much to be wielded effectively. I frown, but walk towards the man''s stall. With a longer look, I realize that the hammer is actually crap too. Instead of the head being melted onto the steel pipe, they actually just chained the head to the pipe with a shit ton of barbed wire. A good dozen hits with the mace would probably have the damn head falling off. ¡°Ahhh,¡± he grins, ¡±you like the hammer? It''s one of my best works. Took awhile to get all the wire, so it ain''t cheap. But, I¡¯ll give you a discount if you trade in that poker of yours. Say, eighteen passes.¡± This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. I raise an eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯m guessing passes are the currency. Where would I get some?¡± The grin leaves as fast as it had arrived. ¡°What? You don¡¯t have any passes?¡± I shrug. ¡°I Just arrived in Downside a couple hours ago.¡± The man tisks in annoyance. ¡°If you don''t have passes, then get lost.¡± I roll my eyes at the man''s mood and walk away. I stroll to the deepest part of the yard, near the central building that rises to the prison ceiling. It is here where the makeshift fighting pits are located, and it is also here where the cameras attached to the central building are streaming the fights. Near the pits are even more stalls of hawkers selling their wares, including those who work with bets. It is also here that I find a man wearing a suit and tie created from prisoners'' clothing. As I approach, the man looks me up and down. He pauses for a moment at the gold band on my leg, and then refocuses on me. ¡°Are you here to fight?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± I answer. He nods. ¡°Good. Do you have anyone in particular, or does it not matter?¡± ¡°The bear, or I guess bears. Actually, let me just fight all the animals.¡± The man snorts. ¡°You need to earn the right to fight Tibber. People don''t want to just watch a man get mauled, they want a fight.¡± ¡°Really, Tibber?¡± I shake my head at the name. ¡°Fine, who''s the most badass, strongest fighter you''ve got? If I beat him, then you shouldn''t have any qualms about me fighting the bear.¡± ¡°You¡¯re really trying to get yourself killed.¡± he states. ¡°On the contrary, I¡¯m trying to improve my chances of survival, and that means making a dead bear as soon as possible.¡± He raises an eyebrow, and then shrugs. ¡°Fine, it''s your funeral.¡± He points a distance away, deeper into the pits. ¡°Boriss is the reigning champion. You beat him and I¡¯ll let you fight whoever and whatever you want.¡± ¡°Perfect.¡± I state and make my way in the direction he pointed. In said direction, I find myself passing by ever larger and more dangerous looking fighters with weapons that are marginally better suited for combat. Still shit, but of a better quality shit; more like a four than a seven. Still shit, though. ¡°Oy, which one of you is Boriss?¡± I call out. Everyone goes silent. All eyes turn to me with interest and curiosity. Then, like a tide, the people part so that I have a good look at a tall bodybuilder with a top tier beard that really enhances his strong jawline. The man puts down the book he is reading, carefully takes off his reading glasses and places them on the book, then stands up at a towering height of six and a half feet, accompanied by a width that would make a linebacker jealous. ¡°Da, I am Boriss.¡± I smile. ¡°Perfect. I want to fight you.¡± Boriss stares at me curiously. I meet his stare with my cocky, confident grin. Unless Boriss has nearly ten thousand years of life(s) experience, then he¡¯s got little to no chance of winning. ¡°No.¡± Boriss finally answers. The other fighters chuckle. One even goes to speak up. ¡°Sorry kid, but Boriss doesn''t like to waste time pummeling weaklings.¡± ¡°No,¡± Boriss says again, and the chuckles halt. Boriss points at me, ¡°He is strong. Very strong.¡± He nods to himself all the while the other fighters are growing confused. ¡°The kid with the little poker is strong?¡± one of them asks? ¡°Da,¡± Boriss nods again. ¡°You see eyes. They are eyes like KGB officer. Strong, confident, and smart like comrade Soviet Premier.¡± He taps his chest, ¡°I am strong like Russian bear.¡± He flexes his muscles, ¡°I can fight bears and win.¡± Then he points at me again. ¡°But bear is Suka to him. Da, If we fight, then is like me as little child fighting angry mother. I will lose, and then I cannot sit. Is bad, yes?¡± he looks at the confused fighters for confirmation. I stare in astonishment. ¡°Um, so we can¡¯t fight?¡± ¡°Da, no fight. I not like to lose.¡± ¡°What if I call you a coward?¡± I ask. ¡°Is not work. I am trained KGB spy.¡± He taps his skull, ¡°KGB officers beat pride like mother spanks rowdy children. Insults do not work.¡± What the fuck am I dealing with? I sigh. ¡°Look, I''m kind of in a hurry. I¡¯m trying to fight a bear, and I can''t very well do that unless I prove my strength, which involves fighting the strongest fighter, which is you.¡± ¡°No, I am second now. You are first strongest.¡± I roll my eyes, ¡°Right, but Mr. Suit doesn¡¯t share your astounding perspicacity.¡± Boriss eyes sparkle. ¡°Da, then I speak with suit man and explain how you are like angry mother. Then you fight bear and we become comrades. Yes?¡± I open and close my mouth several times, and then eventually nod. ¡°Yes. Let''s do that.¡± ¡°Da, is good.¡± he pauses a little, ¡°What is name?¡± ¡°Mine? It¡¯s Quasi Eludo.¡± He nods, ¡°Da, Is good name, like KGB leader with strong communist mother.¡± I sigh. ¡°Come on, lets go talk to the guy. I¡¯ve got a bear, and probably whatever other animals to kill.¡± IC God Games - Chapter 7: Like a Good Communist My trip back to the suited man was surprisingly uneventful and rather quick. Boriss¡¯ presence spread the sea of bodies like Moses spreads water, complete with susurrus from their amazed audience. As we approach Mr. Suit, the guy practically goes cross eyed in Boriss¡¯s presence. ¡°Boriss, did you agree to fight this young man?¡± he asks. ¡°No, Arron. Comrade Quasi is stronger than me,¡± Boriss¡¯s puts a hand on my shoulder, ¡°I come request he make bear his suka. Is ok, yes?¡± ¡°Bear is- you want him to fight Tibbers?¡± Boriss nods like it''s the most normal request to ever make. Arron rubs his temples, ¡°No can do. I¡¯d have to get permission from the guards, and they aren''t going to release Tibbers on a random gold-rank, even if you ask for it. He is untested and unknown, but, if he fights you and wins, then I might be able to.. pique their interest.¡± Boriss shakes his head. ¡°No, I not like to lose. Is bad for health, yes? Maybe he fights another?¡± He grimaces. ¡°Hmm, it¡¯d be a harder sell, but if you vouch for him, I can set up some fights with the better known veterans.¡± ¡°Da, I vouch.¡± Aaron sighs, ¡°Alright, give me an hour and I¡¯ll have some contenders,¡± he looks at me, ¡°if that''s alright with you.¡± I shrug, ¡°Should be easy. Are there any rules I need to know about?¡± ¡°If they yield, you stop fighting. Other than that, go nuts.¡± ¡°Simple enough. Will you bring them to me or-¡± ¡°Head to the fighting pits. Shed seven is empty. Sit, prepare, and wait. I¡¯ll have someone pick you up when it¡¯s time.¡± ¡°Comrade Quasi,¡± Boriss¡¯s grins, ¡°win slow, play with food. Is good for gambling. I go make many passes now.¡± And like that, Boriss walks off without another word and a grin on his face. Once Boriss leaves, Mr. Suit, I mean, Arron, summons a lackey who leads me to a ramshackle hut with a chair and desk- both of which are well made. The chair is even padded too. I only wait a half hour before Lackey A fetches me to enter the ring. The crowd boos me as I walk onto the sandy floor of the pit. I stroll languidly to the center. salute each half of the jeering audience with my rapier. The crowd switches from jeers to cheers the moment my opponent enters the arena. The large, burly man, decked in armor like an extra from a Mad Max movie, strides a third of the way into the arena. In each hand, he holds a morning star that he waves in reply to the crowd¡¯s adoration. I reckon they might hurt, if they hit me. The man turns to me and looks me up and down, ¡°Heh, did Boriss really vouch for you? I kinda feel cheated for accepting the fight.¡± I glance into the crowd and find Boriss grinning from ear to ear. He gives me a thumbs up and then mocks a stabbing motion. I roll my eyes at him. ¡°Welcome one and all to the Pit.¡± Aaron yells aloud and walks up to me in the center of the arena. Today, I bring you a brand new fighter, a newcomer to Downside.¡± His words spark a series of boos directed in my direction. ¡°A man fresh from the outside world and graced with a Gold Rank.¡± The boos become mixed with interest as they glance at the shiny gold band on my leg. ¡°Yes, this man is a Gold Rank! The first Gold Rank with the balls to fight in the Pits.¡± The boos, for the most part, go away and are replaced with muted cheers. ¡°To award such bravery,¡± Aaron points at my competition, ¡°Galvin the Mauler will teach this young man exactly how much their rank means here!¡± The crowd roars with applause and screams as Galvin, ¡°the Mauler¡± strides forward, his morningstars held overhead. Then he turns away from the rapturous audience and grins at me, then snaps his faceplate down. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Fighters! When I ring the bell, you may both begin,¡± Aaron yells. He walks off the stage and arrives towards a bell. I take a duelists¡¯ stance with my rapier, one leg forward, sword extended in my right hand, and left hand behind my back. Arron takes a hammer, raises it, and then slams the bell. The fight begins and my mind jumps into overdrive. Time slows as adrenaline surges. I stare at my opponent, watching his every micro-movement and action. I gaze into his eyes and study his posture, reading him like an open book- well, as open as I can read a man covered in armor. Galvin rushes forward, directly towards me, fully intending to plaster me into the ground. I lower my stance and lean towards his left. As expected by the posture of his movement and direction of his eyes, he raises his right hand to swing downward. When he raises the morningstar, I dive towards his left and under his other weapon with a burst of speed that professional sprinters would struggle to reproduce. As I pass by, I kick towards his raised leg with enough force to push it into the path of his other one. Galvin trips and falls violently on the ground. His armor scrapes the cement floor until his momentum times out. Not a second later, and he attempts to push himself back up, only for the weight of my entire body to land on his back and slap him back down on the ground with a violent bang. Then I hop off, do a backflip, and land several feet away. During these few seconds of action, the crowd is completely silent. They stare at me flabbergasted, unsure of what they¡¯d just seen. With my stance made once again, I continue to point my rapier at Galvin, who is slowly getting back up again. He turns to me with a pissed off glare. ¡°You¡¯re fucking dead.¡± he curses. Then he unlatches his helmet and throws it to the side, revealing a broken nose and bloody teeth. The crowd cheers at the sight of all the blood. ¡°Galvin,¡± I point my rapier at his discarded helmet, ¡°Mind putting that back on? Your face is a bit ugly right now.¡± ¡°HA, is good taunt!¡± I hear a certain Russian yell from the stands. ¡°Your ass is fucking mine!¡± he roars and rushes forward, barbarian style. I kinda wish those weren''t morningstars. I¡¯d honestly really love to parry them. Learning from his first mistake, he keeps his momentum leveled as he swings in my general direction without an ounce of skill. I dodge and pivot around the strike while circling around him. He follows and blindly slashes with his morningstar, but I¡¯m always a tad bit out of range. After a good twenty seconds of this, he starts to show exhaustion, which eventually causes him to stop chasing. ¡°Are you just going to run and dance around?¡± ¡°Well, yes. A Russian guy asked me to play with my food- which involves not killing you instantly.¡± Galvin laughs. ¡°Kill me? You can go fuck yourself you cocky shit. There ain¡¯t no way your scrawny ass can take me out.¡± ¡°Not cocky, I¡¯m just throwing out facts. Just watch.¡± I aim my rapier upwards, and then I let it slowly fall and twirl around my arm, and then spin it up my shoulders, across my neck, down my left arm, and then I flick it up into a spin in the air. All eyes look up and watch the rapier spin and then fall back into my arms. Then Galvin falls choking on the ground with a dagger in his throat. ¡°See, facts.¡± I say with a grin. The audience stares dumbfounded, unsure how to react. ¡°Da, is very good kill. Like sneaky mom with belt.¡± Boriss starts clapping. Then the clapping spreads and I am given a standing ovation. I bow to the audience and then look expectantly at Aaron, who is pinching the bridge of his nose. ________________________________________________ When the clapping dies down, I am directed back into the waiting area. Not five minutes later, both Boriss and Aaron arrive. One has a grin on his face, and the other looks like he¡¯s suffering from constipation. ¡°Why did you have to kill him?¡± Arron asks, ¡°He was a popular fighter for the shows.¡± I raise an eyebrow, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say killing is fine?¡± He groans, ¡°No, it''s not fine when a complete nobody kills a well-known veteran. I¡¯m getting swarmed by veterans who want to teach you a lesson. They¡¯re not happy about Galvin¡¯s death, nor the fans.¡± I grin. ¡°Perfect. How many of these veterans do you think I need to kill before you can get me a fight with the bear?¡± ¡°Da,¡± Boriss nods, ¡°fight many veterans. Is good for passes.¡± He says while raising up a small crate brimming with engraved metal coins.¡± Aaron¡¯s eyes pop out at the crate. ¡°How much did you gamble to make that much?¡± ¡°Everything,¡± Boriss grins happily. ¡°But I give half to Comrade Quasi like good communist, yes? I lean back into my chair, ¡°Aaron, just set up the fights. Give me five minutes between fights, and I¡¯ll have everything wrapped up today.¡± ¡°You¡¯re insane.¡± ¡°Da,¡± Boriss affirms, ¡°Like crazy Russian mother. Dangerous, scary, but always wins. Is very fun.¡± Aaron pinches the bridge of his nose. IC god Games - Chapter 8: Powder ¡°Seventeen!¡± Cillian screams in my face, ¡°you killed seventeen veterans! Just¡­ how? Even Boriss couldn¡¯t- well, maybe he could. The guy''s a monster, but still. I hope you realize that you¡¯ve pissed off a lot of people by takin¡¯ so many out. Why did you even do such a crazy thing?¡± I bite into a sandwich as I lay on my bed. ¡°Well,¡± I say around my bite of sandwich, ¡°First off, this is a really good sandwich. Who¡¯s the chef? Second,¡± I pause to chew, ¡°I really didn¡¯t think I¡¯d fight more than two or three. You know, kick a bit of ass, and get everyone riled up enough to send in the bear.¡± I swallow and take an even bigger bite. ¡°Really, I never expected this place was chocked so full of bloodthirsty murder-hobos. You¡¯d think they¡¯d get fed up and send in Ursus Major to chomp my ass like I asked, but no, they just kept coming.¡± ¡°Ursus? You mean Tibbers? Why the fuck do you want to fight Tibbers. The only person who¡¯s ever beaten Tibbers is Boriss, and then, only barely.¡± I stop chewing to raise an eyebrow at the sober Scot. I swallow my bite. ¡°Did you forget our little conversation yesterday?¡± Cillian stares at me for a moment while the little gerbil in his head starts running on the wheel. ¡°Right. You¡¯re a bloody loony. So, what? Killing Tibbers to make the test easier?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± ¡°Fuckin¡¯ looney.¡± I shrug, ¡°Well, when the shit hits the fan, I¡¯ll be the one with the weapons to blow the crap out of it.¡± Cillian perks up. ¡°Weapons? Like what, spears and swords?¡± I give him a flat look over my sandwich. ¡°Cold weapons are for cold bodies. What I can¡¯t gas, I¡¯ll shoot, and what I can¡¯t shoot, I¡¯ll blow up.¡± ¡°Downside has no guns.¡± Cillian exclaims, ¡°at least that''s what you told me.¡± ¡°Downside doesn¡¯t, but I will.¡± I finish my last bite of sandwich, ¡°just as soon as I make them. Shouldn¡¯t be hard to slap together a zip-gun. And if you can make this hooch,¡± I reach over and steal a bottle of the scotsman''s rotgut, ¡°then you¡¯ve got everything I need to distill nitric acid.¡± I take a swig and cough, ¡°hell, this is already one sock away from a Molitov.¡± ¡°Fucking nutter,¡± he says and steals his bottle back. He takes a big swig and burps. ¡°So when''s your fight with Tibbers?¡± ¡°In three days. Apparently, there¡¯s some organizing to be done. There should be plenty of time to finish my preparations before then.¡± I stare at my empty hand and miss my missing sandwich. ¡°I¡¯m going to need a lot of basic resources. I could easily cannibalize from the supplies I have available here, but that takes a bit of time and research.¡± ¡°Then you¡¯re goin¡¯ to want to go to the silver district. The prisoners there do a lot of craftin. They don''t have it anywhere as good as we do, but they do have a lot more than bronze and blacks.¡± Cillian explains. ¡°Wait, can we move into different districts?¡± ¡°Only to a lower rank,¡± he adds. ¡°Golds can go into silver, which can go into bronze, which can go into blacks. You can''t enter into a higher rank except if you¡¯re silver, then you can come to gold for work and earn passes.¡± ¡°Right¡­ work. What are the passes used for and how do you earn them?¡± ¡°They¡¯re used to buy stuff from outside. Better food, clothing, and district approved appliances. You earn ¡®em by doing menial shit like cooking or laundry. Better your prisoner rank, the better your jobs, the better your pay.¡± ¡°Oh, cool. So I can use passes to get whatever supplies I want from outside? That makes things much easier. How long does it take?¡± He shrugs, ¡°Three to four months to get somethin in here. You have to pay upfront, though.¡± I grimace. ¡°Alright, nevermind. I can''t wait that long.¡± I hop out of bed. ¡°I guess I¡¯m heading to the silver district.¡± I reach under my mattress and pick up the bag of passes. ¡°Shite! Are those all passes?¡± I nod. ¡°Yup, apparently I get paid for fighting, and I get paid even more for winning. With that and my cut from Boriss¡¯ bets, I¡¯m somewhat rich. Well, prison rich. Anyways, I¡¯ma head out and grab what I need. I¡¯ll see you in a bit.¡± Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. He waves goodbye and I make my way out of the Gasthaus, down several streets, and finally enter the Silver District. Where the gold district was spotlessly clean and relatively empty of people, the silver district is less clean and smothered in bodies and neon lights. Yes, the silver district glows with the vibrancy of a red light district mixed with a crafting bazaar. On one side, you have a hawker selling basic goods like kitchen utensils and socks, while on the other you have a neon lit smithy wherein a blacksmith smelts scrap metal in a makeshift crucible. To my surprise, the local denizens immediately noticed me.. ¡°Is that him?¡± ¡°That has to be him.¡± ¡°What is he doing here?¡± ¡°Is he here to trade?¡± ¡°Is that the guy who slaughtered all the fighters?¡± ¡°Damn, I¡¯d love to be bent over by him.¡± ¡°He doesn''t seem that capable.¡± ¡°Do you think he¡¯d give me an autograph?¡± I continue walking deeper and deeper into the silver district. As I do, the quality of workmanship and density of stores increase exponentially, to the point that it is becoming rather overwhelming. At least until a certain someone crosses my path. ¡°Comrade Quasi!¡± Boriss yells with the full might of his lungs. ¡°You visit, yes?¡± I turn towards the grinning Russian as he exits a restaurant. Looking at his foot, I note the silver bracelet circling it. "Huh, I didn¡¯t realize you¡¯re silver.¡± ¡°Da,¡± he taps his chest, ¡°I am former soviet super spy.¡± I raise an eyebrow, ¡°You¡¯re a soviet spy?¡± ¡°Former,¡± he corrects. ¡°I was spy till two-thousand eight. Very secret KGB special independent operative.¡± he explains confidently. ¡°Um,¡± I frown, ¡°The soviet union collapsed in nineteen ninety-two.¡± He snorts at me, ¡°Bah, is all planned. They collapse to make America lower guard.¡± I stare at the grinning Russian for far too long than is comfortable, and then I change the subject. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve come here to buy some resources. I don''t suppose you can give me directions.¡± Boriss chuckles, ¡°Comrade Quasi, I will do better.¡± he raises a fist, ¡°I will take you to resources, is only right to help comrade, yes?¡± ¡°Right.¡± I say with hesitancy. ¡°Well, I¡¯m going to need several things. First, I¡¯m going to need glass bottles.¡± He nods. ¡°Second, I¡¯ll need some gasoline and styrofoam cups.¡± He nods a lot slower. ¡°Third, I¡¯ll need rags, sugar, paper towels, and any product that has a high concentration of benzene.¡± He doesn''t nod. ¡°And, uh, potassium chlorate if it¡¯s available.¡± Boriss frowns down at me with a look of disappointment. ¡°Why napalm? Why not simple molotov? Is easier, yes?¡± Huh. He¡¯s actually not just all brawn. ¡°One of the problems with normal molotovs made with alcohol is that they don''t last or stick as long. Considering what I¡¯m probably going to need to deal with, I doubt a bit of alcohol is will be potent enough.¡± He stares at me for a long moment. Then nods. ¡°Comrade Quasi, you look like man who expects, how you say, dung to hit fan? Yes? You expect big problem." He places a hand on my shoulder. ¡°Then big problem needs big Russian solution.¡± he grins. ¡°Let us go make big pipe bombs. Is easy, follow.¡± He lifts his hand from my shoulder and starts walking away, leaving me both confused and flabbergasted. After a moment, I rush next to him and follow on the side. He leads me deeper into the silver district. Eventually, we arrive to a shop called ¡°Marrens Cleaning Supplies.¡± When we enter, my nose is hit with the smells of hundreds of chemicals that probably should not be inhaled for too long. A skinny twig of a man rushes from his counter. ¡°Welcome to Marrenes Cleaning Sup- oh, Boriss. What are you here for? Did your toilet get stuck again? I¡¯ve got more acid to clean it out!¡± Boriss waves his hand. ¡°No, no, strong Russian dung not break toilet again.¡± he points at me, ¡°Comrade Quasi needs chemicals. You have, yes?¡± When Marren looks at me, his eyes widen. ¡°You''re the new guy. The one that killed all those veterans yesterday! Holy¡­ wow. You took them out like they were children.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Boriss nods, ¡°Like strong Russian mom.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Marren says, unsure how to respond. He turns to me. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve got chemicals for all of your needs? What can I get for you?¡± I glance again around the store, finding a lot of rather interesting containers. There are jars labeled asbestos, ammonia, lead, and even mercury. ¡°I don''t suppose you have any potassium chlorate?¡± The man frowns. He walks to the entrance of the store and closes the door. ¡°I don¡¯t have such dangerous chemicals.¡± He moves and closes the shutters on a window. ¡°It would be extremely illegal to have such a dangerous substance.¡± He retreats to the corner of the room. He grabs a large shelf and pulls it out of the way to reveal a hidden hole filled with various vials. ¡°But, I do have some vials filled with unknown substances.¡± He grabs an unlabeled vial filled with a white powder. ¡°So,¡± he raises the vial up, ¡°want some?¡± IC God Games - Chapter 9: Premature Gambling After several days of steady crafting, I step away with a grin at my nearly complete arsenal arrayed on the workbench in the basement. A dozen pipe bombs separated from their fuses snuggle next to a dozen more capped glass bottles of napalm. Throwing daggers lie next to a flask of phenol, ready to be dipped for fast acting lethality. Next to said daggers is a carefully grooved pipe Zip-rifle missing the easily attached handle. The handle sits with seven makeshift bullets of probably only the first four or five shots will have any degree of reliable accuracy. Tucked under the table are assorted, single-use shotguns, mostly sawed-off trial versions of my rifle with smoothed out bores, but with a few custom, large bore models for all your ¡®fuck off!¡¯ needs¡­ including your joints if you¡¯re not prepared. ¡°Well, looks like this will have to do for now.¡± I say aloud. ¡°Quasi, are you here?¡± I hear Cillian ask. I turn towards his voice. ¡°Over here, be careful not to trip!¡± I yell to the Scot. I hear him slowly make his way to me. He halts suddenly when he reaches the flickering pool of light illuminating the table. ¡°Shite,¡± he curses, ¡°you¡¯re actually serious? Are those-¡± ¡°-Bombs? Yup.¡± He swallows. ¡°If this all blows, you could take the whole building down.¡± I snort. ¡°No, no, this place is made from steel and reinforced concrete. You¡¯d need a bunker-buster to take down these walls, not just these little toys.¡± I grab a nearby rag and wipe my hands. ¡°So, why are you here?¡± I ask. ¡°Um,¡± he pauses, ¡°I wanted to remind you that your fight is in two hours.¡± I raise an eyebrow. ¡°Are you betting on me or against me?¡± The Scot blushes, ¡°That¡¯s not important. I¡¯m just hopin¡¯ to see you get at the bear,¡± he pauses, ¡°for reasons.¡± I roll my eyes. ¡°You¡¯re going to lose,¡± I warn, ¡°but that''s fine. Boriss is putting all of his and my passes on me, so I¡¯ll be glad to take yours.¡± He pouts, ¡°Kid, I like ya, I really do, but you ain¡¯t got no chance against Tibbers. Bigger and stronger men have tried and failed.¡± ¡°Boriss won,¡± I point out. ¡°Boriss almost died!¡± Cillian counters, ¡°the crazy Russian only won cause he got on the bear''s back and suffocated it while it violently rolled around until it passed out. He was bedridden for months afterwards. I don¡¯t think you¡¯re going to be that lucky. Just hope it doesn''t finish you off.¡± I sigh, ¡°You know what? Just make sure you watch my fight.¡± I lean down and pick up my rapier. ¡°Then I can pity you properly later.¡± I walk past him. I enter the elevator, ride to the main floor, and make my way to the yard. ¡°Good luck with your fight.¡± ¡°Don''t die too badly.¡± Fritz and Frieddrich say as I pass them. When I enter the yard, I am met with probably the only person who has confidence in me. ¡°Comrade Quasi, is good to see you.¡± The Russian man, clad in scale and resting a warhammer on his shoulder grins down at me. ¡°Boriss, how long have you been waiting here?¡± He waves his hand, ¡°Is only three hours. Little time. How you? Ready to make bear suka?¡± I grin back at the Russians infectious grin, ¡°Sure am. When I¡¯m done, that bear won¡¯t be munching carpet, it will be carpet.¡± Stolen novel; please report. ¡°Is fine.¡± he waves again. ¡°Suka is suka. Dead suka is less headache.¡± ¡°Right,¡± I start walking towards the pits. ¡°Did you put all the bets on me?¡± ¡°Da,¡± he matches my pace. ¡°All is on you,¡± he taps his hammer, ¡°after win, we fight jealous gamblers.¡± ¡°You¡¯re expecting a fight? Really?¡± He nods. ¡°Is normal. Many gamblers are like children. They need good spanking from strong mother.¡± He practice swings his hammer with familiar ease. ¡°Right. I wasn¡¯t planning on getting into a fight after the bear, but it shouldn''t be a prob-¡± I stop walking as the air shifts. The lights all turn off at once and smothers everything in darkness. Then, after a moment, a quarter of them turn back on. ¡°Shit,¡± I curse as I feel a pressure descend on my soul.
Congratulations denizens of Downside! Your city has been magnanimously selected as a testing ground for the God Games. For this test, your goal is to escape the city while fending off the Fenriromorphs! Don¡¯t let their soft, fuzzy, beguiling countenances fool you, these cute pups put the `invasive` in `invasive species`. The test begins now. Good Luck, and God Speed!
The moment I finish reading, the message disappears and I hear growling in the distance. Then I hear screaming. Chaos explodes all around us. Prisoners run helter-skelter. Some arm themselves, some try and hide, more than a few rush the exits. ¡°Comrade Quasi,¡± I hear Boriss say my name. I look at him, and then follow his finger. In the distance, seven feet tall and bristling with muscle, stands a brown furred, bipedal wolf with a spiked tail, six eyes, and two twelve-inch horns pointing sky- or rather- ceiling-wards. ¡°Well, I¡¯m guessing that''s a Fenriromorph.¡± I say aloud. The Fenriromorph glances around, its six dark eyes study the armed and wary prisoners staring back at it. They point their weapons at the monster and the monster bares its fangs. Then, all at once, the thing pounces with unexpected speed. It grabs hold of a guy, and bites into his armored shoulder as though it was tenderest veal. The man screams as the beast rends flesh and metal from his body. ¡°Pity,¡± I deadpan, ¡°it would have held the room together.¡± The prisoners near the monster lash out with their weapons. Spears, swords, and all manner of armaments stab, slash and pound the beast. Green blood leaks slowly from the monster''s wounds. The Fenriromorph roars in rage, and lashes out with its claws. The prisoners are knocked away with surprising ease. Still angry, the Fenriromorph chooses its next target and rips into him. More prisoners join the fray and slash at the Fenririmorph. ¡°Fuck,¡± I curse, ¡°This isn¡¯t good.¡± ¡°Da,¡± Boriss nods, ¡°Angry dog. They should give nice pats on head.¡± ¡°What? No. It¡¯s their weird green blood. If you notice the wounds, other than the initial blood splurt, the bleeding stops. These Fenriromorph can''t actually bleed out.¡± I watch a prisoner slam a mace into the Fenriromorphs¡¯ side. The monster staggers, but shows no sign of injury. The thick, corded muscle of the monster seems resistant to blunt force trauma. But for all its formidable power, the monster is only a savage beast. The prisoners keep their distance and encircle the Fenriromorph. They bide their time and attack it from the back, slowly piling up more and more damage till the beast¡¯s limbs can no longer move. Then, with a loud, final hurrah, they crush its face with a warhammer. With the Fenriromorph defeated, the prisoners cheer loudly at their success. ¡°Fuck. This is bad.¡± I say aloud. ¡°Da,¡± Boriss nods, ¡°Fight take too long. They need stab brain.¡± ¡°No- well, yes. They should have focused on weak points. But the problem is that it was too easy.¡± Boriss raises an eyebrow in my direction, but I instead turn towards distant sounds and the direction where prisoners are running from. ¡°Come on, Boriss, we¡¯re going to go get guns. Lots of guns.¡± The Russian opens his mouth, only to pause when a dozen Fenriromorph arrive and see their brethren¡¯s corpse. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! ¡°Move, NOW!¡± I yell and turn. I sprint full speed towards the entrance to the Gold District, Boriss follows right behind. At the entrance, the old guards are now fresh corpses. Their bodies are mangled and ripped apart, their kevlar armor is shredded and their shock batons lie broken next to their remains. Damn. I kinda liked those two. ¡°Eyes and ears ready,¡± I tell Boriss. ¡°Da,¡± he agrees, ¡°like Russian dog.¡± Entering the hallway that leads to the gold district, I find bloodprints matching the footprints of the Fenriromorphs¡¯ digitigrade legs. We continue through the hallways with caution. Corpses line the walls and body parts are strewn everywhere. Cautiously, we make our way to the Gasthaus building. To my surprise, no Fenriromorphs block our path, but the corpses mutely attest to their recent passage.. ¡°Too silent,¡± Borris whispers. ¡°Agreed.¡± We continue past several side passages and arrive at the Gasthaus building. Slowly, we open the door and enter inside. The scent of blood permeates the reception area, and the squelching sound of blood and meat comes from behind the desk. The receptionist is dead, and a Fenririmorph hovers over his body and bites into his corpse. The Fenriromorph¡¯s ears flicker. It stops eating and lifts its head. The head turns in our direction. IC God Games - chapter 10: Submission ¡°Boriss, go right, I¡¯ll go left. As soon as it attacks one of us, the other should go for the tendons.¡± The Russian nods and slowly moves around the right side of the desk. I match his movement to the left. The Fenriromorph observes our actions like a predator would prey. ¡°It¡¯s going to attack me. Be ready.¡± I hear Boriss grunt but refuse to take my eyes off the monster. Then I notice it, the slight bend of its legs. All at once, the Fenriromorph leaps toward me with a speed I¡¯d not expected. I jump to the side and barely dodge a claw that scratches my right arm. The Fenriromorph¡¯s momentum carries it headfirst into the concrete wall. The monster screams in anger and agony from the impact. Before it can push off the wall, Boriss is already on the move. With the full weight of his body, he drives his maul¡¯s point into the Fenrirmorph¡¯s head and slams it back into the stone wall. Mutant puppy brains splatter everywhere and blood runs down the wall onto the carpet. ¡°Fuck, those things can hop fast,¡± I curse as I get up. ¡°Good strike. I¡¯d have gone for a decapitation, but I guess fatalities are good too.¡± ¡°Comrade, you are injured,¡± Boriss points at my arm. ¡°Just a scratch,¡± I explain, ¡°I¡¯ll disinfect it when I get down. These things don''t seem like they use poison to take things down. Come on, let''s go.¡± He nods and we head to the elevator, only, the elevator is no longer working. ¡°Well, isn¡¯t this ominous? Stairs,¡± I say. ¡°Is okay,¡± Boriss pulls open the door to the stairwell, ¡°Elevator is boring anyway.¡± ¡°Keep quiet,¡± I whisper. ¡°Like mouse,¡± Borris says. I descend the stairs carefully, reducing my noise to nearly nothing. And nothing is all I hear. I grimace in the silence and glance back. Borris follows me just as quietly, his careful movement giving the lie to his massive frame. He is very skilled. We continue until we arrive at the basement entrance. I put my ear to the door and hear the sound of soft breathing from two mouths. I raise two fingers and then point towards the door. Boriss nods. He shifts his posture and positions his weapon to attack. I take a silent breath then fling open the door and rush in. Two men holding spears yelp in surprise. They try to point their weapons in my direction, but are too slow. I kick one guard in the face and then disarm the other. Boriss rushes in after me. He grabs the guy I kicked by the neck and then slams him into the wall. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± I ask the prisoner, my rapier poking his throat. ¡°S-surviving,¡± he stammers. ¡°Cillian said it was safe here.¡± ¡°Quasi, is that you?¡± I hear a certain Scott call from the workshop. Cillian rushes out of the room with my zip-rifle aimed in my direction. As soon as he sees my face, he grins and quickly lowers it. ¡°You¡¯re alive!¡± he exclaims, ¡°Fuck, you were right. You fucking knew!¡± Several more armed prisoners rush out of the workshop with weapons ready. ¡°Lower your guns,¡± Cillian quickly exclaims. ¡°This is the guy. He¡¯s the one who knew this would happen.¡± ¡°Predicted,¡± I remove my rapier from the man''s throat. ¡°Boriss, looks like we have allies.¡± This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°Ah, new comrades. Good.¡± Boriss removes his hand from the prisoner''s throat and allows him to slide down to the ground. ¡°So,¡± I look at Cillian holding my rifle and his posse holding my shotguns, ¡°Seems you helped yourself.¡± ¡°Of course I did. I was a successful arms-dealer for nearly a decade.¡± I raise an eyebrow at the chubby Scott. ¡°What? You think they just give anyone a gold rank? Of course I¡¯m more capable than I look.¡± ¡°Right,¡± I nod slowly. I glance at the other prisoners. ¡°How many of you are there?¡± ¡°Nine,¡± Cillian explains, ¡°and one injured. Everyone here is a survivor of their floor.¡± ¡°I see. Then, let''s get inside and you can explain to me the situation. Boriss, close the door to the stairs and shove something big in the way.¡± Boriss gives me a salute. I follow Cillian into the workshop and am once again struck with the smell of blood. My head turns to a hunched figure nursing a mangled arm. Next to the figure is another guy applying a splint. ¡°What happened?¡± I ask. ¡°He was bitten by one of those things. Barely got away, that one.¡± Cillian explains. The man groans and shakes as the other prisoner works on his arm. ¡°Its¡­its¡­its¡­¡± the injured prisoner stammers. ¡°It''s coming. It¡­ it hunts me. It wants me.¡± I raise an eyebrow. ¡°What hunts you? What wants you?¡± The prisoner raises his head and looks at me with slitted eyes. ¡°Submission. It wants submis-ghe, gheahhhhh,¡± he screams. ¡°Stop moving. I can''t work on your arm if you keep mov-¡± ¡°Get away from him. NOW!¡± I yell. The injured man starts shaking even more. The prisoner working on the arm quickly backs away. Then it begins. The injured man''s hand knits itself back together and grows hair. The prisoner''s body morphs and changes. It grows rapidly with the fur spreading everywhere. Horns grow from the man''s skull. His face elongates and changes. Two eyes turn to four and then six. Muscles bulge and legs shift. In a matter of ten seconds, a human has just become a Fenriromorph. The Fenriromorph gazes at me with slitted eyes. Pleading eyes of someone fighting desperately for control. ¡°As you wish.¡± I lunge forward and stab my rapier through one of its eyes, directly into its brain. The Fenriromorph falls to the floor, dead. Fuck. Demon werewolves. Why is it always demon werewolves? Why can''t it just be a simple disease or something? I glance at the injury on my arm. I hope this, whatever this is, spreads only through saliva. ¡°One sec,¡± I walk to the workshop bathroom. I open the cupboard, grab some alcohol, and then pour it over my scratch then dry it off with a towel. When I walk out, everyone is hovering over the Fenriromorphs corpse. ¡°Put some gloves on and carry that thing into one of the closets. Cillian, come here. I want to talk to you privately.¡± He nods and we walk to a corner. ¡°Whatcha need? If I can help, I will.¡± he glances at the injury on my arm. ¡°Scratch from one of those thing¡¯s claws. Not actually a bite.¡± ¡°I-I see.¡± he grimaces warily. ¡°But that''s not important right now.¡± I wave him off, ¡°I need all those weapons you¡¯ve armed everyone with.¡± ¡°What? Why? We need to protect ourselves while we wait for help.¡± I shake my head. ¡°This city is no longer on earth. If we wait, we die. We need to get to the big elevator and leave as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Not on earth¡­ but. How do you know?¡± ¡°The gravity is slightly different. It feels a little weaker. My guess is we¡¯re on a different planet or a change in elevation. Regardless, we¡¯re not anywhere we can get external help.¡± He frowns, ¡°Are you planning on leaving alone?¡± ¡°I¡¯m leaving with Boriss and you- as long as you can follow orders.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t more people be better?¡± ¡°No. Too many people will attract attention. I¡¯m only offering you a spot because you can actually hold a gun correctly.¡± ¡°I¡­ see.¡± He glances at the other prisoners as they work with Boriss to move the corpse. ¡°Right, then. I¡¯ll get it done.¡± ¡°Good. After that, we need to get a map. I need to find out how to get to the main elevator. Any idea?¡± Cillian strokes his beard, ¡°Herman Toftloy might have one. He¡¯s the leader of the gold district up top.¡± I nod. ¡°That''s a good start. We¡¯ll go up there together. Just make sure you get us those weapons.¡± ¡°I will.¡± _____________________________________________________________ IC God Games - Chapter 11: Need a hand ¡°This is embarrassin¡±, Cillian whines atop Boriss¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Don''t whine. It¡¯s your fault for being so out of shape.¡± ¡°Da,¡± Boriss agrees, ¡°for short comrade, you are like heavy potato sack. Is good for training.¡± ¡°Ughhh.¡± Cillian groans. ¡°Shush,¡± I exclaim, ¡°We¡¯re almost there. I want complete silence.¡± When we reach the top floor, I am met with a locked door. A very incredibly disappointingly locked door. I reach onto my hip and retrieve a dagger. Then, I slide it down between the strike plate and faceplate. I hear the deadbolt click. Once unlocked, I move my ear to the door and listen. I hear the squelching sound of meat- the exact same sound I¡¯d heard on the main floor. I continue listening for another half minute without any new sounds. I lift a single finger and point at the door. Boriss nods. Slowly and silently, he puts down the sack of potatoes and prepares his hammer. While he prepares, I unsheathe one of my poisoned throwing daggers for a test. I open the door quickly. The Fenriromorphs hears the new sound and raises its head in my direction. My hand flickers and the dagger strikes through one of the six eyes. The Fenriromorph roars in both surprise and pain. It attempts to dislodge the dagger from its eye, but all that does is cause more pain. While it screams, me and Boriss move into the room and wait to see if the poison is effective. The Fenriromorph, still growling, glares angrily at us. It steps forward, and then staggers. The Fenriromorph¡¯s bestial anger disappears and is replaced by confusion as it struggles to stand properly. ¡°It¡¯s working much faster than I expected.¡± I comment. ¡°Da, like coffee and poop.¡± We continue staring at the Fenriromorph as its struggle continues. It sways more and more until it falls on its knees and begins whimpering like a puppy. ¡°Um¡­ you gonna let it suffer like that?¡± I hear Cillian ask. ¡°Yes. Da.¡± Me and Boriss answer at the same time. ¡°But it''s whining,¡± Cillian exclaims. ¡°This is animal abuse.¡± I raise an eyebrow at the Scot, and then I look at the Fenriromorph with human blood still dripping from its maw. ¡°I¡¯m fine with animal abuse when said animal killed a human and then started eating its corpse.¡± I point at Herman Toftloy¡¯s open chest. ¡°Comrade Quasi,¡± Boriss warns. ¡°What the hell?¡± Smoke wafts from the Fenriromorphs fur. The color slowly shifts from dark brown to plum. The injury on its eye sizzles as the dagger is pushed out. Then, the injury starts regenerating and knitting itself back to normal. Finally, a second set of longer horns grow atop its head. ¡°Well, shit.¡± I curse. The Fenriromorph opens its maw and saliva leaks out of its mouth. The smell of Phenol quickly permeates the room. A sweet, acrid odor- the same chemical used in the poisons of my daggers. ¡°They fucking evolve. Of course they do. It can''t just be normal demon werewolves.¡± I shake my head. I reach to my back and unlatch my zip-rifle. I take aim and then pull the trigger. The Fenriromorph¡¯s regenerating eye explodes as the bullet travels into the monster''s brain. It falls dead to the floor. ¡°Couldn¡¯t you have done that sooner?¡± Cillian asks. ¡°I could have,¡± I lower my rifle, ¡°but I¡¯m trying to save bullets. They aren''t exactly a reusable resource.¡± I walk to the Fenriromorphs corpse and kick it a few times to make sure its actually dead. I¡¯ve seen too many times where something that looks to be dead actually isn''t. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Alright, let''s find a map. I¡¯ll check the desk. Boris, check the body. Cillian, keep lookout.¡± I walk to Hermans¡¯ desk and open the drawers. I find another empty book of rules; A notebook with prisoners'' names; Documents pertaining to funding and guard rotation. When I get to the last drawer, I am met with a dusty old rotary phone. On the side of the phone is a small booklet of numbers. The names and numbers are as follows.
Gold Blockleiter 0005
Silver Blockleiter 0004
Bronze Blockleiter 0003
Black Blockleiter 0002
Aufseherin/Aufseher 0001
¡°Find anything, Boris?¡± I ask. Boriss grins and points at his feet. ¡°Good boots.¡± I raise an eyebrow at the corpse¡¯s missing shoes. ¡°Right¡­ no map I presume?¡± He shakes his head. Damn. I look back to the list of numbers. I guess I could try to make a call. I dial the last number on the list and then pick up the phone. I hear ringing for nearly ten seconds. Just as I¡¯m about to put the phone down, I hear a click. ¡°Warum hat der Anruf so lange gedauert?¡± I hear a sharp no-nonsense voice from none other than the woman who likes to play golf. ¡°Herman Toftloy is dead,¡± I state. There is a pause from the other end. ¡°How did he die?¡± she asks. ¡°Fenriromorph,¡± I answer. Another pause. ¡°Who is this?¡± ¡°Quasi Eludo- Summoned Hero extraordinaire and professional monster slayer. If you¡¯ve followed the news, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard of the crazy guy who talks about gods and warned the world about these tests.¡± I answer. Another long pause. ¡°I have¡­ what can you tell me about this situation?¡± she asks. ¡°It¡¯s bleak. We¡¯re probably no longer on earth and nobody is coming to save us. If we stay in Downside, we die. Our only choice is to escape via the main elevator.¡± ¡°SCHEISSE,¡± I hear her curse, ¡°that is not possible. One of those things- bigger than all the others, is guarding the elevator. All of my guards there are dead, and what few I have left with me don¡¯t have any equipment capable of killing it. ¡°I have explosives,¡± I state. Another pause. Longer than the rest. ¡°What do you need?¡± ¡°I¡¯m currently in Herman¡¯s office. I need either a map or direction to get to the elevator.¡± ¡°Downside is under emergency power. Emergency power is not supplied to any elevators other than the main one. The only way to get up here is to climb the elevator shaft in the central yard.¡± ¡°Fuck. Annoying, but I think I can get it done. Anything else I need to know?¡± ¡°Yes. Access to the elevator shaft is blocked by a right-hand scanner. You will need Herman¡¯s hand to access the elevator.¡± I glance at Herman¡¯s corpse and thankfully un-mauled arm. ¡°Once we scale the elevator, what then?¡± ¡°I will meet you up there,¡± She answers. ¡°Good. Then I¡¯ll head to the elevator now.¡± ¡°Viel Gl¨¹ck.¡± I hear her say followed by the click of the phone. I look at Boriss and Cillian. ¡°We¡¯ve got our marching orders. We¡¯re heading to the center of the yard to escape. Boriss, I need you to cut off Herman¡¯s right hand and bring it with us.¡± ¡°What? The yard? Isn¡¯t that suicide? We¡¯ll be sittin ducks passin through there,¡± cillian says. ¡°If we leave now, there should be plenty of other surviving prisoners creating a distraction.¡± I hear the cracking and squelching sound of Boriss breaking bone and ripping an arm off a corpse. ¡°Da, we move like sneaky mouse, then fight like bear. Is good plan.¡± He waves the bloody appendage at me, ¡°I have hand.¡± ¡°Wrap it in something and let Cillian hold it. We have to move fa- Aghhhh.¡± I feel pain radiate from the scratch on my right arm. My arm shakes as the pain works its way up my shoulder. SUBMIT! I hear a loud distorted voice ring in my head. An inhuman voice that demands only obedience. A mental order to give up and surrender. ¡°Comrade Quasi?¡± The pain in my arm subsides, but the mental pressure continues to resonate like an open wound. The pressure demands me to give into it. Fuck! ¡°I¡¯m fine, but our timetable just moved up. Let''s head out.¡± IC God Games - Chapter 12: Shafted To my surprise, the trip back to the yard''s entrance was rather uneventful. Sure, there are more corpses on the streets, and you can hear the growls of Fenriromorphs accompanied by the pained screams of prisoners, but those cries are all inside the buildings. Traveling the hallway, we enter the Yard proper and are met with more bodies, including the corpses of several Fenriromorphs. ¡°They put up a fight.¡± Cillian exclaims in surprise. ¡°Maybe we can actually fight them off.¡± ¡°It would be possible if not for the fact these Fenriromorphs can reproduce from a scratch.¡± Cillian glances at the injury on my arm worryingly. ¡°Are you¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be fine so long as we get out of this dungeon.¡± Cillian grimaces at my answer, but nods the same. ¡°Good. Let''s stay quiet and head to the center. I want to avoid using anything that could attract attention.¡± ______________________________________________ We continue through the streets of the yard, seemingly following a line of corpses that lead towards the center. While we travel, we hear the sound of fighting in the distance. Roars of Fenriromorphs and the screams of humans tell us what direction to avoid. Whereas it took me a good twenty minutes to get to the arena before, now it takes us nearly an hour from our slower pace. When we arrive at the pits, we are met with the same endless corpses, but with no Fenriromorph in sight. ¡°Why haven''t we seen any of them?¡± Cillian breaks the silence, which has both me and Boriss glaring at him to shut up. ¡°But.¡± I put a finger to my lips. I walk close to Cillian and then whisper into his ear. ¡°These monsters seem to hunt in packs. If we even see one of these things, then the whole group is probably nearby. Understood?¡± He nods. ¡°Good.¡± I glance at Boriss and direct him to lead the way. The Russian salutes and takes poin¡¯t. After walking for a minute, I release a growl and fall to my knees. My left hand grabs my right. Intense pain resonates from my arm and down my body. At the same time, the pressure on my psych ramps up in intensity. SUBMIT! SUBMIT! SUBMIT! The pain and pressure come in a constant thrum that escalates to a mind-breaking torture. Imagine having every nerve in your body sending a pain signal all at once. But, alongside that pain is a voice promising reprieve from such pain so long as I¡­ SUBMIT! Then, just like before, the pain subsides down to a manageable level. I release a breath and then glance up to the barrel of a makeshift shotgun. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I stand back up , ¡°we should keep moving.¡± Boriss lowers the rifle and nods. We eventually arrived at the center building. We are greeted with a very large thick metal door with small glass windows and a monitor to the side of it. ¡°Huh.¡± I place my hand on the door. ¡°I was expecting something to go wrong.¡± As soon as the words leave my lips, a Fenriromorph¡¯s face reveals itself on the opposite side of the door. Its claws clink loudly on the metal as its head smacks into the glass. We all jump away from the door in surprise. The monster continues slamming into it several more times before it finally stops. It glares at us angrily for many moments. Then it raises its open mouth into the air. HHHHOOOOOOOWWWWWWLLLLLL The howl emanates from the fenriromorph so loudly that I feel my eardrums vibrate. Not a moment after the howl ends, I hear the howls of distant fenriromorphs in every direction from our location. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. ¡°Shit! Cillian, get that door open now! Boriss, shotguns and bombs out. We¡¯re going to have company.¡± ¡°But,'''' Cillian glances at the seemingly smug fenriromorph on the other side of the door. ¡°No time. We¡¯ll deal with it when the door opens. Right now, we have a fucking pack heading our way. Get the Door!¡± At the end of my words, the first fenriromorph nears our location. I quickly unlatch my zip-rifle and take aim. The fenriromorph slows to a stop. I pull the trigger and my bullet rips through its skull. I quickly reload another bullet as two more arrive. I hear Cillian unwrap Herman¡¯s arm. The two new fenriromorph are slightly different from the first. They look slightly larger, more muscular. Then I notice the black bands tightly around their legs. Unlike the first, these two fenriromorphs don''t stop to pounce. Instead, they rush towards us. ¡°Boriss, take out the one on the right.¡± I order. As they get near, I pull the trigger. My bullet misses the head and instead strikes the neck. Thankfully, it manages to pierce the spine and the fenriromorph falls to the floor. The other fenriromorph only makes it ten feet before Boriss¡¯s shotgun goes off and removes the fenriromorph¡¯s head. He throws the used pipe shotgun to the side and retrieves another from his bag. ¡°Hand me one of the shotguns. The accuracy of my gun is going to shit faster than I¡¯d expected.¡± He throws me a shotgun at the same time as three more show up. ¡°Cillian, what''s taking so long?¡± ¡°Feckin hang on.¡± I hear him smack the limb on the scanner. ¡°Hand erkannt. Scannen aller Fingerabdr¨¹cke. Bitte warten." I hear the scanner say in a woman''s voice. ¡°It¡¯s scannin now!¡± he yells. ¡°It¡¯s taking too fucking long,¡± I curse as seven more fenriromorphs arrive. Then another ten. Then another thirty. ¡°Fuck me,¡± I curse again at the swarm. ¡°Comrade Qua-¡± ¡°Boriss, get the napalm out and light it.¡± I interrupt him. ¡°How many?¡± ¡°Ten!¡± He quickly reaches into the pack and starts retrieving the bottles. I take out a light and start lighting all of the fuses. By the time the last fuse is lit, the fenriromorphs are sprinting at us. ¡°Create a wall of fire. We need to keep them back.¡± Me and Boriss begin throwing the napalm and igniting everything outside. The fenriromorphs rush into the flames without fear. Then they scream as flames burn their fur and flesh. They howl in agony, anger, and confusion. ¡°Scan abgeschlossen. T¨¹r ?ffnet.¡± ¡°The door¡¯s opening!¡± Cillian yells. At his words, I grab my rifle, spin around, aim, and shoot through the halfway open doors. At point-blank range, accuracy means nothing as my bullet enters the fenriromorph¡¯s eye and turns the monster''s brain into slush. ¡°Get inside. Those flames aren''t going to last forever.¡± We rush inside and I turn to the door controls to close the door. But the screen to control the door looks to have been clawed by the recently deceased fenriromorph. ¡°Shit. Elevator, now!¡± We rush down the hallway and enter the elevator room where Guard and animal corpses line the entire area. Even the corpse of a bear lies dead in its cage. Cillian sprints to the elevator control panel and finds the screen lacking power. ¡°The controls aren''t working!¡± ¡°We¡¯re not using the elevator, we¡¯re climbing the shaft,¡± I point at the top of the elevator. ¡°Boriss, give me a lift.¡± Boriss rushes to me and kneels with his palms forward. With a single heave, I reach the ceiling of the elevator and gain access to the chain. ¡°Cillian, you¡¯re next.¡± He looks up at me and the chain with surprise. ¡°Are we actually climbing all the way up there?¡± ¡°No fucking time. Get up here or die.¡± We hear the howl of fenriromorphs outside. ¡°Feck me.¡± He rushes to Boriss. Boriss lifts Cillian and I help pull him up. Then I lean down and extend my hand. Boriss jumps and grabs my arm. With a strength born of someone in peak physical condition, the Russian lifts himself up on his own. I hear the sound of claws clicking metal as the swarm enters the hallways. ¡°We climb, now!¡± ¡°But, I can-,¡± Cillian doesn''t get to finish as Boriss picks up the Scot and places him on top of his back. ¡°Hold tight.¡± he orders and starts to climb one of the four chains. I take another and we ascend. By the time the fenriromorphs arrive, we¡¯ve scaled ten meters. They quickly find our location and swarm the top of the elevator. Several attempt to climb, but fail. Then I notice them. fenriromorphs with another set of horns alongside bright orange fur. They glare directly at us. One of them opens their mouth in our direction. Then I watch as a bright red flame sprouts upward nearly thirty feet- barely out of range. Though the fire doesn''t reach us, the heat and fumes do. Several more fenriromorphs join the first. They breath fire in our direction, but lack the range to hit. ¡°Alright, looks like they can''t follow us. Let''s climb to the top.¡± ¡°Potato heavy,¡± Boriss grunts. It takes us a good ten minutes to finally reach the top, where the elevator door is already open. At the entrance to the elevator is Irmgard Von Braun carrying an officer sword covered in red and green blood. IC God Games - Chapter 13: Alpha ¡°Have you got the explosives?¡± she asks as I hop out of the elevator shaft. Before I even deign to answer, I lean into the wall and allow my muscles to relax. If you¡¯ve ever been rope climbing, you¡¯ll know that it is very strenuous on the muscles. Lifting your own body weight for an extended period of time is going to tire you out. ¡°Da, many bombs,¡± Boriss hops out of the shaft with a grin. He lays down the potato sack and then flexes his muscles as though his weight, Cillian''s weight, and the bag of explosives weighed nothing. Irmgard nods approvingly at Boriss and then looks at me. ¡°The way to the elevator is clear. Only the big one remains.¡± ¡°How many guards do you have to help us?¡± ¡°None,¡± she answers, ¡°I am the only one left. All the others died on my way here.¡± Fuck. That¡¯s not good. ¡°Well, let''s move on. Time is of the essence.¡± ¡°Already?¡± Cillian whines. ¡°My belly¡¯s still sore from laying on his shoulder.¡± ¡°No choice there. The longer this takes, the worse it gets. Take a look.¡± I point at the window. We all move to the window revealing the entire city. ¡°Feck me, it¡¯s burning,¡± Cillian says. The flames we¡¯d created from the molotovs are rapidly spreading throughout the yard. As it spreads, the smoke rises to the ceiling and smothers the lights. In the next hour or two, it will be thick enough to smother everything in darkness. ¡°Let''s move,¡± I look at the Warden, ¡°lead the way.¡± ¡°Folgen,¡± she says and turns toward the hallway. We follow behind until we enter a room filled with guard and fenriromorph bodies. As I stare at the bodies, I note several bladed thrusts through fenriromorph eyes. When I glance at the human bodies, I note that not all of them were mauled to death. That explains the red blood on her sword. I halt my movement and Boriss and Cillian do the same. ¡°You executed your guards.¡± I point at the sliced necks, ¡°Why?¡± She turns to me and gives me an unamused glare. ¡°They were injured. If they are left alive, they would have turned into these monsters.¡± She unsheathes her sword and stabs a dead fenriromorph through another eye. ¡°The transformation is not immediate. They would have survived long enough to fight with us.¡± I explain She raises an eyebrow. ¡°One of my guards was injured and turned into these things in only twenty minutes. He slaughtered five more of my guards until he was put down.¡± Minutes? It¡¯s been over an hour since I was scratched. Hmm, maybe it depends on the size of the initial wound? Just as I¡¯m about to speak, I feel the pressure increase again. I fall to my knees and grip my right arm as it shakes. Pain spikes throughout my body as every neuron fires into every pain receptor. SUBMIT SUBMIT SUBMIT SUBMIT I hear the command force its way toward me. It promises relief from the pain and pressure. A relief that no normal human can resist. SUBMIT SUBMIT The command continues, stronger than ever before. So much stronger that I¡¯m able to feel where it is coming from. After what feels like hours, but is more akin to a minute, the pain subsides, but the mental pressure continues. When I finally look up, I¡¯m met with a sword pointed at my face. Irmgard glares at me angrily, ready to stab me through the eye. The only reason she doesnt is Boriss¡¯s dagger to her throat. I release a sigh and push the sword away. ¡°Boriss, let her go.¡± The Russian removes his dagger from her throat. ¡°Comrade Quasi, is getting worse, yes?¡± ¡°It is, though I think the cause of it is the monster at the elevator. If we kill it, this sickness should stop.¡± I make eye contact with Irmgard. ¡°Lead the way. My time is running out.¡± She stares at me for a long moment. Then she slowly nods, sheathes her sword, and turns to lead. We continue through several more corridors and arrive at processing. We stop at a single double door. The same door that I¡¯d passed through on my first day at Downside. ¡°We must plan and prepare.¡± she says. I walk to the table in the room and lay down my rifle and my rather useless daggers. ¡°Boriss, unload everything here.¡± He does as I ask and we are left with a dozen pipe bombs, two napalm grenades, and several single use shotguns. ¡°Irmgard, tell us about the fenriromorph. Is it just a larger version of the usual ones or are there other differences?¡± I ask ¡°The monster is twenty feet tall, covered in armored chitin, and has five sets of horns.¡± ¡°Anything else?¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. She pauses. ¡°It moves slower.¡± ¡°Slower¡­ I can work with that? Is it alone?¡± ¡°Yes..¡± ¡°I¡¯m guessing you know this by camera?¡± ¡°No, my office has a full view of the elevator. That thing is the first monster that I¡¯d seen. All the lights went off, then the emergency lights turned on and it was just standing in the middle of the elevator.¡± So, fenriromorphs were teleported in and dispersed throughout the prison at the same moment that the prison was transported. That specific fenriromorph is probably the last line of defense and will need to be killed or bypassed. Considering a height of twenty feet, it can''t leave the elevator. Which means killing it is a requirement for escape. ¡°What''s the environment like? If memory serves, there were a lot of boxes and loading equipment.¡± ¡°If you are asking whether there are places to hide, then the answer is yes. But, I should warn you that most of everything on the elevator is made either of wood or plastic. It will not hold against the monster.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t need to hold. We just need a way to hide while we get into position.¡± I explain. My hand taps the explosives. ¡°Now, I¡¯m not sure the pipe bombs will be strong enough to penetrate its chitin, so we¡¯ll have to do a test. If it fails, we¡¯re going to have to lob the explosive into its mouth or eyes.¡± ¡°So, our plan is to throw explosives at the fenriromorph Alpha and hope it works? Is that really it?¡± Cillian asks, flabbergasted. ¡°Couldn''t we try to shoot it to death instead?¡± fenriromorph Alpha. I can get behind that name. ¡°Yea,¡± I nod, ¡°but thats far more riskier than lobbing explosives. If it can survive explosives, then it can survive bullets.¡± He groans, ¡°I don''t suppose I can use the gun,¡± he points at the rifle with more than half the bullets spent. ¡°Go ahead, but the rifling is pretty damaged. Accuracy is going to suffer a decent bit.¡± He picks it up alongside the last few bullets. ¡°I¡¯ll hang back and wait for an opportunity.¡± ¡°Fine with me. We¡¯ll divide up the explosives between the rest of us. Then we¡¯re going to enter the elevator and split up. Let''s try to surround the thing.¡± ______________________________________________________ The doors slide open to the scent of blood and the taste of Iron. We enter the massive elevator and are met with hundreds of stacked crates and several forklifts near them. Above, two cranes tower over everything. ¡°Where is-,¡± I begin, but am interrupted by movement and a growl. We look towards the direction of the sound. Above a stack of crates, a massive head rises to peer above them. The head clearly looks like a fenriromorph, except it is far larger with ten horns and what seems like a combination of scales and chitin for its skin. Six eyes turn towards us with an intelligence not before seen by any other fenriromorph. As it stares, a chill runs down my neck alongside the mental pressure. No pain yet, but that I expect to happen soon. The fenriromorph opens its mouth and then howls so loud that we¡¯re all forced to cover our ears. When the howl ends, the monster ducks under the crates. And now the hunt begins. ¡°Split up and don''t wait in the same place. If you see it and it sees you, yell loudly so we can support. Keep low and always have somewhere to run.¡± We split up and travel through the mazes of crates. I keep my ear open, but find the large fans above to be drowning out any nuanced noise. I weave through the boxes quickly while making as little noise as possible. Nothing is out of the ordinary as I enter deeper into the elevator. Then I feel it. A spike in the pressure on my psyche from my right. Without thinking further, I immediately sprint left. A second later and the crates burst apart as the fenriromorph Alpha stomps after me. To my surprise, though the monster towers over me, its movement speed is both slow and surprisingly silent. I grab one of the bombs and light the fuse. After two seconds, I throw the bomb towards the Fenriromorph Alpha. It reaches the monster and explodes a foot away from its chest. I hear a roar and then feel the elevator rumble as the fenriromorph falls to the floor. I quickly stop running and turn around to assess the situation of the damage. I grimace as the Fenriromorph Alpha gets back up. Green blood can be seen leaking from the scales, but the scales look to be moderately undamaged. Some cracks, but nowhere near enough to do any real damage. I assess the rest of its body, and eventually realize that the scales on its head are smaller. ¡°Aim for the head!¡± I yell. ¡°Its scales are too thick everywhere else!¡± The Fenriromorph Alpha shakes its head. Our eyes meet and I feel the pressure build up again. Then I watch as a pipe bomb lands on its nostril. I grin. The bomb explodes and the beast screams and falls from the impact. I look up and find Boriss standing on the top of the crane with a crazed glint in his eye. The Russian throws another pipe bomb just as the Fenriromorph raises its head. It bounces once and then explodes. Seeing what he is doing, I throw my own bomb at the Fenriromorph¡¯s head. This time, the monster actually rolls to the side and dodges the explosion. When its head rises again, half its eyes are on me and the other glare up at Boriss. Then the Napalm hits from the back and smothers the Fenriromorph¡¯s head in flames. ¡°MORE BOMBS!¡± I yell. I throw another Pipe bomb that explodes. Followed by another from Boriss. Then Irmgard, the source of the napalm grenade, throws her own explosives at the fenriromorph. Eventually, Boriss and Ingrid run out of explosive and I am left with a last pipe bomb. We all wait with bated breaths as the dust settles for long moments. When the dust clears, the mutilated face of the fenriromorph is left covered in green blood. The scales on its face have all been destroyed and melted off to reveal bone. As I stare at the face, a grimace forms on my lips. The pressure is still present. And just as I¡¯d expected, the beast''s eyelids flicker open. Two eyes are destroyed, but four are staring angrily at me. ¡°Shit.¡± The fenriromorph, clearly angry, gets up faster than it did before. An arm grabs a nearby crate and then Yeets it in my direction. I try to dodge to the side, but am too slow. The crate makes contact with my body with enough force to shatter and send me reeling into another crate. I feel several bones break and a puncture through my stomach. Even so, I ignore the pain and continue to stay conscious until my body slides to a stop. Groaning from pain, I force myself to quickly stand back up- only to fall to one knee from a shattered knee. I shift my head upwards and feel the pressure on my head increase as I match eyes with the fenriromorph Alpha. The fenriromorph snarls at me. It takes a step in my direction. Then a third eye explodes followed by the sound of a distant gunshot. Fucking lucky shot. The fenriromorph shifts its head towards the source of the sound. A fitting distraction for Boriss to hop off the crane and land between the monster''s horns. ¡°Like riding bear!¡± I hear the crazy Russian yell. Then I watch as he pointblanks a shotgun at its head. The bullets impact bone and lodges an inch inside. Not enough to penetrate, but enough to piss it off even more. The beast roars in pain. It shakes its head and attempts to force the Russian off, but Boriss grabs a horn and stays riding. The beast, in panic, confusion, fear, and anger rushes around in circles to throw him off. Damn. We need something stronger. I glance down at my feet to find my last pipe bomb. Maybe if I lob that thing in its mouth? I glance at my body. Broken ribs, puncture wound through the stomach, unusable left leg. Yea, I¡¯m not going anywhere¡­ unless. My eyes move to my right hand and the slowly rising pain. I chuckle as the pain continues to rise and spread throughout my body. This time, instead of resisting the pain, I embrace it. The Pressure in my Psyche grows stronger and stronger as does the pain. Then I hear it. SUBMIT SUBMIT SUBMIT It grows stronger. SUBMIT SUBMIT SUBMIT With a thought, I retreat into my mind and relinquish my body. IC God Games - Chapter 14: Fluffy Comrade ¡°Feck me.¡± Cillian panics. ¡°Feck you jammin on me now?¡± he asks the Zip-rifle, half expecting it to answer. With a grunt and click, he manages to open the rifle. With a shaky hand, he loads another bullet and takes aim. ¡°Crazy feckin Russian.¡± he exclaims from his perch atop several crates. His barrel follows the fenriromorph Alpha as it rampages in circles. The beast slams its head into crates to throw Boriss off, but the Russian continues to keep his grip. Eventually, the monster stops to raise its arms to reach the top of its head, only to fall short as the interlocking scales restrict its arm movements. Using the struggle as an opportunity, Boris lights another shotgun directly into its face. The beast roars in agony, but still continues seemingly unhindered. Then, out of nowhere, the beast stops its movement. It spread its legs and seems to brace. Boriss, using this opportunity, retrieves another shotgun and takes aim. At the same time, the fenriromorphs'' armored spiked tail rises up. Slightly panicking, Cillian aims his rifle to the tail. He fires at it, and hits. The bullet loudly pings off the scale. Boriss, hearing the sound, notices the tail. He drops the shotgun and jumps off the head, narrowly dodging the tail strike as it slams into the fenriromorphs head. The strike makes contact and the monster falls face first into the ground. After the fall, the beast roars in even more pain. When it rises, it is down to only two good eyes. One of the destroyed eyes has an officer sword sticking deep into it. While it rages and screams, Irmgard rushes away from its feet. The woman had timed the beast''s fall perfectly and positioned herself for the stab. The fenriromorph raises its head and roars loudly. Its two eyes ascertain the battlefield for threats. Then, its eyes fall on Cillian. It roars in his direction and rampages towards him. ¡°Shite!¡± he curses. With a struggle, he opens the Zip-rifle and inserts the last bullet. He raises the rifle and aims it at one of the two good eyes. He pulls the trigger¡­ and the bullet bounces off a horn. Undeterred by the sound, the monstrosity rushes towards him with a vengeance. Just as it is about to reach his position, something large slams into the side of its skull with enough force to veer it into a pile of crates. Not a moment later, the beast regains its bearing and once again stands fully erect. Cillians gasps as a grinning fenriromorph is latching on the Alphas snout using the bullet holes as leverage. Still gaping, the fenriromorph pulls out the officer''s sword with one arm, shoves a lit pipe bomb into the eye, and then pushes the bomb deeper into the skull using the sword before hopping off and landing directly next to cillian. The fenriromorph then coolly raises both its arms with middle fingers extended. A muted explosion goes off, followed by the Fenriromorph Alpha finally falling for the last time. ________________________________________________________ Just as the Alpha¡¯s face explodes, the pressure on my noggin completely disappears. The monster''s body falls to the floor with a loud whump. Only then do I deign to lower my fingers. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Well, that takes care of that. I glance at my new form. I was kinda hoping I¡¯d turn back with the boss dead. Maybe I¡¯ll get to turn back if I finish the test? ¡°Q-Quasi. Is that still you?¡± I turn to Cillian and nod. ¡°Grraaagg Greeoggg.¡± My attempt to speak is met with garbled nonsense. I sigh. I walk up to him and grab him by the arm. ¡°What are yo-shite!¡± Then I hear him curse as I lift him up to my shoulder. I hop off the crates and slow my descent using my claws. When I land, I lower the Scot to the floor. ¡°Ughhh, my stomach,¡± Cillian touches his belly, ¡°Warn me next time you¡¯re gonna do somethin like dat.¡± I roll my six eyes and start walking to the corpse. Cillian follows after a second. ____________________________________________________ My arrival is met with Panic by both Boriss and Irmgard, but the presence of Cillian walking calmly next to me puts them at ease. Well, as much as ease as my current form allows. ¡°Comrade Quasi,¡± Boriss grins, ¡°You have grown taller.¡± ¡°Taller he says,¡± Cillian shakes his head, ¡°He¡¯s turned into a feckin Monster.¡± ¡°Bah,¡± Boriss waves his hand, ¡°is tiny change. You are still Quasi, yes?¡± I nod. ¡°See. Tiny change.¡± Cillian groans. Irmgard steps forward with a dagger drawn. ¡°We should not be treating such a change lightly.¡± Irmgard clutches tightly on the dagger, ¡°for all we know, he can lose his mind and become a threat at any moment.¡± Cillian shrugs. ¡°True, but he also finished off the Alpha and saved our lives.¡± ¡°Da. Is fluffy comrade. Is fine.¡± Irmgard frowns as she continues to look at me with her guard up. Honestly, her reaction is the most normal of them. Boriss I understand. The damn Russian is a weirdo. But Cillian, I would think him to take her side. Well, it doesn''t matter. We¡¯re almost done here. Just one more thing to do. I growl at Irmgard and then point upwards. She stares at me for a long moment, and then nods. ¡°I¡¯ll go activate the elevator. You two,¡± she glances at Cillian and Boriss, ¡°keep an eye on him in case he loses his mind. Scream loudly if he mauls you so I can be warned.¡± She turns and starts walking away. ¡°Damn, she¡¯s a heartless bitch,¡± Cillian exclaims. ¡°Da.¡± Boriss nods. ¡°Very sexy.¡± While Irmgard goes to operate the elevator, I take the moment to better assess my body. First, I begin with stretches that test how far I can move my limbs. Surprisingly, my limbs have just as much range of motion as a human. Except for the legs. The digitigrade legs aren''t able to move like a human can, but it has far more explosive power and speed. Next, I move the tail, which isn¡¯t actually that useful. Sure, it''s long and spiked, but the muscles on it are rather weak. Using it as a weapon would be wasteful. Far better to continue to use the tail for balance. Next, I flex my hands- with difficulty. Though I have a hand mimicking a human with extendable claws, I do find the movement quite stiff. The hands seem to be designed for clawing and grabbing, and not for dexterity. Still, they do have the full range of motion as humans. Next, I start to play with my six eyes. Apparently, each and every eye can move independently of each other. Just as I start to move on to my mouth and teeth, I feel the elevator lurch upward. I look up and grin towards my approaching freedom. IC God Games - Chapter 15: Prologue Ends FREEDOM, has never smelled so musky. Very, very musky. Like an old wet shoe¡­ or more appropriately, a damp cave filled with shit. I take another whiff and then suppress a gag as an especially damp breeze enters my nostrils. I glance at my companions, and find them completely unfazed by the smell. Instead, they are more concerned with the lack of light. We are deep enough in a cave somewhere that the only light provided is from the inert elevator. ¡°So, I don''t suppose someone here has a lamp?¡± Cillian asks. ¡°There are flashlights downstairs,¡± Irmgard says. ¡°Is fine!¡± Boriss grins. He leans down and grabs a long piece of wood from a broken crate. Then he wraps a bit of cloth around the tip. He reaches into his pocket and retrieves a lighter. He then walks up to Cillian and points the torch head in his direction. ¡°Drink,¡± Boriss says. Cillian pouts. He reaches in his back pocket and retrieves a small canteen. He opens it and pours rotgut onto the cloth. Not a moment later and Boriss lights the torch. He hands the lit torch to Irmgard and prepares another three. When he offers a torch to me, I merely shake my head. I point at my eyes and then the darkness. ¡°Ahhh, Comrade Qausi sees in dark. Is good. You will lead, yes?¡± I nod. ¡°Wait, do we even know which way we should go?¡± Cillian asks. I growl and then point in the direction where the smell of shit is most pronounced. I lead them through the cave, heading further and further into the awful smell. As we get closer to the smell, we also begin to feel a cool breeze. Further in, and we see light. My steps quicken and my heart rate speeds up- but not from excitement. Bat shit smells so fucking bad. Is this how dogs feel all the time? Goddamn this is miserable. As soon as we cross the threshold to the outside world, I take in a deep and fresh breath.
Congratulations! You have passed the test: Escape from Downside. You are now being designated as a possible candidate for a gods Champion. Installing system interface¡­ Bypassing all soul protocols¡­ Error: Remnant of obsolete system found¡­ Removing obsolete remnants¡­ Installing World System version 1.0137¡­ Updating system to patch 1.7732¡­ Installation complete¡­ Activating World System¡­ World System Activated¡­
Oh shit. Another system world?
New user identified¡­ Activating first time user interface¡­ Restricting blood flow to brain¡­
Wait, what? Before another thought can surface, my eyes shut and my body falls forward. Before it even hits the ground, I am unconscious. _____________________________________________________________________ And the moment I fall unconscious, I find myself standing in a white room with my naked human body. ¡°This is odd,¡± I say aloud. I look around and find nothing but white. Then, like I''ve trained, I sense the arrival of a powerful soul. I turn towards the source. A portal opens, and a four-foot-eight, one-eyed goddess falls out and smacks head-first onto the white floor. ¡°Owwww.¡± The short goddess cries. ¡°Yazula hates small portals! Yazula is a big strong woman. Yazula will not accept small portals ever again!¡± she shakes a fist at where the portal used to be. I raise an eyebrow at the diminutive girl who seems to talk in the third person. She finally notices my presence from her laying state, and then quickly hops up to her bare feet. She straightens out her dress and then takes an authoritative pose with her diminutive chest extended. ¡°Mortal,¡± she begins commandably. ¡°This one is Yazula, goddess of luck. You may bow before me.¡± ¡°Right.¡± I roll my eyes, ¡°You¡¯re here to take me to the god who wishes to name me his champion for the games.¡± I wave her forward. ¡°I¡¯ll bow to them if they are worthy. I don''t just champion any divine being that comes to me. I have standards after all.¡± Her mouth goes open and her cheeks turn red. ¡°Y-y-yazula chooses you to be her champion. Yazula is the goddess.¡± she points at herself. Really? She¡¯s the first offer? ¡°I refuse. I prefer my gods taller and more,¡± I wrap my senses over her low divinity. ¡°Capable.¡± ¡°But, but, Yazula is Best Goddess.¡± she whines. I turn away from her and look around for any more portals. ¡°I very much doubt that, especially from a god of just luck. Luck on its own tends to be very weak. Most gods of luck end up ceasing to exist.¡± The goddess inflates her cheeks in outrage. ¡°Yazula is very capable. Yazula is the most capable goddess of all goddesses and gods.¡± ¡°Ah¡¯ huh. I doubt that. Hey, do you know how I can talk to other gods? I¡¯m sure they¡¯re probably wanting to speak to me. ¡°They can''t!¡± she pouts, ¡°Yazula has already chosen you. You are Yazula¡¯s champion now and Yazula is here to gift you a class and Blessing.¡± A class? Blessing? Shit, its Orbis all over again. ¡°What do you mean class? I haven''t even chosen a god yet.¡± Her demeanor changes from pouting to happy smug. ¡°Yes, Yazula has used her magnificent power to choose the best Blessing and class for you.¡± How can she choose? I didn¡¯t even decide on a go- oh fuck. ¡°I don''t have a choice, do I? I¡¯m not bound to follow your directions or anything, but you have control over what abilities I obtain?¡± Yazula grins. ¡°Yes, you are Yazula''s Champion!¡± I sigh. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you used your power to pick me as a champion out of every other one?¡± She blinks at me. ¡°No? Yazula was recommended to choose you.¡± I blink at her for a few seconds. Then I pinch the bridge of my nose. ¡°Let me get this straight. You chose me, specifically me, because someone recommended me to you? Do you even know who I am and what I do?¡± ¡°Yazula knows you are human and your name is¡­¡± she pauses for a long moment and gives me a long look with reddening cheeks. Then she slowly reaches into a dress pocket and glances at a notecard. ¡°Quasi Eludo.¡± I groan audibly. Why? Why can''t I ever get a normal employer? Like, I''d probably settle for a God of Chaos again instead of this. ¡°Fine, I guess I''m stuck with you.¡± I sigh. ¡°Yes, my name is Quasi Eludo and the reason I was probably recommended is because I am a professional summoned hero. My job involves getting whisked away to other worlds and completing tasks for gods. Out of everyone from my planet, I am the most competent of them all.¡± Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Her eyes widen in realization. ¡°Yazula can win!¡± she blurts out. ¡°Yazula can actually win?!¡± She starts hopping up and down, even doing a little dance with a grin on her face. ¡°Yazula is Best Goddess. Yazula will show horned god how much better Yazula is. Nobody will ever look down on Yazula again!¡± ¡°You are not even five feet tall,¡± I point out to the short goddess, ¡°you¡¯re probably too weak to even change your form and grow taller. They''re going to still be looking down on you.¡± Her little jig halts as she points at me. Her hands go to her hips. ¡°Yazula is small because Yazula is cute. Yazula feels cute is the most important thing in life.¡± I roll my eyes. ¡°Right, how about we focus on the games. What are the rules, requirements, and what can you offer me for my services?¡± She nods to me, her expression growing serious. A flash happens and her clothing changes to that of a school teacher with a board of all things. She raises a ruler and taps the board where a circle with the word Tristique is written and the number twenty-one. ¡°The test for the games is on the planet Tristique. It is the planet you are on right now.¡± She taps the number next. ¡°On the planet are twenty-one tower blessings. You must collect all the blessings before the final tower will reveal itself. Obtaining the final tower blessing will win you the game.¡± I nod. Simple enough. ¡°How big is the planet?¡± ¡°Yazula does not know.¡± Okay.... ¡°What do the blessings do?¡± ¡°Yazula does not know.¡± ¡°How many gods are part of the games?¡± ¡°A lot.¡± Really? ¡°How much is a lot?¡± She spreads her arms wide. ¡°A big room.¡± Fuck me. ¡°I¡¯m going to guess that you know practically nothing about tristique other than it is a planet and that I need to find twenty one towers, correct?¡± ¡°Yazula knows about classes and skills.¡± She explains. I perk up. ¡°Oh good. And what do you know about classes and skills?¡± I ask. ¡°Yazula is not allowed to say.¡± ¡­ ¡­ ¡°Yazula.¡± ¡°Yes, that is Yazulas name?¡± ¡°You¡¯re useless.¡± ¡°Yazula finds your jokes not funny.¡± ¡°Either tell me something useful, or I¡¯m going to take that ruler and shove it up your ass.¡± She blushes and holds her ruler closely to her. ¡°Noooo, Yazula finds your advances too fast. It is not right.¡± What? ¡°B-but, if Yazula¡¯s champion desires her cute body for such deeds, Yazula would be willing to offer it up if Yazula wins the god games. Yazula believes it is only right to offer her champion Yazula¡¯s most prized possession.¡± ¡°I don''t want your body. I want something more tangible.¡± She pouts. ¡°Yazulas body is very tangible. It is very tangible and cute!¡± ¡°Goddammit woman. Is there anything else you can offer me? Like, what is the prize for the god games anyway?¡± She perks up, ¡°Prize? Oh, yea. Yazula remembers. Big squishy weird man said he is giving away a box that can make any mortal a god.¡± OH SHIT. Really? That''s a thing? ¡°Alright, if I win you¡¯re going to use the box on me and turn me into a god.¡± Her eyes pop out. She blushes and grins. ¡°You wish to embrace Yazula¡¯s body as an equal? Yazula is truly wanted? Yazula is so happy.¡± She exclaims while doing a little jig. You know what? Fuck it. Let''s go with that. I¡¯m already having a headache as it is. ¡°Yes, yes. But first, I¡¯m going to need that class and blessing you talked about. I¡¯m also going to need you to turn me back into a human if you haven''t.¡± She perks up. ¡°Yazula has chosen the cutest blessing for you and a class that can use the Blessing. Look.¡± she waves her hand at me.
Initializing Class installation on entity Quasi Eludo¡­ Class installation has activated¡­ Adding Champion Recognition¡­ Replacing primary earth language with Common¡­ Installing Unique variant class [Shifter].
[Shifter] Class level 1. You are a man who is connected to the material and immaterial plane. You are capable of absorbing the souls of those freely given and then transforming into the species the soul was of by using the [Shift] ability. 0/2 Souls
[Shift] Transform into the species of any souls you possess. Activation Cost: Mana (Variable) Sustain: Mana (Variable) Duration: Until sustain stops.
Class installation complete¡­ Analyzing entity Quasi Eludo species¡­ Species scan complete: Entity Quasi Eludo is a Male Human based Fenririmorph¡­ Analyzing physical and mental capabilities¡­ Analyze complete. Loading capabilities¡­
Traits. Human Average Individual Base Calculations. Level modifications Trait Actual Value
Strength 10 36 +0% 36
Endurance 9 43 +0% 43
Vitality 12 0.27%M/R/M 22 0.54% M/R/M +0% 22 0.54% M/R/M
Perception 9 27 +0% 27
Intelligence 11 16 +0% 16
Mana 388.8 480 +0% 480
Control 12 8 +0% 8
Capabilities Loaded. Initiating Blessing from entity Yazula¡­ Blessing loaded: Adding baby Mimicus soul to shifter class¡­
Baby Mimicus (Soul) Mimicus are one of the most adaptable feline species in all of tristique. They have the unique ability to adapt to even the most dire environmental stimuli. They are also exceptional vocal mimics who are capable of mimicking any and all sounds they hear.
I read through all the slides, and then I glance at Yazula grinning at me. ¡°Did you choose my class because you wanted me to transform into a cat?¡± Yazula winks. ¡°Yes, Yazula knows that cuteness is the strongest weapon anyone can use. So Yazula chose the cutest thi- what is wrong? Why do you look at Yazula like you are going to strangle her?¡± I take a step towards her. ¡°You chose a class for me based on a blessing that would let me turn into a fucking cat? A cat of all things? Do you even know if the class is strong or useful? Does the class only let me turn into a cat?¡± ¡°Yazula is not stupid,¡± she rushes behind the board as I approach. ¡°Yazula was very smart with her decision.¡± I stop and reign in my anger. ¡°How so?¡± I ask skeptically. She peeks behind the board and finds me standing there glaring at her. ¡°Yazula used her great power to choose the best blessing.¡± ¡°Your power?¡± I cross my arms. ¡°Luck?¡± Yazula extends a hand forward with her palm up. Then, out of nowhere, a bowl of tiny pieces of folded paper appears on her palm. ¡°Yazula spent lots of time writing all the blessings Yazula is allowed to give. Then Yazula closes her eyes and chooses a lucky blessing.¡± ¡°And the lucky blessing was a cat?¡± I ask, surprised. Honestly, a goddess of luck choosing a blessing at random and then taking a class associated with it is probably not bad. ¡°Fine, I hope that cat is useful. What about my human form? Can I turn back?¡± Yazula tilts her head? ¡°You¡¯re human, right? Why would your form change?¡± she asks. ¡°You¡­ don''t know? I was infected by something called a Fenririmorph and my body transformed into something of a monster.¡± ¡°Yazula does not know. Yazula was busy writing blessings to watch you.¡± I groan. ¡°Fine, whatever. I¡¯ll figure it out. I need some more information about the system. What''s the max level? What do all the traits do? How are skills gained? Is there a magic system?¡± ¡°Yazula does not know. Yazula was spending all her time writing blessings on paper.¡± she admits. ¡°You¡­ don''t know?¡± She shakes her head sadly. Why? Why does this happen to me? Out of all the possible gods, why her? ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll figure it out myself. How can I contact you again?¡± She gives me a blank look. ¡°Just send me back to my body.¡± ¡°Yazula is sor-¡± I raise a hand to stop her. ¡°I¡¯m rather annoyed right now. Just send me back. I¡¯ll figure everything out on my own.¡± She pouts as a portal opens behind her. ¡°Yazula is sorry.¡± she says sadly. ¡°But Yazula will make it up to you.¡± She enters the portal and disappears. IC God Games - Chapter 16: The night is very young My return to the waking world comes with a bright flash of sunlight accompanied by the rustling of leaves and smell of smoke. A groan escapes my maw as I stand up. I look around and find myself directly outside the cave I¡¯d recently exited. ¡°Comrade Quasi, is you, yes?¡± I turn around to find Boriss, Cillian, and Irmgard sitting together around a campfire. That explains the smell of smoke. I nod and walk towards the three. I must have been out for rather long if they¡¯ve already got a campfire burning. ¡°Looks like you haven''t been able to change back.¡± Cillian says at my arrival. Yea, I know. You don''t need to remind me. ¡°Is fine. Little change.¡± Boriss exclaims. Cillian rolls his eyes. ¡°Anyway, we¡¯ve been talking about our new, uhh, classes we got. Apparently this world is like a videogame.¡± ¡°Da. Is fun, yes?¡± Boriss points at himself, ¡°Boriss is [Skirmisher]. Little ball say is rare class.¡± Little ball¡­ oh, they probably didn''t have a goddess and instead had something else. ¡°I chose the class [Sword Officer].¡± Irmgard announces. ¡°And I chose [Merchant].¡± Really? [Merchant]? ¡°Yea, yea. Boriss gave me the same look. Here''s the thing, of the three classes offered, none were for combat. Considering [Trader] sounded basic and [Accountant] doesn¡¯t sound useful. I¡¯m left with [Merchant].¡± Ok. So they ALL were given choices and allowed to choose. Bastards. Irmgard clears her throat. ¡°Since we¡¯ve all shared our classes with each other, it would be only proper for you to share yours.¡± She points at the ground under my feet. ¡°Just use a claw to write it out since you can''t speak.¡± I could do that¡­ or, I could demonstrate it instead. Now, how do I activate shift? Do I just think about transforming into a cat? With just a thought, a floating box arrives in front of my vision.
[Shift] - (Baby-Mimicus) Activation Cost: 58 Mana Sustain: 0.543 Mana/Minute Would You like to activate this skill?
Um, yes? The moment the thought leaves my mind, my body instantly grows warm. I feel energy churning throughout my body. It moves rapidly, seemingly resonating and forming into a complicated matrix. I try to ascertain the structure and memorize the movement, but it is far too complicated and complex. The moment the matrix is completed, my vision disappears and is quickly shifted downward. Then, all at once, I feel my new body. ¡°Huh, it worked.¡± My eyes widen. ¡°Oh shit, I can talk.¡± ¡°Holy shite you¡¯re a fuckin talking cat.¡± Cillian exclaims. ¡°Da,¡± Boriss nods, ¡°tiny kitten. Is nice rat killer.¡± I ignore the two and focus on testing my new limbs. Which isn''t too complicated. I¡¯m effectively a housecat with the full human vocal range. ¡°Alright,¡± I say aloud, ¡°My class is [Shifter]. And as you can see, I gained a skill that lets me transform into a Mimicus- a cat that can talk.¡± ¡°Permanently?¡± Irmgard asks. ¡°Maybe? I¡¯m not sure. If I¡¯m regenerating mana while transformed, then yes. If not, then I¡¯ll probably transform back. Regardless, I can talk now, so this is very helpful. Now, what are all your skills? I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve obtained one.¡± ¡°Da, one. Skill is [Night Vision]. I can see in dark.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got [Sense Rarity]. It¡¯s supposed to let me sense the rarity of items. I¡¯m not sure how exactly it is supposed to work.¡± Cillians explains. ¡°And I have [Boosted Control]. It boosts my control trait by ten.¡± Irmgard says. So, skills are pretty simple for the most part. I wonder if the later levels will be more interesting? ¡°Well, thanks for sharing. I think the first order of business is to see if we can find civilization. Unless anyone here has a better idea?¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. I am met with the shaking of heads. ¡°Good, then I¡¯ll climb one of these trees and see if I can see anything.¡± Glancing up at all the trees, I choose one of the taller ones and walk up to it. I place my paw on the bark and release my nails. I test the bark with several scratches to make sure that I would have a firm grip. With my test complete, I hop onto the bark with all four limbs and latch onto the side. Then, I start to climb. To facilitate my climb, I hop from branches to branches, getting higher and higher until I see something that has my mouth drop open. Far in the distance are small floating islands. Mere specs, but they are floating in the air. Looking around from my vantage, I also note that I am currently on an island surrounded by water? I look around me and analyze the island I¡¯m on. We are more in the outskirts of the island, with the center of it a massive dead swamp. I also notice that though it is daytime, there is no sun in the sky. It seems like the sky is just lit up with light of some kind. Eventually, my eyes see a puff of smoke rising at the edge of the island not too far from where I am. Seeing everything I can, I descend the tree and return back to camp. ¡°Alright, we¡¯re on an island surrounded by water. I can see floating islands in the distance. The sky seems magically lit up. And, I see some distant smoke not too far from here. I say we head there and see what we can find.¡± The group nods to my decision and I climb atop Boriss¡¯s shoulder and direct them towards the smoke. Our traversal through the forest was interesting to say the least. Various alien species from single eyed camouflaged deer to snakes with twenty pairs of legs. We even had a pack of alien foxes with three tails following us and hungrily staring at me. Thankfully, my mount was an effectively intimidating presence throughout the journey. When we finally reach our destination, night has fallen and the Harbor town is smothered in the light of torches. The town, a good five dozen wooden buildings, rests next to the shore where a dozen oddly made sailing ships are moored. Far into the distance, past the water is the sight of floating islands which look like black shapes in the night. Even with night so prevalent, there are still many people working at the docks. All of them are human and dressed as though it is the thirteenth century. ¡°So, should we ask for directions or what?¡± Cillian asks. ¡°No, Da.¡± Irmgard and Boriss answer. The Communist and Nazi glance at one another. Then Boriss looks at me. ¡°Comrade Quasi, what say you?¡± I look around at the various buildings and the names plastered on them. Then I find it. The most important building that a harbor could ever have. I raise a paw at a building with an image of a bottle at the top. ¡°We¡¯re going to Arbor¡¯s Butchers to gather information.¡± All eyes swerve to the building. ¡°That''s a pub!¡± Cillian exclaims, excited. ¡°Yup. Best place to gather information is where tongues are lacking. But first, I need you and Irmgard to stay out of sight. Me and Boriss are going to get some currency to pay for it all.¡± ¡°Is that wise?¡± Irmgard asks. ¡°Staying together is safer, and I would rather not risk losing you, especially since it seems like you¡¯ve done this before.¡± I wave a paw, ¡°it is precisely that I¡¯ve done this before that I am asking both of you to sit tight. Right now, we need to be sneaky, and I doubt either of you have stealth training.¡± She frowns and crosses her arms. ¡°Fine. You¡¯ve guided us well, so I will accept your orders for the time being. Viel Gl¨¹ck.¡± ¡°Good. We¡¯ll be back shortly. My steed!¡± I tap Boriss on the cheek. ¡°Head to the port. There is money to be gained.¡± _________________________________________________________________ ¡°Ah, you must be asking about old Myron and his grandson. They stay at the Arbor¡¯s Butchers.¡± Hmm. That might be him. I write the words Arbor¡¯s Butchers on my booklet. ¡°I see. This Myron, what does he do and how long has he been here?¡± I ask the native. The native scratches his beard. He is an older man, but still in peak working condition in account to the man''s muscles. Which makes sense considering the man is a level 24 [Shipwright]. He probably spent all of his trait points to boost his strength and endurance. ¡°Well, Myron came here about three years ago with his grandson. Currently, he tutors children. A very smart man, that one. I heard that he used to be a [Merchant Captain] until he was forced to sell his ship to pay off his son''s debt and free his grandson. Story goes that the son got himself into debt with the wrong people and ended up getting himself and his wife killed.¡± Three years matches the timing, as does [Captains] experience. This could actually be him. If it is, I should be careful. He may be old, but the man could very well end me if I fight him alone. I¡¯ll need to get my crew. I write down [Merchant Captain] and three years in my notebook. Then I close it. ¡°Thank you, mister Lance. Your information was most useful.¡± I reach into my coin pouch and retrieve a single deca-trist coin and raise my hand to give it to Lance. Before Lance can take it, a cat jumps in between us and snatches the deca-trist coin from my hand. ¡°Shit,¡± I curse. ¡°One moment, Mr. Lance.¡± I run after the cat as it runs from me. I lose sight of the cat from the darkness. I look around, and then I hear a small Meow. I follow the sound to a dark alley. In the middle of the alley is a single torch illuminating the cat and the coin at its feet. The cat curiously looks at me and tilts its head. ¡°Man,¡± I shake my head and start walking to the cat, ¡°If I¡¯d lost Trist to a damn cat, my [Bounty Hunter] friends would seriously lose respect for me.¡± Halfway to the cat, the cat smiles at me with a conniving grin. It opens its mouth and says a word. ¡°Dumbass.¡± ___________________________________________________________________ I watch the man''s eyes widen right before Boriss silently wraps an arm around the man''s throat while pushing him into the ground and pinning him in such a way that he can''t fight back. Which the man tries, but ultimately fails. After ten seconds of pressure on the artery, the man loses consciousness. ¡°Clean form, Boriss. Very clean.¡± ¡°Da,¡± he nods happily, ¡°Is easier than bear.¡± I snort. ¡°Right. Anyway, grab his pouch and see if he has anything else valuable.¡± My eye falls on the man''s cutlass on his hip. The weapon looks rather fancy, what with the Raven hilt and all. ¡°Grab his cutlass too. Irmgard needs a new sword since I broke her last one.¡± ¡°Done.¡± Boriss exclaims. ¡°Now we go to comrades?¡± I chuckle. ¡°The night is young, Boriss. The night is very young.¡± IC God Games - Chapter 17: Milk Arbors Butchers is the largest tavern in the town of Lignum, and the only tavern large enough to fit the crews of several Corvettes and Frigates¡­ or a couple destroyers. Currently, there are many of the former and only one of the latter. The latter ship is the talk of the town. ¡°Yea, it¡¯s a damn nice ship,¡± Brenis listens to the fifth conversation about the vessel. ¡°It has this nice raven figurehead and a dozen guns on each side. She¡¯s a real beauty, she is.¡± The older regular, a level 36 [Expert Shipwright] listening to the man''s words rolls his eyes. ¡°Bah, it''s not a core ship, is it? I heard the ship has a full complement of crew.¡± he wiggles a finger at the younger [Shipwright] who¡¯d only recently gotten his second skill. ¡°I remember when we used to build Cored frigates that could outmaneuver and outrun your fancy destroyers and sink them without your bigger ship ever returning a shot.¡± ¡°Doren.¡± Brenis, the [Tavern keeper] interrupts the [Expert Shipwright]. ¡°Outmaneuver, yes, but a destroyer is larger and can field more and bigger guns. A core may free up more hands, but the chain cannons on a destroyer can still slow a frigate with a good shot.¡± ¡°Brenis, you know as well as I do that a second-class [Captain] can single-handedly pilot a frigate. That''s twelve hands free for cannons. A coreless ship needs half the crew running the rigging. That leaves only six crew to man the cannons.¡± Brenis sighs and shakes his head. ¡°Second-class [Captain]¡¯s dont grow on trees, and the only ones who can fully pilot a ship alone are specifically trained for it. Also, you still forget that a destroyer can always fit more guns than a frigate. So long as you have enough [Cannoneers] to man all of the cannons on a single side, then additional crew won¡¯t add anymore firepower.¡± ¡°Bah,¡± Doren waves his hand, ¡°Arguing with you is annoying. Get me another of that whiskey.¡± Doren points a thumb to his side. ¡°and one for my partner. He¡¯s gonna need it to forget your damn heresies.¡± ¡°Yea, yea, I got it.¡± Brenis leans down and grabs two glasses and a bottle and sets it on the counter. He uncorks the bottle and begins pouring. ¡°So, about that destroyer. Any rumors on why it¡¯s here? You said it had a raven head? Think it''s part of the Guild?¡± Brenis sets the drinks in front of Doren and his nephew. ¡°What guild?¡± the nephew of sixteen asks. ¡°Crows Guild. They¡¯re a guild of [Bounty Hunters]. One of the Greater-Seven, if I remember correctly.¡± Doren explains. ¡°You think they¡¯re here for someone?¡± Brenis asks. ¡°BORISS STOP!¡± Before Doren can answer, a loud yell causes the entire tavern to go silent. All eyes turn to the entrance. ¡°Vhat is wrong, comrade? Do you sense trap?¡± a voice asks right outside the door. ¡°Worse, you¡¯re messing up our entrance. You can''t just use your hands to open the door to a tavern!¡± ¡°I cant?¡± ¡°No, you can''t. Now, the proper way to enter these establishments is to kick the doors open.¡± ¡°But comrade Quasi, I have manly Russian feet. Door may break.¡± ¡°Boriss, focus! This is important. Testing the durability of a tavern''s doors is a time-honored tradition. If the door cannot withstand a mere kick, then it is clear that the owner is utterly incompetent in their job and we should instead choose a different place.¡± ¡°Ahh, is common capitalist test. I not know. I Test now.¡± Brenis winces as the double doors to his Tavern open loudly and violently. The thick doors withstood the kick, but Brenis makes a mental note to check the hinges tonight. A large towering man of muscles steps inside the tavern with a grin. He wears clothing that seems a size too small for him and carries a seemingly grinning kitten on his shoulder. The large man smiles towards the cat. ¡°Comrade, the door survive Russian leg. Is good tavern, yes?¡± ¡°Meow.¡± The cat answers back. The large man nods in understanding. ¡°Da, plan. We go.¡± The large grinning man with a cat on his shoulder starts heading towards the bar. Behind him follows a tall expressionless woman in a rather expensive looking coat and a captain''s cutlass at her side. Clearly a ship [Captain] if Brenis had ever seen one. Next to said [Captain] is a rather plump and short man dressed in a [Shipwright¡¯s] attire. Brenis would guess the guy is a [Carpenter], albeit one that labors very little. In essence, the group entering his Tavern is a ship''s crew. Considering it¡¯s only three people, Brenis would guess they captain a Corvette. While they head in his direction, Brenis glances at the rest of his regulars. Most are curious of the three, some are annoyed, and Favio looks pissed. But it is when Brenis sees Myron with his grandson that sends a chill down his spine. The man is staring at the female [Captain] with startling concentration. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. The large man, most likely the muscle of the ship, arrives with a grin. He takes a seat on one of the empty stools and leans on the counter. ¡°You are Bar man, yes?¡± ¡°I¡­ am [Tavern Keeper] Brenis, yes. Do you want to order something?¡± The large man reaches into his side and places a filled bag of coins on the counter. ¡°Information.¡± ¡°Boriss,¡± the short man interrupts as he takes the stool next to him. ¡°You can''t just go and ask for information. You have to ease into it. Order some food and several bottles of drink. Only when you¡¯re properly hammered should you ask for info.¡± ¡°Meow.¡± The cat atop Boriss shoulder nods in approval. ¡°You make food too, not just drink?¡± Boriss asks, surprised. ¡°Nothing fancy, but we¡¯ve got stew, bread, skewers, and if you¡¯re willing to wait a bit, baked fish.¡± ¡°I will have the fish with a glass water.¡± the woman and probable [Captain] of the group exclaims. ¡°And I¡¯ll have some of that stew and bread. Add in a bottle of whatever those two are drinking.¡± The short man points at Doren and his nephew. ¡°I want many skewers.¡± Boriss announces. ¡°How many is many?¡± ¡°Twenty.¡± He says. Brenis raises an eyebrow at the number. Most grown men can only go through five before getting full. ¡°Are you sure you want that many?¡± ¡°Meow.¡± The cat meows. ¡°Ah, Twenty-one skewers. Comrade Quasi is hungry too.¡± ¡°Uh-huh.¡± Brenis looks at the fat sack of coins. ¡°Anything to drink.¡± ¡°Strong Alcohol. Very strong for big Russian man.¡± ¡°Meeow.¡± ¡°And something for Comrade here.¡± he points at the cat on his shoulder. Brenis raises an eyebrow at the cat. ¡°How about some milk?¡± ¡°Meeoow.¡± The cat seemingly nods in acceptance of the offer. ¡°Right¡­ I¡¯m going to go tell my cook first, and then I¡¯ll get you your drinks. One moment.¡± As Brenis walks into the back, a short child skitters from his seat and arrives next to Boriss. He taps his leg. ¡°Excuse me, sir.¡± Boriss looks down at the child. ¡°Yes, little one?¡± The child points at the cat on his shoulder. ¡°Can I pet your kitty?¡± Boriss grins. ¡°Da, comrade Quasi is good cat.¡± The cat mews in both confusion and outrage as Boriss grabs the cat from his shoulder and hands it to the young boy. The boy giggles as the cat is placed into his arms. He hugs the kitten to his chest with a happy grin on his face. ¡°You¡¯re so fluffy.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± The cat tilts its head to a corner of the room and zones in on an elderly man ready to slaughter anyone and anything that would hurt a hair on the child. ¡°Oy, Clay, drop the fucking dirty cat.¡± a man in his mid twenties drunkenly walks up to the bar. ¡°No.¡± The boy pouts and takes a step away from the man. ¡°Kitty is clean and fluffy.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t fucking care. I don¡¯t want no animal in mah fucking bar.¡± ¡°Favio, you¡¯re drunk. Its not your bar, so leave the cat alone.¡± Doren interrupts. ¡°Shut the fuck up, Doren. I go to this bar, and I don''t want to see some shitty animal brought in here.¡± ¡°You¡¯re being unreasonable. It''s not a war-hound, it¡¯s just a harmless cat.¡± ¡°Shut it, Doren, or I''ll make you.¡± Favio warns the older man. He turn to the cat. ¡°Clay, either drop the fucking cat, or I¡¯m gonna make sure you can¡¯t ever hold anything again.¡± he threatens. At the threat, the cat squirms out of Clay¡¯s arms. It hops up on a stool and then the bar countertop. It then turns to Favio with a teethy grin. ¡°So, Favio. You like to pick fights, eh? How about you pick a fight with someone your own size?¡± The cat asks. The entire room goes completely and utterly dead silent as all eyes are firmly on the talking cat. ¡°What''s wrong?¡± titls is head mockingly. ¡°Cat got your tongue?¡± Favio blinks for a second as his alcohol fueled brain tries to rationalize what''s happening. ¡°You want to fight me?¡± The cat rolls its eyes. ¡°I¡¯m a fucking foot tall cat. I said someone your own size.¡± The cat raises a paw at the largest man in the room. ¡°Boriss will fight you.¡± Boriss frowns at the cats words. ¡°But, comrade Quasi, is not same size.¡± he taps his chest, ¡°I am big strong russian with big muscles.¡± he then points at Favio, ¡°He is small like little child. Is not fair, yes?¡± The cat sighs. ¡°Borris, he was threatening a child. Fighting him is only proper.¡± The large man''s eyes widen as he grins. ¡°Ahh, is like taking own medicine, yes?¡± He hops off his stool and steps in front of Clay. ¡°Little child, stay back. Is time for proper Russian bar fight.¡± ¡°You think being taller and wider fucking matters?¡± Favio seethes with a step forward as his hands create fists. ¡°Careful,¡± Doren warns, ¡°Favio has [Enhanced Strength]. He¡¯s stronger than any of-¡± his words are cut off as Boriss grabs a stool, rushes forward, and shatters the sitting instrument across Favios face with the brutality of someone who has lived in prison for half his life. Favio¡¯s body flies backwards and falls on the floor, unconscious. Silence again permeates the room, followed by Brenis running back from the kitchens. ¡°What the hell is happening here?¡± he asks as he arrives. He looks at the room and is only met with complete silence except for the sound of a yawning kitten. He looks at the cat. The cat looks back at him, unamused. ¡°So,¡± the cat begins, ¡°where¡¯s my fucking milk?¡± IC God Games - Chapter 18: Cat Burglars ¡°Purrrrr.¡± For the longest time, I thought cats liked milk because it tasted sweet to them while offering an easily digestible source of fat. ¡°Purrrr.¡± Now, after several licks, I can say without a doubt that that is far from the whole truth. ¡°Purrrr.¡± Milk is the heavenly concentration of ecstasy, and it is merely the humans lacking ability to realize such a thing. Clearly, when the gods spoke of Ambrosia and Nectar, they were speaking of milk. ¡°Purrrrr.¡± Oh, how blind I was to think I knew of life''s happiness. ¡°Purrrrr.¡± ¡°Comrade Quasi, you like milk, yes?¡± I shift my head away from such heavenly nectar to glare at the grinning Russian that would dare distract me. ¡°My blood is being replaced by dopamine. I¡¯m in fucking heaven right now.¡± I turn my head towards my new favorite human. ¡°Clay, you may continue the petting.¡± ¡°Ok!¡± The child places his hand on my back and softly strokes it as though I am being given a massage. ¡°Purrrr.¡± ¡°Oy, Gunna need a refill Oan ma drink!¡± Cillian asks after he finishes his third bottle. Brenis shines a glass with a rag. ¡°I think you¡¯ve had a bit too much to drink.¡± ¡°I¡¯s hevny.¡± he burps and then notices his half-eaten stew. Then continues eating it. ¡°Give him juice in one of the bottles and tell him it''s a special wine. He¡¯s too drunk to tell.¡± Irmgard whispers while holding a glass of tequila over a perfectly clean plate with every fish bone organized and accounted for. Brenis nods and does just that. ¡°Special wine tastes a wee weak.¡± I hear Cillian complain. When I finally finish my milk and turn to my skewer, I can''t help but frown at how full I already feel. ¡°Borris, you can take my skewer. I¡¯m kinda full now.¡± ¡°Da.¡± Borris grabs my skewer and adds it to the remaining three on his plate. Finally, I turn to our [Tavern keeper]. ¡°Now, as I was saying. My unique class turned me into a talking cat, which is both good and bad. Good in the sense I have better taste buds than any of you, but bad in the sense I am a cat. Me and my crew here were on a ship that crashed on this island. We are what''s left of the survivors. Currently, we¡¯re in need of transport and additional funds.¡± Brenis glances at the bag of coins still on the counter. ¡°You seem to not be lacking in funds.¡± ¡°For now, yes. But I¡¯d feel more reassured if we had a crate of coins instead of several bags.¡± Brenis raises an eyebrow. ¡°Several bags? If you have several bags of coin, then you already have more than everyone else in this bar combined. Hell, most [Captains] don''t have as much coin as you have on hand.¡± My paw taps the counter while my tail flicks left and right. ¡°Sure, sure. But is it enough coin to buy a ship?¡± Brennis frowns. He taps his chin. ¡°Well, you could maybe afford a used Corvette for five hundred trist, but a new one will easily cost you in the thousands. Tens of thousands if you¡¯re looking for a Frigate.¡± ¡°I see.¡± I stand up and catwalk to the bag on the counter, which elicits a pout from Clay. ¡°How much are the meals and the broken stool going to cost me?¡± I ask. Brenis looks at all of the plates and glasses on the counter. ¡°Well, drinks are a trist each. Bottles are five trist, so that''s twenty three. As for the food, the fish and stew are only a trist, and skewers are two per trist. So that''s twelve trist rounding down. The stool is going to cost me thirty to replace. That means your total is 65 trist.¡± He explains coolly. ¡°Aight.¡± I lean down and rip open the string on the bag, allowing all the coins to spill on the counter. ¡°Alright, take sixty-five trist, and another two for the information.¡± Brenis nods and walks up to the coins, of which there are three types. The coins are all two inches wide. A bland coin of bronze with a ship pictured on it. A green coin with a bigger ship pictured on it. And a twice as thick red coin with an even bigger ship plastered on it. Brennis looks at all the coins, impressed. ¡°If you¡¯re willing, I have a hecto-trist I¡¯d like to denominate into smaller currency.¡± Oh? Perfect. ¡°Go ahead.¡± Brenis leaves and returns with a thick red coin. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Ahh, so the red coins are called hecto-trists. Let''s see what he does with the rest. Brennis begins by taking sixteen of the green coins and then seven of the bronze. He leaves the red coin near our bag. So, the bronze are worth one trist, the greens are ten trist, and the reds are a hundred trist. Seems simple enough. I wonder if the coins have some other usage other than currency. ¡°Boriss, put our coins in the bag.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Boriss answers with the last skewer in his mouth. The man just roughly ate four thousand calories in a matter of minutes. ¡°Now, Brenis, who do you recommend I talk to about getting my hands on a ship?¡± Brenis grabs the finished plates and places them under the counter. ¡°You¡¯ll probably want to talk to [Head Shipwright] Severus if you want something new. As for something used,¡± he raises a hand to a board near the entrance to the tavern, ¡°you can post a request for a used ship, or see if someone is looking to sell.¡± ¡°Perfect.¡± I nod and turn to my companions. ¡°If you all are done, let''s check the board and head out. Clay pouts at my decision. ¡°You¡¯re leaving?¡± I nod. ¡°Yes, we are. We need to plan and find a place to rest.¡± Clay perks up. ¡°You can stay with me and my grandpa! We have extra rooms.¡± At his words, the silent grandpa in the corner quickly stands up as though the cane is there just for show. He then rushes to the bar with little use of said cane. ¡°Apologies, please ignore my grandson. Those extra rooms aren''t fit for habitation.¡± The old man looks at the child urgently, ¡°I hope you had fun today. We should be heading home. It is rather late.¡± His eyes glance several times at the sword on Irmgards hip while his own hands tighten around his cane. Clay points, but ends up nodding. Then the kid turns to me and grins, ¡°can I carry you outside, then?¡± I snort. ¡°Sure, but let''s stop at the board first.¡± ¡°Ok!¡± Clay says happily. I hop off of my perch and land in the giggling kids arms. I am then carried to the board while Boriss carries Cillians unconscious self. We arrive at the board and only now does it occur to me that the language in front of me is completely foreign but I¡¯m able to read it.
Painting my ship.
I¡¯ve just gotten a hold of Vermillion Mana Paint and need an experienced [Painter] to apply it to my ship. Level 25+ required.
  • 50 Trist upon completion. Waste of paint will be deducted from pay.
-[Captain] Meregon forthright.
Looking for [Ship Cook]
I am a level 27 [Deft Captain] of a Frigate and am in need of someone with a culinary class to work as a [Ship Cook].
  • 5 Trist per day paid at port. Food and board is fully covered.
-[Deft Captain] Anteros Bridgeform
Clear the corruption from Arbor.
The island of Arbor has a sickness in the center of the island that is killing all living things. Remove or Cure the sickness.
  • I am offering my Cored Frigate to anyone who is able to successfully clear the corruption.
-[Woodwork Mayor] Centeran Adams.
Clear corruption in the center? If I remember correctly, the center of the island is a massive swamp deadzone. Still, there''s a ship on offer¡­ ¡°Hey, Clay,¡± I raise a paw at the sign. ¡°What''s this about corruption? Do you know the story? The sign looks rather old.¡± Clay pouts. The child turns to his grandfather. ¡°Gramps,¡± the kid points at the rather aged sign. ¡°What is the story about this?¡± The grandfather sighs. ¡°It''s an old story, but this town used to be extraordinarily prosperous a good eighty years ago. The island produced thick Arborean trees with many in the island''s center having fully formed cores. But then, something crashed in the center of the island that created a storm of decay which killed everyone and everything near the center. Afterwards, a lake of decay sprouted up and has kept a good half of the island uninhabited.¡± ¡°Huh, and nobody has tried to figure out what happened?¡± I ask. ¡°Many have tried, but none were able to get anywhere near the center thanks to the environment. I imagine a specialized high-level team would be capable of such a task, but such a team wouldn¡¯t do so for merely a Cored Frigate.¡± Don¡¯t mimicus have the ability to adapt to their environment? If the only thing stopping people is the environment, I might be able to solve the problem, or at-least figure out what is causing the problem and sell that information. ¡°Do you know if this request and reward is still available?¡± The old man shrugs. ¡°Maybe. You¡¯d have to speak with the [Mayor] and ask.¡± ¡°I think I just might. Clay, let''s go outside.¡± When we exit the tavern, I hop off of Clay and climb up on Boriss¡¯s shoulder that isn''t carrying a bag of potatoes. ¡°By the way,¡± I look at the old man, ¡°You¡¯ve been staring at my companions sword the entire time. I don''t suppose there is a reason for it?¡± The old man grimaces while taking what would normally looks like an old man leaning on his cane, but is actually the stance of someone ready to cut. To my surprise, Irmgard subconcously places a hand on her sword and Boriss¡¯s muscles tense up. Good instincts. ¡°Why do you carry such a blade?¡± the old man asks wearily. ¡°Because it''s good quality.¡± I answer. ¡°Some guy dressed in a fancy black suit recently dropped it. So I picked it up.¡± The old man raises an eyebrow as though everything coming out of my mouth is complete bullshit. Just as the tension rises a bit higher, a [Guard] rushes to us. ¡°Myers, take your grandson home.¡± The man then looks at us. ¡°You all should go somewhere safe too.¡± ¡°Garis, right? What exactly is happening?¡± Myers asks the [Guard]. ¡°We found seventeen unconscious bodies tied up in a shed. All of them have been robbed.¡± Fuck! How were they found so fast? Boriss made sure to tie them up real good. Myers looks at me and my group and then shifts his gaze back to the [Guard]. ¡°These robbers, do we know what they look like?¡± Myers asks. The [Guard] shakes his head. ¡°No. One of the Victims is a Raven [Captain] [Bounty hunter] who mentioned something about a cat, but he seemed to be confused. Anyway, get home and stay away from dark alleys. I have to warn more people.¡± The [Guard] enters the tavern and begins yelling inside. The old man seems to relax as he stares at us warily. He glances at the sword on Irmgards hip several times, and then glances at Clay. He releases a sigh. ¡°If you four can behave, I have two extra rooms in my home where you can stay the night.¡± ¡°Yay!¡± Clay squeals in happiness and extends his arms towards me. Damn. If I wasn¡¯t nearly ten thousand years old and a great judge of character, I would think the old man is planning to lock us in his room and call the [Guards]. ¡°We accept.¡± I hop off Boriss shoulder and land in Clay''s arms. IC God Games - Chapter 19: Cattiness Myers relaxes upon a rocking chair next to a roaring fireplace. Near the firelight, shadows dance, illuminating the living room and giving it a homely feel. A large living room to a large home he¡¯d lived in for three years now. A home that now feels like a trap. He sighs softly at the knowledge that the hunt continues. He¡¯d hoped they would leave him alone and give up already. But it seems that the reward is too tempting for the [Bounty Hunter] guilds to cease the chase. ¡°You look like a troubled old man with a lot of baggage.¡± Myers panics. He hops out of his chair, grabs his cane, and takes a stance towards the voice. A cat smiles knowingly in his direction. ¡°If I¡¯d wanted you dead, you would be. Now, sit back down and let''s talk- unless you¡¯d rather talk in the morning instead. But then you probably won''t get any sleep since you¡¯ll constantly be worried all night about how the talk would go.¡± Myers stares at the cat for a long moment before allowing himself to relax. He leans back into his chair. ¡°I couldn''t even hear you.¡± Quasi walks near the fire and lays down. ¡°Yea, most people don''t train their senses to hear the movements of kittens. Not that you can reliably do so. They¡¯re naturally quite stealthy.¡± Both the old man and cat stare at the roaring fire, listening to the crackle of flames and the snores of Boriss in another room. ¡°So, if my deduction is correct, you are being hunted by Raven [Bounty hunters] who carry swords with a raven handle. Me and my group just robbed the [Captain] of [Bounty hunters] and have set themselves as adversaries. So, you offered us a safe place to rest in the hopes of coming up with a deal that involves your safety.¡± The cat yawns. ¡°Which comes to my next question. What is it you are offering and why?¡± Myers takes a moment of thought. He brushes the beard on his chin while his eyes roam the flames. He sighs. ¡°I need to get off this island with my grandson as soon as possible. I need to be on the move.¡± He moves his gaze on the cat. ¡°You were talking about buying a ship at the tavern. I can help pay for the ship in exchange for safe passage aboard.¡± The cat tilts its head. ¡°I¡¯ve got a better idea. I want to try to get a hold of the ship from the clear corruption request. But first, I need to talk to the [Mayor] to make sure it¡¯s available. Once I have the ship, you can come aboard for free so long as you answer any questions I have about anything.¡± ¡°I will not disclose my history,¡± He says firmly. ¡°That''s fine. I already know you¡¯re a very old and capable man. I merely need access to some of that wisdom until you choose to embark the ship.¡± Myers slowly nods. ¡°I can do that.¡± The cat grins. ¡°Perfect. In the morning, I¡¯ll need you to introduce me to the [Mayor].¡± ¡°That can be done.¡± The cat nods. ¡°Good.¡± He turns to look at one of the three closed rooms. ¡°As you can see, Irmgard, this isn¡¯t some kind of trap like you¡¯d expected. So go get some sleep.¡± Myers raises his eyebrows as the sound of wood creaks from a movement on the opposite side of the door. ¡°Now, You should get some rest,¡± Quasi says. The cat twirls around in a circle and forms into a ball. It yawns and closes its eyes. ____________________________________________________________________ The moment I feel sleep take me, my eyes open to a white room. But, instead of a goddess to greet me, I am instead met with a floating eyeball. ¡°Fuck. Not again. Keep your dirty hands off my soul!¡± ¡°Welcome, entity Quasi Eludo. I am administrator #37. My job is to service any and all changes to your body and to facilitate skill and classes. You are currently a level 3 [Shifter]. You gained two levels recently and are awarded two attribute points. How would you like me to administer them?¡±
Traits. Human Average Individual Base Calculations. Level modifications Trait Actual Value
Strength 10 36 +0% 36
Endurance 9 43 +0% 43
Vitality 12 0.27%M/R/M 22 0.54% M/R/M +0% 22 0.54% M/R/M
Perception 9 27 +0% 27
Intelligence 11 16 +0% 16
Mana 388.8 Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. 480 +0% 480
Control 12 8 +0% 8
Attributes Available: 2 Level 3
I look at my trait page again and find nothing has changed except for the new attribute row. ¡°What does choosing an attribute entail? What bonuses are applied?¡± I ask. ¡°That Information is restricted.¡± the ball answers back. Shit. ¡°Can you explain to me what each attribute is used for?¡± ¡°That information is restricted.¡± ¡°What information is not restricted?¡± ¡°That information is restricted.¡± Ok. Maybe I was a tad too hard on Yazula. Maybe she actually can''t obtain any of this information I asked for. ¡°Do I have to choose attributes immediately? Can I save them up?¡± ¡°No. Yes. Please note, you will not be able to add points until your next level.¡± ¡°Then let''s do that.¡± The moment the words leave my lips, my eyes open up to light streaming through the window. ____________________________________________________________________ ¡°Garrus, are you saying seventeen people were knocked unconscious and robbed?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The [Head Guard] nods. ¡°It happened early into the night and was only unveiled around midnight when the crew from the Avergence tracked down their captain and found him tied up in a shed alongside sixteen others.¡± Centeran Adams scratches his silver haired beard he hasn''t trimmed in awhile. He¡¯s been meaning to do so¡­ for a good decade now. ¡°Hmmm. That''s disturbing. The [Captain] of that ship is a leveled [Bounty Hunter]. I¡¯m guessing there was a struggle?¡± Garrus shakes his head. ¡°No. All seventeen mentioned chasing a cat and then going unconscious.¡± Centeran frowns. ¡°That''s¡­ odd. Sounds like the assailant is very skilled in subterfuge if he was able to surprise a [Bounty hunter]. Do we have a motive? Or a possible motive?¡± ¡°No conclusively. It seems the assailant was mostly after coin- except for two, who had their clothes stripped.¡± ¡°Odd, but who am I to know what a [Rogue] would want.¡± ¡°[Rogue], sir?¡± Centeran shrugs. ¡°It¡¯s clearly an advanced class of [Rogue] or [Thief]. Probably uncommon or rare quality. You mentioned nobody was hurt?¡± ¡°None, sir.¡± ¡°Then it''s not an [Assassin]. They would kill instead of knocking them out. Maybe [Ninja]? But what would that class be doing here? Hmmm.¡± He leans back into his chair and grabs his pipe. He puts the pipe in his mouth and activates the runes. The bowl lights in a burst of flame. He takes several puffs. ¡°So, I have an individual or group who use a cat to distract, knockout, and tie up people before robbing them. Depending on the clothing stolen, we may be able to identify them.¡± ¡°It is common workwear, sir.¡± ¡°Right. Anything else of note that was stolen?¡± ¡°The [Bounty Hunter] [Captains] Cutlass was taken. He said it has a raven''s head hilt.¡± ¡°Which is easily covered. I guess you could ask to see the cutlass of everyone who has their head covered?¡± He sighs. ¡°It might work, but I doubt they would carry it around. Hopefully this [Rogue] will leave my town and my people alone. Otherwise I¡¯m going to have to hire a specialist, and I really dont have the coin for that.¡± ¡°Sir?¡± Centeran waves the man off, ¡°Go back to your duties. I¡¯ll figure something out.¡± ¡°And the victims, sir?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll talk to the [Captain] later and then everyone else in regards to compensation. Who knows, maybe I can convince the [Bounty hunter] to catch our [Rogue] and return everything stolen. I¡¯m sure he¡¯d be eager after getting robbed.¡± Centeran scratches his beard again. ¡°Was there anything else?¡± ¡°Ahh, yes.¡± the [Head guard] begins trepidly, ¡°At the tavern, Arbors Butchers, people are mentioning a talking cat.¡± ¡°A talking what?¡± Knock, Knock, Knock ¡°Hm? Seems I have more company. Garrus, we¡¯ll talk later.¡± The [Head Guard] salutes and exits the office. As he leaves, Myers walks in with his grandson alongside three individuals. One individual, who towers over everyone in the room, has a cat on his shoulder. Centeran raises an eyebrow, which raises higher when he notices that the sole female has a cutlass with a covered pommel. ¡°Myers, I¡¯m guessing your history caught up with you? Because if I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯m looking at those responsible for robbing seventeen people.¡± Myers grimaces. ¡°It has caught up, but not in the way you think. I¡¯m going to need to leave the island with my grandson as soon as possible.¡± Centeran puffs his pipe. ¡°If it was anybody else, I would call my [Guards] and have both you and them arrested. But, you¡¯ve shown to be a good man since you arrived three years ago. So, I¡¯m willing to listen to what you¡¯re about to say.¡± The old man releases a breath he was not sure he was holding. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Yes, yes. You¡¯ve earned my ear. Now talk. What is this about?¡± ¡°As you¡¯ve said, history has caught up and I need to leave. I¡¯ve found someone who can help me, but they are determined to speak with you first.¡± Centeran glances at the woman dressed in a long coat with a very foreign design. ¡°Her?¡± The cat hops off the giant''s shoulder and lands atop the table in front of Centeran. ¡°No, me,¡± the cat says. The [Woodwork Mayors] face seems to go cross eyed as he stares at the feline on his desk. The cat grins. ¡°What''s wrong? Never met a talking cat before?¡± ¡°Y-you can talk?¡± The cat rolls its eyes. ¡°Of course I can talk. Can''t you see my mouth working? It¡¯s moving and making sounds!¡± ¡°Thats¡­ not. Ughhh, who are you?¡± The cat stretches on his desk. ¡°Me? I am Quasi Eludo, lord of cats, master of all felines. Cutest kitten in this side of town. And I, in my magnanimous cat-ness, am offering you a deal.¡± It takes several moments for Centeran to regain his composure, which he spends puffing his pipe. ¡°What deal?¡± he asks, curious. It¡¯s not every day- nay, lifetime, a talking cat winds up on your desk offering something. ¡°Your little problem in regards to the Clear Corruption request. I¡¯m offering to see if I can fix this problem in exchange for that ship, if the request and ship are still available.¡± Centeran feels his heart quicken. ¡°That request is over eighty years old. Numerous people have tried and all either gave up or died.¡± ¡°Yes, but were these people cats?¡± ¡°Um, no?¡± ¡°And that''s why they failed. If you want to solve a big, seemingly unsolvable problem, then you need to get a cat to do it. Which isn¡¯t an easy feat, mind you. My kind are quite content with living life surrounded by unwitting slaves. But me, as the greatest among them, is willing to solve such a problem- or atleast to find out if said problem is solvable. I¡¯m only a magnificently capable cat, though. So keep your expectations within reason.¡± The old [Mayor] swallows softly. His expression, formerly gruff and old, gains a tint of color. His eyes scream of sparked hope. ¡°If you can remove what plagues this island, then the ship is yours and I will forgive any and all transgressions.¡± he says truthfully. The cat raises an eyebrow. ¡°Damn, huh. You really want that corruption gone.¡± He nods. ¡°Yes. If you are willing, I can explain why.¡± The cat lays down on his stack of papers. ¡°Go ahead. I¡¯m actually curious.¡± The old man clears his throat. ¡°Eighty years ago, this town was known for building light frigates that functioned like an average cored frigate. This was possible thanks to the Arborean trees in the center of the island. The density of mana in the island''s center made the trees grow thicker, taller, and wider. These trees would mature to an age where they would develop a Tier-one core. We used the entire tree to build a frigate without removing the core. Doing so allowed us to create a frigate for a fraction the price of our competitors.¡± Centerens¡¯s face scrunches up. ¡°Then something massive crashed in the island center. Everyone there died in moments, followed by the trees. Shortly after, a ghastly, deadly swamp sprouted and spread around the crash sight.¡± ¡°And this massive thing is?¡± He shakes his head. ¡°Nobody knows. Not one person is capable of getting anywhere near where the crash happened.¡± The cat nods slowly. ¡°Well, I should be able to.¡± ¡°How?¡± The cat snorts. ¡°I¡¯m a cat. I go wherever I please.¡± He gets up off the now furr covered papers and pounces back on the large man''s shoulder. ¡°Thanks for the story. I¡¯ll be heading out immediately. You should get the paperwork for that ship ready for my return.¡± Centeran watches as the group of three exit the office, leaving only Myers and his grandson. Centeran glances at Myers hopefully. ¡°Do you think he¡¯ll do it?¡± he asks. Myers glances at the closed door behind him. ¡°We¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± IC God Games - Chapter 20: Firm Paw ¡°Alright, so here''s the plan. Me and Boriss are going to head to the swamp, or at least as far as he can take me until I need to go in alone. While we¡¯re gone, I need both of you to gather information while staying out of sight as much as possible.¡± I glance at Cillian. ¡°You should also try to figure out how that skill of yours works. It could be useful to us later.¡± ¡°I will give you a week,¡± Irmgard exclaims. ¡°If you do not return by then, I will go my own way.¡± I nod. ¡°I should be back by tomorrow night if I rush. This island isn¡¯t nearly as big as you think it is.¡± Cillian sigh. ¡°Don''t die. I don''t fancy my odds surviving on my own.¡± ¡°Don''t worry,¡± I wave my paw at him, ¡°My death tends to coincide with the end of the world. Anything that kills me will shortly kill you too.¡± Cillian rolls his eyes as though I¡¯m joking. I tap my mount, ¡°Now, Borris, you ready to head out?¡± ¡°Da. We go make corruption into suka.¡± ¡­Sigh? ¡°You can''t make corruption into- you know what. Nevermind. Considering how everything is going, said corruption may be a woman that needs a firm paw.¡± The oaf laughs boisterously at my comment and then jogs into the forest. Fauna abound within the forest foliage. Bright, colorful, plump birds flit from branch to branch. Tasty chipmunk analogues chitter and scold from their arbors. Delectable mice rustle the grass along their hidden paths. My new feline instinct to hunt pairs with my slightly less new fenris instinct to slaughter, and I subconsciously flex my claws as I watch the birds. ¡°Considering the diversity of the bird species, this island must either not have many predators or it¡¯s a major stop over on migration routes..¡± ¡°Many pretty birds.¡± ¡°They are, but they also don''t look local. Many of these birds have a rather vibrant plumage that doesn''t fit with the current environment.¡± ¡°Birds not normal?¡± Boriss asks. ¡°Probably not. Too much biodiversity of colors and types that would be more common in a tropical rainforest. We¡¯re currently in a temperate forest- which shouldn¡¯t have such evolutionary pressures to produce such coloration. My only guess is that the birds traveled from elsewhere or this island used to have a different environment.¡± My eyes roam the treetops, scanning for predators, and find basically none other than larger bird species. However, everything changes as we get closer to the island¡¯s center. The trees start looking less healthy and the number of animals takes a nosedive. The smell of decay fills my nostrils which urge me to gag. I don''t, of course, and neither does my mount. ¡°Comrade Quasi, smell is stinky, yes? Like Russian shoe after training.¡± ¡°Yea, stinky is a euphemistic way to describe it. You¡¯re lucky you don''t have a strong sense of smell.¡± The animals and insects disappear altogether when we reach the edge of a barren swamp. Dead trees jut from the water without a single sign of decay. Violet water, transparent and sterile, without a single scrap of algae or trace of leeches, laps softly around the gaunt tree roots. Bleached bones litter the bottom of the pond. We stop near the edge. I dismount and land a foot away from the thick, violet water. ¡°Take out some of that jerky and dip it into the liquid. I want to see what happens.¡± He does as I ask and retrieves a piece from a ration. He dips it in the liquid and then pulls it back out. The jerky is starting to already dissolve. Fast acting acid of some kind that can¡¯t dissolve bark or bone? Odd. ¡°Now, how do I adapt to this environment? Boriss, do you think I should take a lick?¡± Boriss raises an eyebrow. ¡°Is not you already adapting?¡± he points at me, ¡°You are purple, yes?¡± Purple? I twist my head and look at my fur. Indeed, my coat is a resplendent violet. ¡°Huh. Alright. Let¡¯s test this further.¡± I move closer to the water and dip a little bit of my fur. I stare at my fur and watch as it does not dissolve. Then, I dip my entire paw. It gets distastefully wet with purple ichor, but remains my trustworthy paw. ¡°Final test. Lower that test jerky to me.¡± He does and I take a bite. The flavor is atrociously bad, but I feel no pain of any kind. ¡°Looks like I¡¯m immune. Good. Boriss, set up a quick camp and let me eat my fill.¡± As he nods, I feel a rumble extend through the entirety of the island. It feels like an earthquake, albeit a weak one. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Huh. Weird.¡± ¡°Is not normal?¡± I tilt my head away from the water. ¡°Dunno, first time here. Other worlds have a tendency to fuck with biomes, and sometimes even physics. God I hate when physics is changed. It makes things so needlessly unpredictable.¡± I grimace at the liquid for a moment. Then, I walk into the murky violet water. I feel no pain, but the water is thicker than expected. With a sigh, I doggy paddle my way deeper into the swamp. I tilt my head back. ¡°Boriss, make camp further away from the swamp. Keep a fire burning so I can find you on my return.¡± ¡°Roger, Comrade,¡± he salutes. ____________________________________________________________________ Though the swamp looks like death took a bony, purple diarrhea shit into the water, it¡¯s actually perfectly safe. No monsters or beasts roam the waters or skies, no deadly insects or sentient plants, no gnarly parasites or strange diseases. There is nothing that would endanger my life here. ¡°This¡¯d be kind of tranquil if not for the gloomy fog.¡± As I waded and paddled deeper, I entered a violet fog. Boats floated there, mostly small paddle boats and canoes, complete with the bony remains of their crew. At length, I did cross a larger craft without oars or mast, floating in the murk. Sensing a jackpot, I climb aboard. My intuition proves perspicacious. Among the bones of the long departed crew lie their wood and metal belongings: several well crafted knives, a couple swords, a fancy hammer with Germanic runes on the head, and the coins from their generous purses. Ah! Cruel Irony that my perfect Form has neither opposable thumbs nor pockets, I could not cat paddle with all those coins. Or the hammer. Which I tried, mind you. I¡¯m no pussy, but a five pound feline can only carry so much. I continue the tour of my new vessel and lo! The ship¡¯s suspicious lack of obvious propulsion turns auspicious. I find the boat¡¯s magical engine intact, complete with fancy glowing crystal. I climb up to the pilot box and mentally bless the shipwright for installing cat compatible controls. May Loki never leave a flaming bag of shit on his doorstep. Conveyance secured, I continued on my way. I find even more boats with human skeletons, but unlike my first find, these are crewed by the considerably less wealthy. But, one thing I do note from my high vantage is that some of the corpses aren''t human, which means that other sentient species exist. As I near the center of the swamp, the fog becomes thicker and thicker, till I can barely see past the prow of Neko 1. Then, all at once, the fog clears. Before me, a monstrous, house sized head lies half buried in a hill surrounded by swampy water. The head, at least what I can see of it, has signs of decay and even damage. One side of the monstrous head looks heavily indented. I hop off my boat and splash my way up the muddy hill. I climb up to the head and stop. Under my feet thrums a constant beat, a continuous thumping vibration that raises my tail. A single, slitted eye, large as I am, opens and gazes upon me. ¡°A sovereign?¡± a voice speaks directly into my mind, ¡°Here?¡± the eye blinks. ¡°No, only a child.¡± ¡°Well, hello to you too.¡± I call out to the head. ¡°Are you by chance the proprietor of this swampy demesne?¡± Mortal speech? At such an age? Impossible!¡± The eye blinks and seems to focus on me. ¡°Who are you?¡± it asks. ¡°Who?¡± I tilt my head. ¡°Who is but the form following the function of what and what I am is a man transformed into an adorably cute kitten.¡± The eye blinks slowly as though it finally realizes something. ¡°Your form is changed.¡± ¡°Twice changed, actually, it¡¯s hard to find a form to express my awesome. Once, I was an extremely sexy human, to put Adonis to shame. Then I experimented being a preposterously puissant werewolf monster demon, and now I am in God¡¯s first form, an adorable kitten.¡± I nod to the eye. ¡°It¡¯s been a wild last few days. Not lucky for me at all.¡± ¡°Anyways,¡± I stretch my limbs. ¡°The name¡¯s Quasi Eludo, summoned hero extraordinaire. It''s a pleasure to meet you, giant, monstrous, psionic talking head.¡± The eye blinks. ¡°Curious. I sense wariness, but not fear. Your mind is old. Older than my own. You are¡­ an enigma.¡± ¡°Yea, I get that a lot.¡± I lay on the ground. ¡°So, you got a name or something or am I going to keep thinking of you as a ¡®giant head¡¯?¡± A moment passes as the eye blinks several times. I feel the mental pressure probing me, not reading my thoughts, but more so my emotions. ¡°I am known as Tawih, prime matriarch of decay.¡± ¡°Tawih. That''s a nice name. I was expecting something a bit more complicated and longer.¡± I roll onto my back. ¡°So, Tawih, what are you doing here?¡± ¡°Dying.¡± she answers simply. ¡°Right. You just turned this conversation into something rather morbid. Why are you dying?¡± ¡°The last battle has wounded me beyond my ability to heal. I will eventually die.¡± ¡°Anything I can do to help?¡± ¡°No. Only my power over decay delays my death, but even that will soon expire. As of today, I am down to my last heart. I will perish in the next decade.¡± ¡°I see. That''s unfortunate. But, death happens and all. Been there, done that several times. I hope you¡¯ve lived a good life? Any regrets?¡± ¡°Only my stolen children. They were taken from me. Even now, I sense them alive, captured, and suffering.¡± Wow. You¡¯re dying with the full knowledge that your children are suffering. Now that is fucking torture. ¡°Alright. You¡¯ve hit my heartstrings. So, maybe I can help you out for a little quid to the pro quo. I need to get rid of all this decay so the island can start healing. If you can help me, then I can give you my word that I¡¯ll find your children and free them.¡± I feel the psionic energy from Tawih swell exponentially with a great deal of interest and hope. ¡°You speak the truth!¡± Tawih exclaims. The eye blinks rapidly and I feel significant movement under my feet. ¡°I accept this deal, Quasi Eludo. I charge you now with my children, Kawlphe and Tur.¡± I feel a psionic energy slam into my noggin. A mark of some kind. A psionic mark. Then the rumbles begin. I watch, mesmerized as the fog clears and the swamp drains. I watch for minutes on end as violet liquid flows away, leaving mud and bones. The Neko 1 settles into the muck, never to move again. The stench of decay returns, and this time I do retch. ¡°It is done. The forest will heal and I no longer have the energy to continue living.¡± The eye blinks slowly. The constant thrumming of the ground slows. ¡°My core is within my head. When I die, take it and use it as you will. Just¡­ please¡­¡± The ground shakes one last time and the thrumming stops. ¡°Save my children.¡± The eye closes permanently. As the psionic energy disappears with her death, only a single question is on my mind. Does this count as making corruption my bitch or did it just happen the other way around? IC God Games - Chapter 21: Skills A dozen stores circle a rough plaza near Lignum port. By crossing the threshold of each storefront, the discerning shopper may purchase most anything; food, household goods, weapons, ship provisions, raiment, magical trinkets and not so trinkets, all available for a price. Between these permanent shops, small [Merchants], [Tradesmen], and [Quartermasters] hawk their wares from an ever changing milieu of shanties and stalls. Cillian strolls through the dirt plaza, enjoying the sights, sounds, and freedom of a wider world. He relishes the sense of his old merchant instincts kicking in as he browses the wares. The old arms dealer stops at a stall to examine a leather jacket that catches his eye. As he stares at the coat, priced at thirty trist. His skill activates and a floating box hovers over it.
Name Leather Coat
Rarity Common
Description This is a leather coat. You do not have sufficient knowledge to deduce what animal this leather comes from.
Cillian walks up to the coat and lays his hand on it. He rubs the coarse leather and feels a soft layer beneath the full grain hide. He opens the jacket and there is the fur, still attached to the hide. This is made for very cold weather, he thinks. At his thought, the box changes slightly to match his observation.
Name Winter Leather Coat
Rarity Common
Description This is a winter leather coat. You do not have sufficient knowledge to deduce what animal this hide comes from.
¡°Excuse me, sir,¡± he calls respectfully to the trader, ¡°This is a winter coat, but I don''t recognize the animal that this leather is made from.¡± The trader raises an eyebrow at Cillian, annoyed by the question until he notices the rather plump pouch on Cillians waist. His demeanor quickly brightens at the prospect of a wealthy customer. He rushes over with a smile. ¡°Ahh, that''s a rather special piece crafted by the highest leveled [Craftsmen] in Traipus, painstakingly sewn from the hides of Nivis¡¯s Blizzard Bears.¡± He strokes the leather of the coat. ¡°This coat is made completely from the island''s apex predator; its fur lines the insides for warmth and the skin is a tough barrier against wind, wildlife, and common blades. ¡± As the [Merchant] extolls the coat, the box''s description updates itself.
Name Blizzard Bear Fur Coat
Rarity Common
Description This is a Blizzard Bear Fur Coat crafted on the island of Nivis in the city of Traipus.
Cillian nods. ¡°Interesting. Though I do wonder whether this coat would be useful in moderate climates.¡± The trader''s smile drops slightly. ¡°Yes, I admit that Arbor¡¯s weather doesn''t ever get that cold, but that''s not true for the open seas. Rapid shifts in temperature do happen, and I imagine having a coat like this will come in handy. Of course, you also shouldn''t forget about the protective nature of the leather. Blizzard Bears are notorious for their resistance to piercing. It is this nature alone which makes this coat an uncommon item.¡±
Name Blizzard Bear Leather Coat
Rarity Uncommon
Description This is a Blizzard Bear Leather Coat crafted on the island of Nivis in the city of Traipus. This coat''s leather is resistant to piercing.
Cillian rubs his chin thoughtfully with a frown. He shakes his head. ¡°Even so, the fur makes it unusable in warm climates. Anyone wearing, let alone fighting in this would get heat stroke.¡± Cillian lifts the coat and grimaces at the weight. ¡°It also weighs a decent bit too.¡± The Scot steps back. ¡°I do like the look of it, though. I might be able to gift it to a friend.¡± He taps his pouch. ¡°I¡¯ll buy it for ten Trist.¡± ¡°Ten!¡± the trader yells in outrage. ¡°This coat would go for a solid hecto-trist in Traipus. I¡¯m already giving a hefty discount for thirty trist.¡± A seventy percent discount already? As I figured, he¡¯s desperate to sell it, but I need to give a slightly better offer. Cillian frowns at the coat for long moments, and then sighs. ¡°I can justify fifteen trist, but no more. This coat may be worth more in a colder climate, but not here.¡± ¡°Twenty five.¡± he counters. Amateur. You lowered your price too quickly. You¡¯re desperate to get rid of it. It¡¯s probably been in your possession for far too long. Cillian shakes his head. ¡°It''s not worth that much here and we both know it. Fifteen is my final offer.¡± The trader looks like he''s grinding his teeth. ¡°Twenty trist.¡± Cillian shakes his head and turns away. He takes three steps before¡­ ¡°Fine. Fifteen Trist.¡± Cillian smiles. _________________________________________________________________ ¡°You¡¯re in good spirits. Have you figured out how your skill works?¡± Irmgard asks. ¡°Somewhat, yes. The skill seems to function by using my own knowledge to ascertain name, rarity, and description.¡± ¡°That seems useless if you already have to have knowledge of the item beforehand.¡± ¡°Maybe, but it¡¯s too soon to tell. If the skill description never lies, then I can never be lied to, which is incredibly useful on its own. Regardless, I need to test it some more. But first¡­¡± Cillian and Irmgard stop in front of a store named Caelids Tannery. Cillian opens the door and enters. His and Irmgards face scrunch up at the chemical smell. They walk up to the desk. Cillian taps a bell on the desk. From the back, a young woman rushes to the front. ¡°Yes, hello. May I help you?¡± Cillian gives an easygoing smile to the woman. ¡°You can, actually. Are you by chance Caelid?¡± The woman shakes her head. ¡°No, Caelid is my grandmother, but I am a [Tanner] too. Is there something you need?¡± Cillian lifts his newly bought coat and places it on the desk. ¡°Yes. This coat of mine is a tad too warm. I need the fur removed and lined with a far more breathable padding.¡± The woman takes the coat and feels everywhere around it. She frowns as her hand roams the leather. ¡°Huh. I don''t recognize this. Can you wait a moment?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± The girl grabs the coat and rushes to the back room. After several minutes, she returns with an aged woman. The daughter places the coat back on the desk. ¡°I¡¯ve not worked on blizzard bear leather in a long while.¡± The old lady comments. ¡°Notoriously difficult material to work with.¡± She brushes the inside fur lining. ¡°My granddaughter said you wish to remove the fur and replace it with something more breathable. I can do it, but my price isn¡¯t going to be cheap. Twenty trist.¡± Cillian opens his mouth to haggle, but the older lady raises up her hand with a smile. ¡°But, If you allow my granddaughter to work on it, then it will only be five trist.¡± The granddaughter frowns. ¡°Grandma, that''s too cheap. We¡¯d make barely any profit¡± ¡°Hush, now. Working on something as uncommon and difficult as blizzard bear leather should raise your level.¡± She looks back at Cillian. ¡°Well young man, have we got a deal?¡± ¡°Are you confident your granddaughter will do a good job?¡± ¡°If she works slowly and carefully, then yes.¡± Cillian nods. ¡°That¡¯s fine by me. I¡¯ll pay when the modification is finished. When should I return?¡± ¡°In three days. One day to work on it, and two for it to dry.¡± Cillian thanks the daughter and grandmother before exiting the building and going to there next destination. ¡°You looked like you really wanted to haggle there,¡± Irmgard comments. ¡°I did, but that old lady beat me to it. She put such a low price that haggling would be detrimental to the deal. Regardless, we learned that the prospect of leveling can greatly reduce the cost.¡± ¡°We also learned that you can level your class by using it, and level it even faster if you are doing something more difficult.¡± ¡°Do you believe you will level from buying and selling?¡± Irmgard asks. ¡°No, I¡¯ll level from haggling and making profits. Anyone can buy and sell, but it takes skill to turn a big profit.¡± ¡°Do you plan to sell the coat for a profit?¡± Cillian shrugs. ¡°If Quasi returns successful, I¡¯ll probably gift it to Boriss. If he doesn''t return, then I¡¯m going to sell it for a profit. I¡¯ll need the coin if I¡¯m to survive long enough to be successful. What about you? Any plans.¡± The former warden grimaces. She¡¯d fallen from a powerful leader of an underground prison to a no-name woman in a land she does not know. All she has to offer is her combat, leadership, and organizational training. Useful tools, but only to those who know her competence. ¡°I will need to join a ship''s crew or a mercenary company and obtain promotions. Eventually, I will place myself in a position where my leadership is superior to the captain, and then replace him outright.¡± ¡°Fuck,¡± Cillian curses. ¡°You¡¯re talking about mutiny. You¡¯re really aiming for the top, aren''t you?¡± She shrugs. ¡°Those who are capable will rise, and those who are not will kneel at my feet.¡± If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. The scot shakes his head and instead focuses on his next destination. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± The duo arrive at the largest store in town, a store directly next to the only smithy in town. ¡°Zeverens Weapon Emporium,¡± Cillian reads the sign. ¡°You wish to buy weapons?¡± Irmgard asks. Cillian smiles as his eyes roam the weapon filled glass displays. ¡°When I was younger, I used to be a weapon-nut on account of my father being both a smith and a collector of medieval weapons. I learned a lot from him, but my interest gradually upgraded to modern arms. I got a job at a weapons company, then became a weapons dealer.¡± Cillians smile turns to a frown. ¡°That was twenty years ago.¡± ¡°You want to use your experience to find a good deal?¡± she asks. He nods. ¡°Yes. I was never as good at working the forge as my father, but I learned enough to tell quality from trash.¡± The two enter the rather packed establishment. Thankfully, most of the bodies were at the end of the store-where the more expensive products are placed. Swerving to the left, Cillian uses his skill at the weapons on display, looking for something that stands out. He eventually finds it- a simple looking straight-sword next to two others somewhat similar in appearance.
Name Shortsword
Rarity Common
Description This weapon was created by a [Smith] of average skill.
He grabs the weapon and tests it by centering it on his finger. He does the same with the others near it. ¡°This one is superior.¡± He points. Then, he activates his skill on the three again.
Name Shortsword
Rarity Common
Description This blade was created by a [Smith] of low skill.
Name Shortsword
Rarity Common
Description This blade was created by a [Smith] of low skill.
Name Shortsword
Rarity Common
Description This weapon was created by a [Smith] of average skill who understands the importance of proper weight distribution.
¡°It works.¡± ¡°What does?¡± ¡°My skill. Without testing the items, I can already tell if a weapon is superior to another or not. I think it works in regards to my understanding of quality. So long as I know how to test the quality of an item, then the skill will omit the testing phase.¡± A giddy grin rises on Cillians face. ¡°This is amazing. I wonder if it works on larger objects? Maybe even ships?¡± ¡°Did it work on the coat?¡± ¡°No.¡± He shakes his head. ¡°I know nothing about working with leather. Ballistic armor? Sure. But not leather. I can''t tell the difference between good and bad leather.¡± ¡°Then You need to learn. Come, let us look at supplies.¡± Cillian raises an eyebrow. ¡°Supplies?¡± She nods. ¡°If we are to eventually obtain a ship, then we must prepare for travel. Food, water, medicine, clothing, and materials for repairs are going to be needed. We will spend the next week getting acquainted with the prices.¡± ¡°But.¡± Cillian whines when he glances at the rows of weapons he could practice his skill on. When he looks back at her, a chill crawls down his spine when he is met with the warden''s uncaring gaze. ¡°Folgen,¡± she orders. She turns around and walks out of the building. Cillian follows only a second after. ___________________________________________________________ Traversing out of the former swamp is both easier and slower. Swimming, though slow, was a far more reliable movement speed in comparison to the now muddy terrain. It took me arguably twice as long to leave the former swamp. Eventually, I retrace my steps and climb one of the taller trees, wherein I note a fire. I rush to the campfire and slow at the smell of sizzling meat. Hopping out of a bush, I quickly roll to the side, narrowly dodging a wooden spear. ¡°Boriss!¡± I yell. The Russian pauses with another spear in hand and an entire cooked animal leg in his mouth. He lowers the spear and removes the cooked appendage. ¡°Comrade Quasi, you dodge well. Is nice see you.¡± he frowns. ¡°You are muddy.¡± ¡°Of course I¡¯m muddy. The swamp is drained.¡± Boriss nods happily. ¡°Then corruption is suka, yes? We now go back to town and get ship?¡± I look at Boriss and then the campfire, and finally the animals removed skin. ¡°Not yet. I¡¯m going to eat, drink, shit, and sleep first. When I wake up, we¡¯re going to hunt a bunch of animals, kill them, and then make a big bag. We¡¯ve got a treasure-trove of items to collect before we return.¡± _____________________________________________________________________ The moment I close my eyes, I am back in the white room in my human form. ¡°Huh. Did I level?¡± ¡°Aaahhhhhhh.¡± I hear a scream behind me. I turn, and watch as Yazula exits a small portal and smacks face first into the floor. She quickly rolls over and aggressively waves her fist at the closing portal. ¡°Yazula will not take this mistreatment lying down!¡± ¡°You kinda are.¡± I answer the goddess who is, at this moment, lying down. She pouts at me, and then looks confused. ¡°Why are you here?¡± she asks. I raise an eyebrow. ¡°I think I leveled.¡± She frowns at me. Her eyes glaze over. Then her mouth opens wide. ¡°What?¡± She looks at me, dumbstruck. ¡°What is a leviathan?¡± ¡°A leviathan?¡± She raises a hand and taps something. Then I see what she sees.
Traits. Human Average Individual Base Calculations. Level modifications Trait Actual Value
Strength 10 36 +0% 36
Endurance 9 43 +0% 43
Vitality 12 0.27%M/R/M 22 0.54% M/R/M +0% 22 0.54% M/R/M
Perception 9 27 +0% 27
Intelligence 11 16 +0% 16
Mana 388.8 480 +0% 480
Control 12 8 +0% 8
Attributes Available: 26 Level 17
Titles Obtained: 1
Title Name Leviathan Slayer
Title Rank Legendary
Title Effect +10 Attribute points
¡°Huh. So Tawih is a leviathan? But I didn''t actually kill her. I only made a deal that just so happened to end her life. I guess it counts?¡± I fold my arms over my chest. ¡°What exactly is a leviathan?¡± I ask. She blinks at my question. ¡°Yazula does not know.¡± I should have expected this. ¡°Alright. Well, it has been less than a week since we talked. Have you learned anything new in the meantime?¡± She blushes and turns her head away from me. ¡°Yazula learned that Yazula will talk with her champion every ten and twenty-five levels.¡± ¡°Uh-huh. What else?¡± ¡°Yazula also learned that leveling is very very slow. Yazula believes that getting to level ten will take at most two weeks. So Yazula figured she had time until the next meeting.¡± ¡°You procrastinated¡­¡± Her cheeks turn to a rosy red. Her eyes avoid contact with my own. I sigh. ¡°Fine. fine. You mentioned we would meet at level ten and level twenty five. Why is that?¡± She perks up very quickly. ¡°Every ten levels, you get a skill, and every twenty five levels, you get a stronger class.¡± ¡°So, since I¡¯m level 17, seven levels higher than ten, you are here to give me a skill, correct? Have you chosen one out for me, or do I actually get to choose?¡± She grins at me. ¡°Both. Yazula chooses three skills from the list, and then you choose which of the three you want.¡± ¡°So you¡¯ve chosen the three skills?¡± Yazula spreads her arms in front of her and a bowl filled with folded pieces of paper appears. ¡°Oh no.¡± She closes her eyes and reaches randomly into the bowl. Then she retrieves three papers. ¡°Done,¡± she says happily. Before I can answer, four boxes block my vision.
Class skills have been chosen by entity Yazula. Initializing Selection. Please choose one of the following skills. Stat Spread Allocation Soul Expansion Sustain Reduction
Stat Spread Allocation All transformations benefit from 50% of level modifications.
Soul Expansion Increase max soul quantity by 100%
Efficient Transformation Decrease Transformation sustain by 10%
Reading through the skills, I find myself both confused and impressed with the choices. All of the choices seem useful, but how useful is something I¡¯ve yet to comprehend. The first offer, [Stat Spread Allocation], reveals to me that whatever bonuses get applied by the attribute points is not normally applied to my transformations. In the future, if I obtain strong transformations, they may very well be weaker than my Fenrimorph form. Which also leads me to the next skill. [Soul Expansion] doubles the number of souls I can transform into. So, I would be going from two to four. But the wording is a percent based increase, which means I will have an option to naturally increase my capacity. [Efficient Transformation] is useful if I transform into something that costs a great deal of mana to stay transformed in. Unfortunately, that would require me to be willing to transform into something that is stronger than a Fenrimorph. Considering what I transform into does not normally scale with whatever attribute bonuses are applied, then the transformation is mute. Same with Soul Expansion. Turning into more beasts means nothing if said beasts are a downgrade. The most logical choice is [Stat Spread Allocation]. Well, logical so long as the level modifications are significant. ¡°Yazula, I¡¯m going to take [Stat Spread Allocation].¡± ¡°OK!¡±
Skill selection [Stat Spread Allocation] accepted. Adding skill to Entity Quasi Eludo. Skill addition successful. All Champion responsibilities completed. Removing entity Yazula.
As the message disappears, a portal opens beneath the goddess. She screams in surprise while her body falls through. The portal closes a moment later. Then, a not so unfamiliar floating eyeball enters through a portal and gazes at me expectantly. ¡°Entity Quasi Eludo, you have 26 attributes to spend. Do you wish to spend them?¡± I fight the urge to say ¡®Yes¡¯. I don''t fully know what the attribute points do, nor do I know the full extent of the traits. Spending the points blindly is a recipe for disaster, especially so when considering the fact the other champions will have more information than me. ¡°No. I will hold onto the attribute points. Just send me back. ¡°Understood.¡± IC God Games - Chapter 22: Tracking Mud On the lone destroyer docked at Lignum, a dozen people sit around an oval table made to seat twenty. On one of those seats, slightly larger and more resplendent than the others, sits the ship¡¯s very frustrated captain. ¡°Four days. We¡¯ve been hunting the [Rogue] for four days, and none of you have even an inkling of who they are?¡± The [Bounty Hunter] glares at his crew and they shy away from his gaze. A tall, thin man with a short beard glances to his left. ¡°[Captain], your anger is warranted, but not on your crew. A skilled [Rogue] that could best you, even in surprise, is not someone that cannot hide their tracks,¡± The [First Mate] says. The [Captain] shifts his anger. ¡°Kurtis, shove a sock in it, and stop trying to sooth my anger. I lost my damn cutlass. That''s an [Uncommon] quality weapon given to me by the guild as a sign of authority. Getting it replaced is going to cost me my savings and will take far too much.¡± Kurtis shows little to no emotion, a professional stoic if you¡¯ve ever met one. ¡°You only need to bring your cutlass with you when we are dealing with other guilds. Arbor doesn''t have any guild presence at all.¡± The [Captain] glares at his [First Mate] for several seconds, before releasing a breath and leaning back. ¡°You''re right. I hate that you¡¯re right. It was stupid vanity that had me carrying the sword. I should have just used a different one.¡± He grimaces, ¡°Damn me. I should have chosen [Hunt Object] instead of [Hunt Entity] when I hit thirty. Then I would have found my sword and probably the perpetrator.¡± ¡°So long as the sword is still in their possession,¡± Kurtis adds. ¡°If they sold it, then you won''t find the [Rogue]. Also, if memory serves, [Hunt Entity] is a far more profitable skill.¡± The [Captain] grumbles for a moment, and then sighs. ¡°But it¡¯s useless without more information. I need to know their background, class, and a better idea of what they look like before I can use my skill. I also need to place a bounty on their head, probably a hefty one if I¡¯m to get a good range.¡± He taps the table softly. ¡°All I can do is search the town for clues.¡± he glances at his seated crew. ¡°Have we found this Boriss fellow and his talking cat?¡± ¡°You think he is the [Rogue], [Captain]?¡± one of the crew members asks. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m not sure, but it is the only lead we have. The cat looks similar to the one I saw before I was knocked unconscious. And if the drunks are to be believed, Boriss is capable of combat.¡± ¡°Slamming a chair into a smaller and younger man is not a good indicator of combat,¡± Kurtis says. The [Captain] grins, ¡°Oh, it actually is. If you¡¯ve ever been properly trained as I have, they always teach you to win swiftly. Using a stool to end a bar fight instantly is the hallmark of a good fighter.¡± The crew members with combat classes nod in grudging understanding. End your enemy as fast as possible. They could always get lucky and then you¡¯ve got a sword in your gut. ¡°I see.¡± Kurtis nods. ¡°Then I will take your advice to hea-¡± Before Kurtis can finish, the door to the room is blasted open and another member of his crew rushes in. ¡°[Captain],¡± the member calls. The [Captain] quickly rises up off his seat. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°The cat, [Captain]. I found it walking down a street. We chased after it, but it climbed a tree and disappeared on the rooftops.¡± ¡°Show me!¡± ______________________________________________________________ Maybe I should have waited a couple hours until it was dark? Eh, it''s fine. I got away, and it''s not like I was heading to Myers¡¯ place. I traverse the rooftops of the town, making sure to avoid anyone that looks to be in a uniform. Eventually, I arrive at my destination. I climb down to the second floor and enter a slightly open window by squeezing myself through the gap. I land on the bed, drop to the carpeted floor, and then walk to the door. I hop up and turn the handle. The door opens and I exit the room. The carpet flooring feels nice under my paws. I wonder if my new ship will have some installed. I walk down the stairs, traverse the living room, and enter the kitchen to the surprise and anger of the couple. I hop up on the dining table where they are currently eating dinner. ¡°Honey, what is a cat doing here? Why is it trailing mud everywhere?¡± The woman yells in outrage. ¡°I¡¯m trailing mud because your husband sent me to a damn swamp. Which by the way,¡± I preen a bit, ¡° is now a drained swamp thanks to yours truly. You may now prepare that ship you promised me.¡± ¡°Is this the talking cat? I thought you were making it up.¡± Centeran Adams ignores his wife¡¯s surprise. ¡°The corruption is gone? Truly? How? What did you do?¡± ¡°Yes, it''s gone. No death water anywhere. Just dead trees, bones, and mud. A fucking lot of mud. As for how? Well, the explanation requires knowledge you humans could never possibly comprehend.¡± The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. He swallows slowly as adrenaline courses through the [Governor¡¯s] body. ¡°I-I will have to verify your claims.¡± ¡°Do it, and do it quickly.¡± I stretch and turn my back to them. ¡°I¡¯ll be at Myers¡¯ place in the meantime. Notify me there when you¡¯ve got the ship ready.¡± I hop off the table and land on the carpet. ¡°The mud!¡± I hear the woman scream, but I ignore her. I rush up the carpeted stairs, making sure to remove as much dirt from my paws as possible. It wouldn''t do to mess up Myers¡¯ floor. _________________________________________________________ By the time I reach Myers¡¯ home, night has finally fallen. I climb to the backyard where an empty skin bag lays on grass. I rush to the door and knock several times with my paw. I hear the pitter patter of feet, the clicking of a lock, and then the door opens. ¡°Fluffy!¡± Clay squeals. ¡°You¡¯re back.¡± Clay says with a grin. The kid spreads his arms to pick me up, but I step back. ¡°I¡¯m covered in mud. If you want to pet me, then I require a bath.¡± Clay quickly nods and rushes to fill a basin. I enter the home and make my way to the living room where the spoils of the last two days are strewn across the floor. Hundreds of coins, weapons, armor, and jewelry. Anything that looked expensive was thrown in a makeshift pack and then carried back. The only thing missing is the oddly glowing orb the size of my head that I had Boriss stash away from all prying eyes. Looking at the group, I can''t help but feel impressed by the diversity of reactions. Boriss is happily test swinging a hammer, Irmgard is systematically and stoically organizing the treasure, and Cillian is counting the coins with a grin on his face. And then there is Myers. The old man is sitting on his rocking chair, staring intently at the treasure with an expression that looks like he¡¯s in the midst of taking a very firm shit. ¡°It''s not much treasure, but I think it''s a start, wouldn''t you agree, Myers?¡± Everyone finally notices my presence. Well, everyone except for Boriss. He already glanced my way when I entered the room but was too busy swinging the hammer to speak. ¡°Is this all from the swamp?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you are asking. If you are asking if everything I brought was from the swamp? Then yes. If you are asking if this is everything in the swamp, then no. There are probably plenty more valuable items hidden under mud that I have no time to search for. Also, there is no swamp anymore. Quest is a success. Now we wait for our ship and then we have to get supplies.¡± ¡°That will be simple.¡± Irmgard looks my way. ¡°Me and Cillian have already spoken to suppliers and agreed on a possible price. We must merely accept the offer when the ship is ready.¡± I perk up. ¡°That''s good. Very good.¡± I look to Cillian. ¡°Have you figured out your skill while I was gone?¡± Cillian glances at Myers for a moment. ¡°Just give me a yes or no question,¡± I say. Before Cillian can answer, Clay peaks into the living room. ¡°Boriss,¡± Clay calls. ¡°Yes little comrade?¡± Boriss stops swinging the hammer. ¡°I filled the wash basin with water. Can you help me move it to the living room?¡± ¡°Da.¡± Boriss lays down the hammer and follows Clayde. He returns not a moment later and places the filled basin on the floor. ¡°Clay,¡± Myers frowns, ¡°we don''t need to clean the treasure in the living room.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not for the treasure.¡± I exclaim. I crawl into the basin. ¡°The water is for me.¡± I glance at Clay, ¡°You even heated the water up. Thank you. Did you bring soap?¡° The child raises a small bit of soap in one hand and a brush in the other. ¡°Perfect.¡± I lean to the side of the Basin. ¡°You may begin the cleaning. Gentle on the belly though, I''m sensitive. ¡°Okay!¡± ________________________________________________________________ Centeran paces back and forth with one hand on a booklet and the other holding his pipe. Every moment that passes, his pipe moves to his mouth, and then gets removed when he remembers he needs to light it again. He glances at his desk, grimacing at the empty box of matches. He¡¯d gone through a week''s supply of matches in only a day. He will and should go out and buy more. But¡­ ¡°What is taking so long?¡± He exclaims angrily. ¡°It has been a day already. He should be back now.¡± Centeran tries to assuage his anxiety by glancing at the book in his hand. He goes through it, reading the first page for the hundredth time again. But, once again, his mind swerves back to the object of his anxiety. Eventually, the knocking of the door to his office sets his mind at ease. He rushes to his chair and takes a seat. ¡°Come in.¡± What he expects is the [Head Guard], but what he instead gets is the [Bounty Hunter]. ¡°[Governor] Centeran, I hope I am not interrupting you.¡± Centeran quickly waves the man in. ¡°No, no. Your timing is perfect, Raaf. I¡¯ve been meaning for a distraction.¡± The man, wearing his armored coat with the Crows guild emblem on one shoulder and his own personal emblem on his other walks in with a strained smile. ¡°Thank you for seeing me. I was actually looking for the [Head Guard], but I heard he stepped out.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Centeran nods, ¡°I sent him to look into something for me. He should be back any moment now. In the meantime, maybe I can help you with something?¡± Raaf smiles politely. ¡°Possibly. One of my crew said they noticed a cat running around, the same one that is related to the incident. I was hoping to ask the [Head Guard] to have the [Guards] keep a lookout and inform me and my crew if they notice the cat again.¡± Unfortunately, Raaf, that will entirely depend on what my [Head Guard] tells me on his return. ¡°I can absolutely inform my [Head Guard] of your request, which I believe to be quite reasonable.¡± Raaf nods. ¡°Thank you, [Governor]. One more question. ¡°Do you know where a man by the name of Myers lives?¡± ¡°Old man Myers? Do you need him for something?¡± ¡°I just wish to ask him some questions.¡± Centeran hides a grimace. ¡°I don¡¯t exactly know where, but if you can give me a day, I can most assuredly figure that out and give you his address.¡± ¡°Thank you, Governor.¡± ¡°Is there anything more I can help you with?¡± ¡°No, that is all. I will now take my leave.¡± Centeran sighs when the [Bounty Hunter] leaves. And within five minutes, the anxiety ramps up all over again and he is pacing back and forth. Thankfully, he only needs to pace for another hour until his [Head Guard] quickly barges in covered in sweat.. ¡°Garrus, what''s wrong?¡± ¡°It''s gone. All of it is gone.¡± ¡°What''s gone?¡± ¡°The swamp.¡± IC God Games - Chapter 23: An Antiquated Piece of Equipment. In the dead of night with torch in hand, Centeran walks briskly through Lignum town. He weaves past flame-lit lanterns and nods to the [Guards] on patrol, of which there are many. He¡¯d ordered an increase in night patrols after the incident, and clearly his orders are being followed. Even at night, the dark town is still a wellspring of activity, especially near the harbor and pubs. Men of the sea tend to sleep late and wake early. It truly boggles the mind how so many can function with such little sleep. Eventually, Centeran reaches his destination, a small but cozy manor on the outskirts of the town. He notes, thankfully, that there is still light within the building''s residence. He walks up the few porch steps and knocks on the door. Then, he waits patiently. On the other side of the door, he hears the tapping of feet. ¡°Hello? Who is it?¡± Asks a child¡¯s voice from beyond the door. ¡°Clay, it¡¯s Centeran. I would like to speak with your grandfather and his guests.¡± ¡°One moment!¡± He hears the tapping of feet, a muted conversation, and then the tapping of larger feet. Two locks click and the door swings open. ¡°[Governor],¡± Myers says tiredly, ¡°please, come in.¡± He steps to the side. ¡°The guests are in the living room.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± He enters the manor and Myers closes the door behind him. Two clicks and he is locked inside. Knowing the manor, since he¡¯d lived in it before, he goes straight to the living room wherein all the guests are situated around an organized pile of coins, weapons, and jewelry; a veritable hoard of treasure and wealth. ¡°Please don''t tell me you¡¯ve stolen all this.¡± The words escape his mouth faster than the thought. The cat sighs. ¡°Seriously? You steal from seventeen people just one night, and now any form of wealth you acquire is assumed stolen?¡± The cat shakes his head. ¡°No, this was not stolen, unless you think taking objects from decades-old corpses is considered stealing.¡± Centeran frowns at the cat for several long moments, then he realizes. ¡°This is from the swamp! From everyone that''s failed my request over the last eighty years!¡± The cat grins. ¡°Finders keepers.¡± Centeran relaxes. ¡°That''s fine. The wealth I can generate from having the corruption removed is vastly more than the trinkets and coins you¡¯ve found.¡± The cat yawns. ¡°Good, cause I wouldn''t turn the items in anyway. Me and Borris had to wade through a shit ton of mud to get it. On another note, it seems you¡¯ve gotten the report about my success. So my question is, how long until my ship is ready?¡± Centeran smiles happily. ¡°Indeed, what you¡¯ve done for me is truly grand. I¡¯ve spoken to my [Harbormaster]. Tomorrow morning, he will unload the ship from storage and check to make sure the ship is fit to sail. I¡¯ll have the paperwork ready for the transfer of ownership.¡± Centeran frowns for a moment. ¡°Are you even able to write?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the cat answers resolutely. The [Governor] gives the cat a long look before continuing. ¡°Once ownership is transferred and paperwork is completed, all you need are supplies and you can leave at your leisure. I¡¯ll have additional [Stevedores] on site to facilitate preparations.¡± ¡°You¡¯re rushing, Centeran,¡± Myers interrupts. ¡°All this could have been explained in the morning instead of the middle of the night. Is there something you''re not telling us?¡± Centeran takes a slow breath. ¡°I should have figured you¡¯d see through me.¡± He grimaces. ¡°[Bounty Hunter] Raaf is asking about both of you,¡± he looks at the cat, ¡°and Quasi. I know why he¡¯s after Quasi, but not why he¡¯s after you. Regardless, I¡¯d rather have both of you off my island as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Does he know where I live?¡± Myers asks. Centeran shakes his head. ¡°Not yet. I told him I¡¯ll find out and tell him tomorrow.¡± ¡°You come warn us. Is good honor,¡± Boris says happily. ¡°Dummkopf,¡± Irmgard begins. ¡°He came here to get rid of us. Clearly, he doesn¡¯t want a confrontation between us and this [Bounty Hunter].¡± ¡°I disagree, my fraulein Gestapo,¡± Cillian counters. ¡°He could have informed the [Bounty Hunter] of our location. If we died or got captured, then he could keep the ship for himself. The fact he is here and taking a risk shows a degree of honor.¡± Irmgard frowns. Her gaze shifts to Quasi laying down while Clay brushes his fur. ¡°What are your thoughts?¡± The cat yawns. ¡°My thoughts? It¡¯s rather simple. We wake up early and get to the ship. Cillian, Boriss, and you will grab supplies while me, Clay, and Myers stay out of sight. We¡¯ll board it as soon as we can and then set sail.¡± Quasi raises a paw at him. ¡°I¡¯m pretty good at seeing a person''s character, and Centeran isn¡¯t wholly honorable. He does want us gone as soon as possible, but not so badly he¡¯d lose sleep over it. No, that honor gets relegated to Myers.¡± The cat stretches his claws, and then purrs softly from Clay¡¯s brush. Centeran glances at Myers. Myers gives a soft smile and a nod. ¡°Don¡¯t worry Centeran, I¡¯ll make sure my problems don''t return to you.¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The [Mayor] sighs. ¡°Thank you¡­ and please, be safe. I¡¯m going to head back home.¡± The discussion done, Centeran leaves the manor. _________________________________________________ The next morning, the whole group arrives at the harbor, a large shipyard filled with half a dozen ships in various states of construction and repair. Four of the ships are Corvettes, two are frigates, one halfway under construction, and the other under repair. ¡°Are any of these ours?¡± Cillian asks. ¡°No,¡± Myers answers. ¡°None of these ships are cored.¡± He points at a large wooden warehouse near the Edge. ¡°Your ship is in storage there.¡± Quasi nods from in Clay¡¯s arms. ¡°Lead the way.¡± They follow Myers past workers in the midst of construction to the hangar. The door is already open and the sound of men working echoes from inside. They enter the warehouse. In the center, an aged wooden frigate, with faded paint and bare masts, rests on an equally aged wooden trestle. [Dock hands] and [Stevedores] bustle around the vessel, provisioning and repairing it under the direction of a [Shipwright] as old and faded as the paint. ¡°That looks really old,¡± Cillian comments. ¡°Can it even float?¡± ¡°It can.¡± ¡°It can.¡± Both Meyers and a voice from behind us answer simultaneously. We turn around and see Centeran enter the warehouse with a smile. The man glances at Boriss for a moment, raising an eyebrow at the massive pack strapped to his back and the literal chest on his shoulder. He turned back to Myers. ¡°It is good you all heeded my instructions. One of Raaf¡¯s crew came asking for your location this morning, and I was forced to give them the address.¡± ¡°So they¡¯re at my home today?¡± ¡°Most likely. Maybe they won''t enter if your doors are locked, but I doubt it. Regardless, you are here and preparations for the ship are underway. Speaking of which, I think an introduction is in order.¡± Centeran raises his arms towards the ship. ¡°This is Timbergrove, a cored heavy frigate. Her keel was laid a hundred years ago, hewn from a single Arborean tree from the island''s center. I [Captained] that ship for many decades. I think you will find her quite impressive.¡± ¡°Your boat looks like a salvage job.¡± Irmgard exclaims firmly. Centeran opens his mouth to speak, but Myers interrupts. ¡°The ship is very well made and in perfect condition.¡± The old man raises a finger. ¡°You are looking at the decaying wood around the ship and the old sails, but all of that can easily be replaced and repaired. The most important aspect of a ship is its hull and the top and side masts.¡± He points at each piece of the ship. ¡°A cored ship is naturally resistant to decay and damage- of which there are none.¡± Centeran smiles. ¡°As he said. The core is intact and the steerage works. She¡¯ll have fresh rigging and sails before you take off. Unfortunately, we don¡¯t have time to check the runes, nor give her a fresh coat of paint.¡± He glances at Quasi, ¡°I¡¯ll leave that to you and your crew.¡± He gestures to the ship¡¯s ladder. ¡°Let me show you around and where you can stow your goods.¡± We follow Centeran as he leads us up stairs and onto the deck. The deck is in perfect condition, the polished wood unmarred by time, but everything on the deck is clearly in decay. Boxes, barrels, chains, rope, all reveal decades of age. We follow him to the pilot box, where you¡¯d expect the ship¡¯s wheel, but instead, a natural wood altar of intertwined roots rises from the deck, as though grown in place, and wraps around a shiny, softly glowing, white orb bigger than my head. ¡°And this is the ship''s core, never removed from the tree that this ship is built from.¡± Myers strokes his long, old wiseman beard. ¡°I¡¯d heard that this town carved out a ship from a single, aged Arborean, but this is the first time I¡¯m seeing it. It is quite impressive. I imagine it takes quite a bit of time to build.¡± Centeran nods. ¡°It takes three times as long, but time is paltry when you can sell the ship as though it is a cored frigate. But, enough about that. I imagine you all are adept at using a core?¡± I glance at Myers, a man who clearly has experience in ships. ¡°Of course.¡± I answer. He nods. ¡°Good. Follow, let me show you the guts.¡± We follow him below decks where the musky smell of old wood bites at the nostrils like a swarm of thirsty mosquitoes. The bulkheads of the ship are in perfect condition, but the wooden doors and furniture all show signs of decay. He shows us the captain¡¯s cabin, that can comfortably fit two people, two bunk rooms for crew with decaying hammocks included, a privy, ship¡¯s mess and galley, all on the first deck. The forward portion has several small storage compartments for food and supplies, and twelve portholes for cannons in the lower deck- of which there are none. At the lowest part of the ship is a large storage area clearly intended for the main cargo. At the end of the explanation, we are led back onto the deck. ¡°And there you have it, that is the Timbergrove. I hope you are impressed with your new ship. Now, all I need is the future [Captain] of this fine vessel to follow me to my office and sign some papers.¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± I look to my companions, ¡°Boriss, Cillian, and Irmgard, go buy all those supplies and have them rushed to the ship. See if you can also replace some of the old shit in the ship. Use however much coin you need. Me, Clay, and Myers are going to go fill out paperwork.¡± Cillian chuckles. ¡°You should never ever tell someone to use as much coin as they need. That''s a good way to find yourself destitute.¡± Boriss laughs. ¡°Comrade Cillian, is funny joke. You are like shrewd communist. You make good deal and make enemy cry when you take money.¡± Boriss taps his new coat happily. Myers clears his throat. ¡°Though I¡¯d love to see the [Governor¡¯s] reaction to a cat writing, I must quickly leave to finish some loose ends.¡± He glances at Clay. ¡°I leave Clay in your hands for the time being.¡± I raise an eyebrow at the old fart, and nod. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure he¡¯s safe.¡± I watch my crew and Myers leave the building. Then, I ride my short mount to a back room where several documents are ready for signing on a desk. Centeran sits on the far side of the desk and Clay sits opposite. I hop on the table and await instruction. ¡°Now, I¡¯ve already filled out the documents for the transfer of ownership. All I need now is your signature¡­¡± he pauses, staring at my paws. ¡°I¡¯m going to want to read it first, then I¡¯ll sign.¡± ¡°Umm,¡± he frowns for a moment. Then he pushes the stack of documents to me. I glance at the documents and read the page in a matter of seconds. Then the next page, and the next, finishing the long and legal document in five minutes. ¡°Huh. This is actually pretty straightforward, albeit needlessly long. I can sign right away. Just give me something to sign with.¡± Centeran opens a drawer and takes out a pad of ink. ¡°A footprint should be acceptable.¡± I raise an eyebrow. ¡°Why the fuck do I need to put a footprint as a signature? Just give me something to write my name with. I didn¡¯t waste time learning to write my signature from Clay all night for nothing.¡± He frowns at my words, but does as he is told. He reaches into the desk again and brings me a quil and small ink bottle. I take the quill with my mouth, dip the tip in the bottle, and then sign Quasi Eludo as my signature on one of the documents. When I push the signed document at him, his eyes raise in surprise. ¡°Your penmanship is impeccable. It reminds me of royalty.¡± I wave my paw. ¡°Yehs, yehs. ¡¯m ¡®n amashing student. Now, yet me ¡®on¡¯ntrate. ¡¯ve ot sheheral ¡®ocuments to go ¡®n this quill tashtes ike ird¡¯s ass.¡± IC God Games - Chapter 24: Ship Cheered and Harbor Cleared The red tape is complete, the time has come. The gates to the hangar are pushed open and logs are laid on the gentle slope to the Edge. Chains rattle, hammers strike wood, and then crack! The beams holding Timbergrove break. The ship slides onto the wooden beams, and then slides faster and faster until it hurtles off the Edge. Capstans on the dock spin out of control as the free falling vessel pulls slack. For one heartstopping moment, it looks like the ship might fall forever, but then it lights up. Mana glows along the grain of the ancient wooden hull, tracing its waves and whorls, and soft white light streams from the pilot house. Dockworkers lock the now still capstans and the ship rises, till the hawsers holding it to the quay grow taught. The men haul on the lines till the Timbergrove, alive again, rests fast by the pier. ¡°She¡¯s still a beauty,¡± Centeran says softly. He glances at the cat in Clay''s arms. ¡°Please take care of her.¡± The cat nods slowly while gazing not at the resurrected ship, but at a bird perched on the forestay. The cat''s whiskers seem to rise ever so slightly. Then, all at once, the concentration breaks. The cat shakes its head. ¡°What? Oh, the ship. Pretty. Yeah. I¡¯ll try not to destroy it till Tuesday.¡± Centeran frowns, then sighs and shakes his head. ¡°Fluffy! Look.¡± Clay points. Centeran and Quasi follow the boy¡¯s finger, where several wagons filled to the brim with supplies approach, led by the rest of his crew. ¡°Comrade Quasi, Little Comrade,¡± Boriss waves with a grin. ¡°Comrade Cillian is very shrewd communist.¡± Boriss says when they arrive. ¡°I''m not shrewd,¡± Cillian counters, though the Scot can''t help but copy Boriss¡¯s shit-eating grin. Only Irmgard maintains her stoic expression, though there is a twinkle in her eye. ¡°You guys bought a hell of a lot,¡± Quasi says. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you got a good deal?¡± ¡°Da, very good deal.¡± Boriss slaps Cillian on the shoulder, ¡°Comrade Cillian is proper communist. He make all [Merchant] struggle and fight to give good deal. Is great!¡± Quasi raises an eyebrow. ¡°Well then, you can tell me the story while we get everything loaded on the ship. I¡¯d like to embark before night.¡± ________________________________________________________________ When Myers returns to the shipyard, he notices, quite thankfully, that the ship is floating and docked. Several [Stevedores] are carrying supplies into the ship while the crew is sitting on the ship''s weather deck. He rushes onboard and climbs up to the deck. Then he walks up to the group and listens in on their conversation. ¡°So, I noticed that all these traders that sell supplies were positioned next to each other- and they were selling pretty much the same things. Sure, the prices were slightly different, but not by too much.¡± Cillian clears his throat. ¡±Now, one thing you need to know is that prices can always go down when buying in bulk, and merchants love selling and buying in bulk, especially for items that aren''t in much demand or items that can expire. So, to get the best prices, I started to listen to the bulk offers of one merchant, then the bulk offers of the others. I would inform them that this and that merchant were offering a better price, and they would try to beat the price, but I¡¯d go and do the same with the others.¡± Cillian grins aggressively. ¡°Eventually, a dozen traders started yelling at each other and competing for who could give me the best deal. Two of them even got into a bit of a fist fight that had to be stopped by some nearby [Guards].¡± He sighs happily. ¡°It was great. I bought everything for a fourth of what they offered before.¡± ¡°And then you spent the rest on alcohol and weapons.¡± Irmgard adds. Cillian grins. ¡°Well, yes. We¡¯ve an empty hold in need of things to trade.¡± ¡°Smart,¡± Quasi says. ¡°Spending some money to profit later from trade is good. So how much Trist do we have left over?¡± ¡°Twenty.¡± Cillian says. Irmgard and Quasi share a look. Then they frown at the Scott. ¡°I left you with all of our coin. Are you saying we only have twenty trist left over?¡± Quasi asks. ¡°Well, yes. Of course. Money not invested is money wasted.¡± ¡°Yes, but what if we need money to, say, make port? What if we need to buy a trading permit to sell our goods? What if there is something important we need to buy and don''t have enough time to sell our goods for profit?¡± Cillian rolls his eyes. ¡°Bah, we¡¯ll just take a loan.¡± Quasi groans. ¡°This isn¡¯t the U.S. where you can get a loan of money whenever you want. We need to have cash on hand!¡± ¡°What isn¡¯t the U.S?¡± Myers interrupts. He walks to one of the empty stools next to clay. The four go silent at his question. Quasi sniffs, then turns his head towards Myers, a frown on his kitty face. ¡°We¡¯ll tell you when we embark.¡± Quasi finally answers. ¡°Did you finish what you set out to do?¡± Myers raises an eyebrow at the secrecy, but nods regardless. He too has secrets, though his secrets will stay secret for the rest of his life. ¡°I did.¡± Myers answers quickly. He glances at his cane and then at the three other human adults at the table. ¡°As Quasi will be taking the [Captain] job, what will your jobs be? If you don''t mind me asking.¡± The group shares a look with one-another. ¡°We¡¯ll tell you when we embark.¡± Quasi says again. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Myers frowns. In many cultures, asking about someone''s class is taboo, but jobs are not, and a sailing ship needs a clear chain of command. Even so, Myers chooses not to delve too deeply. He needs to be off this island as soon as possible. The sound of footsteps thankfully interrupts the conversation. A man, average in height but astonishingly well built, walks up to the motley crew. The sun gleams off the sweat on his brow and arms. ¡°Uh, Sir.¡± The [Stevedore] addresses the group, ¡°Everything is loaded up.¡± ¡°Oy,¡± Cillian recognizes the man. ¡°Aren¡¯t you that brat that got knocked out by Boriss here?¡± Cillian elbows the Russian. The [Stevedore] Favio, flushes. ¡°Um, yes. About that. I-I was drunk. I¡¯m sorry for my actions at the bar. I was dealing with something recent that happened.¡± Quasi waves the young man off. ¡°I told you it''s fine. You were drunk and your wife was nearly killed by a dog last year. Emotions get hot.¡± Quasi raises a paw at Clay, ¡°Just don¡¯t threaten kids in front of me and everything is peachy.¡± Quasi stands up and stretches. ¡°You said everything is loaded up? Perfect. Let''s set sail.¡± Quasi glances at Myers, ¡°You take the wheel- er, core.¡± Clay tilts his head, ¡°Isn¡¯t the [Captain] supposed to launch the ship?¡± ¡°Eh,¡± Quasi shrugs. ¡°I¡¯ll do it next time. I¡¯ll let the more experienced person do it first.¡± Quasi looks at Myers with an expectant gaze. Myers nods slowly. ¡°Perfect. Favio, tell the men to prepare the ship for launch. We leave in five minutes.¡± ____________________________________________________________________ The gangplank is raised, the anchor weighed, the moorings cast off. The last tethers fall away and the ship floats free of the Edge, buoyed on the mana wind... Quasi watches as Myers takes the helm, or more like the core. He rests his hand on the white orb with a practiced feel. The Timbergrove groans and shudders from below. Quasi and Clay rush to peer over the railing. New stays draw taut as the old, arborean wood wing masts swing out from the hull. Batons unfold from the mast, spreading canvas as the wing sheets pull the boom against the side of the ship. The ship pitches back, then rolls to starboard as she side-slips away from the pier. The cat and the boy study the island¡¯s Edge with rapt attention as the ship drifts away. Then a loud, ¡°Snap!¡± startles them both as the ship pitches forward and rolls farther to starboard. Quasi and Clay spin around. The jib hangs full in the breeze as it turns the Timbergove¡¯s bow to the open sky. ¡°Clay, grab hold of something.¡± Myers orders. Clay does as asked, as does every other person on the ship. The jib furls and the wing sails spread wide. The wing jibs stretch and four sails sing upward. The Timbergrove begins to glide forward. From the helm, Myers slowly trims the sails back to midline as the ship picks up speed. The ship bucks upwards and the bow pitches up. Quasi digs his claws into the rail and flattens his ears against the breeze. The ship vibrates again as unseen parts of the rigging trim themselves. Soon the ship is clipping along at several tens of knots and Myers trims the wing jibs for level flight. He nods happily and turns to the rest of the crew. He is met with wide-eyes from everyone, including Clay. The old man grins and pats the core, ¡°Looks like we¡¯ve both still got it.¡± Quasi unlatches his nails off the deck. ¡°You could have warned us.¡± He hops up on a ledge and gazes into the distant expense. He is greeted with clear air, some clouds, and numerous distant islands. As he glances around, he frowns. He rushes to the ledge and looks down. Half a sun glances back, burning his retinas ever so slightly. Blinking rapidly, he looks back at the sky. Then he rushes back excitedly. ¡°Comrade Quasi, vhat is wrong?¡± ¡°This planet has no sun! Also, check under the island.¡± The rest of the group rushes to the gunwales and looks out in amazement, to Myers¡¯ amusement and confusion. They act like children on their first time on an airship. But, Myers does glance at the retreating island, and raises a surprised eyebrow. Underneath Arbor is a massive stone structure sticking downward. By the time they return, Myers ascends to the Mana line. There, he slows the ship''s speed and removes his hand off the core. It should not need his presence for the time being. ¡°Myers,¡± Quasi calls. He hops up on a ledge. ¡°I have not been entirely truthful with you, and now it is the time for truth. I - We -¡± He waves a paw. ¡°Us four are not of this world. We come from a different world where classes do not exist. We got ours only last week. We are low of level and completely clueless. We¡¯re in need of a lot of information, and you are going to provide that for us. But first, it¡¯s only fair, do you have any questions for me, or, I guess, us?¡± Myers blinks as his aged mind tries to process the cat''s words. His immediate reaction is to call them out as liars, but every action he¡¯d observed makes a great deal of sense if it¡¯s true. ¡°If what you say is true, why keep such information secret?¡± ¡°Because knowledge is power, and why should we just hand every Tom, Dick, or Harry power of us? Like, what if there¡¯s some organization hunting and killing people who come from a different world? Then we¡¯d be painting giant, glowing, targets on ourselves. Speaking of which, is there such an organization?¡± Myers shakes his head slowly. ¡°None that I kno-.¡± He pauses for a moment as a certain group comes to mind. ¡°The Tower Ecclesiasticus may be interested in you all.¡± ¡°And they are?¡± ¡°They are zealots who worship the towers and the true divine.¡± ¡°Towers? What towers?¡± Quasi asks in clear interest. Myers sighs. ¡°It seems there is much to explain. How about we speak inside where I can sit.¡± ¡°Will the ship be fine without someone at the helm?¡± Myers nods. ¡°For the time being, yes.¡± ¡°Alright, then let''s head inside. We¡¯ll talk over a drink.¡± Quasi decides. ¡°Yes!¡± Cillian yells happily. He rushes inside, followed by Boriss and Irmgard and finally Clay. At the threshold of the captain¡¯s cabin, Quasi halts and grimaces at the old man. ¡°By the way, clean your cane better. I can still smell the blood.¡± Quasi then saunters inside, leaving the old man perplexed. ______________________________________________________________ Centeran practically sprints across town, his old body aching as he pushes it. Eventually, he arrives at his destination. Guards and crewmembers surround the home with a clear hostility in the air. He rushes up the stairs and into the home, where he is met with his [Head Guard] and [First Mate] Kurtis of the docked destroyer. ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± he announces. ¡°What happened?¡± Then he notices the blood sprayed across the living room. And then the body. His heart freezes for a moment as he expects to see Myers, but instead, what greets him is Raaf¡¯s corpse bisected in two across the hip. The man''s expression is that of both pain and surprise. ¡°What¡­ happened?¡± Kurtis kneels down. His expression is completely neutral. ¡°Someone killed my captain in a single strike. They sliced through his armor as though it was tin.¡± Centeran gulps loudly. He looks around the home nervously. Then he notices something that doesn''t add up. He¡¯d seen fights when he was younger, and such fights always show some sign of struggle. He frowns. ¡°Raaf is a trained [Bounty Hunter]. Did he not try to defend himself? I find it hard that he would die so easily.¡± Kurtis, stoic as ever, raises a hand and points at Raaf¡¯s severed cutlass. IC God Games - Chapter 25: Traits Within the bowels of the Timbergrove, a group of individuals rest within the mess hall. They sit around an old degrading rectangular table. Atop the table is a candle that barely illuminates the room in a soft glow. Near the candle lies a kitten, its eyes stare at the flickering light with annoyance. ¡°You bought candles?¡± I glare at the Scot as he struggles to open a firmly corked bottle. ¡°Who the fuck corks this so ha-there we go.¡± Cillian grins when he finally manages to open the bottle. He then starts pouring the liquid into several cups on the table. Old, ceramic cups, but cups nonetheless. ¡°Because they were cheap.¡± ¡°That''s fine, but couldn¡¯t you have bought a lantern or something? Or even an oil lamp?¡± ¡°I could¡¯ve.¡± Cillian finishes filling the last cup and then pushes the cups to all those that are of age to drink. ¡°But they didn¡¯t have much, and what they had was needlessly expensive.¡± I groan. ¡°Fine, whatever. We¡¯ll make do with candles for now.¡± I look to Myers. ¡°Time for you to answer questions. First, let¡¯s go with the simple one. What do the different traits do and how, or I guess, what, do the attributes change?¡± He blinks. ¡°That is not as simple a question as you think it is.¡± I nod and wave a paw for him to keep going. ¡°Hmm, it may be best to start from the beginning. You¡¯ve all seen your character sheets, correct?¡± We nod. ¡°Then we¡¯ll start with the five columns. Traits are your mental and physical attributes. Human Average, or whatever species you may be, is what the base traits of your species is. IBC, or Individual Base Calculations, is what your own unmodified capability is. Both Human Average and IBC can change over time. Especially IBC, which can be increased with exertion.¡± He looks at us, making sure that all are listening to his every word. ¡°Level modifications are percentile increases to your IBC. You gain a single percent improvement per attribute point. Your Trait Actual Value is the final value after all modifications have been implemented.¡± ¡°And the traits themselves?¡± I ask. He chuckles. ¡°You sound like an eager child who just got their class.¡± He clears his throat with a sip from his cup. ¡°There are seven traits. Strength, Endurance, Vitality, Perception, Intelligence, Mana, and Control.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll begin with the first trait: Strength. Strength is your Tensile Muscular Force. It is the most popular trait to modify for the average man. It increases the strength of your muscles, allowing you to lift more, wear heavier armor, and overpower others if you get into a fight. But, there is a limitation, which leads to the next trait: Endurance.¡± ¡°Endurance is your resilience and rigidness. It is your body''s ability to withstand physical stress. This trait makes you more durable and capable of withstanding physical trauma. If you are of a race that has natural armor or weapons, they too will become more durable. Now, on the subject of the caveat. Strength makes your muscles stronger. You can push and pull harder, but if your Endurance is too low, then you will tear your muscles in the process. For most, two to one strength to endurance is recommended.¡± ¡°I imagine people ignore that fact.¡± I comment. He nods. ¡°They do, and they only get away with it because they do not know how to utilize their full muscular capacity.¡± ¡°The next trait is Vitality. Vitality is your body''s ability to heal wounds, recover mana, resilience to infections, poisons, and a longer lifespan. This trait is popular among women and the aristocracy for the lifespan alone.¡± ¡°That''s a trait you¡¯ve increased by quite a bit, isn''t it?¡± I ask the old man who talks like someone over a century old. Myers nods. ¡°Of course. A longer, healthier life allows more time to gain wisdom and levels.¡± ¡°How is the increase in lifespan calculated?¡± Irmgard asks, intrigued. ¡°It is a direct increase by the percentage. Putting a hundred attributes into Vitality will double your lifespan.¡± ¡°Huh. If your normal lifespan is one-hundred, all you need to do is gain a level or two a year, and you could be immortal.¡± I comment. He sighs. ¡°If only leveling did not become excessively more difficult the more you level.¡± ¡°Is dere a max level?¡± Cillian asks with a second bottle in his hand. ¡°None have exceeded ninety.¡± So, leveling gets progressively harder and the soft-cap is in the eighties. ¡°For vitality, I noticed a percentage and the letters M/R/M. What is that?¡± ¡°Mana Regeneration per Minute. The percentage is how much of your maximum mana you regenerate per minute. For most, it is rather low, but certain lineages have grossly increased base percentages.¡± ¡°The next Trait is Perception. Perception is your physical senses like touch, sight, smell, hearing, and taste. It is, as you¡¯d expect, a rather unpopular and unmodified trait.¡± ¡°The next Trait is Intelligence. Intelligence is your learning speed, memory retention, and memory recall. It is also a trait rarely taken except for certain classes like [Researcher], [Librarian], and [Teacher].¡± He strokes his beard slowly with his left hand while his right hand traces the cup in front of him. ¡°Now, the next trait is Mana. It is the simplest trait in the sense that all it does is increase your maximum pool of mana. It is a trait commonly improved by [Mages].¡± ¡°Mageek? Dey hav Mageek?¡± Cillian slurs with a third bottle in hand. Myers stares at the drunken Scot for a moment. Then he remembers he has his own drink. He takes a chug and tastes wine. He coughs for a moment as the potent drink slides down. He then clears his throat. ¡°Yes, there''s magic, though we probably won¡¯t see any [Mages] this far from the major nations.¡± ¡°And the last trait?¡± I ask. He grunts. ¡°The last is Control. Control is arguably the most complicated stat. The trait improves physical and magical accuracy of movement. It allows you to use activatable skills more often, makes said skills activate faster, improves skill radius, and increases the speed at which mana is manipulated- which allow for faster casting. The skill is favored by [Duelists], [Archers], and any class that utilizes precision weapons or equipment.¡± ¡°And anyone who has an activatable skill.¡± I add. Myers grimaces. ¡°Activatable skills show up commonly in expert classes, and very rarely in advanced ones. If you add all of your attributes to control expecting an activatable skill, then you will be firmly disappointed.¡± ¡°Vhat is advanced and expert?¡± Boriss finally speaks. Though he¡¯d been silent the entire time, all of that time was spent listening and learning. ¡°Those are just class rankings. You become an advanced class at level twenty-five, an expert at fifty, and master at seventy-five.¡± I stretch my paws forward and back before laying back down. ¡°What about titles?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve unlocked titles?¡± Myers asks, surprised. The old man leans forward, now very interested. ¡°I have one title that I got for solving the corruption problem.¡± And like that, Myers'' interest subsides. ¡°Ahh, it is a single use, then. Pity. Titles are difficult to obtain and information on how to obtain them is a closely guarded secret.¡± Before I can ask another question, the candlelight flickers out, drowning the room in darkness. ¡°Goddamit Cillian, your candles are trash. They don''t even last. No wonder they were so cheap. Go light another one.¡± I am met with silence. ¡°Cillian?¡± I glare at the Scot. His eyes are closed and drool leaks from his mouth. ¡°Goddammit.¡± ¡°Is fine,¡± Boriss gets up, ¡°I will light candle.¡± ¡°Actually, fuck the candle. Bring me that glowing ball. We¡¯ll use that for light.¡± ¡°Da.¡± Boriss leaves the mess hall and returns with a bag. He removes the bag and the entire room is smothered in a bright gold glow. Myers'' mouth falls open while Clay smiles at the glowing ball. ¡°That''s an orange core. How did you get something so rare?¡± ¡°From the corruption.¡± I tell him. Boriss places the orb in the middle of the table, whereupon Myers leans closer. ¡°Amazing. I¡¯ve only seen two of these before, and both were installed on ships.¡± He leans back after a moment and then looks at the cat. ¡°That title you got, it is Leviathan Slayer, isn¡¯t it? Only a fully formed adult Leviathan could produce a gold core.¡± He shakes his head. ¡°It must have been heavily injured and dying already. You must have finished it off.¡± Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. ¡°Huh. So, how much do you think this thing is worth,¡± I pat the orb between my paws like a ball of yarn.¡± ¡°You could buy several islands with a gold core. Hell, you could buy an entire fleet of cruisers.¡± ¡°So, what you¡¯re saying is that I¡¯m the wealthiest kitten in the world.¡± Myers brain stops for a moment as he digest what I¡¯d just said, then he chuckles. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re the wealthiest cat in history.¡± He adds, jokingly, which gets Clay giggling and Irmgard showing the slightest smile. ¡°Vhat is funny?¡± Boriss asks, confused. ¡°Comrade Quasi is like fluffy communist supreme commander. When leader is rich, all is rich?¡± His words get a snort out of me, which turns into laughter when I note his rather serious and confused expression. Only after the laughing stops, do I ask my next question. ¡°So, Myers, I know about classes, but what are jobs? How are they different?¡± Myers nods. ¡°Ahh, yes, you¡¯ve not slept yet. When next you sleep, you will be presented with the [Ship Captain] job. Similar to your class, the job can level up to your current level of class. But unlike a class, a job can be removed. For example, if you were to lose this ship, you would lose the [Captain] job as well.¡± Myers looks at the other three members of my group, staring at Cillian¡¯s drooling face for a slight bit longer. ¡°When you get the [Captain] job, you will be offered several Jobs that you can administer to your crew based on your ship, your level, and the class of the crewmember. As you level and improve your ship, more and more jobs will become available for you to give.¡± ¡°This, in turn, directly enhances your job based on the number of crew, their levels, your level, and your class. These enhancements can be anything from trait improvements to entire passive skills.¡± So, jobs can level up to the level of the class, but unlike a class, they can be lost. ¡°If you lose your job, do you lose your levels and then have to level again?¡± Myers leans back into his chair. ¡°No. You will immediately regain the levels if the job is taken again.¡± ¡°What about leveling speed? Are they slower or faster than classes?¡± ¡°Faster.¡± ¡°And you can only have one job?¡± ¡°Yes, though you can change jobs easily. In larger ships, it is common for people to have levels in several jobs. This way, if a crew member dies or is injured, another member can take his place.¡± I¡¯ll have to look into that once I figure out what the jobs provide. ¡°Last question. You mentioned towers and some cult?¡± ¡°The Tower Ecclesiasticus are zealots, but I would not consider them a cult. They have grown rather large and organized since the towers rose.¡± ¡°And the towers are¡­¡± Myers grunts. His hand strokes his beard again. ¡°Over a hundred years ago, innumerable metal towers rose from the bottom of the planet and started floating like islands. They are large structures with indestructible metal. The towers have some form of barrier blocking the entrance, that as of yet has never been traversed. Over the century, people began worshiping the monuments, forming a cult, and eventually a religion around them.¡± Forming a religion off of indestructible towers? Yea, that''s a first for me. ¡°I should be able to traverse the barrier since I¡¯m a champion.¡± I announce, which gets an eyebrow raise from Myers. ¡°So you¡¯ve become a god''s champion?¡± Irmgard frowns. ¡°When did you wish to tell us this?¡± Tell you? Didn¡¯t I already¡­ oh. ¡°I forgot.¡± She frowns at my answer. ¡°What? I may be amazing, but even I forget shit- and it''s not like it was important at the moment.¡± ¡°Comrade Quasi, you are communist commander. You must not keep secret. Is bad for trust. We are family, yes?¡± I pout towards the Russian. Somehow, being reprimanded by him hurts exponentially more than Irmgard being upset. I sigh. ¡°Yes, sorry. I just figured it wasn¡¯t important. I was prioritizing getting ourselves in a better position.¡± Boriss grins. ¡°Is good apology.¡± ¡°Why do you need to go to these towers?¡± Irmgard asks. ¡°To win the god games. I need to visit all twenty-one of them, and then the last tower''s location will be revealed. I imagine entering the last tower will beat the game.¡± ¡°And why should I follow you around?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯ll get to level very fast and I¡¯m currently the safest option. Also, because I¡¯m a great leader.¡± Boriss nods at the last part. ¡°But really, I¡¯m not forcing you to follow me. If you ever want to leave, you can. I¡¯ll leave you with coins and supplies, and you can go your own way.¡± I point a paw at Cillian and Boriss. ¡°That goes for all of you.¡± Boriss frowns but stays silent. Cillian drools and also stays silent. Irmgard folds her arms. ¡°I will keep that in mind.¡± I turn my attention back to Myers. The old man has been silently listening in on our conversation. ¡°So, you¡¯ve heard I need to find the towers. Any nearby?¡± He nods. ¡°There are some, but I would not recommend going to them as they tend to be far from the safer routes.¡± ¡°Don''t really have a choice.¡± ¡°Then you¡¯d best get more crew and weapons. Without cannons, every [Pirate] is going to be attracted to this ship.¡± Right, cannons. This ship¡¯s got no cannons. ¡°Where would I get cannons?¡± The old man grunts, ¡°Most towns don¡¯t sell or buy cannons. You¡¯d have to go to a major port, or a town that specializes in producing the weapons. The closest I can think of is Breston, but that is a good month away.¡± A month is a bit long- or maybe not. Honestly, I should probably see about getting hold of a map. ¡°Anything closer?¡± I ask Myers rubs the side of his glass with a thump. ¡°Well, if you don''t mind dealing with unsavory types, we can visit port Enigma. They tend to have a variety of illicit goods for sale. You can probably buy some used cannons from them.¡± ¡°How much closer is Enigma?¡± ¡°Four days minimum if the weather permits.¡± ¡°That''s a lot better than thirty days. Is Enigma some kind of pirate town or something? Am I to expect trouble?¡± He shakes his head. ¡°Not necessarily. The town deals with all manner of trade, including [Pirates] and even [Pirate Hunters]. So long as we stay armed and follow the town''s minimal laws, then there shouldn''t be a problem.¡± ¡°You mentioned we¡¯d need crew.¡± Irmgard interrupts. ¡°Can we even find reliable, trustworthy crew there? It seems like a nest of vipers.¡± Myers chuckles. ¡°Sometimes, vipers make better crew than rats.¡± ¡°Da,¡± Boriss nods and points at me. ¡°Rats will cry and hide from kitten. Snake better.¡± I glance at Boriss for a long moment, and then turn to Irmgard. ¡°Have you leveled your class yet?¡± ¡°I have not.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m putting you in charge of the new crew- as soon as we figure out what crew we need.¡± I return my attention to Myers. ¡°Though I probably don¡¯t need to ask this, do you know how to get to Enigma?¡± ¡°I remember the way, yes. Just know I¡¯ll need to slow the ship while I sleep, unless any of you have trained to pilot a cored ship by chance?¡± ¡°You can teach me,¡± I say. He raises an eyebrow. ¡°It takes years to learn to use a core.¡± ¡°Give me a day,¡± I say confidently. He shakes his head while I stretch and release a yawn. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve got more questions, but I¡¯ll ask them tomorrow. For now, I¡¯ll go to sleep. Boriss, take Cillian to one of the beds and go sleep. Irmgard and Myers will take first watch.¡± ¡°Clay, you¡¯re too young, so go to sleep. Wake up whenever.¡± Clay grins. ¡°Yes Captain!¡± I snort and then pounce off the table. ¡°Good night, and wake me up if anything happens.¡± ___________________________________________________________ The moment my body curls on a pillow, sleep immediately takes me. Then I open my eyes and am greeted with the usual white room. Except, this time, it is not just utterly white. To my side, a perfect replica of my ship greets me, alongside another floating eyeball. Except, this eyeball isn¡¯t green like the last one, but is instead red. ¡°Welcome, entity Quasi Eludo. I am administrator #81. My job is to service any and all changes to your Job. You are currently Jobless. The job [Ship Captain] is available to you. Do you accept it?¡± You know, I was kind of hoping for something unique to be offered. ¡°I do.¡±
Initializing Job installation on entity Quasi Eludo¡­ Job installation has activated¡­ Installing Job [Ship Captain] to entity Quasi Eludo Installation Successful.
Job: [Ship Captain] Level: Level 1 Job Skills: 1 Ship Size: Frigate Primary Jobs Available: 3 Support Jobs Available:5 Maximum Job Capacity: 7
Primary Jobs [First Mate]: Limit 1 [Quartermaster]: Limit 1[Navigator]: Limit 1
Support Jobs [Boatswain]:[Gunner]: [Cook]: [Carpenter]: [Rigger]:
Hmmm. Primary jobs seem like leadership positions, while the support jobs are the average crew stuff. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you can explain to me the positions?¡± I ask the eyeball. ¡°That information is restricted.¡± Of course it is. ¡°Can I add attribute points to my traits?¡± I ask. ¡°Negative. Administrator #37 is assigned to class changes.¡± Well, that¡¯s stupid. ¡°Can you show me my stats?¡± ¡°Negative. Administrator #37 is assigned to class stats.¡± Of course it is. ¡°Fine. I see I¡¯ve got a job skill. Can you show me my skills?¡± ¡°Request Acknowledged.¡±
[Captain¡¯s Authority] -Perceive the jobs of others. Perceive both the job and class of those under your direct authority. -Offer and Remove jobs under your direct authority. -Increase all traits by 1% per level of [Ship Captain] class while near your ship.
[Shift] Transform into the species of any souls you possess. Activation Cost: Mana (Variable) Sustain: Mana (Variable) Duration: Until sustain stops. 2/2 souls.
[Stat Spread Allocation] All transformations benefit from 50% of level modifications.
¡°Ah, so you can show me all my skills. Good. lets see¡­a percent increase in stats while aboard the ship? That seems pretty useful- makes for a harder mutiny. I wonder how close you have to be to get the benefit. Do you have to be on the ship, or can you walk on the port?¡± ¡°That information is restricted.¡± ¡°Shut up, I wasn''t talking to you. I was- wait a second. Why does my shifter skill have two souls? Oy, floating eyeball, show me my souls.¡±
Baby Mimicus (Soul) Mimicus are one of the most adaptable feline species in all of tristique. They have the unique ability to adapt to even the most dire environmental stimuli. They are also exceptional vocal mimics who are capable of mimicking any and all sounds they hear. Activation Cost: 77 ManaSustain: 0.8 Mana per minuteDuration: Until Sustain Stops
Elder Decay Leviathan (Soul) Leviathans are the apex predators across all of Tristique. They are large beasts capable of flying via the absorption of ambient mana. Each Leviathan eventually gains a unique ability that grows stronger with age. Activation Cost: 237,631 Mana Sustain: 3,759 Mana per minute Duration: Until Sustain Stops
OH SHIT! IC God Games - Chapter 26: Pirating Pirates Waking up with a yawn and a stretch. I open my eyes and glance at the captain¡¯s room from my vantage point atop an empty bookshelf. What the hell? ¡°I swear I fell asleep on my pillow.¡± Frowning, I hop off the bookshelf and land perfectly on the wooden floor. Not a carpeted floor, but that can be fixed with time. I stroll out of my room, walk down the hall, up the stairs, and am met with the soft morning light alongside a cool breeze. I blink rapidly as my eyes adjust to the light, and then look around. Boriss is at the stern. The Russian is leaning at the edge with a piece of cold meat and a cup of probably not water. When I turn to the helm, Myers stands at the core with a soft smile on his face. I stroll up to him with the silence my form allows. ¡°MYERS!¡± I yell. The man freezes and quickly turns with a hand on his cane. Upon seeing me and my grin, he quickly relaxes. ¡°You did not need to yell,¡± He says. ¡°Well good morning to you too. It seems I overslept. You should have woken me.¡± He shakes his head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. High vitality allows one to require less sleep.¡± ¡°Less sleep, but not no sleep.¡± I hop up to the railing near the core. ¡°But it''s not the sleep that kept you awake. You enjoy helming the ship, don''t you?¡± His aged eyes shift from me to the distant expanse before us. ¡°It has been three years¡­ maybe four since I¡¯d helmed a ship. It is nice.¡± We both stare silently as clouds pass us by. Only after five minutes does the novelty fall off. ¡°Alright. Training time. How do I use the core?¡± I lean forward and place a paw on the orb. ¡°Do I just touch it here?¡± Myers flicks my paw away. ¡°Careful. Cores can¡¯t process multiple people.¡± he warns. ¡°Do you even know how to manipulate your mana?¡± I pout. ¡°Maybe. Give me a moment.¡± I close my eyes and go through the various ways I¡¯d manipulated energy before. I go down the extensive list from direct soul manipulation to meridians. Eventually, I feel something throughout my body. It just flows, but not like blood. More electric, like nerves. I try to manipulate it, but nothing seems to work. Then the memory emerges. When I¡¯d transformed into a cat, mana had moved. I focus on the feeling of that movement. Then it shifts to my will. Slowly, I shift the energy in my body, increasing the speed faster and faster until I have a good feel to it. When I open my eyes, Myers is staring at me, perplexed. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Your eyes are glowing.¡± ¡°Yea, and? Glowing eyes after manipulating mana is a pretty normal phenomenon in most worlds. It happens quite often. Now, how do I control the core?¡± He harumps at my question. ¡°The core controls the movement of the ship''s ambient mana. There are runes carved into rigging and poles. Sending mana to the runes will power the movement in that location. This works by inserting your own mana and leading the ship''s mana to the location. The more mana moved, the more pressure the rune will apply, and the faster the limb moves. I suggest applying as little mana as possible so as to get a feel.¡± I nod. He removes his hand and I place a paw on the orb. With a small effort of will, I thrust some of my mana into the orb¡­ and then I feel it. Like an extended limb, the entire ship seems to come into being. I can feel the masts, the wood, the resistance of the wind, and the warm energy entering from the bottom of the ship. I feel the air as it impacts me as well as the slipstream forming in my wake. With additional concentration, I recognize the runes across every area of the ship. Numerous inert runes within the ship''s hull are silent, but the largest ones connected to the rigging and all three masts are firmly connected. I direct some mana into the top mast and feel it shift an inch in the runes opposite direction. ¡°Ohhh, the runes are a pushing force. This is pretty simple then.¡± I hop on the orb and turn towards the front. A grin rises on my face. ¡°Full speed ahead!¡± I roar. I shove mana into the orb. All three masts shift, turn, and bend. All of the side sails open to their maximum. The ship lurches forward, doubling its speed. ¡°MEEEEOOOOWWWWWW.¡± The instinct takes me as I cry out in ecstasy. When I look forward, Boriss is on the ground and covered in liquid. He waves his empty cup at me and then takes a bite out of the meat still firmly in his other hand. Turning around, I am met with Myers. The old man is unfazed by the shift in speed, though his eyes are intently staring at me. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Is this really your first time?¡± I roll my eyes. ¡°First time using a core? Yes. First time using and manipulating mana to manipulate relatively simple engineering? No. Speaking of which, can anyone create runes? They look like they are carved into the wood. I want to see about making them myself.¡± He stares at me for another second, and then sighs. ¡°For simple runes, yes. But anything complicated or more than a single rune will require a [Runesmith].¡± ¡°I see. Hopefully it¡¯s just a recommendation and not some complic- hey!¡± Myers picks me up and then places his hand on the orb. The ship rapidly slows. ¡°What is-¡± I don''t finish my sentence when I notice Myers'' grimace. I follow his eyes. And then I see it. A ship larger than ours is heading directly in our direction. At the top of its three masts is a prevalent black flag. I wiggle out of his grasp and hop to the railing. ¡°[Pirates]?¡± He nods. ¡°Shit. Boriss! Arm up. We might have a fight on our hands. Go wake everyone else. The Russian salutes and then rushes into the ship. As he leaves, my attention reshifts back to the distant ship. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°Are we really this unlucky?¡± I ask. ¡°Will they bombard us or board us? How many [Pirates] are we dealing with?¡± ¡°[Pirates] usually avoid major trade routes because of [Pirate Hunters]. Considering we are still on a major trade route, we are indeed unlucky. Moreso because that''s a Destroyer. Considering we have no cannons, they will most likely board us with numbers in the twenties.¡± ¡°Oh, perfect. Say, how much does a destroyer sell for?¡± I ask. He gives me the look that people who think I¡¯m completely crazy give me. But he doesn''t give me an answer as a distant explosion goes off. Our eyes return to the pirate ship. One of its top masts falls down. The mast tilts over the side of the ship, but does not fall off. Instead, it dangles at the side on thick rope. ¡°Um, what''s happening?¡± ¡°The ship is being chased.¡± Myers announces. Indeed, right behind the pirate ship is another destroyer. This next destroyer is far different than the [Pirates]. For one, it seems to have armor plating and a single mast. For another, it has two propellers at the stern of the ship and an exhaust trail from a metal cylinder behind the single mast. At the top of the mast is a light blue flag with a golden lion''s head in the center. ¡°I know that flag. It belongs to the Lion¡¯s Maw.¡± Myers relaxes. ¡°The [Pirates] must have been running from him and wound up here.¡± Another mast falls off the [Pirate] destroyer and dangles on the other side. With two masts down, the [Pirates] start to slow considerably. Myers strokes his beard. ¡°You¡¯ve got the [Captain] class now, correct? Can you tell me the name of the ships?¡± I raise an eyebrow at the old man. ¡°I don''t see any names on the hulls- also, is your eyesight really that bad? They¡¯re not that far.¡± ¡°Stare at the ships and ask for the name. You should see it.¡± I frown, but do as I am told. I glare at the [Pirates] vessel for a good two seconds, and then it pops up right above the ship.
Imminent Huntress (Three-Mast Destroyer) Max Speed: 12 knots Construction: Wood Modifications: Expanded Storage
¡°Um, the [Pirate] ship is called Imminent Huntress. The other ship is-¡± I focus on the other destroyer.
Lionsguard (Single-mast Combustion Cored Destroyer) Max Speed: 27 knots Construction: Metal-Reinforced WoodModification: Combustion powered propeller.
¡°Lionsguard.¡± ¡°And the [Captain¡¯s] level?¡± he asks. ¡°Uhhh, do I do the same thing? Ask the ship?¡± ¡°No, find the [Captain] on the ship and then ask.¡± I squint hard, but everything on the ships is blurry. ¡°As amazing as I am, my eyesight is only slightly better than a human¡¯s.¡± ¡°Level one.¡± Myers murmurs softly. He reaches into his coat pocket and takes out a retracted spyglass. He extends it and holds it in front of me.¡± While he holds it, I look through the spyglass and adjust it with my paws. With the improved vision, I can see the people aboard the [Pirate] ship. I focus on a guy rapidly pulling rope.
Level 24 [Rigger]
Then on another guy carrying debris.
Level 24 [Carpenter]
After checking several more people, I finally found my target.
Emberson Doresly: Level 38 [Pirate Captain]
The man is large in build, with muscles rivaling Boriss. He wears a tricorn, has a dirty unkempt beard, armor plated thick coat, a cutlass at his left hip, and what appears to be a firearm holstered to his right. ¡°Emberson Doresly: Level 38 [Pirate Captain]¡± I tell Myers. I then push the spyglass to the other ship and, standing confidently at the prow, I instantly find the [Captain]. The man stands tall with broad shoulders. He wears a coat with built-in pauldrons in the shape of lions. At his sides, two literal lions in full armor stand ready at his sides. Upon his head, a magnificent golden tricorn with a lion''s tail extends upward like a feather.
Leonidas Dhurina, the Lion''s Maw: Level 67 [Lion-Prince Captain]
¡°Leonidas Dhurina, the Lion¡¯s Maw: Level 67 [Lion-Prince Captain]¡± I exclaim. Myers nods. ¡°Two levels in three years. Not bad for the oldest son.¡± ¡°You know him?¡± I ask. ¡°I do- or rather, I know about him. He is the eldest son of [King] Mordred Dhurina, and one of the highest leveled in all of Burabden. He¡¯s an [Expert] [Bounty hunter] with a specialization in magic weapon control. Speaking of which, do you see the Rip-Terror?¡± An explosion rips apart the final mast with such force that several [Pirates] are sent off-board the ship. Their screams fill the air as they disappear into the planet''s core. With the last top-mast down, the only thing left to propel the ship forward are the ones on the side. Then my eyes see it. Something rapidly spinning orbits the pirate ship. The spinning thing flies to the Lionguard and lands directly in Leonidas'' arm. The item is a double reverse-blade shuriken smothered in runes across its surface. ¡°Yea, I think I see it. It¡¯s big, taller than him, with two blades.¡± ¡°Rip-Terror is a legendary item, one of five owned by the kingdom of Burabden. If memory serves, three of his siblings wield the others, with the strongest by the [King].¡± I watch, mesmerized as Leonidas grins hungrily. He raises Rip-Terror above his head, and the magical weapon starts to spin rapidly. Then it starts levitating above his palm. He steps forward, and then swings his arm as though throwing a ball. Rip-Terror accelerates forward, and only then do I hear the distant whistling. I watch, impressed as the blade slices the ship¡¯s deck, severing and slaughtering [Pirates] with a focus on the [Captain]. Like a butcher, he completes several passes, ripping wood and flesh with ease. At the final pass, the blade cuts the [Pirate Captain] in half. With the captain dead, the weapon flies back to the Lionsguard. Leonidas catches the weapon with practiced ease and stops its spin. Then, he folds the blade so that it is only half as long before sheathing it to his back. His head turns to our direction for a moment, and then he turns around. He yells an order and starts walking away from the prow. The Lionguard makes a sharp u-turn and then flies away from the Imminent Huntress. ¡°Wait, why is he moving away?¡± ¡°His job is done,¡± Myers says. ¡°The [Pirate Captain] is dead.¡± ¡°But, what about the ship? The loot? There''s still [Pirates] aboard.¡± ¡°It''s not worth the trouble. He¡¯s extremely wealthy. Whatever wealth he¡¯d gain from pirates isn¡¯t worth his time.¡± ¡°What? Are you saying that he¡¯s leaving perfectly good loot behind?¡± Before Myers can answer, Boriss returns fully armored with Irmgard in tow. ¡°Comrade, vhat is happening?¡± ¡°Loot Boriss.¡± I point a paw at the damaged pirate vessel. ¡°We have loot!¡± ¡°It¡¯s dangerous,¡± Myers interrupts. ¡°Though the [Captain¡¯s] dead, they still outnumber you.¡° ¡°Loot and exercise is good.¡± Boriss grins happily. ¡°We go now?¡± He asks eagerly. ¡°Yup,¡± I nod to him and glance at Myers. ¡°Can I leave the helm to you?¡± Myers frowns. He glances at Irmgard. ¡°They probably still have more than ten fighters aboard the ship. Are you ok with this?¡± he asks the single person who is most likely to go against such risk. Irmgard folds her arms. Her eyes turn to me. ¡°Will you be transforming?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± I answer. She nods. ¡°Then it should be fine.¡± Myers frowns at her. ¡°This is risky.¡± ¡°It''s fine.¡± my tail swishes excitedly. ¡°Just drop us off on the ship and sail away. If we die, the ship is yours. If we live and subdue the crew, return to us. Is that acceptable?¡± The old man goes silent for a long moment. He glances at the damaged ship and then us. He sighs. ¡°Fine.¡± ¡°Good. Now get us close. We¡¯ve got some looting to do.¡± IC God Games - Chapter 27: Kowtow to the King The Imminent Huntress is in a rather sorry state. All of its top masts are severed and dangle from ropes off the sides. Even still, with the side masts functional, the ship limps forward; albeit without the ability to turn. Unlike the Timbergrove, the Imminent Huntress¡¯s side masts were not designed for turning. On the ship, the surviving crew- now eleven from the former twenty, are distracted by the approaching frigate instead of repairing the ship''s damage. ¡°Stay vigilant! That vessel¡¯s got no cannons.¡± the former [First Mate], now [Captain], yells to the crew. The crew heed his advice and take position near the ship''s center. They could try to man the cannons, but without the top masts, aiming would be difficult.¡± ¡°Derrin, why are they coming near us?¡± One of the crew, a young lad of eighteen, asks. ¡°Not sure, and call me [Captain] now,¡± he answers. ¡°They clearly know we¡¯re [Pirates] and they can see the ship¡¯s in need of repairs. I doubt they¡¯re here to offer help. My bet is they want to board us.¡± ¡°That''s a frigate, do they even have the manpower to take us all on?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Derrin grins, ¡°If they board, we board back.¡± The [Pirates] wait as the ship nears them. ¡°[Captain], they¡¯re not slowing! They¡¯re going to crash.¡± ¡°I see that. Hold onto something!¡± he yells and grabs a rail. Indeed, the incoming ship isn¡¯t slowing down. At its direction and speed, it will crash into the Imminent Huntress. But, just before impact, the sails and masts of the ship change. The ship drifts to the side, passing the Imminent Huntress by half a foot from making contact. As it passes, a man, woman, and cat hop off the ship. The frigate doesn''t stop. It quickly flies away from the Imminent Huntress, making counterboarding impossible. All eyes move to the boarders. The first is a well-dressed tall woman with blond hair and blue eyes. Her coat looks of exceptional quality- something you¡¯d see a [Captain] wear. But, most notable about her is the raven cutlass on her hip which denotes her as a [Bounty Hunter]. The man next to her is clearly the muscle. He¡¯s tall, broad shouldered, with muscles bulging under the man''s coat. Hefted on his shoulder is a runed warhammer. Of what quality, he does not know, but the presence of any runed weapon is a cause for concern. Finally, there¡¯s the cat. The cat is undoubtedly adorable. It has a puffy gray coat, big eyes, and a raised tail. The feline hops up on a barrel. ¡°[Pirates]!¡± The cat yells- startling all those present. ¡°I am [Captain] Quasi Eludo and as is custom with my kind, I am taking ownership of both this vessel and your lives. Who is the acting [Captain] here? Or the new [Captain]? Or is it [First Mate]? You know what, it probably doesn¡¯t matter. Lay down your weapons and prostrate yourselves to me as is only customary.¡± ¡°Prostrate?¡± Derrin asks. The cat rolls its eyes. ¡°Yes, prostrate! I am of the superior species here and I must be treated with proper respect. Otherwise,¡± the cat raises a paw- whereupon claws extend from his little paw. ¡°You¡¯ll find yourself in a great deal of pain.¡± ¡°[Captain], is that a talking cat?¡± one of the [Pirates] asks him. ¡°Ahh, so you¡¯re the new [Captain].¡± The cat grins. ¡°Purrfect. You may prostrate first so that my new crew knows how it is done.¡± The cat stares at him expectantly. ¡°Well,¡± the cat waves a paw, ¡°begin prostrating.¡± ¡°Comrade Quasi, how you prostrate?¡± the large man with a hammer asks. The cat looks at the man with a pout. ¡°Really Boris? You don''t know how to prostrate?¡± Boriss shakes his head. The cat sighs. ¡°Prostrating is to lay on the ground with your head touching the ground. Kinda like a sitting bow.¡± the cat points a paw at Derrin, ¡°the new [Captain] here will demonstrate.¡± The sole female pinches the bridge of her nose as now both the cat and Boriss are staring at him expectantly. Hell, even the [Pirates] are looking at him with some weird expectations. ¡°I aint prostrating to nobody.¡± He exclaims, outraged. ¡°Vhat? Vhy? Is only fancy bow. Is fine, yes?¡± the large man asks. ¡°Wait, Boriss. Maybe he has knee problems and can¡¯t prostrate? I mean, look at him. He¡¯s got bloodshot eyes, covered in cuts, and that beard looks absolutely dirty. And don''t get me started on the stench. Goddam, it''s like they haven''t showered or slept in weeks.¡± Boriss rubs his chin with the hand not currently holding the warhammer. ¡°Mmmm,¡± he rumbles in understanding. The cat sighs. ¡°Look, Drake- can I call you Drake? As a magnanimous member of my clearly superior species, I will allow you to attempt to prostrate yourself to the best of your ability. I¡¯ll even ignore any inaccuracies in your form. So, go ahead.¡± The cat waves a paw like a [King] waves his arm with unbridled authority. At this point, every pirate around him is staring at him expectantly, as though he actually might try to prostrate to a talking cat. ¡°Fuck you.¡± He curses. ¡°No thanks.¡± the cat answers quickly, ¡°I prefer the more feminine sex- also, big species difference. You¡¯d be far too tight.¡± ¡°Ha! Is funny joke.¡± A few of the [Pirates] chuckle. Derrin glares at them and they quickly stop. ¡°You know what, this charade ends.¡± He unsheathes his cutlass and points it at the cat. ¡°There''s eleven of us and two of you. Surrender now and I won¡¯t skin you.¡± Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. The cat sighs and shakes his head. ¡°Boriss, why do they always choose violence? I believe I was pretty reasonable asking only for prostration.¡± ¡°Da, very reasonable.¡± Boriss takes a stance with his hammer. A grin rises up to his lips. ¡°Is fine, exercise is good.¡± ¡°Endlich,¡± the woman says. She unsheathes her raven cutlass. ¡°Well, it looks like you¡¯ve chosen death.¡± The cat glances at the rest of the crew. ¡°After I gut your [Captain] and several others, feel free to surrender by dropping your weapons and prostrating.¡± The cat hops off the barrel and starts walking towards the [Pirates]. As the cat catwalks, its body begins to glow for a moment. Then, in a puff of smoke, the cat disappears and is replaced with a six foot tall horned monstrosity. The monster grins, revealing sharp teeth. Its eight eyes move independently while the digitigrade legs bend. Derran takes a step back while the rest of his pirates unsheathe their own weapons- only now realizing that their opponents are actual threats. Before he can call out an order, the monster jumps. __________________________________________________________________________ After dropping off the three, Myers positions Timbergrove behind the Imminent Huntress and matches the ship''s speed. Since the ship''s cannons are on the broadside and the ship can''t turn, there''s no chance of retaliation at his position. Next, he takes out his spyglass so as to assess the situation, but before he can do that-.¡± ¡°Oy, what''s happenin?¡± Myers looks back. He watches Cillian fumble his way across the deck. The short plump man seems to have a slight sway in his gait as he makes his way up to him. ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°Tired. Very tired. The damn Russian woke me up by shakin and screamin at me. I damn near shat me-self.¡± The scent of alcohol wafts off of Cillians lips. ¡°Are you still drunk?¡± Myers asks in surprise. Cillian grins, ¡°I may have woke up in the middle of the wee night and had a little sip.¡± Myers frowns. ¡°At this rate, we¡¯re not going to have any alcohol to sell.¡± ¡°Bah,¡± he waves a hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, alcohol¡¯s cheap.¡± Only now does Cillian notice the damaged ship in front of them. ¡°What''s happenin?¡± ¡°Damaged [Pirate] vessel. Your [Captain] has the bright idea to board the ship and subdue over ten [Pirates] with only them three.¡± Cillians eyes widen. ¡°Do ya think they have alcohol?¡± Myers pauses, completely caught off by the question. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear me? The¡¯yre severely outnumbered.¡± Cillian snorts. The short man stretches his arm above his head until he hears a slight pop. ¡°Yea, and? Quantity aint shit against quality. Boriss is undefeated in arena combat. Irmgard¡¯s a professionally trained duelist, and Quasi- well, Quasi¡¯s just scary.¡± ¡°The cat?¡± Cillian grins knowingly. He points at the spyglass. ¡°They¡¯re on the ship, right? Take a peek.¡± Myers frowns, but obliges. He extends the spyglass, aims, and then looks through the hole. He winces as Boriss¡¯s hammer makes contact with a [Pirate¡¯s] side with such force that the man''s body is sent flying into a barrel. He then steps back and dodges another [Pirate¡¯s] cutlass with a grin on his mouth. Not far from him is Irmgard. The woman is, to Myers eyes, extremely skilled. She dances around two [Pirates] with phenomenal footwork. He cutlass is a blur as she parries every blow that comes her way. But, it¡¯s clear that, though skilled, she lacks the experience in fighting multiple opponents. Myers had already noticed several openings she could have taken, but she¡¯d used that opportunity to reposition and reset her stance instead of risking an attack. Useful if you¡¯re trying to stall, but not good if your enemy heavily outnumbers you. Speaking of which, where are the rest of the [Pirates]? Then he notices it. ¡°What is that!¡± He exclaims in surprise. Cillian chuckles knowingly. ¡°That would be our dear [Captain].¡± ¡°That''s a Fenrimorph!¡± ¡°Oh? You know what that is?¡± Myers nods. ¡°The Curse of Fenris.¡± He says grimly. He extends the spyglass a bit more and zooms in on the scene. The Fenrimorph is surrounded by four wary [Pirates] with weapons pointed. Near them are two [Pirate] corpses. One of the corpses is missing an arm while the other looks like someone took a bite out of its throat. Which, considering the red blood dripping from the Fenrimorphs mouth, is exactly what happened. Though surrounded, the Fenrimorph looks to be at ease and in complete control of the situation. As one of the [Pirates] rushes in for a stab, Myers expects the Fenrimorph to blindly rush. Instead, the beast side-steps easily, and then pounces at the [Pirate]. The other [Pirates] react by taking the opportunity of the distraction, but the Fenrimorph doesn''t give them the chance. The Fenrimorph grabs the man''s throat and then lifts and carries him outside of the circle with superior speed. When it turns around, the monster raises the man by the neck so that the other [Pirates] can see. Then it crushes the man''s throat and throws the body to the side. The Fenrimorph tilts its head. ¡°How is he able to stay sane? All those cursed have eventually lost their minds.¡± Cillian shrugs. ¡°We killed the Alpha before he lost his mind.¡± ¡°It matters not.¡± Myers counters. ¡°Killing the leader only slows the mind''s decay. All have eventually succumbed to the curse. He should not be able to stay sane.¡± ¡°That seems like a question you should ask Quasi.¡± ¡°I think I will.¡± _____________________________________________________________ I throw the choking [Pirate] to the side as he struggles for air. I stand near him, watching the three pirates stare at their slowly dying companion. I can both smell and see their fear as the struggles stop. I take a step towards them with a grin that shows all my teeth. They step back. ¡°Move, I¡¯ve got it!¡± At the start of the fight, the new [Captain] ordered his [Pirates] to attack me and then he ran off. I¡¯d thought him a coward, but no. The three [Pirates] move out of the way to allow the captain to rush forward. In one hand, he now carries a cutlass with a rune at the base, in the other¡­¡± Fuck He raises the pistol in my direction. I quickly raise my arms to cover my face. Then the gun goes off three times. I feel one bullet enter a leg, another my chest, and the third enters my arm. To my surprise, the bullets punctured my skin and muscles, but only slightly. When I peek between my arms, I find the [Captain] is quickly trying to reload. With a growl, I kneel and then jump forward with a burst of speed. ¡°It¡¯s coming!¡± one of the [Pirates] warns. The [Captain], hearing the warning, abandons reloading and points the runed cutlass in my direction as though to stab. I don''t dodge. When I reach him, he stabs forward. The cutlass penetrates my stomach, but I ignore the pain. Instead, I pull him forward and take a bite out of his neck before throwing his limp body to the side. I quickly grab the gun and jump back before the other [Pirates] can react. I throw the gun behind me and then stare the remaining [Pirates] down with a cutlass in my stomach. Then, while staring, I grab the cutlass handle and pull it out. Almost immediately, my blood coagulates and the bleeding stops. I throw the weapon behind me to join the gun. I then grin towards the three. At this point, they look like they¡¯re about to shit themselves in abject fear. With a continued grin, I raise my right arm, extend an index finger, and then point down several times. All at once, the three [Pirates] drop their weapons and prostrate themselves before me. With my side handled, I turn to see how my companions are doing. Irmgard stands at attention with two disarmed [Pirates] with their hands up. As for Boriss. The man has abandoned his hammer. Instead, he¡¯s sitting on the final [Pirate¡¯s] chest and pummeling the man''s face in with his bare fists. IC God Games - Chapter 28: New Mount With the Imminent Huntress halted, Myers is easily able to position the Timbergrove next to it. When he does, Quasi single-handedly lifts a large plank and plots it between the ships. When Quasi steps on the plank, Myers yells. ¡°We need to tie the ships first, otherwise a heavy breeze could push us apart. Here!¡± He throws several ropes at Quasi, who struggles to catch it with his clawed hands. Then, with suppressed disgust, he watches the Fenrimorph struggle to manipulate the rope into a knot. Eventually, the knot is made and the ships are fastened. Quasi walks aboard the thick bridge and arrives back on the Timbergrove. When he nears Myers, the old man¡¯s hands warily go to his cane. The movement is not lost on Quasi. With a waft of smoke, the Fenrimorph disappears and is then replaced by the smaller feline form. At the same time, three finger sized metal objects fall to the floor. ¡°Oh right,¡± the cat notices the pieces of metal, ¡°I was shot. Well, this is neat. I won''t have to ask anyone to do surgery to remove the metal.¡± ¡°Those are bullets, yea?¡± Cillian asks eagerly. ¡°That means there''s a gun?¡± ¡°Yea,¡± Quasi raises a paw, ¡°the guns somewhere on the deck next to a Runed sword. You can-¡± Cillian doesn¡¯t allow Quasi to finish before running off in search of said weapon. ¡°Right, he¡¯s a gun freak. Anyway, Myers, thanks for not running off- or I guess flying off.¡± Myers nods slowly. ¡°That form you had. You¡¯re a Fenrimorph.¡± Quasi raises his eyebrows. ¡°You know what it is? Interesting, I thought it was a unique monster for the test, but this is good. I don''t suppose you know if there is a way to turn back?¡± Myers shakes his head. ¡°No- but more importantly. How are you able to remain sane? All those infected eventually give in to the beast''s instincts.¡± ¡°Damn, so no simple way of changing back. Annoying, but somewhat expected. As for remaining sane? That''s not really difficult. It''s all about suppressing instincts- of which I have nearly ten millennia experience. Now, the more annoying part is when there''s an Alpha present. The mental and physical pain those things apply is bonkers. It¡¯s like a tooth ache across your entire body.¡± ¡°Are you saying you are ten thousand years old?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m saying I am almost ten thousand years old. I think I have another fifty years before I hit that age.¡± ¡°Thats¡­¡± ¡°Later,¡± Quasi waves a claw. He then points at the Imminent Huntress. ¡°I wanted to ask, could we fix and sell the ship? The damage seems superficial.¡± Myers frowns at the shift in subject, but he allows the change for the moment. ¡°It is indeed superficial, but it¡¯s going to need a large dock to repair. Once repaired, finding a buyer would be simple enough for a destroyer. The main problem with this is getting the ship to a dock.¡± ¡°Can we tow it with the Timbergrove?¡± ¡°Yes, but it will slow us down. We¡¯ll also need a skeletal crew for the Imminent Huntress.¡± Quasi tilts his head and pounces on a nearby railing. ¡°Any nearby ports we can use for repair?¡± ¡°For a destroyer class? Either Lignum¡¯s port or we continue to Breston. Any other port isn¡¯t going to be large enough.¡± ¡°Damn. We can''t very well return to Arbor- so that leaves Breston.¡± ¡°Or you can just take whatever valuables are on the ship and then set sail. It is a far safer option,¡± Myers explains. Quasi gives Myers a look as though he¡¯s going to throw up a hairball. ¡°Not an option! We do not leave perfectly good- relatively good loot behind because it¡¯s risky. Now, let''s go meet our new temporary crew.¡± ____________________________________________________________________ Boarding the Imminent Huntress, Myers and Quasi make their way to the portside of the ship- where six [Pirates] are tied up and watched by both Irmgard and Boriss. ¡°Comrade fluffy, you are small again,¡± Boriss says with a grin. Quasi snorts at his new nickname. ¡°Yup,¡± Quasi nods. He hops up on a barrel and gives a toothy grin towards the wary [Pirates]. ¡°For now. But I can get big whenever I need to. I hope I won¡¯t be given a reason to,¡± He exclaims while making eye contact with all six. Having seen their comrades slaughtered by a monstrosity they¡¯ve never seen before, they quickly nod in understanding of the implied threat. ¡°Good, because as of this moment, I am going to give you two choices.¡± The [pirates] stop avoiding eye contact and now listen intently to the talking kitten. ¡°The first choice is death.¡± The [Pirates] continue staring as though such a choice is expected. ¡°The second involves crewing the Imminent Huntress under my orders until we make port at Breston. At which point, if none of you have caused me problems, you will be given your freedom.¡± All six [Pirates] seem to have their spines stiffen. Hope flares in each man like they¡¯d just downed a shot of tequila. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you all choose the second option?¡± All six nod. ¡°Perfect.¡± Quasi looks to Irmgard. ¡°You¡¯ve led an entire prison. Do you think you can handle these six?¡± ¡°Leicht,¡± She answers. ¡°Perfect. Boriss, cut their bindings. Irmgard, I¡¯m putting them in your care. They are to follow your orders to the letter. If they refuse, you¡¯re free to kill them- or torture them. Whichever you think is best. I think this will level your class.¡± You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Quasi pauses for a moment. ¡°Speaking of which, I¡¯m going to also offer you the [First Mate] Job. I¡¯d give it to Boriss, but I don''t think it fits him. Hopefully I¡¯ll unlock a better option later.¡± ¡°Best person for job,¡± Boriss answers happily. ¡°Is good communist saying.¡± ¡°Thanks for being understanding. Now,¡± Quasi looks at the new crew members. He quickly points at the youngest of them. ¡°You, what''s your name? ¡°D-Daveed, [Captain].¡± he stammers. Quasi hops up on the young man''s shoulder, ¡°Well, Daveed, I am giving you the honors of leading me to all of the ship''s valuables.¡± ¡°Yes [Captain].¡± The man answers quickly. He hops up from the floor and starts walking to the entrance of the ship''s hold. As Quasi¡¯s mount leaves, he overhears Irmgard setting the ground rules, which involve explaining the various torture techniques she can and will use in case of insubordination. Near the hold¡¯s entrance, Cillian waits excitedly with a gun in hand and cutlass on his ship. ¡°Oy, Cillian, you found the gun. Is it any good?¡± Cillian looks up with a frown. He glances at the unfamiliar face, but quickly ignores it for the speaker. ¡°Well, it¡¯s weird.¡± He clicks open the gun''s cylinder. ¡°It''s a rather well-designed revolver, except it has a three bullet cylinder. It can only shoot three times before it needs to reload.¡± ¡°Ahh, so that''s why I was only shot three times. By the way, the stopping power of the revolver is pretty weak. I think my pipe-gun from prison was a lot stronger.¡± ¡°Gun-powder,¡± Cillian raises a bullet up to Quasi. ¡°It¡¯s much weaker than the shit you used.¡± The cat nods. ¡°That makes sense then. My muscles were able to absorb the bullets pretty easily.¡± Quasi looks at Daveed. ¡°Speaking of which, Daveed, do you know who manufactures these guns?¡± ¡°T-the uhh, Stone-kin.¡± ¡°Stone-kin? Is that another species?¡± Quasi asks. Daveed nods slightly so as not to disturb the kitten that could easily transform into a monstrosity. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Huh, so these Stone-kin can manufacture firearms. That''s useful to know. I¡¯ll have to ask Myers about the various species later- honestly, I need a map. Daveed, does this ship have a map?¡± ¡°The [Captain] might have one.¡± ¡°Perfect, we¡¯ll pick that up after we look at all the loot.¡± ¡°Loot?¡± Cillian¡¯s eyes bright up. ¡°Are there more guns?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Daveed answers. ¡°That one in your hand is the only one. The¡­ former [Captain] stole it from a [Courier Captain].¡± Cillian frowns. ¡°How rare are guns?¡± ¡°They are very rare- only the wealthy have them.¡± Cillian sighs. ¡°It''s fine.¡± Quasi waves a paw. ¡°We¡¯ll produce our own and of better design and quality. We just need to get a hold of some resources.¡± Cillian¡¯s eyes widen in realization. The short man grins excitedly. ¡°If guns are rare, we could produce better and superior versions. We could also price them a wee lower than what''s on the market.¡± ¡°Yup, but that''s later. First we need funds. Daveed, lead us to the hold. Let''s see what loot we¡¯ve managed to obtain.¡± _________________________________________________________________________ Unlike the Timbergrove, the Imminent Huntress is an order of magnitude larger of a ship. It has more holds, more rooms, more everything. But, in actuality, the space difference isn¡¯t that big when you take into account the fact that the ship requires a lot more maintenance. Unlike a cored ship like the Timbergrove, the Imminent Huntress needs a lot of crew and a lot of resources to keep the ship running. This all takes up a decent bit of space. ¡°Here''s our hold.¡± Daveed waves his hand. The hold is, unfortunately, somewhat sparse. Boxes are stacked through the center with barrels roped to the sides. Cillian walks up to a box and removes the lid. A smile gets plastered on his lips. ¡°Oy,¡± he reaches in and retrieves a cutlass. ¡°These are weapons! Are you selling arms?¡± Daveed frowns. ¡°I-guess? Nobody but the [Captain], [First Mate], and the [Quartermaster] were allowed to know what we were carrying.¡± Quasi tilts his head. ¡°Oh, right. Cillian, I¡¯m gonna give you the [Quartermaster] job. Is that alright? ¡°Sure?¡± ¡°Perfect. Now go check the rest of the containers.¡± Cillian does just that. Not only weapons, but they also find perfectly good leather armor- including several brigandines. ¡°Where were you headed with all this equipment before your ship got hunted?¡± Quasi asks his mount. ¡°We were heading to Breston.¡± the man answers. ¡°Oh? Does Breston need weapons and armor?¡± ¡°It sells for a lot.¡± Daveed explains Quasi frowns. ¡°Are you from Breston?¡± ¡°I- I have family there. Yes.¡± ¡°Perfect!¡± Quasi grins. ¡°Congratulations Daveed, you are now promoted to my honorary mount when we get to the port.¡± ¡°But you promised.¡± ¡°I did. Freedom at Breston. By the time I leave Breston, you¡¯ll get your freedom.¡± The cat grins towards the dejected former [Pirate]. _________________________________________________________________ ¡°Where are my weapons?¡± A man in a velvet brigandine strides into a carpeted room smothered in runelit lanterns. His hair is shoulder length and wavy, with eyes bordering between green and brown. A strong jawline is closely covered by a trimmed beard. The [Steward] looks up and frowns. ¡°My [Lord], can you not knock?¡± ¡°I am the [Lord] of Breston. I do not knock, Janice!¡± He bellows. The [Steward] gives him a brazen look, and then sighs. She points at his feet. ¡°Under the carpet is an electrification rune designed to protect me from intruders. The power rune is at my feet. I¡¯ve yet to turn the damn thing on because you keep barging in!¡± The [Lord''s] cheeks blush even though his expression displays none of the turmoil. After all, he was the one that requested she install protection in her office. ¡°That matters not,¡± he quickly changes the subject ¡°I ordered Brigandines and Cutlasses to expand the [Guards]. They should have arrived already.¡± ¡°You requested armor and weapons from a [Pirate Captain].¡± She corrects. ¡°No money was traded- only that we agreed on a bulk price. It wouldn¡¯t surprise me if someone else offered a better price- or more likely that [Pirate Captain] was hunted down by a [Bounty Hunter].¡± ¡°Nonsense.¡± The [Lord] waves his hand. ¡°Menston¡¯s a [Pirate Captain] of a Destroyer. There''s no [Bounty Hunter] willing to risk their ship and life to take him out so far from the major powers.¡± Janice reaches down and grabs a poster that she plasters on her desk for him to see. Wanted Dead: Menston Faverim Menston Faverim raided a [Courier Captain] carrying a special ordered Pistol meant for [Duke] Forefield. He no longer needs the weapon- but he does not like to be stolen from. He requests the death of Menston Faverim with the reward of 10,000 Trist for successful completion. ¡°Oh.¡± Janice nods. ¡°Oh is right. With this kind of reward, I imagine Menston¡¯s already dead.¡± ¡°But what of my equipment? The new [Guards] are already in training.¡± ¡°Then they will have to make do with what we can scrounge up from [Traders].¡± ¡°But their quality is atrocious,¡± he whines. She gives him another scathing look. The thought of turning the rune on passes through her mind. At the same moment, the [Lord¡¯s] expression takes on the look of someone heavily battle-hardened. He hops outside the room and then unsheathes his cutlass. The cutlass instantly ignites with a swirling flame. Janice gives the [Lord] a surprised look for a moment, then snorts. ¡°How is it you¡¯re a savant in combat, but when it comes to administration, you need to rely on your dear sister?¡± The [Lord¡¯s] serious expression wavers to a pout. ¡°You just thought about electrocuting me.¡± he accuses. ¡°I did.¡± she acknowledges. Her foot moves a moment and the carpet seems to light up. ¡°The rune is now powered. Make sure you knock next time.¡± The [Lord] sheathes his sword and sticks out his tongue at his sister in the most unlordly way possible. Then he closes the office door and walks off. IC God Games - Chapter 29: A lesson in anthropology Back on the Timbergrove, within the bowels of the ship¡¯s mess room, a makeshift priceless lightsource hangs from the ceiling on a bit of string. The light source illuminates the room with a violet glow like a lantern with purple tinted glass. Below the lightsource and directly on the table, Cillian unrolls a map. ¡°This is Tristique,¡± He says. The map of Tristique is a map of the archipelago on steroids. A large landmass occupies the center of the map, which is surrounded by several large islands. Further away from the center are even more, smaller islands, which get smaller and smaller as you get farther and farther away from the center. The islands easily number in the tens of thousands, if not more. ¡°Oy, Myers, where are we?¡± I ask. My eyes roam the map and the various names written over the islands, but nothing stands out as our location. The old man stands up and then points at the edge of the map, at the furthest corner he can. He taps a tiny little dot. ¡°This is Arbor.¡± Then he taps another tiny dot an inch closer to the center. ¡°This is Breston, our next destination.¡± Holy shit, Tristique is massive. ¡°You said it takes us a month to go from Arbor to Breston. What if I need to g o to the center?¡± I point a paw at the largest island. ¡°It¡¯s going to take us a year.¡± Myers shakes his head, ¡°It will if you don''t use the slipstreams.¡± ¡°The slip what now?¡± Myers leans forward. ¡°The slipstreams. They¡¯re not marked on this map, but-¡± he traces a finger through the map as though he is making a route past islands. ¡°They are streams of rapidly moving wind and mana that allow ships to traverse at higher speeds. If we¡¯d had a slipstream between Arbor and Breston, we¡¯d be able to get to Breston in three days instead of a month.¡± Airship Highways. That''s pretty neat. ¡°Good to know. Now, mind giving us a refresher course on the major powers and the various species?¡± ¡°I can.¡± Myers turns to the side. ¡°Clay, listen closely. This is important for you to know as well.¡± The child perks up. ¡°Okay!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll start with the six major species. The most numerous are humans. We are everywhere, but we are also the most short-lived in comparison to the others.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve not seen any other species except for humans.¡± I add. ¡°We may see some in Breston,¡± Myers adds, ¡°though probably not much. The closer we get to the center, the more you¡¯ll see.¡± He clears his throat. ¡°Next, we¡¯ve got the Gemma, better known as the Stone-kin. They are a long-lived species generally larger than humans with a lifespan three times longer than ours. Their skin is as hard and as rough as stone. They are mostly crafters and artisans that have the highest level [Rune Smiths] in all of Tristique.¡± Myers points at one of the islands closer to the center. ¡°Their capital is called Lapis and is where a vast majority of all high-end Runic weapons are forged.¡± ¡°So, long-lived master crafters. Got it. Next?¡± Myers glances at Clay to make sure the child is following along. ¡°Next, we have the Buxon. The Buxon are at least seven feet tall, extremely strong, and are covered in bone armor under their skin. They are a very warlike species that would have dominated all others if not for their inability to use mana.¡± I perk up, ¡°They can''t use mana?¡± Myers shakes his head. ¡°They can¡¯t use external mana and their internal supply is generally too low to be of any use. The Stone-kin also can''t use external mana, but their internal mana is exceptionally large- which allows them to wear runic equipment and use runic weapons en masse.¡± ¡°But the Buxon can''t.¡± ¡°No, nor do they need to. A single Buxon can take out an entire ship''s crew on their own if they were to ever board. They are fast, agile, powerful, and intelligent. Even the Wolven avoid fighting them.¡± I perk up. ¡°Wolven?¡± ¡°Yes. The next species is the Wolven. They are bipedal beasts similar to a Fenrimorph- minus the four eyes, horns, spiked tail, and are generally smaller. They are stronger, faster, and more agile than humans, with a marginally lower supply of mana.¡± Myers grimaces as he glances at me. ¡°They are also the source of the curse. The curse of Fenris is a sickness that can transform any sentient monster into a Fenrimorph.¡± I yawn, ¡°Yea, I know. I kinda watched the transformation happen and went through it. It''s not fun.¡± ¡°You¡¯re taking this too lightly.¡± Myers growls unexpectedly. ¡°The sighting of a single Fenrimorph in a town will have the Wolven Inquisition exterminating everyone. If you transform at the wrong place and wrong time, you could damn an entire population to death.¡± I lean back in surprise at the anger and frustration in the old man''s tone. You¡¯ve got history. ¡°I understand. Don''t get seen and don''t accidentally infect someone. Got it.¡± He frowns at my answer, but leans back in his chair. ¡°Good. Let''s head onto the next species. The Phytonid are sentient plants that differ greatly in looks and capability except for their ability to utilize magic. Each and every one of their kind are exceptional spellcasters that few humans can ever hope to compete against.¡± ¡°Plant people? Really? How different are we talking about?¡± Myers tilts his head back in thought. ¡°It¡¯s hard to explain. I¡¯d give a poor explanation if I tried.¡± ¡°Will Breston have any of these Phytonid?¡± I ask. ¡°I doubt it, but they might. Again, wait till you see them.¡± I pout at his answer. I¡¯ve met only one sentient plant-based race in all of my summons, and that race was parasitic to every living thing.. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll wait. What¡¯s the last species?¡± ¡°Insectoid- or as many call them, bugs. They are a race of oversized insects ruled by massive Queens that control hives the size of towns or cities. The Queens produce the insectoids- of which each hive differs from the others.¡± Myers leans up and makes a circle at the northwestern point of the map. ¡°Most of the hives are generally in this entire area. Many of them are constantly at war with one-another and tend to be antagonistic to the other races. Their lifespans can range from a decade to thousands of years- with the queens generally living the longest.¡± ¡°Can they use mana?¡± I ask. ¡°If the Insectoids are bred to, then yes. Though, it is quite rare as it seems very few queens know how.¡± I nod to Myers and then stand up on my back legs so as to get a better look of the map. ¡°Six species including humans. Insectoids are in the northwestern part of the planet. The Stone-kin capital is here,¡± I point at the island near the center. ¡°What of the other races? What about major powers?¡± ¡°The wolven empire is located on the island of Okami.¡± he points at another of the islands orbiting the center of the map. ¡°The Buxon dictatorship is farther to the west- on one of the larger islands called Taurus.¡± He points at an island near the stone-kin¡¯s capital with a grimace. ¡°The kingdom of Fallantine rests on the island of Fallan. They have the largest human population and are considered by many to be humanity¡¯s capital.¡± ¡°The Phytonid don¡¯t generally have a capital, but some would argue that their capital is,¡± he points at the largest island near the central landmass. ¡°On the island of Magnis where the Republic of Guilds is located.¡± ¡°And the republic of guilds are¡­¡± ¡°A combination of both major and minor guilds- with the three largest and strongest guilds taking up the major leadership positions. The Merchant guild, the Smith guild, and the Mage Guild. The Mage Guild in particular is led by the Phytonid.¡± ¡°Now, those are merely the major powers. Numerous Kingdoms, city-states, and the like reside across all of Tristique. But, none of them have the equivalent combined political, militaristic, and financial might as the major powers I mentioned.¡± I cross my paws and stare at the map in its entirety for several seconds of silence, which is only broken by the sound of my growling stomach. ¡°Lunch-Break. It¡¯s time for a lunch break.¡± I decide. _____________________________________________________________________ ¡°Emma.¡± The sound of stone scraping wood emanates for a moment as the door is blasted open. ¡°Have you been working for free again?¡± a deep, manly gruff voice exclaims resolutely. The man, a hulking eight foot statue with granular gray skin enters the bedroom. The woman yawns. Her eyes flutter open with a grimace when she eyes her fathers frown. ¡°Dad, it¡¯s early-.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nearly evening!¡± The father says. He stares at the young Gemma resting on a wooden mattress. Not a stone one like his- like a normal Gemma would have. ¡°Now, answer my question. Have you been working for free again?¡± She groans again. Then pouts. She looks at her father- the man''s expression is far less expressive in comparison to the human she¡¯d grown up around. No changes of facial color or much structural changes in his face or posture. The man is more statue than Gemma- which for most is unsettling. But, that''s why you focus on the eyes. And from his eyes, she notices that he¡¯s upset more than usual. ¡°Yes, dad. I was doing some work in the impoverished district. The water purifier had some damaged runes. I only repaired them. ¡°You completely redid the runes and used an entire emerald for the drawing.¡± She quickly sits up. ¡°How did you-¡± ¡°Because I redid your work.¡± ¡°You did what?¡± This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ¡°I chipped away the emerald and replaced it with a low quality sapphire.¡± ¡°WHY!¡± She cries out. ¡°I spent all night redoing the whole runic network and I installed the emerald precisely because it will last far longer. Their purifier keeps breaking and an emerald should be more resilient to the elements.¡± ¡°You are an ignorant child.¡± Emma¡¯s anger flares. Her skin hardens as adrenaline courses through her. ¡°Me? Ignorant? No, you¡¯re the heartless, ignorant one! All you care about is coin! How about growing a heart and helping people!¡± ¡°You don''t understand.¡± he says. ¡°NO.¡± She hops up off the bed. ¡°YOU DON¡¯T UNDERSTAND!¡± she yells and then walks out of her room. The father watches his daughter rush past him. Her legs scrape the hardened wood floor, then he hears the impacts of her feet as she rushes down the stairs. A door opens and then crashes closed followed by the ringing of a bell. The father blinks slowly. ¡°So young and ignorant.¡± He says as softly as his gruff voice can. He hears the ringing of the bell again downstairs. ¡°Hmmm.¡± he rumbles thoughtfully. He walks out of the room, down the stairs, and then moves to the store counter. ¡°Agron, good afternoon. Your, uh, daughter seems upset.¡± Agron looks at the human at the other side of the counter. The man is dressed well, with a nice armored coat and thick cargo shorts that mesh well with the tricorn on his head. ¡°How do you deal with such childish ignorance?¡± Florence chuckles. ¡°You¡¯re talking about teenagers. As for dealing with them, well, that''s part of parenting. All you can do is be there to lift them up when they fall.¡± ¡°For how long?¡± Florence scratches his chin, ¡°For however long it takes.¡± Agron nods slowly, which elicits the sound of grinding stone. ¡°That I can do¡­ now. What is it you need?¡± Constantine clears his throat while his ears turn red. ¡°Well, you know that Refrigerator Rune you installed in my ship''s pantry?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Agron nods. ¡°I, uh, may have filled the pantry too much.¡± Agron waits and continues listening. ¡°Then there was a manastorm nearby.¡± ¡°The rune froze over and got damaged.¡± Agron quickly concludes. ¡°I informed you to make sure there is plenty of airflow within the pantry so if the temperature decreases too much, there will be plenty of airflow. It seems you did not take my directions to heart.¡± Constantine blushes. ¡°Yea, sorry about that. It was working so well, I bought a little too much meat- and well.¡± He shrugs with arms spread. ¡°I hope this won¡¯t cost me too much.¡± ¡°The rune was applied recently- so it will merely need a slight repair. I¡¯d send my daughter, but she seems to be a bit emotionally indisposed. Give me a moment to grind a gem and I will follow you to your ship. It should not take long.¡± Constantine sighs¡­ and then realizes he¡¯d never heard the price. ¡°The price-.¡± ¡°Will be given after I fully assess damages. Now give me a moment.¡± _____________________________________________________________ As a cat, you¡¯d think it would be difficult to fall asleep- what with the super hearing and bundles of energy in the middle of the night. Well, no. It¡¯s actually quite easy. I climb the bookcase and then lay down on the pillow at the top. And then I''m back into the white room with not one, but two ships floating near me. Both the Timbergrove and Imminent Huntress are present alongside two floating eyeballs. One green and the other red. ¡°Alright,¡± I say, ¡°I¡¯m naming you green and I¡¯m naming you red.¡± The eyeballs blink in silence. ¡°So, considering you¡¯re here, I leveled in both Job and Class. But before we start talking about that, why the fuck can¡¯t there be only one of you. Why can''t a single eye control both Job and Class?¡± Green and Red blink at me. Then, both at once: ¡°That information is restricted.¡± ¡°That information is restricted.¡± I sigh. ¡°Alright, whatever. Red, you''re my class eyeball. What''s new?¡±
Traits. Human Average Individual Base Calculations. Level modifications Trait Actual Value
Strength 10 36 +0% 36
Endurance 9 43 +0% 43
Vitality 12 0.27%M/R/M 22 0.54% M/R/M +0% 22 0.54% M/R/M
Perception 9 27 +0% 27
Intelligence 11 16 +0% 16
Mana 388.8 480 +0% 480
Control 12 8 +0% 8
Attributes Available: 27 Level 18
Titles Obtained: 1
¡°A single level? Really? Now that just doesn''t seem fair.¡± The eyeball blinks once and doesn''t comment. Just floating and staring, awaiting my decision. ¡°Fine. Be weird.¡± Now, where to put my attributes. Considering each attribute is a single percent increase, I should focus on my largest traits: Endurance and Strength. Endurance was useful for when I got shot by a gun- and would give me quite a bit of resistance to getting shot in the future. But, wearing armor is a far better way to avoid damage. Instead, let''s go with strength. I¡¯m already stronger than your average human by quite a bit, but is that really enough strength to go head to head with other species? Honestly, it may not be. If the Buxon can single-handedly wipe out a ship''s crew on their own as Myers claims, then they must have strength near or equivalent to my own. I probably should have asked about their average stats, but my gut says they¡¯re significantly higher than humans but not at my own physical level. Strength would give me the ability to move about faster and overpower easier. But, I shouldn''t forget about the other traits. I don¡¯t need vitality considering a longer lifespan won¡¯t help me get to the seventy-two towers sooner. And mana regeneration is not a problem currently, though it could be in the future. Perception is a strong possibility too. Too many forget how important senses are to understanding and reacting properly to the world around you. But, I think i¡¯m at the point that increasing it further will only allow me to hear the beating of a heart louder than I already can. Also, I really don''t need a better sense of smell. Intelligence can be useful, but completely unnecessary. I¡¯ve already got ways to learn quickly and my wisdom is at a level no mortal could hope to compete with. As for mana? That''s not a problem unless I want to turn into a leviathan. But, one percent increases aren¡¯t going to help get me there. I¡¯d need a skill of some kind instead. Finally, we have control, and arguably the one I¡¯m most curious about. The skill enhances precision and all-around usability of skills. I would honestly choose to put points in this skill if not for the fact that my control is less than the average humans. Which makes sense. I feel like a lumbering bear instead of a graceful kitten when I¡¯m a fenrimorph. ¡°Wait a second.¡± I say aloud in realization. I can increase my base stats! The fenrimorph¡¯s lumbering movements are a result of degraded muscles. With training, I should be able to improve my control. Wait! Not only control, but I can also increase my strength. Increasing strength should be much easier too. ¡°Alright Red, put all my attribute points into strength.¡± ¡°It is done.¡±
Traits. Human Average Individual Base Calculations. Level modifications Trait Actual Value
Strength 10 36 +27% 46
Endurance 9 43 +0% 43
Vitality 12 0.27%M/R/M 22 0.54% M/R/M +0% 22 0.54% M/R/M
Perception 9 27 +0% 27
Intelligence 11 16 +0% 16
Mana 388.8 480 +0% 480
Control 12 8 +0% 8
Attributes Available: 0 Level 18
Titles Obtained: 1
¡°Traits round. Good to know.¡± ¡°Will that be all?¡± Red asks. ¡°Yup, I¡¯m done with you.¡± The eyeball disappears. I turn to green. ¡°Alright. Show me my Job stuff.¡±
Job: [Ship Captain] Level: Level 3 Job Skills: 1 Ship Size: Frigate, Destroyer Primary Jobs Available: 3 Support Jobs Available:5 Maximum Job Capacity: 7
Primary Jobs [First Mate] level 1: Irmgard Von Braun level 1 [Sword Officer] [Quartermaster] level 1: Cillian Wallace level 3 [Merchant][Navigator]: Limit 1
Support Jobs [Boatswain]:[Gunner]: [Cook]: [Carpenter]: [Rigger]:
Only two levels from stealing a ship? That''s just bull-shit. I deserve at the very least ten. ¡°Oh, wow. I can see the classes and levels of my crew. This is probably why Myers refuses to take a job. He doesn¡¯t want me to see his class.¡± I frown at the lack of changes. Other than my level increasing and my two new subordinates getting a job- and the other ship. Nothing else has changed. ¡°Is my [Captain''s Authority] trait bonus active? I didn''t see the bonus applied to my stats page.¡± ¡°Conditional trait enhancements are not calculated.¡± the eye answers. ¡°Huh, I''m surprised you answered.¡± The eyeball blinks once. ¡°Will that be all?¡± It asks. ¡°Yup. You can send me back.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The eyeball disappears and then I start dreaming about milk. IC God Games - Chapter 30: Learning Curve In the mid evening, Emma rushes through the streets of Breston. She dodges people, carts, and even animals with a grace not normally seen by the Gemma. Unlike her father, her skin, though stony, is much softer and nowhere near as thick- but also nowhere near as protective. Eventually, she arrives at Breston¡¯s docks- her mood improving a bit both over the run and the resplendent view she so loves to see and the uptick in wind as it buffets against her hard skin. In time, this feeling will become more and more muted as she ages- but for the moment, she will indulge. She walks to the end of the pier and takes a seat with her legs dangling over the abyss. To some, such a thing is folly without a harness. But many stevedores give her a nod of approval. She releases a sigh- a very human thing to do, and then ruminates on the day before. In the poorer district of Breston; district 7 to be exact, times can be rather difficult as many struggle for survival. But, the most important aspect to that struggle is clean drinking water. District 7 has a single water purifier that just so happens to break down quite often. When it breaks down, few are able to travel the distance to use the other purifiers. Instead, they are forced to manually heat the water before consuming it. A rather expensive process considering the cost of coal or wood. ¡°They need help,¡± she says softly. ¡°Who needs help?¡± Her head whips back to find a friendly face. A man. A human man and an old friend. ¡°Carrian, aren''t you supposed to be working?¡± she asks the [Stevedore]. ¡°I¡¯m having lunch.¡± the man replies. He walks to the edge and sits down next to her without a harness. Then he puts his bag to the side and grabs a loaf of bread and cheese. He breaks both in half and offers it to her. She pouts but takes the food. ¡°You should be able to afford meat now. You need it if you¡¯re going to grow big and strong.¡± Carrian chuckles. ¡°Yea, I could and probably should.¡± he raises the bread in front of his face. ¡°I¡¯m already indulging with fresh bread instead of stale. It¡¯s going to take me a while to be comfortable with spending more than a trist for anything- but enough about me.¡± he takes a bite of both cheese and bread. ¡°You said something about someone needing help?¡± She looks away from him and then down. ¡°Yea. You know how district seven¡¯s purifier keeps breaking.¡± ¡°Of course. I grew up there. That damn thing only works properly on the best of days.¡± ¡°Well, yesterday night- I took an emerald, ground it down- and then redrew all the runes on the purifier. Emerald dust is resilient to decay from water- so it shouldn¡¯t be malfunctioning any longer. But then my father went to the purifier and replaced my work with a low-quality sapphire.¡± She takes a bite out of the bread, an angry bite to be exact. ¡°My dad has no heart. All he cares about is making trist.¡± she grumbles. ¡°Then he went and called me ignorant. He¡¯s the ignorant one who!¡± Carrian listens silently as she vents while taking bites in between. Only when he finishes his food does he speak. ¡°He¡¯s not wrong. You¡¯re the one who is ignorant.¡± ¡°What?¡± she yells- her head whipping to glare at him. He quickly raises his hands in a placating manor. ¡°Look, hear me out. I grew up in district seven and that purifier breaking- well, it''s not because of wear and tear. The reason the purifier breaks is because desperate people will grind away the rune dust and sell it. Hell, for emerald dust, I would have been one of the first with a chisel in the middle of the night.¡± She looks at him, surprised by his words. ¡°Your dads smart. A cheap quality sapphire? Finding a buyer for that isn¡¯t easy, if at all possible. None but the most ignorant of children would waste their time chiseling away.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± she puts her head down, now lost for words and feeling a bit guilty. ¡°The [Lords] paid for a quality runecraft before, and each and every time, those stricken by poverty and desperation have broken the damn thing.¡± Now she feels even more guilty. After a moment of pouting and struggling with her current feelings, she lifts her head up and notices a ship. More precisely two ships coming toward the port. A flagless frigate class without cannons is pulling a damaged pirate destroyer. ¡°You don''t see that everyday.¡± She points over the horizon. Carrion follows her finger and looks at the two ships. More specifically, he notices the destroyer. ¡°No! That''s the Imminent Huntress!¡± He quickly stands up. ¡°Wait, what''s wrong?¡± She follows his lead. ¡°That ship. My brother was on that ship.¡± ________________________________________________________________________ Myers raises the spyglass and looks through it. In the distance, he can see Breston. With a final adjustment, he steers the ship towards the port. Then he lets go of the orb and makes his way within the bowels of the timbergrove. He checks the captain''s quarters and finds nobody. Then he checks the other quarters and again finds nobody- not even Clay. When he enters the mess hall, he is met with Cillian seated at the table. On the table is an assortment of weapons and a cup of polish. Slowly, Cillian polishes the weapons with a relaxed grin on his face. ¡°Do you know where everyone is? I need to talk to the [Captain].¡± ¡°They¡¯re training downstairs in the hold. Clay is with them.¡± He answers while continuing to polish.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Myers heads down to the stair and enters the hold. He pauses in surprise. In the middle of the hold, A fenrimorph is laying down on a block of wood while lifting a metal rod with two barrels of water tied to the side. The fenrimorph lifts it up and down- each time eliciting a strained grunt with every movement. Next to the Fenrimorph is Boriss. The man is doing the same thing, except it seems like his barrels aren¡¯t anywhere near as full. Above both of them is clay with a towel. The boy is running back and forth with a grin on his face as he wipes sweat off both of their brows. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Myers stands there for a whole minute. He watches the entire process, mesmerized until he remembers why he came down. He clears his throat and both Boriss and Quasi stop lifting. With careful movement, they place the barrels on the ground and then sit up. Then, in a poof of smoke, the fenrimorph disappears to be replaced by a cat. ¡°Whoo, that was a good workout.¡± Quasi exclaims happily. ¡°Da, is fun.¡± Boriss nods. He reaches out to Clay- who hands him the towel. ¡°What were you all doing?¡± Myers asks. ¡°Lifting weights to build muscle. If we can improve our base strength- then the benefits will be multiplicative.¡± ¡°He¡¯s also been writing.¡± Clay adds. ¡°Writing?¡± Quasi nods. ¡°Yup, writing. For whatever reason, a fenrimorph¡¯s hands are designed like a human¡¯s with all the joints that should allow full movement. But, for whatever reason, a lot of the muscles in the hands have atrophied. They¡¯re there- but they are too weak. So, I''m trying to fix that.¡± ¡°To write?¡± ¡°No, to hold weapons and improve my base control stat. Anyways, did you need something?¡± Quasi asks. ¡°Ah, yes. We¡¯re nearing Breston. We¡¯ll make port in the hour.¡± Quasi stretches quickly. ¡°Finally. This trip took too damn long. Let''s head to the deck.¡± ________________________________________________________________ Arriving at the deck, I finally lay my gaze upon Breston. The island differs vastly from Arbor, where arbor was more flat and horizontal, the island of Breston is vertical. From my distant view, the island looks somewhat like a crucible with the ports and buildings located around the island and at the top. ¡°So, is Breston the city or the island?¡± I ask Myers from my perch. ¡°Both.¡± He answers. ¡°Breston used to be a mining town- and most mining towns are named after the island since they aren''t considered permanent and will be discarded once the ore and gems were mined out. With Breston, that didn''t happen as the town became a major marketplace for trade by the time resources dwindled. It also helps that Breston gets a lot of rain, which allows the mineshafts to be used for water storage.¡± ¡°Sounds dirty.¡± I comment. ¡°It is- but that''s what water purifiers are for.¡± I stretch a paw out and extend my nails. I scratch the railing a little and enjoy the feel of the wood giving way. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t damage the ship.¡± Myers says. I look at Myers and hold his gaze. As I do, I continue scratching the post. He frowns. At his frown, I feel the urge to push something off a table. Something that could break or shatter. Something that would annoy him if it happ- ¡°Shit.¡± I stop scratching. ¡°I¡¯m turning into a cat.¡± ¡°You are a cat.¡± He adds. ¡°No- that''s not what I mean. Nevermind.¡± I look away from the man and refocus on the city. The city''s port is smothered in ships- most of which are corvette and frigate class, but there are some destroyer classes also present. Around the entire port- hundreds if not thousands of cannons are positioned to blow up anything that would come near the island. The cannons are larger than what you¡¯d see on the ships with a far longer barrel. ¡°Where are we docking?¡± I ask. ¡°Over there.¡± Myers raises a hand and points at an area where most of the destroyers are concentrated. ¡°If you look closely, the docking areas available are marked green. There''s two green markings right next to each other. We¡¯ll be docking the Timbergrove and Imminent Huntress there.¡± So, color coded. Simple, yet effective. ¡°Do we need to pay anything to dock?¡± ¡°No, only to undock. The price to undock is based on how many days we stay docked. I suggest we not linger too long.¡± ¡°We¡¯re probably going to linger pretty long. I imagine finding, buying, and installing cannons isn¡¯t something that happens quickly.¡± I explain. ¡°Buy? Buy?¡± Myers and Cillian say at the same time. They look at each other, and then at me. ¡°You already have the cannons.¡± Myers points at the Imminent huntress. ¡°And ammo.¡± Cillian adds. ¡°The Imminent Huntress¡¯s cannons are recommended for a Destroyer hull- but a cored frigate should be able to withstand the recoil so long as all cannons aren¡¯t used at once.¡± Myers explains. ¡°Big cannons are good.¡± Boriss adds to the conversation while Clay¡¯s head tilts in curiosity. ¡°Won¡¯t that lower the selling price?¡± I ask. ¡°Very Little. The most expensive part of a destroyer class is the ship''s hull. So long as the hull is undamaged- then the ship''s price will stay high.¡± Oh? Well-good. ¡°Alright. So the plan is to transfer and install the cannons on the Timbergrove. Sell all our goods from both ships. Sell the Imminent Huntress. Buy new goods for trading.¡± I look at Cillian. ¡°While keeping a hefty reserve balance.¡± Cillian pouts at me. ¡°And then set off in search of nearby towers.¡± ¡°We will need additional crew to man the cannons.¡± Myers adds. ¡°I¡¯ll head out and find the crew. I¡¯ve already got a guide.¡± I say. ¡°Can I come with you?¡± Clay asks. ¡°No,¡± Myers answers quickly. ¡°We will stay with the ship and keep out of sight.¡± ¡°But what if Boriss comes with me?¡± Clay points at the Russian. ¡°The answer¡¯s still no.¡± Myers answers again. ¡°Vhat? Vhy?¡± Boriss asks, confused. ¡°Because it''s dangerous for him.¡± Myers exclaims. ¡°Breston¡¯s not a place for children.¡± Boriss snorts and nods. As Myers looks away, the Russian gives Clay a wink. _____________________________________________________ Emma rushes after Carrian as the man weaves through [Dockworkers] and [Stevedores] like a man experienced at running through crowds. Emma follows behind with less grace- leaving a trail of curses from those she pushes aside. When they arrive, the ships are docked. A glance at the vessels tells her that the frigate is namedTimbergrove and the destroyer is named Imminent Huntress. It is near the Imminent huntress where Carrian rushes off to. When she arrives, she finds Carrian breathing heavily in front of a younger looking Carrian with a cat on his shoulder. The cat, oddly enough- is staring at all those present with a combination of contempt and curiosity. ¡°Daveed ,you¡¯re alive.¡± Carrian says between heavy breaths. ¡°Uh, yea.¡± Daveed answers softly. He warily glances at the cat on his shoulder. ¡°¡®Uh, yea¡¯ isn¡¯t a very good answer.¡± Carrian counters. The man¡¯s breathing relaxes as Emma arrives. ¡°Emma, this is my little brother, Daveed.¡± She smiles at the young man. ¡°Nice to meet you Daveed. I¡¯m Emma. Are you alright?¡± She points at the damaged destroyer. ¡°Looks like you had a battle.¡± ¡°Yea. What happened? Last I remember you joined with [Pirate Captain] Menston.¡± ¡°You let your brother join with [Pirates]?¡± Emma asks Carrian. ¡°Yea-well. It¡¯s complicated. He was going to die otherwise.¡± Carrian explains. ¡°But that can wait. Daveed, what happened? Who killed him? Why is the ship being pulled by a cored frigate?¡± Emma looks around and notes that many are now listening curiously to their conversation. ¡°Maybe we should continue this conversation somewhere inside? Maybe a tavern?¡± ¡°Meow.¡± The cat answers as though he is agreeing to her idea. ¡°But-.¡± Carrian begins ¡°That sounds good.¡± Daveed interrupts. IC God Games - Chapter 31: Spilt Milk During the time when Breston was a wealthy mining colony, earthquakes were something of a common thing. As the island was being hollowed out by the mining- weak stone would occasionally give in to collapse that would send a vibration through the island. The earthquakes were weak and most couldn''t tell when they were happening. But a man known as Mastiff had a silky smooth long beard that shakes with the slightest vibration. He would know when the quakes were happening- and thus he was nicknamed Mastiff the Quaking Beard. Finding the name fitting, Mastiff opened up one of the first taverns in Breston and named it The Quaking Beard. It is in this tavern that three individuals sit at a corner table with a lounging cat. ¡°Damn- that''s such shit luck. I¡¯m surprised Lion''s Maw chased you for three weeks straight,¡± Carrian says. ¡°And then what happened?¡± Daveed takes a sip of his drink- his tongue is a bit looser than before. He still takes glances at the cat, but much less so. ¡°Well, he destroyed our masts with a spinning artifact, killed nearly half the crew, and then gutted [Captain] Menston.¡± A [Maid] with a bowl of milk arrives with a smile on her face. ¡°Your order- warm milk.¡± She says happily. She places the bowl down in front of the cat and even gives it a nice pet. Daveed freezes at the physical display- and then relaxes when the cat purrs from the touch. ¡°Is there anything else?¡± The [Maid] asks. ¡°No, that''s all. Thank you,¡± Daveed answers. His anxiety recedes further as the cat begins licking the milk. ¡°Call if you need anything else.¡± The [Maid] says and walks away. ¡°What''s with the cat?¡± Emma asks. ¡°You look scared of it.¡± ¡°Screw the cat,¡± Carrian interrupts. ¡°Continue the story. What happened next?¡± Daveed clears his throat. ¡°That¡¯s the thing. As soon as the [Captain] died, the Lion¡¯s Maw just up and left. He was only interested in Menstons bounty. Right after he left, another ship. A frigate showed up.¡± ¡°The Timbergrove.¡± Emma adds. Daveed nods. ¡°Yes. They boarded us and told us to surrender. The [First Mate] refused to surrender so we fought. About half of us died before we gave up. After that, me and the other survivors worked for the new [Captain] until we reached Breston. Then we¡¯d be free.¡± Carrian leans back. ¡°Damn, that''s actually a pretty good deal. Most [Captains] would¡¯ve gutted you if not outright sold you to [Slavers].¡± ¡°Trading [Slaves] is illegal in Breston.¡± Emma adds. ¡°Illegal without bribes.¡± Carrian adds. ¡°I¡¯ve worked on these ships and you¡¯d be surprised by the number of [Slaves] and money changing hands in the middle of the night.¡± ¡°And the [Lord] does nothing about it?¡± She asks. ¡°He can¡¯t- not enough [Guards]. I heard he¡¯s trying to expand the number of [Guards] so he can crack down on this shit, but rumor says he¡¯s waiting on a large shipment of armor and weapons.¡± Daveed¡¯s eyes widen. He glances at the cat- who glances back and gives a small nod. ¡°Um, I think that shipment was supposed to be supplied by Menstron,¡± Daveed says. ¡°The Imminent Huntress hold is filled with weapons and armor.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s true, then we should tell the [Lord],¡± Emma says excitedly. Carrian snorts. ¡°Right, like the [Lord] is going to listen to us.¡± ¡°Not us, but my dad. Dad occasionally gets rune work at the castle. Recently he was hired to create an electrified floor under the carpet.¡± ¡°Is that Daveed?¡± A voice yells across the hall. Eyes turn to watch a large man with a black and gray brigandine stroll into the tavern. Behind him, two more men follow with eager grins on their faces. The tavern only hushes for a moment at the new voice before continuing on as though the new arrival isn¡¯t anything noteworthy. But the man cares not. He strides towards the three. ¡°Shit, that''s the breaker gang.¡± Carrian curses. ¡°The breakers? You know the breakers?¡± Emma asks Daveed. ¡°I-.¡± ¡°The breakers are the reason Daveed had to join with the pirates,¡± Carrian explains. He reaches at his side to make sure that his knife is available. He then looks at Emma. ¡°No matter what happens, don¡¯t fight and don¡¯t say anything to piss them off. Call the [Guard] if you can get away. The man arrives at their table with a grin. He grabs Daveeds cup, downs the content and then slams the cup down. ¡°Daveed, I hope you haven''t forgotten about me.¡± Daveed swallows. ¡°N-no Biron.¡± ¡°Are you sure? Because, if I remember right, you disappeared aboard a ship right when we needed to get paid.¡± ¡°I think there''s a misunder-¡± Carrian tries to stand up, but Biron is faster. His arm latches on Carrian and pushes him back down on the seat. ¡°Stay quiet,¡± Biron orders. ¡°Now, Daveed.¡± Biron grabs the bowl of milk right from the drinking cat and then pours it over Daveed. ¡°I hope you realize that that payment is still going to need to be paid either with coin or broken bones.¡± He leans down to Daveed¡¯s eye level. While he does, the cat hops off the table and disappears into the rest of the tavern. ¡°Normally, the plan was to mangle one of your legs and turn you into a cripple that sends a message about not getting payment. But now, after all this time, you owe us interest. I think both arms are going to be an acceptable payment.¡± ¡°Are you seriously maiming him for money? The [Guards] won¡¯t let that happen.¡± Emma exclaims. Biron shifts his gaze at her and grins. He looks her up and down. ¡°You know, I¡¯ve heard some of you stone freaks lived in Breston- but I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d look so fuckable.¡± He points a finger at Daveed. ¡°I might be willing to leave a functional arm if you follow me to my place afterwards.¡± ¡°Well look at that. Birons dick must be so mangled he can¡¯t feel anything unless it''s made of stone.¡± A nasally voice yells from across the tavern. Biron turns rapidly around. ¡°WHO THE FUCK SAID THAT!¡± He roars, silencing the entire room. ¡°Wow, that must be quite a mangled dick.¡± An older voice from a different area of the tavern exclaims. Biron turns to the voice and singles out an aged man sitting with two others. ¡°What the fuck did you say?¡± Biron asks and starts walking towards the man. ¡°I feel bad for any woman that has to deal with a mangled cock.¡± This time a woman''s voice. ¡°Bitch.¡± Biron turns to the confused [Maid]. He starts walking to her. ¡°Wow, even the [Maid] feels bad for him.¡± Another voice, this one younger and much closer. Biron turns and punches the man in the face. The man, a [Sailor] drinking with his crew, staggers from the punch. He falls off his stool and almost lands on a cat. At the same time as the man falls, one of the [Sailers] at the table punches Biron in the jaw. Then Biron¡¯s friends join the fray, followed by the rest of the [Sailors]. The fighting escalates further until half the tavern is trading punches. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. As the violence happens, a cat returns to his table Then the cat turns towards ongoing violence. ¡°Daveed.¡± The cat says resolutely, startling all three. ¡°Y-yes.¡± ¡°My milk has been spilled, Daveed.¡± The cat raises a paw at Biron. ¡°By that man right there.¡± Daveed swallows. ¡°Do you want another one?¡± Daveed asks while his two companions are still reeling from a talking cat. ¡°No, Daveed. I no longer thirst for sweet Ambrosia.¡± The cat watches the fighting- fixated specifically on Biron. ¡°Now,¡± The cat begins slowly. ¡°I thirst for blood, violence, vengeance, and war. Biron will die, but not until everything he cares about lies dying at his feet. For that, these breakers are now my prey. I will hunt them down and slaughter them like the milk spillers that they are.¡± The cat''s coat seems to puff up and make him look both larger and feral. ¡°They will be butchered like cattle and hounded like mice. I will rip their throats, cut open their bellies, and feed upon their lifeforce until all of their corpses litter my path. None will escape my wrath.¡± The cat grins to reveal sharp teeth. ¡°But Biron- Biron I will toy with. I will slice, I will tear, I will rend, and when the time is right, when his screams become coarse, I will rip his head off and bathe in his innards!¡± The cat turns to Emma. ¡°Woman, close your gaping mouth and take me and my mount somewhere safe so that I may prepare the slaughter.¡± ¡°Um.¡± ¡°Less with the gaping, more with the moving!¡± the cat urges. Emma looks at Daveed, who gives a slow nod. ¡°O-ok.¡± She gets up. ¡°Come to my home.¡± ¡°The cat¡¯s¡­¡± Carrian begins but is interrupted by Emma urging him up. The cat hops up on Daveed¡¯s shoulder and the group rushes out of the Tavern. ____________________________________________________________ When Emma returns home, she is thankful that her father was absent. Placing her hand on the runed lock, she manipulates the mana within. The door clicks. She opens the door and pushes everyone inside. Then she closes and locks the door. ¡°We¡¯ll go to my room.¡± She leads them up the stairs and into her room. She grimaces at the cleanliness of her room. Her father had clearly taken the time to make her bed and organize her room. ¡°Huh, this looks kind of normal.¡± Carrian comments. ¡°Were you expecting something else?¡± Emma asks. Carrian shrugs. ¡°Kinda. I thought since you¡¯re not human, your room would be different or something.¡± Emma snorts. ¡°I grew up around humans, not Gemma. So of course I''m going to be more like a human. My father already tells me I should act like a proper Gemma- whatever that means.¡± She walks to her bed and sits down. ¡°If you want to see what a Gemma¡¯s room looks like, then I¡¯ll show you my dads room later. But first,¡± she looks at the cat on Daveeds shoulder. ¡°What''s with the cat and why can it talk?¡± The cat hops off of Daveed''s shoulder and lands on her dresser. While on top of her dresser, the cat stares at her rock collection. ¡°Nice gems.¡± The cat comments. Its beady eyes assess her rocks with a nod. ¡°Ruby, topaz, amethyst, emerald, sapphire, and a damn big diamond. You¡¯ve got an interesting collection here.¡± The cat raises a paw and looks as though he¡¯s about to swat one of the rocks off the table. Then the cat grimaces and lowers its paw. ¡°Stupid instincts.¡± The cat seems to reorient itself and then lay down on the dresser. ¡°Your dresser feels like shit.¡± ¡°Who- or what are you?¡± Carrian finally asks the question. The cat yawns. ¡°Me? Oh, I''m just a completely ordinary cat.¡± Both Emma and Carrian frown at the cat''s words. They look at Daveed, who seems muted and silent. ¡°I¡¯m going to have to call that a blatant lie.¡± Carrian says. ¡°Same.¡± Emma agrees. ¡°It¡¯s not a lie. I¡¯m really just an ordinary adorable kitten.¡± ¡°Cats don''t talk.¡± Carrian says. ¡°Nor do they plan to kill people.¡± ¡°Bah. Kill is such a- nice way to put it. I prefer slaughter. Dismember works too.¡± The cat''s tail swishes softly. ¡°As for the talking, you¡¯ve clearly never spoken to a real feline.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve met cats- even eaten some.¡± Carrian says while getting a raised eyebrow from Emma. ¡°None have talked.¡± The cat waves a paw. ¡°Pathetic imitators acting as though they are of my species. Clearly inferior clones.¡± Emma snorts while Carrian pinches the bridge of his nose. ¡°Fine, whatever.¡± Carrian points at Daveed. ¡°Who are you and why is my brother scared of you?¡± The cat releases a sigh. ¡°What has the world come to for peasants to request things of me?¡± He shakes his head. Then he stands up and sits on his butt. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll humor you, but only because I am a very lenient member of my species.¡± The cat clears his throat. ¡°You two are standing in the presence of the illustrious [Captain] Quasi Eludo.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a [Captain]?¡± Carrian asks. ¡°Of the Timbergrove, yes.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who captured the Imminent Huntress!¡± Emma says in realization. ¡°How does that¡­ You have a Job. A Class?¡± Carrian asks. ¡°Yes and yes. But enough about me. It''s time to talk about something more important, like this breaker gang. I need to know their command structure, numbers, classes, jobs, and location.¡± ¡°Wait. What of my brother?¡± Carrian asks. ¡°Daveed¡¯s my mount until I leave Breston. Once I leave, he¡¯s free to do whatever. Now, back to this breaker gang.¡± ¡°Are you really planning to kill them?¡± Emma asks. ¡°Slaughter,¡± the cat corrects. ¡°And yes, by the time I am done, they will be un-alived. But before that, I need information. You can either provide it or I¡¯ll have to search for them with Daveed.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not putting my brother in harm''s way!¡± Carrian exclaims. ¡°It''s fine.¡± Daveed says. ¡°I¡¯ll help you Quasi, just don''t involve my brother. Please.¡± ¡°Daveed?¡± Daveed shakes his head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s better this way.¡± ¡°Fuck no it¡¯s not. Why even listen to this mangy cat?¡± Daveed swallows. He glances at Quasi, but the cat acts as though it didn¡¯t hear the insult. ¡°[Captain] Quasi slaughtered the [First Mate] and three others while surrounded. I have to help him or I¡¯ll be killed.¡± ¡°Yup.¡± the cat nods. ¡°He¡¯s mine until I leave Breston. If he refuses my orders, then I¡¯m obliged to end his life. Unfortunate for a young man, but it would look bad on me if I didn¡¯t follow through on my threats.¡± Carrian looks at Daveed and then the cat. The thought of taking his dagger out and stabbing the cat crosses his mind, but only for a moment. If Daveed¡¯s words are genuine, then it¡¯s best not to risk it.¡± ¡°Fine then. Let me take my brother''s place. I know about the breakers better than him.¡± ¡°Carrian¡±, ¡°Brother.¡± Emma and Daveed exclaim in surprise. ¡°Look, it''s fine. I know where they hang out and they have no beef with me.¡± Carrian explains. ¡°I just need to help you find them, right?¡± The cat nods. ¡°For the most part, yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going with you.¡± Emma says. ¡°Same.¡± Daveed adds. ¡°No.¡± Carrian shakes his head. ¡°Too dangerous.¡± Emma folds her arms. ¡°I don¡¯t care. I¡¯m not leaving you alone with a bloodthirsty kitten.¡± ¡°This is my problem, not yours. I need to take responsibility!¡± Daveed urges ¡°Damn Daveed.¡± The cat interrupts the three, ¡°You¡¯re really lucky. You¡¯ve got an older brother that''s willing to put his life on the line and a stone woman who refuses to abandon him. Now that''s rare.¡± Daveed blushes at the praise, Emma smiles resolutely, and Carrian grimaces at the other two. ¡°It will be dangerous.¡± Carrian counters weakly. ¡°And that''s why we¡¯re going. If we¡¯re in a group, it will be safer.¡± Emma explains. ¡°I¡¯m not abandoning you.¡± Daveed says resolutely. Carrian groans for a moment, and then sighs. He looks at the cat. ¡°I hope this is fine with you.¡± Quasi shrugs. ¡°It matters not if I have one or three mounts. So long as you lead me to the breakers, then I don''t care.¡± Carrian steps back and leans on the wall with a frown. ¡°We can lead you there, but only during the night.¡± He looks at Daveed. ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous during the day since they¡¯ll be looking for my brother.¡± ¡°The night is fine- preferred actually.¡± Quasi informs. The cat hops off the dresser and lands on the bed. It walks to the pillow, twirls in a circle and lays down. ¡°In the meantime, I''ll catch some sleep.¡± The three watch, amazed as Quasi¡¯s eyes close and breathing softens. ¡°I still had more questions.¡± Carrian whines, but the cat does not stir. IC God Games - Chapter 32: Prey Thieves ¡°So, Menston¡¯s finally hit the dust.¡± The man shakes his head in mock disapproval. ¡°If he¡¯d just joined my fleet I could have kept his ass alive.¡± ¡°The Lion''s Maw is not a [Captain] easily deterred,¡± the [First Mate] warns. The [Fleet Captain] leans back into his chair with a grin. ¡°No- no he is not. But even he wouldn¡¯t mess with me and my breakers. I could easily have Menston hidden in port for a year until they give up the chase.¡± ¡°Or the [Bounty Hunter] brings an entire fleet to Breston,¡± The [First Mate] counters. ¡°He¡¯s the heir to his kingdom¡¯s throne after all. ¡± ¡°Fine Menard. If a fleet showed up, then I¡¯d leave Menston to hang. I¡¯m not about to take on a named expert, even if winning would give me that damn final level.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re willing to try to kill an unnamed expert.¡± ¡°Yes, because unlike the Lion¡¯s Maw, the [Lord] of Breston doesn¡¯t have an entire kingdom backing him up. If Richard dies then all of Breston is mine and nobody is going to be wanting revenge. I¡¯ll get my final level and an entire city to boot. All I need now is a large supply of weapons and armor to arm my gang and I should have the numbers to take him out.¡± ¡°Ahh, about that.¡± Menard grimaces. ¡°Though Menston is dead, the Imminent Huntress wasn¡¯t destroyed. A frigate known as the Timbergrove towed the destroyer to port and now they are planning to sell the weapons and armor to the highest bidder.¡± ¡°NO!¡± the [Fleet Captain] leans forward with a growl. The chair''s armrest cracks under the pressure of his hands. ¡°I was promised that equipment by Menston.¡± Menard raises an eyebrow. ¡°I was under the impression that [Lord] Richard made a deal for it.¡± ¡°Yes, and I made a better one. Now that [Lord] is going to buy all of it.¡± ¡°We could try to buy it first.¡± ¡°With what? We¡¯re wealthy, but not Breston wealthy. If he gets that equipment, we¡¯re going to be dealing with twice as many [Guards] as usual. We have to stop that sale at all costs. Tell me about the Timbergrove.¡± Menard clears his throat and adjusts his glasses. ¡°Well, it''s a cored frigate without cannons. Looks rather old, but in good condition.¡± ¡°Number of crew? Levels?¡± ¡°The men counted four adults and a child. The [Captain] is presumably within the ship. They have a level 1 [Quartermaster] and a level 3 [First Mate]. Only two of the adults look capable of combat.¡± ¡°That''s¡­ low.¡± The [Fleet Captain] leans back into his chair as the anger leaves him. ¡°Very low. It¡¯s also good that the [Captain] never showed their face.¡± The [Fleet Captain] goes completely silent for long moments. Long enough for Menard to feel uncomfortable. ¡°[Captain]?¡± ¡°This is perfect. Prepare some of our [Rogues]- five should be enough. Pay off the [Guard] to keep away from the Timbergrove and then send the [Rogues] to kill off the crew in the middle of the night.¡± ¡°That is a bit bold, even for you. Attacking another crew at port is heavily frowned upon,¡± Menard reminds him. ¡°They just made port and the [Captain] has yet to show his face. Grease some palms with coin and then not only will the equipment be ours, but so will the Timbergrove.¡± ¡°That''s a cored frigate. Questions will be asked.¡± The [Fleet Captain] glares. ¡°I don''t care. We¡¯ll deal with the problems after. For now, I can''t have that cunt of a [Lord] expanding his [Guards].¡± ¡°Calvaron, this is very risky. It¡¯s unlike you.¡± ¡°Get it done, Menard,¡± Calvaron growls. ¡°And don¡¯t use my first name.¡± Calvaron crosses his arms. ¡°I¡¯m not going to waste another decade gaining power to overthrow Breston¡¯s [Lord].¡± Menard sighs. ¡°I¡¯ll get it done.¡± _________________________________________________________________ ¡°Pssst. Pssst. Comrade Clay. Comrade Clay!¡± Clay groans as a rough hand shakes him awake. When he opens his eyes, he finds Boriss in all black with a grin on his face. ¡°You are awake, da?¡± Boriss whispers the question. Clay blinks a few times. Wipes his eyes and yawns. ¡°I-I am. Is something wrong?¡± ¡°Is little problem. You come help.¡± ¡°You need me to help you?¡± Clay asks. ¡°Da, for training. I teach you how to be strong Russian Man.¡± ¡°Uhhh.¡± Clay glances at the porthole and see only pitch-black darkness. ¡°It¡¯s the middle of the night.¡± ¡°Da, is best time.¡± Boriss lifts a black cloak. ¡°Not make noise and wear dis. Then follow like mouse.¡± Clay frowns, but does as asked. He dons the pitch-black cloak, puts on his shoes and walks past Myers sleeping form. The old man, though he sleeps little, goes into a deep sleep when he does so. ¡°Dis way.¡± Boriss waves. ¡°Stay low,¡± he adds and shows Clay how to walk as silently as possible. Boriss leads him down the hall, up the stairs, and then he exits the Timbergrove. When Clay follows outside, he freezes in fear at the sight of five bodies. One of the bodies is stripped down and another is missing their cloak. All are either unconscious or dead. Clay swallows. ¡°Who are they?¡± Boriss puts a finger to his lips. ¡°Shhh. You must be sneaky. Is important.¡± ¡°Who are they?¡± Clay whispers. ¡°Bad men who come kill.¡± ¡°They¡¯re bad?¡± ¡°Da.¡± Boriss nods. ¡°They move like elephants with squeaky collar. Very not sneaky. No training like proper Russian.¡± Clay opens his mouth to ask another question, but Boriss urges him to follow. As the Russian moves, curiosity wins over fear and he rushes to Boriss¡¯ side. They exit the Timbergrove to little firelight and no [Guard] in sight. ¡°Where is everyone?¡± Clay whispers the question. ¡°Maybe bribe, maybe lazy. Is not matter. Come, we go to ship.¡± ____________________________________________________________________ A firm hand strokes my back with a subtle but rough touch, as though it¡¯s covered in calluses. It is a rather unique feeling that gets me purring happily. Only after a good minute of petting do I deign to open my eyes. I am met with a grinning Emma. ¡°You¡¯re so soft,¡± She says happily. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ¡°Of course I am.¡± I stand up and do a stretch. Then I look around and find only Emma. ¡°Where''s the boys?¡± I ask. ¡°Outside. When my dad came home, he kinda kicked them out. I put a cover on you so he doesn¡¯t know you¡¯re in my room.¡± ¡°Huh. Good.¡± I hop up onto her shoulder wherein she gives a surprised squeak. ¡°Damn, your skin feels like grainy leather.¡± ¡°I am Gemma.¡± ¡°And now my current mount.¡± I tap her on the back of the neck. ¡°Lead me outside. We¡¯ve got a gang to destroy.¡± She snorts but obliges. Though she tries to be stealthy, it is anything but as her bare feet scrape on the stone floor. When we reach the exit, she stops as a clothed statue blocks the exit. Other than the two eyes, you couldn¡¯t even tell if the statue is even alive. The eyes immediately focus on me. ¡°Dad!¡± Emma exclaims in surprise. ¡°I knew when I saw those two boys in your room that you¡¯ve involved yourself in something stupid again.¡± ¡°Dad, it''s complicated and important.¡± The father crosses his arms. ¡°Try me.¡± ¡°A friend¡¯s in trouble, dad. I need to help.¡± ¡°So not just stupid but also dangerous.¡± Emma straightens her back and forms fists in her hands. ¡°Dad, you can''t stop me! I¡¯m a grown woman and I need to leave.¡± The father stares at his daughter for a long moment. No emotion except fin the eyes. Worry, anger, regret, recognition, and finally acceptance. ¡°You take after your mother.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Ganna was always the erratic type while I was the staunch one. Over the decades I was with her, I¡¯ve never been able to change her mind.¡± He leans to the side and lifts up a runed longsword with remarkable ease. ¡°But, I was always there to make sure she survived those mistakes.¡± He rests the longsword on his shoulder. ¡°Now, let''s deal with this dangerous problem you¡¯ve gotten yourself into.¡± ¡°You¡¯re coming with?¡± She asks in surprise. ¡°I am.¡± He steps to the side and stops blocking the entrance. ¡°Now, what have you gotten yourself into?¡± Emma stares, flabbergasted. Her eyes focus on her fathers own, and she only sees loving warmth and an unbreakable urge to protect. ¡°I have to lead [Captain] Quasi to the breakers.¡± ¡°The breakers? You¡¯ve gotten involved with them? Who is this [Captain] Quasi?¡± The kitten raises a paw. ¡°That would be me.¡± Since her birth, her fathers facial expression has never changed. Only through his eyes could you tell what he was thinking. But now, this very moment, she¡¯d seen the smallest crack of surprise. So tiny that you¡¯d think it didn''t exist. ¡°The cat can talk.¡± ¡°The statue can talk.¡± The cat answers back. Cat and statue gaze at one another for a long moment. One lacks emotion, the other grins cutely. ¡°Dad, you don¡¯t have to come with me. I¡¯ll be fine. It¡¯s not like I''m going to get into a fight.¡± ¡°She¡¯s right,¡± the cat agrees. ¡°She¡¯s just leading me to where I will be getting into a slaughter.¡± ¡°Quasi, you¡¯re not helping.¡± Emma exclaims in exasperation. ¡°Bah, your father already made up his mind. We could be going outside to plant flowers and talk about our feelings and he¡¯d be there glaring angrily at the plants.¡± ¡°Still.¡± She says with a crack of a smile. ¡°Still what? He¡¯s your father and he wants to make sure you¡¯re safe. Either have him come with you or he''s going to follow you and mess everything up.¡± ¡°That''s¡­ ughhh.¡± ¡°Yes, yes,¡± Quasi taps her head compassionately. ¡°Very frustrating, I know. But that¡¯s what you get with familial love. I mean, look at the brothers. I only need one of them to show me around, but neither of those two are willing to let the other be in danger alone. If you want your father not to come, then you¡¯re going to need to stay.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going.¡± Emma says resolutely. ¡°Then so is your father. Now.¡± Quasi waves a paw at the doors. ¡°Let''s head out. The night is young and I have much violence to get to.¡± ______________________________________________________________ ¡°You¡¯ve brought your father?¡± Carrian asks in surprise when we walk up to the duo. The duo are now covered in dark clothing from head to toe. Perfect for stealth, but arguably little protection in a fight. Emma pouts when she glances at her father. ¡°Yea, he wants to protect me and demands to come along.¡± ¡°No, absolutely not. We need stealth,¡± he extends a hand toward the walking statue, ¡°He¡¯s going to be too loud.¡± ¡°I''m going to be too loud too.¡± Emma counters. Carrian removes a bag from his back and places it on the floor. ¡°Not with this.¡± He opens the bag to reveal a lot of padding and cloth strips. ¡°If we pad your feet and joints, we can make you silent- but I only brought enough for you.¡± He glances at the silent father. ¡°I¡¯ve got nothing for your dad, nor do I think padding would even work for him.¡± ¡°Do you require stealth?¡± The father asks coldly with a gruff voice that sends a shiver down both brothers'' spines. ¡°Uhh, yes?¡± ¡°Give me a moment to grab something.¡± He turns and starts walking back towards his home. ¡°Do not leave until I return.¡± They watch him walk away with each step loudly reverberating the ground and informing all nearby of their presence. ¡°Should we leave?¡± Daveed asks. ¡°Nah,¡± I finally say. ¡°We¡¯ll wait for him. I¡¯m curious what he¡¯s going to get. In the meantime,¡± I hop off Emma''s shoulder, ¡°Pad her up.¡± They do just that as they smother her feet with padding and cover her skin in black cloth. They even put a black cloak over her to cover her caramel skin. Once done, she tests her movements and finds them thoroughly muffled. ¡°This feels weird.¡± She takes several steps. ¡°How can you wear something under your feet? It¡¯s so uncomfortable.¡± ¡°Human skin is too fragile.¡± A gruff voice interrupts all present including myself. We turn towards the voice to find the father returned in all his usual glory except for shiny metal greaves on the statues'' shins. The greaves are covered in runes that look to be glowing mutely. ¡°Dad, are those- are those runed greaves?¡± Emma asks in bewilderment. The father nods. ¡°They are Greaves Of Silent Stomping. They will make sure that I am silent.¡± ¡°Did you just leave and make that?¡± I ask in surprise. ¡°Impossible,¡± Emma shakes her head in surprise. ¡°I see six runes. That''s exceptional level equipment. Dad, where did you get that?¡± ¡°I made them for your mother long ago.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen them before.¡± ¡°Because I keep her old equipment securely locked away,¡± He explains. ¡°There''s more?¡± Emma asks eagerly. ¡°Later,¡± I interrupt. ¡°As interesting as all this is, I want to get to the killing sooner than later.¡± I glance at the statue. ¡°Considering I didn¡¯t hear you approach, I¡¯m going to guess that you are completely silent.¡± ¡°To an extent.¡± Extent? Does it cancel sound up to a threshold or something? ¡°That should work. Let''s head out. Carrian, lead the way.¡± ¡°Sure¡­ but where do you want to go first? I know of at least nineteen buildings where the breakers hang out.¡± ¡°Nineteen! That''s not a small gang. Thats a fucking organization. What the hell.¡± Carrian scratches the side of his neck. ¡°Well, yea. They''re the largest gang in Breston.¡± ¡°Fuck,¡± I curse. ¡°That¡¯s going to take me too damn long to slaughter. I don''t have months. Do you know where their leader is?¡± ¡°Calvaron? I¡­ do.¡± ¡°Perfect. Lead me to him.¡± ¡°I¡­ are you sure? He¡¯s one of the strongest in all of Breston. Not even the [Lord] dares mess with him.¡± ¡°And he will be the deadest once I¡¯m done with him.¡± I hop up on Emma''s shoulder. ¡°Now, lead me to him.¡± Carrion and Daveed share fearful looks. ¡°Don''t just stare at each other like lovers. Get with the leading. I want to bathe in his guts before morning.¡± They nod at the same time and start leading me and the two Gemma through the winding streets. _______________________________________________________________ Our two guides lead us not deeper into the city, but actually to one of the larger ports where they get an elevated view of five destroyers lined up next to each other and waving the same flag. Out of the five destroyers, the central destroyer is the largest and most magnificent of them all. When he stares at the ship, its name pops up in his vision.
Seden¡¯s Orbit (Three-Mast Destroyer) Max Speed: 10 knots Construction: Wood Modifications: Expanded Storage, Expanded Artillery, Armored bulkheads, Thick Hull.
¡°The leader of the breakers is a [Captain]?¡± I ask in surprise. ¡°A [Fleet Captain].¡± Carrian corrects. ¡°He should be aboard his flagship.¡± He points at the central ship. I stare at the ship some more and frown when I see it. ¡°Something is wrong.¡± The statue beats me to it. ¡°There is too little light on that ship,¡± He complains. ¡°Fuck the lights. I see dead bodies!¡± Everyone turns to me in surprise. ¡°I can see in the dark.¡± I quickly explain. ¡°There''s dead bodies shoved into the dark areas of the ship. We need to move quickly.¡± ¡°Somebody is attacking the breakers?¡± Emma questions. ¡°No,¡± I growl. ¡°Somebody is stealing my prey. Let''s move!¡± IC God Games - Chapter 33: KGB Training ¡°Boriss, where are we going?¡± Clay asks with a whisper. He follows Boriss and mimics the larger man''s gait with knees bent and steps soft. It was difficult to walk as he did at first, but Clay quickly got the hang of it. For the last half hour, they stalked through the relatively silent port until they arrived at another, even larger port. This one is far better lit with five ships docked and connected to one-another. ¡°We go punish. Is only right.¡± ¡°Punish?¡± ¡°Da. They send weak men to kill comrades. Now I need give Russian vengeance.¡± ¡°They came to kill us?¡± Clay asks. ¡°You killed them all?¡± ¡°Da. I stab four and use KGB interrogation technique on last one. It work fast. He squeal like pig on fire.¡± ¡°S-should I be here?¡± Clay asks nervously. ¡°Is fine.¡± Boriss grins, ¡°I show you how KGB fight, then we start training tomorrow. Now, extra sneaky time. Follow.¡± Though there is light, much of that light is dispersed in a sea of darkness. And in that sea, Boriss is a master of the environment. He leads Clay from shadow to shadow and past lazy [Sailors] who are doing everything but keeping watch. They have grown complacent, and that complacency is making it far too easy. As the duo nears the central ship, they are forced to stop behind several crates. Past the crates is a lit lamp and a [Sailor] guarding the entrance. Boriss reads the ship''s name as Seden¡¯s Orbit. ¡°What now?¡± Clay asks. Boriss continues watching the [Sailor] near the entrance as well as the [Sailors] aboard the ship. He also takes stock of any other [Sailors] in the vicinity. So far, the [Sailor] guarding the entrance is only visible to two other [Sailors] leaning on the ship''s rail. The moment Boriss enters the light, he would be seen. ¡°Plan.¡± Boriss reaches into his pocket and retrieves a handful of perfectly round stones. ¡°Here.¡± He hands the stones to Clay. ¡°You see metal pole there? I want you throw stone at it.¡± ¡°Y-you sure?¡± ¡°Da. You distract, I finish. Stay behind boxes.¡± ¡°Wait¡­¡± Clay whispers warily, but the Russian is already moving through the darkness. Clay swallows. Slowly, he lifts a stone¡­ ____________________________________________________________ ¡°Shen, there''s a rumor going around that the [Captain] sent a bunch of [Rogues] to kill an entire crew,¡± a leaning [Sailor] comments. ¡°Ben, you really shouldn¡¯t listen to rumors.¡± Shen, also leaning on the rail, comments quietly. ¡°But they¡¯re true, right?¡± Ben urges. Shen shakes his head. ¡°Unless the [Captain] or the [First Mate] tell us otherwise, it''s not true.¡± ¡°Yea, but hypothetically, if it were true, you think there would be problems?¡± ¡°Of course there would be problems. Breston¡¯s [Lord] does not accept ship to ship conflict while at port. The last time something like this happened, [Lord] Richard slaughtered the instigating [Captain] in single combat, disbanded the crew, and then auctioned off the deceased [Captain¡¯s] ship.¡± ¡°Oh? Single combat? Do you think Calvaran can beat the [Lord]?¡± Shen frowns at the question. ¡°Normally, I would say our [Captain] would undeniably win. But, the [Lord] is an Expert class [Duelist]. I think the full class name is [Duelist Of The Instinctual Blade].¡± ¡°You think our [Captain] can¡¯t kill an Expert class? I mean, what even is his level? Is he 74 or something?¡± Ben asks. Shen leans away from the rail and stretches his arm upward. ¡°Nobody really knows, but probably not 74. Some rumors say late fifties, others early sixties. Regardless, our [Captain] can indeed kill an expert, but I doubt fighting a [Duelist] is going to be anything but difficult. [Duelists] specialize in single combat, and an expert [Duelist] is probably not something our [Captain] wants to tangle with without adequate preparation.¡± Ben pouts at the explanation, which gets an eye roll from Shen. ¡°I know you¡¯re new to the crew and all, but don¡¯t get hellbent on levels and classes too much. A [Captain¡¯s] most prized possession isn¡¯t levels, but, ¡°Shen taps his head, ¡°this.¡± Ben''s eyes wander away from Shen and back to the ship''s entrance. Then he notices something. ¡°What''s with him? Did he notice something?¡± Ben points at the [Sailor] positioned at the entrance. Indeed, the [Sailor] is standing up and staring in the darkness. ¡°Hmm?¡± Shen watches as the [Sailor] takes a step forward. ¡°Oh, Thresh is probably hearing a rat or something. Happens often enough.¡± Ben frowns when he looks in the direction where Thresh is staring. After a moment, Thresh walks into the darkness. The two wait for a minute. Then two. ¡°He¡¯s taking a bit long to return.¡± Ben comments. As Shen opens his mouth to answer, a ding is heard nearby followed by a crash and the breaking of glass. They both turn towards the sound, Shen faster than Ben, to find that the lantern fell off the rail. ¡°Shit.¡± Shen curses. He rushes to the lantern followed by Ben a moment after. They slowly pick up the light source. The lantern is still working, but the glass casing is shattered. ¡°Damn, the wind must have pushed it over,¡± Shen says. He takes a step back towards the rail and almost trips. ¡°What?¡± He looks down and notices a stone. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°The hell is a stone doing here?¡± He leans down and throws the stone overboard. Then he places the lantern back on the ledge and looks down. ¡°Is he still not back yet?¡± Shen grumbles. ¡°Should we rouse the others?¡± Ben asks. Shen shakes his head. ¡°If we rouse the ship and the fucker was just taking a long ass shit, we¡¯re going to get a good ten lashes.¡± ¡°But what if we¡¯re getting attacked?¡± Shen groans. ¡°Why is it all what ifs with you? We¡¯ve got five [Sailors] on watch up here and plenty of lights to see any idiots willing to board. Hell, we¡¯ve got sight of the only entrance to the ship.¡± Shen points at the singular wood ramp. ¡°Nothing is going to sneak up on us.¡± ¡°Ahh, but. I think I heard the ramp creaking while we were handling the lamp.¡± Ben adds. The clearly more experienced [Sailor] sighs loudly. ¡°Do you honestly think someone snuck aboard the ship in the half minute we were fiddling with the lantern?¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible,¡± Ben replies. ¡°You¡¯re being paranoid,¡± Shen growls. ¡°We¡¯re not in any dan- oh what now!¡± Both turn to the sight of a flickering light behind some stacked boxcontainers. ¡°It¡¯s flickering.¡± ¡°Cause it''s low on oil.¡± Shen grumbles. ¡°One of the others probably forgot to refuel it. Come on, let''s go fix it.¡± He starts walking. ¡°Uhhh, maybe I should stay here and watch the entrance?¡± Shen shakes his head at Ben. ¡°You must have some amazing skill if they¡¯d let a coward like you join the crew. Fine then, stay there. I¡¯ll fix the lantern myself.¡± Shen, aggravated, heads towards the flickering light. ¡°Of all the crew on watch, why is it me that has to train someone? Why can¡¯t it be Ferdinand, or Albert?¡± When Shen gets very near the lantern, the light completely shuts off leaving him in complete darkness. ¡°Of course it runs out when I arrive,¡± He whines. Instead of waiting for his eyes to adjust to the darkness, he continues around the corner where he remembers the lantern to be. ¡°I¡¯m going to strangle the idiot who forgot to refuel th-¡± An arm quickly wraps around his throat with crushing strength. Shen¡¯s hand reaches for the arm and futilely tries to remove the appendage. He attempts to scream for help, but no breath can escape. ¡°Comrade Clay, you see grip here,¡± a voice behind him whispers. ¡°K-kinda.¡± ¡°Is called stranglehold. You use arm to block air here. Dis vhey they not scream.¡± ¡°O-ok.¡± ¡°Is good move, but is slow. Is faster break neck. Vatch.¡± Another arm wraps around Shen¡¯s head. Crack ___________________________________________________________________ Clay heard the crack. It was quite slight and muffled. But he heard it. And the moment he did, the man''s body went limp. He watches Boriss carefully place the corpse on the ground. ¡°Four more. Then we go inside.¡± Boriss silently glances around the corner towards the man named Ben. But Ben is missing. Only a damaged lantern is left where the man had been standing. ¡°What''s wrong?¡± Clay asks. Boriss frowns. He reaches to his side and arms himself with a knife. ¡°Follow like mouse.¡± Boriss looks around warily as he walks towards the lantern. As he gets closer, his eyes dart around rapidly. But no body is found, nor is there any yelling or sound of rapid movement to dictate an alarm. With a silent dash, Boriss turns the lantern off before stepping away. ¡°Boriss?¡± ¡°Is fine, Comrade Clay. Is fine.¡± Boriss continues glancing everywhere for movement, but finds nothing. ¡°Come, we hunt other three.¡± Clay silently trails Boriss around the ship and watches with morbid curiosity as the KGB trained Russian easily dismantles the rest of the watch on the deck. One he shanks in the neck and explains where the best artery to strike is. Another he backhands with an elbow strike that shatters the man''s vocal cords. Finally, the third is shanked through the stomach, up the ribs and into the heart while his other hand covers the [Sailor¡¯s] mouth to muffle any noise. Each kill is quick, lethal, and undeniably silent. ¡°One missing,¡± Boriss says softly. ¡°But is no alarm. Vhat you think, Comrade Clay?¡± ¡°Maybe he went to poop? Grampa takes a long time to poop when he eats cheese,¡± Clay answers. Boriss opens his mouth to refute the claim, and then stops. ¡°Maybe,¡± he finally says after a second thought. Then nods. ¡°Is fine, then. If poop, then vhe search toilet.¡± Boriss stretches his neck. ¡°Comrade Clay, extra sneaky now.¡± Clay nods and then follows the Russian into the ship. _______________________________________________________________ Though the Imminent Huntress and Seden¡¯s Orbit are of the same class of ship. Seden¡¯s Orbit is actually a larger vessel by a good thirty percent. Granted, such a larger hull comes at the cost of speed and efficiency. Not that it matters, for the Seden¡¯s Orbit is a ship built for combat against others of its class and not for trade. It is a destroyer built for war. As the two enter the ship''s interior, Boriss can''t help but grimace at the magical runic light illuminating the interior from the ten foot tall ceiling. It''s not much light, but it is enough to make walking in the open difficult. ¡°Vhe move slow.¡± Boriss continues through the ship with most of the ship being empty. Eventually, he arrives at the sleeping quarters. To his delight, the quarters are separated into twenty tiny rooms with a single bed inside. At the end of the twenty rooms is the [First Mates] Quarters and then the [Captains].¡± ¡°Shhhh,¡± He whispers to Clay. Slowly, he opens the first room ever so softly and sneaks inside. Clay follows and then the door is closed just as silently. A muted struggle follows, and then more silence. The door opens and both Boriss and Clay exit. Then they enter the next, and the next, and the next. By the time the last of the [Sailors] rooms have been entered. Clay¡¯s nervousness has been replaced with curiosity. Each [Sailor] died in a unique way using a different move. All silent, or modified to be silent. With the smaller rooms completed, the next stop is the [First Mate] and second in command. When they try to enter his room, they find it to be locked. Having expected this, Boriss takes out two pieces of metal and inserts them into the lock. After a moment, he hears a click. With a grin and nod towards Clay, Boriss opens the door and enters into the more spacious room. Slowly, the two walk towards the bed where a man sleeps soundly. The man is skinny, middle aged, and wears a rather nice engraved ruby necklace. On the nightstand near him are glasses, and leaning next to the nightstand is what looks like a staff with a gem and two runes at the top. Wary of the staff, Boriss readies his dagger and aims for the throat. He raises the weapon and thrusts forward. The necklace instantly glows brightly, followed by a barrier blocking the dagger¡¯s thrust. The man''s eyes burst open and instantly focus on the dagger half an inch from piercing his throat. Reflexes honed from the ages, the man extends a palm towards Boriss. In an instant, he forms and releases a spell. But Boriss¡¯s reflexes are faster as he retracts his dagger and shifts his body away. A blast of air loudly explodes from the man''s palm and dents the wooden wall. Before the man even realizes he missed, Boriss¡¯s hand wraps around the man''s head. Then he twists and the body goes limp. ¡°Comrade Clay, are you well?¡± ¡°Y-yes.¡± Clay answers. ¡°Good. We move fast now.¡± Boriss runs past Clay, rushes out the room, and then enters the [Captain¡¯s] Quarters. In the large quarters, the [Fleet Captain] is awake. He stands at nine feet tall with bulging muscles, red skin, and several horns protruding from his joints and skull. The Buxon leans down and picks up a battleax with discernible ease. Then he grins angrily towards the intruder. IC God Games - Chapter 34: Tis a Flesh Wound Being the only one that can see in the dark, I lead my group of misfits to the Seden¡¯s Orbit. The ship is undeniably impressive compared to the ships I¡¯ve come across. It has a thick hull, girthy top and side masts, with an elongated bow that makes it look elegant but also dangerous. Disregarding the many closed portholes hiding the ship¡¯s cannons and the single large ballistae on the deck, the ship would scream danger if not for the clear lack of crew. We arrive near the ship''s entrance and note a dead body hidden behind several crates. The expression on the corpse shows signs of surprise and suffocation. After glancing around for a moment, I urge the group up the plank and onto the ship proper. The smell of blood hits me from a couple directions. My ears flick as I listen to the environment, but I hear no noise. The deck is empty. Sniffing, I hop off Emma¡¯s shoulder and silently rush to where the scent of blood is most present. What I find is another corpse- this one gutted through the stomach. ¡°What did you fi- oh shit,¡± Daveed curses when he sees the puddle of blood. The rest arrive a moment after with similar reactions. Except for the statue. He has a rather stony expression. I place a paw on the blood and grimace. ¡°This is bad. This is very bad,¡± I announce. ¡°What is?¡± Daveed asks. ¡°Should we even be here? Are we in danger?¡± I turn and glare at the man. I lift up my paw with a bit of dripping blood. ¡°No, this blood is very fresh. Barely any coagulation. Whoever did this is still around. My bet is he¡¯s inside the ship. We shou-¡± I hear a loud bang come from below me. Kind of like dynamite, or a gunshot. ¡°Fuck. They are taking my prey!¡± I whine. ¡°We¡¯re going inside. Come on.¡± I hop on Carrian¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Let''s go inside. I¡¯ll not have my prey taken from me!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that-¡± ¡°Dangerous?¡± I finish his question. ¡°Not nearly as much as my anger if my prey is dead. Now let''s go. I¡¯m hearing fighting below.¡± ______________________________________________________________ Both fear and curiosity war with Emma¡¯s emotions as Carrian enters the ship, followed by his younger brother. The thought of turning around and leaving them to their fate does come to mind, but is quickly suppressed by the thought of losing her friend. She takes a breath and follows the boys. ¡°Just like your mother,¡± she hears her father comment before walking in step right behind her. Now that she¡¯s inside, she can hear the reverberations of breaking wood and the ding of metal touching metal. ¡°Faster, that way.¡± Quasi points and Carrian moves and she follows. As she gets closer, the sound of fighting intensifies. Eventually, the group reaches the [Captain¡¯s] cabin, where the fighting is taking place. At the entrance, she instantly notices a young human child peaking from the side. ¡°Clay? What are you doing here?¡± Quasi asks the child at the doorway. ¡°Fluffy?¡± The boy exclaims in surprise. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me.¡± Quasi hops off Carrian and lands next to the child. ¡°Now what''s happening?¡± Quasi then looks through the doorway. ¡°Is that Boriss? What the hell is going on?¡± Emma looks through the doorway to find a human man with a hammer facing off against a naked Buxon wielding a battleaxe. ¡°Boriss was showing me how the KGB fight,¡± He explains. Quasi frowns. ¡°KGB¡­ what? Why?¡± ¡°They sent people to kill us.¡± ¡°Ohhhhh.¡± Quasi nods. ¡°They attacked and he wants revenge¡­ I can understand that. What I can''t understand is why you have to be here. You¡¯re not even ten. You should be back at the ship sleeping, not following some crazy Russian.¡± ¡°He was showing me all the ways to kill people,¡± The child explains. Emma, Daveed, and Carrian seem to choke at the child''s words. Even the statue has a reaction, albeit through the eyes only. ¡°You¡¯re not even ten,¡± The cat whines. ¡°Goddammit.¡± The cat walks into the room. ¡°BORISS.¡± he yells. The two fighting stop, though it was less of a fight and more like Boriss getting played with by the Buxon. ¡°Comrade Fluffy, you are here!¡± Boriss exclaims happily. ¡°Yea, to kick your goddam Russian ass. What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you bringing Clay to a conflict?¡± ¡°Is good for training.¡± ¡°Clay is goddam seven!¡± ¡°I kill first man when I was seven. Is normal, yes?¡± ¡°You killed your first- no, that is not normal. Who the hell kills there fir- goddam you frustrate me.¡± ¡°Ho. A talking cat?¡± The Buxon interrupts with a grin. Quasi looks away from Boriss to stare at the Buxon. The Buxon is large, spiky, and very red. ¡°Oy, I¡¯m busy talking to my subordinate.¡± The cat waves a paw. ¡°Go suck a horn or something.¡± The Buxon laughs. A throaty, angry laugh that reveals sharp teeth. ¡°This day gets worse and worse. My crew is dead, my [Mage] is murdered, and now a fucking cat is talking down to me.¡± ¡°Oh shut up, you whiny, red bitch. You make it sound as though SOMEONE SPILLED YOUR MILK. Because I see no fucking spilled milk, so don¡¯t even think about talking to me about a bad day.¡± Quasi huffs angrily. Then he turns back to Boriss. ¡°Boriss, when we¡¯re done here, we¡¯re going to need to have a conversation about your action, and probably a conversation about what constitutes normal.¡± ¡°Am I actually being ignored?¡± the Buxon asks. Quasi rolls his eyes. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re being ignored,¡± he exclaims. ¡°So just shut up and let me finish my talk with my subordinate. I¡¯ll deal with you in a bit.¡± Emma can¡¯t help but snort rather loudly at the sheer insanity of the situation and the expression on the Buxon¡¯s face. The man looks both surprised and pissed in equal measure. ¡°Now, where was I? Ahh, right. Boriss, yo-¡± ¡°DEAL WITH ME?¡± the Buxon roars. ¡°No, it¡¯s me that''s going to deal with you.¡± He gazes at all those present with an intelligent anathema to the churning anger. ¡°All of you. I know your faces. I will find out where you all live. Each and every one of you will be dead.¡± The Buxon glares at Quasi. ¡°Especially you. I¡¯ll turn you into a fucking ornament.¡± Quasi opens his mouth to speak, only for the statue to take several steps forward until he stands at Quasi¡¯s right. With a swish, he points the runed greatsword at the Buxon. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°I will not accept threats to my daughter,¡± he says with no apparent emotion. ¡°Dad!¡± Emma yells in surprise. The Buxon looks him up and down. ¡°Ahhh, you¡¯re that Gemma [Runesmith]. I think your name is Afinov?¡± ¡°And you are [Fleet Captain] Calvaron.¡± ¡°So you¡¯ve heard of me?¡± Calvaron rests his battleaxe on his other shoulder. ¡°That''s good. You can curse my name with your dying breath.¡± Boriss walks to Quasi¡¯s left. ¡°We fight now, yes?¡± He takes a stance with hands firmly around the hammer. Bruises dot his body, but nothing too severe. ¡°Stamina good?¡± Quasi asks the Russian. ¡°Da,¡± the Russian nods. ¡°Good. Then I don¡¯t need to delay.¡± Calvaron raises an eyebrow at the cat''s words, and then takes a step back as smoke explodes from the cat''s location. Not a moment later, several gasps come from the doorway. Calvaron takes a surprised step back. He even takes a stance with his Battleaxe. ¡°You¡¯re a wolven?¡± Then he notices the horns. ¡°No, a Fenrimorph! Here?¡± The Fenrimorph grins. It¡¯s legs lower and it rushes forward with a speed few could react to. Calvaron is one of those few. His axe moves quickly to meet the rushing Fenrimorph, but the Fenrimorph dodges by hopping up and over. At the same time, Boriss and Afinov reach Calvaron. Boriss whips out his hammer while Afinow slashes forward with his greatsword. The Buxon counters the blade, dodges the hammer, and then spins backwards with a strike that almost hits Quasi. __________ ¡°Did you know he¡¯s a Fenrimorph?¡± Carrian asks Daveed while their eyes are glued to the ongoing battle.¡± ¡°Y-yes. That¡¯s why we surrendered and why I followed his directions,¡± Daveed explains. ¡°What''s a Fenrimorph?¡± Clay asks. Carrian looks at the curious child. The child looks nervous, but not necessarily afraid. ¡°They are monsters who can infect and turn others into monsters,¡± Carrian explains. ¡°How?¡± Clay asks. At the same time the child asks, Quasi slashes with a claw across Calvaron¡¯s arm. Skin tears, followed by sparks as claws meet bone. Not without cost, for the Buxons axe slices into Quasis chest. Afinovs uses the opportunity to get a solid hit on Calvarons back and Boriss slams his hammer into the Buxon¡¯s side. Blood and sparks fly from Afinovs strike while Boriss¡¯s hammer bounces off. The three back away from their foe. Calvaron glares at the three, seemingly uninjured except for the tears in his skin. Tears that have already stopped bleeding. ¡°From a Fenrimorph¡¯s claws and teeth,¡± Carrian says. Emma frowns at the Buxon''s relaxed expression. ¡°He doesn¡¯t seem worried about turning into a monster.¡± ¡°Buxon¡¯s are immune to poisons, curses, and infections,¡± Carrian explains. _______________________________________________________ Afinov glances at the Fenrimorph and the human fighting with him. They are skilled, maybe even more skilled than himself, but skill alone isn¡¯t enough to overpower a leveled Buxon. They don¡¯t have the raw stats¡­ and neither does he. They¡¯re going to need luck. ¡°He¡¯s put nearly all his points into [Endurance]. His bones are going to be harder than Rune-reinforced steel. Focus his joints, throat, and head. The armor there is thinnest.¡± He explains to the two. Then he notices it. The hammer in the human¡¯s hand is runed. He counts ten runes, and from the runes, he can already deduce the effect. ¡°Why are you not activating the hammer''s ability?¡± he asks the human named Boriss. Boriss glances at the hammer for a moment. ¡°I not know how.¡± ¡°Switch.¡± He throws his sword towards the Russian. The Russian reacts quickly by throwing the hammer. They catch each other''s weapon and then take a stance. Calvaran notices the exchange. His eyes squint dangerously at the now lit runes on the hammer. Quasi growls towards Boriss and Afinov, and then rushes into the fight. Boriss and Afinov join back in to the dance. You would think three skilled fighters against a single enemy would be enough to overpower him. But no, the Buxon¡¯s combined stats, skills, class, and experience give him an edge that numbers alone cannot overwhelm. ________________________________________________________ ¡°They¡¯re losing. We should leave while we can,¡± Carrian warns. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving my father,¡± Emma says. ¡°You¡¯re father can''t win. The Buxon¡¯s going to kill them.¡± ¡°No. That''s my dad. Maybe if I-¡± she takes a step forward, but Carrian quickly grabs her wrist. ¡°Are you crazy? What the hell can you do? What can we do? We¡¯d just be in their way.¡± ¡°Perfect¡± ¡°QUASI!¡± Clay squeals. ________________________________________________________ Goddamn this guy is annoying. How can he move so fast and so well? It¡¯s like he has full vision of his surroundings or something. Each time we surround him, he dodges and attacks far too well. He even keeps away from walls so as to allow himself greater mobility. I glance at the sword in Boriss¡¯s hand and the thought of wielding it passes through my head. But the thought leaves just as fast as it is formed. My control is far too low and the handle is too small. On top of that, Boriss wouldn¡¯t be able to fight. Instead, I glance at the Statue¡¯s glowing hammer. He¡¯s yet to land a hit with it, but the Buxon¡¯s wary. Fuck me. I¡¯m going to have to bait it, aren''t I? Steeling my resolves, I rush around the Buxon while keeping a close eye on my allies. When the moment arises. I rush in for the kill. The Buxon notices me and slashes his battleaxe. Instead of dodging, I raise my arms and lean into the strike. Surprise rises in his expression as the axe rips into my flesh. I feel muscles, skin, and sinew make way for the cracking of my bones. Pain finds its way into my skull followed by my body accelerating away and Clay screaming out my name. But I ignore all of that as a grin rises to my face. Boriss takes advantage of the opening by stabbing towards the Buxons neck. The Buxon, unable to riposte with his axe in time, lowers his head and blocks the stab with his armored skull. An impressive reaction, but not adequate enough for the third opponent. Afinov swings the glowing runic hammer with the full weight of his body. The Buxon attempts to block it with his free arm, but it matters little. The arm is pushed back into the Buxons side followed by the explosion of a gunshot. The Buxon goes flying and crashes violently into the wooden wall. ¡°They got him!¡± I hear Emma exclaim from the door. She pushes Carrians arm away and starts walking towards her father. ¡°Stay back!¡± her father yells. ¡°It¡¯s not over.¡± She stops and then looks towards the Buxon. The man is already standing. His left side is shattered and cracked. The Bones are sticking in and outside the left side of his body next to his dangling mangled arm. Even with all that damage, the Buxon is grinning. He looks at the Fenrimorph, sitting with both arms limp at its sides. ¡°Smart move. I didn¡¯t expect you to sacrifice your arms for an opening,¡± Calvaron compliments. ¡°Too bad it was wasted.¡± With a grunt, he raises his mangled arm. ¡°[Instant Armor Repair].¡± All watch as the Buxon¡¯s bones shift and crunch back into place. Calvaran grimaces from the pain, but ignores it as his body regenerates back to normal. Within two seconds the left side, including his arm, is back to normal. Except for the skin, which is still missing. ¡°It has been a long while since I¡¯ve been forced to use my skill.¡± He tests his left limb and winces at the pain. Externally, his natural armor is healed, but internally, his muscles are damaged. ¡°That hammer¡¯s more dangerous than I thought,¡± he grunts. ¡°It won¡¯t hit again.¡± _____________________________________________________ With one last glance at the Fenrimorph, Calvaron starts walking towards the last two. Each step sends a wrack of pain from the left side of his body. He can feel the internal damage; the weakened muscles and ligaments. Normally, his innate musculature would allow him to move easily even with damage. But the damage now is far too severe. Favoring his right side, he takes a stance towards Gemma, the only threat against him. The human, though skilled, lacks any way to bypass his defenses. Rushing forward, he does a test swing on the Gemma. As expected, the Gemma parries his strike with impressive physical strength, but is then easily forced back by his following strikes. Though Gemma are strong and sturdy, their greatest weakness tends to always be their speed. Lugging around stone for skin has a tendency to slow movement by quite a bit. Sensing it behind him. Calvaron steps to the right and swings his axe. With little resistance, the sword is parried away. Then he goes for the kill, but the human is fast enough to fall backwards out of his range. Instead of following, Calvaron turns and re-engages the Gemma. The Gemma is quickly forced back with each swing of his axe. Every step forces him closer and closer to the wall. While pushing, Calvaron keeps his senses open for when the Human attempts to attack. No attack comes. Wary of what is happening, but refusing to give the Gemma an opening, He continues his onslaught until the Gemma is backed into a wall. Blasting away the Gemma¡¯s hammer with his axe, he swings diagonally and carves straight through his chest in a spray of blood. ¡°FATHER!¡± Though hearing the scream, Calvaron ignores the yell and instead quickly turns towards the human once again aiming to stab through his neck. He slashes his battleax with the intent to parry, but the human expects this. When his axe strikes the sword, he feels no resistance as the momentum continues. The human had let go of the weapon right before contact. Then he sees the human¡¯s arm whip towards his face. Reacting quickly, he raises his axe and feels the ding of a dagger bouncing off the metal. When he lowers the axe, a cat lands right below his chin. The cat grins. ¡°Nobody spills my milk!¡± Then the cat disappears and is replaced with a Fenrimorph. The monster''s teeth wrap around his throat while its legs bend on his chest. Then the legs extend. The monster hops away with Calvaron¡¯s throat in its jaw. IC god Games - Chapter 35: Loot and Lords The door slams open with a violent thud. Not even before the thud, Richard scrambles out of his bed and unsheathes his cutlass from under his pillow. He then points it, completely naked, towards the sweating [Head Guard] in the doorway. Both the [Head Guard] and Richard stare at each other for a moment. The [Head Guard] blushes at the morning wood standing ready. ¡°M-my [Lord]. Apologies for awakening you, but there''s been a predicament.¡± The [Lord] stares confused for a moment at [Head Guard] Merian. Then he looks down. ¡°Right. What¡¯s the predicament Merian?¡± He lowers his cutlass and sheathes it back into the scabbard. ¡°It¡¯s at the docks. Your [Spy] is reporting that [Fleet Captain] Calvaron¡¯s ship is being attacked by what may be a skilled [Assassin].¡± Richard quickly relaxes. ¡±I see. Mmmm, fine. Rouse the [Guard]. I¡¯ll head there immediately. Hopefully the [Assassin¡¯s] not dead yet.¡± He grabs his scabbard and walks to his mannequin where his armor is stored. Then he begins putting his clothes on. ¡°I¡¯ll be there in five minutes.¡± Merian, realizing she is still staring, salutes, and rushes off. ___________________________________________________________ His arrival to the docks is met with significant torchlight. The entire docks become illuminated with firelight as a third of his [Guards] take position on the docks. ¡°The probable [Assassin] is still on board.¡± Devold points at Seden¡¯s Orbit. The ship is a Buxon-made agron-class destroyer. It is larger, heavier, and smothered in heavy armaments designed for Buxon or [Sailors] heavily invested in the strength trait. A true war destroyer, and an equal to the average cruiser in combat. ¡°What do you mean by probable?¡± The [Spy], an older man gifted with youth, nods slowly. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve seen [Assassins], and most have ways to blend into the darkness. But I could see him clearly with my [Night Vision]. But, other than that, he was skilled at moving silently and killing silently.¡± ¡°[Night Vision]. That''s a rare skill. I thought only [Rogues] get it.¡± ¡°[Spys], [Thiefs], [Skirmishers], and [Scouts] can also use the skill without being an advanced class. There are more, but those are the ones I know my [Lord].¡± Richard sighs. ¡°Well, unless that [Assassin] is an expert class, then he¡¯s most likely dead. Calvaran¡¯s not the type to be killed easily.¡± ¡°My [Lord], there¡¯s someone on the deck!¡± one of his [Guards] yells. Looking up and walking to the firelight, a group of three adult humans, two Gemma, a human child, and a cat stare down at his [Guards]. ¡°The big guy. The human, that¡¯s the [Assassin].¡± Devold points. ¡°And he¡¯s alive.¡± Richard says in surprise as he stares at the man. Though standing strong, the guy is covered in cuts and bruises throughout his body. ¡°Barely.¡± Then he notices the other injured. A gemma being held by a human and a female. The man has a cut across his stone chest covered in dried blood. He realizes who it is. ¡°Afinov! Marian, call a [Doctor]- one that knows how to treat Gemma.¡± He orders and then rushes towards the ship. His [Guards] and [Spy] quickly follow. He arrives just as the group walks down the plank.¡± ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± he asks with the authority of an expert classer. The cat hops off the large human¡¯s shoulder and then lands on a nearby barrel. ¡°And what is the meaning of this?¡± The cat waves a paw at the [Guards] present. Every [Guard], [Spy], and [Lord] freezes at the sight of a talking cat. ¡°Yea, you should be fucking surprised. Coming to this pier and surrounding my ship like that. I hope you have a goddamn reason for this.¡± Richard is the first to recover. ¡°I am [Lord] Richard of Breston and this ship does not belong to you. It is the property of [Fleet Captain] Calvaron.¡± The cat yawns. ¡°Hate to burst your bubble, but Calvaron discretely offered everything he owns to me with his dying breath. So, no, it¡¯s not his, it is mine.¡± Richard''s eyes widen ¡°You killed Calvaron?¡± The cat shrugs nonchalantly. ¡°I prefer to use the word Slaughter, but I guess kill is fine. Now, If you''ll excuse me, I¡¯ve got a heavily injured gemma that needs medical attention.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already called a [Doctor]. They will be here shortly. For now, how about explaining to me why you are here and¡­ slaughtering Calvaron?¡± ¡°Because of milk,¡± the cat says resolutely. Two of the smaller humans chuckle at the statement. ¡°Milk?¡± Richard asks, confused. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. The cat nods. ¡°Yes. One of Calvaron''s subordinates spilled some of that beautiful creamy goodness while I was in the midst of consuming the liquid ambrosia. And for that very reason I vowed to slaughter the organization, starting with the leader.¡± Richard pauses for a second as he digests the words. He looks at all those present. ¡°And you brought all of them with you?¡± he points at the silent group in the back. ¡°You even brought a child.¡± ¡°Well, no. My stupid subordinate brought the child because Calvaron sent [Rogues] to my ship to kill the crew. The [Rogues] failed, of course, but we very well can''t let such violence go unpunished.¡± Richard raises an eyebrow. He stares at the cat for a moment until it actually pops up.
Quasi Eludo: Level 7 [Ship Captain]
His first thought is that the [Captain] is low level. His second thought is that the [Captain] is a talking cat. Then he remembers the rest of the explanation. ¡°Your ship was attacked? In port?¡± He voices in surprise. He then turns to Devold. ¡°Is this true?¡± ¡°Possibly. There was a rumor going about that Calvaron sent [Rogues] to kill a ship''s crew. It could possibly be their ship.¡± Devold explains. ¡°Comrade Clay¡± The large human bellows with a grin and raises a finger at Devold. ¡°Is Ben, yes?¡± He asks the child. Then he looks at Devold, " You go poopoo?¡± he asks. Richard, now very confused, looks at Devold. Devold clears his throat. ¡°Ben is my Alias while I was aboard the Seden¡¯s Orbit as a [Sailor]. It sounds like he thinks I left to go poop.¡± Richard can''t help but snort and shake his head. Today is a very odd day. At that moment, Merian arrives out of breath. The damn woman runs around with far too much heavy armor. He understands why, what with her being a [Knight]. But still, maybe something lighter would do her well. ¡°The [Doctor] is grabbing supplies and will be here soon my [Lord].¡± She notices the presence of the people in front of her. ¡°Should I arrest them my [Lord]?¡± Richard shakes his head. He steps forward. ¡°Attacking another [Captains] ship in Breston is very illegal and is subject to the death of the attackers, an execution of the [Captain], and the auctioning of the [Captain''s] ship. Normally, that would mean you. But, if you were attacked first, then Calvaron was already a dead man and the Seden¡¯s Orbit is no longer under his ownership.¡± ¡°The Seden¡¯s Orbit is owned by me.¡± The cat exclaims. Richard chuckles at the surprised expression on Merian¡¯s face. ¡°Under Breston¡¯s law, that is incorrect. The Seden¡¯s Orbit is in possession of the government until such time that it is auctioned off.¡± ¡°Oh hell naw. I got cut, thrown across the room, beaten down, and yelled at by that crazy bone regenerating piece of red filth. I am not about to give up my prize because of your stupid laws.¡± Richard places a hand on the hilt of his sword and steps forward again. ¡°Laws are what keeps us from being mere animals. They are the foundation with which society can flourish. And for society to flourish, everyone, including the [Lord], must follow the laws down to the letter. If you refuse,¡± he unsheathes his sword, which instantly bursts into a vibrant flame. ¡°Then you will need to face the consequences.¡± He grins. The cat glares back. A grin also on its face as its fur stands on end. ¡°Are you sure you want to do this?¡± The cat asks slowly. ¡°Comrade Fluffy,¡± Boriss interrupts. ¡°Maybe vhe fight later, yes? Comrade Clay is tired.¡± Quasi glances back at the child. Who indeed looks tired, but also nervous. Then he returns to glaring at the [Lord]... and slowly realizes his aggression is brought up by his instincts. If he was human, he wouldn¡¯t be trying to fight against an overwhelming number of people and a guy with a flaming sword. ¡°You said the ship is to be auctioned?¡± ¡°Yes. If you want it, you will need to buy it.¡± ¡°Just the ship, correct?¡± Richard frowns. ¡°Yes.¡± He says again. ¡°Fine, you can auction the ship. But everything inside the ship is mine for the taking.¡± ¡°What?¡± Richard pauses. ¡°The red piece of shit attacked my crew. As the victim of his transgression, I believe I am entitled to everything he owns absent his ship.¡± Richard and Quasi stare at each other for a long moment. Then the flames on the cutlass go out and the weapon is sheathed. ¡°Seems I¡¯m going to have to make changes to a law going forward.¡± Richard says with a chuckle. ¡°It¡¯s a deal.¡± In reality, he really didn¡¯t want to fight a cat. A cat that killed Calvaron if it is to be believed. An enemy like that is going to be far different from any foe he¡¯s faced before. He could level from the fight, but he could also die. Needless risk if you ask him. ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± The [Doctor] arrives with a case under his arm. ¡°Who needs help?¡± ¡°The Gemma,¡± Richard points. ¡°Go help him.¡± The [Doctor] rushes past Quasi and then starts ordering them to put the patient down. He opens his bag and starts working. Richard walks up to the cat. ¡°Now, what ship are you the [Captain] of? I¡¯ll send my [Guards] there to keep your crew safe from any retaliation because of Calvaron¡¯s death. I would also like to invite you and those behind you to my castle.¡± The cat pouts. Upset about the ship, but not as aggressive as before. ¡°The ship is called the Timbergrove. And fine, I¡¯ll go to the castle, at least to make sure the old guy survives.¡± The cat turns around. ¡°Boriss, take Clay back to the ship¡­ are the [Rogue] corpses still there?¡± ¡°Da.¡± ¡°Loot them first and then give them to the [guards].¡± Boriss salutes and turns to the child and extends a hand. ¡°Comrade Clay, vhe go back, yes?¡± ¡°Umm, ok.¡± Clay takes Boriss¡¯s hand and the two make their way back to the ship. As they leave, the cat hops off the barrel and strides towards the [Doctor]. ¡°My [Lord], shouldn¡¯t we arrest them for questioning first?¡± Meriam points at the child and adult. ¡°No need. We know where they are and the [Captain] will be at my castle.¡± He points at the kitten that is now talking to the doctor. ¡°How does a cat get a class?¡± Merian asks after a moment. ¡°A class?¡± Richard chuckles and shakes his head. ¡°I¡¯m still trying to understand how a cat can talk.¡± IC God Games - Chapter 36: Gloat ¡°You don''t have to wait here with me.¡± Emma says. Her eyes are focussed on her sleeping father. He is laying on a comfortably fluffy bed in one of the [Lord¡¯s] rooms. Next to the bed is a table, and sitting on the table is a cat. ¡°I don¡¯t have to, yea. But then I¡¯d feel guilty. Your dad fought the Buxon and put his life on the line. Then he got hurt because I¡¯m weak.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a leveled Buxon and a master in combat. Only the [Lord] would have the ability to fight him in single combat.¡± Quasi shakes his head. ¡°No, Calvaron was fast and decently skilled, but nowhere near as good as me.The only reason he won was his bloated stats and my own inability to wield a weapon. If I had a way to parry his ax, then he¡¯d be dead. If only my damn hands could hold a weapon properly.¡± The cat pouts. Emma pauses for a moment as she digests the cat''s words. If not for the rather convincing pout, she¡¯d think Quasi to be lying. ¡°Why can''t you hold a weapon?¡± ¡°Hands. The muscles in a Fenrimorphs hands are made for clawing and not grasping. In theory, I should be able to fix that with practice. But that practice is slow going. I could probably speed it up by leveling up control, but I don¡¯t think that would work like I expect.¡± ¡°What if you wore gauntlets?¡± Emma asks. Quasi pauses. ¡°That¡­ could work if the metal is strong enough. Huh, I¡¯d need to design the gauntlets and then find someone who can make them.¡± ¡°I could do it.¡± Emma exclaims. ¡°You¡¯re a [Runesmith], right? Don''t you work with runes?¡± She shakes her head. ¡°Anyone can create runes, but a [Runesmith] specializes in molding metal to install runes. I could make those gauntlets for you.¡± Quasi tilts his head at her as he digests her words. He focuses on her posture and the eagerness of her voice. ¡°You¡¯re not telling me something. You¡¯re keeping something back. If you want me to even consider that, I¡¯m going to expect honesty. What are you keeping back from me and why are you willing to help me?¡± ¡°I,¡± she pauses, and frowns. ¡°I¡¯m not a [Runesmith]. I¡¯m a [Smith]. [Runesmith] is an Advanced class of [Smith]. I¡¯m a level 24 [Smith], and If I want to get that next level, I have to do something completely out of the ordinary. I have to make something both amazing and unique. I think making those gauntlets may give me that level.¡± ¡°Uh huh. You still haven¡¯t answered the why yet.¡± Her hands ball into fists. ¡°I want- no. I need levels. I need to become better- stronger. I don¡¯t want to just stay on the sidelines and watch my father get hurt. I want to be able to do something.¡± The cat rolls his eyes. ¡°Getting more levels isn¡¯t going to turn you into a fighter. Training and experience will. Those levels will just give you better stats to use that training and experience.¡± ¡°So¡­¡± ¡°Your dad had training. He has good form and footwork. If you want to be able to hold up in a fight, then you¡¯re going to need training.¡± The cat grins. ¡°I¡¯ll allow you to make me those gauntlets, but I¡¯m going to expect you to start learning to fight if you level.¡± Quasi raises a paw. ¡°Deal?¡± She grabs the paw. ¡°Deal!¡± ¡°Hm. You two are far too loud.¡± Quasi¡¯s and Emma¡¯s eyes turn to the voice. Affinov¡¯s eyes are open and he is staring at them both. Still laying down and unmoving like the statue he is. But his eye are open. ¡°Dad!¡± Emma hugs her father. ¡°Oy, Emma, not too rough. The doctor says he needs to rest until his chest fully closes up on its own.¡± Realizing what she¡¯s doing, she back away a bit, though her hands are still touching her father¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Dad, I¡¯m so happy you¡¯re alive.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been dealt worse.¡± ¡°Worse than getting your chest cut open?¡± she asks in surprise. The statue looks at her. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve had limbs severed and bones crushed. Those are far worse injuries than a chest wound.¡± ¡°What. When?¡± ¡°Ok,¡± Quasi interrupts. ¡°You¡¯re awake and talking about worse injuries. I think you¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯m going to go ahead and find a place to nap.¡± Quasi hops off the table and walks to the door. He jumps and skillfully pulls the handle. Opens the door and walks out. Then a tail wraps around the outer handle and pulls the door shut. The two Gemma stare at the door for several long seconds. ¡°When did you get injured?¡± Emma asks again. ¡°It was when I was aboard your mother¡¯s ship.¡± Emma frowns. ¡°Before she died, right?¡± Her father looks away from his daughter and stares at the ceiling. Though his body shows no movement, his eyes speak of hesitation. Then that hesitation breaks. ¡°She¡¯s not dead.¡± ¡°What?¡± Emma exclaims in surprise. ¡°Ganarra isn¡¯t dead. I lied when I said she was killed.¡± ¡°But, you said she was killed by [Assassins]. And then those [Assassins] wanted to kill me. So you took me to Breston for safety.¡± ¡°A lie, though not all of it. I did take you to Breston for your safety.¡± ¡°Then what¡­ why? Why is she not here?¡± ¡°Your mother is Ganarra the Amber Queen. She is one of the most wanted [Pirates] to sail the sea. [Bounty Hunters] and [Assassins] are constantly looking to end her life. They¡¯ve even come close too- when she was pregnant with you, that is.¡± Emma¡¯s mouth is wide open as she stares at her father¡¯s avoidant gaze. ¡°When you were born, we figured that it would be far too dangerous to raise you aboard her ship - or anywhere near her. That¡¯s why we decided that it would be best for me to raise you somewhere safe and as far away from her as possible until you are of age.¡± ¡°My mother is alive¡­ and she''s a [Pirate]. You worked on a pirate ship?¡± ¡°Yes. I was in charge of keeping all the runes running and forging whatever materials were needed.¡± ¡°I-I can''t. I can''t believe my mother is alive.¡± ¡°She is. When we return home, I will give you everything I have from her.¡± Emma nods with a smile. ¡°Then, I will help you make those gauntlets.¡± Her eyes seem to pop out. ¡°You were awake!¡± ¡°I was trying not to be, and now I will try again. Please be quiet.¡± Affinov closes his eyes. ________________________________________________________________ Walking through the hallway, I am met with the curious glances of [Maids]. Many of which are happy to partake in the petting process. Of which I obliged. But, eventually, the pettings end and I find myself in front of a rather fancy door. Hopping up, I unlock the door and allow it to swing open. Across the glowing carpet, I find a single desk and a lady reading through a stack of papers. The woman is dressed very well- like someone very important. She glances up from her papers and looks at me. ¡°A cat?¡± she asks, confused. Then smiles. Her legs move and the carpet stops glowing. ¡°Here, kitty.¡± She taps her desk eagerly. ¡°Meow.¡± I rush across the carpet and hop onto the desk. Within a moment, she picks me up and starts petting. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Awww, who''s a good kitty!¡± With her dextrous hand stroking me, I begin to pur. This should be a pretty safe place. I close my eyes and allow sleep to finally take me. _________________________________________________________ Within the domain of gods, more specifically, Pandora¡¯s domain. Gods and goddesses rest, relax, and mingle with one another in a room similar to what you¡¯d expect of a strip club. But instead of strippers to watch, glowing portals reveal interesting happenings within Tristique. All minor happenings that are far from any gods'' champion. It wouldn¡¯t do to reveal anything noteworthy, like the location of a champion or something that could easily be capitalized. For the most part, what the portals show are battles. Some on ground, but most aboard airships. One such goddess lounging on one of the sofas is a short single-eyed girl drinking a beverage she¡¯d never tasted before. Surrounding her are several more Goddesses. And above their heads are numbers. Single digit numbers to be exact. ¡°Eighteen, and a human?¡± One goddess with a seven on her head asks, surprised. The goddess is in the form of a bipedal dog with antlers coming out the sides of her head. The one-eyed goddess nods smugly. She glances at the 18 floating above her head. ¡°Yes, Yazula has impeccable taste in champions.¡± She says with a puff of her chest. ¡°But a human, really?¡± Another goddess that is a glowing ball of light asks. This one has a six above her head. ¡°I heard only a single group of humans passed the test.¡± ¡°Yea. I thought humans were pretty weak.¡± A third goddess, this one with a three on top of her head. This goddess is even shorter than Yazula and looks like a human girl mixed with a mouse. The one-eyed Yazula sighs haughty. ¡°Yazula understands your confusion. Yazula even believes your confusion is justifiable. So Yazula will explain why Yazula believes you are wrong.¡± The three other goddesses lean forward in interest to listen to a goddess with such a high leveled champion. Considering the average level in the room is eleven. It is understandable for those lower at the totem pole to listen to advice. Yazula pauses as her mind whirls rapidly. The three goddesses lean closer, ready for her explanation. And the little gerbil within her head runs faster and faster. Just as confusion starts to rest within the three goddesses at why Yazula has yet to answer. Something clicks into place. ¡°Luck!¡± ¡°Luck?¡± The three goddesses repeat in unison. ¡°Yes, luck.¡± She taps her chest. ¡°Yazula is a goddess of luck. Yazula believes that since only one group of humans survived the trial, then Yazula thinks that those humans are very lucky.¡± Number 6 frowns. ¡°You chose your champion because you think they are lucky.¡± Yazula nods confidently. Like an aristocrat, or more like someone trying to act like they are more important than they actually are. ¡°That¡¯s stupid.¡± Number 7 exclaims. ¡°You can¡¯t rely on luck for your champion. Luck will eventually run out, everyone knows that.¡± Yazula quickly grabs her drink and starts drinking to hide her growing panic. ¡°But she still has one of the highest leveled champions.¡± Number 3 adds. ¡°Maybe she knows something we don''t?¡± As Yazula drinks, she mentally determines that number 3 is her favorite goddess now. ¡°And that''s why you¡¯re the lowest leveled in this entire room.¡± Number 7 growls. ¡°I am out of here.¡± She gets up and starts walking away. Number 6 vibrates. ¡°She¡¯s right. Your luck will run out eventually. It always does.¡± Then the ball floats away. Number 3 watches the others leave. Her ears flicker as though in annoyance. Not at anyone, but more along the lines of the situation. Then she shakes her head and slaps her cheeks in a very Yazula like way. ¡°Let them leave.¡± Number 3 exclaims. ¡°I¡¯m sure their champions won''t survive long.¡± ¡°Yazula agrees.¡± She says happily while placing her glass that has been finished long before back on the table. ¡°Yazula did not get your name.¡± ¡°You want to know my name?¡± The mousey goddess asks in surprise. Yazula leans back on her couch like a very petite mafia boss. Her legs are folded and her expression is cocky and confident. Also red from the drink. Gods don''t normally get drunk, but Pandora¡¯s drinks seem to be an exception. ¡°Yes, Yazula finds your company far more capable than¡­¡± She pauses dramatically and points a single arm haphazardly in the direction of the other two goddesses. ¡°Them.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Mus!¡± She squeaks happily. ¡°I¡¯m a goddess of Magic!¡± Yazula nods slowly. ¡°Yazula finds it nice to meet you, Mus.¡± ¡°Same!¡± Mus giggles cutely. An urge to pet Mus rises within Yazula. She can feel the muscles in her hand tense with expectation and wanting. It would be so easy to just pet the cute girl. So very easy. She need only lean forward. BUT Yazula is a woman of great self control. Yazula is a great goddess of luck, and acting in such a uncivilized way detracts from that. Nay, she is the supreme authority of her body and no amount of cuteness will - Mus¡¯s tail swishes happily on her backside. Before Yazula knows it, her hand betrays her. It lashes out and covers the top of Mus¡¯s head with remarkable dexterity, speed, and utter betrayal. When Mus squeak-giggles, the rest of Yazula¡¯s self control is destroyed as she grabs the girl and sets her on her lap. ¡°Y-Yazula. That tickles.¡± Mus continues giggling as Yazula treats Mus like a kitten. Eventually, some self control returns to the goddess of luck. ¡°Yazula is curious,¡± Yazula begins, ¡°Why are you level three? Did something happen?¡± Mus nods after a moment. ¡°When I chose my champion, she was summoned to an island that was being attacked by pirates. The pirates killed everyone and destroyed all the ships. Now my champion is stranded alone on the island. I¡¯m hoping a ship comes close to help.¡± ¡°Yazula thinks you are very unlucky.¡± Mus shakes her head. ¡°Maybe, but my champion is very sweet and nice. I like her a lot.¡± ¡°Yazula does not think being nice is good to win the games.¡± The mousey girl shrugs. ¡°I don¡¯t care about winning. I just want to see a new world and have lots of fun.¡± Yazula squeezes Mus even harder- causing Mus to squeal-giggle, which causes Yazula to squeeze even harder. But, as in all life, the cuteness will eventually end. ¡°ATTENTION ALL GODS PRESENT.¡± Pandora¡¯s voice bubbles throughout the room. The portal visuals disappear and all around go silent. They all look to the stage where Pandora¡¯s ever-shifting form stands, sits, and floats. ¡°It has been a long time since the games began, and many levels have been gained since then. At the same time, there have been many losses of champions. When the games began, three hundred and eighty four champions were chosen. But now, that number is down to eighty three- and I expect it to go significantly lower by the end of the first year.¡± Pandora¡¯s body constantly shifts with the faces of gods that have been disqualified over the time. ¡°To help facilitate the process, I think a bit of rivalry would do you all good. Let me introduce to you all the top three. Pandora taps together two antlered hands, and then three gods are instantly teleported to his side. One god has 24 above his head, while both of the other two have 19. The three gods look confused, but immediately go with the flow and stay silent. ¡°In the first place we have Machina.¡± Pandora extends a tentacle towards a hulking metal robot. The robot is three Yazulas tall and a good fifty Yazula¡¯s heavy. ¡°Machina is a Major god of logic and has consistently outpaced everyone else''s champion in levels. Machina, do you have anything to say to your competition?¡± ¡°Negative. Any information revealed will reduce my success chance by a minimum of 0.0063%¡± Pandora¡¯s three heads nod. ¡°An interesting answer, albeit a boring one. Let''s see if your closest competition will agree. Pandora turns his table towards the next two. Both are hulking giants. One is smothered in spikes throughout his body; the most notable of the spikes are the massive red tusks and a bouquet of sharp horns. The other is similarly large, but is a giant snake with six arms as thick as Yazulas hips. ¡°These two are tied with both second and third place.¡± The two look at each other with wary respect. They are both Major gods who have lived a very long time and control not only planets, but entire solar systems. ¡°The one without legs and several arms is Semetrial, god of Serpents and Hunger. The other one with all the spikes is Spinak, god of Penetration and Slaughter. Let us start with Semestrial. Do you have something to say to your competition?¡± Pandora waves a wing towards the audience. Semetrial looks at all those present with a look of hunger. ¡°I will devour each and every one of you. Your champion will fill my belly with-¡± Pandora shoves an armored clawed metal foot in front of Semetrial and interrupts him. ¡°Apologies, but I need you to leave.¡± ¡°What?¡± Semetrial asks. Pandora points up. Semetrial looks up and finds no number. ¡°Tha-¡± He disappears. ¡°Well, that was quite unexpected, but it seems the number just dropped to eighty-two champions.¡± Pandora gazes at the audience with fifty eyes. ¡°With Semetrial gone, second place goes to Spinak. But that opens up third place, which means¡­ oh, this is rather interesting. Pandora clicks two branches. Mus squeals in surprise as her current seat disappears. _______________________________________________________________________ One moment Yazula was petting a mousey girl, and the next she¡¯s getting stared at by the rest of the gods on a stage as though she was an unexpected stripper. When she looks around, she finds Pandora to one side, and the spiked god that had yeeted her across the room long ago. The god glares at her with both surprise and anger. ¡°Fresh Meat.¡± He exclaims with a sharp smile. Yazula steps back in growing fear of the massive behemoth. ¡°Now, now. No need for aggression yet. Introduction first.¡± Pandora interrupts soothing. He looks towards the audience. ¡°As you can see, Yazula, a minor goddess of luck, is now in third place. A rather interesting circumstance. It has been a very long while since a Minor goddess was on this stage.¡± He then turns to Spinak. ¡°Spinak, is there anything you¡¯d like to say to the audience?¡± Spinak growls. ¡°I will bring death and destruction to you all. My champion will slaughter, eviscerate, and devour your pathetic choices.¡± He then turns to Yazula. ¡°As for you, I know not how your champion leveled so much, but it was clearly a stroke of incredible luck. But that luck will not last, and I will take pleasure as your champion ceases to level or dies.¡± ¡°That is quite the statement.¡± Pandora exclaims passionately with a swing of a tail. ¡°Have you any words little Yazula?¡± He asks. Yazula swallows. ¡°Yazula thinks your breath smells very bad. Yazula recommends brushing your teeth.¡± The crowd goes completely silent as Spinak reveals more of his sharpened teeth as he looks down upon this little girl that dares to talk so brazenly. ¡°I will brush my teeth with your remains.¡± ¡°Yazula¡¯s remains are far too adorable to be used for teeth cleaning. Though Yazula believes the cleaning would be very effective.¡± Spinak growls angrily. He balls a fist, but does not move as Pandora¡¯s translucent eye is squarely on him. It would not do to anger one such as him. ¡°Keep yapping that mouth of yours. Your champion will never surpass the level of mine. Your luck will run out and then that little number above your head will dissap-¡± Spinak stops talking as the number eighteen changes to twenty. All seven of Pandora''s heads grin. ¡°Ohhhh, this is so exciting.¡± Yazula, somehow, seeing this, puffs out her chest. ¡°Hmmmm? What was that? Yazula believes she heard you say Yazula¡¯s champion will never surpass your cha-¡± A portal opens directly underneath the goddess. She fall through, but her hands grab on the side. ¡°NOOOOO, not now. Yazula still needs to gloat. Yazula will not accept thiiiiiiiiisssss.¡± Her hands give way and she is sucked through. ____________________________________________________________ IC god Games - Chapter 37: Improved Fluffyness. I appear within the white world again with both the Imminent Huntress and the Timbergrove floating above. Both ships are just as I¡¯ve left them with no discernible changes as of yet. The Imminent Huntress should disappear once the cannons are moved to the Timbergrove and the ship is sold. ¡°Wait a second.¡± Doesn''t the Seden¡¯s Orbit have cannons? It does, doesn¡¯t it. Bigger ones too¡­ and a Ballista! During my musings, a portal opens and a screaming Goddess crashes onto the white floor of this realm. The crash was rather violent and quite hard. A mortal would probably be dead, but Yazula is no mortal. Though¡­ ¡°Why are you crying?¡± I ask. She sniffs. ¡°Because Yazula wanted to gloat and Yazula did not get the chance to. Yazula feels betrayed.¡± ¡°Right¡­ well, since you¡¯re here. I¡¯m guessing I leveled to twenty, correct?¡± ¡°Negative. You have leveled to seven.¡± I hear a voice behind me. When I turn, I¡¯m met with the red floating eyeball, also known as Administrator #81. ¡°Oh, Red, you¡¯re here too?¡± I ask. ¡°I thought you only show up when I sleep on my ship.¡± ¡°My presence is permitted when skills are to be provided or titles obtained,¡± Red explains. ¡°Really? Nice! What did I get?¡±
Title Name Underdog Boarder
Title Rank Rare
Title Effect [Captain¡¯s Authority] stat decay is slowed when boarding enemy vessels.
¡°Huh.¡± I rub my chin. ¡°So the [Captain¡¯s Authority] skill decays when I¡¯m away from my ship? I wonder how fast the decay is. I¡¯ll have to ask Myers later.¡± I glance back at the eyeball. ¡°Are there any other changes?¡± ¡°Negative.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m done with you.¡± At my words, the red eyeball disappears. When it does, I turn back around. ¡°Are you just going to lay there and mope?¡± ¡°Yazula is not done moping.¡± I sigh. ¡°Fine.¡± I kneel down next to the goddess. ¡°Did you want to tell me why you are moping? I think you mentioned something about wanting to gloat.¡± ¡°Yes, Yazula was about to gloat about how amazing Yazula is compared to big spiky man, but Yazula was unfairly sucked here before she could.¡± ¡°Uh huh. What exactly did you do that would let you gloat?¡± She puffs up her diminutive chest while lying down. ¡°Mean spiky man said Yazula¡¯s champion is lucky and that Yazula¡¯s champion will never beat spiky man''s champion in level. But then Yazula¡¯s champion gained two levels and now Yazula¡¯s champion is higher level.¡± The fuck? ¡°Wait, this spiky man is a god, and the god knows my level? Is my level public to all the gods?¡± She nods and then points above her head. ¡°Yazula was at a party where champion levels floated on everyone''s head.¡± ¡°Oh? So you know the levels of the other gods? What''s the highest level? What about second and third highest? Do you know the average level? Do you know how many champions there are?¡± At my eagerness, she sits up with a grin. ¡°Yazula is second place and spiky man is third. Yazula is superior,¡± she exclaims haughty. Second place? That sounds pretty good. Then again, I gained a lot of levels from the leviathan. ¡°What about the highest level? What about average? How many champions are there?¡± She takes a moment to think. ¡°Twenty four is the highest. Yazula thinks the average is ten. Big squishy man says there are eighty-two champions.¡± Twenty four is a hell of an outlier. They must have seen a lot of constant action. As for an average of ten, that¡¯s pretty decent considering the levels of my companions. Speaking of companions, I wonder how much Boriss leveled. It must have been several times after all the killings. ¡°That''s good to know. Did you learn anything else?¡± ¡°Yazula made a friend with a mouse girl. Mouse girl is very cute and squeaks when Yazula pets her.¡± ¡°Right¡­ How about something more concrete? Like, what species are the other champions?¡± She shakes her head. ¡°Yazula only knows that Yazula is the only goddess with a human champion.¡± That''s actually useful. If they are human, then they¡¯re not a champion. ¡°I¡¯ll need you to keep track of the number of champions and what levels they have every time they meet.¡± Yazula hops up and then offers a salute. ¡°Yazula understands. Yazula will even write it down for you.¡± ¡°Good.¡± I nod. ¡°Now, I think you have some skills to offer me, right?¡± She blinks in surprise, and then grins. With a flourish of her hand, a jar forms above her palm. ¡°Yazula is prepared!¡± Her hand digs into the jar and produces three pieces of paper.
Class skills have been chosen by entity Yazula. Initializing Selection. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Please choose one of the following skills. Soul Expansion Mental Clarity Peak Transformation
Soul Expansion Increase max soul quantity by 100%
Mental Sovereignty Immune to personality traits of transformation ability.
Peak Transformation All transformation will be based on the strongest and healthiest of the species at current age.
Reading through my options, I can''t help but note that [Soul Expansion] shows up again. The skill will most likely be useful once I learn how to transform into other things or gain other transformations, but the wording is still percent based- which infers an alternative way to increase my number of transformations. [Mental Sovereignty] on the other hand is something more along the lines of a nice to have. Sure, my cat form makes me cockier and more aggressive, and that may cause problems in the future. But, I don¡¯t think it is worth an entire skill. So long as I¡¯m cognizant of my shift in personality, then I can deal with it. Finally, [Peak Transformation] is arguably the most interesting. From the description, it seems it would allow my transformations to become the most elite versions of the species. In the animal kingdom, this can be pretty significant. For example, two lions of the same species can be exponentially different in physical and mental capabilities. Hell, even snakes differ in the concentration of their poisons from one-another. The only problem is that I have two transformations that could benefit from the skill. My cat form isn¡¯t going to necessarily get stronger, and my other transformation is far too expensive anyway. Also, Fenrimorph is my base form, so it is unlikely to benefit from any changes. ¡°These choices aren''t very good.¡± I can easily rule out [Mental Sovereignty]. I can deal with the problem outside of a skill. As for the other two, it is a toss-up between them. On one hand, I gain additional transformations immediately, on the other, all of my transformations will be at peak capability. Regardless of my choice, neither can really benefit me in the short-term. Maybe [Soul Expansion] if I learn how to transform quickly, but it¡¯s not like those transformations will likely be stronger than a Fenrimorph. My shift ability requires mana, and that cost seems delegated to size. Anything too big and I may not be able to transform into it anyway. ¡°Let''s just go with [Peak Transformation].¡±
Skill selection [Peak Transformation] accepted. Adding skill to Entity Quasi Eludo. Skill addition successful. All Champion responsibilities completed. Removing entity Yazula.
I hear Yazula scream as a portal sucks her into the ground. Then another portal opens. Green floats through. ¡°Entity Quasi Eludo, you have 2 attributes to spend. Do you wish to spend them?¡± ¡°Put them both into Strength,¡± I command. _____________________________________________________________ ¡°What do you mean you can''t find the cat?¡± Richard asks. ¡°My castle isn¡¯t that big and there is only one entrance. He must be somewhere here!¡± ¡°S-sir, we¡¯ve checked nearly every room. There is no cat anywhere here.¡± The [Guard] sputters under the intense gaze of the [Lord]. ¡°Then check everywhere again! I need to talk to that damn cat as soon as possible. If you find him, send him to my office.¡± The [Lord] of Breston storms off and rushes down the hall. He makes his way towards the nobility wing of the castle, but just stops as he passes his sister''s room. He opens her door and storms in. ¡°Janice, good news. You know those armor and weapons I ordered? Well, I was notified that they are¡­¡± He freezes at the sight of his sisters happily petting a purring fluffy kitten on her desk. The same damn kitten he¡¯d been looking for for the past three hours. ¡°What did I tell you about knocking?¡± Janice pouts. ¡°What are you doing?¡± He ignores her question. The cat opens its eyes and stares intently at him. ¡°I¡¯m petting a cat, what do you think it looks like?¡± She rolls her eyes. ¡°That¡¯s not a normal cat. That''s a dangerous [Captain] who killed Calvaron!¡± Janice glances down at the soft and fluffy cat. Oddly enough, the cat seems healthier and even fluffier. Softer too. ¡°Meow.¡± The cat tilts its head cutely. She smiles and continues petting. ¡°Richard, are you so jealous of my affection towards a kitten that you have to make up such crazy lies?¡± ¡°It''s not a lie! I¡¯ve been looking for that cat for several hours. And I don¡¯t need your affection.¡± She giggles. ¡°Oh?So you just want to pet this little guy''s soft fur.¡± ¡°I DO NOT!¡± Richard whines. ¡°That cat is dangerous.¡± Janice lifts up the cat to her face. ¡°Are you a dangerous little boy?¡± she asks sweetley. ¡°Meow,¡± The cat exclaims cutely. She turns the cat around. ¡°Are you seriously telling me this little guy is dangerous?¡± With the cat''s back turned to Janice, a cocky grin rises on the felines face. ¡°It''s mocking me!¡± Richard yells. ¡°Brother! It¡¯s a cat. Grow the fuck up.¡± ¡°But.¡± ¡°OUT!¡± she yells. ¡°And don¡¯t come back until you want to be honest with me.¡± ¡°Janice.¡± Her leg moves and Richard hops out of the room. ¡°And close the door.¡± ¡°But.¡± ¡°CLOSE THE DOOR!¡± She orders. Richard¡¯s face is bright red as he stares at Janice petting and holding the grinning cat passionately. ¡°Fine. If you die, it¡¯s not my fault.¡± He closes the door. Seconds pass for long moments. Then she leans back happily. ¡°That felt good.¡± The cat yawns. ¡°Agreed. Thanks for playing along.¡± Janice giggles while continuing to stroke the cat. ¡°Oh, absolutely. Richard always gets on my nerves. Revenge feels so good.¡± Her hand brushes along the cat''s fluffy coat. ¡°By the way, is it me or did you get fluffier?¡± ¡°New skill.¡± ¡°Oh. When he said you killed Calvaron, was that true?¡± The cat nods. ¡°Yup, and leveled for it. Hence the coat. By the way, you mentioned he¡¯s your brother? Why does it seem like you run Breston and not him?¡± ¡°How do you figure that?¡± The cat points at the stacks of papers on the table. ¡°From a quick skim, those documents seem like things a [Lord] should be taking care of.¡± She snorts. ¡°Breston would fall apart if that idiot took charge. He¡¯s a capable and charismatic fighter- and that''s about it.¡± ¡°Sounds like you should take charge.¡± She quickly shakes her head. ¡°No. Absolutely not. [Pirates] respect strength above strong administration. One of the reasons Breston is wealthy is because the unsavory types aren''t willing to stand up against him.¡± ¡°Makes sense.¡± Someone knocks at the door. Janice shifts her foot and deactivates the runes. ¡°Come in.¡± The door opens and two [Maids] enter with trays of food. They place the trays on the desk and walk away. ¡°Is that¡­ is that milk?¡± The cat leans towards one of the trays. ¡°Yes. I ordered it while you were asleep. I hope it suits you.¡± The cat walks to the tray and sniffs. Then smiles. It looks back at her. ¡°Janice, I am [Captain] Quasi Eludo of Timbergrove and you have gained my utmost respect.¡± IC God Games - Chapter 38: Mines Bigger. In most cities and towns, there tends to be a major trading hub. A nice place where all manner of sellers and buyers can get together to trade goods. Usually, such hubs are located within the city center where most of the population can visit. The problem here is that Breston has no city center. Most of its population lives around the floating crucible of an island- with the top of the island delegated to farmland, water reserves, and the general very wealthy. Because of this, three hubs of trade have formed and all are located at the largest docks within the city. The first and arguably most diverse trading hub is known as the Basket. The Basket is where most corvettes are docked in a manner that maximizes the ship to space ratio. Many corvettes are nearly stacked up on top of each other and placed close enough you could hear the sexual activities of another''s crew. With the generally lower size and carry weight of a Corvette, a large amount of very diverse products with plenty of competition are sold. The general population tends to favor this hub far more than any others. The next hub, and arguably largest in regards to the number of goods is the Fabricata. The Fabricata is located at the Frigate class docks. With the significantly larger hold space of a Frigate- especially one designed for trade, the goods available here are of a quantity where [Traders], [Merchants], [Smiths], and anyone with a shop frequent most exclusively. Granted, you¡¯ll also find the average person looking for a deal, but those tend to be a minority. The last hub is called Perditor. Perditor is where generally destroyer and hauler class ships are docked. This hub is the smallest hub of trading, primarily because of the rarity of ships made of such a size. For every destroyer class, there are five frigate classes or twenty corvettes class ships. But, what they make up in numbers is in quantity and quality of goods. With holds generally larger than frigates, they have a vast supply of bulk material. With larger hulls, more and stronger cannons, these ships become unlikely targets for [Pirates]. Which means that the goods being traded can be of a more expensive quality. It is at Perditor where the Timbergrove and Imminent Huntress are docked. ¡°What do you mean it won''t sell as much?¡± Cillian growls. He points at the Imminent Huntress. ¡°It¡¯s a destroyer class. Destroyer classes can sell for a hundred thousand trist!¡± The man, an [Auctioneer] by the name Gerald, shakes his head. The man wears a rather formal and business-like coat that matches all of his attire and expensive jewelry. On his right eye is a piece of thick dark glass with a rune etched on the side of it. ¡°And that''s the crux of the issue. The Imminent Huntress is not a Destroyer, but a modified Hauler for combat. It will not sell anywhere near a hundred thousand trist. That¡¯s why I¡¯m offering 15% and not 10%.¡± Cillian frowns. He turns and waves Myers over. ¡°What is it?¡± Myers asks. ¡°This fucker says the Imminent Huntress ain¡¯t a Destroyer. That true?¡± Myers nods. ¡°It¡¯s at the same weight class as a Destroyer, but it was built and designed as a Hauler, and then modified to carry more cannons albeit without the thicker and reinforced hull of a destroyer.¡± Gerald grins at Cillian¡¯s growing discomfort. ¡°As you can see by your experienced associate here, the ship is not going to sell at such a price as to offer a 10% commission.¡± Myers strokes his beard intently. ¡°On the contrary, I believe the Imminent Huntress can very well make six figures. Haulers are much faster than Destroyers on account of their lower weight- which allows them to outrun Destroyers so long as their hulls aren''t carrying any heavy goods like ingots. With the added cannons from the modifications, the Imminent Huntress can outgun any Frigates that could keep up with its speed. I imagine both [Captains] and [Pirates] would flock to buy the ship for those reasons alone.¡± Geralds grin subsides into a grimace. He scratches his perfectly trimmed goatee as he stares at the ship again. ¡°You forget that modifications lower the selling price of a ship.¡± ¡°Poorly made modifications do,¡± Myers quickly adds. ¡°The Imminent Huntress is not poorly modified. It would be simple to pay an experienced [Shipwright] to give his professional opinion in writing.¡± Gerald frowns. ¡°Still, that¡¯s a financial risk on my part. Setting up the auction, inviting experts, making reservations for viewing, on top of food and drink. These expenses can hit very hard on my profit margins if the ship does not sell as well. On top of all that, I really doubt anyone is going to pay more than seventy thousand for the ship no matter how well I market it.¡± Cillian chuckles. ¡°Then we modify the percentages. If the ship sells for fifty thousand trist, then your commission is 15%. But, for every ten thousand additional sales, your commission decreases by 1% until it hits 10%. This way you are still making good profit with an incentive to sell the ship for as high as possible.¡± Gerald strokes his goatee in interest. ¡°That can work¡­ yes. It seems reasonable. I can have a contract made and delivered by tomorrow.¡± ¡°Then it''s a deal.¡± Cillian extends his hand. Gerald shakes the hand. ¡°It is indeed. I will see you soon.¡± The [Auctioneer] walks off with a smile on his face. ¡°Damn, he fucked up.¡± ¡°Crivvens!¡± Cillian screams in surprise. He looks down to find Quasi smugly staring up at the Portly man. ¡°Oy, I almost wet me-self. When¡¯d you get here?¡± Quasi hops up on a nearby barrel. ¡°Same time when you called Myers over- though the old man knew I¡¯d arrive. I¡¯m going to have to be sneakier next time.¡± Myers ignores the jest and instead stares at the disappearing [Auctioneer]. ¡°You mentioned that the [Auctioneer] made a mistake with the deal. It seems like the deal is good for both parties.¡± ¡°The deal is good if the ship sells for fifty grand or more than a hundred grand. But, if it sells anywhere in-between sixty and ninety grand, then we benefit more. At fifty thousand, we make 42,500 trist and he makes 7500 trist. At sixty thousand, we make 51,600 trist and he makes 8,400 trist. That''s a 21.4% increase in profits for us and a 12% increase in profits for him. That single percent loss is the equivalent of 400 trist for him. At seventy thousand, our profit increase from sixty thousand is 18%, but his profits increase is 8%. That is another 700 trist less in his pocket and more in ours. At eighty thousand, he loses 500 trist, and then 300 trist at ninety thousand. If what he says is true and the ship only sells for seventy thousand, then we still benefit from a minimum of 1,100 trist.¡± Myers stares at the cats explanation and the smug grin on Cillians face. Then he shakes his head. ¡°I would never want to be a [Quartermaster].¡± Quasi and Cillian chuckle. Then Cillian notices it as a breeze passes by.\ ¡°You look different. More puffy.¡± Quasi grins. ¡°Yup, I got a new skill from yesterday night''s foray. By the way, how¡¯s Boriss and Clay?¡± Myers'' expression hardens. ¡°They¡¯re both fine. But I need to talk to you about setting some rules in regards to my grandson. I don¡¯t want him to leave the ship in the middle of the night. I understand Boriss just wants to give him some fresh air, but it¡¯s still dangerous.¡± Quasi stares at Myers who looks upset but not angry. ¡°Do you know where they went?¡± Quasi asks. ¡°A nearby tavern.¡± Myers sighs. ¡°Which I wouldn¡¯t mind, but not in the middle of the night.¡± Cillian nods. ¡°The old man is right. I heard there was a recent killing of five men near here. If the kid was near at the time, he might¡¯ve been in danger.¡± Quasi glances at the two very ignorant individuals. Then he shrugs. ¡°I¡¯ll punish Boriss later. But first, I need to know, have you transferred the cannons from the Imminent Huntress to the Timbergrove yet? ¡°Irmgard left earlier to hire some hands for the transfer,¡± Cillian says. ¡°Perfect. Certain things happened yesterday and I became the proud owner of several cannons and a ballistae. We can install the weapons on the Timbergrove and sell anything else we don''t need.¡± This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Myers frowns. ¡°You bought a ballistae?¡± The cat rolls his eyes. ¡°No, of course not. I legally and freely acquired everything within and on a soon-to-be-auctioned Destroyer. So yea, if you see Irmgard, I want her to take everything from the ship. Even the sails.¡± The cat pauses for a moment and then looks at the confused old man. ¡°Actually, can armor plating be removed too?¡± ¡°You were only gone for a single day.¡± The old man ignores the question. ¡°What exactly happened?¡± ¡°It¡¯s complicated, but it involves the spilling of milk. Anyway, I¡¯ll tell you the story later.¡± The cat stretches on the barrel. ¡°I need to leave soon. But first; Cillian, I found a buyer for all the weapons and armor we have. When you have the time, head to the castle and ask to speak with Janice. She¡¯s a very affectionate petter with deep pockets.¡± Quasi hops off the barrel. ¡°I¡¯m going to be gone for a bit. If you need me, I¡¯ll be at the Runic Workings store- the one with the Gemma.¡± The cat rushes off and disappears into a crowd of people. Cillian reaches on his hip, grabs a bottle holstered next to his gun, pops open the cork, and takes a sip. ¡°Did he mention what ship we¡¯re to get the cannons?¡± ¡°No.¡± Myers shakes his head. ¡°Shite.¡± Cillian curses. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you know where this Runic Working store is?¡± ¡°I¡­ do. I¡¯ve a friend there.¡± Myers turns his head and glances at the Timbergrove. ¡°I¡¯ll go meet him and find out about the ship from Quasi. In the meantime, can you keep an eye on Clay?¡± Cillian nods. ¡°I do kinda havta go to the castle, but I can wait until Irmgard returns.¡± Myers nods. ¡°Then I¡¯m off. I¡¯ll try to return before nightfall.¡± __________________________________________________________________ Emma watches warily as her father heads down the street wearing only pants. On his chest and wrapped around his back are several layers of bandages. The bandages aren''t there to stop any bleeding - for the gemma are naturally resilient to such a thing. No, the bandages are there to make sure that the stone skin can properly heal and close, otherwise there will be a weak point in their natural armor. ¡°Dad, should you really be moving already?¡± she asks. She adjusts the longsword on her back and the runed greaves in her arms. ¡°It¡¯s only been a day since you were injured.¡± Her father does not react. Instead, she can see the caring look from her father¡¯s eyes. ¡°As I mentioned before, I have felt worse.¡± He raises his hand and taps his chest. ¡°This wound is shallow and hasn''t even touched my organs. I expect it to recover in a month''s time.¡± Emma pouts at her father¡¯s answer. She can see that every step causes him pain, but he is far too hard-headed to just sit and wait until the wound is more manageable. Eventually, they arrive at their home. Her father activates the rune, opens the door, and enters. She follows inside. ¡°Come.¡± He orders. She follows him all the way to the back of the store and where they store all of their supplies. He walks towards an old vertical wall sconce. He grabs it, and then turns it horizontally to reveal a hidden rune. He places his finger on the Rune. The room shakes for a moment, followed by the wall pushing unlatching on the other side. Her father then pushes the Sconce like a knob to reveal a dark staircase leading downard. ¡°When did you build something like this?¡± She asks in wonder. ¡°When you were too heavy to walk.¡± He begins to descend. She follows him after a short pause. When they arrive at the bottom, she is met with only darkness except for a glowing rune. Her father places his hand on the rune, and then the entire room bursts into light from a runic chandelier hanging from the ceiling. She enters the room and looks around. Shelves upon shelves of runic armor, weapons, and crystals line the walls of the room alongside plenty of dust. The weapons are of very good quality; most of which rank Uncommon, though a decent amount of Rare are also present. ¡°Everything here is what I created when I traveled with your mother¡­ for your mother.¡± He stops in front of a chest in the back of the room. ¡°Until she outleveled what I made.¡± She stops next to him, staring at the chest covered in runes.
Name Durable Chest of Preservation
Rarity Rare - 4 runes.
  • 1(Durability)
  • 1(Air barrier)
  • 1(Liquid Barrier)
  • 1(Lock)
Description This durable metal chest protects all internal contents from minor air and liquid particles. This chest is rune locked.
Sustain 2131/3700 Mana -0.008 Mana degeneration per minute.
He kneels down slowly without a grunt. But she catches his eyes close from the pain. ¡°This is your mother¡¯s old equipment and the best I¡¯d ever created.¡± When he touches the chest, she hears a click. Then he opens it. A full set of armor is revealed to her.
Name Metal-Scale plate
Rarity Exceptional - 8 Runes.
  • 2(1-Durability)
  • 3(1-Lightweight)
  • 1(1-Muffle)
  • 1(1-Piercing Resist)
  • 1(1-Crush Resist)
Description This armor is built with interlocking metal plates that is +40% more durable, +60% lighter in weight, +100% quieter, +50% more resilient to Piercing, and +50% more resilient to Crushing.
Sustain 0.08% Mana regeneration per minute.
Name Crystal-Steel Bascinet of Night Vision.
Rarity Exceptional - 6 Runes.
  • 1(1-Durability),
  • 1(1-Piercing Resist),
  • 1(1-Crush Resist),
  • 1(3-Night vision)
Description This armor is +30% more durable, +50% resilient to piercing, +50% crushing, and grants the wearer the ability to see in darkness.
Sustain 0.10% Mana regeneration per minute.
Name Metal-plated Leather Gauntlets of strength
Rarity Exceptional - 6 Runes.
  • 1(1-Durability)
  • 1(1- Pierce Resist)
  • 1(1-Crush Resist)
  • 1(3- Enhanced Strength)
Description This armor is +30% more durable, +50% resilient to piercing, +50% resilient to crushing, and grants the wearer +10% strength.
Sustain 0.08% Mana regeneration per minute.
After reading the three pieces, she looks down at the final piece in her arms.
Name Greaves of Silent Stomping
Rarity Exceptional - 6 Runes.
  • 1(6-Sound suppression)
Description This armor grants the wearer the ability to suppress any sounds made from impacts.
Sustain 0.11% Mana regeneration per minute.
He notices her frown as she gazes at the greaves in her arms. ¡°That''s my best piece,¡± he comments. ¡°A single rune with a very powerful effect.¡± ¡°How are you not an Expert yet?¡± She asks, flabbergasted. Though he does not react, she can see the sadness and regret in her father¡¯s eyes. ¡°The difference between level forty-nine and fifty is vast. It is a step very very few are able to overcome- and not without significant risk. If I want to gain that last level, I would need to put my life on the line.¡± His head turns to her. ¡°That¡¯s a risk I¡¯m not willing to take right now.¡± She looks away from her father as a wave of guilt flows through her. ¡°Because of me you¡¯re still an advanced class.¡± ¡°No.¡± He says softly with what seems slightly less gruff than usual. ¡°It is because of you that I no longer hunger for levels. I am far happier and content watching you grow.¡± She looks back at him and meets his eyes. Eyes that radiate happiness and pride. ¡°S-so, did you just want to show me my mother¡¯s armor?¡± She quickly changes the question. His eyes move away from her and back to the chest. He leans forward. ¡°The armor is made for your mother¡¯s body. Since you have her proportions, I give it to you.¡± He grabs a bag hidden underneath the chest piece. ¡°More importantly, if you want to level from making those gauntlets, then you¡¯re going to need to use this.¡± He places the bag on the floor and then opens it to reveal a glowing green core. Before either can react, a cat swagger between them and places a paw on the orb. The cat snorts. ¡°Mine¡¯s bigger and brighter.¡± IC God Games - Chapter 39: Future Troubles Though she knows that the Fenrimorph in front of her is not going to harm her, she can''t help but be wary of it. The red eyes that seem to glow, alongside sharp teeth and spiked horns give her the sense of a dangerous beast built to maim and kill. She¡¯s also wary of getting nicked even slightly by the monster''s appendages. If that happens, then she is as good as dead. Unlike humans and Wolven, Gemma never survive the transformation. At least that''s what her father explained. With a calming breath, she grabs the Fenrimorphs arms and begins measuring each and every part from extended claws to individual fingers. She does the same to the other hand, more-so to make sure that the measurements are the same. ¡°Done.¡± She takes a step back. The Fenrimorph yawns. Then it disappears and is replaced by a cat. The cat yawns and hops up on a table. ¡°So, how does the process of making these runed gauntlets work?¡± She takes a seat and lays down her measurements. She grabs a clear piece of paper, a pencil, and a stylus.¡± ¡°Well, the first part is to design the gauntlets around your arms¡¯ dimensions. Then I have to prepare the metal to be used. This will involve grinding down the core into a powder and mixing that powder into liquid steel. Once the steel is done, I¡¯ll need to use the metal to craft all parts of the gauntlet and put them together. Finally, I will engrave the runes into the metal using crystal powder.¡± Quasi nods. ¡°So¡­ that actually sounds pretty simple. Where does the difficulty come in?¡± ¡°The Runeing.¡± She grabs a thick black crystalline stylus that houses a glass cylinder at the top. ¡°Is done with a rune stylus like this. Powdered crystal is put inside the glass cylinder. When I add my mana into the obsidian-¡± At her words, the tip of the stylus begins sparking and glowing crimson. ¡°It glows hot enough to engrave metal. As I engrave the metal, powdered crystal will meld into the engraved cracks to form the runic framework. This framework is the most difficult part because even the slightest mistake will cause the rune to fail and then the whole item is no longer functioning and must be re-smelt.¡± The cat sits back on its hindlegs while a foreleg scratches its chin. ¡°That honestly doesn¡¯t seem complicated at all. It sounds like you just need a steady hand, a steady supply of mana, and knowledge of how to form the rune.¡± Emma snorts at Quasi¡¯s ignorance. ¡°It¡¯s not a steady supply of mana. Each rune needs to be engraved in a certain way with a constantly shifting piece of mana. At certain parts of the engraving, more mana may be required to create a deeper groove, or less mana for the opposite effect. This gets exponentially more complicated with additional runes. Every additional rune added to an item increases the difficulty of applying another engraving. The more you apply, the more mana, control, and skill is required. On top of all that is the time component. Once the first rune is produced, the ambient mana in the air will start entering the metal and increasing the difficulty of the entire engraving process.¡± The cat pouts. ¡°Damn, so learning to engrave will take years.¡± ¡°Decades. I started when I was five.¡± ¡°You were making runes since you were five years old?¡± ¡°Started. My first success was when I was eight. It was a simple (Endurance) rune on a frying pan. My dad was so proud.¡± ¡°I didn''t think the statue could show pride.¡± She chuckles. ¡°I grew up in Breston all my life, but my dad tells me that most older Gemma tend to act like him. If you want to see emotions, look at his eyes.¡± ¡°I see¡­ anyways, how long will this entire process take?¡± Emma leans back into her chair. ¡°A day for the design. One- no, two weeks for preparing the metal, smithing it, and forming the gauntlets. Then two days for the engraving. One for each gauntlet. After that, they should be done.¡± ¡°Purrfect. I should be ready to leave by that time.¡± The cat stands back up and then stretches. It hops up towards an elevated rack. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a nap while you work on the designs. Wake me up when you¡¯re done.¡± Emma watches dumbfounded how not a moment since his announcement, Quasi is already fast asleep. She shakes her head and refocuses on her work. ______________________________________________________________________ Just as Myers remembers years ago, Runic Working is at the same place as the last time he visited. It even looks mostly the same, what with the clean white angular stone construction so heavily favored by the Gemma. Just below the sign is the only change to the store. The door, formerly like the walls, is replaced by thick runed marble. Which makes sense. Marble is capable of holding several runes in comparison to regular stone. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. He walks up to the door and easily pushes it open on account of the smooth hinges. As the door opens, the top of it taps a bell which rings of his presence. Not that it is needed, for in front of the counter is Afinov wearing a coat. ¡°Myers.¡± The Gemma quickly discerns the man entering his establishment. ¡°You should not be here?¡± he asks. Myers closes the door behind him and strolls to the counter. ¡°I didn¡¯t have a choice. [Bounty Hunters] have reached my home and I was forced to flee.¡± Afinov squints. ¡°Why here? You know as well as I do that [Bounty Hunters] are numerous here. If even one of them gets a whiff of you, Breston will be swarmed by the guild.¡± ¡°It has been three years. I doubt my bounty is still being hunted.¡± ¡°Your bounty has doubled every year- as has the child¡¯s. So long as the child lives, I imagine it will continue to increase.¡± ¡°Doubled every year? That¡¯s madness!¡± Myers exclaims. ¡°Go to any inn or tavern. Your picture is plastered on the wall alongside enough trist to buy a small kingdom.¡± ¡°What¡¯s happened? Something must have changed since I was gone because this sounds like desperation?¡± Afinov blinks slowly. ¡°These are just rumors, but when you disappeared, Fallentine underwent a purge; [Nobles] and senior leadership lost their lives or were imprisoned.¡± Myers nods slowly. ¡°I already heard of the purges and expected them. What happened after?¡± ¡°The purges never stopped. When they finished with the [Nobles] and upper leadership, they attempted to change the [Order Commanders].¡± Myers grimaces. ¡°The [Knight] orders serve Fallantine second and the crown third. But above all, they serve the leader of their orders. To move against the [Order Commander] is to move against the entirety of the order.¡± ¡°Indeed. The orders fought back, but they were outnumbered by the kingdom''s military. Instead of staying and losing, they took their weapons, armor, ships, and left for Magnis.¡± Myers goes silent as he digests the information. ¡°Dangerous. The Republic of Guilds avoids conflict. I doubt they would protect the orders if Fallantine were to hunt them down.¡± Myers strokes his beard for a moment. ¡°How many of the orders left? Do you know which ones?¡± ¡°I know not the specifics, but there are twelve orders in Magnis.¡± ¡°Twelve!¡± Myers nearly yells. ¡°That''s a tenth of Fallantine¡¯s military and a good half of their expert naval classes.¡± The old man takes a breath. ¡°With them gone, I imagine banditry and piracy to be on the rise in Fallantine controlled islands. Hell, the Corsairs may be bold enough to attack Fallan directly.¡± Afinov notes the pained look on the old man''s expression. Pain from building something up, only for it to drop at a moment''s notice. He knows the feeling well. ¡°I apologize if this information pains you.¡± Myers shakes his head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Please, continue. Is there more?¡± ¡°What you expect is indeed happening. Fallantine is beset by [Pirates]- but that is less of an issue in comparison to the rapidly deteriorating relations with Lapis.¡± Afinov explains with nary a movement of his body. But Myers has dealt with many Gemma before, and if you want to tell their thoughts, you gaze into their eyes. ¡°War. That idiot wants war!¡± Myers exclaims loudly. ¡°He was never happy about the peace treaty. He wants a reason to break it.¡± ¡°So does Lapis,¡± Afinov adds. ¡°The republic has a large ego and is more than happy to get into another war against a kingdom with a heavily weakened military. Especially one missing their [Royal Admiral].¡± Myers balls his fists in growing frustration. ¡°I¡¯ll need to look into this more. I-I need more information.¡± ¡°Be careful who you ask.¡± ¡°I know, and I will.¡± Afinov grunts ever so softly as he glances behind him. ¡°Now, did you come only for information, or is there another reason?¡± Myers'' spine straightens as he remembers why he came. ¡°Yes. Currently, I am traveling with a [Captain] by the name of Quasi Eludo.¡± Afinov blinks rapidly. ¡°The cat?¡± Myers nods slowly. ¡°Yes. That¡¯s him. I heard he was here.I need to ask him where the Ballistae and Cannons he got are located.¡± ¡°He¡¯s probably talking about the destroyer, Seden¡¯s Orbit. When I woke up from my wound, my daughter told me he convinced [Lord] Richard to give him everything but the ship.¡± Myers frowns. ¡°Wound? Did you get an injury?¡± Afinov unclasps his coat to reveal his bandaged chest. ¡°How did you get such a wound?¡± Afinov glances at the entrance to the store and the lack of customers so far. ¡°It is an exciting story. If you have time, I would like to tell you about it over tea.¡± Afinov extends an arm and points a finger behind him. Myers strokes his beard again as a smile crosses his face. It has been awhile since he¡¯d had something other than water and alcohol. ¡°I could use some tea and some sane company.¡± Afinov turns around and starts walking to the kitchen with Myers following behind. IC God Games - Chapter 40: Loot Everything ¡°The designs are functional,¡± Emma¡¯s father exclaims. His hand grips the sides of the paper so as not to crinkle his daughter''s carefully crafted blueprints. ¡°They could even fit some wolven hands.¡± He continues staring at it. ¡°The slits at the tips are a nice addition.¡± ¡°I figured he might want to be able to extend his claws in a fight.¡± Her father looks at the blueprints several more times and checks the numbers. Then he blinks once. ¡°Have you chosen your metal?¡± She quickly nods. She grabs a metal bar and hands it to her father. ¡°Titanium? This is not a simple metal to work with and does not hold enchantments well.¡± Emma sighs inside. Titanium is expensive and she was worried her father would be against it. ¡°I know, but mixing a secondary core will make the process easier. Speaking of which, how did you get a green core? Are you sure I should be using it? It can sell for a lot.¡± ¡°It was payment for services rendered three years ago. I kept it instead of selling it for this very reason. As for core mixing, not all metal will be greatly improved when a core is added. I recommend creating an alloy with seven percent mithril and two percent gold.¡± Emma frowns. ¡°That would weaken the metal and make the gauntlets heavier.¡± ¡°Slightly heavier and weaker. But, the mithril mixes well with core powder in the presence of gold as a catalyst.¡± Emma looks at the bar of titanium for a long moment. ¡°Does this mean I can tap into our mithril and gold reserves?¡± ¡°You can tap into our diamond reserves so long as you level.¡± She chuckles and looks away from her fathers proud and caring gaze. Even if she were to fail, he would still be happy with the attempt. ¡°Then it¡¯s decided. I¡¯ll make the alloy as you advise. For the core, do you have any advice or do I powder it as much as possible?¡± ¡°A freshly ground core is more potent than one sitting in a vial for days. Grind it as fast and as much as possible and then mix it into the metal.¡± ¡°All of it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She takes a glance at the runed clock on the wall. An expensive item, but a required one for when working with runes. The clock says its already night. ¡°Then I best go to sleep and start smithing in the morning.¡± She gets up and pauses. ¡°Have you seen Quasi? I don''t remember seeing him leave.¡± ¡°He mentioned something about spilled milk and vengeance.¡± _________________________________________________________ In a building in the lower areas of Breston, a meeting is taking place. The meeting is of three individuals. Three of the most influential breakers within the organization. They sit within the topmost room lit by firelight. They eye each other, wary of the shifts in leadership and the strain of their organization. They used to be five, but now are down to three. ¡°Are you sure Calvaran wasn¡¯t killed by the [Lord]? I mean, the rumors of a talking cat ending him seem asinine,¡± one of the Breakers points out. The Breaker is skinny, tall, and carries a pair of cutlasses at his hip as though he¡¯s a [Duelist]. ¡°He¡¯s right, Biron. These rumors are probably a coverup for the [Lord] to get rid of Calvaran,¡± another Breaker says. Unlike the first, this breaker has a staff resting at his side that depicts him as a probably [mage]. ¡°I¡¯m just telling you what I heard from the [Guard],¡± Biron counters. ¡°One of them would squeal the truth, but all are mentioning a talking cat.¡± ¡°Do you mean one of the Wolven? I wouldn¡¯t call them cats- more like dogs or wolves,¡± the [Mage] adds. The [Duelist] sighs. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who or fucking what killed Calvaran. The Buxon¡¯s dead and we¡¯re losing members by the dozens.¡± ¡°We can disband the breakers and join one of the other gangs,¡± the [Mage] says. ¡°Those other gangs are shit. They¡¯ve no organization or numbers. I say we plug the bleeding hole, downsize a little, and then slowly expand. We still got the numbers, levels, and equipment to keep the other gangs from approaching our territory,¡± Biron explains. ¡°You¡¯ve thought this through pretty well.¡± The [Duelist] comments. Biron leans back into his chair. ¡°I may not have as many levels as you.¡± He points at the [Duelist]. ¡°Or the ability to use magic.¡± He points at the [Mage]. ¡°But I¡¯ve got experience leading gangs. I know how they work, how they think, what to do and what not to do.¡± He grins at the two with a confidence born from experience. That confidence is quickly met with frustration as the door to their meeting creaks open. He turns and glares towards the sound. ¡°I told you fucks to stay out! We¡¯re having a mee-¡± Birons tirade stops as all eyes are on a fluffy kitten standing at the entrance. The cat looks at the three. Then it walks towards them and hops up on the table. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. ¡°Biron, in regards to the What not to do, I found you¡¯ve made a very grave decision.¡± The cat explains cooly. It gazes at the three as it continues. ¡°That decision involves a certain tavern wherein a certain cat was consuming a certain substance that I like to call liquid ambrosia. It''s a nice, creamy thick liquid brimming with sugar and fat. Truly amazing.¡± The cat stretches while the audience is still flabbergasted. ¡°But, during my foray into the creamy goodness, a certain man by the name of Biron barges into the tavern, walks up to my table, and then does the unthinkable.¡± The cat grins, showing its teeth. ¡°He spilled my drink. Right in front of both me and my servants. He just goes and spills it.¡± The cat''s fur seems to puff out as it zeroes in on Biron. ¡°MY MILK WAS SPILLED!¡± the cat yells. Then the cat quickly calms. ¡°As you may understand, I take such an insult as an act of war. And a war- for those of you who have been in one, is something that ends when one side accepts the other''s surrender.¡± The cat leans back to sit down with a smile on its face. ¡°I¡¯ve yet to even deign the idea of such a thing. After all, milk was spilt in such an audacious way that there can be no other option but slaughter.¡± The cat raises and points a paw at the silent three. ¡°So, you leaders of this rapidly deteriorating organization will ne-¡± ¡°Quasi!¡± A yell interrupts the cat. The cat turns towards the entrance as two men reach the doorway. ¡°What? I¡¯m busy doing my spiel,¡± The cat exclaims. The two men stare through the doorway to see Quasi on a table and three very confused men. One of which is Biron. ¡°Oh, uh. We¡¯re done looting all the bodies.¡± The cat raises an eyebrow. ¡°Already? Damn you guys are fast. Um, alright, well, do another search of the building and grab whatever you think will sell for a lot. Also, close the door.¡± The two nod and close the door shut, leaving the room rather silent except for the crackling fire from the chandelier and the now nervous expression of those present. ¡°Now, where was I? Ahh, yes. So, your organization is deteriorating very quickly. Fast enough that it will cease to exist unless changes are implemented. Changes that you three are perfectly in position to implement. Unfortunately we are at war and I refuse to even consider the idea of accepting your surrender. Still, as a magnanimous individual of my species, I will allow you three to rectify the situation yourselves instead of me doing it for you.¡± The three share a look with one another. A look of fear, for the rumors are most probably true. If this cat killed Calvaran, who can single handedly kill all three of them with ease- then they have no hope of surviving. ¡°So, you want us to disband the breakers?¡± Biron asks. The cat chuckles. ¡°Heavens no. Absolutely not. Disbanding the breakers are the terms of surrender- which I don¡¯t accept.¡± ¡°No,¡± the cat growls hungrily. ¡°I¡¯m offering you three the option to end your own pathetic lives.¡± _________________________________________________________________ ¡°[Lord] Richard!¡± Devold barges into Richard''s private office. ¡°Theres been a prob-.¡± Devold immediately stops at the sight of the [Lord] of Breston sleeping on his desk. ¡°My [Lord]?¡± he asks warily, but the man is asleep. Hesitantly, he walks to the desk. Just as he¡¯s about to put his hand on the man to wake him up, Richard''s body is a blur. Within the blink of an eye, Richard¡¯s cutlass is unsheathed and pointing at Devold¡¯s neck. Devold freezes in fear from the cold metal. Richard blinks rapidly. A piece of paper covered in drool drops from the side of his cheek. Eventually, the [Lord''s] mind catches up to his reaction. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sleeping.¡± He says forcefully. ¡°I was just resting my head.¡± Devold swallows and gives a small nod. Richard removes the cutlass from Devolds neck and sheathes back into his scabbard. ¡°Now, what are you doing here?¡± Richard asks cooly. Devold relaxes. ¡°You know how you asked me to keep an eye on the breakers. In case they do something dangerous or stupid? Well, it seems that their remaining leadership was killed somewhere in the lower district. With them dead, the breakers are completely dissolved.¡± Richard grins. ¡°So, a rival gang got to them? Good, they¡¯ve been a thorn in my side for far too long.¡± Devold grimaces. ¡°That¡¯s the thing. The building they were headquartered at was slaughtered not by blade, but by some monster. The bodies are mangled or ripped apart by what seems like teeth and claws. The worst of it were the leaders. They looked to have been slowly ripped apart with their blood splattered throughout the room.¡± Richards'' grin quickly subsides into a grimace. ¡°You said there were bite marks?¡± The [Spy] nods. ¡°Calvaran¡¯s throat was ripped out by something with teeth. Also, the place of his death had several claw grooves in the wood.¡± ¡°You think it was the cat?¡± Richards nods slowly. ¡°It¡¯s the most reasonable conclusion.¡± ¡°And the motive?¡± Devold asks. Richard shrugs. ¡°Honestly, I''m not sure. The breakers leader was killed by him, so it would be reasonable they might want vengeance¡­ or it could be revenge. Quasi¡¯s crew was attacked by the breakers, so maybe he wants to finish the job.¡± ¡°Should we do something about it?¡± The [Lord] waves his hand. ¡°Nah, just ignore it. Report it as gang violence or something. So long as the killings don''t continue, it should be fine.¡± Devold raises an eyebrow. ¡°For someone who follows the law, you¡¯re being pretty lax.¡± The [Lord] grins. ¡°If you can find me proof that a kitten killed an entire gang. I¡¯ll be more than happy to follow the law and arrest them. But, I¡¯m guessing there is no proof and the killings were done in the dead of night. Correct?¡± Devold nods slowly. ¡°Then there''s nothing the law can do. Is there anything else you¡¯ve to report?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve a report my [Lord].¡± [Head Guard] Merican strides into the office. She stops and hands the [Lord] a paper. ¡°Mistress Janice wishes you to read that. She is most displeased.¡± Richard leans into his chair and quickly skims the paper. ¡°This is the price evaluation for Seden¡¯s Orbit¡­ why is it so low?¡± ¡°Mistress Janice says that the ship was stripped bare of everything. All the cannons, the ballistae, the furniture, crystal from the internal runes, and even much of the ship''s reinforced armor.¡± ¡°Fuck,¡± Richard curses. He rubs his temple. ¡°Fuck me.¡± _____________________________________________________________________ IC God Games - Chapter 41: Red Like the great leaders of his home, Afinov stands still as an unyielding sentinel. Below him is his daughter. A girl- no, a woman now. She hunches over a gauntlet with a stylus working in hand. He can see her focus and the struggles of her body to withstand the rapid depletions of her mana reserves. A task normally easier for his kin, but not when they are so young. Even so, she continues to struggle, and struggle she does. The first three runes went without problem, but the fourth and fifth took far more effort and mana. If she¡¯d stopped at five runes, she would have her level. But, like his wife, she strives to beat perceptions. The sixth rune is where advanced classes strive to master. It is the initial realm of exceptional quality equipment. A realm only the very best are capable of surpassing. Nearing the end of the sixth rune, he notices her body shaking. As mana depletes, so does the ability to manifest and control it. With age, control, efficiency, and even supply will improve. Even so, she is almost done. She is at the final stage, and a single mistake will end in complete failure. When gemma are runeing, complete silence is expected so as to remove distraction. It is expected that those present are to be watching sentinels. Emotionless work is thought to create the best and most numerous runes. It is what the great forge teaches and is what is commonly expected. But, during Afinov¡¯s pirating days with his wife, what he¡¯d found was that the best work he¡¯d ever done was in passion. He remembers the warmth of the ship''s forge, the creaking of the hull, the loud rambunctious noise of the crew, and the love of his wife''s presence beside him. Going against all his training, Afinov raises his hand and places it upon his daughter. ¡°Do not relent. Focus. Persevere!¡± he encourages. And like that, her struggles halt. The trembling of her body stops. With renewed focus, his daughter continues the final rune. Her strokes become better, smoother, just as her grip is firmer. Without realizing it, the skin on his lips and cheek crack. Her hand glides the last bit of the rune. As soon as the rune is complete, her arm gives way. The stylus drops on the floor as would her body had he not held her in place. ¡°I,¡± she takes a trembling breath, ¡°Did it.¡± With struggle, his daughter looks up at him with a relieved smile. Her eyes then close and she falls into dreamland. Kneeling down, he picks up his unconscious daughter and carries her to her room. He carefully places her on her bed and then returns to the workshop. He looks at the item.
Name Wolven Gauntlet Of Fisticuffs.
Rarity Exceptional - 6 Runes.
  • 3(1-Durability)
  • 1(1- Pierce Resist)
  • 1(1-Crush Resist)
  • 1(1- lightweight)
Description This armor is +60% more durable, +50% resilient to piercing, +50% resilient to crushing, +40% lighter.
Sustain 0.06% Mana Regen per Minute.
The gauntlets are thicker than normal, with the metal extending a bit farther than where the elbows end. With the primary titanium construction, lightweight rune, and a high strength of the wielder should make the metal adequately usable. The three durability runes alongside pierce and crush resist should allow the armor to easily withstand even epic level equipment. Now, all of the runes are simple. They aren''t necessarily complicated, nor do they take much skill to produce. But, six runes before becoming an advanced class is something only the most gifted would be capable of producing. ¡°Enjoy your level,¡± he whispers warmly. He grabs the gauntlets and places them on another table. Then he takes the second gauntlet and places it on the worktable. He then prepares for the next day. He hopes it will be easier once she has her new class and skill. _________________________________________________________________ Though you can''t tell, Cillian used to box when he was younger¡­ and less plump. He wasn¡¯t the best or anything, but it was a sport he enjoyed. That was until he took too many hits to the head which caused a brain hemorrhage. He¡¯d died in a hospital bed for a good minute before getting revived. Somehow, he left without any permanent mental or physical injury. Regardless, he quit boxing and started a career in business after the scare. He vowed to never box again. But, that doesn¡¯t stop him from watching. Quasi in his Fenrimorph form is airboxing like a professional in the workshop. Jabs, crosses, lead hooks, rear hooks, lead uppercuts, rear uppercuts. All of which he does with perfect form alongside the weight of elbow length metal gauntlets that cover the scars on his arms. He swerves left, right, ducks forward, uppercut, jab. Somehow, even though the digitigrade legs are different from the humans, they seem to transfer more force into the punches. After five minutes, Quasi finally stops airboxing. He walks to Cillian, removes the gauntlets, and gives them to the Scot. Then, in a puff of smoke, he turns into a cat. ¡°Emma, the gauntlets are amazing! They¡¯re weighty, but not too much. They also feel durable as hell. I love it.¡± Emma grins widely. ¡°I¡¯m happy you like them. It¡¯s my first piece of exceptional equipment.¡± You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Quasi hops up on a nearby table. ¡°Well, it feels exceptional. Speaking of which, did you get that level you wanted?¡± She nods. ¡°Yes. I am now a level twenty seven [Runesmith].¡± ¡°You gained three levels?¡± ¡°I got a level from the first gauntlet and two from the second.¡± Quasi blinks. ¡°Oh. Right. Well, good on you. Thanks for the gauntlet.¡± The cat looks at Cillian. ¡°Even so, you¡¯ve spent like half a month working on the gauntlets without pay. So,¡± Quasi waves a paw. Cillian places the gauntlets on a nearby table. He reaches into a bag on his side. The bag jingles with the sound of metal. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how much it costs to make runes equipment, so I hope this would be an acceptable payment.¡± ¡°Better be.¡± Cillian grumbles as he hands her a bag. Emma, surprised and curious, accepts the bag. She opens it to find two dozen Kilo-trists. ¡°This is too much!¡± ¡°Told you,¡± Cillian adds. ¡°Hush, you cheap Scot. It¡¯s not like the trist is coming from your investments.¡± ¡°I¡¯m supposed to be in charge of the money,¡± he whines. ¡°Which you mostly are, but not all of it.¡± Quasi rolls his eyes. ¡°Seriously. You should be happy with the income from selling the weapons, armor, and the Imminent Huntress. You should have plenty of income to buy whatever trading good you want.¡± Cillian sighs. ¡°I would if we didn¡¯t need to restructure the Timbergrove. That was surprisingly expensive.¡± Quasi blinks. ¡°Restructure? The ship¡¯s restructured?¡± The Scot frowns. ¡°When was the last time you went inside the Timbergrove?¡± ¡°Ughh, like, two weeks ago? Look, I¡¯ve been busy hunting down the breakers and stealing their stuff.¡± Emma jingles the bag in her hand. ¡°Is this stolen?¡± she asks. ¡°No,¡± Quasi answers. ¡°It¡¯s not stolen. It was just left behind by the deceased- actually. Don¡¯t distract me. Cillian, what the fuck happened to my ship?¡± Cillian shakes his head. ¡°That other ship, the Sedens Orbit I think its name was. Well, the ship''s cannons are too long and wide to fit the Timbergrove. So Irmgard paid to have the gunports expanded. She also paid to install the ballista on the ship. But the most expensive part is she completely redesigned much of the ship''s internals. The damn woman spent more than half of our profits!¡± ¡°Ok¡­ I¡¯m fine with the cannons and the ballista. Ballista are cool. But why change the internals?¡± ¡°It was Myers'' idea.¡± Quasi quickly relaxes. ¡°Oh, well, if it''s him then it is probably fine.¡± ¡°It was expensive!¡± Quasi waves a paw. ¡°It¡¯s fine. We¡¯ll make due. Emma, thanks for the hard work. These gauntlets will really help me compete.¡± Quasi hops off the table. ¡°Cillian, grab the gauntlets and let''s head to the ship. I¡¯m kinda curious about the changes.¡± ¡°When will you be leaving?¡± Emma quickly asks. The cat pauses. He looks back. ¡°Probably in a week or two.¡± ¡°Where?¡± Quasi shrugs. ¡°Everywhere.¡± ¡°Will you be heading near Lapis?¡± ¡°The Gemma capital? Probably. Why the questions?¡± She pauses for a moment before answering. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ll tell you later.¡± ¡°Then you¡¯ve got maybe a week. I¡¯ll be on my ship in the meantime.¡± With a final farewell, she watches Quasi leave upon his mount. ________________________________________________________________ ¡°It¡¯s red!¡± Is the first thing out of my mouth when my eyes fall upon the timbergrove. The majestic vessel of before is less so now. From the sides, five long-range cannons stick out like spider¡¯s limbs. On the deck, a ballista is installed near the bow. It is a large weapon of wood and metal that nearly obstructs the rigging. Nearly impractical of a weapon, but there''s something about having the bigger guns. On the side of the ship, metal plates are strategically placed so as to give protection while not obstructing the ship''s ability to maneuver horizontally or vertically. All that weight may be a problem. ¡°The damn paint was far too expensive.¡± Cillian grumbles. ¡°Any other color would have cost only a fraction.¡± ¡°So why¡¯d they settle for red? Not that I¡¯m complaining too much. Red¡¯s a nice color for the ship.¡± Cillian shrugs and continues towards the ship. ¡°Apparently the paint has a special property to improve mana absorption. Myers said it should make the ship faster.¡± I blink. A grin rises on my lips. ¡°Are you telling me that painting the ship red makes it go faster?¡± Cillian glances at me on his shoulder. ¡°Myers says so. Why are you smiling so hard? It¡¯s kind of creepy.¡± I pat Cillians head. ¡°It is fine my uncultured Scottish servant. You will understand in time. For now, walk faster.¡± _______________________________________________________________ Emma enters the workshop and finds her father grinding down a ruby so as to use the powder for runeing. Next to him are several vials filled with the powder of various other crystals. A large number, far more than they usually keep on hand. ¡°Dad, I want to talk to you about something. Is this a good time?¡± She asks. His head turns to her and her eyes meet his. What she finds is sadness and determination. ¡°You wish to leave.¡± ¡°How did you-¡± ¡°Your mother did the same when she was your age. She left her home, her friend, her family. All for freedom and adventure. I can already tell you are the same.¡± ¡°I want to level. I want to see my mother. I plan on asking Quasi to join his crew.¡± ¡°He already said yes.¡± Emma pauses in surprise. ¡°He did? When?¡± Her father continues grinding. ¡°Before Quasi left with the short human, he told me that if you want, he would allow you to join his crew.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re not against this?¡± She asks, surprised. ¡°I am saddened, but a flame must breathe to grow stronger. You will level faster aboard his ship.¡± He stops grinding and pours the dust into one last vial. Then he points in the corner of the room where several large containers are stacked. ¡°I put your mother¡¯s equipment including materials you may need to continue leveling.¡± He grabs the vials of dust, puts them in a bag, and then carries the bag to the container. ¡°Grab whatever you wish to bring with you from your room. I recommend spare clothes. Few ships have a way to wash oneself.¡± He places the bag down. ¡°When you are ready, bring the cart from the back to the front. We¡¯ll load everything up and head to the pier.¡± ¡°I¡­ Thank you, dad.¡± ¡°Do not waste time. Go. I do not not know how long the cat will wait.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± she rushes out of the workshop. IC god Games - Chapter 42: Book One end. When Cillian steps aboard the ship, I feel my senses strengthen. I feel stronger, smarter, and a tad bit more flexible. This must be the [Captains Authority] passive. I didn¡¯t notice it before, but now that I¡¯m level seven, it¡¯s a noticeable boost. The first thing I notice is that the deck of the ship seems quite a bit smaller on account of the ballistate taking up so much space. The next thing I notice are a bunch of bolts with differing runes on them. I raise a paw towards the metal rods. ¡°Is that runed ammunition?¡± I ask Cillian. ¡°Myers says it is. No idea what they do, though.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll need to figure that out before we leave.¡± As we approach the entrance to the ship''s hold, Myers walks out with a ledger in hand and a smile on his face. Then he notices me and his smile weakens somewhat to neutral, though there is an inkling of a grin still present. ¡°Quasi, you¡¯ve finally returned.¡± ¡°I have. I had to deal with a little war, but now it''s done and my gauntlets are complete.¡± Cillian raises the equipment in his arms. The old man raises an eyebrow. ¡°Six runes. That''s exceptional quality. Not bad, not bad at all. They should hold you until you become an expert.¡± ¡°That''s level fifty if I remember. Do experts have better equipment than exceptional?¡± Myers clears his throat. ¡°Exceptional has two categories. Low and high. Low is six or seven runes which is the most common. High is nine or ten. Expert classes wear several pieces of exceptional equipment and rarely might have a piece or two of epic equipment. If they do, it is usually in the form of a weapon.¡± As Myers says that, his hand rubs against the handle of his cane, which just so happens to have a sword hidden within. ¡°Right. As interesting as this is, I heard there were a bunch of changes on the ship because of your urging.¡± At my words, Myers struggles not to grin. ¡°Required modifications. Installing Buxon-make destroyer cannons on a frigate isn¡¯t possible without heavy modifications. Same with the ballistate. I¡¯d say the Timbergrove is arguably the most dangerous frigate in terms of firepower in this part of the world.¡± ¡°This part of the world.¡± I repeat. His mirth weakens somewhat. ¡°Yes. There are heavily runed light-frigates owned by [Nobles] that are superior, albeit at several dozen times the price.¡± ¡°Like that Leonidas guy.¡± Myers rubs his beard. ¡°Yes and no. Leonidas ship is a light-frigate, but it is a ship built for speed and maneuverability. The legendary weapon rip-terror is what gives him the ability to take down far larger targets at ranges that cannons struggle to hit.¡± ¡°Fluffy.¡± Out from the ship''s hold runs Clay with a gleeful grin. The child rushes up to us and quickly halts with arms spread forward. Seeing what the kid wants, I hop off of Cillian¡¯s shoulder and land in the child''s arms. ¡°You¡¯re so fluffy now.¡± The child rubs his cheek in my fur. ¡°Yes, with my new level, I am now far fluffier. My fluffiness is at a level that few mortals will ever have felt. So be proud Clay, for this experience is wholly unique.¡± ¡°I missed you. Grandpa doesn¡¯t let me leave the ship anymore. He doesn¡¯t even let me talk to Boriss.¡± Myers crosses his arms. ¡°I found out what happened.¡± ¡°Not my fault!¡± I say. ¡°It¡¯s the crazy Russians idea. I¡¯d never needlessly put a child¡¯s life in danger. Speaking of which, where''s Boriss?¡± ¡°Buying food with Irmgard.¡± Cillian interrupts. ¡°When that Daveed kid gave me the sack of Tris and told me to pick up the gauntlets, Irmgard figured we¡¯re about to set sail, so she went out to buy fresh food. Speaking of which-¡± Cillian stares at the gauntlets. ¡°I forgot to ask but why¡¯d you call me to pick these up? Couldn¡¯t you have made Daveed do it?¡± ¡°I could, but you¡¯re my [Quartermaster]. The more tris you change hands with, the faster you¡¯ll level. At least that''s what Janice explained to me.¡± The Scot slowly nods. ¡°That makes sense. I leveled several times in the last two weeks- all of which right after I gained or spent a lot of coin.¡± ¡°Early levels in [Quartermaster] are easily gained through excessive transfers of tris. It will become slower and more difficult at advanced levels,¡± Myers adds. ¡°We still have a long way to go before leveling becomes difficult.¡± I look at Myers. ¡°I heard we also did a bit of construction on the inside of the ship?¡± That muted giddy smile resurfaces on the old man''s face. ¡°Yes. Since we were doing external construction, I recommended internal changes as well. Allow me to show you.¡± Myers starts walking into the hold and my current mount follows right behind. Entering the ship, I immediately notice that the wooden walls are clean and repaired. I also notice that the decaying furniture is replaced with new ones. Myers clears his throat and begins talking when we enter the smaller mess hall. ¡°The number of jobs a [Captain] is able to offer his crew is based on the [Captains] level and the size of the ship. What jobs he can offer is based on the internals of the ship.¡± He raises a hand and points at one of the doors. ¡°This room has a desk, bed, and an armory. Having all three unlocks the [Security Chief] job.¡± He points towards the redesigned kitchen. ¡°The kitchen is smaller but the pantry was expanded to house a desk and bed. That unlocks the [Head Chef] job. One floor below we have a small sickbay and a room connected to it with a bed and desk. That unlocks the [Chief Physician] job.¡± ¡°Really? You designate a space, put a room with a desk and bed, and that¡¯s all it takes to unlock the job?¡± I ask. ¡°Yes and no. The armory will need to have weapons and armor. The pantry and kitchen needs to be stocked, and the sickbay needs to have medicine and surgical equipment.¡± I nod slowly. ¡°What other jobs have you unlocked?¡± ¡°[Chief Carpenter], [Artillery Chief], and a space left for a job of your choice.¡± ¡°When I next sleep, these jobs will be available to me, right?¡± ¡°They should. They¡¯re superior to the base jobs, though require more space on a ship to become available. Since the Timbergrove is a cored ship that requires less crew, then the space for crew can be sacrificed for superior job quality.¡± Cillian crosses his arms. ¡°We could have a larger hold for trade instead of all these extra jobs.¡± Myers sighs as though he¡¯d had this conversation several times before. ¡°The Timbergrove is in a prime position to transport expensive products instead of cheaper bulk.¡± ¡°Cheaper bulk is easier to sell off than expensive shite.¡± Cillian counters. ¡°Finding buyers for expensive ass weapons and armor takes too long. If not for Quasi finding a buyer, I¡¯d still be struggling to sell it for profit.¡± ¡°Profit?¡± I interrupt. ¡°What do you mean profit? We got the weapons and armor for free.¡± Cillian waves his arm. ¡°I meant above market price. I¡¯m not going to sell brand new, unused weapons and armor for the price I could buy on the market. I¡¯m going to sell it for more and profit from that.¡± ¡°My god you are greedy,¡± I tell him. Cillian walks into the kitchen. He opens a cupboard to reveal bottles and bottles of alcohol. He takes a bottle. ¡°I worked with some of the worst society has to offer. You learn to bleed them dry or they¡¯ll do the same to you.¡± He pops the cork and takes a large swig. He grimaces. ¡°Cheap shite.¡± He takes another swig. ¡°Last time I let¡¯er buy the drinks.¡± Seeing that Cillian wants to be left alone with his drink, I return my attention back to Myers. ¡°So, you said there¡¯s space for another job, right?¡± Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Correct. The [Captains] quarters were made smaller. The extra space was allocated into a room for whatever major job you wish to create.¡± A sense of dismay falls over me at the thought of a smaller room for myself, but I suppress those feelings with cold hard logic. As a cat, I really don''t need that much space. ¡°There''s a good chance I¡¯ll be obtaining a [Runesmith] soon. Is there a job for someone with such a skillset?¡± Myers squints. ¡°[Runesmith]?¡± Then he realizes. ¡°Afinov¡¯s daughter?¡± ¡°Yup, I think she wants to join and I don¡¯t mind. I¡¯m expecting her to show up either tonight or sometime tomorrow.¡± The old man starts stroking his beard. ¡°That¡¯s a bit more complicated. Gemma ships have entire forges installed within their hold to unlock the [Forgemaster] job.¡± ¡°So we need to install a forge. Is that even possible?¡± Myers shakes his head. ¡°Not for any ship made completely of wood. I believe the best option available is to have her as [Chief Carpenter]. She¡¯ll level decently if you have her add runes to the ship.¡± ¡°I was already planning on having her do that- starting with some pantry cooling runes. Speaking of which.¡± I look at Cillian and find the Scot reaching for another bottle. He freezes as we make eye contact. ¡°Whaaat. It¡¯s cheap.¡± He grabs another bottle, pops the cork, and takes a chug.¡± I snort. ¡°I can see why she bought cheap drinks. Speaking of her, do you know when she will return?¡± ¡°Be¡¯fore naight.¡± he slurs. ¡°Damn. I¡¯ll have to have her buy milk tomorrow. I guess I¡¯ll wait. Clay, mind showing me around the ship?¡± ¡°Okay!¡± the child yells before whisking me out of the kitchen. _________________________________________________________________ Early in the morning, Afinov and his daughter set out from their home with a cart packed with supplies. Using his strength, he pulls the cart down the streets of Breston at a pace that most would struggle to keep up with. But for Gemma, their race is graced with stamina. Pulling the cart all the way to the docks is constant and efficient. During the walk, both he and his daughter bask in complete silence. They have already planned and talked all of yesterday. More words would only get in the way. When they arrive at the Timbergrove, two men are waiting near the ship. When they lock eyes on them, they rush to the cart. ¡°What are you guys doing here?¡± Emma asks in surprise. ¡°Us? Quasi is paying us to haul freight,¡± Carrion explains. He points at the cart. ¡°What are you doing here with all this?¡± ¡°I¡¯m joining Quasi¡¯s crew.¡± Carrion frowns. ¡°You accepted? Without telling me?¡± ¡°It was last minute.¡± Emma flushes. ¡°I spent all night preparing. I figured I¡¯d have time to tell you once everything is unloaded. What do you mean I accepted?¡± Carrion scratches the side of his head. ¡°Quasi asked me and my brother if we want to join his crew. We declined.¡± ¡°I declined,¡± Daveed adds. ¡°You only declined because I did.¡± ¡°You¡¯re my little brother. I¡¯m not going to just leave you alone at Breston.¡± Emma raises an eyebrow. ¡°You wanted to join Quasi too?¡± Carrion grins. ¡°He pays very well and is strong.¡± ¡°And crazy.¡± Daveed says. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t call that crazy. More bloodthirsty than anything else.¡± Daveed practically goes cross-eyed. ¡°He slaughtered an entire building and then made us loot all the corpses.¡± ¡°We got a good cut out of it.¡± Carrian shrugs. ¡°I don¡¯t care. I¡¯m done with violence. If you want to join his crew, go ahead. I¡¯ll be fine alone.¡± The older brother folds his arms. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving you on your own. Not again.¡± Afinov parks the cart next to the ship. Then he looks at the three. ¡°Boys,¡± he points at the boxes on the cart. ¡°Unload. Emma, follow.¡± He starts walking up the plank to the ship. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to you both later.¡± She rushes after her father and they move to the deck. Just as they arrive, they find Boriss covered doing pushups with a cat sitting on him. When they arrive, Boriss stops doing pushups. ¡°I didn¡¯t say stop,¡± The cat warns. Boriss continues. Both Gemma look at Boriss. The man is covered in sweat with bags under his eyes. Every pushup is a struggle with arms constantly shaking. ¡°Is he alright?¡± Emma asks. ¡°He¡¯s being punished for putting a child''s life in danger.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re making him work out? Is that even punishment?¡± ¡°We started yesterday before night. He¡¯s yet to stop.¡± ¡°That is effective punishment.¡± Afinov exclaims. ¡°He will remember this pain if the situation arrives again.¡± ¡°That still seems extreme.¡± Emma says. ¡°Your mother cut fingers off as punishment. This is very humane in comparison.¡± ¡°Boriss isn¡¯t evil, he¡¯s just an idiot with messed up morals. Anyway, I¡¯m guessing you accepted joining my crew?¡± ¡°I have.¡± ¡°Perfect. I¡¯m making you [Chief Carpenter] until I can find a way to install a forge on this ship, or get a ship with a forge.¡± ¡°This ship cannot withstand a forge,¡± Afinov says. ¡°Yea, Myers says the same thing. I kind of want to prove him wrong, but whatever. That¡¯s in the future. Afinov, I believe you have the fatherly spiel you need to give me in front of your daughter. Don¡¯t forget the threats.¡± Emma looks at her father. Her father steps forward. ¡°I am leaving my daughter in your care. Use her, protect her, help her level. If anything happens to her, I recommend you are also dead, otherwise I will use everything in my power to make sure you are.¡± ¡°Short and sweet. That''s perfect. Emma, anything to say to your dad?¡± ¡°Um,¡± she looks up to him. Her father stares down at her with pride and sadness. She can also see a hint of regret, but that is overshadowed with determination. She steps forward, spreads her arms, and gives him a hug. ¡°I¡¯ll level. I¡¯ll live. I¡¯ll find mom. Then we¡¯ll meet again as a family.¡± For the first time in her life, her father raises his arms and wraps them comfortably around her. Quasi¡¯s ears twitch at the sound of stone grinding on stone. ¡°I will diligently wait for that,¡± He says. After several more seconds, the two step away. Afinov looks to Quasi again. ¡°I will now take my leave. Have the two boys bring my cart back when they are done.¡± He turns and starts walking away. As he does, a tear falls down his cheek. A tear hidden from his daughter as she watches her father disappear down the plank and into the streets of Breston. Even after he left, silence stretches for a good minute until Quasi breaks it with a yawn. ¡°Well, the rest of my crew should now be awake. Time for introductions.¡± Quasi stands up on his hindlegs with front paws spread. ¡°You may carry your fluffy captain into the hold.¡± Emma snorts. She picks Quasi up in a cradle position. ¡°Boriss, your punishment is complete.¡± Boriss¡¯s muscles give way and he falls face-first onto the deck. After a few seconds, his breathing slows as the Russian goes to sleep. ¡°Is he alright?¡± ¡°He¡¯ll be fine when he wakes up. Cmon, let''s go inside.¡± Entering the ship''s hold, they are quickly beset by the smell of roasted meat. Both Gemma and cat follow the smell until they arrive at the packed kitchen. Wearing a flowery apron, Irmgard sets the food on the table with the grace of a housewife. Around the table is the rest of the crew, all eagerly awaiting to eat. Except for Cillian. The mans already sipping on a glass of what is probably some kind of alcohol. ¡°Good morning,¡± Quasi calls out. He taps a paw on the side of his mount''s head. ¡°This is Emma. She¡¯s our new crewmember. Emma, this is our misfit crew.¡± Irmgard points a ladle at an empty chair. ¡°Sit and eat¡± She says. Emma looks at me. ¡°You heard her. Go sit.¡± ¡°I already ate.¡± ¡°Then you can feed me. Go, sit.¡± Emma does as told and takes a seat. Quasi hops out of her arms and takes a seat on the table. ¡°Alright. It¡¯s introduction time. Our current [Cook] in all but job is Irmgard. She¡¯s my [First Mate] and second in command. The short plump guy is our resident alcoholic who just so happens to be my [Quartermaster]. The old fossil guy with the beard is Myers and the grandson next to him is Clay. Neither has a job, but Myers functions as both [Navigator] and [Helmsman].¡± ¡°Lastly, you¡¯ve already met Boriss. He¡¯s my [Security Chief].¡± ¡°Will he join us for breakfast?¡± Irgmard asks. ¡°Probably not. He¡¯s sleeping right now. Though I bet he will be ravenous when he awakens.¡± Emma lowers her head. ¡°It is nice to meet you all. I am Emma, and I¡¯m a [Runesmith]. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.¡± Irmgard removes her apron and takes a seat at the table. ¡°Emma, can you fight?¡± ¡°N-no. But I want to learn.¡± ¡°Then I will train you,¡± Irmgard exclaims. ¡°Later.¡± Quasi interrupts. ¡°We need refrigeration first.¡± The cat glances at Emma. ¡°You can do that, right? Make a room cold?¡± She nods. ¡°I can. My dad gave me everything I need for runeing.¡± ¡°Perfect. Irmgard, I¡¯m going to need you to buy a lot of milk.¡± ¡°The process will take several weeks.¡± Emma adds. ¡°Fuck. Cancel that. I can¡¯t stay here any longer. I need to level and get to the towers as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Towers?¡± Emma asks. ¡°Yea. I have to reach all twenty-one towers as soon as possible while leveling rapidly. I can¡¯t exactly do that here. Myers, you said there is a tower nearby?¡± He nods. ¡°Two weeks out.¡± ¡°Perfect. Then we set sail tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°So soon?¡± Emma asks. ¡°Yup. I suggest you say goodbye to the boys tonight. You won¡¯t be seeing them for a long while.¡± Quasi stands up, pushes away the plates and utensils in front of Emma, and then lays down on his back. ¡°Now, I¡¯m hungry and sleepy and I want to deal with the prior and then the former. So, you may begin the process of feeding. Start with the meat. Meat is good.¡± IC God Games - B2 - Chapter 43: Heave ho and a bottle of run! ¡°Take Cover!¡± [Merchant Captain] Morris warns. Not a moment after, several cannonballs impact the hull of the hauler class Imperity. After each impact, the number on the side of his vision decreases rapidly.
Hull Integrity 1121/2173 Mana +1.7 Mana regeneration per second.
Hull Integrity 837/2173 Mana +1.7 Mana regeneration per second.
Hull Integrity 215/2173 Mana +1.7 Mana regeneration per second.
Morris grimaces at the damage. The Imperity can withstand one more volley before his ship''s hull won¡¯t be able to withstand the attacks. He needs to get away. ¡°Tack right. Aim for the masts!¡¯ The crew of the Imperity quickly follow his command. His ship swerves right and the eight canons of his portside lock in on the approaching destroyer. ¡°Hold!¡± He raises a hand and studies the ship.
Anadasta (Five-Mast Destroyer) Max Speed: 14 knots Construction: Wood Modifications: Thick Hull Hull Integrity: 2771/3117 Mana
A Thick Hull greatly improves hull integrity at the cost of internal storage. It¡¯s a modification seen primarily on military designs. The fact that a [Pirate Captain] is in possession of such a ship is extremely rare and disconcerning to behold. Such vessels are usually scrapped instead of sold on the open market. Two masts. If he can just take out two masts, the Anadasta would be slowed enough for the Imperity to get away. Otherwise, the next volley will drain his hull integrity and open his ship up to real damage. At that point, surrender is the only option. With hand held ready, he watches the Anadasta start turning to its other broadside. As soon as the Anadasta¡¯s bow faces his ship¡¯s broadside, he lowers his arm and yells. ¡°FIRE!¡± Eight cannons roar from his ship. The projectiles travel the distance, aiming at the Anadasta¡¯s masts. But, his hopes are somewhat drowned as the [Pirate Captain] orders his ship to ascend. The Anadasta rises right before his cannonballs make contact. To Morris¡¯s dismay, four balls impact Anadasta¡¯s hull, two completely miss, and only two make it on the deck. Of those two, one of them actually rips into a mast. He watches, elated, as one of the five masts aboard the enemy vessel crashes down on the deck. With a mast down, he calls up the enemy ship''s information again.
Anadasta (Four-Mast Destroyer) Max Speed: 13 knots Construction: Wood Modifications: Thick Hull Hull Integrity: 2771/3117 Mana
The Anadasta¡¯s lost another knot of speed with that strike. Considering the Imperity travels at 13 knots, getting away and out of cannon-range before his ship takes too much damage won¡¯t be possible. Swallowing his growing spit, he watches as the Anadasta continues turning. ¡°Tack right and take cover. Prepare for impact.¡± Imperity turns so that his stern is now facing the Anadasta¡¯s broadside. If he¡¯s lucky, his hull integrity will withstand the impacts and give him an opening to try to take out another mast. He hears the roar of a distant cannon and quickly huddles down. He hears an impact, and then the roar of several more cannons. From the side of Morris¡¯s eye, he watches as twelve projectiles careen twenty feet to the right of his ship. Confused, he looks back at the Anadasta and watches as another mast falls. ¡°[Captain]! Ship to our left,¡± a member of his crew warns. Looking left, he indeed finds a distant ship. From a brief glance, the ship looks to be of frigate class. But not your usual frigate. The first thing he notices is that the ship¡¯s cannons are very large and extend out of the ship''s gunports. The next thing he notices is the shiny metal plating throughout the ship hull. Lastly, some structure he can¡¯t properly make out is settled directly atop the ship. As he goggles the frigate, one of the ship¡¯s cannons fires with such force that the frigate tilts to the opposite side. A second later, the ball impacts the Anadasta with enough force to slightly nudge the vessel. Then he hears another shot from the cannon followed by an impact. Then another. And another. And another. A third mast falls on the ship''s deck. ¡°[Captain], what are your orders?¡± His [First Mate] asks. Breaking out of his fugue, he realizes the frigate is giving him an opportunity to escape. ¡°Full speed ahead! We¡¯re retreating from the Anadasta!¡± _____________________________________________________ ¡°[Captain]! The Imperity is getting away!¡± the [First Mate] warns. ¡°Fuck the Imperity,¡± [Pirate Captain] Galdon Forceward curses. His experienced glare is focussed on the distant vessel outranging his cannons. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. With a thought, he calls up the enemy ship.
Timbergrove (Three-Mast Cored Frigate) Max Speed: 10 knots Construction: Wood Modifications: Plated Hull, Enlarged Gun Port, Installed Ballistae. Hull Integrity: 1233/1233 Mana
¡°Madness.¡± he whispers louder than usual. ¡°Those are cruiser armaments. What insane idiot installs such weapons on a frigate.¡± ¡°Sir?¡± Another explosion rocks his ship and another mast falls. Cursing his indecision, he calls up his own ship.
Anadasta (Two-Mast Destroyer) Max Speed: 11 knots Construction: Wood Modifications: Thick Hull Hull Integrity: 2613/3117 Mana
To his surprise, the damage to his hull integrity is minor. Though the cannon has a long range, the speed at which they are shot is lacking in sustained damage. At this point, he has two options. Retreat out of enemy range, or hunt the enemy cored frigate down. ¡°Is the Imperity fully retreating?¡± ¡°They are, [Captain]. They¡¯ll be out of cannon range soon enough.¡± Galdon grins. ¡°Good. Drop excess weight and full speed towards the Timbergrove. Be ready to board.¡± __________________________________________________________________ ¡°Myers, this is stupid. What¡¯s the point of having badass cannons if we can only fire one of them at a time.¡± A puffy cute cat whines atop an aged man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Firing more than one risks tipping the timbergrove over.¡± Myers explains. On the gundeck, one of the cannons fires. The ship tilts the opposite direction, only for Myers to manipulate the top and side masts to force the Timbergrove back into a neutral state. ¡°If we add more weight, think we could fire two?¡± the cat asks. ¡°Possibly, though this ship is already quite heavy and slow because of the armored plating and cannons. More weight could make it impossible for the ship to reach higher islands. A better option is to apply dampening runes to the cannons.¡± The cat waves its paw while rolling its eyes. ¡°Right, just magic the problem away¡­ except when you can''t, because anyone who can install dampening runes on Buxon designed cannons isn¡¯t going to be living in a [Pirate] infested city at the corner of the world.¡± The next cannon goes off. The old man sighs. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll admit I made a mistake. I forget that Buxon cannons are far more powerful than what¡¯s normally available. But, you don¡¯t have to find someone to install the dampening runes. You should be able to obtain the runes and have Emma learn them. She¡¯ll level from it.¡± The cat sighs. ¡°Yea, yea. Next big town we stop at we¡¯ll try to find the runes. In the meantime.¡± He raises a paw towards the [Pirate] ship. ¡°How long is it going to take- oh shit, they¡¯re coming at us.¡± Both cat and old man stare in the distance as the Anadasta is rushing at them. ¡°They¡¯re faster than us. They¡¯ll catch up,¡± Myers warns. Right after his warning, another cannon shot from the Timbergrove causes the ship to tilt. This cannonball hits dead center on the final standing mast of the Anadasta. ¡°And now we¡¯re equal in speed.¡± The old man shakes his head. ¡°I¡¯m rather surprised how accurate those shots are. Are you sure he doesn''t have several dozen levels as a [cannoneer]?¡± ¡°Yea, Cillian¡¯s a weirdo. Who¡¯d have thought being an experienced gun-nut lets you shoot cannons at pinpoint accuracy.¡± ¡°Gun-nut?¡± ¡°Someone with an obsession with firearms¡­ actually, I think his obsession is with weaponry in general.¡± Myers nods. ¡°I¡¯ve met the types. Constantly polishing and collecting various weapons. They tend to make great combatants as well.¡± The old man points at the incoming ship. ¡°Should we make a retreat now? They won¡¯t be able to catch us if we leave now.¡± The cat looks at Myers as though the man¡¯s gone crazy. ¡°Why would we retreat? We¡¯ve got them exactly where we want them. All we need to do now is board.¡± Myers groans. ¡°Are you planning on boarding every ship we come by? Is the idea of obtaining treasure so enticing that you''d waste time and effort that could be better spent going to our destination? The tower is only two days away.¡± The cat grins. ¡°I need to level. Also, I remember when the first time I wanted to board a ship, you thought I was going to get myself and my crew killed.¡± ¡°That''s before I realized you can transform into a damn Fenrimorph.¡± The old man shakes his head. ¡°Fine, we¡¯ll set to board. I doubt the pirates are going to attack us if we give them the option of boarding.¡± The ship swerves from its position and heads directly towards the Anadasta. ¡°Perfect. I¡¯ll go grab the crew.¡± The cat hops off Myers'' shoulder and rushes down into the depths of the Timbergroves gundeck. When the cat arrives, he finds the rest of the crew to be present. Boriss, the burly Russian, is busy loading the cannons. Irmgard and Emma are manipulating the valves that move the cannon while Cillian, resident drunkard, is in charge of aiming and firing. Finally, the last and most important member of the crew is Clay. The child of seven is following Boriss with a towel to wipe the man''s sweat from his brow. ¡°Everyone,¡± the cat interrupts all present.¡° The enemy wishes to surrender their loot after a bit of combat.¡± ¡°We¡¯re boarding already?¡± Cillian asks with a pout. ¡°I¡¯ve barely even fired the cannon.¡± ¡°The hell are you looking sad for? The last time we boarded a [Pirate] ship, we got a gun and a bunch of weapons and armor.¡± Cillian feels the side of his hip where the three cylinder magnum is located. Boriss arrives with a towel in hand. ¡°Comrade Cillian, is good exercise. We fight. We win. Then you drink, yes?¡± ¡°Alcohol!¡± the Scot smiles. ¡°They probably have some on their ship.¡± He gives a glare at Irmgard. ¡°I¡¯m sure what they have is better than the piss you brought.¡± The tall blonde raises an eyebrow. ¡°I bought that piss because a certain Scot drinks so much that we¡¯d have run out already if I bought the expensive stuff.¡± ¡°I only drank a wee bit more than anyone else.¡± Cillian counters. Irmgard continues staring. ¡°You go through five bottles a day.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a normal amount.¡± ¡°I bought eighty bottles.¡± ¡°Far too little if you ask me.¡± ¡°We only have eight left.¡± Cillian blinks. He looks at the cat. ¡°We need to board that ship.¡± ¡°I wholeheartedly agree. Now, here''s the plan. Cillian will stay on the ship with Myers. Clay is going to hide in the hold. Me, Boriss, Irgmard, and Emma are going to board the pirates.¡± ¡°I¡¯m boarding too?¡± Emma asks. The cat nods. ¡°I know Irmgard¡¯s been training you with the sword, but there is no better training than real battle.¡± ¡°I could die.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be fine if you wear your mother¡¯s armor.¡± ¡°But-¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be fine.¡± Irmgard lays a hand on Emma¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You¡¯ve taken to the sword better than most I¡¯ve trained. Real combat will help your training take hold.¡± The cat stretches. ¡°Then it¡¯s decided. Armor up and meet me on the deck. Boriss, don¡¯t forget to grab my gauntlets.¡± ___________________________________________________________ As a level 42 [Deft Swordsman] and level 42 [Pirate Captain], Galdon Forceward is someone who has seen plenty of action throughout his life. He¡¯d joined the military, the navy, and rose up until he¡¯d become a proper [Ship Captain]. All within a decade. It was only civil war and the complete implosion of his kingdom which led him to the lucrative [Pirate] life thirty years ago. So, at the age of fifty-four, Galdon is easily one of the more experienced [Captains] on the seas. And of all those years, never ever had he been in a position where a frigate is rushing at him. ¡°What should we do, [Captain]? Think it¡¯s a trap?¡± His [First Mate] asks while holding a spyglass to his eye. Galdon scratches his long scruffy beard with a bulging right arm covered in glowing violet lines. ¡°Possibly, but unlikely. That ship doesn¡¯t look like a [Noble¡¯s] vessel. It looks like some idiot modified a trading frigate with far too large cannons and a Ballistae.¡± ¡°The ship and equipment would sell high on the market.¡± The [First Mate] adds. ¡°Agreed. If they¡¯re coming at us, then who are we not to accept them with open arms.¡± The [First Mate] lowers the spyglass. ¡°Are we going to soften them up, first?¡± ¡°No. We¡¯d risk damaging the cannons and the ballistae. Just get the men ready to fight.¡± ¡°Aye, [Captain].¡± IC God Games - B2 - Chapter 44: Skill Gap With bated breath, Galdon watches as the Anadasta and Timbergrove get closer and closer to one another. All up until their broadsides are merely a foot apart. Just as he prepares to send out the order to board, it is the Timbergrove that boards first. Wary, Galdon watches as four hop off the Timbergrove and land upon the Anadasta. One is a man wielding a runed hammer in one arm and holding runed gauntlets in the other. Another is a woman covered in full runic armor. The third and probable [Captain] is a woman wearing a coat and wielding a runed cutlass from the Raven Hunters guild- a clear sign of a bounty hunter. The last boarder is a puffy kitten that Galdon could find himself selling for a tidy sum. The rich tend to pay well for fluffy cats. Even so, with only three of them, he can smell something¡¯s wrong. With a blink, he focuses on the three.
Irmgard Von Braun: Level 6 [First Mate]
Emma: Level 2 [Chief Carpenter]
Boriss Smirnov: Level 2 [Security Chief]
No [Captain] is present and the crew is low in job level. He still can¡¯t remove the consideration that their class levels are significantly higher. Especially that [Chief Carpenter]. A full set of runic armor is something you¡¯d normally find on a wealthy [Noble] or on someone nearing an expert class. Then again, runic armor is far cheaper compared to runic weapons. With a deep breath, Galdon unsheathes his runed shamshir greatsword using his right arm and a tower shield with his left. Then he steps forward. ¡°Bold of you to come aboard my ship without your [Captain]. I can only imagine him to be a coward.¡± The cat hops up on a barrel and faces him. ¡°Seriously? Why are you talking shit the moment I board? I mean, I understand you¡¯re all [Pirates]. Killing and plundering is your literal job description. But still, you should at least avoid insults until you¡¯re absolutely sure your opponent isn¡¯t some badass that could rip your ass open a new one.¡± The [Pirates] go silent as every single eye is now on the kitten. The cat waves a paw. ¡°Still, you''re lucky I¡¯m a forgiving sort -um what''s your name.¡±
Galdon Forceward: Level 42 [Pirate Captain]
¡°Galdon Forceward. Damn, that¡¯s a pretty nice name.¡± The cat shakes its head. ¡°Right. As I was saying. Galdon, you¡¯re lucky I¡¯m a forgiving sort. Most of my kind would have your head severed for inferring that they could be cowardly¡­ after slowly torturing you for months at a time before allowing you eternal rest.¡± The cat taps with a paw. ¡°But not me. I am more civilized and believe in redemption. Which I will offer you in the form of a complete surrender.¡± The large man with a hammer frowns. ¡°Comrade Fluffy, vhy no prostrate?¡± he asks the cat. Quasi sighs. ¡°Boriss, my ignorant Russian comrade, the last time I asked a crew of [Pirates] to prostrate themselves, I had to slaughter more than half of them. After some contemplation, It has occurred to me that [Pirates] are far too uncultured to do such a thing. They cannot comprehend the sheer majestic superiority of myself.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a talking cat?¡± Galdon interrupts. Quasi rolls his eyes. ¡°And you¡¯re a talking human. I don¡¯t see why this amazes ever- what the hell is wrong with your arm?¡± Only now does Quasi notice the oddity of Galdon¡¯s right arm. The arm is bulging with muscle and is covered in glowing violet veins. The more he stares, the more it seems like the glow is pulsing to the rhythmic beat of the man''s heart. Galdon grins. He swings the greatsword with the ease of a kitchen knife. ¡°Just something I picked up in my travels. It''s quite a modification. I imagine I could crush a cat''s skull easily.¡± ¡°Ohhhh.¡± The cat grins. ¡°So we¡¯re moving from insults to threats.¡± The cat looks back at one of its members. ¡°Emma, know anything about his arm?¡± The fully armored female gets startled at the question. ¡°I- um. I¡¯ve only heard about it. There''s a city that does runic modifications on flesh. The modifications work like permanent runes.¡± ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°That¡¯s all I know.¡± Quasi nods. ¡°Well Galdon, it seems we¡¯re at an impasse. Boriss, lay the gauntlets here.¡± Boriss places the rune gauntlets in front of the kitten while the [Pirates] watch. They are confident, curious, while only Galdon is wary. Unless you¡¯re a Buxon or extremely high level, then numbers matter heavily in a fight. The chance of a single individual with the capability to single-handedly wipe out an entire ship is rare in these parts. The cat glances at the [Pirates]. ¡°Last chance to surrender and keep your lives.¡± Galdon chuckles. ¡°No, I think you¡¯re the one in need of surrendering.¡± The cat chuckles madly, which causes Galdon to take an unconscious step back. ¡°Good.¡± The kitten tilts its head clockwise. ¡°I need to level.¡± The cat places its paws into the runed gauntlets and then disappears in a puff of smoke. When the smoke settles, a fenrimorph wielding said gauntlets is now standing in the cat''s place. Before Galdon can realize what''s happened, the monstrosity pounces. The sound of shattering bone is followed up by a [Pirate] ragdolling. ¡°Attack!¡± Galdon Roars. He rushes towards the monster. By the time he reaches the Fenrimorph, two [Pirates] lay broken at its feet. With a grunt, he swings his weapon with the intent to sever the monster''s head. _______________________________________________________________________ Aboard the Timbergrove, Myers watches the fighting unfold. He¡¯d kept out of sight until combat had begun. Now that it has, his hand rests on the ship''s core in case the worst happens. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Which, considering the ongoing combat, shouldn¡¯t take too long. Quasi starts the fight with a punch that crushes a man''s chest and sends him flying. By the time the enemy [Captain] reaches him, Quasi has dealt with two more [Pirates]. The [Captain] slices towards Quasi, but the Fenrimorph redirects with a gauntlet and then punches Galdon with the other. Galdon raises his shield and blocks the strike, but the sheer force of it pushes the [Captain] back. By the time the [Captain] regains his footing, another [Pirate] goes down. Watching Quasi fight, he can''t help but reminisce about his younger days. He had crewmembers that could board a ship and single-handedly fight the [Captain] and crew. Using [Griffin Riders], he¡¯d transport these combat specialists and drop them aboard the enemy vessel. From there, he only needed to wait until the crew was dead or surrendered. But, this is different. His fighters were trained expert [Knights], while Quasi isn¡¯t even an advanced classer. If the cat were to become an expert, Myers expects him to be as dangerous as one of the Corsairs. Shifting his sight, he focuses on the rest of the crew. What he finds is that other than Boriss, the others are struggling. Emma is panicking and swinging wildly while taking hits that bounce off of her armor. Irmgard is on the defensive. The woman is great at dueling, but anything more than a single opponent forces her on the backfoot. Now Boriss, the man would be a prime [Knight] candidate. Moving, blocking, and attacking. He dances with both skill, instinct, and a grin on his face. While watching, Boriss¡¯s hammer glows for a moment before he swings. The [Pirate] blocks with a shield. The shield cracks and the [Pirate¡¯s] arm shatters as the vibrations rip through the metal. With a thought, he calls up the hammer.
Name Reverberating Warhammer
Rarity Exceptional - 10 Runes.
  • 1(1-Durability)
  • 1(1-lightweight)
  • 1(8- Reverberating Strike)
Description This hammer is +30% more durable, +30% lighter in weight, and can cast Reverberating strike at will.
Sustain 0.02% Mana regeneration per minute. Reverberating Strike: 203.37 Mana to activate.
When he¡¯d first seen the weapon, he¡¯d thought it to be a rare quality weapon on account of the two basic runes and the more advanced one. What he¡¯d not expected was that the advanced rune is far more powerful than expected. So much so that the weapon needs only one more rune to enter Epic quality. If that were to happen, the weapon¡¯s price would skyrocket exponentially even though the ability is mediocre at best. Reverberating Strike is a devastating ability designed solely for hunting large beasts. Unless the cost is brought down significantly, then most could only activate the skill once or twice before running out of mana. Regardless, Boriss doesn¡¯t need to use the skill to be effective. The man is a skilled fighter and [Pirates] are dying at his feet. When Myers glances back at Quasii, more bodies lie around the Fenrimorph¡¯s feet while Galdon continues to swing his greatsword at speeds few could hold to match. But Quasi blocks and diverts them with expert precision. Not without wounds, though. Quasi¡¯s back is covered in cuts, wounds, and crossbow bolts. Having only gauntlets to defend isn¡¯t very effective if you¡¯re surrounded by enemies. Myers can''t help but lean forward to watch the battle unfold. _______________________________________________________________ He swings that shit like a toy! I divert the blade with my left gauntlet, only to block with my right as the weapon attacks again. I continue the dance until I see an opening. I twist my hips and put the full momentum into my punch. The man''s shield blocks my attack, but he is pushed back. Who the fuck carries a goddam tower shield to a fight? And why the fuck is that shield so goddam big. We¡¯re fighting on a ship, not sieging a castle! With the [Captain] pushed back, I take the opportunity to pick up a corpse and hurl it at the damn [Pirate] with a crossbow. Corpse and [Pirate] meet with such force that both [Pirate] and crossbow are thrown overboard. Not even a moment after, I¡¯m back on the defensive as mister glowing arm is hammering me with his sword. Literally hammering me with a sword. The man''s speed and the weight of his sword makes it feel like I¡¯m getting hit with a block of heavy metal that just so happens to also be sharp enough to easily cut flesh. Once again, I create an opening, push him back, and then take care of another harasser. I do this several more times until the only one left is Galdon. The man, seeing his [Pirates] at my feet, warily steps back. I reveal my teeth with a grin. He grimaces. Now, how should I deal with him? His left side has that stupid tower shield and his right has the stupid greatsword. I can''t exactly break past the shield, and the greatsword is too heavy, long, and fast to riposte and counter. Tiring him out is an option, but that could take far too long. I mean, the guy isn¡¯t very skilled. He likes to turtle half his body behind a shield while the other half threatens with a greatsword. Good idea, but that shield is far too large. I rush forward, he attacks, but I block and divert while applying pressure. I weave into his left and rain punches into his shield as he struggles to attack me with his right greatsword. He tries to turn, but I continue following the shield. Though I¡¯m not doing any notable damage to him, his movements are becoming more sporadic and panicky. His shield is far too large to see me over it, and the only knowledge that I¡¯m on the other side of the shield is the constant impacts of my gauntlet. Then, after this dance goes on a bit longer. I immediately swerve to my left while he continues turning to his own. He overcommits the turn. With his right side now completely exposed, the man panics. He slashes forward, but I easily intercept the blade upwards with my right gauntlet. With my left, I put all of my momentum into an upward punch right into the man''s exposed elbow. I hear a crunch and scream. The greatsword flies out of his grip and imbeds itself into a nearby barrel. Before the man fully realizes what¡¯s happened, I kneel and sweep his legs from under him. He falls to the floor. As he falls, I lay a foot down on his chest and then rip the shield out of his arm. I then raise a fist to finish him off. ¡°I Surrender.¡± He pleas. I snort. My fist comes down on his face and I feel the crunch of his skull. His body instantly ceases to move. Then I feel it. The urge. My head whips up. My mouth opens and I howl into the sky as loudly as possible. _______________________________________________________________ Shortly after the howl, the rest of the [Pirates] surrender. Those surviving are tied up to a post while the dead are stripped and thrown overboard. Once all is done, Quasi transforms back into a cat. A dozen crossbow bolts clatter on the floor. He grins at his crew. ¡°Whooo. That was fun.¡± ¡°Da, is good exercise.¡± ¡°Exercise! I thought I was going to die.¡± Emma complains. Irmgard puts a hand on Emma¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You survived against three [Pirates] and held your own. That is more than most can accomplish.¡± ¡°I survived because of my mother¡¯s armor. They were wailing at me. I don¡¯t think I even hurt them at all. I was panicking the entire time!¡± Quasi snorts. ¡°I wish I had armor. Then my back wouldn¡¯t have become a pincushion. Speaking of armor, would you be able to smith some for me?¡± Her fear and memory of the battle is quickly forgotten at the prospect of work. ¡°I- yes. But I¡¯d need a large forge and a lot of time. Even more time if you want it runed.¡± ¡°I might, but that''s for later.¡± Just then, Myers rushes to them. ¡°There¡¯s a problem.¡± Quasi raises an eyebrow. ¡°What problem?¡± ¡°That ship you saved. It¡¯s heading towards us. They¡¯ll be here in half an hour at their speed.¡± ¡°To fight?¡± ¡°Doubtful. [Merchant Captains] tend to avoid combat as much as possible. He probably has [Sense Pirate] and doesn¡¯t sense [Pirates] anymore.¡± Quasi looks at the men tied up. ¡°They¡¯re not [Pirates] anymore?¡± ¡°Once a [Pirate Captain] dies, all [Pirates] lose their jobs unless a new [Pirate Captain] is chosen immediately. Usually a [First Mate] if their level is appropriate.¡± Myers explains. ¡°You probably killed the [First Mate] if they had one.¡± ¡°Huh. Now that I think about it, why do they all have the [Pirate] job instead of some specialist job?¡± ¡°The [Pirate] Job is one of the most impressive jobs available. [Pirates] are able to level from any position on a ship and gain boosts towards all those positions. They aren¡¯t going to be as good as a specialist, but they are going to be far more diverse and higher in level.¡± Myers points at Boriss. ¡°For example, your [Security Chief] has [Combat Authority] which improves all traits by half the [Captain¡¯s] level. All [Pirates] get [Minor Combat Authority], which improves traits by a fourth of the captain''s level.¡± A fourth? That seems like a pretty strong force multiplier. ¡°I kinda want to be a [Pirate Captain] now.¡± Myers grunts. ¡°You¡¯ll need to level [Pirate] to at least twenty-four or be acknowledged and hunted as though you are one. Then the job will be available.¡± ¡°So anyone can become a [Pirate]?¡± ¡°Correct. But, they could also lose the job if they are no longer acknowledged as one.¡± ¡°Um,¡± Emma raises her hand, ¡°If we¡¯re not going to continue fighting, can I take my armor off?¡± ¡°Keep it on until we deal with that [Merchant Captain].¡± Quasi says. He looks to Myers. ¡°You said we have half an hour, right?¡± ¡°At current speed. They could speed up and it would be sooner.¡± ¡°That''s fine. Boriss, take Emma and search the ship for any stowaways. Irmgard, get me Cillian.¡± Quasi grins. ¡°We¡¯ve an opportunity to make a profit.¡± IC God Games - B2 - Chapter 45: Drinkin a Hard Bargin Over the decades, [Merchant Captain] Morris Menfield has gained a knack for finding great profits in unlikely situations. Whether that is finding bulk resources at a cheap price to the trading of expensive information. It was that last one where he profited enough to buy the Imperity. A nice, large ship with speed, cargo, and cannons fit for an enterprising [Merchant]. It is this ship that glides slowly through the sky towards the Timbergrove and Anadasta. The Imperity dwarfs the Timbergrove in size, and is even slightly larger than the Anadasta even though the ships are in the same size class. With white flag raised, the Imperity nests abeam to the opposite side of the Anadasta. It merely moments for his crew to tie the two ships together before throwing down a plank. ¡°[Captain], all is ready.¡± A [Sailor] rushes into his room. ¡°Good.¡± Morris grins. He stands up off his chair and takes one final glance in the mirror. A tall portly man with a belly smiles back. The man wears a heavily engraved coat and tricorn alongside jewels lining his neck and arms. All rare metals except for two runed rings on his right hand. He grabs a comb and quickly brushes his goatee so as to make sure all hairs are straightened. It would not do to show any weakness, even in looks. After one final glance, Morris exits his quarters, walks up the stairs, and eventually arrives on the deck. When he does, he finds the crew to be on edge. Keeping up his smile, he walks to the bridge between the two ships where his [Ship Guards] wait. When he arrives, his eyes move to the fully armored woman. The woman wears an entire set of runed plate armor. A further glance reveals the armor pieces to all be of exceptional quality. With a thought, he calls up her job.
Emma: Level 2 [Chief Carpenter]
The problem with Jobs is that they can be changed while a person''s class level cannot. Unless you have a skill to discern a person''s class, then figuring out how capable someone is is a fool''s errand. It would not surprise Morris that this armored woman is at the very least an Advanced class. Next to the woman stand three more individuals. One of them, a large muscular bear of a man grins widely as a runed hammer rests on his shoulder and a runed Shamshir on his back. Morris also notices the Blizzard Bear Leather Coat- a rather rare piece of equipment you¡¯d expect to see in more arctic regions. As for the man''s job¡­
Boriss Smirnov: Level 4 [Security Chief]
Also low. Another surprise. He checks the next person- a woman with a Raven Guilds runed cutlass and a cloak that is of equivalent or possibly better quality than his own. Considering how she holds herself, Morris experts her to be the [Captain]. But¡­
Irmgard Von Braun: Level 6 [First Mate]
He hides his surprise and growing unease well as he looks to the final person. A short plump man that somehow matches his own grin. The man has a sheathed cutlass on one hip and a gun on the other. Morris also notices a runed ring on the man''s finger. He must be the [Captain] The thought rises at the forefront of his mind. But, that thought is quickly proven false.
Cillian Wallace: Level 9 [Quartermaster]
Odd. Very odd. Did the [Captain] give his crew brand new positions so as to level them? He¡¯d heard it done in military ships to diversify crew responsibility in the event of an emergency, but that''s the military. Regardless of Morris¡¯s thoughts, there is an opportunity for profit so long he is willing to take a risk. He steps in front of his [Ship Guards] with head held high and a grin born of experience. ¡°I am [Merchant Captain] Morris Menfield. I wish to thank your [Captain] for the timely save of both myself and my vessel. Are they around?¡± Four pairs of eyes turn to Morris¡¯s left where a puffy cat sits casually on a railing. He¡¯d not noticed the cat before. ¡°Your thanks are accepted. Now what the fuck do you want?¡± The cat speaks. He and his entire crew freeze in place at the sight of a talking kitten. The cat stares back entirely unimpressed. ¡°Look, I¡¯m a busy kitten. Can you skip with the amazement and get to answering my question?¡± The cat continues. Morris is the first of his crew to recover, though that is more so because he can see the job.
Quasi Eludo: Level 11 [Captain]
¡°Y-yes. Apologies. I was merely distracted by your magnificent fur.¡± The kitten snorts. ¡°Laying on the compliments early. I guess I can be a bit civil too.¡± The cat clears its throat. ¡°As you probably already realized via your skill, I am Quasi Eludo, [Captain] of the Timbergrove. It is a pleasure to meet you. Now, what the fuck do you want?¡± Undeterred by Quasi¡¯s vulgar tone, Morris just nods and grins. ¡°You do seem like the type whose time is precious. So, I will be quaint. I would like to take this destroyer off your hands- for a price of course.¡± ¡°I¡¯m looting the ship right now and planning on blowing it up afterwards¡­ but, I can be convinced to leave the vessel intact.¡± The cat glances at one of his crew. ¡°Cillian, you heard what he wants. Go do your thing.¡± ¡°That I can.¡± Cillian steps forward. He extends an arm towards the much larger man. ¡°I¡¯m the Timbergroves [Quartermaster] and [Merchant]. I hope you¡¯re up for a bit of haggling.¡± Morris nods with his continued smile and a new twinkle in his eye. ¡°I very much enjoy haggling. I¡¯ve an office for it with many drinks included if you would be willing to join me.¡± Cillian perks up. ¡°Drinks you say? Oh, do lead the way.¡± Quasi watches as Cillian and Morris leave his presence to start negotiations. When they are finally out of earshot, the cat looks to his remaining crew. ¡°Have we loaded up everything from the Anadasta?¡± ¡°We did, though there wasn¡¯t much other than drink, ammo, and food.¡± Irmgard explains. ¡°It seems the Anadasta was planning to pirate resources, so their holds are empty.¡± ¡°Damn. So the best loot is the [Captain''s] sword.¡± Emma raises a hand and touches the weapon on Borris¡¯s back.
Name Shamshir of Slicing
Rarity Exceptional - 8 Runes.
  • 1(1-Durability)
  • 1(1-lightweight)
  • 2(3- Enhanced Sharpness)
Description This greatsword is +30% more durable, +30% lighter in weight, and is +150% sharper.
Sustain 0.10% Mana regeneration per minute.
¡°It has two runes of Enhanced Sharpness, so I think it could probably penetrate everything but plate armor quite easily.¡± Quasi pouts. ¡°You¡¯d think a [Pirate Captain] would have something more impressive than a runed sword that can better slice things.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the arm.¡± Myers walks up to them. The old man glances at the Imperity for a moment before staring back at Quasi. ¡°Runic modification of flesh is powerful, but they also greatly reduce an individual''s mana regeneration. I¡¯d wager that shamshir hits the limit in the number of items he can have functioning.¡± ¡°Right, limitations. I never asked, but what happens if you go overboard on the number of items and your mana regeneration goes negative. Do you lose mana?¡± ¡°No. The items'' runic effects cease functioning.¡± Emma adds. ¡°Correct. That¡¯s why many [Captains] prioritize the vitality trait. That way they can wear more equipment and stronger equipment alongside living longer.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re weaker physically,¡± Irmgard says. ¡°Nothing equipment cant fix.¡± The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Quasi grimaces. ¡°Are you telling me that putting all my points into strength is going to hamstring me in the future?¡± Myers scratches his beard. ¡°Yes and no. There are epic quality items that can add ten to a person''s strength trait. For the average [Warrior], that''s the equivalent of seventy to eighty trait points in strength. But for you, since your base strength is very high, putting trait points into strength gives you significantly higher returns.¡± ¡°But I still lack the diversity equipment provides. I may need to increase my vitality, though how much is a problem. Myers, what do you recommend as a good mana regeneration rate?¡± The old man continues scratching his beard. A beard he very much needs to trim. It looks quite scraggy now. ¡°Many high-end powerful epic items can cost up to half a percent. legendary items tend to all be in the single digit percent range while mythical items are a class of their own. If you don''t mind me asking, what is your base regeneration? I imagine it differs considering your main body is a Fenrimorph.¡± ¡°My base regeneration is 0.54%.¡± Myers raises an eyebrow in surprise. ¡°That''s exceptional. Other than Phytonids and Gemma, only certain human bloodlines have such a high base.¡± Quasi sighs. ¡°Now you¡¯ve got me thinking about where my points should go. I guess I should sleep on it. I¡¯m sure I leveled from that fight.¡± The kitten yawns. ¡°Irmgard, if Cillian returns and I¡¯m still sleeping, wake me up. Borris, make sure none of Morris¡¯s crew get on board until Cillian is done negotiating.¡± ¡°Negotiating?¡± Myers asks. ¡°Comrade Cillian is accepting fat man''s surrender. Is fine.¡± ¡°Surrender? Why are they surrendering?¡± ¡°They want the ship and are willing to pay for it. Otherwise we blow the ship up and they get nothing.¡± Irmgard translates. Emma raises a hand like a child that wants to speak but doesn¡¯t know when. ¡°You¡¯re not five, just ask.¡± Quasi says. ¡°What should I do? Can I take this armor off?¡± ¡°Not until we leave. Keep the armor on. Lean on a pole, cross your arms, and look menacingly at the Imperity¡¯s crew.¡± She frowns at the order, but it goes unnoticed because of the lowered visor. With the conversation over, Quasi hops off his perch to find a comfortable place to nap. ____________________________________________________________________ Three bottles. Three empty containers of wine don the table in front of the short man while Morris is still on his first. Normally, this would be a good thing if the person you are negotiating with is drunk, but the man seems tipsy at best. What is even worse is that the wine isn¡¯t exactly inexpensive. Sacrificing a bottle for a good deal is acceptable. But three bottles? That¡¯s pushing it. ¡°Twenty-six thousand trist is a ludicrous number for a damaged ship. Very few [Captains] would even have half as much on hand. I think a more reasonable number is five thousand. With repairs, docking fees, and the risk of transport, five thousand is a reasonable sum.¡± Cillian bursts out laughing. ¡°Thas cute. F¡­ucking cute.¡± He burps. ¡°That ships a military class destroyer. Rare and expensive. Would sell for six figures easy.¡± The short man grabs a bottle and frowns at how empty it is. He wiggles it in front of Morris so as to show it is empty. Morris suppresses a sigh. He gets up and hands the man another bottle, which he opens and takes an immediate gulp. ¡°I won¡¯t lie that the ship will sell well, but there are risks and costs I need to keep track of.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Cillian grins. ¡°I¡¯ve a skill thas tellin me you have twenty-seven thousand trist on hand. I also know yer ships s-s-slowa on account of a full hold of goods.¡± The man blinks. He shakes his head. Then he takes another gulp. ¡°Wines good.¡± ¡°Mr Cillian,¡± Morris starts, but stops as Cillian waves him to stop speaking. ¡°No, les me finish.¡± The shorter man burps. ¡°Here''s the plan. Yer gonna park ya ships for free cause dockin fees are when yer leavin. Yer gonna sell yer goods and use the trist ta fix the destroyer. If yah need more trist for repairs, put yer ship on collateral for a loan. Easy money.¡± For once, Morris allows his smile to fall. ¡°I hope you realize that if I walk away from this deal, you gain nothing.¡± Cillian takes another gulp. ¡°Ya came back afta gettin attacked cause ya greedy.¡± Cillian leans back and places his legs on the table. ¡°I¡¯m greedier. Twenty-seven thousand trist. Take it or leave.¡± He grabs the bottle and mounts it vertically to his mouth. ________________________________________________________________ As dreamland takes me, my mind is swished to the realm of white. A mostly empty realm except for that which I own as part of my skill. Floating above me is the Timbergrove in all its majestic glory. Ship is a perfect replica of what I own from the red paint that increases its speed to the cannon extending out of its sides like spider legs, all the way to the large ballista on the deck and bow of the ship. Alright, it''s actually not very majestic, nor is it as impressive as it looks. The ballistae doesn¡¯t have that much range while the ammunition is limited and expensive. The cannons are so strong that firing more than one would produce too much recoil on the ship. It also doesn''t help that the ship has metal plating which slows the vessel''s speed. The plating doesn¡¯t even function that well since the ship''s hull isn¡¯t very thick so as to give it a lot of hull integrity. So yea. The Timbergrove lacks in speed, firepower, and health. The modification done to the ship weakened it, but you wouldn''t be able to tell from a distance. All you¡¯d see is a heavily armed and dangerous frigate meant for battle. From the side of my vision, I watch as a red and green floating eyeball comes into existence. I wave my hand. ¡°Red, green, buddies, pals. How have you both been? Got any good news for me?¡± Red blinks once as unemotionally as it usually is. ¡°You have leveled to ten in your [Captain] job. The passive skill [Remote Examination] has been unlocked.¡±
Remote Examination You are able to examine items and people utilizing appropriate skills by your crew.
¡°My crew? Does that mean I can use Cillians [Sense Rarity] and Emma¡¯s [Identify Item] skill?¡± ¡°That information is restricted.¡± ¡°Of course it is. Fine. Show me my crew information.¡±
Job: [Ship Captain] Level: Level 10 Job Skills: 2 Ship Size: Frigate Primary Jobs Available: 8 Support Jobs Available:5 Maximum Job Capacity: 15
Primary Jobs [First Mate] level 6: Irmgard Von Braun level 8 [Sword Officer] [Quartermaster] level 10: Cillian Wallace level 17 [Merchant] [Security Chief] level 4: Boriss Smirnov level 15 [Skirmisher] [Chief Carpenter] level 2: Emma level 28 [Rune Smith] [Head Chef]: N/A [Chief Physician]: N/A [Artillery Chief]: N/A [Navigator]: N/A
Support Jobs [Boatswain]:[Gunner]: [Cook]: [Carpenter]: [Rigger]: [Physician Assistant]:
Is it weird that I want to fill everything out? It would be pretty impressive to see all of the jobs filled. Then again, the Timbergrove doesn¡¯t exactly have space for that many crew. I would either need to get a larger ship or get another one. Though the second option is only available to [Fleet Captains]- which is unlocked at [Captain] level 25. ¡°No changes, red. I¡¯m done with you.¡± Red blinks once and disappears to wherever he comes from. I then turn to Green. ¡°Considering you¡¯re here, I¡¯m guessing that I leveled. How many levels have I gained?¡± Green blinks. ¡°You have gained a single level. You have one attribute available.¡± ¡°Show me my entire trait sheet.¡± ¡°Acknowledged.¡±
Traits. Human Average Individual Base Calculations. Level modifications Trait Actual Value
Strength 10 37 +29% 47
Endurance 9 43 +0% 43
Vitality 12 0.27%M/R/M 22 0.54% M/R/M +0% 22 0.54% M/R/M
Perception 9 27 +0% 27
Intelligence 11 16 +0% 16
Mana 388.8 480 +0% 480
Control 12 9 +0% 9
Attributes Available/Attributes total: 1 30 Level: 21
Titles Obtained: 2
Title Name Leviathan Slayer
Title Rank Legendary
Title Effect +10 Attribute points
Title Name Underdog Boarder
Title Rank Rare
Title Effect [Captain¡¯s Authority] stat decay is slowed when boarding enemy vessels.
I scratch my human chin with my human hand, only to feel a bit of oddness to it. I¡¯ve been in the form of a cat long enough that scratching with hands instead of feet doesn¡¯t feel normal. I should probably start putting points into vitality if I¡¯m to enhance myself with runed equipment. But, the payoff for strength is far more worthwhile because of the base value. Then again, it may be best to maximize strength. With my endurance being 43, I can boost my strength up to 86 without running into problems where my body can''t handle the strain. This would also ensure I can handle any tests of strength going forward. ¡°Put the last point into strength and that should be it.¡± ¡°Acknowledged.¡± IC God Games - B2 - Chapter 46: On the subject of ships. ¡°Alright, let''s test my new skill. Boriss, lay your sword down on the table.¡± Boriss obliges. He unsheathes and carefully lays the curved sword on the table, on its side. The metal shimmers from the lantern light as I take a good look at it. ¡°Alright, how do I activate Remote Examination? Do I just think about using the skill while staring at it? Because I am right now, and nothing is happening. Myers, any advice?¡± The old man leans forward. He examines the sword, more so the leather scabbard. ¡°Many [Captains] get [Remote Examination] in the later levels because the requirements for unlocking the skill requires two or more skills of the type in your crew.¡± ¡°Wait! Are you saying that if Emma never joined, I wouldn¡¯t get this skill?¡± Myers nods. ¡°Precisely so. Many skills have prerequisites that need to be completed before they become available. The same is true for classes- not that I know what a [Shifter] class is capable of becoming.¡± I stretch my left back paw. ¡°I see. I¡¯ll keep that in mind. Now, [Remote Examination]. How do I activate it?¡± ¡°[Remote Examination] is a passive skill that allows you to activate the requisite skills of your crew. For that, you must think of them activating their skill for you and not your own.¡± ¡°Oh, so if I think about Emma using [Identify Item] then it sho- there we go!¡±
Name Shamshir of Slicing
Rarity Exceptional - 8 Runes.
  • 1(1-Durability)
  • 1(1-lightweight)
  • 2(3- Enhanced Sharpness)
Description This greatsword is +30% more durable, +30% lighter in weight, and is +150% sharper.
Sustain 0.10% Mana regeneration per minute.
A simple floating transparent box of text manifests directly above the sword. ¡°Oh, that''s neat. What if I use Cillians [Sense Rarity] skill next.¡±
Name Curved Greatsword
Rarity Exceptional
Description This weapon is an overly large runed curved sword. You do not have sufficient knowledge to deduce where this weapon is made and by whom.
¡°Interesting. The information is different, and lacking. The sword is named Curved Greatsword instead of Shamshir of Slicing.¡± I glance at Myers. ¡°Any reason for that?¡± ¡°These types of swords are created by the desert wolven. They call them Shamshir. A Shamshir of Slicing just means that the most advanced rune on the sword is [Enhanced Sharpness]. Hence the naming.¡± Myers explains. ¡°Cillian, if given the option, would categorize the weapon as a Curved Greatsword.¡± ¡°I see. Well, this will still be useful.¡± A nearby door squeaks open and a drowsy Cillian walks towards the table. ¡°Comrade Cillian. You are awake, yes?¡± Cillian blinks at Boriss¡¯s grin. He then looks at me and Myers staring at him. The man looks like he¡¯d awoken from a hangover. ¡°What happened?¡± He asks and I snort. ¡°You drank six bottles of wine and passed out on Morris¡¯s floor. Boriss had to carry you back to the ship.¡± He blinks rapidly as what I can only presume as memory enters his noggin. ¡°Didya get the contract?¡± ¡°I did. Checked it, signed it, and already loaded the goods. I have to admit, I wasn¡¯t expecting twenty-seven thousand trist to leave the ship in their care. Morris looked kinda upset about it- like he just took a bite out a lemon, or smelled some shit.¡± ¡°He was greedy, I was greedier. Now, I think I need a drink.¡± He walks up to the cupboard and grabs a bottle of some new alcohol. ¡°Finally something good.¡± He uncorks the bottle and takes a gulp. ¡°Yup, this is good.¡± He glances around. ¡°Where is everyone else?¡± ¡°Emma, Irmgard, and Clay are still sleeping. It¡¯s five in the morning.¡± ¡°Shit¡­ how long was I out?¡± ¡°Twelve hours,¡± I answer. He nods slowly. ¡°Must have been good wine, then. Shame I don¡¯t remember much. So, when are we leaving?¡± ¡°Ten hours ago. We¡¯re moving to our destination.¡± I look at the old man. ¡°How long until we¡¯re at the tower?¡± ¡°A day or two depending on the winds. Speaking of which,¡± he gets up off his chair. ¡°I should check our heading and make sure nothings changed while I was down.¡± Myers walks away from the table, up the stairs, and enters the deck. When the doors shut, Cillian taps his chin. ¡°Quasi, he¡¯s got a secret. A big one.¡± ¡°Da, big secret.¡± Boriss nods. ¡°Like KGB spy big secret.¡± I lay down on the table right next to the Shamshir. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. I made a deal. He helps with information and I let him tag along. Granted, his willingness to play navigator and pilot the ship does put him in a good light. Also Clay. Clay is a good kid.¡± ¡°Da,¡± Boriss nods ,¡±good child.¡± Cillian yawns. ¡°Too polite if you ask me.¡± He grabs another bottle. ¡°I¡¯m gonna get some more sleep.¡± The Scot leaves the kitchen with a bottle in each hand. I stand up. ¡°Well, looks like it''s just us two. Grab the Shamshir and follow me to the hold. Let''s see what you can do with that sword.¡± _________________________________________________________________ Just like the waves of an ocean, so too does the sea of mana rage. A storm brews far above, the clouds gray and stormy. Droplets of rain fall from overhead, mere warning of what is to come. Lightning surges and thunders like a musician tuning his instrument. The only saving grace is that the winds have yet to grow dangerous. They are subdued¡­ for the time being. ¡°This storm¡¯s going to be big. If we turn back now, we can avoid the worst of it. Otherwise, we¡¯ll be in danger unless we can tether to the tower. Frigates don¡¯t do too well in storms, at least not ones as bad as the one brewing above.¡± Myers explains. The old man is currently holding firm on Timbergrove¡¯s core while staring directly ahead. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Squinting on his shoulder, I can see the distant outline of what may well be the tower. Which is less vertical and more horizontal. ¡°I think I see something at the base of the tower. Some lump.¡± Myers glances at me before removing his hand and grabbing his spyglass. He raises it up to his eye. ¡°Three ships are moored to the tower. One Galleon and two dedicated destroyers. All three have flags denoting them as part of the Tower Ecclesiasticus.¡± He lowers the spyglass and then takes the orb. ¡°Are they friendly?¡± I ask. ¡°Out of all religious groups, they are the friendliest and most welcome to outsiders. If we near the tower, they will likely assist in locking down the Timbergrove to weather the storm.¡± ¡°Sounds good to me. Full speed ahead.¡± ______________________________________________________________ Kneeling under the growing onslaught of rain, James continues his prayer towards the one divine great creation. Before him, the great tower''s entrance lies open, accepting the worship of its pilgrims. Holding the tower rosary within his palms, he offers a prayer, one repeated by the [Priests] behind him. The prayers continue even as the wind and storm intensify. But, such intensity is muted when so close to the tower''s divine presence. Indeed, staring at the the entrance, raindrops fall and slide down an invisible barrier that only allows the immaterial to enter. It is through prayer, belief, and words that the divine may listen to his mortal servants. Only with the sound of approaching clanking metal does James allow his prayers to halt. He turns to find a trim-bearded man in golden armor kneeling towards the tower but head swerved to face him. ¡°[High Paladin] Simon, have you come to join in prayer, or has something come up?¡± James asks. As devout as the man is, he takes his holy duty of protection very seriously. ¡°If only, [Bishop] James. I come bearing information. A thoroughly armed cored frigate approaches bearing the name Timbergrove.¡± ¡°[Pirates]?¡± ¡°Unlikely. They do not hoist any flag.¡± James nods. ¡°Then we accept them with open arms as is dictated by our teachings. Assist them with docking their ship. Then hoist a tent with food and drink and offer sanctity closer to the divine ear. If they accept, I will speak to the crew and offer prayers that they may need.¡± Simon smiles and nods. ¡°Of course, [Bishop].¡± The [High Paladin] looks to the entrance. He offers a silent prayer before standing up and rushing away. As he leaves, James returns to leading the service. __________________________________________________________ The winds have grown violent and the rain has come pouring. Thunder violently rumbles overhead nearly every minute. With every rumble comes a flash as the storm seems to intensify. ¡°How¡¯s the ship coming?¡± I ask Myers. ¡°Surprisingly well. The added weight is making it easier to deal with the winds. We should make it to the tower before it gets unmanageable.¡± ¡°Good, good.¡± I nod slowly. I glance at myself to find my fur having changed to a fluffy light blue color. As the droplets of water fall on me, they slide off as though I am made of oil. At our current position, I can see the tower perfectly. The tower looks like a nail- where the bottom is a very large disc with the tower in the center. The diameter of the disc is easily in the hundreds of meters, with the central towers diameter in the dozens of meters. Vertically, the tower is as tall as it is wide. It is then that I focus on the three ships docked at the edges.
Bacchante (Five-Mast Destroyer) Max Speed: 15 knots Construction: Wood Modifications: Thick Hull. Expanded Gun Deck Hull Integrity: 3740/3740 Mana
Mandrake (Five-Mast Destroyer) Max Speed: 15 knots Construction: Wood Modifications: Thick Hull. Expanded Gun Deck Hull Integrity: 3344/3344 Mana
Towers-Keeper (Four-Mast Cored Heavy Galleon) Max Speed: 13 knots Construction: Wood Modifications: Expanded Living Quarters, Expanded Storage Hull Integrity: 15,963/15,963 Mana
¡°Myers, how strong is a Galleon compared to a Destroyer? Actually, what''s the rankings between ships all about?¡± Myers grunts as he maneuvers the ship''s side and top mast to realign the ship''s direction. The man is soaking wet everywhere except on his face. Sitting on his head, I use my body as a makeshift hat to keep the rain from getting in his eyes. Then he smiles as he usually does when questions regarding ships are asked. ¡°Let''s start with the second question first. As you know, the smallest class of ship available are corvettes and to a lesser extent, sloops. These ships are fast and very cheap to produce. But they must absolutely avoid storms and do not have enough storage space for long voyages.¡± ¡°So what''s the difference between Sloops and Corvettes?¡± I ask. ¡°Sloops are much smaller and are more along the line of transport between islands. Many much larger ships may have a sloop or two they can deploy for easier docking on islands. Regardless, both ships are very small. Most [Captains] would look to quickly upgrade to a frigate, which is where ship size doubles. Frigates is where most [Captain] become less members of a crew and more a leader of them. They are a favorite of first time [Captains] and are sometimes permanent homes for an entire family.¡± ¡°You mentioned the smallest class had Corvettes and Sloops. Is there a different type for a frigate?¡± ¡°Some have attempted to produce a variant, but none have succeeded. Frigates are just not large enough for such significant customization.¡± ¡°But the smallest class is?¡± Myers goes silent for a moment before he speaks. ¡°I should mention that there are six class rankings of ships. They are based on the six rankings of cores. Core ranking from strongest to weakest is White, Green, Blue, Purple, Gold, and Orange. A ship is able to use a core equal to its ranking or one higher and one lower. Two cores lower and the core cannot manipulate the ship. Two cores higher and the ship''s hull will be overloaded with mana- causing the ship''s hull to degrade. A corvette can have a green core installed, but a sloop would degrade because it is so much smaller.¡± Six rankings, six classes of ship sizes based on how well they can handle cores. ¡°Simple enough.¡± ¡°Good. The third class of ships after frigates are destroyers and haulers. Destroyers are combat focused vessels and Haulers are trade focussed. Compared to frigates, they are anywhere from a third to a half ship larger. Both haulers and destroyers can be modified into the other- except for dedicated military destroyers. Those ships will be built with a thick hull that cannot be removed, but they are far stronger and resilient in combat at the expense of internal space. Many [Pirates] fly haulers modified into destroyers. They add more cannons and speed, but nowhere near enough resilience to handle a dedicated military vessel.¡± I shift my body more forward to better block the rain. ¡°Yea, I noticed that by the difference in hull integrity. Dedicated military destroyers have three times as much hull integrity compared to my frigate.¡± ¡°Four times, actually. Cored ships have higher integrity.¡± ¡°Well, that big ass ship over there is a Four-Mast Cored Heavy Galleon named Towers-keeper. It has nearly sixteen thousand hull integrity- more than twice the amount of those two destroyers combined and nearly thirteen times the Timbergrove. Am I looking at the fourth class, or is this the fifth? Because that ship is only twice as big as a destroyer but is so much more resilient.¡± Myers releases a rare chuckle. ¡°Many [Captains] make the same mistake when they first set eyes on a class four. Which is understandable because all ships higher than a class three are built with different wood. Classes one to three use arborean wood for constructing the ship''s hull. Such wood is cheap to produce and quick to grow. Unfortunately, Arborean wood cannot adequately support ships larger than class three. Instead, class four, five, and six ships are made using Cinder-oak, Darkwood, or Heart-Cypress. All three are much stronger than Arborean, but also more expensive. That galleon looks like it¡¯s made using darkwood.¡± ¡°Is galleon the only ship type at class four?¡± ¡°No. Class four comprises galleons, cruisers, brigantines, and galleys. Galleons are vertically large with big holds. Brigantines are the same except a bit smaller and faster. Cruisers are more horizontal with higher speed and mobility. Galleys are similar to cruisers but with more speed and are exclusively used by the Buxon.¡± Myers clears his throat. ¡°Do note that these ships can be heavily modified for a variety of roles.¡± ¡°Is Class five and six just bigger ships?¡± ¡°They are. Class five comprises Battleships, Barges, and Capitals. Battleships are as the name suggests, ships dedicated for combat. They are capable of taking on entire fleets of class four and coming out on top. Barges are trading vessels with enough space to feed cities. Capitals are ships that are built to be effective at everything, including combat. The admiral of a country''s navy will commonly be aboard a capital ship.¡± Myers frowns as a particularly strong bit of wind hits the ship. He maneuvers the sails and puts us back on course. ¡°We¡¯re almost at the tower. Looks like they¡¯ve already got a welcoming committee.¡± I stare at the dock to find several men of mostly human species standing ready with rope. ¡°We¡¯ve got a minute. What''s the last class of ships?¡± ¡°Class six is unique. They comprise only the Carrier class. Carrier class ships are from five to ten times larger than a class five. They also all require an orange core to function. The number of such vessels can be counted in the single digits.¡± Myers pauses for a moment. ¡°We¡¯re nearing the docks. I¡¯m slowing down now. Get your crew to throw some rope as soon as we¡¯re docked.¡± The sails on the Timbergrove swerve and shift, causing the ship to rapidly decelerate. ¡°Got it.¡± I hop off and rush inside to get help. IC God Games - B2 - Chapter 47: Tower-Ecclesiasticus The rain and wind has gotten worse. So much so that Simon worries. Not for his life, but for the life of the incoming vessel. He can see the ship clearly now as the winds buffet the ship off course, only for the [Helmsman] to correct. The [High Paladin] can¡¯t help but nod in appreciation of such skillful mastery. He can only imagine the difficulty of taming such a small and light ship in such a violent storm. He looks up at the thundering clouds and gives a silent prayer for mercy upon the Timbergrove. Whether his prayers will be answered is something the one divine has a say. So long as the crew and [Captain] are of good spirit and good soul, then they will make it in time. ¡°[Captain],¡± A woman with staff in hand rushes to his side. She bows. ¡°The [Sailors] are in position to assist the Timbergroves crew.¡± He nods. ¡°Good. And the tent?¡± ¡°It is being set up as we speak.¡± She pauses for a moment with an expression of uncertainty ¡°Speak, [Paladin] Samantha. Do not let uncertainty chain your mind.¡± She sighs. ¡°The ship sir, it hoists no flag, but the ship is well-armed. The cannons are large and of Buxon make- not to say anything of the ballista upon its deck. To me, the ship screams [Pirate] in everything but flag. Could we be inviting danger if we are to provide assistance.¡± ¡°Absolutely,¡± Simon exclaims. ¡°It is a risk, but it is a greater risk of ones soul if the ship contains innocence and we did not provide assistance. As is our teaching, a single innocent life is worth more than a ship of criminals.¡± Simon places a firm hand upon the woman''s steel pauldron. ¡°As [Paladins], we are charged with the safety of not just our flock, but of all souls. We must take such risks and carry the burdens of failure or risk losing the great ones guidance.¡± She bows. ¡°I understand. My fear blinded me.¡± ¡°Not fear, but love for those close to you. Now go, make sure the tent is properly prepared. I will assist the [Sailors] and invite the ships crew.¡± ¡°Yes, [Captain].¡± She turns around and rushes back to camp. When her form disappears, he returns his gaze towards the incoming frigate. He takes a slow breath and makes his way to the pier. When he arrives, he can''t help but be impressed with the great ones creation. The pier is made of the same unbreakable metal as the tower. The pier is wide with poles morphing out of the sides and ending in a glowing metal orb. Around the pole, his crew have already tied rope that they will use to keep the Timbergrove in place. They also have tied rope to themselves in case they fall. At his arrival, all present give him a respectful nod of the head instead of a bow. Understandable, for current circumstances do not allow such wasteful movement. The Timbergrove is coming in fast, far faster than expected. He watches the ship curiously, finding it odd that it has not started to slow. He can already see the nervousness of the [Sailors]. Many are taking position to run because the frigate looks like it will crash. ¡°Hold. Cored frigates can slow on a dime.¡± He exclaims. His words alleviate fears as the timbergrove is only fifty meters away. And, just as expected, the ship''s both side and top sails shift. The ship decelerates rapidly, to the point that it stops at a mere foot from crashing. The [Captain] or [Helmsman] must be very high level to calculate such a stop. The thought enters and leaves just as fast for the ship''s crew begins throwing down rope to his [Sailors] while his [Sailors] do the same. Both crew start rushing around and tying the ship to the pier. It takes awhile for the Timbergrove to be tightly docked, but it eventually is. With such a large amount of rope and the unmoving tower, the ship should weather the storm with ease. Just then, a plank is lowered from the ship to the pier. Simon rushes forward and stops with arms at his back. The first to exit the ship is a man larger than himself. A giant of a man with broad shoulders that carries a puffy cat. Upon the man''s back is a large curved sword with many runes.
Boriss Smirnov: Level 4 [Security Chief]
Simon relaxes at the sight of the man''s job. Not a [Pirate], nor does the man have a high level for the job. But, such a level does not make a weak class. Nay, Simon would believe the man is an expert classer by the confidence alone. Behind the man, the [First Mate], [Chief Carpenter], and [Quartermaster] follow- all with a remarkably low level. At this point, he can¡¯t help but feel a bit nervous. Something doesn''t feel right. Where is the [Captain]? The thought enters his mind, only for an old bearded man to reveal himself right before the bridge. Staring at him, no message pops up. Is he hiding his job? Does he have one? Does he have an item that blocks [Captains Authority]? Is he the captain?¡± ¡°Thanks for the help.¡± He hears a high-pitched voice that shifts his focus from the old man. ¡°Of course.¡± He looks to the source of the voice, only to be met with the broad shouldered man named Boriss. He quickly glances at the other members, but finds them silent and unreactive. Unsure, he decides to look at the group as a whole. ¡°The Tower-Ecclesiasticus is always happy to assist those in need.¡± Thunder roars and rain begins pouring ever stronger from above. Simon quickly raises a hand. ¡°Apologies, but is your [Captain] around? I would like to invite them and their crew to join us in a tent we¡¯ve prepared near the tower. I imagine it will be far more comfortable to rest there than on your ship.¡± ¡°Huh, that¡¯s actually really nice. We¡¯ll accept.¡± The voice speaks and Simon focuses on the towering man that shouldn¡¯t have such a high pitch. The man chuckles when they make eye contact. He raises a finger and points at the cat. ¡°Fluffy [Captain] is here,¡± he says. When Simon truly looks at the cat, the cat smiles back. ¡°What? Never seen a cat [Captain] before?¡± ____________________________________________________________ ¡°A talking cat that just so happens to also be the [Captain] of the ship. That sounds like a skill. Maybe a [Druid] skill? I heard they can change into animals.¡± James walks alongside Simon while the rain pours overhead. The daily prayer service is finished and it is now time for him to meet Timbergroves crew. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡°I asked, but Quasi says that he is just a cat,¡± Simon explains. James shakes his head. ¡°His name is Quasi? Odd name, that. What of his character?¡± ¡°Eccentric,¡± Simon says immediately. ¡°But I don¡¯t believe him to be malicious.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°An older man and his young grandson are traveling with the crew. It isn¡¯t company I¡¯d expect from people with compromised morals.¡± ¡°Ahh, that is good. Very good. Those who care for the weakest of a group are those of greatest morals.¡± Simon nods with a smile. ¡°I agree wholeheartedly.¡± The two stop in front of a large tent only recently set up. Wind and rain buffet the structure, but it holds with ease. With a pause and a breath, the two enter. Within the tent, the entire crew of the Timbergrove is sitting around a table with plenty of food provided. Two servants wait patiently at the ends of the tent. At the head of the table is a human boy feeding a cat on the table. All eyes turn to him. Dripping wet, James steps towards them and does a bow. ¡°I would like to thank you all for accepting my invitation. It does my soul well to help those in need.¡± The cat swallows a piece of meat. Then he glances at the elderly man and raises a paw at James. ¡°Myers, he¡¯s a wolven, right?¡± the cat asks. Myers sighs. ¡°Yes, he is of the wolven race.¡± ¡°Aight, good to know. James, right? There''s towels next to you. Dry off and join us at the table. The food¡¯s pretty good. Especially this weird meat.¡± James glances to the side and does indeed find a stand with several towels. ¡°A fine idea,¡± he says for both himself and Simon. Both take a towel and start drying themselves. For James, the process is far more arduous on account of all the fur. For Simon, the [High Paladin] only needs to wipe his hair. The quality of fitting for Simon''s plate armor keeps everything but his head dry. He does still dry his hair. Once James is no longer dripping, he takes a seat at one of the empty chairs with Simon. He glances at the cat once more, and finds him to be enjoying the meat quite a bit. ¡°The meat you are eating comes from a bromos and is a staple food source on Okami. It is a medium sized bipedal animal known for consuming bamboo. Very nutritious and the meat is always tender on account of the breeding.¡± The cat swallows and looks at James. ¡°Okami is the wolven capital, right? That¡¯s pretty far from here. You must have traveled quite the distance.¡± Quasi asks. ¡°Okami is the island. Okamina is the capital city that houses the wolven empire. As for distance, the pilgrimage has indeed taken a while. But, the difficulty is part of the test in faith.¡± ¡°A test we¡¯ve succeeded at.¡± Simon adds. The [High Paladin] is already filling his plate with a smile on his face. The man enjoys food just as much as he enjoys the faith. ¡°Say,¡± a short human interrupts. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you have some alcohol native to Okami?¡± The cat rolls his eyes. ¡°Seriously Cillian? We¡¯ve just met the man and you¡¯re already trying to get drunk.¡± ¡°What?¡± Cillian spreads his arms. ¡°The food¡¯s good, I¡¯m just trying to get something appropriate to wash it down.¡± James chuckles. ¡°It is fine and I would argue proper. Meeting new people should be a joy and celebration.¡± He looks to a servant. ¡°Bring me a gourd of Okami delight and several o-choko. We will do this properly¡± The servant bows and rushes out. _____________________________________________________________ As the servant rushes out, I can''t help but find James fascinating. The man looks like a less muscular and smaller Fenrimorph. Minus the four eyes, horns, and spiked tail. His features also do not look feral at all. Oddly enough, the man has an aura of civility around him with plenty of charisma to boot. Which could be because of his job.
James Watanabe: Level 63 [Pilgrim-speaker Bishop]
The man¡¯s level is very high, even higher than the man next to him.
Simon Laquerdis: Level 57 [Faith-Guardian Captain]
Both are expert classes, so their combat prowess is equal to or higher than that Buxon I killed. Probably higher, especially Simon. He¡¯s wearing full plate armor smothered in runes similar to Emma¡¯s armor. Regardless, both seem rather friendly with a strong religious background. I sense no malice from them whatsoever. I clear my throat, not that anything is in the way. ¡°So, Myers says you guys are part of the Tower-Ecclesiasticus, a religion that worships these towers. I¡¯m curious to hear about it- both the history and its teachings.¡± Instantly, James'' eyes seem to sparkle as all context of food is removed. ¡°Of course,¡± he says happily. ¡°The Tower-Ecclesiasticus was formed a hundred years ago from an offshoot of the Wolven-Ministorum who worship the wolven [Emperor]. The early believers felt that the [Emperor] is merely a man who can directly communicate with the one divine and not the Divine himself. The Tower-Ecclesiasticus differs in that we believe the towers are the divine ear. Through prayer at the towers, it is believed the divine can hear the prayers directly from the people.¡± I nod. ¡°So the [Emperor] is a middleman while the towers are direct forms of communication. I imagine the [Emperor] is not fond of such beliefs.¡± James sighs. ¡°They were not initially. The Wolven-Inquisition was ordered to eradicate the budding Tower-Ecclesiasticus, so the members were forced to flee to Magnis. The founders quickly formed the Towers Guild and accepted the protection from the Republic of Guilds. The [Emperor] threatened war with the Republic over allowing such a religious guild to exist. But the republic stood firm and the [Emperor] backed off.¡± ¡°He just backed off? Just like that? I find that hard to believe.¡± James opens his mouth to explain, but Simon beats him to the punch. ¡°The Republic of Guilds is a major power in all ways from trade, military might, and levels. The only weakness is the constant bickering between guilds. But if the republic was attacked, that weakness would be temporarily eliminated. No major power wants to fight such a powerful enemy.¡± ¡°I disagree with that assessment.¡± Myers interrupts the conversation. ¡°Even if the guilds came together, forming an organized military force takes time and training. The Empire''s military organization would still be far superior in the early stages of the war. No, the reason they backed off is because the republic has three master classes and the empire has only one.¡± I perk up. ¡°Master class is seventy-five and over, right? Are they really that powerful?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± answers Myers. ¡°No,¡± answers Simon. The two glance at each other, then they chuckle good naturedly. James joins in the laughter as well. Everyone else just looks confused, including me. I raise a paw. ¡°Am I missing something?¡± James shakes his head while still bearing a smile. ¡°No, no. I hear this argument all the time from [Captains]. Always the same argument.¡± ¡°About how strong master classes are?¡± I ask. ¡°More-so about how much of a force multiplier a master class actually is for a country. Some argue they are the same as a dozen Experts while others argue it is equivalent to hundreds- not that all experts are created equal. Named experts can be armies unto themselves.¡± Yea. The only named expert I¡¯ve seen fight is the Lion¡¯s Maw. The guy single handedly took out an entire crew from far away without breaking a sweat. That was probably not even his full capability. If a master class is even stronger, then it would make sense to avoid a country with three. Just then, the flaps of the tent open and the servant arrives with a gourd, including several saucers. ¡°Ah, perfect. It is here.¡± James exclaims. He stands up and extends his hand to the servant. ¡°Give it here. I will do th-¡± his words are interrupted as the tent flaps burst open. A woman in armor rushes inside and slams into the servant. Both fall with the gourd and saucers shattering upon the metal floor. A scot whines in the background while Simon stands up angry. ¡°Samantha! What is the meaning of thi-¡± he pauses when the woman looks up to reveal and expression of utter fear. ¡°[Captain],¡± she takes a breath, ¡°a ship is approaching. He is approaching!¡± she exclaims in panic Simon frowns. ¡°What ship? Who is he?¡± She swallows. ¡°Valentine.¡± IC God Games - B2 - Chapter 48: Valentine A single word. A single name. A single utterance is all it takes to send the entirety of the Tower-Ecclesiasticus into a panic. At the mere mention of Valentine, both James and Simon rush out of the tent and into the pouring rain. With a flicker of my ears, I can hear them yelling and screaming orders to the entirety of the organization. Turning to my crew, I find that Emma is in shock and Myers has the biggest grimace I¡¯ve ever seen on his face. Even Clay, who¡¯d been eating just recently, is giving Myers a look of worry. ¡°Myers, mind explaining to me who the fuck this Valentine guy is and why everyone is panicking?¡± Still grimacing, the man looks to me like I¡¯d just stimulated some old trauma. ¡°Have you heard of the Corsairs?¡± He asks. ¡°Maybe? I may have heard it mentioned. Why?¡± ¡°The Corsairs are an organization of the highest level [Pirates] in all of Tristique. Each and every member of the organization is a [Pirate Captain] with the ability to fight off a small fleet of ships.¡± I nod. ¡°Soooo, Valentine is a badass high level [Pirate] that''s part of the organization.¡± Myers shakes his head. ¡°No, Valentine is the leader of the Corsairs. He is considered the most dangerous person in existence. The only ones that could possibly stop him are the major naval powers or a Master classer.¡± I lean back and stretch my paws. I then yawn. ¡°Aren''t we in some backwater world? What the fuck is he doing here? Also, why is he sailing through a storm? Isn¡¯t that dangerous?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve no idea why he is here. He shouldn''t be, but he is for whatever reason. As for the storm, it¡¯s an inconvenience at best. His ship, the Bone-Leviathan, is a cored battleship class designed to fight enemy fleets. A simple storm isn¡¯t going to harm him one bit.¡± I grin. ¡°Sounds like a good ship to upgrade to.¡± ¡°ABSOLUTELY NOT!¡± Myers yells. ¡°You will get us all killed if you anger him. Nobody here, not even me has any hope of winning, let alone hurting him. Fighting is a death sentence! Do not do it!¡± the old man warns. Damn. If Myers is this worked up, then it is probably best to keep my mouth shut. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll play nice¡­ for now. Anyways, what''s the man''s personality? Does he plan to kill us all? Should I prepare a retreat?¡± ¡°Eccentric and crazy.¡± Is the first words out of his mouth. ¡°He is just as likely to leave you alone as he is to slaughter you. He is considered a tactical genius as well as having martial strength equivalent to an expert classed Buxon. The only redeeming quality is that the man does not lie. If he says something, then he will do it.¡± The old man takes a breath. ¡°As for retreat. It¡¯s Impossible with any ship here. The Bone-Leviathan has been known to outrun all but the fastest ships¡­ if he doesn''t choose to blast you out of the sky.¡± ¡°Shite.¡± Cillian curses. ¡°So we just stay here and hope we don¡¯t die.¡± ¡°Da.¡± Boriss says. He grabs his sword with a smile. ¡°Vhe die fighting. Is good, yes.¡± ¡°No. Fighting is a last resort.¡± Myers growls. ¡°Can we reason with him?¡± Irmgard asks. ¡°We have that core worth a kingdom. A trade for our lives may be best.¡± ¡°No.¡± Myers shakes his head. ¡°He could just take it from us and we wouldn¡¯t be able to stop him. Actually, don¡¯t even mention the core. If he finds it, he may kill everyone here to keep information about the core''s existence from leaking out.¡± Just then, Simon rushes back inside. The man is dripping wet. He looks at us. ¡°Apologies, but the Bone Leviathan is making port as we speak. I suggest you not stay hidden when he arrives. He does not take kindly to those hiding from him.¡± Simon turns to leave, but I quickly speak out. ¡°Do you know why he is here?¡± He stops. ¡°No. I can only hope that it is for something. Otherwise, if he¡¯s here because he is bored, then we may all be dead.¡± He steps through the flaps and exits into the rain, leaving me and everyone else grimacing. After a long moment of silence, Boriss looks at me. ¡°Comrade, vhat is orders?¡± ¡°We go outside and hope that we survive.¡± I answer. ¡°If it comes to a fight, then you all distract them while I retreat.¡± Cillian frowns. ¡°Retreat? Where?¡± ¡°Into the tower.¡± I say. ¡°I should be able to enter the tower, and I doubt anyone can follow. Once you all are dead and he is gone, I¡¯ll exit the tower, hopefully board a ship, and then plan my lifelong vengeance against Valentine.¡± Boriss laughs. ¡°Ha. Is good plan.¡± The Russian salutes. ¡°Boriss will make good Martyr.¡± ¡°Fuck me.¡± Cillian whines. ¡°Of all the ways to die.¡± The Russian slaps the Scot goodnaturedly. ¡°Is fine communist death, yes.¡± The Scot groans. I stand up straight. ¡°Well, lets go outside and check out the ship. I¡¯m curious what the pinnacle of shipbuilding is made out of.¡± Following my lead, we all exit into the pouring rain. Then we turn to the docks to find the massive ship.
Bone-Leviathan (Six-Mast Cored Battleship) Max Speed: 37 knots This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Construction: Wood, Metal, Bone. Modifications: Expanded Gun Deck. Wyvern Pens. Forge. Mana-stream Napalm Breath. Armored Hull. Thick Hull. Arcane Barrier. Hull Integrity: 319,171/319,219 Mana
¡°Holy Crap that ship is fast! And those modifications! And that Hull integrity! And it looks so awesome!¡± I can''t help but get excited over how the ship looks. It is nearly three times as large as the Towers-keeper with a black hull made of wood, metal, and a whole lot of bone. The ship looks like it was built within the skeleton of a monstrously large beast. Considering the name, the skeleton probably belongs to a leviathan. At the bow of the ship''s hull, the leviathan''s skull is melded into the construction. The skull''s eye holes are glowing gold while the mouth is shut closed. But, if I look closely between the teeth, I notice a massive runed cannon hidden inside. At the top of the ship, six bone masts that look like spines rise up into the sky. At the sides, instead of masts, the ship has a massive pair of leathery-bone wings not dissimilar to a bat. Finally, the stern of the ship has an elongated spine-like tail dragging a large black flag with the picture of two crisscrossing bones and a leviathan skull in the center. ¡°That¡¯s a Mors kingdom vessel made on the island of Cadaver. They are the only ones who can produce ships using bones as a material.¡± ¡°Mors? Are they a major player or something?¡± ¡°You could say that.¡± Myers nods. ¡°Cadaver lies closest to the central continent and is thus subject to countless monster attacks. They are a people who know combat, and are considered a major military force as strong as the other major powers.¡± ¡°I see. So let me guess, Valentine is part of that kingdom.¡± ¡°Formerly part of that kingdom. He was excommunicated by the [King] for some travesty.¡± ¡°Excommunicated with a battleship.¡± I add. ¡°You¡¯d think the [King] would have taken the ship.¡± ¡°When a [Prince] or [Princess] of Mors gains an expert class, the [King] of Mors orders the production of a vessel using the best resources they can muster. It is said that such vessels become the lifeblood of the [Captain] and that separation is only allowed through death.¡± ¡°Wait, are you telling me that Valentine was a [Prince]?¡± I never get an answer as James rushes from the docks accompanied by an army of people. He quickly notices us. ¡°Come, we will wait by the divine ear. If he is listening, we may be able to avoid a catastrophe.¡± ¡°Or we make it easier to kill all of us.¡± I answer. He shakes his dripping fur. ¡°The divine will protect us.¡± He continues running towards the tower''s center with everyone following behind. ¡°Should we follow?¡± Irmgard asks. I nod. ¡°Of course. Easier retreat for me. Now lets go.¡± The run to the tower''s entrance is a short one. When we arrive, the tower reveals itself in all its glory. At the base of the tower is the entrance. Looking through the entrance, I find a lot of sand alongside a set of wide stairs leading upwards. When I look above the entrance, I find a spiked wheel and a metal plaque underneath it. At first, the plaque is in an odd language. But as I stare, the words seem to come together. Here lies the test of the Chariot: Through Perception you will find what you seek. Through Endurance you will strive long enough to find it. Through Control you will overcome the limits of your body. ¡°Huh. So it won¡¯t just be an easy go in and grab what I want.¡± ¡°Grab what?¡± Simon arrives wet and exhausted from all the running. Behind him are the rest of the people that were in the ships. ¡°Weapons.¡± I answer. He shakes his head. ¡°No need. We¡¯re dead if we have to fight.¡± ¡°I¡¯d still prefer to be armed.¡± He sighs. ¡°Too late now. Valentine is probably leaving his ship now. But, if it does come to violence,¡± he lays his hand on the handle of his mace. ¡°Then I will be the first to reunite with the divine.¡± I snort. ¡°Right. If you could fight first and avoid the dying part. I think that would be better.¡± The man cracks a smile, then he frowns. He looks into the distance. ¡°He¡¯s here.¡± In the distance, a group of seven people are making their way towards us. Five of them are covered in runed gear, and the last two carry simple leather armor. It is also in this group where I am met with my first look at a Phytonid. The woman, at least that is what it seems like, looks like a nymph or dryad from mythology. They are tall, with female human-like proportions. Their skin is green and they have roots, leaves, and bark throughout their body. Instead of hair, green leafy vines flow down the head to rest upon the full-body armored runed robe. In the woman''s right hand is a staff nearly as tall as her. At the top of the staff is a glowing violet core. I stare at her until her job shows up.
Gazania, The Hurricane: Level 72 [Storm-Forge Navigator]
She is named and she isn¡¯t even the [Captain]? I look at the person next to her- a wolven male with pitch-black fur. The man is as tall as the woman but also wider with clearly pronounced muscles bulging under his runed yoroi armor. At his hip is a sheathed odachi whose blade alone looks to be four feet long.
Daichi Chikara, The Formless Blade: Level 66 [Stealth-operations Security Chief]
Next to him is a human woman with a full-body runed leather bodysuit. Throughout her legs, hips, and arms are dozens and dozens of sheathed knives while several massive runed javelins rest squarely on her back. The woman seems to be of asian heritage, at least with what I can see that isn¡¯t being covered by her hood.
Min Daiyu, The Lightning Toss: Level 69 [Thundering Artillery Chief]
Next is what I can only infer to be a [Knight] of some form. The man is very large in stature, nearly seven feet tall. He has a longsword at his hip, a shield on his back, and a halberd resting on his shoulder. Since the man''s visor is down, I can''t even tell his species.
Darran Orgart, The Sky Piercer: Level 68 [Vigorous Aerial Chief]
Next, we have the singular Buxon. The man is large, thick muscled, and wears thick leather throughout his body. But, most notable about him is that the man is smothered in weapons. Seven swords, three axes, and two knives are at his hip. On his back is a pack with eight battle-axes, two swords, three spears, and a warhammer. All of it is runed, which is very odd since Buxons dont have the necessary internal mana regeneration to use runed items. Regardless, staring at the man''s face shows an inquisitive and intelligent mind accompanied by what is another named.
Maksim, the Sacrificial Weapon: Level 70 [Blade-Brazen Security Chief]
Next to Maksim and of a slightly smaller stature is a male gemma with orange-grey skin. He wears a full body of leather armor and carries a battleaxe on his back. Out of them all, this guy seems the weakest. When I attempt to check his job, nothing shows up. ¡°Odd.¡± Finally, I look at the last member of this group and the most piratey person I¡¯ve ever seen..
Valentine Vaevictus, The Astral Phantom: Level 74 [Pirate-Prince Captain]
IC God Games - B2 - Chapter 49: The Deal Valentine is the de facto pirate of all pirates. He¡¯s tall, like Boriss tall, with broad shoulders carrying a scale-plated coat with massive pauldrons and a flowing black cape. The pauldrons have the depiction of a monstrous maw on either side with glowing eyeholes. The rest of the coat is similar to Irmgards jacket, where it hugs closely and extends to his knees in length. Unlike her jacket, the coat is covered in armored scales with each individual scale having a carved rune on it. Atop the man''s head rests a resplendent leather tricorn with glowing red bones decorated throughout the headpiece. Atop the hat, a single crimson feather extends a foot above and flows lazily to the movements of the wind. Underneath the coat, runed Bone-leather jackets and pants match the aesthetics of the man¡¯s tricorn while the runed scale greaves match the man''s jacket. The entirety of the man''s clothing screams of a quality and expense only a kingdom can provide, if even that. Below the hat, Valentine''s hardened human face rests. The man is old on account of the wrinkles on his skin, but a flowing black mane reveals no sign of aging, nor does the vibrant green eyes discern a loss of mental ability. No, Valentine is a man in his absolute prime, and he fully knows it by the slightly crazed grin on his face and resting left hand on the singular sheathed cutlass at his hip. Just as they continue walking towards the central tower, I realize quickly that all of them are completely dry. When they get close enough, I find out why. The rain stops pouring, and when I look up, I find that it is being blocked by some kind of barrier. Looking more closely, I notice the barrier is a bubble, and that the center of the bubble is Gazania, the Hurricane. I guess a [Storm-Forge Navigator] is going to have some way of countering a storm. Hell, the woman is known as the Hurricane. She can probably make a damn hurricane. ¡°That staff is amazing.¡± I hear Emma whisper. Figuring I have a moment since they seem to be walking rather slowly towards us, I focus upon the glowing staff in the plant-woman''s hand.
Name Roaring Aurora
Rarity Legendary - 56 Runes.
  • 2(8-- Greater Mana Efficiency)
  • 1(10 - Greater Aurora shielding aura]
  • 1(30 - Create Aurora)
Description This staff reduces external mana expenditure by 75%. This staff reduces the effect of an aurora by 90% in its vicinity. This staff can cast Create Aurora at will.
Sustain 2.3% Mana Regeneration Per Minute Create Aurora: 4317 Mana to activate
That''s legendary? Doesn¡¯t seem that impressive. Well, maybe it is, depending on what an Aurora does in this world. Before I can ask, Valentine arrives within speaking distance. He stops and stares down all those present until he locks eyes with James kneeling at the tower''s entrance. ¡°When I came here, I wasn¡¯t expecting to be greeted by the tower idiots,¡± Valentine says mockingly. Next to me, I find Simon balling his fists. Apparently, the man doesn¡¯t like his religious order being called idiots. Thankfully, the man has the self control to keep his emotions in check. James, ever diplomatic, bows. ¡°The Tower Ecclesiasticus encourages all to make pilgrimage to the divine ear.¡± ¡°Harr harr harr,¡± Valentine laughs. ¡°You idiots understand nothing and comprehend nothing.¡± The man continues laughing and then abruptly stops. ¡°I should end you all for even thinking I¡¯d do something like come here for a pilgrimage.¡± Every single person goes pale at the man''s words. Even Simon, the level 57 that he is, tightly grasps the hilt of his longsword nervously. The man is clearly willing to fight to the death, but he can¡¯t help stop the fear rising up in him. Then Valentine smiles. ¡°But I have a better idea, and an audience would do well. Now move aside!¡± James and everybody around the entrance quickly shift to the side, allowing Valentine a view of the entrance. ¡°Harr harr harr,¡± Valentine laughs again. His laugh is odd, gritty, and laced with a bit of crazy. He walks forward, up the steps, and then stops at the entrance. He raises a hand forward, and then stops at what appears to be an invisible barrier. ¡°I always wondered what these towers are for and why there is a barriered entrance.¡± Immediately, Valentine retracts his hand, balls a fist, and punches forward. The sound of a gunshot goes off as his fist breaks the sound barrier. When his fist makes contact with the invisible wall, no impact can be heard as though all kinetic force was absorbed. The man steps back and laughs again. ¡°Now, I know. It¡¯s all for a game.¡± He turns around and looks back at his crew. ¡°And I am not a player.¡± His eyes focus on the singular Gemma. ¡°Drevis, tell me what¡¯s inside.¡± Confused looks spread throughout the pilgrims at Valentine''s words. Looks that the [Pirate-Prince Captain] thoroughly enjoys the look of. ¡°Yes, [Captain].¡± Drevis exclaims confidently. Valentine grins. ¡°Not your [Captain] yet. Prove to me the worth of your story and I will let you join my crew.¡± The Gemma nods confidently. He walks up the stairs and stops right next to Valentine. Then he raises a hand forward and is met with the barrier. Then he applies a little bit of pressure. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The entirety of the Tower Ecclesiasticus gasps in surprise as Drevis hand passes to the other side. ¡°Harr harr harrr.¡± Valentine''s laughter echoes throughout the clearing from the surprise of all those present. Now, every word of heresy that has come from his mouth may now be considered as gospel. ¡°Harr harr harrr.¡± He continues his joyous dark laughter. Then he puts a hand on Drevis shoulder. ¡°Welcome to the crew.¡± Then he pushes Drevis fully through the barrier. ¡°Now go inside and tell me what you find.¡± When Drevis looks back, the man''s expression is confused as though he can''t see anybody. He puts his hand back on the barrier and then exits outside. When he does, he gives everyone a confused look. ¡°What happened?¡± Valentines asks. ¡°Nothing. I just can¡¯t see outside the barrier.¡± Drevis walks back into the tower. He gives one last look and then jogs deeper inside. Once he is out of vision range, Min Daiyu steps behind Valentine. ¡°[Captain],¡± She calls. She raises a hand with an extended finger pointing directly at me. ¡°There is a sovereign here.¡± Shit! Valentine twirls rapidly in my direction at a speed I can barely track. When our eyes meet, the man relaxes and starts laughing. ¡°Harr harr harr,¡± his laugh echoes for a moment. Then, out of nowhere, his hand bitchslaps Min Daiyu with enough speed and force to send the woman flying into the ground.. ¡°That''s a [Shifter] you bitch!¡± He corrects her. ¡°Check the class next time.¡± He warns the woman before turning away from her. Damn, he¡¯s brutal. When I look at the woman next, her hood is peeled back to reveal a very asian heritage. Her cheek is now very red and her expression is oddly one of bliss on account of the smile and blush. She quickly stands up and lowers back her hood. But, the damage has been done. Valentine''s interest is on me. ¡°A [Shifter] that can transform into a Sovereign. Today just keeps getting better and better.¡± Valentine starts walking towards me with a creepy grin on his face. ¡°I¡¯m going to have to know how you got such a transformation.¡± Before he can walk the distance, Simon steps in front of me and unsheathes his longsword in warning. ¡°[Captain] Quasi is a guest of the Tower Ecclesiasticus, and is thus part of my protection. So long as I live, I will not allow any harm to come to him.¡± Awww, you¡¯re trying to protect me. That¡¯s adorable¡­ It was nice knowing you. ¡°Harr harr harr. A [Captain] you say? A [Shifter] and [Captain]? This just gets better and better.¡± Valentine steps forward, completely unbothered by Simon''s unsheathed longsword. I see the shift in Simon''s posture. The man is ready to rush and attack. Probably die too considering the difference in levels. The moment just before Simon is about to attack, Valentine completely stops. The man¡¯s eyes harden when he notices another person nearby. ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t the old fart. Today is full of surprises.¡± I hear a grumble, and then Myers steps forward with a hand readily on his cane. ¡°It¡¯s been awhile, Valentine. I wasn¡¯t expecting to meet you here.¡± ¡°Harr harr harr. So this is where you¡¯ve been hiding. I don¡¯t suppose you¡¯ve got the brat with you?¡± ¡°The child is not your concern.¡± Myers answers. ¡°Harr harr harr. Not mine, true. But there are many who¡¯d pay a kingdom''s ransom for the kid''s death.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t care for coin. You never did.¡± Valentine laughs. ¡°True, true. What is the point of coin when the best things in life are priceless.¡± Myers grimaces. The old man tightens his grip on his cane which causes Valentine to smile wider and wider. Thankfully, before a fight could happen, a screaming man rushes out of the tower. Not a moment later and a horse-sized brown scorpion with three glowing pincers rams directly into the barrier with enough force to shatter concrete. But, the barrier easily holds. The scorpion strikes the barrier several times with its claws and even pincers, but nothing happens. Then, after glancing about, turns around and disappears deep into the tower. Only once it is gone, does the attention return to Drevis. The Gemma is on the ground. His axe is missing and a massive bloody hole is on his left shoulder. Completely distracted now, Valentine turns away from Myers and rushes to the downed man. When Valentine arrives, the gemma begins convulsing. ¡°Ghaahhhhhh.¡± The man screams. His formerly orange-grey stony skin starts turning a slightly violet hue. Valentine reaches down to pick up the man. ¡°Don¡¯t touch him,¡± Gazania warns. The woman''s eyes are aglow as she stares at the writhing form. ¡°He¡¯s been poisoned by scorpis venom. If even a little bit enters your system, it can be lethal.¡± Valentine stops reaching down and takes a step back with a frown. ¡°Are you saying he¡¯s going to die?¡± Gazania nods. ¡°The venom is called Scorpis Grasp. Once someone is infected, the person''s mana regeneration increases by several hundred fold until they die from overdose. Once dead, the Scorpis consume the mana-rich corpse.¡± ¡°There is no cure?¡± ¡°Maybe by a [Healer], but not by me.¡± Valentines eyes swerve immediately to James. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing we have a [Rejuvenating Archmagus] in our presence.¡± The [Pirate] points at the Gemma, ¡°What do you say? Save my man here and I may let you and your flock go.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± James answers. He rushes to the writhing man and kneels down. He reaches into his robe and retracts a runed wand. He lays it on the Gemma, calls up his mana¡­ and the Gemma ceases movement.¡± ¡°He just died,¡± Gazania exclaims. ¡°Too slow.¡± ¡°No!¡± Valentine Roars in outrage as his foot slams down on James chest. James screams in pain under valentine''s crushing weight. ¡°JAMES!¡± Simon yells. The [Faith-Guardian Captain] rushes forward with a longsword raised to strike. He moves fast, faster than you¡¯d expect someone in full plate. But before he even reaches Valentine, a bolt of lightning rips through Simon''s upper body, completely obliterating the man and spraying several dozen people in brain matter. The corpse falls to the floor not a moment after. Valentine glances at the [Paladin] and then the asian woman. Min Daiyu¡¯s arm is extended and a dagger is missing from her waist. Valentine snorts. He looks down at the struggling James. ¡°I find someone who can enter the fucking tower, and he dies. I wasted my precious time on this.¡± Valentine adds more weight, wherein James screams. ¡°L-let me go!¡± I turn to my right and find a woman crying and attempting to rush towards Simon''s corpse. But several [Sailors] keep her back from making the same mistake. Honestly, I kinda feel bad. The Simon guy seemed pretty nice. He even put his life on the line for me. Maybe I should add Valentine to my future kill list? Then again, I only knew Simon for a day. ¡°FUCK!¡± Valentine roars. The man is now fully pissed and his smile is completely devoid of amusement. He looks at all those present, scanning them for something. ¡°Hoy,¡± he calls out, ¡°anyone here able to enter the tower too?¡± He applies more pressure on James. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be scared,¡± He says, looking hopefully. ¡°How about a deal, eh?¡± He looks about, even more crazed now. ¡°You go into the tower, tell me whats inside, and I¡¯ll leave everyone here fucking alone!¡± Oh? Now that sounds like a pretty good deal. Though, if the tower is dangerous, I could also die. Then again, what¡¯s the chances the man might kill me or my crew anyway? Decisions decisions. ¡°Come on, it''s a good deal.¡± Valentine starts laughing. A manic, crazy laugh. He reaches into a pocket and retrieves a scroll. ¡°I¡¯ll even give you a map to where you can find some nearby treasure.¡± ¡°DEAL!¡± I yell out. IC God Games - B2 - Chapter 50: Dealing with Tests ¡°DEAL!¡± The single yell is all it takes to shift the focus from Valentine¡¯s insane maniacal laughter to the talking cat. ¡°What?¡± Valentine turns to the voice. The cat hops off his perch. ¡°You heard me. I accept your terms. I enter the tower, find out what''s inside, and you give me that map.¡± The cat pauses for a moment. ¡°Also, the leave everyone alone part too.¡± ¡°You can enter the tower?¡± Valentine asks, disbelieving. The cat rolls its eyes. ¡°Of course I can. I wouldn''t be shouting DEAL if I couldn¡¯t.¡± Valentine removes his leg from James. ¡°So you''re one of the chosen ones, eh? How about proving it?¡± He points at the barrier. The cat walks to the tower. He sticks his head through the barrier, then retracts it. ¡°Lots of sand there, That''s going to be annoying on the fur.¡± ¡°Harr, har, har. So you¡¯re one of those gods chosen. Fine, you¡¯ve got a deal. Go inside, find out everything about the place, and tell me about it. Afterwards,¡± Valentine spreads his arms wide, ¡°I¡¯ll leave you and everyone here in peace.¡± ¡°And the map,¡± The cat points at a paw. ¡°Just because you¡¯re losing your mind a bit doesn¡¯t mean you can go against your word¡­ unless, your word doesn''t mean shit?¡± You could hear a pin drop at how silent everything had gone. Complete and utter silence. Valentine''s smile is gone, replaced completely with anger. Not the crazy anger from before, but the cold and calculating seething hate when personally insulted. ¡°My word is everything to me. Every promise, every deal, and every threat is something I will always act upon.¡± He rests his hand on the sheathed cutlass on his hip. ¡°Anyone who says otherwise is making an enemy of me.¡± He tilts his head, ¡°Is that understood, Quasi Eludo?¡± The cat matches the intensity of the stare including the head tilt. ¡°Perfectly, Valentine Vaevictus.¡± ¡°Good. Now,¡± Valentine points at the dead Gemma. ¡°He died rather quickly. I hope the same isn''t going to be true for you.¡± ¡°He wasn¡¯t properly prepared, but I will be.¡± The cat glances back at his crew. ¡°Boriss.¡± ¡°Yes comrade?¡± The large broad shouldered man asks. ¡°Go to my ship and get me my Gauntlets. I¡¯m going to need them to deal with giant scorpions.¡± Boriss salutes and runs off to port. None of Valentine''s crew move to stop him. ¡°You use Gauntlets?¡± Valentine asks once Boriss is gone. ¡°If memory serves, [Shifters] fight by transforming into monsters. What reason do you need gauntlets for?¡± ¡°Come now, Valentine. We may have a deal, but that deal doesn''t mean I tell you all my secrets.¡± Valentine leans forward. ¡°Are you really in a position to say that?¡± Quasi stretches all four limbs before yawning. ¡°Um, yeah. You want to know what''s in the tower and I¡¯m currently the only person around that can tell you. I mean sure, maybe you¡¯ll find someone else. But how long will that really take and are you willing to wait?¡± ¡°Harr, har, har. You¡¯re right. I need you.¡± He grins. ¡°but I need you so long as you give me what I want. So, in lieu of your little attitude, I¡¯m going to say this.¡± He looks at those present. All are in fear and listening to what is to happen. ¡°If you fail, every single person here dies.¡± Gasps and cries of alarm resound from all those present. Cries and alarms that are shushed quickly by those with better self control. The cat shrugs. ¡°Fine with me. I¡¯m going to succeed.¡± Valentine stares at Quasi for several long silent seconds. Then he looks to his female companion. ¡°Gazania, do you know if sovereigns can have classes?¡± The Phytonid tilts her head slightly. ¡°No sovereign has ever been reported to have had a class, but then again, very little is known about the monsters. Why do you ask? Do you think this one is actually a sovereign with the [Shifter] class?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve only met two [Shifters] and both of them couldn¡¯t stay transformed indefinitely,¡± Valentine explains. ¡°That does make a bit of sense. I¡¯m not familiar with [Shifters], but [Druids] can gain the ability to transform into beasts until their mana runs out. Never have I heard of them staying transformed indefinitely.¡± The cat grimaces towards Valentine, which makes the man grin. ¡°I¡¯m right, aren¡¯t I? Why stay in such a weak form and drain your mana? Clearly because you¡¯re not draining anything, are you?¡± ¡°I prefer to keep my secrets to myself.¡± ¡°Harr, har, har. Gazania, check his mana levels.¡± ¡°Yes, [Captain].¡± Gazania¡¯s eyes glow vibrantly while staring at the Cat. ¡°Odd. Mana levels aren''t dropping, but his body is aglow with mana.¡± ¡°That¡¯s normal. The Sovereign of Clouds and the Sovereign of Sands were smothered in mana.¡± ¡°Did they have a class?¡± Gazania asks. Valentine shakes his head. ¡°I didn¡¯t have the skill to check at the time.¡± ¡°You know,¡± the cat interrupts, ¡°Jumping to conclusions like that can be dangerous if you¡¯re wrong.¡± ¡°Maybe, maybe not. But my guts says I¡¯m right, unless you want to tell me you¡¯re not.¡± ¡°Believe what you want,¡± The cat replies. ¡°Harr, har, har.¡± Valentine laughs heartily. ¡°You¡¯re far too easy to read.¡± ¡°Riiiggghhhttt.¡± The cat rolls its eyes. ¡°Let''s change the subject, shall we. Mind telling me what treasures that map in your pocket will lead me to?¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Valentine reaches inside and produces the scroll. ¡°This is a map to a recently risen kingdom nearby. Mostly destroyed, but the castle is in good condition and the armory was protected by runes.¡± The cat frowns. ¡°An empty armory.¡± ¡°Not completely. I took the legendary staff alongside all the epic and exceptional grade items. Everything else I left behind.¡± ¡°So I get the sloppy seconds.¡± ¡°Harr, har, har. I gave the offer and you accepted. It¡¯s too late to ask for something else.¡± Before the cat can answer, Boriss returns with two gauntlets in his hands. ________________________________________ Boriss rushes up to me and lays the gauntlets at my feet. The metal clunks loudly when they touch the weird metal ground. ¡°Wolven Gauntlets!¡± Valentine exclaims in surprise. I can see the doubt now radiating from him. He thought I am a Sovereign with a [Shifter] class instead of a guy who can transform into a Sovereign. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t trust your gut.¡± I taunt. Before he can reply, I put my two paws into the open gauntlet. Then I cancel my transformation. One moment I¡¯m staring at Valentine''s boots, and the next we¡¯re at eye level. I give him a toothy grin. Then he blurs. His hand grabs the handle of his cutlass. Reacting far slower than I would like, I raise my arms to block at the same time he unsheathes his weapon. A blade of lightning extends out of the sheathe at the speed of a shockwave. Thunder booms loudly as Valentine''s cutlass parries a blade inches away from severing my neck. Ten meters away, Daichi Chikara, Valentine¡¯s Wolven [Stealth-operations Security Chief] is attacking me with an eleven meter long pitchblack Odachi. ¡°Daichi, stand down!¡± Valentine orders. ¡°[Captain], that¡¯s a Fenrimorph!¡± Daichi warns. ¡°It must be killed!¡± Valentine growls. Muscles flex and the cutlass pushes away Daichi¡¯s blade. At the same time, a wave of electricity releases in the direction where Valentine shifts his sword. Everything in the path of that wave is electrocuted as though it was struck by lightning. A dozen people die and several tents are set aflame, traveling so far as to damage a destroyer. Even the bubble keeping the rain from pouring fails for a long moment before reconstituting itself. ¡°I SAID STAND DOWN!¡± Valentine roars at Daichi. He raises his cutlass. The weapon churns and sparks like a plasma ball. The two powerhouses stare each other down for several long seconds, which gives me a moment to take a good look at their weapons.
Name Odachi Of Shadows.
Rarity Legendary - 76 Runes.
  • 1(48 - Shadowed Metal)
  • 1(10 - Greater durability)
  • 1(18 - Metal Regeneration)
Description This weapon is made of shadows and can transform into whatever the wielder wishes. This weapon is 200% more durable. This weapon will passively regenerate all damage done to it.
Sustain 2.8% Mana Regeneration Per Minute
Name Cutlass of Wreathing Storm
Rarity Legendary - 117 Runes.
  • 1(31 - (Greater Stormfield)
  • 1(64 - (Lightning Sovereignty)
  • 1(22 - (Unyielding)
Description This sword constantly produces 100 million Joules of electricity. The wielder of this weapon has complete dominion of all lightning several meters around them. This sword cannot be damaged or changed.
Sustain 3.5% Mana Regeneration Per Minute
Eventually, Daichi¡¯s blade shifts back to its original length and size. Then the man sheathes the weapon. ¡°All Fenrimorphs must be destroyed, [Captain]. My honor as a [Samurai] demands it.¡± Valentine glares at the Wolven man, cutlass raised and wreathing with electricity as though ready to come down with the power of a thunderstorm. But no storm descends. Valentine lowers his weapon and sheathes it into his scabbard. ¡°Daichi.¡± Valentine raises a hand and points at me. ¡°That is merely a Fenrimorph transformation and not actually the real thing. Do not let your honor cloud your judgment again!¡± Valentine turns away from the Wolven and then on to me. He grins. ¡°For a second, I thought you¡¯d turn back into a Wolven and proved my gut wrong. But no, you turn into a monster. Harr, har, har.¡± Is this guy for real? You know what, that¡¯s fine. Let''s just get this over with. I turn and start walking towards the entrance. ¡°One more thing.¡± Valentine says right before I pass the barrier. ¡°I see you have a [First Mate]. If her class changes, everyone dies.¡± I growl in acknowledgement and then step through the barrier. ___________________________________________ Hot summer air hits me hard, followed by the smell of sand and the feeling of warmth. Not humid warmth, but the dry kind. The bottom of the tower is empty except for the presence of sand and metal. Further in, I see a circular ascending staircase leading upwards to where I can see light. Glancing behind me, I¡¯m met with just a metal wall. Curious, I place my arm on the wall and it immediately falls through. The barrier can only be seen one-sidedly. Retracting my arm, I do a quick stretch, and then silent walk deeper inside. My eyes look around in as many direction as I can while listening and sniffing to every gust of wind. As I get deeper, the amount of sand I see increases further and further. I finally reach the stairs to find nothing out of the ordinary. Seems like that Scorpis monster went upstairs. With bated breath, I start ascending the circular staircase. After a good thirty meters, I arrive on the next floor. The next floor is also the last floor for there is nothing but sand, metal, and a single opening. Through the opening, I¡¯m met with endless sand. Of course this test is going to have its own world. Above the opening, the same message is etched as the ones downstairs. Here lies the test of the Chariot: Through Perception you will find what you seek. Through Endurance you will strive long enough to find it. Through Control you will overcome the limits of your body. I can already guess that this test of Chariot is going to test those three stats. Perception, Endurance, and Control. Odd, but alright. I stare at the open entrance to what I can infer to be a desert. In the distance I see dunes, some rock formations, and oddly enough, several spires. Well, I¡¯m going to take a wild guess that the test involves traversing a desert, which will require Endurance. Perception is probably inferring directly to sight. I¡¯m going to have to see where I¡¯m destined to go. And then there is Control, which I¡¯m not sure about. Maybe pacing myself? Whatever. Doesn¡¯t matter. First things first, Gotta deal with that scorpion. Warily, I walk forward and step outside the tower. I take a whiff and smell sand. Lots and lots of sand. I glance at the sand, looking for something hidden, and find nothing. Finally, I listen to the wind. The sands twirling to a gust. The beating of my heart¡­ right above my body! I hop backwards just in time as the scorpion crashes where I¡¯d been standing not a moment ago. The monster quickly rights itself and then turns in my direction with pincers ready. From it¡¯s mouth, I hear a continuous clicking sound. The monster is a horse-sized scorpion with pincers large enough to crush my skull. It measures nearly four feet in height minus the tail, and doubles that height with. Its width is an easy six feet with the pincers, and its length is a good ten. Honestly, this should be pretty easy so long as I avoid the tail and pincers. The only difficulty is the thick looking carapace. Hopefully I can crack through it. I crack my neck and then take an orthodox stance with my legs far more bent than usual. Not even a moment since I take the stance, the scorpion rushes me. IC God Games - B2 - Chapter 51: PinCushion When fighting an enemy you know little about other than what you can see, it¡¯s best to take things reactively. As the scorpion rushes me at a speed two times faster than a human''s sprint, I don¡¯t try to take the enemy head on. Instead, I hop to the right. To my delight, the scorpion shares the same weakness that earth''s scorpions possess; which is the ability to drift. The scorpion is forced to slow down and then turn in my direction. Perfect. It can''t turn fast. I should be able to dodge to the side and give it a good lovetap when it slows to turn. I should be able to do it fast enough and get out before the pincers can grab me. With a plan settled, I take my stance. The monster stares at me with just as many eyes as I do. As we stare at one another, the realization hits me that the monster can probably see me from its sides. If it can do that, then it can react in some way. Can it kick me? Jump away? Can it actually turn rapidly in some way? No to the last one. It would have already. Which leaves its other weapons; the three poisonous stingers. Staring at the length and external structure of the tails, I conclude that the left and right tails can strike at their side. Gotta keep an eye on the stingers. Once again, the Scorpion rushes me. I dodge to the right at the last moment. The moment my feet touch the ground, I rush at the scorpion''s left side while it is slowing down. My caution bears fruit as the scorpion''s left stinger rushes down to intercept me. I pivot rapidly and intercept the tail with my left gauntlet. Metal and bone make contact, followed by spark as the stinger glides down my forearm. Using the momentum of the block, I twist my body to the left while extending my right fist. Fist meets carapace, and carapace loses. I feel only a bit of resistance before the shell cracks, breaks, and my fist leaves a bloody trail through its innards. After my punch, I quickly hop back to avoid retaliation. But retaliation doesn''t come. The scorpion''s leftmost legs cease to function. The monster crashes on its side, followed by a loud and rapid clicking sound from its mandibles. It attempts to stand up, but the leftmost legs consistently give way. During this entire struggle, blue blood leaks from its damaged side as though I¡¯d struck a major artery. Eventually, the Scorpion uses its pincer to shift its body so that it is facing me. All three stingers turn and point in my direction. The clicking sound increases in tempo. Something isn¡¯t right. I take my usual stance and prepare for whatever is to happen. Then it happens. The right tail pulses, then the needle exits the tip like a crossbow. I react by sidestepping the first projectile. The central tail projectile I am forced to riposte, while the leftmost tail projectile completely misses its mark. Holy shit, it can shoot poisonous needles. After the third projectile, I stand wary and ready in case more projectile come my way. But they don¡¯t. Me and the scorpion stare at each other for a long minute until the monster eyes close and there is a large pool of blue blood on the ground. Only after another thirty seconds do I approach close enough to be able to hear a heartbeat. There is none. After several more minutes of warily tapping the monstrosity, do I allow myself to relax. Well, it¡¯s dead. Now I just need to know if it is edible. I don¡¯t know how big this desert is, but I should make sure I have sustenance. I reach into its wound and retrieve a handful of soft meat. I raise it up to my face and take a whiff. Smells like flesh. Probably not poisonous either. Generally, evolution very rarely makes a species both venomous and poisonous. These scorpions are most likely just venomous- maybe even immune to their venom too. The meat should be fine to eat raw. I take a bite of the flesh and find it rather soft. It has a nice, liquidy texture. These scorpions are probably very good at retaining water. After eating my fill, I head outside to the sight of a setting sun. There¡¯s a sun, which means I¡¯m on a different planet. Good to know. Looking about, I listen and look for additional threats, but there are none. Next, I focus on the distant structures. There are rock formations as well as spires reaching upwards. As I stare at the spires, I get a general feeling of wrongness. What is up with those spires? I look around me for a bit. Then I look up to find that the tower I¡¯m outside of is actually completely identical to the spires. That still doesn''t explain why I feel like something is wrong. I continue staring in the distance even as the sun lowers and lowers. Just as the sun almost disappears, I finally realize the problem. The spires are moving. Slowly, but they are moving. Indeed. Based on the stone formations and my memory, the spires have moved slightly. With far too much curiosity and right before the sun is gone, I look at my surroundings and gauge my current location. With the sun gone, the desert loses its heat and is replaced by cold. Not that the cold bothers me anyway. Fenrimorph fur is pretty effective against low temperatures. Alright, time to sleep. Hopefully the scorpion carcass doesn¡¯t attract unwanted attention. Taking a corner and facing the entrance, I lean with my back to the wall. My eyes close and I allow dreamland to take me. ___________________________________________________ The moment I enter dreamland, I awaken to the world of light. I see white everywhere except for a floating replica of the Timbergrove and a floating green eyeball. ¡°So that scorpion leveled me up. Nice. How many levels, Green?¡± ¡°You have gained a single level. You have one attribute available.¡± Damn. I was kinda hoping for more than a single level. ¡°Anything else?¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Negative.¡± ¡°Damn. Alright, fine. Put the attribute point into strength and that should be it. ¡°Acknowledged.¡± _________________________________________________ Opening my eyes, I¡¯m met with the onset of sunrise. I stand and stretch from where I slept before taking a deep breath. I glance at the corpse to find it completely untouched and not at all decomposed. With sunlight available and the temperature rising rapidly. I head outside to the sight of distant spires and rock formations. Looking at the rock formations and my position, I can say that my current spire does not move, nor do the rocks. So my current spire is stationary and all of the rocks are also stationary. Which means that my destination is going to be somewhere similar. I stare into the distance and count all the spires and calculate the changes in distance traveled. I do this for every viewable spire until I find a single spire that has not moved. Why can''t it be one of the closer spires? God dammit that spire is hundreds of miles away! Growling unhappily, I start walking to my destination. As I trudge on, I start panting. My body is rapidly heating up as the sun rises directly into the sky.. About a third of the way there, I get close enough to see one of the nearer spires. The spire is identical to the stationary spire in both looks and color. But, at my current distance, I can tell that the spire I¡¯m looking at is not a spire at all but a massive shell. Below the shell is a mostly submerged crab. Staring at it, the crab moves extremely slowly, maybe a single foot a minute. Slow enough that you couldn¡¯t tell if it was moving from far away. Man, if that crab wasn''t larger than a whale, I¡¯d try to kill and eat it. I continue my traversal over sand unabated except for the constant wind and extreme heat. The wind, though violent and kicks up sand, is a welcome reprieve to the heat. Sure, the sand gets into the fur and makes me uncomfortable, but I¡¯d rather be uncomfortable than dead. As the sun is starting to set, the realization hits me that the Scorpions are actually nocturnal. The realization also hits me that they are ambush predators. The sand near me violently explodes to reveal a scorpion as large as the last one. Well, this will be annoying. I turn towards the scorpion and take a stand. Then I hear a second explosion of sand. Then a third. Without breaking stance, I glance around to find three more scorpions, all of which are staring at me. I better work fast. Instead of waiting for them to engage, I rush at the first scorpion to reveal itself. The monster, seeing me rushing it, rushes back towards me. I pivot out of the way, slide several feet, and then blast forward before it can turn. Unlike the one before, my fist impacts its side before the scorpion can even use its tail. I shatter its carapace and leave a lethal wound. Then I hop back to avoid the stinger. Like before, I hear the sound of loud clicking, that seems to echo louder across the desert. As I turn towards the next two scorpions, I can¡¯t help but notice several distant scorpions crawling out of the sand and rushing towards my location. Oh, this is very bad. The other two scorpions start rushing me, at which point I am forced to dodge while keeping an eye on the clicking one. With speed and positioning, I create an opportunity to lethally strike another. The sound of clicking grows louder and somehow even in sync. In the distance, more scorpions rise out of the ground. Shit. I¡¯m going to be swarmed. Where the hell were all these scorpions when I killed the first one? From one of my eyes, I notice that the first scorpion has just realized it¡¯s going to die. All three stingers point in my direction. I roll just in time to avoid the first two and block the third. Then I¡¯m forced to jump directly upwards and over the third charging scorpion. Taking the opportunity on landing. Rush behind the third scorpion with enough force to shatter its backside and send it careening into sand. When I turn, my arm automatically blocks a stinger, ripostes another, and I matrix dodge a third. Damn, that was close. Two down and one more to¡­ Shit. Five scorpions arrive with arguably several dozen more incoming. Come on! Why are they swarming now and not at the spire? Was there only one present in that area? What do they have to be afraid¡­ oh. I blink as I remember that nearly every spire has a weird crab under it. Of course. Those crabs must be predators to the scorpions! The reason none swarmed my first kill was because they avoid the spires. I glance around and find the nearest spire. This one is a good forty miles away. With a growl, I bend my knees and rush towards the spire. As I start running, so too do the scorpion. They rush after me with pincers spread and mouths clicking. As I run, the scorpions rush after me with pincers ready and stingers armed. To my surprise, I¡¯m actually slightly faster than them. To my detriment, the clicking of several dozen scorpions is loud enough to awaken scorpions on my path. Weaving, dodging, jumping, blocking. My run towards the spire is met with immense danger. For nearly an hour, I am pushed to my absolute limit up until the crab comes into view. Then, all at once, the clicking sound ceases to exist. Without stopping, I glance back to several hundred scorpions running after me. A small army of venomous carapaced monstrosities. Then, as I near the spire, the scorpions begin slowing down. As they slow down, the crab rises up from the sand on eight massive legs. It¡¯s mouth opens in my direction. Instinct takes over as I hop to the side. From its mouth, a gelatinous tongue breaks the sound barrier and narrowly misses me. The tongue passes my location and impacts a scorpion. Then the tongue retracts with the scorpion stuck to the tongue. The scorpion enters the crabs mouth, and then the mouth begins chewing. At this moment, every scorpion has stopped moving. Taking the opportunity, I rush close to the crab and then hop on top of its spiral shell where it is big enough to allow me to stand. Under me, I can feel the vibrations of powerful jaws crunching down on the scorpion. When I glance back at the hundreds of scorpions, I am met with an alarming amount of intelligence. Every scorpion stinger points in my direction. OH SHIT! Like a line of crossbowmen, hundreds of needles fly in my direction. Limited in my mobility, I raise my arms and block what I can. Three storms of needles impact my location, and only my head and chest are unpunctured. When I finally lower my arms, the scorpion are out of ammo and have started retreating. I look at my body to find that I¡¯ve become a pincushion. Remembering that the needles are venomous, I quickly remove them from my body. As I remove the needles, my natural ability to rapidly coagulate blood stops any bleeding. With the last of the needles removed, I quickly find my energy completely spent. I fall on my but and lay my back to the spire. I survived! I glance at all my wounds. Barely Survived. This is going to take awhile to regenerate. I¡¯m going to be very hungry later. The crab, finishing its meal and finding no more prey, rests back down into the sand. Looks like the plan is changed. During the night I need to sleep on a spire, and during the day I need to travel to my destination. Considering how much distance I can cover, I should be able to reach my destination in two da- ¡°Gruaaahhhhhh.¡± I growl loudly. Pain thrashes through me as every nerve become inflamed. I look at my puncture wounds to find that they are all swelling a glowing purple. I can feel mana shuffling into my body, massive amounts of it. Rivers of mana. Panicking, I attempt to activate [Shift], but my mana is no longer under my control. My ears pop and adrenaline once again fuels my body. My heartbeat increases further and further as my growls become louder and louder. Then I hear it. A single word. A single demand. SUBMIT! IC God Games - B2 - Chapter 52: Title ¡°Ughhh,¡± James grunts. He opens his eyes to the sight of light streaming in from an open tent flap. He leans up from his bed. The covers slide off his body. ¡°Morning [Bishop],¡± a woman''s voice enters his ears. He looks to the source. ¡°[Paladin] Samantha, morn-.¡± he pauses when he notices the bags under the woman''s eyes. ¡°Have you not slept?¡± She shakes her head. ¡°I-I can¡¯t. The memory of his death is still too fresh.¡± He leans to the side of his cot. He raises his hands up and places them together. ¡°[High Paladin] Simon Laquerdis should not be remembered for his death. He should be remembered as a man who put his life on the line to protect others. He is a man of honor and should be remembered as such.¡± ¡°I¡­ I know. It¡¯s just so difficult. He was my mentor, my idol, practically a father. It hurts. It hurts a lot.¡± James nods. ¡°Simon spoke about you often- proudly too. He said you are a fine [Paladin] and the best [First Mate] a [Captain] could ever have. I dare-say your presence spurred him to greater and greater honor.¡± Samantha blushes as tears fall down her cheeks. A small sad smile finds its way on her face. Then, all at once, she sniffs, wipes her eyes and bows to James. ¡°Thank you for your guidance.¡± James nods slowly. ¡°Anytime.¡± He glances at the open flap raining the dawn''s early light. ¡°Now, I think it would be good for you to get some sleep.¡± She quickly shakes her head. ¡°Later. I¡¯ve too much on my mind to sleep. I hope you will allow me to accompany you.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± James perks up. ¡°Does the crew not need the presence of their new [Captain]?¡± She snorts. ¡°No. They need the presence of their [Bishop]. A [Captain] is only needed when we¡¯re out on the skies- which we can¡¯t really do at the moment.¡± James grimaces at her statement. He stands up out of bed to find that he¡¯d slept in the same clothes yesterday night. ¡°Valentine. Has he said anything since he warned us not to depart?¡± ¡°No. He¡¯s been silent since he¡¯d left.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ good. I was afraid he¡¯d terrorize the flock until the divine chosen returns.¡± ¡°Divine chosen? Are you referring to the cat?¡± Samantha questions. ¡°I am. I believe [Captain] Quasi is someone of importance to the divine- similar to the wolven [Emperor].¡± ¡°Is that not blasphemous?¡± James chuckles. ¡°It would be if I¡¯d not seen him walk into the divine tower with my own eyes. Clearly, the world is changing and shifting. It would be best to keep an open mind going forward.¡± The man takes a stretch and walk outside the tent. Samantha is only a step behind. James takes a strong whiff, and is met with the smell of burnt flesh. Yesterday, when Valentine unsheathed his sword, he killed so many pilgrims. A single moment, a single flick of his arm, and dozens died of electrocution. He walks to a nearby tent. He peaks inside and finds all the bodies wrapped up and ready for cremation. They will be transported to the ship cold storage and then be brought to a crematorium nearby where they will be burned to ashes. The ashes will then be given to the closest members of the family. If there is none, then he will accept the ashes and spread them in the divines presence. Finished with this tent, he heads to the medical tent. When he enters, [Priests] bow in his presence. ¡°The divine be with you.¡± ¡°And you.¡± He answers back. ¡°How are the injured?¡± ¡°Recovering.¡± The [Priest] replies. ¡°Your healing saved their lives. I imagine they will be thoroughly recovered by next week.¡± ¡°Good. I¡¯ll let them rest then. If something comes up, send someone to find me.¡± ¡°Of course, [Bishop]¡± The [Priest] bows. He exits the tent. ¡°Now then, Samantha, is Timbergroves'' crew still using the tent we provided?¡± ¡°They are.¡± ¡°Good. Let''s head there now.¡± ______________________________________________________________________ ¡°Must you drink so much so early?¡± Irmgard asks the drunk scot. ¡°Our lives could be in danger any moment. Being drunk will make it difficult to fight.¡± ¡°Da, comrade Irmgard is right, comrade Cillian. Vhe must be ready to break neck like Russian babushka break chicken.¡± ¡°Aum, fine. It''s only a wee bit of¡­¡± Cillian holds the gourd in his hand. ¡°Sake, I think.¡± He then shrugs and downs the rest. Just then, the tent flaps open to reveal [Bishop] James. He walks inside with Samantha in tow. Then he gives all those present once over, stopping at the clearly drunk cillian. ¡°Drinking early? I can¡¯t blame you. The situation is rather nerve-wracking,¡± James confesses. ¡°I hope it would be alright for me to join in?¡± Cillian grins. ¡°Aye. Drinkin should be don wit othas,¡± He slurs. James takes his words as an acceptance. He finds a seat on the table. Cillian, ever happy to have a drinking partner, quickly opens a gourd and pours sake into one of the saucers. ¡°Thank you.¡± James accepts the saucer and takes a sip. Then he glances at Samantha standing firmly behind him. ¡°Samantha, join us at the table. A drink will do you good.¡± ¡°I¡¯d prefer to stand.¡± She answers. ¡°Suit yourself,¡± James replies. He then looks at everyone else at the table. All eyes are curiously on him. He clears his throat. ¡°I hope you all slept well. I imagine the situation yesterday wasn¡¯t easy to deal with.¡± ¡°Passed out.¡± Cillian chuckles. James nods. ¡°I imagine tha-.¡± ¡°Ask your questions.¡± Irmgard interrupts. ¡°There is much to speak and plan. Wasting time on pleasantries is only good when we are not on a time limit.¡± James chuckles at her exclamation. ¡°Some prefer the pleasantries first before the major topic- but I digress. Let me start first by asking, who or what is Quasi Eludo? And why can he enter the divine ear?¡± The group as a whole looks at one-another. They share glances, most of which are between Irmgard and Myers. The old man shakes his head. ¡°All I can say is Quasi is our [Captain]. Why he can enter is something you will have to speak to him about.¡± James nods. He¡¯d expected such an answer. Knowledge of one who can enter into the divine''s presence could spell danger to them and those they hold dear. At the moment, it would be best to avoid such questioning until or if Quasi returns. ¡°Then, my next question. Do you expect him to survive and return?¡± ¡°Fluffy will come back!¡± The child next to Myers yells. ¡°Da.¡± Boriss grins resolutely. ¡°Comrade Clay is correct. Comrade Fluffy will return like successful soviet marshal after he makes suka of enemy. Is only right.¡± Myers clears his throat. ¡°To answer your question, Quasi is phenomenally capable. So long as he is not faced with a challenge akin to an expert, he should survive.¡± James grimaces. ¡°The tower had a Magna Scorpis inside. Such monsters are advanced threats alone, but can be expert threats in groups. I¡¯m guessing your [Captains] class level is at least advanced.¡± ¡°That information is restricted.¡± Irmgard replies, to which James only nods. ¡°That¡¯s fine. It was just my curiosity asking.¡± James takes another sip from his saucer. When he plants it back down on the table, he releases a sigh. ¡°Irmgard, right? You¡¯re Quasi¡¯s [First Mate]. Valentine will check your job to make sure it hasn¡¯t changed.¡± Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡°I was told to board the Bone-Leviathan every evening. I¡¯ll need to leave in the next several hours.¡± ¡°I see. That¡¯s fine. But, if possible, I¡¯d like you to notify me first if something does change. I¡¯d like to prepare my people for death.¡± Most of the room grimaces at James''s words. Everyone except the heavily drunk Cillian and the grinning Boriss. ¡°Die fighting. Is good idea,¡± Boriss announces. ¡°Heh,¡± James chuckles, ¡°I was thinking more along the lines of prayer- but I guess fighting would also be good.¡± ¡°What about escape?¡± Emma finally speaks up. The Gemma had been silently sitting and listening up to this point. ¡°Valentine and his entire crew are aboard the ship. If we all depart at the same time with all the ships, we may have a chance to get away.¡± James shakes his head at the clearly young and ignorant girl. ¡°Valentine''s ship is far too fast and powerful in comparison to what we have. We¡¯d never get away. A single broadside from a battleship would completely drain the hull integrity of the tower''s keeper. We¡¯d need some kind of distraction.¡± At the man''s words, Myers eyes widen. ¡°I may be able to supply that distraction.¡± Everyone now looks at the old man curiously. Especially James. Anyone that could even propose a viable distraction against Valentine is not someone to be ignored. ¡°Valentine recognized you.¡± James remembers. ¡°I¡¯d argue he was even a bit respectful. Who exactly are you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s something I¡¯d like to keep to myself unless Quasi is to perish,¡± Myers answers. ¡°For now, know that I can create a distraction so long as certain criteria are met.¡± James nods. ¡°Considering the predicament we¡¯re in, any semblance of hope is something I¡¯d accept. What will you need?¡± ¡°Control of all vessels as a [Fleet Captain].¡± The alarm bells in James'' head start to ring at such a declaration. [Fleet Captains] are a rare class requiring control of many ships and at least a master class. Considering the man proposes the ability to create a distraction against Valentine of all people can only mean one thing. ¡°You¡¯re an expert class. A [Fleet Captain] couldn¡¯t do anything against valentine. Which means you¡¯re actually a [Fleet Admiral].¡± Looking at the expression on those present, the only one surprised is the Gemma. Everyone else either knew of the man''s capability or are ignorant of how rare a [Fleet Admiral] actually is. ¡°I would prefer such allegations to be kept hidden until absolutely necessary. Hopefully, Quasi will return and my presence will not be required.¡± ¡°Hopefully.¡± James repeats. He glances back at Samantha. ¡°Hope is good, but it¡¯s not always enough. Samantha, speak to the other two [Captains] and tell them to make sure their vessels are ready for immediate departure. Don¡¯t mention anything about Myers or what conversations transpired here.¡± ¡°Yes [Bishop].¡± She bows and rushes out. He then looks back at Timbergroves crew. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure everything is ready just in case in the meantime. I hope that is acceptable.¡± ¡°It is,¡± Myers replies. ¡°Bah, is waste.¡± Boriss waves a hand. ¡°Comrade Fluffy will return. Is doing good anyvay. He level thrice.¡± All eyes glance at Boriss. ¡°How do you know he leveled three times?¡± Irmgard asks. ¡°I have [Combat Authority]. It go up one and half percent.¡± It is at this moment that Timbergroves crew remembers that though Boriss struggles to articulate his thoughts, he is not an idiot. On the contrary, he is quite a savant. _______________________________________________________________ One moment you¡¯re struggling with an overwhelming amount of mana and pain. And in the next, a single dominating word in your head. Followed then by excruciatingly more pain. Then complete darkness. Followed by complete lightness. I blink rapidly to find myself back in the white realm where my ship floats casually above. In front of me, green waiting obediently. ¡°I¡¯m not dead, am I?¡± ¡°Negative.¡± Green answers. Oh, perfect. I was worried I¡¯d died. Or am I dying right now? Am I going to cease to exist the moment I leave this realm? ¡°Do you know If I will die after I leave this place?¡± ¡°Negative.¡± ¡°I see. Well then, fuck. I¡¯m guessing I leveled considering you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Correct. You have gained two levels and a Title.¡± Wait. What? A Title? I got a Title? ¡°Show me my entire trait sheet.¡±
Traits. Human Average Individual Base Calculations. Level modifications Trait Actual Value
Strength 10 41 +31% 53
Endurance 9 46 +0% 46
Vitality 12 0.27%M/R/M 28 0.63% M/R/M +0% +9.31% 28 9.94% M/R/M
Perception 9 29 +0% 29
Intelligence 11 16 +0% 16
Mana 388.8 510 +0% 510
Control 12 10 +0% 10
Attributes Available/Attributes total: 2 33 Level: 24
Titles Obtained: 3
Title Name Leviathan Slayer
Title Rank Legendary
Title Effect +10 Attribute points
Title Name Underdog Boarder
Title Rank Rare
Title Effect [Captain¡¯s Authority] stat decay is slowed when boarding enemy vessels.
Title Name Mana Fur
Title Rank Divine
Title Effect Increase Mana Regeneration by fur density. Current Bonus: +9.31% M/RM
Damn, that''s a lot of mana regeneration. Kinda defeats the purpose of putting points into vitality... Wait a second! Why is vitality higher? No, wait, all of my physical stats are higher. You know what, how did I get that title? The last thing I remember is getting penetrated by dozens of stingers. Then the pain, the convulsions, the rampaging mana, and finally the¡­ voice. ¡°I evolved.¡± The words come out at the realization. Fenrimorphs at the prison had the ability to adapt to external stimuli and literally transform their bodies. If memory serves, one transformed after getting poisoned, and several others transformed when they were set on fire. The transformation made them slightly bigger and stronger, but it also made them immune to the external stimuli. I must have done the same and the Scorpis venom is the stimulus to the transformation. So, I must be immune to the poison now. Considering the poison forces the body to exponentially regenerate mana, that¡¯s probably where the Mana Fur titles comes in. My body is mimicking the effect of the venom. Neat. Still, something bugs me. If memory serves, I heard a voice. A command right before I passed out. Was that a god saying such a thing or is it some weird Fenrimorph hallucination? ¡°Green, Is Divine rank the strongest rank of title?¡± ¡°That information is restricted.¡± Of course it is. Fine, I¡¯ll ask Myers when I get the chance. He might know. But first, I should see about spending my attribute points. Going through the trait sheet, I can¡¯t help but find the thought of putting points into vitality intriguing. I mean, I¡¯ve been putting points into strength precisely because it gives me the best returns per percentage. But now, Vitality may give me better returns on account of my much higher mana regeneration. Then again, I could be very wrong in that adding attributes to vitality only increases my base regeneration and not the bonus from the title. Well, for now, my regeneration is more than adequate for whatever equipment I have access to. ¡°Green, put both attribute points into strength. Then get me out of here.¡± ¡°Acknowledged.¡± IC God Games - B2 - Chapter 53: Matriarch of Keys My six eyes open to the sight of sunrise accompanied by the rumbles of movement. I blink several times as I allow the warmth to wash over me. Nice! Looks like I¡¯m alive. Leaning up, I take a gander of my surroundings. Looks like I¡¯m still on top of the crab¡¯s shell. That¡¯s good. I was afraid I might have fallen off. Standing up, I¡¯m immediately bombarded with different stimuli. My body reacts faster but also stronger. Sight, smell, touch, and hearing are slightly improved too. Glancing at my body, the first thing I notice is the change in color of my fur. Huh, I¡¯m violet now. I guess that makes sense. The scorpis venom was turning that Buxon¡¯s skin purple before he died. Maybe my fur turned purple during my transformation? Or is high mana regeneration causing the color purple? The ground rumbles again as the crab takes another slow step. Right. I can figure that out later. First, let''s see what other changes. Moving my body further, I immediately notice more changes. I¡¯m an inch taller. Muscles are tighter but my bones seem larger too. I create a fist and feel a bit of tightness. Gauntlets are a bit tight now- but still workable. Hopefully Emma can modify them for a better fit. Extending my claws, I find that they are slightly thicker, longer, and sharper. They also seem to have some kind of sheen on them. Are my claws poisonous now? Can I scratch people and infect them with scorpio venom? That would be useful. Then I see the shadow of myself. I reach up on my head and feel another set of horns. Damn. I was hoping to wear a hat and vizor so as to come off as a wolven. These horns are going to make that idea impossible. Then again, I don¡¯t think wolven have naturally violet fur. Maybe I can dye them? The ground rumbles again. Right. I should start moving soon. What else has changed? Further testing reveals that my tail has more spikes and muscles, allowing easier movement. I also notice that all my scars are gone. The recent punctures, cuts, bruises, and even the big scar over my biceps are completely gone. In essence, my body is in perfect condition. Looks like that''s all the changes for now. Time to move. I look about, check my position, and find the unmoving spiral that is my destination. I could head there straight, but I wouldn¡¯t be able to make it in time before dark. And traveling through the dark involves fighting swarms of scorpions. I¡¯m stronger now and probably immune to their venom, but I doubt I can deal with armies yet. I glance at a spiral between my current position and my final destination. I guess I¡¯m crab hopping. I bend my legs and take position. As soon as I feel the crab take a step, I extend my legs. Like a bullet, my body accelerates away from the crab, traveling an easy hundred meters before I touch sand. But, when I do, I hear the crab stand up. Large powerful legs turn the crab''s mouth in my direction. Hmm. Seems like it can sense vibrations. I start to sprint away with my head slightly turned so that the eye on the side of my head has vision of the crab. As soon as I see its tongue escape its mouth, I hop to the side and dodge the projectile. I do this several more times until I am outside its range. Once I¡¯m outside its range, I slow my speed to something of a fast jog so as to conserve energy. After several hours of running, I feel a rumble. Not a rumble of an enemy or some kind of earthquake. No, it is far worse. I wonder how long Fenrimorphs can survive without food. ____________________________________________________________ Looking up, Irmgard stares at Valentine ship. A massive Battleship that dwarfs all other ships at port in both size and especially firepower. Forty cannons dot a single broadside, with each cannon having three barrels, and each barrel is larger and longer than Timbergroves cannons. In a single broadside, the Bone-Leviathan can swarm a single enemy with over a hundred powerful projectiles, decimating a singular target until nothing remains. How Myers expects to create a viable distraction against such a ship is beyond her. Taking a breath, she checks herself to make sure she is properly presentable. Her coat is clean, hair is pinned, and the raven cutlass is perfectly in place to be unsheathed. Not that she expects to win any fight if there is a need. Head held high and spine straight, she walks up the plank to the deck. Several [Pirates] notice her presence, but most turn away except for the one guarding the plank. The [Pirate] glances at her and stops leaning on the railing. He retrieves a gold engraved pocket watch, and then whistles. ¡°[Captain] said evening, and you¡¯re here on the dot.¡± He looks her up and down with a grin. He stops when he notices the raven cutlass head. ¡°Heh. [Bounty Hunter], eh. Nice coat, I don¡¯t suppose I could get to know you without it on?¡± Irmgard looks the man up and down. A mere [Pirate] he may be, but the man is higher in level and his gear is all runed too. Still, she can¡¯t help but lay a hand on her cutlass. ¡°I believe I have a meeting with Valentine.¡± The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. The pirate chuckles. ¡°I¡¯m sure the [Captain] can wait.¡± She stares at him for a moment, then removes her hand from the raven head. She half turns around. ¡°I see. If Valentine can wait, then I¡¯ll return tomorrow. If there is a problem, I¡¯ll inform him of your words.¡± The [Pirates] panics. ¡°Wait! Shit, alright. I¡¯ll take you to him. Cmon.¡± She turns back around and allows herself to be led. The inside of the Bone-Leviathan Is well-lit, homely, and spotless. The walls are made of ivory bone and a dark wood. The dark wood is covered in runes that glow and illuminate the walls. As she gets deeper, she can¡¯t help but be impressed by how clean the inside is. It reminds her of her own prison, where every particle of dust would be met with severe punishment. Eventually, she is led to the [captains] quarter. The [Pirate] knocks at the door. ¡°[Captain], the girl is here.¡± ¡°Send her in.¡± Valentine calls. The [Pirate] grabs the handle and opens the door. ¡°Go on.¡± Irmgard gives him a look, and then enters through. The door shuts behind her. With a slow turn of her head, she looks at the room in its entirety. The [Captains] quarters are a good fifteen hundred square feet. The walls of the room are twelve feet tall and are smothered in the heads of monstrous beasts. To the right of the room is a couch where a naked woman rests. The woman is Min Daiyu, the Lightning Toss. Noticing Irmgards presence, the woman licks her lips and spreads her legs erotically. Irmgard ignores the woman and instead focuses on the central desk. Behind the desk sits Valentine without his coat. Next to him is Gazania the Hurricane, clothed, unlike the Lightning Toss. ¡°Sit.¡± He points at an empty chair in front of him. She complies with the requests and takes a seat. Valentine retrieves a pocket watch, opens it, and then raises an eyebrow. ¡°You are very timely. I¡¯ve only barely finished with Min.¡± He closes the watch and puts it in his pocket. ¡°I hope that is not a problem.¡± Irmgard answers. ¡°Problem? On the contrary, I¡¯ve respect for those who respect time.¡± Valentine leans back into his far more extravagant chair. ¡°Now, Irmgard Von Braun. Quite an interesting name. Very foreign. I¡¯ve never heard anything about it. Mind telling me where you¡¯re from?¡± Without showing emotion, she makes eye contact with Valentine. ¡°I was informed my presence is only required so that my class has not changed.¡± ¡°Oh, it is. But now I realize your name is rather foreign. You¡¯ve piqued my interest, and good or bad that may be, it has piqued. Of course, I can''t force you to talk, but do understand that I merely need you alive. In what way, well,¡± he grins. ¡°That is for you to decide.¡± Irmgard nods. ¡°I understand. I am from the United States of America.¡± ¡°And where is that?¡± She pauses for a moment, thinking of what response to give, but decides that dishonesty is far too dangerous to risk. ¡°Not from your world.¡± Valentine frowns. ¡°Gaza.¡± ¡°She tells the truth.¡± He grins. ¡°So, that fucking cat was hiding such a jewel. And I already made a deal with him. If only I¡¯d known there is another one of those gods champions. Well, that''s fine. Tell me, what is the name of this god that chose you?¡± ¡°I am not chosen.¡± Valentine glances at Gazania. ¡°Truth.¡± ¡°You''re not? But can you enter the tower?¡± Valentine questions ¡°I have not tried.¡± ¡°Truth.¡± Gazania answers. Valentine strokes his beard. ¡°I see. Then, when you return tomorrow, I will expect that you have tried.¡± ¡°Am I free to leave.¡± Valentine chuckles. ¡°You are an emotionless one just like Gaza. It¡¯s quite endearing. You¡¯d make a good part of my crew. Too bad your fate is either to be left alone or killed.¡± He waves his hand. ¡°Now go, leave.¡± She stands up, turns, and starts walking away. ¡°Min, come here. My urge is back.¡± She opens the door and steps through. Just as the door closes shut, she hears a woman squeal. _____________________________________________________ The day passes uneventfully. I traveled the desert, enjoyed the fresh dry air, and arrived at the next crab just as the sun was setting. Upon my arrival, the crab awakens when I am a certain distance from it. After a short game of dodging tongues, I land upon the crabs shell. Immediately on my arrival, I activated [Shift]. My Fenrimorph form disappears and is immediately replaced by a cat. A quarter second later and my runed gauntlets clatter on the shell floor. Holy hell, Fenrimorphs can get really hungry. I guess those muscles have a big caloric cost. Though, I¡¯m quite surprised that thirst isn¡¯t a problem yet considering I¡¯ve been traversing an arid desert. Then again, maybe Fenrimorphs don¡¯t use water to stay cool. For all I know, they can burn energy to reduce heat. I yawn and stretch. I glance at the nearly set sun- a ball of fire slightly larger than earth''s star. Once it is fully set and the sky is now shrouded in darkness, I prepare to sleep. I push the gauntlets into a crevice on the shell, and then I lay next to them. Then I hear it. The grumble of my stomach. My current stomach to be exact. The thing about my transformations is that they exist in perpetuity. Eating as a cat only fills the stomach of said cat. Eating as a Fenrimorph only feeds that form. The form currently not in use is placed in a kind of stasis where no growth or healing takes place. ¡°Damn. I thought I ate right before Valentine showed up¡­ no, wait. I was going to eat but I didn¡¯t get the chance.¡± Fuck me. I guess I¡¯m sleeping hungry tonight. I yawn again, close my eyes, and then allow sleep to take me ______________________________________________________________________ The moment the sun reveals itself, I return to my Fenrimorph form and rush to my last location. Unlike yesterday, I feel more of a struggle. My body feels heavier and my energy levels have dropped. Regardless, I can¡¯t slow my pace or risk not making it in time to my destination. Every hour that passes, I can feel the struggle. Three quarters of the day through and after ascending a particularly tall mound, I see the base of the tower. Just like the crabs, the tower mimics the spiral shells of the crabs. But unlike the crab, the one I see now is made of metal and is sitting on a mound of stone. Continuing on, my pace slows as my limbs become heavy, but I do not allow it to slow me down too much. With the sun beginning to set, I can¡¯t risk being too far from the tower, otherwise I¡¯ll need to deal with the scorpion, of which I¡¯d rather not contend with in my weakened state. Just as darkness smothers the sky, I finally reach the tower. Relief floods my being the moment my hand touches the tower- but only for a moment. Just because I¡¯ve reached the tower doesn¡¯t mean that the test is over. Ignoring the exhaustion and gnawing hunger, I walk around the spiral until I reach the tower''s entrance. More specifically, a locked metal door with a single large keyhole. It¡¯s locked? Why is it locked? Where the fuck am I supposed to get a key? My mental inquiry is immediately interrupted by a loud rumble behind me. I turn around to find a mound of sand shifting apart. The sand cascades and churns to reveal the mother of all scorpions. Where the usual scorpions are the size of sedans, this one in front of me is as large as a private jet. It has four pincers instead of two, eight stingers instead of three, far too many eyes to count, and a black carapace that looks to be more than twice as thick. To make matters even worse, right on top of the monster''s carapace and indented several inches into its armor is a very shiny key. IC God Games - B2 - Chapter 54: Desperate Measures. Of course there has to be a boss. Traversing a murderous scorpion filled desert for several days straight is not enough of a test. Clearly we need to literally gatekeep the end with a fucking boss fight! The massive scorpion turns in my direction and stares at me with numerous eyes. I stare back with my six. Pandora. If you can hear my thoughts, please kindly go fuck yourself. The scorpion clicks all four of its massive pincers. Actually. Disremark the kindly. Just go fuck yourself. Eight stingers aim in my direction. Fuck Me! My arm rises up to block the first needle. It bounces off my gauntlet, and I grit my teeth at the force that travels up my arm. Holy hell that hits like a cannon. The second stinger I dodge to the side. Duck the third. Weave left on the fourth. Parry the fifth. Roll the sixth. Matrix dodge the seventh. Finally, I grit my teeth and block the eighth. The impact staggers me, allowing the ninth to puncture my abdomen. Wait, what? Ninth? Focusing on one of the tails, I can see a small bump traveling out the abdomen, up the tail, and then reloading the stinger with another needle. It can reload its stingers! Why can it reload its stingers? What evolutionary pressure creates scorpions with poisonous reloading crossbows? I dodge another, then block, only to be staggered. A needle grazes my neck. I need to move! Growling, I force my tired legs to move. The moment I do, a needle whizzes past me. Running now, my ability to react to the projectiles improve. I dodge and weave while I circle the scorpion. The scorpion''s aim is very accurate and can lead its shots, but by constantly shifting my acceleration, I¡¯m able to dodge effectively. Shit, my body feels heavy and I need to figure out how to approach the damn thing. If I get too close, I may not react fast enough to dodge the needles. I need to figure something out. I continue dodging as I run while analyzing the scorpions every movement. Once my lungs are burning and after thirty more shots, I finally realize its weaknesses. It can only shoot one at a time. Once a needle appears on a tail, it takes approximately two seconds to arm and release. The tails are always aimed at my largest center mass which is my chest. What tail shoots are not random. It cycles in exactly the same way every time. On account of its body, the front has a thick exoskeleton, but the tails are segmented to allow the ability to rearm itself. I think I can get close to it, but breaking through that exoskeleton is risky. I could probably break a tail, but I doubt it would be a killing blow. Nor will it probably restrict its movements. I also don¡¯t exactly have the stamina for any protracted effort. My lungs are burning, my body is heavy, and I may pass out the moment the adrenaline fails. If I can somehow bleed it out and then find a safe place to rest, then there is a chance. But where could I re- Oh. That could work. I grin as a plan pops into my mind. Yea, that could work. Time to put it into motion. Instantly I move from circling to rushing the scorpion. As expected, the scorpion continues its onslaught. As soon as I see a needle appear, I swerve to the side in exactly one and three fourths of a second. Though I struggle to react fast enough to dodge, I can dodge preemptively before the shot is fired. I do this consistently until I¡¯m now near the scorpion. The scorpion, to my surprise, ceases to shoot me. Instead, It spreads its claws and opens its pincers with the intent to crush and grab. Just as I am in reach of the pincers. I bend my knees and put as much strength as I can into my legs. Then I hop forward. Sand explodes as my body accelerates towards the scorpion a mere second before the pincers slam at my former location. With the burst of speed, I practically glide under the scorpion and quickly reach it¡¯s behind. Without waiting a moment, I slam my hands in between the tail segments. Then, using my strength, I rip, tear, and expand until there is a head sized hole in one of the tails. Immediately, I put my plan into action. I stick my head inside the hole and immediately activate [Shift]. One second I was a rampaging Fenrimorph, and the next, I¡¯m a adorable kitten surrounded by walls of flesh. It worked! Grinning from whisker to whisker, I take a breath and begin to travel down the tail. Using the ability vested in my feline form, I squeeze deeper and deeper into the Matriarch''s body until I feel I am firmly inside. Then I cancel my transformation. ________________________________________________________ Pandora eyeballs the audience of divine beings. A much smaller audience now. From Eighty-two champion down to fifty-one. All within a short amount of time and for a very specific reason. ¡°I apologize for calling you here so early for another get together, but I believe it necessary to offer a warning and information.¡± He waves a swarm of tentacles. ¡°Since the last meeting, we ended with eighty-two god''s. Now, that number has dropped to sixty-five. Seventeen champions perishing is far too many in such a short period of time. After looking into it, five of the deaths were acceptable, but all of the rest died within the tower.¡± Pandora leans his trunk forward on the podium. His million eyes stare at the levels of those present. Most are higher, especially Machina. The god of logic has catapulted his champion to level thirty-three already, while second place is tied by five gods at level twenty-four. Machina is also the only one to have cleared a tower. Impressive for a champion of such a level. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°The towers are tests designed for individuals with a level in excess of fifty or groups in excess of twenty-five.¡± ¡°You can bring a group?¡± One god interrupts. Pandora nods his skull. ¡°Yes. If your champion has a job that allows subordinates, then those subordinates can be brought in the tower with them. Normally, such information would need to be deduced, but on account of the many deaths, I find it imperative that proper understanding of the risks these towers hold.¡± Pandora flaps his seventeen butterfly wings. ¡°I also recommend you do not rush the towers. It will take a great deal of time for any individual to conquer every tower. Which is why I recommend you have your champion level and grow stronger first.¡± He twists the ball of his tail before flicking it into spikes. ¡°So that you can articulate this warning to your champions, I will allow you all to meet your champion the next time they sleep regardless of whether they have leveled or not. In the meantime, feel free to stay here or leave.¡± At his word, the only god to leave is Machina. All others disperse into various groups. ___________________________________________________________ Yazula sips her drink while petting Mus on her lap. The younger, mousey goddess blushes at Yazula¡¯s touch. Mus is now the lowest level of all the gods. Which makes sense considering her champion is stuck on an abandoned island. Yazula would like to help her somehow, but Mus has no idea where her champion is located. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t wish to form an alliance? It will benefit us immensely. We can share resources and information that is useful for the whole.¡± Leona, a goddess with a twenty four on her head explains. Leona is a humanoid predator akin to something of a lion. She is both lithe and muscular, with a very predatory gaze. Behind the woman is a posse of eleven other gods and goddesses. All are lower level than leona, but not by much. ¡°It will only be until twenty towers are conquered. Then the alliance will be disbanded.¡± Yazula finds the prospect intriguing, and would be willing to join. Being in a group and working together will yield better and safer results. But, there is a problem. ¡°Yazula will not join unless Mus is allowed to join.¡± Leona growls, which causes Mus to squirm in Yazulas lap. ¡°She is weak. Her champion does not level and if the rumors are true, stuck on an unknown island. Her current situation will not benefit the group at all. It will only weaken us.¡± Yazula wraps her arms around the Mousey-girl. ¡°Then Yazula finds your alliance unworthy of Yazula''s presence.¡± ¡°Unworthy!¡± Leona grins. ¡°You think you can survive without a pack? Do you think your champion can survive alone?¡± She chuckles darkly. ¡°Machina is the only one who can deem such a thing on account of his level. But you, the same level as me? You are but a goddess of luck, and I will watch happily as that little luck run ou-¡± Leona pauses. Her face goes pale while her eyes are glued to the top of Yazula¡¯s head. Yazula, noticing this, glances up to find the number twenty five. Realizing what just happened, Yazula quickly opens her mouth to gloat, but her realization is too slow. A portal opens under her. ¡°NOOOOOOOOOOOOO.¡± She screams in outrage. _______________________________________________________________ Opening my eyes, I find myself in the realm of white, which can only mean one thing. Waiting for a few seconds, I see a portal open, followed by a screaming goddess. Yazula crashes face first into the ground. Then, to my surprise, another girl somehow even shorter than Yazula lands atop the goddess of luck. The shorter girl looks something of a mouse mixed with a human. I walk to the two groaning women. ¡°Yazula, I didn¡¯t expect you to bring a friend.¡± I told her. Yazula stops groaning at my words. Then she leans up to glance at the mousey girl. ¡°Mus, why are you here?¡± Yazula asks. Mus frowns. ¡°You pulled me with you.¡± ¡°So, who is this?¡± I ask. Yazula blinks in continued bewilderment. ¡°Yazulas goddess friend.¡± ¡°So a god¡­ that you brought here?¡± ¡°Yazula did not intend to bring Mus. Yazula was just holding Mus tightly while Yazula was going to gloat. Yazula finds your level-up timing very inconvenient.¡± ¡°Inconvenient? Really?¡± Yazula nods. ¡°Yes, Yazula was having a conversation about alliances, and then you level and force poor Yazula to come here.¡± I pinch the bridge of my nose. ¡°So, the gods are creating alliances. Smart in the short term, but detrimental later. An alliance just means you¡¯re cultivating competition that will have a good idea of your strengths and weaknesses. Unless you¡¯re weak or you¡¯re the leader of said alliance, then It is a waste to join. Detrimental even. I¡¯d rather keep my anonymity for as long as possible.¡± Yazula grins. She grabs Mus and pulls her close. ¡°Then Yazula will be the leader of the alliance and Mus will join us.¡± The little mousey-girl squeals in surprise. ¡°No.¡± I answer. ¡°Needless risk, and I don¡¯t think Mus will benefit me at all.¡± Yazula pouts and holds Mus even closer. ¡°Yazula believes Mus is the best person for an alliance. Mus does not want to win. Mus just wants to have fun.¡± I raise an eyebrow towards the squirming mouse-girl. Just from a passive sense of the goddess, Mus is as young and as weak as Yazula. She also doesn¡¯t seem deceptive. ¡°What kind of goddess are you?¡± I ask. ¡°I-i¡¯m a goddess of magic.¡± She answers meekly. She is too weak to be a generalist goddess of magic. ¡°What kind of magic?¡± I ask. ¡°Nature.¡± She answers. Nature? Huh, that''s actually not bad. Gods related to nature in any form tend to be kind, caring, and very honest. They avoid conflict and prefer to nurture and create instead of destroy. If you want someone that isn¡¯t going to stab you in the back, then nature is one of the best choices. I cross my arms and stare at Mus. ¡°You don¡¯t want to win the god games at all?¡± I ask. Mus shakes her head. ¡°I-I don''t want to harm others.¡± She answers. After a long moment, I drop my arms. ¡°Alright, fine. We¡¯ll make an alliance.¡± I look at Yazula. ¡°So long as I have final say over the members.¡± Yazula salutes gleefully. I return my attention to Mus. ¡°Now then, tell me about your champion.¡± ¡°My Champion¡¯s name is Nepenthes and¡­ For the next several minutes, I listen to Mus explain her predicament. A predicament that just so happens to make this alliance useless. ¡°I¡¯m surprised Pandora would teleport a champion to an abandoned island.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t abandoned. There was a catastrophe on the first day where meteors fell on my champions island. The island was shattered in two, with the populated half falling down into the planet.¡± Damn. That¡¯s some shit luck. ¡°And your champion has no idea where they are?¡± She shakes her head. ¡°Any landmarks? Something unique?¡± ¡°Ughhh, there''s a nearby island with a half destroyed castle.¡± ¡°Right. Any specific names?¡± Mus shakes her head. I sigh. ¡°I¡¯ll ask if anyone knows about a half destroyed castle. But first,¡± I turn to Yazula spacing out, ¡°I believe my goddess is fully prepared to give me a new class.¡± Yazula blinks. Her eyes meet mine. We stare at each other for a long moment. Then her cheeks turn bright pink. IC God Games - B2 - Chapter 55: Class Upgrade I shake my head in disappointment. Predictable disappointment, but disappointment nonetheless. ¡°Yazula was busy! And, and-¡± she stammers. ¡°Yazula was not expecting you to level so fast. Yazula thought Yazula had plenty of time. Yazula does not think anyone prepares so far in the future so quickly.¡± I sigh. Then I glance at Mus. ¡°Mus, how far is your planning for your champion?¡± ¡°Um.¡± Her tail swishes left and right as her ears flicker atop her head. ¡°I¡¯ve already planned to level seventy-five.¡± I raise an eyebrow at my goddess. Yazula''s face is now flush red as she does everything to not look at me. ¡°Yazula would like to argue that Mus is not normal.¡± ¡°Uh-huh. Right. Have you at least prepared anything?¡± She immediately perks up to my question. ¡°Yes.¡± She extends her hand with palm up for a moment. Then, out of seemingly nowhere, a bowl filled with folded papers appears. I pinch the bridge of my nose. Not so much that I¡¯m upset, but that I¡¯m delegated to quirks of fate. Granted, said fate is heavily skewed toward my benefit on account of Yazula being a goddess of luck. But still, luck only goes so far. I sigh as I stare at the bowl. ¡°Alrighty then. How do my next class choices work?¡± Yazula smiles happily. She closes her eye and then reaches inside. While her eye is closed, her hand swishes the pieces of paper around. Then she grabs three and pulls them out. The moment she does, a screen appears in my vision.
¡­Level 25 has been achieved. ¡­Unlocking Class upgrade. ¡­Three class upgrades are available.
Please choose one of the following classes: [Rapid Shifter]Increase Max number of souls by 4[Shift] ability cooldown is reduced by 95%[Shift] ability cost is reduced by 20% maximum mana and an additional 5% per soul acquired.[Numerous Shifter]Increase max number of souls by 4Max soul count is increased by 300%All shift forms gain 5% improved traits per soul acquired.[Armament Shifter]Increase Max number of souls by 4Items equipped are placed in stasis up to 10% of form weight.Increase weight threshold by 5% per soul acquired.
Reading through each class, I can¡¯t help but find them following something of a three part diagram. First, my main class ability where I can gain souls and transform into beasts that I have souls for is improved in the number of souls. Second, the unique class changes are added, all of which improve my [Shift] skill. Third, the unique class changes gain the ability to scale in regards to the number of souls. Such an ability allows growth over a course of time. After thoroughly reading and checking each class, I look at Yazula. The goddess is standing silently and expectantly with what looks like a dumb grin on her face. ¡°Yazula, what happens after I choose my new class?¡± I ask. The bowl in her hand disappears and is replaced with another one, but with far more paper inside. ¡°Yazula will give a blessing.¡± ¡°Right. Am I allowed a choice?¡± She shakes her head. ¡°Yazula must choose.¡± She wiggles the bowl in front of me. ¡°Yazula will find the best blessing.¡± ¡°Do I get any say over what you choose?¡±I ask. She pouts. ¡°Yazula can try to find something specific, but Yazula believes luck is better.¡± Honestly, she¡¯s not wrong. The mimicus blessing gave me the ability to communicate vocally. Also, I don¡¯t think her judgment will be very good. Far better to leave it to luck. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll go the luck method. But first, let me choose a class.¡± I return my attention to the screen and begin contemplating my choices. Let''s see. [Rapid Shifter] promotes the ability to rapidly change forms. Considering there is a good half minute before I can transform back, a 95% reduction of such a cooldown would allow me to transform every second and a half. On top of that, my transformation cost could become free in the long run. The only problem with the [Rapid Shifter] class is that my base form is probably far superior to anything I could reasonably transform into. Maybe I¡¯d find something in the future, but until then, I¡¯d have a thoroughly weakened class until then. [Numerous Shifter] on the other hand has something of a similar problem. The class allows me to get a large number of transformations, which in theory would allow me to have a transformation ready to deal with various circumstances. Unfortunately, my base form is as a Fenrimorph, which is not considered a shift form. This means that 5% per soul boosts would not improve my traits as a Fenrimorph. Unlike the other two, [Armament Shifter] seems to be a better option, but also a riskier one. Having the ability to keep equipment equipped on my person is a boon. In the short term, It will allow me to always have my gauntlets equipped. But in the long term, I can imagine a full suit of armor. ¡°I¡¯m going to choose [Armament Shifter].¡± The moment the words leave my lips, I am met with an onslaught of screens.
Class: [Armament Shifter] has been chosen.
Installing [Armament] Specialization to [Shifter]... Installation Complete.
[Armament Shifter] Class level 25 You are a man who is connected to the material and immaterial plane. You are capable of absorbing the souls of those freely given and then transforming into the species the soul is of. Your stasis is capable of carrying equipped items up to 10% + 5%(2) of total weight. 2/6 Souls
I read the description and nod to the changes. ¡°Alright, next is the blessing. Go ahead Yazula.¡± ¡°Yazula will choose the best blessing.¡± Once again, she closes her eye and reaches inside. She grabs a piece of paper and pulls it out. Then a screen hits me.
Initiating second blessing from entity Yazula¡­ Blessing Loaded: Adding Baby Undammota soul to shifter class¡­
Baby Undammota (Soul) Monoculus are the rarest bird species in all of Tristique. They have the unique ability to sense all forms of seismic energy waves around them. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.
I read and reread it for several long seconds. My first instinct is to be upset. In my head, I hope for something interesting or immediately useful. But, I get a bird transformation. Granted, the description sounds fancy and all, what with the seismic energy sense, but I doubt it will be of great help. I guess the ability to turn into something that could fly is useful. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Mus interrupts my thoughts. The diminutive goddess, somehow even shorter than Yazula, is looking at me with concern. ¡°No. I¡¯m just trying to figure out my blessing based solely on the description. I¡¯m going to have to test it when I¡¯m done here.¡± ¡°Yazula believes her choice is the best choice.¡± Mus ignores Yazula. The goddess of magic just continues staring at me for long moments. ¡°You are displeased.¡± She finally says. ¡°You wish for less chaos in your choices.¡± I frown at her words. Goddesses of magic are generally intelligent. Well, most gods are intelligent. But gods of magic are exceptionally so. Such a thing tends to come at a tradeoff. For magic, that is generally in wisdom. Reading and comprehending emotions is generally what such gods struggle with. I guess a Goddess of Nature Magic is a bit of a different breed. ¡°It would be nice, but I wouldn¡¯t trust Yazula to choose properly-¡± ¡°HEY!¡± ¡°-without using her skill.¡± She tilts her head. ¡°Luck can run out.¡± I shrug. ¡°It can, absolutely. But it hasn¡¯t yet, so I¡¯ll deal with it if it comes. Anyways, do I get anything else? Or are we done here?¡± Yazula opens her mouth to speak, but my answer is immediately answered by a portal opening next to her. All I hear is a surprised squeal as her body is suctioned through. Me and Mus just stare surprised while the portal closes. Once the portal is closed, Green converges into existence at the same location. The floating eyeball blinks at me, and then blinks at Mus. ¡°Error. Unauthorized Divine Entity Present. Purging divine entity.¡± I hear Mus squeal as another portal appears and suctions the women through the same way as Yazula. Once she is gone, Green turns to me. ¡°You have gained a single level. You have 11 attributes available.¡± Eleven? ¡°Show me my full traits.¡± ¡°Acknowledged.¡±
Traits. Human Average Individual Base Calculations. Level modifications Trait Actual Value
Strength 10 41 +33% 54
Endurance 9 46 +0% 46
Vitality 12 0.27%M/R/M 28 0.63% M/R/M +0% +9.31% 28 9.94% M/R/M
Perception 9 29 +0% 29
Intelligence 11 16 +0% 16
Mana 388.8 510 +0% 510
Control 12 10 +0% 10
Attributes Available/Attributes total: 11 44 Level: 25
Titles Obtained: 3
Title Name Leviathan Slayer
Title Rank Legendary
Title Effect +10 Attribute points
Title Name Underdog Boarder
Title Rank Rare
Title Effect [Captain¡¯s Authority] stat decay is slowed when boarding enemy vessels.
Title Name Mana Fur
Title Rank Divine
Title Effect Increase Mana Regeneration by fur density. Current Bonus: +9.31% M/RM
¡°Why do I have eleven attribute points? Shouldn¡¯t I only have one?¡± ¡°That information is restricted.¡± I sigh. ¡°Of course it is. I¡¯ll have to ask Myers. For now, what should I do.¡± I tap my chin as I stare at my traits. I could continue to add points into strength. Myers mentions that strength is capped at twice the endurance, and my endurance is very high. So I still have a decent way to go. Alternatively, I can increase endurance, which would give me the highest stat gain. But, I doubt endurance would be a good idea. Doubling or tripling my resilience will make me more durable, but nowhere near durable enough to ignore a runed sword. ¡°Lets just keep putting my points into strength and that will be it.¡± ¡°Acknowledged.¡± _________________________________________________________________ One moment I was staring at green, and the next, I¡¯m sticky, wet, warm, and surrounded by gore. The fuck am I? Moving about, I feel meat shift easily against my muscles. I stand and move, ripping sinew and organs apart. Eventually, I feel a hard exterior. Touching the exterior, my memories flood back into me at the feel of the chitin. Right. I went inside the matriarch as a cat, transformed back. And then I had a feeding frenzy before passing out. Finally mentally caught up, I continue slicing and dicing through innards until I find an opening. Squeezing myself out, I am met with blazing sunlight. Wary, I glance around in case there are more scorpions, but there are none. The tower is firmly nearby and is probably keeping the other scorpions from approaching. Now then, it should be somewhere, probably by the tail end. I walk to the behind of the scorpion and then check the area. After a good five minutes and a bit of digging, my search bares fruit. I grab my gauntlets and quickly put them on. A more difficult prospect on account of my larger hand. Eventually, I get it done. Once they are firmly in place, I return to the matriarch corpse. The corpse doesn''t look much like a corpse other than the bloody hole behind it. The carapace is doing a fine job of keeping the internals from just gushing out into the sand. Climbing on its back, I walk to the center where the key is embedded. I kneel down to pull the key out, only to find that the thing is firmly in place. Raising my arms, I push my weight into my punch. Armored fist meets carapace, and carapace barely loses. A tiny crack forms from where I struck. Thank god I didn¡¯t try to break through its armor. Raising my fist, I continue my onslaught, creating more and more cracks until the carapace shatters. With the carapace broken, It was easy to retrieve the key. I raise it up to the sunlight. The key is black like obsidian, but also shinier. It also feels very sturdy. With the key in hand, I make my way to the tower entrance. I insert the key and turn. I hear a click. The door opens on its own. IC God Games - B2 - Chapter 56: Blessing of the Chariot With the door open, I warily enter the tower. My head swerves with heightened senses as I look for threats. Just because I fought a giant scorpion doesn¡¯t mean that the fighting is over. For all I know, there could be another boss. Thankfully, no such threat is revealed. Instead, I am met with the same internals of the initial tower- minus the sand. With the entrance having been closed, no sand was able to enter. Walking in deeper, I¡¯m immediately met with stairs leading downwards. Still wary, I descend down the steps. After a good minute of descent, I see light. Slowing down now, I continue down until I¡¯m met with a lit circular room. In the center of the room is a pedestal. On top of the pedestal is a vibrant glowing crystal ball. Alright. This is either a trap or the end of the dungeon. Hopefully the latter. I walk up to the crystal ball and examine it for something. What that something is, I¡¯ve no idea. What the hell is wrong with me? Why am I scared? It¡¯s not the first time I¡¯ve almost died¡­ Then again, death just meant I¡¯d be returned to earth. I don¡¯t exactly have that crutch anymore. ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ Holy shit I¡¯m afraid of death! How long has it been since I¡¯ve felt this way? Fifteen? Sixteen summons ago? Shaking my head, I growl at my hesitancy. It doesn¡¯t matter. Fear is just an emotion- useful one that it is. And emotions are things that I¡¯ve already overcome. Without hesitation, I place my gauntleted arm on the orb. The orb shatters upon touch to reveal a metallic card. On the card, I see a detailed image of a decorated chariot being pulled by scorpions across a vast desert. Odd. I reach down to grab the card. The moment my hand makes contact, the card disintegrates.
Through Perception, you have found this tower.
Through Endurance, you have traversed the sands.
Through Control, you have overcome the heat.
Test of the Chariot completed. Notifying the World System¡­
Chariot completion identified¡­ Activating blessing interface¡­ Restricting Blood Flow to brain¡­
Goddammit, not again! A second after my thought, everything goes dark. _______________________________________________________ When my eyes open, I¡¯m met with the room of endless white. Everything is the same, except for a singular difference. In the sky, the card I¡¯d touched is floating haphazardly next to my ship. ¡°Well, that¡¯s new.¡± I say aloud. ¡°It is indeed.¡± A voice replies. I turn around quickly. When I do, I¡¯m met with a being of constantly shifting forms. Horns, tentacles, eyes, tails, skeletons. The more I stare, the more the form is in constant change. Accessing my soul, I attempt to divulge what this being is, but I¡¯m met with absolutely nothing. ¡°You¡¯re a greater god of Chaos.¡± I say. The being claps vines. ¡°A perfect deduction!¡± The being exclaims happily. ¡°Mind explaining how you figured that out?¡± I frown. ¡°Considering you¡¯re asking means you haven¡¯t read my mind. Which I appreciate. As for how I figured it out, well, I¡¯ve learned to sense the souls of the divine. The only exceptions are the souls of greater gods. Greater gods are capable of hiding their souls completely, like you are doing now. As for the chaos part- your form kinda gives it away. Constantly shifting how you are perceived is chaotic.¡± The being twists its three necks. ¡°Impressive and new. I am most pleased with such an experience.¡± I nod. ¡°I imagine so. You¡¯re old, so novel experiences are pleasant.¡± The entity chuckles bubbles. ¡°Oh, how I wish to learn of you, but that would go against my own rules. Better to watch and enjoy.¡± ¡°Riiight. So who are you and why are you here?¡± I point at the Chariot card. ¡°I¡¯m guessing it has something to do with that?¡± The entity shimmers crystally. ¡°I am Pandora, the master of this world and proprietor of the god games. As for your deduction, yes. I am here because you have passed the Chariot test. I have taken it upon myself to congratulate every champion that has passed their first tower.¡± ¡°Just to congratulate?¡± I ask. ¡°Correct.¡± He giggles out. ¡°Congratulations on being the second person to complete a tower.¡± Before I can even reply, Pandora disappears. ¡°What?¡± I exclaim, confused. I look around, searching where he might have gone, only to find nothing. Just then, a portal opens. An eye floats through. This one looks exactly like green and red, except its eye is blue. Blue blinks at me. ¡°Entity Quasi Eludo, you have obtained the Chariot card. Please choose one of the following blessings:¡±
Blessing of the Chariot. Chariots Perception.+5% Perception[Binocular Vision]Gain the ability to magnify vision up to eight times.Chariots Endurance.+5% Endurance[Minor Stamina Regeneration]Increase stamina regeneration by 100%Chariots Control.+5% Control[Minor Heat Resistance]Reduce effects of heat by 50%
¡°I get to choose?¡± I ask ¡°Correct.¡± ¡°Only one?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± Huh. That''s nice. Now then, let''s see what I have. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Going through the three options, I can''t help but find the choices to be a bit difficult. Chariot''s perception would give me built in binoculars. Though, it may not be as useful considering Fenrimorph vision is already good. Also, don¡¯t I have a bird transformation already now? Chariot''s stamina on the other hand is somewhat useful. It would allow me to recover from exhaustion, or at the very least, slow down the speed at which I get exhausted. Then again, it was only when I was starving and fighting a giant scorpion that stamina became a problem. In most instances, I doubt it would be useful. Chariot control is a bit of a confusing one. What does it mean to reduce the effects of heat? Is it all heat? External? Internal? Am I less prone to getting set on fire? ¡°Are you able to explain [Minor Heat Resistance]?¡± ¡°Negative.¡± Blue answers. Figures. Stupid eyes are never helpful. ¡°Can I choose the blessing later?¡± ¡°Negative.¡± Damn. Alright. So, three options, and none are that useful as of the moment. Well, maybe [Minor Heat Resistance], but I¡¯ve no idea how that works. Well, that''s not true. It most definitely would protect me from the desert. Still, my problem with the desert was food, not actually the heat. Or was it? I don¡¯t remember ever feeling thirsty, which is usually the first problem in a desert. Instead, I had a gnawing hunger. The only other option is the percentile bonuses. 5% isn¡¯t very much unless we take endurance into account. It¡¯s the only one that would give me significant trait improvements. Perception would give me a single trait improvement, while control would give me nothing. If traits are the deciding factor, then endurance. If not, then control could be the most beneficial if it provides me protection from heat. ¡°Blue, these choices are difficult.¡± Blue blinks silently. I sigh. ¡°If my life actually wasn¡¯t on the line, I¡¯d go for control, but it unfortunately is. So, Blue, I choose the blessing of Chariots Endur-.¡± I pause at my answer. It¡¯s the smart and logical choice. It will help me not get tired as fast, and it will give me the highest attribute benefit. Control only has the [Minor Heat Resistance]- a skill that I¡¯m not sure how it works. And perception isn¡¯t useful unless I¡¯m fighting from a considerable distance. ¡°You know what, fuck it. Give me Chariots Control. Logic be damned. I¡¯m listening to my gut.¡± ¡°Choice: Chariots Control, accepted.¡±
Adding Title: Chariots Control¡­ Title Added successfully.
Title Name Chariots Control
Title Rank Tower
Title Effect +5% Control trait [Minor Heat Resistance]
¡°Blessing application completed.¡± Blue blinks rapidly. ¡°Activating Reset Protocol.¡±
Reset Protocol Activated¡­ Teleporting Entity Quasi Eludo to entrance¡­ Teleport Successful¡­ Test of Chariot will reset once entity Quasi Eludo leaves the premises.
__________________________________________________ I wake up to the smell of sand, blood, and the sight of a metal ceiling. Jumping up quickly, I raise my fists defensively. Glancing around, my eyes fall on my first kill. The first scorpion that I killed in the first tower is exactly where I left it. I have been teleported back to the entrance. Which means the exit is just below. Once I leave, it sounds like the test will be completely reset. I wonder if I can take the test again? Could I get more of the cards and blessings? I shrug at the thought. I can test that out later. It¡¯s been three days since I entered. Hopefully Valentine is a man of his word. I take a step towards the stairs, and then pause as an idea enters my mind. ______________________________________________________ Towers-keeper is a cored ship made to transport large amounts of people over long distances. The ship is modified with expanded living quarters and expanded storage. This allows the vessel to comfortably carry over a hundred pilgrims. And by comforts, that includes dedicated showers, areas of worship, and most importantly: A library. It is in this library where James is leaning over stacks and stacks of books. His eyes dart rapidly from page to page, desperately searching- only to find nothing. He closes the book and then leans back. ¡°Nothing.¡± He exclaims. ¡°This is infuriating!¡± ¡°[Bishop], maybe a break is in order? You¡¯ve been at this since first light,¡± Samantha says. James sighs. ¡°No. There must be something. Valentine said it''s all for a game, and that he¡¯s not a player. He chose those words specifically. There must be scripture explaining the meaning of those words.¡± The [Paladin] tilts her head to the side. Her gaze passes a large stack of books that James finished reading. ¡°Maybe Valentine''s words are his interpretation.¡± James quickly shakes his head, eyes still glued to his current reading. ¡°I thought of that possibility, but the crew of the Timbergrove refused to expand on it when I asked. They could have easily said they don¡¯t know, but instead are being secretive.¡± ¡°We could pressure the-.¡± ¡°No.¡± James interrupts immediately. ¡°I will not subject myself to such disrespectful actions. They are allies, and I will treat them with the respect they deserve- ahah!¡± James grins. His hand falls upon a line. ¡°It is believed that in time, before a great peril manifests, a Messiah will arrive and commune with the divine ears so as to guide those most loyal to salvation! This Apostle of the great one, in love and respect for the great divine, will refuse worship for they worship through their actions and not their words. They will instead encourage the worship of the divine.¡± James reads aloud. Samantha frowns. ¡°You think Quasi could be this Messiah? Seems unlikely since that Buxon was able to enter the tower too.¡± James slowly nods. But a grin is still somewhat plastered on his face. ¡°Maybe. Clearly, the Buxon died in the attempt to commune. If Quasi succeeds and convinces Valentine to leave peacefully, then the possibility is there.¡± Before Samantha can comment, the door to the library opens rapidly to reveal a sweating [Priest]. ¡°Apologies [Bishop], but something has changed. The tower is different.¡± James immediately stands up. ¡°Show me.¡± Running from the ship to the towers entrance takes several minutes, but James eventually arrives. Already, a large swarm of people are huddling near the entrance. At his arrival, they quickly make a path for him. He rushes right outside the entrance. Then he notices the difference. Previously, you could see sand on the floor on the tower''s entrance. But now, the sand is gone. ¡°Has anyone exited the tower?¡± He asks those congregated. All shake their heads. He grimaces. ¡°Continue the watch. I must check something. Samantha, follow me.¡± James rushes away from the tower. His stride leads him to a large tent. Without announcing himself, he rushes inside to find all of Timbergroves crew at the table. His eyes quickly train on Irmgard. Then he relaxes at the sight of her job. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± Irmgard asks He releases a breath he¡¯d not realized he was holding. ¡°Yes, the tower¡¯s entrance no longer has sand. Has your [Captain] returned?¡± ¡°No.¡± Irmgard shakes her head. ¡°But such a change is good if my job has not changed.¡± ¡°It has not,¡± James says. ¡°Then it seems something important has happened that hasn¡¯t ended with his death.¡± Irmgard explains. ¡°I¡­ yes.¡± James pauses, unsure what else to say. ¡°Have you seen anyone exit the tower?¡± Myers asks. ¡°Maybe a cat?¡± James frowns. ¡°There are people praying all the time. I¡¯m sure they would have noticed a cat leaving.¡± ¡°Comrade fluffy is very sneaky. Maybe he sneak out when you close eyes to pray, yes?¡± Cillian snorts. ¡°Sounds like something he would do.¡± James shakes his head. ¡°Mass prayer covers the entire entrance. Sneaking past all of us, even as a cat, is impossible.¡± ¡°Um,¡± Clay raises his hand. ¡°What if Fluffy turned into a bird?¡± All eyes turn to Clay. ¡°Why do you think he would turn into a bird?¡± James asks the child. Clay points a finger to the top of the tent. Eyes follow his finger. Up top, on one of the supporting poles is a small, raven-like bird with a large singular eyeball. The bird stares down at all those present. Then, immediately, the bird flutters down, landing in the middle of the table. A puff of smoke later, and the bird turns into a cat. The cat looks at them all. ¡°I¡¯ve been perched up there for a good half hour, and the only one who noticed me is a child¡­ you all suck.¡± IC God Games - B2 - Chapter 57: What a Dick I¡¯m met with silence from all those present. They stare at me, flabbergasted, while I just sit upon the table with a grin. ¡°Fluffy!¡± Clay squeals. The child rushes out of his seat to get near me. Then Clay¡¯s arms spread apart. With a snort, I hop into Clay¡¯s arms, where I am met with proper hugs and pets. The child is ecstatic and happy, no doubt relieved of my return. Another glance at all the others, It¡¯s clear that my presence was far more missed than I¡¯d realized. ¡°Comrade Fluffy, is good have you back.¡± Boriss grins. ¡°Aye.¡± Cillian raises a drink before downing the contents. I¡¯m met with additional words of relief from the rest of my crew, but I ignore them as Clay¡¯s head scritches shove dopamine into my bloodstream. Eventually, all pleasure must come to an end. ¡°[Captain] Quasi,¡± James calls, ¡°It is good to have you back and in good health. I hope your trip into the tower was eventful.¡± I hop out of Clay''s arm and land on the table. ¡°Yea, just a little bit. I¡¯m level twenty five now with an additional blessing in tow. All it cost me was traversing a dangerous desert, getting penetrated by dozens of needles, nearly starving to death, and barely surviving against a scorpion as large as this tent.¡± I smile towards James, who gives me an odd look. No, wait, not odd. The man looks focussed, like everything coming outside of my mouth is being thrown directly into long term memory. ¡°Would you be willing to go into detail?¡± He asks. ¡°Maybe later. I actually came here to ask if Valentine did anything while I was gone.¡± ¡°Done?¡± I nod. ¡°Torture, threats, pain, killing.¡± ¡°Valentine and his crew stayed on their ship the entire time after you left. They said that if anyone tried to leave, they would be killed.¡± James raises a finger to Irmgard. ¡°She is the only one allowed to board the ship.¡± I glance at Irmgard. ¡°He has threatened me only.¡± I frown. ¡°Did he act on those threats?¡± ¡°I did not give him a reason to.¡± ¡°Huh. That''s very unpiraty of him. You¡¯d think a man of his ability would have less self control.¡± ¡°Valentine wants information,¡± Myers finally says. ¡°Doing anything that could be perceived as going against the deal he made is something he will adamantly avoid.¡± The old man looks like he¡¯d aged a decade over the course of three days. Or he didn¡¯t trim his beard. Hard to tell. ¡°Right. Well, I can¡¯t help but appreciate that. I guess I should be a bit more generous with information.¡± I hop off the table and land near the tent entrance. ¡°You said he¡¯s on his ship, right? I¡¯m gonna go talk to him.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± I hear James call, but my skill is activating. One moment I¡¯m a cat, and the next I¡¯m a single eyed bird. Flapping my wings, I exit the tent and ascend a dozen meters. At my heightened elevation, everything is visible to my sight. And I mean everything. I do not see the wavelength of light. I see ripples of mana in motion, all moving at different and varying speeds. I also see the concentrations of light, more specifically, the mana of individuals. I can see through tents and items with ease. I can note enchanted items as well by the quality and density of mana. Unfortunately, seeing through the hulls of ships is difficult. I can somewhat see through the two uncensored destroyers, but cored ships have such bright hulls it¡¯s not possible. After a good minute of looking, I flap my wings and make my way to the largest ship I can see. ___________________________________________________________________ The bauble tilts ever so slightly near the edge. A crystalline paperweight, something made of gold, silver, and a fervent red crystal. The item is just at the corner of the desk, asking¡­ wanting a little bit of force. ¡°Of those three options provided, I ended up choosing Chariots Control.¡± My paw tilts towards the paperweight. ¡°Yes, the other options are objectively better. Chariots Perception [Binocular Vision] would mean I¡¯d never need to use a spyglass and Chariots Endurance is constantly useful if ever I need to recover from exertion.¡± My paw taps the paperweight light first¡­ then a little more forcefully. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. ¡°But that''s the thing. Those are two skills whose benefits to me are very minor. They wouldn¡¯t truly improve me in any significant way. [Minor Heat Resistance] on the other hand is a bit of an enigma. Sure, it probably makes me resilient to heat, but I don¡¯t know by how much. It could be very slight, but it could also be more significant. It is the possibility of significance in why I¡¯ve chosen such a blessing.¡± The paperweight falls off the side of the desk to join the mug, candle, stack of paper, a sheathed knife, a bell, two decorated skulls, a fancy stamp, spilled ink bottle with quiver, and a good dozen scrolls. I stare at the floor for a bit before glancing at the now clear desk. Then I glance at the very amused Valentine. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you¡¯d comment your own thoughts on the choice? Would you say it is the correct one, or no. Would you have chosen differently?¡± After listening silently for the better part of an hour while watching a cat push objects off his desk, Valentine takes a moment to lean forward. He then glances at his most trusted advisor. ¡°Everything except the details surrounding the fight against the Matriarch Scorpis is without lies.¡± Valentine nods. ¡°I figured as much. Punching through a Matriarch¡¯s thick carapace is something an Expert Buxon [Monk] would struggle to do- let alone a [Shifter] only recently becoming an advanced classer.¡± ¡°There was punching involved.¡± Quasi adds. ¡°True.¡± Gazania says. ¡°Harr, harr, harr,¡± Valentine chuckles. ¡°I¡¯m sure. As for your question, Gazania, please explain.¡± The [Storm-Forge Navigator] tilts her head towards the cat with a look not indifferent of a strict headmistress. ¡°[Minor Heat Resistance] is a passive skill that reduces all temperatures above optimum by 50%. This includes both internal and external temperatures. [Heat Resistance] reduces this further by 75% and [Major Heat Resistance] reduces it by 90%. The skill generally shows up in crafting classes like [Smith] or combat classes specializing in hot environments. The skill is also notable for its ability to increase max stamina as the body takes much longer to get to a temperature that would affect function. When [Heat Resistance] is combined with [Fire Resistance], the ability to withstand higher temperature is expon-¡± ¡°That''s Enough, Gazania.¡± Valentine interrupts. ¡°Of course.¡± Valentine''s gaze returns back to the cat. ¡°What happened after you chose your blessing?¡± Quasi yawns. He glances once more at the clean desk, saddened by no longer having something to knock down. ¡°I woke up at the entrance where I killed the first scorpis. From there, I left the tower, made sure my crew was treated well, and then ran here. We then talked. I cleared up your desk of useless baubles, and now we¡¯re here.¡± Valentine glances again at Gazania. The woman nods silently. The leader of the Corsairs leans back in his throne-like chair and crosses his arms. ¡°I find your explanation and story satisfactory, so much so that I¡¯d like to extend an offer.¡± ¡°I decline.¡± Quasi answers immediately. Valentine raises an eyebrow. ¡°You haven¡¯t even heard my offer.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t need to. I imagine you would offer me to join your crew with a promise of riches, rewards, leveling, power, and all the typical stuff a powerful person like yourself can offer.¡± ¡°And you would refuse, why?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m better than you.¡± The cat grins while Valentine frowns. ¡°You¡¯re powerful, influential, leveled, but also overconfident, cocky, authoritarian, and your control over your emotions is lacking. Compared to me, you are but a child with visions of grandeur.¡± The leader of the [Corsairs] stares at the talking kitten while his hand cracks the armrest of his seat. Gazania places a palm on Valentine''s shoulder. The man quickly relaxes. After a moment, Valentine speaks. ¡°Maybe it is you who are being the arrogant one.¡± ¡°What you believe to be arrogance is mere feline superiority. I am the superior species here, and you are but a stepping stone to my greatness.¡± Valentine grins. Not a happy grin, but a more bloodthirsty one. ¡°Maybe what you perceive is not a mere stone, but a mountain.¡± The cat flicks his tail. ¡°A pebble, a boulder, a mountain- all are but stones of different sizes and all can be traversed with time.¡± The two stare at each other for long moments, two powerful egos in a single room. A silent battle of will unfolds, both staring and waiting for one to speak. Eventually, the cat sits down and starts licking its leg- without breaking eye contact. ¡°Just get out.¡± Valentine finally voices. ¡°Arguing with you is a waste of time.¡± The cat stops licking. ¡°Not just yet. I believe I am owed something.¡± Valentine frowns curiously, then he remembers and grins. He reaches into his coat, retrieves a scroll, and then lays it in front of the cat. ¡°Take it.¡± ¡°I will, but just to make sure. Our deal is still in place, right?¡± He nods. ¡°Yes. When you leave my ship, I will sail away and you can live your life as you please.¡± ¡°Purrfect.¡± The cat answers. Quasi picks up the scroll in his mouth and then leaves the room with the help of a [Pirate] manning the door. Once the door closes and the cat is firmly out of earshot, Valentine chuckles. ¡°Harr, harr, harrr. Gazania, please call Darran to my office. Tell him it''s urgent.¡± Gazania¡¯s eyes glow for a moment. ¡°It is done.¡± Not a minute later and Darran Orgart, the Sky Piercer, rushes inside. ¡°Did you need something, [Captain]?¡± ¡°I do. I need your [Wyvern Riders] to send a message to all the nearby [Pirate] havens.¡± He nods. ¡°That can be done. What is the message?¡± Valentine stands up and walks to the side of the room where a large wall-sized map of the planet is located. ¡°I need you to inform all of the havens that there is treasure located.¡± He raises a finger and points at a specific location. ¡°Here.¡± IC God Games - B2 - Chapter 58: Conversations True to his word, the moment I depart the Bone-Leviathan, the ship raises its sails and immediately departs to the cheering of everyone present. All watch as Valentine sails away at a speed no current ship is anywhere near an equal. Once the Bone-Leviathan is no longer in sight, James rushes up to me accompanied by a large throng of people. ¡°Looks like he¡¯s gone. Seems he mea-.¡± Before I can even deign to finish my sentence, James and every single [Priest] and [Pilgrim] drop to their knees. ¡°What?¡± I ask aloud. James raises his head. ¡°The Tower-Ecclesiasticus thanks you, Apostle of the great one and Messiah of those loyal.¡± I blink and frown. Am I being worshiped? Again? ¡°Nope. No. Hell, no. Don¡¯t you dare worship me. Go worship your god-err tower. Just not me.¡± To my words, James grins, even tears up a bit. ¡°Yes, great one. We will heed your will. But before that, please listen to my request.¡± I frown. Please, no cult again. I don¡¯t want to be worshiped by crazies again. ¡°What¡¯s the request?¡± ¡°Come with us to our headquarters. The leaders of the Tower-Ecclesiasticus will wish to meet one who has such a deep connection to the divines ear and a savior of the divines servant.¡± Yeah. I¡¯m going to stay as far away from your leaders as possible. I don¡¯t need religious crazies worshiping the ground I walk on. That gets old far too fast. ¡°I decline. I have treasure to find and a long quest to complete.¡± ¡°Then stay for a party.¡± James encourages. ¡°It¡¯s the least thanks we can give for saving us.¡± Fuck no. I¡¯m not about to be drugged, kidnapped, and put on an altar again. ¡°I will respectfully decline. My quest is urgent, and every moment I wait leads to difficulty.¡± James nods understandably, albeit with a sad smile. ¡°I understand. You have others that require saving. I won¡¯t keep you, but know that I and my flock will voice your glory to all those that will listen. ¡°You-uh, you do that.¡± I say. Then I quickly glance at my curious crew. ¡°Cmon, grab your stuff and let''s head out.¡± _____________________________________________________ Hours later, the Timbergrove departs with full sails. The ship lurches lightly. The clouds are clear, the wind isn¡¯t too strong, and the air is as fresh and mana rich as it could be. In the Mess hall, the entire team is sitting and situated around the [Captain] sitting in the middle of the table. ¡°-and that''s pretty much it. The tower is a test that gives me a card and a blessing. I need to complete twenty more towers, or obtain twenty more cards. Then, somehow, the final tower will reveal itself and I can win the god games.¡± Myers leans back as he strokes his beard. ¡°As I mentioned before, the towers are all separated. Going to them all will take a lot of time and result in a great deal of danger. I¡¯m not sure if I want to be putting mine and Clay¡¯s life on the line for such a thing.¡± Quasi nods. He then walks to the edge of the table. ¡°Yea, that is fair. Which is why we¡¯re going to go grab some treasure to give us a bit more of an edge. Irmgard, spread the map if you will.¡± Irmgard unrolls the scroll and spreads it in the center of the table. The map is smaller, and isn''t actually a map of the world. Instead, it is a map of a quadrant of a world map. More specifically, the Quadrant they are currently on. On the map, there is an X marking an empty place. ¡°Myers, think you can lead us to treasure?¡± The old man stands up. His finger traces the map slowly. Then he nods. ¡°We¡¯re not that far. I¡¯d say a week away at our speed.¡± ¡°Can we trust the map to be accurate?¡± Cillian asks. ¡°Yes,¡± Myers answers. ¡°As I mentioned before, Valentine stays by his word. There will be treasure, though I wouldn¡¯t let your guard down. There could still be dangers.¡± ¡°Then we best get moving. But first, I need some advice from you, Myers.¡± Myers frowns, but says nothing. He gives a slow nod. ¡°Ask.¡± ¡°Actually,¡± Quasi hops off the table. ¡°It may be better to show you.¡± In a puff of smoke, the cat disappears and is replaced with a Fenrimorph wearing gauntlets. Instantly, everyone present notices the changes. Quasi¡¯s fur now has a purple hue to it. He is larger, more muscular, and carries another set of horns. ¡°You¡¯ve evolved.¡± Myers says after a moment. He then glances at the gauntlets. ¡°You leveled and got a skill too.¡± ¡°The Gauntlets look tight.¡± Emma comments. Quasi growls. With difficulty, he removes the gauntlets from his arm, ripping and tearing fur and skin to remove the armor. He then chucks the bloody gauntlets to Emma, who catches them with a grimace. Once removed, Quasi transforms back into a cat and hops up on the table. ¡°Gauntlets are a bit tight. I need you to make them a bit bigger.¡± He says to Emma. Emma twirls the gauntlets around her hands. ¡°It will take some time to loosen it, but It can be done.¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Quasi nods. He then looks to Myers. ¡°I¡¯m an [Armament Shifter] now, which lets me carry a portion of my weight in equipment at all times. Hence the gauntlets. But that''s less important than my evolution.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re going to ask me what an evolved Fenrimorph entails, I¡¯m going to have to tell you that I don¡¯t know. I just know they are stronger and more dangerous.¡± Quasi traces a circle with his paw. ¡°So, I got infected with the scorpis venom. A lot of scorpio venom. The venom triggered my evolution, which as you saw, gave me physiological changes. But, it also gave me an odd title. It gave me a divine ranked title called Mana Fur. Which is exactly what it sounds like. My fur increases my mana regeneration based on how much fur I have. Currently, nearly a tenth of my mana regenerates every minute.¡± Myers goes stock still. He frowns hard while his hand firmly grabs his beard. ¡°That is impressive. Very, very impressive.¡± ¡°Mind expanding on that?¡± Quasi asks. The old man loosens his grip on his hair. ¡°As I explained before, Runic items of progressively higher quality have a significantly higher cost to wield. It is not uncommon for legendary items to require several percentages worth of mana regeneration, with divine items rumored to be near or at the double digits. Because these costs are so high, only those whose bloodlines have a naturally inflated base regeneration have any hope of wielding such weapons. Many a [Noble] will take wives or concubines who have such high regeneration rates so as to produce such offspring.¡± ¡°Yea, I figured that out already. What I want to know is if my current regeneration rate is adequate enough, or do I need to improve my vitality further?¡± Myers is already shaking his head. The old man leans into his chair and removes his hand from his beard. ¡°For someone to get anywhere near double digits of regeneration, they would need to have extremely high natural regeneration and then put nearly every attribute point into vitality until they are leveled in their seventies.¡± ¡°And nobody would do that.¡± ¡°On the contrary, most royalty do exactly that precisely because vitality boosts lifespan. It isn¡¯t uncommon for leveled royals to be garbed in numerous protective runes and powerful equipment.¡± ¡°Heh,¡± Cillian chuckles. He swishes a glass in his hand. ¡°So, if you¡¯re rich, you can live fuckin long and be fuckin strong.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Quasi taps a paw on the table. His tail swishes side to side in thought. ¡°That¡¯s good to know. Though, my question is in regards to my attribute allocation. Currently, I¡¯m pushing all into strength because it gives me the greatest quantity of tangible bonuses. But, I¡¯m debating on shifting that to vitality so as to boost my regeneration further.¡± ¡°That would be a waste,¡± Myers says. ¡°Your regeneration is already at the point where you can wield multiple legendary runic items.¡± ¡°My thoughts exactly. I just wanted a second opinion.¡± Quasi pauses. ¡°Also, how useful is [Minor Heat Resistance]?¡± ¡°Useful.¡± Emma pipes up. ¡°My father has it. He says it makes him less tired and makes it easier to work near the forge.¡± ¡°It is also a prided skill among the Wolven,¡± Myers adds. ¡°The Wolven? Why? All it does is reduce the effect of heat.¡± The old man clears his throat. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if Fenrimorphs are the same way, but the Wolven do not sweat. Instead, their bodies burn energy to cool themselves. [Minor Heat Resistance] makes the cooling easier, faster, and results in far more efficient usage of stamina.¡± The cat¡¯s mouth gapes open. ¡°Holy shit, that explains so much.¡± Then Quasi grins. ¡°Fuck yes. Always listen to your gut!¡± The cat pumps a paw into the air. ¡°And eat,¡± Boriss adds. ¡°Mother says bear gut make you strong.¡± All eyes look at Boriss. ¡°Vhat?¡± ¡°Do you eat bear guts?¡± Quasi asks. Boriss frowns. He now looks very confused. ¡°Da.¡± He raises his hand to mimic a rifle. ¡°Mother hunt bear.¡± He unsheathes a knife from his belt and moves it in a cutting motion. ¡°She cut bear and make bear sausage. Is tasty, yes?¡± ________________________________________________________________ With the meeting over, and a quick pampered bath from Clay, I make my way to my [First Mate]. Upon my arrival at her door, I am met with the urge to squeeze my paws underneath. A strong, subconscious urge not dissimilar to the urge to watch things fall off a table. I fight the urge by only allowing a single paw under the door, while the other taps on the door. When I hear Irmgard move, I hop away from the door. After a click, the door opens. ¡°Come.¡± She says. I walk inside her private room, and pause in utter surprise. Dozens of maps, books, and scrolls smother the shelf covered walls of her room. Everything is ordered, labeled, and extremely well organized. I hop on the bed while she takes a seat on the singular chair. ¡°That¡¯s a lot of books.¡± I read some of the titles, all of which are completely diverse in topics. There are books on history, ships, combat, leveling, and even magic. ¡°Before I can improve myself, I must improve my understanding of this world. An arduous task, but a necessary one.¡± So that¡¯s what she¡¯d been doing the entire time. ¡°How much of this have you read?¡± ¡°Nearly all.¡± I whistle. ¡°That¡¯s impressive.¡± ¡°No, it is not. During my studies at Harvard, I could read all of these books in only a week. My time as a prison warden has made me weak and inefficient. I must regain my edge.¡± ¡°Riiiight. You do that. Anyways, what did you want to speak to me about?¡± ¡°Myers. He isn¡¯t what you think he is.¡± ¡°I already know that. The old farts gots history and a lot of levels on us too.¡± ¡°I believe he is an [Admiral]- one whose level is at or near Valentines.¡± I frown. ¡°Capable? Sure. But as good as Valentine? I don¡¯t think so. Unless you¡¯ve got evidence to the contrary?¡± ¡°While you were gone, we were planning an escape in case you perished. Myers said that he could provide a distraction if he was given leadership of all ships.¡± Irmgard grabs a book called Fleet Composition Tactics. She raises it up in front of me. ¡°Only a [Fleet Captain] or an [Admiral] are able to lead multiple ships. My bet is that Myers is a former [Admiral]. Now, a normal [Admiral] alone couldn¡¯t hope to create an adequate distraction against Valentine.¡± She grabs another book named The Most Dangerous Pirates and sets it down next to me. ¡°That means that Myers isn¡¯t normal. In consideration of the fact that he refuses to take any job. ¡°Irmgard grabs another book and sets it down next to me. The book is called On The Subject of Names. ¡°I believe that Myers is named. If he gets any job regardless of what level he starts at, his Name will be revealed. And, if he has a name, that means he also has an extremely powerful activatable skill or powerful passive. My bet is on the former. An activatable skill from a named person is going to be potent enough to rival Valentine.¡± I frown. ¡°Alright, You¡¯ve convinced me. The old fart is very capable. Why does this matter?¡± ¡°Because we know he is being hunted, and whatever hunter that will be sent after him is going to be at or near the level of Valentine. He is a liability to our growth and safety. It may be best to remove him from the crew sooner rather than later.¡± Ahhh. That¡¯s what this is about. ¡°Now that I know he¡¯s even more capable than I thought, I think I¡¯d rather keep him with us longer. Yes, we risk exposing ourselves to more danger, but I think having his wisdom will help us grow stronger and faster.¡± ¡°You are taking a dangerous risk.¡± I shrug. ¡°I am. I agree. It is a risk, and it is one I''m willing to shoulder.¡± She nods slowly. ¡°If I was in your shoes, I would not. But, I¡¯m not the [Captain], you are. So, I will abide by your decision for the time being.¡± ¡°Good. Now, if you can, this information stays between us. When Cillian is drunk, his tongue is loose. And Boriss has a tendency to blurt out things he shouldn''t. Honestly, he¡¯s kinda a shit spy when you think about it. Probably keep it from Emma too.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep this information between us.¡± ¡°Good. Anything else you wanted to talk about.¡± ¡°No. That is all.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± I hop off the bed. ¡°I¡¯ll be seeing you later.¡± IC god Game - B2 - Chapter 59: Gardener A week passes quickly aboard the Timbergrove. Between training, studying, talking, and of course drinking, the destination is finally near. With the island now so close, I rush onto his neck and perch myself right on top of Myers shoulder. ¡°You said we¡¯re almost there?¡± I ask. ¡°The island should be in vision soon. But, I want to warn you.¡± Myers raises a finger and points in the distance. ¡°We''ve got a storm coming.¡± Following the finger, a darkening horizon of clouds becomes visible. ¡°The storm seems pretty far.¡± ¡°It is far, but it is also fast. I expect the storm to hit us by evening.¡± ¡°Shit. How bad of a storm are we talking about? Is it going to be as bad as the one when we arrived at the tower?¡± ¡°No,¡± The old man answers. ¡°This storm will be extremely wet and manageably windy.¡± ¡°Right. So it¡¯s not a threat.¡± Myers grunts. ¡°Not unless you plan to use cannons- or anything that fires a projectile. The wind and rain makes accuracy difficult unless you¡¯ve got a high level [Gunner] with skills to calculate wind speed before each shot.¡± I open my mouth to comment, but pause when a distant island comes into view. ¡°Holy shit, that¡¯s a castle.¡± In the distance, an island floats at Timbergroves elevation. On the island, and in the center of it is a castle partially melded into a mountain. The castle looks old and covered in stone without any greenery in sight. It also looks undamaged. ¡°Why the hell is there a castle? It looks abandoned,¡± I say. ¡°That is a recently risen island. The castle has recently risen with it.¡± The fuck is risen? Did it just form out of the planet''s crust or something? ¡°Explain.¡± Myers strokes his beard. ¡°Well, the nature of smaller islands is that they can be damaged to the point that they fall into the planet''s crust and are turned into slag. At the same time, eruptions in the planet release large amounts of mana-rich stone. If the stone is large enough and well-shaped, the stone will then float and become a new island.¡± That makes sense, I suppose. I mean, these islands were formed somehow. ¡°I can get behind that. But, what''s with the castle? Shouldn¡¯t it have turned into slag?¡± I ask. Myers leans a hand on the helm. He uses the other hand to reach into a coat pocket and retrieve a spyglass. ¡°Generally, defensive structures like castles or town walls have runes engraved into the stone. These runes enhance the stone to make it stronger.¡± ¡°Strong enough to withstand the planet''s core? Seems impossible, otherwise anything with these runes are going to be indestructible.¡± Myers chuckles. ¡°A good and logical answer, even correct, but what you forget is that these runes run on ambient mana. Castle walls can only hold long enough until the mana runs out and you are left with mere stone until they regenerate from ambient mana. In most cases, this can take days, if not weeks to recover to full strength.¡± Well, that''s good to know if I ever have a need to siege a castle. I just have to keep shooting at it until it runs out of mana. ¡°In most cases,¡± I repeat. ¡°Yes. Regeneration speed is based on ambient mana. Ambient mana is most densest at the planet''s core.¡± Ohhhh. ¡°So the runes regenerate faster than the damage from heat.¡± Myers extends his spyglass and looks through it. ¡°Correct. Though, sometimes the descent of the island crashing can cause damage to the castle, but this structure looks perfectly preserved. We should be able to find many valuables inside.¡± The old man raises the spyglass to my face. I look through it and am met with a far better sight of the structure. So far, there is nothing special about the structure. It looks very much like a medieva- ¡°I see tentacles!¡± I shout. long slender tentacles seems to appear and wrap around the opposite side of the island. Surprised, Myers shifts the spyglass back to his vision. Then he laughs gleefully. ¡°There''s a gardener already here.¡± ¡°A what?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see it soon. Please go grab Clay. He needs to see this.¡± I give Myers another look, but the old fart is just smiling like a fat kid holding a chocolate cake. An entire chocolate cake, mind you. ¡°Fine. Just give me a moment.¡± When I return with myself in Clay¡¯s arms, we¡¯ve traveled close enough that I can finally see the source of those tentacles. Me and Clay both stare at what amounts to a gigantic floating whale larger than Valentine''s ship. The whale, if you can call it that, is wedged to the side of the island with its mouth firmly open. From its mouth, hundreds, if not thousands of tentacles roam the island secreting some kind of acidic liquid. But, what truly impresses me is the whale''s body. Trees, shrubs, greenery- an entire forest covers every inch of the whale''s body. I can see animals roaming around and dozens of various bird species flying around the whale. ¡°Myers, I¡¯ve brought Clay. Now explain what the hell that is,¡± I ask the grinning old man. Myers looks at me and clay with a childlike smirk. He extends a palm towards the whale. ¡°That is a Gardener of Tristique. They are the most beloved and respected beasts to roam the skies. To see one is considered a blessing by all that roam the skies. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Alright. Sure. Simple explanation aside, what exactly are they and what is it doing? Why are they called gardeners?¡± ¡°Because that is what they are. Tell me, have you wondered why so many islands are covered in plants and animals? Why they even have life on them?¡± he asks me. I frown. ¡°Honestly, no. But now that you raise the question¡­¡± I take a good look at the Gardener and note some of the plants and birds. I¡¯ve seen some of those species in Arbor. ¡°This Gardener is seeding the newly formed islands. They¡¯re creating life. But what''s with the tentacles? Are they consuming something?¡± I ask. The old man leans on the orb. He smiles at the wide eyes of Clay. The child is mesmerized by the hulking living island. ¡°Gardeners are attracted to recently risen islands because of extreme nutrient and mana density of the stone. Their tentacles break down the stone into soil, which then allows them to absorb the nutrients within. Whatever nutrient and soil not absorbed is adequate enough for plants to take root. After several Gardeners and a decade of time, an island with adequate rainfall will turn into a green biome.¡± That is such an impressive ecosystem. ¡°Do people hunt these Gardeners?¡± Myers'' smile disappears. ¡°Only by the ignorant, stupid, and the desperate. Attacking a Gardener is a sin- though idiots will try in hope of taking a Gardener''s core.¡± ¡°So people try,¡± I say. ¡°And die every single time.¡± Dayum. ¡°I¡¯m guessing they fight back.¡± The old man shakes his head. ¡°No, they don¡¯t. Gardeners are the most peaceful things in all of Tristique and at the same time they are the most destructive.¡± ¡°That seems odd. How can you be the most peaceful and most destructive at the same time?¡± I ask. The old man stops leaning on the orb. With a firm touch, the Timbergrove starts to slow down as we are approaching closer to the island. ¡°When a Gardener is about to die or is severely damaged, their bodies undergo an explosive reaction. One moment they are in pain, and the next, their bodies explode with such force and heat that everything several miles around them is vaporized. Those safe and far enough away have described the result as a mushroom cloud.¡± Holy shit, that¡¯s a nuclear explosion! No wonder nobody attacks them. It¡¯s complete suicide. ¡°Um.¡± Clay raises his hand up. Then he points it near the island. ¡°What is that?¡± Me and Myers follow the child''s finger to find a vine. A single thick vine extending half a mile from a nearby island to the island of our destination. Taking a good look at the other island, I can''t help but note that the island was seemingly sheared in half. ¡°That is odd. Do vines extend like that?¡± I ask. ¡°No. That¡¯s clearly a work of magic,¡± Myers says. ¡°Do you think Valentine or one of his crew made that?¡± The old man frowns. ¡°Doubtful. He has no reason to. I believe it is best to be wary though. The castle may not be as empty as we believe.¡± ____________________________________________________________ We park the timbergrove at the closest point of the island to the castle. Then we tie the ship down to nearby fissures of stone. When that is done, I look at my crew. ¡°Alright, who doesn¡¯t want to go visit an abandoned castle?¡± I ask. None raise their hands. Yea, figured as much. ¡°We can¡¯t all leave. Someone still has to watch the ship.¡± No answer. ¡°Fine. I guess I choose. Myers, Emma, Clay, and Cillian will come with me. Boriss and Irmgard, you both have ship defense duty.¡± Irmgard nods, and Boriss salutes with a frown. Exiting the ship, I can''t help but find the ground mostly covered in basalt. Clearly, when the island rose, it was smothered in lava that quickly cooled. I wonder if it is specifically basalt that a Gardener is attracted to. Traversing the mostly basalt flooring is simple, moreso because I am not doing the walking. Clay is. Arriving at the castle''s entrance, it is clear that Valentine was here before on account of the shattered remains of the stone gate near the entrance. ¡°This castle is immensely old,¡± Myers comments. The old man touches the stone interior with a finger. ¡°This masonry was formed by hand and not by magic. The few structures that have been built in such a way are over a millennium old.¡± ¡°Any idea to whom this castle belonged to?¡± I ask. ¡°No. But I imagine we can find out if there is a library wing.¡± ¡°This is fun!¡± Clay yells eagerly. The child is all but ready to enter the dense darkness of the castle. ¡°I wonder if they have some aged booze,¡± Cillian comments. I snort. ¡°We¡¯re here for treasure, not booze.¡± The Scott ignores me. Instead, he retrieves a lantern from his pack and lights it. ¡°Lets go.¡± He stops towards the entrance, but I quickly hop in front. ¡°Me first. I can see in the dark and I can react faster than anyone here to danger. Grumbling, Cillian allows me to lead them inside. Traveling past the gatehouse, we¡¯re met with the remains of [guards] and their rusted equipment. Some of the equipment looks to have melted a bit too. ¡°Let''s hope the treasure isn¡¯t melted.¡± ¡°Most castles have runes built to protect from high temperatures,¡± Myers adds. ¡°Most?¡± ¡°Generally, areas where nobility spend their time are temperature regulated.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Past the gatehouse, we¡¯re met with what looks like a man-made cave system. ¡°Is this part of the castle?¡± Emma asks. ¡°It¡¯s the bailey, except it is covered in stone. Looks like Valentine mined out the rock.¡± ¡°With magic.¡± The old man feels the cave stone. ¡°It is too smooth if done manually.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s good that he did, because I didn¡¯t bring a pickaxe. Now, let''s go explore. Keep behind me.¡± Traveling through the bailey, we find our first destination. The barracks is open with the door in shambles. Clearly, someone in Valentine''s group doesn¡¯t know how doors work. Entering inside, I¡¯m met with disappointment. ¡°Everything is melted,¡± I announce. ¡°Even the bones.¡± The wood is all charcoal and the metal has liquified into a mess. ¡°I guess they don¡¯t care if the barracks gets a tad too hot.¡± ¡°Check the [Head Guards] Quarters,¡± Myers encourages. Down past where the [Guards] sleep, we find an office with a door turned to coal and the hinges melted down. Inside, we are met with a cool breeze but also more coal and melted metal. On the ceiling, a rune is aglow. ¡°That¡¯s a rune of air current,¡± Emma pipes up. ¡°It doesn''t control the temperature, but it can cool anyone sitting under it.¡± ¡°Enough to make a [Head Guard] comfortable, but not enough to deal with extreme heat,¡± I comment. The armory where the [Guards] get their equipment is also melted. If ever I need metal, I know where to get it. With the barracks a dud, we find our way to the servants quarters as well as the storage area. Same problem. But, when we enter the Keep, the temperature instantly becomes perfect. ¡°Finally. We¡¯re getting somewhere.¡± Once we enter the Keep, I quickly halt. My ears wiggle. ¡°Someone is here.¡± IC God Games - B2 - Chapter 60: Throne ¡°I don¡¯t hear anything,¡± Cillian says. My feline ears wiggle. I turn my head and focus on my hearing. Then I hear it again. Some kind of movement. Not a step, but something. ¡°I do, and It doesn¡¯t sound normal.¡± I sniff the floor and find an odd scent. A very odd, earthy scent rather dissimilar to stone. Finally, I scan my surroundings with my eyes. The walls and ceiling look fine, but the floor reveals something. ¡°We¡¯re dealing with some kind of big snake,¡± I say. All frown at my words. ¡°How can you tell?¡± Emma asks. I tap the floor. ¡°The dust in the center of this hallway is cleaned up in a slithering motion.¡± Cillian grimaces. ¡°I don¡¯t like snakes.¡± I shrug. ¡°They¡¯re not that bad. So long as you avoid the venom and not get crushed, you¡¯ll be fine.¡± Myers glances at Clay. ¡°Maybe me and Clay should stay behind.¡± ¡°NO!¡± Clay whines. ¡°I want to keep adventuring.¡± ¡°It¡¯s dangerous,¡± Myers counters. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± I say. ¡°There is only one snake, and I¡¯m confident in taking it out.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Clay pumps up a fist. ¡°I don¡¯t like this-¡± Myers begins. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just let me lead,¡± I interrupt. ¡°We¡¯ll go kill the snake first.¡± Frowning, the old man relents. They all follow me along as I traverse the keep. Unlike the previous buildings, everything within the keep hasn¡¯t been destroyed. Undamaged paintings adorn the walls next to metal torch-stands on the walls. On the floor, we pass numerous piles of bones and clothing. After several more hallways, we stop at the entrance to a vast room. The room has several large pillars, dozens of corpses, and most notably a single throne. ¡°The snake is in this room,¡± I whisper. ¡°What should we do?¡± Cillian asks. ¡°Nothing,¡± I answer. ¡°I¡¯m going to take care of it alone. Stay out of the way and out of sight.¡± With my instructions clear, I travel into the large chamber. I glance around and listen for where this beast is. But I hear and see nothing. Taking a glance at the dust, I see that they disappear near a pillar. So that''s where you are. I look up to find a monster falling midway from the ceiling. SHIT! With a thought, my body transforms into a Fenrimorph with gauntlets pre-equipped. I raise up both arms. Two scythe-like blades strike my arms with enough force to crack the stone underneath my feet. Before I can recover, another two blades descend towards my head. With a grunt, I push away while hopping out of reach and narrowly avoiding my head getting decapitated. When I land, I quickly reorient myself and take a stance. Then I take the moment to truly look at the creature. Why does every monster I meet need to shit on my logic? On account of a snake, I am only half correct. The monster I face has a serpentine lower body but an upper body not dissimilar to a mantis. The monster has four bladed arms and an insectoid head. Where its serpentine lower half is a leafy green, its upper half is brown with what looks like segmented bark. As for the blades, they aren''t sharp and made for cutting, but are covered in thousands of serrated sharp spikes designed to rip and tear. Though, with enough force and speed, cutting is an option. Just as I evaluate the monster, so too does it evaluate me. The monster rises higher and readies its four pincer-like scythes. Two beady eyes stare in my direction with clear intelligence. We stand for what feels like minutes, but is only several seconds. Then, all at once, hell breaks loose. The monster accelerates forward. Expecting this, I block and dodge the scythe-like swings until an opening reveals itself. When it does, my fist connects with an arm using enough force to remove the appendage from the beast. Reacting quickly, the monster retreats with a limb leaking a green fluid. Seeing the surprise and retreat, I chase after the monster. The monster continues running, but I don¡¯t let up. The monster attempts to climb up a pillar, but I react faster. With a hop, my fist lands on the pillar. The pillar breaks and shatters into debris. A mistake and a trap, for the dust obstructs my vision enough to slow my reaction. The monster''s maw opens, and from that maw, a dozen needles release directly into my chest. Though I¡¯m surprised, I don¡¯t allow my mind to wander. Ignoring the pain in my chest, I hop forward and extend my other fist. It was clear that the monster wasn¡¯t expecting such a reaction. With the full force of my body, my fist makes contact with the monster''s bark-covered chest. The beast''s chest cracks violently before the monster is yeeted into another pillar. I hear the crack and impact as monster meets pillar. The monster, with chest indented and leaking green liquid, recovers immediately. Then it starts slithering up the pillar. Before I can move to stop the thing, the pain in my chest abates considerably. Considering there is no reason for the pain to soften, I immediately panic. Grabbing a needle, I rip it out of my chest. When I do, I can''t help but grimace at the bloody roots that started to sprout and feast upon my flesh. These aren''t needles, these are seeds! Removing the rest of the seeds, I return my focus on the monster now wrapped snugly at the top of the pillar. Though the beast''s chest is still damaged and arm missing, it is no longer leaking that green fluid. Whatever that thing is, it¡¯s smart. When it lost its arm, it retreated. And then, the moment the opportunity presented itself, it infected me with parasitic seeds. If I wasn¡¯t a fenrimorph, those seeds would have been lethal. Moving my body, I feel a bit of numbness and stiffness. Not enough to inhibit my movement, but enough to weaken. Flesh-eating seeds that release a paralytic poison. Now that¡¯s devious. If you get infected by the seed, it will numb the pain before feasting on your internals. By the time you realize what has happened, you¡¯d be dead. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. For the next minute, neither me nor the monster move. For me, I wait as my body fully neutralizes the poison and regenerates damage. For the monster, it waits for me to succumb to the poison. Just as the poison is fully purged from my system, I hear Myers yell my name. ¡°Quasi. That¡¯s not a monster! It¡¯s a Phytonid.¡± Glancing at the room''s entrance, only Myers is visible. The old man is holding his cane in one hand and the lantern in the other. A Phytonid? As in one of those plant people? Aren¡¯t they supposed to be humanoid? I glance at the monster warily. To my surprise, its eyes are staring directly at Myers. Its mouth opens slightly. ¡°You speak my language and you know of my kind! Are you of this world?¡± A very feminine voice comes out of the monstrosity. A voice that is soft and alluring- a voice you¡¯d expect to hear from a woman at a brothel. Of this world? Is this thing a champion? I blink as a recent memory resurfaces. I¡¯m an idiot. I should have realized sooner. I activate [Shift]. My body transforms into a cat. The Phytonid focus immediately shifts back to me. ¡°Are you Nepenthes?¡± I ask. The Phytonid tilts its head in surprise. Even the serpentine grip holding onto the pillar somewhat relaxes. ¡°I am. How do you know about me?¡± Because I¡¯ve got a dumb goddess of luck on my side. ¡°Your goddess, Mus, and my goddess have formed an alliance with one-another. It seems we are allies and this fight between us is a mistake.¡± Though still wary, the Phytonid relaxes a bit more. ¡°I see. I was not informed of such an alliance.¡± ¡°The alliance was formed about a week ago. Mus told me that her champion was stranded on an island and that there was a castle nearby.¡± The Phytonid stares at me for several long calculating moments. Then, all at once, it slowly slithers down. I don¡¯t move at all and instead wait until she stops several meters from my position. ¡°This alliance? What does it entail?¡± Nepenthes asks. ¡°You will join my crew and follow my orders. In exchange, you will level and grow stronger so long as that goal does not interfere with mine.¡± The Phytonid rises up as though to make itself larger and more terrifying. ¡°I am a war daughter of a great tree. I was bred and watered to hunt and slaughter any and all that threaten my clan. To serve one weaker than myself is a great insult that I cannot justify.¡± I chuckle, unbothered by her words. ¡°Weaker? Really? If I remember correctly, you ran from me after I destroyed your arm and crushed your chest.¡± ¡°I did not run. I merely relocated to a more advantageous position to wait for my poison to take effect.¡± ¡°A poison I am immune to.¡± I add. Nepenthes pauses uncertainty. Her elevated body seems to lower several inches. ¡°You are immune? Why were you waiting? Why did you not continue to chase and hunt?¡± I grin. ¡°Because I have a naturally high healing ability. I was allowing the wounds your seeds caused to fully heal so that I¡¯m in perfect condition.¡± The Phytonid lowers herself after every word. Her monstrous appearance starts to look slightly less monstrous. ¡°How would you have beaten me?¡± she asks. I shrug. ¡°Not sure, but I figured I¡¯d destroy the rest of the pillars so you can''t run. And then I¡¯d use my superior speed, strength, and reflexes to whittle you down and eventually kill you.¡± At this point, I can¡¯t help but feel a bit sad for the Phytonid. The woman''s body is practically slouching towards the ground. ¡°Your¡­ plan would work. I do not have a counter.¡± She crosses her blades in front of her chest. Then she lowers herself further. ¡°I will yield to your authority and strength as the prime matriarch until such time I am strong enough to take your place or my goal is realized.¡± Matriarch? Really? Boris is going to have a goddam field day if hears this. ¡°What goal?¡± I ask. Nepenthes rises up. One of her serrated bladed limbs taps her belly. ¡°I carry the seed of a great tree within me. When I have gained enough strength, I will plant the seed and revive my clan after the flaming scourge.¡± ¡°Flaming Scourge? Actually, you can explain later.¡± I wave a paw towards Myers. ¡°Myers, all is good. Everything is taken care of.¡± Myers and the rest warily walk towards me. As they arrive, Nepenthes stares at them with curiosity and a complete lack of hostility. ¡°I¡¯m guessing she is an ally now?¡± Myers asks on approach. ¡°Yup. By the way, why¡¯d it take so long for you to tell me?¡± Myers raises a lantern. ¡°I can¡¯t see well in the darkness. It was only when I noticed the green blood and plantlike body that I realized you were fighting a Phytonid. ¡°Fair.¡± I point a paw towards the Phytonid. ¡°Everyone, this is Nepenthes. She is now part of our crew.¡± ¡°Your crew is getting real odd.¡± Cillians strides up with a frown. ¡°She¡¯s not that odd,¡± I counter. Nepenthes does something of a bow to my crew. ¡°I welcome my sisters in war and hope we will sever stems, shatter bark, and feast upon the nectar of our enemies.¡± Cillian raises an eyebrow in my direction. ¡°Riiiight.¡± I ignore his look and instead introduce my current crew. I also inform her about the presence of both Boriss and Irmgard. Once the introductions are complete, I return to the mission at hand. ¡°Alright. Myers. Just to make sure, we¡¯re currently in the audience chamber, correct?¡± Myers nods. He raises a palm to the singular throne at the opposite end. ¡°Yes, and it seems the remains of the [King] and his subjects are still present.¡± The king is a meatless corpse covered in aged fabric, surrounded further by the corpses of more of his subjects. ¡°Then we best get to looting.¡± I grin. ¡°Matriarch.¡± Nepenthes interrupts with her voice. ¡°Before I am to join you on plundering the remains of those yet to fully return to nature, I wish to request time to reconstitute my arm and regenerate the wounds inflicted upon my chest cavity.¡± ¡°Go ahead. Also, call me Quasi.¡± ¡°To call you by your name is an insult to the sisterhood and your leadership. I cannot allow myself to give such an insult.¡± ¡°How about patriarch?¡± Nepenthes shifts back in utter surprise? ¡°Why do you wish to be called a slave? I would never wish someone of your strength such an insult.¡± Dear god! ¡°Just call me [Captain]. It¡¯s a term most similar to Matriarch.¡± Though unhappy, Nepenthes obliges. ¡°Then, [Captain], give me time to reach peak combat performance.¡± She slithers away. While she does, I return my attention to the rest of my crew. ¡°Let''s go.¡± We arrive near the throne and glance at all the bodies. Near the throne, there are numerous corpses dressed in aged fine garments and jewelry. Unfortunately, it¡¯s clear that the corpses were thoroughly searched and looted. The only thing remaining is jewelry and whatever garments that are still in place. Regardless, Cillian and Clay are already kneeling and picking up the jewelry. Cillian with glee, and Clay out of curiosity under the watchful eye of Myers. As for the throne, it¡¯s clear that nearly everything was removed from the [King''s] person. Only the shredded remains of whatever clothing he had on him is left. ¡°There¡¯s something here,¡± Emma exclaims. With her hand, she begins wiping dust off the throne. Then she grins when she dusts behind it. ¡°Look at this.¡± I walk behind the throne. On the back of the fancy chair, I¡¯m met with over a dozen inactive runes. ¡°The throne is runed?¡± I ask. Emma nods, grinning from ear to ear. ¡°Yes! A lot of runes. Over twenty!¡± IC God Games - B2 - Chapter 61: Mount Obtained ¡°Are you telling me this throne is a legendary item?¡± I ask the Gemma, already knowing the answer. ¡°Yes!¡± Myers grunts. ¡°Odd that Valentine would leave such an item. He must not have considered that a throne would be Runed so heavily.¡± Shit. Maybe it¡¯s soldered to the ground? ¡°Emma, are you able to lift it at all?¡± She gives me a look for a moment. Then she applies pressure to the throne. The throne tilts, revealing that it is not connected to the ground. But, it is quite heavy. ¡°Barely. I don¡¯t think my strength is high enough.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine. I should be able to carry it myself.¡± ¡°If you require strength, I am available.¡± Nepenthes slithers to us. Her arm is reattached and her chest is somewhat healed. ¡°You don¡¯t look fully healed.¡± ¡°The damage you caused upon my chest is far more severe than expected. Expending energy in the absence of sunlight would require me to consume other parts of my body. This would weaken my combat potential far too much.¡± ¡°I see. Well, if you have the strength to carry this throne, then please go ahead.¡± ¡°Of course, [Captain].¡± She slither to the throne, wraps her pincers, and lifts it up. ¡°This is quite heavy, but manageable,¡± She states. ¡°Is this throne of metal truly worth it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s very well runed,¡± I say. ¡°Runed?¡± She tilts her head. ¡°What are runes?¡± ¡°Good question. Let¡¯s keep searching while Emma explains runes to you.¡± Leaving the chamber, the group continues our journey through the castle. Eventually, we found the library. The entrance is broken and the inside is a mess. Books, scrolls, papers, and various writing instruments are spread across the floor of the room. The room is a mess, though the mess doesn¡¯t look to be caused by mortal means. It looks like the books merely fell off the shelves. ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like Valentine took much interest in this room.¡± Myers eagerly walks inside. ¡°Any books of worth would be locked away in a vault. This is just a public library for the royalty.¡± ¡°I see. Sounds boring. Anything here we can sell?¡± ¡°Of course. Many libraries will pay large sums for information of old. We merely need to find such books.¡± ¡°Right. Well, I think this is a perfect job for you. Cillian, light a torch and give it to Myers. We¡¯ll let the old man look at books while we look for treasure.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going with fluffy!¡± Clay quickly adds. Myers frowns, but accepts the torch. We leave the library and continue our journey. ¡°So, Nepenthes, you mentioned something about the Flaming Scourge. What is that about?¡± The Phytonid stops speaking with Emma about the subject of runes, and then looks at me. Her expression seems to turn hard. ¡°Yes. My kind saw the message from Pandora, but decided against any preparation. Me and my sisters believed that whatever test we face, it will be overcome with ease. Then the flaming scourge arrived.¡± Her mouth opens to reveal sharp pincers. ¡°We can hunt, kill, devour. Our nectar is that of predators and everything is prey. If we struggle, then we adapt ourselves to better deal with the adversary.¡± I nod. ¡°The tests are designed with a ninety-nine percent chance of killing everyone. I imagine the test involves something your kind struggles to adapt to.¡± ¡°That is so. When the test began, the skies became smothered with flying lizards that breathe fire. In moments, our home was set aflame, including the great tree.¡± ¡°You can''t adapt to fire?¡± ¡°We can, but such a process is slow. Growing bark that can withstand flame while shifting our bodies to hold additional water is a process that takes days. We did not have such time.¡± Emma crosses her arms with a frown. ¡°Flying lizards that spit fire. Those sound like wyverns.¡± ¡°Wyverns,¡± Nepenthes tests the word. ¡°I will remember such a mighty foe.¡± ¡°Considering you are here, I¡¯m guessing you defeated them. What was the requirement for the test?¡± I ask. ¡°The test said the leader must be killed and that the killers will have the option to become a champion.¡± ¡°Leader? Was it also a wyvern?¡± ¡°Yes. It looked similar to them, but was far larger and its flames were blue.¡± ¡°Royal Wyverns are larger and spew blue jets of fire,¡± Emma adds helpfully. ¡°So you killed the Royal Wyvern?¡± ¡°I killed everyone, including my sisters.¡± Oh shit. ¡°How?¡± Cillian finally speaks. Even he is interested in the story. Nepenthes gives a sad look of loss. ¡°Our forest was on fire, our great tree was on fire, our homes were burning and our warriors died three to one against the scourge. We were losing, and then morale dropped once the Matriarch perished under flame. As the most senior sister, the duty of leadership fell upon me. In desperation, I entered the inner chamber of the burning great tree. I fused myself with its inner stem and connected to the dwindling power it holds. It was here that I realized the tree was not only burning externally, but also internally. Its inner roots were on fire and the tree will eventually perish if nothing is done.¡± This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. The Phytonid slows her slither and eventually stops. She looks down. ¡°I was left with two options. I can purge the flame by excreting water and delaying its death. Or, I can end the scourge.¡± ¡°You chose to end the scourge,¡± I say. Nepenthes rises up and continues her slithering. ¡°Yes. While connected to the great tree, I forced it to grow millions of poison filled pores across its branches. The poison, heated by the fire, smothered the atmosphere in such potency and concentration that everything outside the great tree¡¯s protection would not survive. For days I stayed within the bowels of the tree, producing as much poison as I could. Only once the tree was fully perished, did I leave the bowels to the sight of dead wyverns and my sisters. The sky was still covered in poison, but I already adapted my body to it. I searched for survivors, believing that some of my sisters had the time to create antibodies to the poison, but that was not to be. I eventually found my predecessor- the former Matriarch. Her body was mostly ash, except for her chest. Her chest was covered in thick fire-resistant bark. Curious, I peeled the bark away to reveal something that truly gave me hope. The Matriarch carried a seed of the world tree. With such a seed, I can regrow the great tree and start anew. The moment I picked up the seed, I was notified that the leader of the Wyverns had died.¡± ¡°Then you were transported to Tristique.¡± She nods. ¡°Yes, one moment I was staring at the corpse of the former Matriarch surrounded by a burned forest and the next I¡¯m staring at a completely foreign forest. A moment after that, I find myself going unconscious, where-in I meet the Goddess Mus and am given the [Druid] class." Nepenthes, for the first time since we¡¯d met, seems to chuckle. ¡°When I awoke, the earth was quaking and fire was raining from the sky. For a moment, I thought, the Flaming Scourge had returned, but no. Nearby, an island violently rose into the sky alongside a large amount of molten debris. One such large debris fell upon the island I arrived at and destroyed half of it. It was only later that I realized the other side of the island contained civilization.¡± And probably ships that would allow you to travel off the island. Goddamn you are unlucky. ¡°So, without any way to get off the island, you chose to create a vine bridge to this current island. Were you expecting to find something?¡± ¡°No. From my island, I saw a large vessel land near this island and then leave shortly after. I figured that more vessels would arrive at the island and that I would be able to commandeer transport either through conversation or through force.¡± ¡°You chose force,¡± I say. ¡°Your form and actions were initially of a mindless beast lacking in the ability of conversation. It was only when I heard speech that I modified my Assessment.¡± I shrug. ¡°Your initial assessment makes sense, but you should have backed off when I transformed wearing gauntlets.¡± ¡°Gauntlets? Is that not a metal exoskeleton?¡± What the fuck? ¡°Does your world have beast with metal exoskel-¡± ¡°Vault!¡± Cillian loudly interrupts. He raises the lantern up to a stairway leading down and the words Vault at the top of the entrance. ¡°There better be treasure down there.¡± Leading the way, I traverse down the stairs with everyone following a distance away. When I reach the bottom, I¡¯m immediately met with a large thoroughly runed circular metal door that you¡¯d see at a major bank. The runes on the door are glowing and are clearly fully active. To the right of the vault door is a human-sized hole in the concrete. ¡°I guess it was easier for Valentine to make his own entrance.¡± I place a paw on the cut stone. ¡°Though, I was under the impression that mana-rich runed stone is indestructible.¡± ¡°Not indestructible, Just nearly so,¡± Emma comments. She walks up next to me and takes a good look at the stone. ¡°Whoever did this slowly ground the stone.¡± She traces her finger on the rough edges of the cuts that look like someone used a chainsaw. ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t matter. Let''s see if he left something for us.¡± I enter the vault to find it mostly empty. The wall racks have a few weapons on them and the numerous chests are open and empty. The chests that aren''t empty are filled with gems and gold. Lots of gold. Two full chests of gold bars. ¡°They left the gold,¡± Cillian yells. He rushes to the chest. ¡°Why would they leave gold?¡± I ask. ¡°Is it not worth much or something?¡± Emma grabs one of the gold bars and frowns. ¡°These bars have a lot of impurity. It needs to be purified first or it wouldn¡¯t sell for that much.¡± At her words, Cillians excitement takes a nosedive. ¡°Shite. What about the gems?¡± She shakes her head. ¡°Poor Quality. Sellable, but not as much as you expect.¡± ¡°Fuck me.¡± Cillian stares at the gold and gems, then he looks at the chest and notices runes. ¡°What about the chests?¡± He taps the container. Emma looks at the container, and then the other one. And then all the rest. Her mouth opens wide.¡°These chests are all of exceptional quality. Why would they be left here?¡± While Emma and Cillian gush about chests, I shift my attention to the leftover weapons. 3 spears, a longsword, a mace, and two shortswords. Out of these weapons, only the longsword and the two shortswords stand out.
Name Shortsword of light.
Rarity Rare - 5 Runes.
  • 1(1-Durability)
  • 1(1-lightweight)
  • 1(3- Illumination)
Description This Shortsword is +30% more durable, +30% lighter in weight, and glows brightly when held.
Sustain 0.06% Mana regeneration per minute.
Name Shortsword of Cutting.
Rarity Rare - 5 Runes.
  • 1(1-Durability)
  • 1(1-lightweight)
  • 3(1- Sharpness)
Description This Shortsword is +30% more durable, +30% lighter in weight, and is +70% sharper.
Sustain 0.07% Mana regeneration per minute.
Name Longsword of Slicing
Rarity Exceptional - 6 Runes.
  • 1(1-Durability)
  • 2(1-lightweight)
  • 1(3- Enhanced Sharpness)
Description This Longsword is +30% more durable, +40% lighter in weight, and is 100% sharper.
Sustain 0.06% Mana regeneration per minute.
Odd. Boriss¡¯s Shamshir of Slicing has a similar name as the Longsword, except the Shamshir is much sharper. Still, exceptional items do sell for quite a bit, so we can make good money if nobody needs the weapon. ¡°Hey, take a look at these wea-¡± I choke when I return my attention to Cillian and Emma. The two have somehow gotten the bright idea to rope the chests around Nepenthes like she¡¯s some kind of mule. Glancing at Nepenthes, the woman is just holding the throne in her arms, completely unbothered by the chests now strapped to her and Clay now sitting in one of the open chests. ¡°You know what, fine. Whatever. Cillian, grab these weapons and let''s go find Myers. I don¡¯t think we¡¯re going to get much more treasure from this castle.¡± IC God Games - B2 - Chapter 62: Distraction History has been a great interest to Myers ever since he¡¯d first walked into the orphanage library. A small library, yes, but one that¡¯s near and dear to his heart. So, walking through a royal library filled to the brim with knowledge of ages past gives him great excitement. Immediately, the old man rights an old chair and table, grabs a stack of books, and begins reading. Not the entire book, but the gist of it so as to decipher its worth. For the next several hours, numerous books and scrolls cross his eyes. Most are thrown into a pile of little worth. Not all, for a few are found worthy. Most especially is a book called Choris, the Kingdom under the Aurora. Just as he finishes skimming the book, the sound of footsteps reach his ears. ¡°They¡¯ve returned,¡± He whispers. He grabs what he¡¯d found and moves to stand. Only to pause when he notices that the light outside the library is far too strong and stable to be coming from a lantern. Wary of what he might be dealing with, Myers places the books on the table and then firmly grabs his cane in one hand and the torch in the other. Waiting quietly, the sound of steps grows louder and louder until the light is streaming through the passageway. ¡°Grandpa, look what I have!¡± Clay rushes into the library. Blinking, Myers sees Clay holding a glowing shortsword in both hands. Not a moment later and the rest of the group files into the library. When Nepenthes slithers inside, he can¡¯t help but stare at the several chests strapped across her body. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you found treasure,¡± he says. ¡°More like treasure chests,¡± Quasi grumbles. ¡°I was hoping for better shit, but it¡¯s all gone. Anyways, find anything?¡± Myers nods. ¡°I did. This castle if from the Choris kingdom, which presumably fell over three thousand years ago. The kingdom was formed under a [King] named Abenize Orelize. The man was a Grandmaster [Mage] and was known as the Aurora¡¯s Call.¡± Quasi pouts. ¡°Let me guess. The guy had a Legendary staff called the Roaring Aurora.¡± The old man frowns. ¡°He didn¡¯t have the staff. His body was used to create the staff for his descendents to use. How did you come up on the name?¡± ¡°Valentine¡¯s Phytonid mage was holding it.¡± Myers grabs the book Choris, the Kingdom under the Aurora and opens up to a page. ¡°Abenize is described to be capable of creating Aurora¡¯s that only affected his enemies. If the staff can mimic even a portion of his power, I daresay Valentine has just gotten significantly more dangerous.¡± Quasi hops up to the table and glances at the book. ¡°Right. Super Pirate is now more badass because he can create Aurora¡¯s. Speaking of which, what makes creating an Aurora so dangerous? Isn¡¯t it just sparkly lights?¡± Myers clears his throat. ¡°When an Aurora is present, external mana is extremely strained. Casting spells cost several times more to both create and sustain. All but the most highest level of [Mages] would be utterly useless after one or two spells. Abenize was a mage who countered armies of mages with a single spell.¡± ¡°Ahhhh.¡± Quasi nods. ¡°Yea, that sounds bad.I¡¯m going to have to figure out how to counter Aurora¡¯s in the distant future if I¡¯m to kill him.¡± Myers frowns slightly at the declaration. He then closes the book and unfolds a scroll. ¡°We actually have that solution.¡± The scroll is placed on the desk right next to where Quasi is sitting. Looking at the scroll, a rune is inscribed in the center. ¡°This is a rune of Aurora Shielding. Applying this to an item will lessen the effect of an aurora. If we notify the Mercenary Guild, or even the Merchant Guild of Valentine¡¯s new staff, then I imagine they would buy this scroll for a very large premium.¡± Quasi scratches the table with a claw. ¡°Why is this scroll even here? Shouldn¡¯t it be in a vault somewhere? I mean, if it¡¯s here for any [Noble] to peruse, then it¡¯s clearly common knowledge.¡± ¡°Common at the time.¡± Myers adds. ¡°Many runes and spells have been lost over the centuries. Knowledge of such a rune can be one of them.¡± Quasi shrugs. ¡°Well, let¡¯s hope it is lost.¡± He hops off the table. ¡°Anyway, we¡¯ve checked what we can throughout the tower. Let''s head back to the ship and unload our treasure.¡± _____________________________________________________________ A buckler rises up in defense, only for Boriss¡¯s blade to slice clean through Metal, flesh, and finally bone. The man screams in both pain and surprise, that quickly goes silent as his followup strike severs the man''s skull. Normally, Boriss would aim for the neck for a killing blow, but the Shamshir of Slicing is sharp enough to easily deal with bone. Pivoting left, he sidesteps a warhammer. As the man misses, He takes the opportunity to cut both of the man''s arms off, followed by bisecting the man by the waist. With another dead, Boriss turns towards the last [Pirate], only to see Irmgard slice open the man''s belly and then kick him away as the organs fall out. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Like him, she turns around, looking for more threats within the Timbergrove. Both are silent as they look, listening for any sounds of footsteps. ¡°The deck.¡± She says. Both rush up the stairs and then out of the Timbergrove. Rain and wind buffet the ship with the cacophony of lightning and the boom of distant cannons. On the deck, over a dozen [Pirates] fight to death, with even more already staining the floor red with their blood. Nearby, five [Pirate] ships are docked. One destroyer, three frigates, and a single corvette is what they notice. Farther away from the island, several dozen more [Pirate] vessels are engaged in combat. Cannons boom constantly, followed by explosions as metal balls slap wooden flesh. An army of [Pirates] now surround the island, and the only saving grace is that they aren''t allied. ¡°Vhy are they here?¡± Boriss asks, aghast. Irmgard tisks. ¡°Valentine must have informed the [Pirates].¡± ¡°Is not nice.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe [Pirates] generally are.¡± She looks at the battle ongoing on the deck. ¡°We should thin their numbers and keep them from getting inside the ship until the [Captain] returns.¡± He nods. ¡°Da, is good plan.¡± Cracking his neck, he starts to walk towards the fighting. Irmgard quickly grabs the Russian by his coat. ¡°There are five ships, and all of them have different pirate flags. This means that there are five groups of [Pirates] fighting. Let the [Pirates] fight and only target the winning groups to keep the numbers even.¡± Boriss pouts like a puppy having a treat dangled out of his reach. Thankfully, Boriss is a trained puppy. ¡°Is boring plan, but is smart.¡± He kneels back down and lowers his weapon. Then he waits as instructed. ____________________________________________________________ The plan was to go inside the castle, grab the treasure, and then happily and easily transport the treasure back to the Timbergrove. The only expected problem that may be run into is the weather. Myers warned that the weather would be windy and rainy. So, when Quasi exits the castle to be greeted by rain and wind, his smile stays firmly on his face. Then he notices the [Pirates] fighting aboard his ship and the dozens more swarming the island like flies. ¡°I¡¯m going to fucking murder Valentine,¡± he curses. ¡°The bastard must have revealed the location of this castle to every fucking [Pirate] in the area.¡± ¡°What are [Pirates]?¡± Nepenthes asks. ¡°Enemies, thieves, and a massive pain in my butt,¡± Quasi explains. ¡°We¡¯re going to have to rush to our ship while fighting them off, though it looks like all of them are near my ship.¡± ¡°Prey,¡± Nepenthes growls excitedly. ¡°Should I-¡± ¡°Hell no,¡± Quasi interrupts. ¡°Do not drop our treasure unless you¡¯re dropping it on my ship.¡± ¡°My combat ability is heavily restricted while I carry this.¡± ¡°Your combat ability won¡¯t be needed. I¡¯ve got a plan, but first.¡± Quasi glances at the child. ¡°Clay, get inside one of the chests. The rest of you are going to ride on Nepenthes'' back.¡± ¡°O-okay.¡± Myers opens up one of the chests and Clay crawls inside. With the chest closed except for an inch to allow the child to breath, Quasi strides up a nearby rock to take a better look of the terrain. He extends a paw. ¡°You all should be able to sneak up behind that stone without being seen. Once you¡¯re behind it, I¡¯m going to distract the [Pirates]. Quasi looks at the several thousand pound Phytonid. ¡°Nepenthes, the moment you hear me roar, you will rush to Timbergroves stern- that''s the back of the ship.¡± Quasi shifts his paw. ¡°There¡¯s an elevated stone that you can climb to get aboard the ship. Once you¡¯re on the ship, you can lay the throne down and join the fighting after your passengers cut the ropes.¡± ¡°I will be slowed greatly with such additional weight. If my presence is noticed, I cannot outpace you humans.¡± Quasi chuckles and grins. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they aren¡¯t even going to glance in your direction.¡± Quasi waves a paw. ¡°Now, go. Wait for my signal. Myers, take charge when you¡¯re on the ship.¡± In a cloud of smoke, Cat Quasi disappears and is replaced by a one-eyed bird. The bird chirps once and then takes flight towards the pirates. _______________________________________________________________ With cutlass dripping blood and her coat now thoroughly wrinkled, Irmgard takes a moment to retreat from the fighting to reassess the situation and regain some stamina. To her, it feels like she¡¯d been fighting for hours, when in actuality it is more along the line of minutes. When she glances at Boriss, the big oaf shows no sign of exhaustion even as he swings his massive sword through [Pirates] like butter. In the time it took her to kill four, he¡¯d already exceeded ten. Even so, the fighting has only gotten heavier and more [Pirates] have joined the fighting. She leans over a railing and glances at the several dozen more fighting near the midship. More specifically, they are fighting where the Plank to board the Timbergrove is located. If she could somehow remove the plank, then the tide of [Pirates] can be slowed. Without the plank, the [Pirates] would be forced to bring their own plank or risk climbing the Timbergroves hull. As she continues staring, a bird appears a foot in front of her face. ¡°Quasi?¡± The bird chirps once, and then it descends near the bow-side of the Timbergrove, directly towards three pirates. Upon arrival, the bird disappears and Quasi returns to his Fenrimorph form. Screams of surprise echo the men moments before Quasi kills two of them. One by clawing out his throat, and the other by crushing his skull. For the third, his hands extend claws that rip in the man''s upper chest and scrotum. With the man screaming, Quasi lifts him over his head. His mouth opens, chest extends, and the rain, the storm, and all the fighting is drowned out by the loudest, most animalistic roar she¡¯d ever heard. So loud is the roar, that most of the [Pirates] cease fighting and turn to Quasi. With nearly every eye on him, Quasi rips the screaming man in two, showering himself in the man''s organs and blood in the most horrific and gruesome scene she had ever seen. Without breaking a beat, Quasi lifts up the top half of the man''s corpse so that the [Pirates] face is visible for all to see. Then, Quasi¡¯s maw opens and bites into the man''s neck, ripping the flesh off until blood drips between teeth. Knowing that Quasi isn¡¯t this violent normally, she immediately infers that he¡¯s creating a distraction. Looking aways, she scans the surroundings and quickly finds a very curious sight.. Without missing a beat, she rushes away from the railing. She runs to Boriss, pulls him away from his current fight, and then makes their way to the stern. IC God Games - B2 - Chapter 63: Firin Lazers. Honestly, human flesh as a Fenrimorph tastes pretty good. Except the blood. The high iron content kinda takes away the enjoyment, though. With blood still dripping over my mouth, I stare at the [Pirates] just to make sure they have my attention. Which I think they do on account of the massive Phytonid bedecked in shiny golden chests going completely ignored. I take another bite, this time of the man''s face. This causes over a hundred [Pirates] to cringe in fear. Following that, I raise the skull in my hand. My muscles flex and I crush it between my claws. I allow brainmatter to seep between my fingers, leaking ever so slowly. Unfortunately, such a sight causes a [Pirate] to panic. He turns to run, and pauses. I can only imagine his eyes widening. His hand rises up, mouth opens. SHIT! Just as he screams, I roar, drowning out his voice for the moment. My knees bend and I rush the [Pirates]. They scream, they yell, they panic, and several crossbow bolts slam into my flesh. I reach the first [Pirate] and rip him through the stomach, carefully making sure to avoid his lungs. He screams and the panic ensues. Many pirates turn and run, few acknowledging Nepenthes while she slowly slithers up the stone. None give chase as I slaughter another two pirates. One I punch through his skull and another I claw out his neck. Unfortunately, my monstrous appearance and brutality has created something of a truce between all the [Pirates]. No longer do they fight amongst themselves. Now, it¡¯s all the pirates against me. Spears, cutlasses, bolts, and all manner of weapons find my flesh. As skilled as I am, being surrounded by over a hundred [Pirates] is not a winnable position. Just as Nepenthes slithers on the Timbergrove¡¯s deck, I immediately jump towards the Timbergrove¡¯s plank while ramming through several [Pirates]. On arrival, I slam my fist on the wood, shattering the only safe way to get aboard. Just as the [Pirates] are ready to rush and surround me, my knees bend, the ground cracks, and I hop up on Timbergroves deck. ______________________________________________________________ Nepenthes slithers onto the ships deck where two humans wait warily. Considering their weapons are pointed away from her, she can only conclude they are Boris and Irmgard. ¡°Cut all the ropes!¡± Myers orders. Boriss and Irmgard rush to her. One draws a cutlass, the other a dagger. It takes her a great deal of will to not drop the throne and attack them. She allows them to rush her, and indeed, she hears the sounds of cutting. Not a moment later, all the weight falls off of her, freeing her movement. ¡°Nepenthes, you can drop the throne. Irmgard, are there pirates inside the ship?¡± Myers asks. The Phytonid drops the metal sitting instrument and then glances at Irmgard. The female human shakes her head. ¡°No, we took care of them.¡± ¡°Good.¡± He looks at the child peeking out of the chest. ¡°Clay, go inside the Timbergrove and find somewhere to hide. The rest of us are going to deal with the pirates until Quasi returns.¡± The sound of wood shattering turns all eyes as the pieces of the boarding plank crash down into the void. Not a moment later, Quasi, covered in numerous wounds and sporting nearly a dozen bolts crashes on the deck. __________________________________________________________ The deck of the Timbergrove is smothered in corpses, blood, and over a dozen [pirates] looking at me. They are terrified, but so much as to panic. One [Pirate] raises a hand crossbow in my direction. I preemptively raise my gauntlets to block. Instead, I hear the sound of three gunshots. The [Pirate] with the crossbow and two others near him fall dead, all with a bullet in their noggin. Not a moment later and Nepenthes skewers two more. The rest of my crew rush in behind her, but are too slow as Nepenthes executes three more [Pirates]. Not wanting to be outdone, I join in on the onslaught. As the last skull crumbles under my fist, I immediately transform into a cat. ¡°Myers, we need to leave. Take us out of here.¡± The old man grimaces. He surveys the blood-smothered deck before glancing at the [Pirate] ships fighting in the distance. ¡°The moment we leave, we¡¯ll be chased by all the ships. We¡¯re not fast enough to get away.¡± ¡°Shit.¡± I follow his gaze. Indeed, there are too many ships to fight off. The moment we leave, we¡¯ll probably be chased. As I glance further up, a plan quickly comes to mind. ¡°Can we escape above the clouds?¡± ¡°No, not with the Timbergrove. The ship is too light to handle those winds without an active helmsman. We¡¯d be blown off course immediately.¡± ¡°What if I helmed it?¡± I ask. ¡°It¡¯s a stormcloud. Anyone not inside the ship is going to have to deal with constant electricity. I doubt a Fenrimorph can survive for long.¡± Not what I had in mind. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ve got a plan. Just get us into the clouds.¡± Me and Myers share a long look, then he turns towards the helm. ¡°Fine. You better not get us killed.¡± ______________________________________________________ [Pirate Captain] Gordon Rollo grins to the sound of cannons firing from both sides of the Dirigentes. The Dirigentes is a runed Heavy-Destroyer with a second cannon deck and five masts. It is a ship designed for combating multiple vessels and unloading enough firepower to overwhelm hulls in a single volley. Four ships have already been destroyed and another three have retreated. ¡°[Captain],¡± his [First Mate] calls to him. Gordon glances down at his brother Brevis Rollo. A half brother, but one he trusts with his life. ¡°What is it?¡± he asks. Brevis points at the island filled with treasure. A frigate called the Timbergrove just departed and is quickly ascending . Frowning, Gordon reaches into his coat and retrieves a spyglass. He extends it towards the ship. When he looks through it, he quickly notes several golden chests on the ship''s deck. He grins. Placing his hand on the Dirigentes¡¯ crystal, the ship lurches forward. ¡°Good call Brevis!¡± he yells. ¡°That ship has what we¡¯re after.¡± Not only him, but every single vessel ceases fighting. They all turn to chase the Timbergrove. To Gordon¡¯s surprise, the Timbergrove is slower than expected. Much slower for a frigate. Must be a lot of treasure to be slowed to only ten knots. As the faster ships get closer and closer to the Timbergrove, a frown starts to form on Gordon¡¯s face. The Timbergrove is still ascending, far higher than the optimal line to maximize speed. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Then he realizes it. ¡°Cheeky shits,¡± he curses. ¡°Brevis, get me my storm-coat.¡± Knowing the Timbergroves plan, he directs the Dirigentes to ascend after it. His brother returns with the storm coat and he quickly puts it on. The storm-coat is a rare runed clothing that protects the wearer from electricity. ¡°Now get inside. Tell the crew to stay away from the windows.¡± With the Timbergrove nearing the storm clouds, all of the [Pirate] vessels give up the chase. A few give departing shots, but the angle and wind make the projectiles miss. A minute passes, and the Timbergrove disappears into the storm. Gordon takes a breath. Then the Dirigente does the same. ________________________________________________________________ The moment I enter the stormcloud, my fur quickly expands on account of all the charged air. I grit my teeth as the feeling of being lightly tased travels through my body. This effect lasts for several seconds before disappearing as soon as my fur changes to a bright yellow. I breathe out in relief. ¡°Thank god that worked.¡± My relief is short lived as violent winds buffet the Timbergrove and veer it off course. Right. Myers warned me of this. Tightening all four paws around Timbergroves core, I direct the ship back to ascending. Minutes pass as lightning violently bombards the ship''s hull. When the lightning is about to strike me, my fur explodes in a burst of light that causes the bolt to divert to the side. After watching the phenomena happen several times, I come to the realization that the lights are targeted and extremely concentrated. ¡°I¡¯M FIRIN LAZERS!¡± I scream happily. Another burst of light from my fur and another bolt redirects a meter away from my body. Eventually, all fun must come to an end. The Timbergrove ascends beyond the storm-clouds to the bright sky above. With far more light now, my yellow fur glistens while electricity dances across my body. ¡°Now, if only I was a mouse,¡± I say with a grin. Having ascended the clouds, the rest of my crew minus Clay warily exit to the deck. They look to the bright sky above and the dark storm clouds below. Then Boriss sees me. ¡°Comrade fluffy, you are very yellow. Is new look, Yes?¡± I snort at the Russian. ¡°If only. I wouldn¡¯t mind shooting lasers at lightning all the time.¡± ¡°Lasers?¡± Cillian walks up. Before I can explain, a Destroyer class ship bursts out of the storm clouds like a whale surfacing above the ocean. ¡°Oh come on! This was supposed to be an epic escape,¡± I whine. I glare at the offending ship.
Dirigentes (Five-Mast Cored Heavy-Destroyer) Max Speed: 13 knots Construction: Wood Modifications: Thick Hull, Double Gundeck, Armored Bulkheads Hull Integrity: 4073/4314
The very armored and armed offending ship. ¡°Fuck. It¡¯s cored and it¡¯s faster than us.¡± Focusing my glare, I find the leader at the helm.
Gordon Rollo: Level 49 [Pirate Captain]
Next to the leader is another guy that looks related and is just as dangerous.
Brevis Rollo: Level 49 [Pirate Subcaptain]
¡°Myers, what¡¯s a [Pirate Subcaptain]?¡± Like me, Myers is also analyzing the incoming vessel. He frowns before stroking his beard at my question. ¡°That''s an advanced [First Mate] class. What level is it?¡± ¡°They¡¯re both forty nine. Runed up too, though I can¡¯t tell the quality from here.¡± ¡°Very high quality,¡± Myers says. ¡°Surpassing level forty-nine is difficult. Most [Captains] never exceed that level. Instead, they amass wealth and experience before they die or retire. I smile. ¡°All I hear is that they¡¯re going to want to board us with the expectation that our combat ability is lacking.¡± Nepenthes rises up threateningly. ¡°I will reap the stems of those expectations and devour the nectar coursing through them,¡± she exclaims. ¡°From their corpses, we will germinate greater strength until our cultivation will deter the weak and cowardly!¡± Every eye turns to the bloodthirsty Phytonid. The woman is swaying like a praying mantis preparing to strike. Her jaw is slightly open and claws extended for ripping, tearing, and grasping. Boriss nods understandably. ¡°Like Russian mother with wolf. You kill wolf. Bury wolf in garden. Then grow many potato.¡± Nepenthes turns to Boriss. ¡°Your Matriarch is wise. Animals are good fertilizers for groves.¡± ¡°Da. Mother kill many wolf. They are big pest that want steal bear jerky.¡± ¡°Your spawner sounds like a true huntress of prey. Does she hunt with range or closer?¡± ¡°She fight wolf with cleaver. Sometime she throw Grena-¡± ¡°Talk Later.¡± I interrupt the very odd bonding session. ¡°We¡¯ve got [Pirates] to kill.¡± ¡°They won¡¯t fight.¡± The old man raises a finger at the Dirigentes. ¡°What?¡± Looking at the ship, I note that all the portholes are opening to reveal numerous cannons. ¡°Are they crazy?¡± Cillian asks. ¡°If they destroy our ship, they lose all the treasure. Why don¡¯t they just board.¡± ¡°Because the [Captain¡¯s] not an idiot.¡± Myers pipes up. ¡°The Timbergrove was surrounded by several pirate ships on the island and then escaped with treasure. Escaping from such a situation shows competence. The [Captain] isn¡¯t going to take risks, nor does he need to. He¡¯s going to pound our ship until our hull integrity is gone. Then he¡¯ll blast the Timbergrove with grapeshot until most of the crew is dead. Only then will he board with overwhelming numbers.¡± Yea, that sounds competent. You wouldn¡¯t get to such a level if you¡¯re taking risks. ¡°Can we shoot back?¡± Emma asks. ¡°No,¡± I answered. ¡°They have more cannons and are faster.¡± Emma extends her arm towards the massive wooden siege engine. ¡°Not with cannons, but with the ballista. I looked into the runed bolts and I think we could do some real damage if we shoot the explosive ones.¡± I look to Myers, but the old man is already grimacing. ¡°Bolts are too slow to hit ships at range. Any [Captain] worth their ship will easily dodge the projectiles.¡± ¡°What? We can''t use the ballistae against other ships?¡± I ask in surprise. The old man raises an eyebrow. ¡°No. Ballistae are designed to siege islands, not ships.¡± Oh, hell no. I need to siege ships, not fucking islands. What''s the point of the ballista then? Irmgard sighs. She then gives me an annoyed look. ¡°You¡¯re not going to get that ship.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t-¡± ¡°Yes you were. You don¡¯t act like you¡¯re back to the wall.¡± She calls me out. ¡°You clearly have a plan, but that plan doesn''t involve stealing a destroyer, so you¡¯re hoping one of us gives you an idea.¡± I pout as everyone gives me the look. ¡°Fiiiineee. I¡¯ll handle it.¡± __________________________________________________________ ¡°[Captain], cannons are primed and the crew is awaiting your orders.¡± Gordon nods to his brother. ¡°Good. We¡¯re almost in optimal range. Did you tell them to aim for the hull? I don¡¯t want any treasure getting blasted off the deck.¡± ¡°I did.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯re rea-¡± Gordon removes his hand from the crystal as he feels a piercing pain. When he looks at the crystal, a black one-eyed bird is perched on the crystal. ¡°What is-¡± The bird caws once. Then all hell breaks loose as every sail shifts. Dirigentes plunges forward, tripping him. By the time he regains his footing, the ship is angled by forty degrees and is descending rapidly. Just before the ship plunges back into the storm clouds, the black bird salutes a wing and then takes flight. ¡°Fucking shit.¡± He curses. With his coat still protecting him, he rushes to the crystal. The ship lurches upward just as fast as it descended. When he ascends above the clouds, he finds that his brother is shaking on the deck from the cloud. Considering the cannon portholes were left open, his cannon team is experiencing the same effect. Looking about, he finds the bird flying back to the Timbergrove. He watches it for a long moment before finally chuckling. ¡°Bested by a bird.¡± He shakes his head. ¡°Fine, take the win.¡± With a flex of his mana, he orders the Dirigentes to slow to a stop. IC God Games - B2 - Chapter 64: Physician, Get! The white room is just as white as I last left it. A very nice boring white with a dabble of eyeballs. ¡°Red, Green, it¡¯s delightful to see you both. How have your administrators duties been going? Got any new skills to offer me? ¡°Negative, Negative.¡± They answer in unison. Yeah, I kinda expected that. I frown. ¡°Damn. Alright, let''s start with green. How many levels have I gained? Green blinks. ¡°You have gained a single level. You have one attribute available.¡± ¡°What? Bullshit. I killed a shit ton of [Pirates] and basically electrocuted most of a ship''s crew. That¡¯s at least worth three levels.¡± ¡°You have gained a single level. You have one attribute available.¡± Green repeats. ¡°Well fuck you too,¡± I grumble. ¡°Show me my trait sheet.¡± ¡°Acknowledged¡±
Traits. Human Average Individual Base Calculations. Level modifications Trait Actual Value
Strength 10 41 +44% 59
Endurance 9 46 +0% 46
Vitality 12 0.27%M/R/M 28 0.63% M/R/M +0% +9.31% 28 9.94% M/R/M
Perception 9 29 +0% 29
Intelligence 11 16 +0% 16
Mana 388.8 510 +0% 510
Control 12 10 +0% 10
Attributes Available/Attributes total: 2 46 Level: 26
Titles Obtained: 4
Title Name Leviathan Slayer
Title Rank Legendary
Title Effect +10 Attribute points
Title Name Underdog Boarder
Title Rank Rare
Title Effect [Captain¡¯s Authority] stat decay is slowed when boarding enemy vessels.
Title Name Mana Fur
Title Rank Divine
Title Effect Increase Mana Regeneration by fur density. Current Bonus: +9.31% M/RM
Title Name Storm Swimmer
Title Rank Rare
Title Effect Reduce damage of storm currents by 90%.
Storm Swimmer? I got a new title? Was it because I piloted a ship inside a storm cloud? ¡°Alright green, just put the trait po- wait. Why do I have two trait points? I only leveled once!¡± ¡°That information is restricted.¡± ¡°Your mom is restricted,¡± I say, aggravated. Green does not show any emotion to my petty remark. Well, I¡¯m going to take a guess and say that my new class gives me more trait points per level. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. I wave my hand. ¡°Put both trait points in strength and get out of here.¡± ¡°Acknowledged¡± While green disappears, I turn my attention to Red. The eyeball has been patiently waiting for his turn. ¡°Red, you better give me a lot of levels. I did a lot of impressive captainy shit today. I plundered booty, clapped [Pirate] cheeks, Lasered lightning, and tasered a destroyer. I think I earned a good helping of girthy [Captain] levels.¡± Red blinks, unfazed by my explanation. Hell, the eyeball probably doesn¡¯t even register my whining. He just floats there, just blinking and waiting. I sigh. ¡°Just show me my crew page.¡± ¡°Acknowledged¡±
Job: [Ship Captain] Level: Level 17 Job Skills: 2 Ship Size: Frigate Primary Jobs Available: 8 Support Jobs Available:5 Maximum Job Capacity: 22
Primary Jobs [First Mate] level 10: Irmgard Von Braun level 12 [Sword Officer] [Quartermaster] level 10: Cillian Wallace level 18 [Merchant] [Security Chief] level 10: Boriss Smirnov level 17 [Skirmisher] [Chief Carpenter] level 6: Emma level 29 [Rune Smith] [Head Chef]: N/A [Chief Physician]: N/A [Artillery Chief]: N/A [Navigator]: N/A
Support Jobs [Boatswain]:[Gunner]: [Cook]: [Carpenter]: [Rigger]: [Physician Assistant]:
¡°Seven levels!¡± I clap my hands. ¡°Now that¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about.¡± I continue reading, finding that Irmgard nearly doubled in levels since I last checked. She should be getting a job and class skill now. I¡¯ll need to ask what she gets. ¡°Let''s see¡­ Cillian got a level in [Merchant]. Not sure how. Maybe from the castle looting.¡± I grin wide on the next line. ¡°Six levels, Boris. You got six levels of [Security Chief].¡± I chuckle. When I stop on Emma, I am a little surprised. I knew she was repairing some of the old runes on the timbergrove, but I wasn¡¯t expecting her to get so many levels from it. ¡°Everyone is making progress. This is good, but now I have to figure out what Job to give Nepenthes. Maybe Rigger?¡± I shake my head. She¡¯ll just cut the ropes or something. ¡°Anything else for me Red?¡±
Title Name Storm Swimmer
Title Rank Rare
Title Effect Reduce damage of storm currents by 90%.
¡°I figured that out with green already, but thanks anyways. If there is nothing else, that¡¯s all for now.¡± ¡°Acknowledged.¡± Red disappears into a portal. Not a moment later and my eyes open to the sight of my room. I blink several times before stretching. I glance at the clock. ¡°twelve hours? I must have been pretty tired.¡± I hop off the bookshelf and walk outside of the [Captains] cabin. The moment I step out, I¡¯m met with the scent of meat and conversation. I walk into the Galley to find everyone minus the serpentine plant woman. I hop up to the table to find it filled with cooked meat and grilled veggies. ¡°Fluffy, Good morning!¡± Clay squeals. Morning? Oh, right. I slept for half a day. ¡°Good morning to you too,¡± I reply. ¡°Where Nepenthes?¡± ¡°On the deck,¡± Irmgard answers. She places a massive cooked leg in front of Boriss. ¡°She asked to consume the [Pirate] corpses for learning and modification. I allowed it.¡± She walks to the kitchen. I nod slowly. ¡°Odd, but alright. Anything else happen?¡± ¡°Treasure!¡± Cillian yells while raising a gourd. ¡°W-weee gonna be -hiccup- rich.¡± The Scot is thoroughly drunk, more so than usual. The man''s cheeks are a very bright red. Two empty gourds sit next to him. ¡°Did you swipe sake from the tower people?¡± ¡°N-n-n- Burp.¡± He giggles. Irmgard sigh¡¯s. ¡°While you were in the tower, Cillian traded with the Tower Ecclesiasticus. We got a case of Sake and a chest that freezes food. ¡± That explains the fresh meat. ¡°I still want a walk-in fridge.¡± I glance at Emma. She nods. ¡°I can do it now if I use the gems from the chests.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine, but no rush. We don¡¯t have anything to put in it until we make port. Speaking of which.¡± I look to Myers. The old man is happily drinking a saucer of sake. He looks very relaxed, like a man in his element. ¡°Myers, we have treasure and we have to sell that treasure. What''s the nearest town?¡± His expression hardens somewhat. ¡°That won¡¯t be so simple. Those chests are worth far too much to be sold to your average city, let alone a town. If you want to get a fair price, we¡¯re going to need to find a major city with a Merchant Guild branch.¡± ¡°Does Breston have a Guild Branch?¡± I ask. ¡°No. Breston is too far from a slipstream, so the Guild wouldn''t bother putting a branch there.¡± ¡°Then where?¡± Myers sighs. He places his saucer on the table. ¡°We¡¯re heading north. In two weeks, we¡¯ll enter the slipstream. From there, we can be in Memphis in two days.¡± ¡°And Memphis is¡­¡± ¡°A trade city owned and operated by the Merchant guild. It is a major storage depot used to move and trade goods. You¡¯ll get the best price there. I¡¯ve also heard there is a tower near the city too.¡± ¡°Then Memphis it is. We¡¯ll set course after lunch. Now then, Boriss. What new skill did yo-¡± I pause when my eyes fall on the russian. The man has what looks like an entire lamb leg in his hand and is biting into it like a drumstick. He stops mid-bite. I wave a paw. ¡°Later. Keep eating.¡± Irmgard returns from the kitchen. She places a plate in front of me with fresh meat cuts. ¡°Thank you. By the way, what new skills did you get?¡± She raises a brow for a moment, glances at the others, then speaks. ¡°For my [Sword Officer] class, I took [Unlocked Joints].¡± She then stretches and bends her body in ways a yoga teacher would find nearly impossible to reproduce. ¡°For my [First Mate] class, I took [Sense Stowaway].¡± Myers coughs as the sake runs the wrong pipe down his throat. Once he recovers, he looks at her in surprise. ¡°That¡¯s a well-coveted skill to have. Usually, it¡¯s offered to [Captains] and rarely a [First Mate].¡± I tilt my head. ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem that impressive considering there are alternative ways to find someone hidden on the ship.¡± He coughs again to fully clear his throat. ¡°You¡¯re wrong. [Sense Stowaway] allows her to sense anyone that doesn¡¯t belong on the ship at all times. That includes when being boarded. If you board someone with the skill and fight them, imagine that they have eyes behind their head.¡± Oh! That Buxon I fought must have had the skill. That¡¯s why he could block and dodge when he shouldn¡¯t be able to see me. ¡°Sounds alright. Still, it does require being boarded,¡± I counter. ¡°Skills can improve with levels,¡± Myers explains. ¡°As an advanced class, new skills you get may improve existing skills at the same time. I know of a [Captain] who had [Sense Stowaway] evolve to [Sense Presence]- which allows him to sense people a ship''s distance around him at all times.¡± ¡°Hmm, good to know.By the way. I got a level and two attribute points instead of one from leveling. Is that normal?¡± ¡°Every class upgrade doubles the trait points you get from leveling.¡± ¡°Damn. That¡¯s an exponentially increasing curve. I imagine someone like Valentine is quite the monster with all those points.¡± ¡°Valentine''s individual strength comes not from stats, but from runed equipment. Without the equipment, he¡¯d be nothing more than a highly skilled [Warrior].¡± Boriss swallows. He places the leg down on the plate without making the least bit of noise. ¡°[Silent Shipwalking],¡± he announces. ¡°Your new skill?¡± I ask. ¡°Da. Is good skill. Extra sneaky on ship.¡± Before I can ask more, the man grabs the leg and begins biting into it. Not a moment later, I hear the door to the deck open, followed by the squeaking of stairs. Turning to the sound, I see Nepenthes walking towards us on six legs minus the pincers. Instead of something that looks like a snake mashed together with a praying mantis, she now looks more like a human mashed together with a spider and praying mantis. No longer does she have a serpentine tail and instead is now sporting a bark armored spider-like abdomen. Connected to the abdomen is some combination of human upper body and mantis. She now has two human-like arms with six pincers folded to her back. Her head is somewhat more humanoid, but still mostly mantis. Regardless of the changes, she is still much larger than the rest of us. ¡°You''ve got a new look,¡± I state. Nepenthes stops at the table, her eyes scanning all those present. ¡°Yes. After recent conflict and the gorging of human flesh, I have found my previous form limiting in ways that do not fit the situation. I have compressed my body into a more streamlined, more maneuverable, and more durable form with a higher degree of adaptability.¡± She raises her two human hands. ¡°I have also added human appendages so that I could utilize items designed for them.¡± I nod slowly. ¡°Sounds like you¡¯re ready for battle.¡± ¡°I am [Captain], especially against humans. My consumption of their bodies has shown me many of their strengths and weaknesses. I know what organs to puncture, the speed of their muscular contractions, the durability of their flesh and skeleton. I know how well they can see, hear, and feel. I have created poisons whose lethality will immediately kill such creatures.¡± Everyone present grimaces at her explanation except for my-self, the drunk, and a certain Russian. Boriss licks his lips. ¡°You are like KGB trained. Is smart.¡± ¡°KGB Trained?¡± Nepenthes asks curiously. Before Boriss can answer, I quickly shift the conversation. ¡°Nepenthes, since you¡¯re part of the crew now. I need to give you a Job. Umm, hmm. I was thinking [Rigger] unless you have some skills I don¡¯t know about.¡± She clicks her pincers. ¡°I know not what jobs are offered- but I will accept what the Matriarch chooses.¡± ¡°Is good communist,¡± Boriss comments. Myers clears his throat. ¡°Generally, the best Physicians I¡¯ve ever met are all Phytonids. They either have the [Healer] or [Druid] class.¡± ¡°I am a [Druid],¡± Nepenthes announces. ¡°But can ye fix me liver.¡± Cillian chuckles. Nepenthes turns to the drunken scot. ¡°If you are human, then yes. I have consumed numerous human livers and understand their functions. Surgically modifying or injecting poisons to restore full functionality is simple to do.¡± ¡°Perfect. You¡¯re my [Chief Physician].¡± I decide. She clicks her pincers. ¡°I accept the responsibility.¡± ¡°Then welcome aboard the crew. I¡¯ll show you where your room is later. For now, let''s eat.¡± IC god Games - B2 - Chapter 65: Slipstream Sitting on Myers shoulder, my gaze is glued on what looks like a massive horizontal tornado a good mile in diameter. The circulating vortex of violent wind snakes across the sky, swerving in-between islands into the far distance. ¡°So that¡¯s a slipstream. Seems violent enough. Are we going to be riding it or something?¡± I ask. The old man stares at the slipstream with a smile on his face. ¡°Myers.¡± I call out his name. And like that, the trance is broken. He grunts. ¡°Sorry. What did you ask?¡± ¡°The slipstream. Are we riding it?¡± ¡°No, we¡¯re entering it.¡± I frown at the violent vortex for a moment. ¡°I don¡¯t think the Timbergrove is durable enough to enter a damn tornado.¡± He chuckles at my caution. ¡°We will be fine so long as I maneuver properly. Did you make sure everything is tied down and everyone is secured?¡± I nod. ¡°Good. Let''s get into position.¡± With his hand on the crystal, the Timbergrove lurches upwards, rising and rising until the ship is higher than the vortex. Then he positions the ship so that it is above the slipstream. ¡°Is there a reason we¡¯re entering from above and not the side?¡± ¡°The current of a slipstream is too strong for any ship smaller than a cruiser to enter from the side.¡± ¡°Right¡­ but somehow entering from the top is safer.¡± He chuckles knowingly. ¡°We¡¯re going now.¡± I feel the ship start descending. With each second of its descent, the current grows stronger and stronger, the wind more violent, and the Timbergrove gains in speed. The closer we get to the slipstream, the faster the ship accelerates and more aggressive vibrations. During this entire time, the mast sails and side masts are constantly changing to keep the ship in position. ¡°Hold on tight.¡± He warns. My claws extend and grab firmly onto his coat. Not a moment later, the Timbergroves hull touches the vortex and lurches the ship even faster as though someone kicked it from behind. For several brief moments, the ship wobbles from the increased speed, stabilizing eventually after some adjustments.¡± I grunt. ¡°Alright, we¡¯re riding the slipstream. What¡¯s next?¡± The old man grins cheekily. He grabs the crystal with both arms. ¡°Don¡¯t let go.¡± My eyes go wide. The Timbergrove starts tilting forward. At first it¡¯s only ten degrees, but then the tilting continues. Twenty Thirty Fourty Forty-five Sixty Seventy ¡°Oh shit!¡± I curse. Eighty ¡°I should have warned Cillian not to drink.¡± Eighty-Nine. The ship is now almost perfectly vertical, and the only reason it isn¡¯t plunging down is because the hull is getting pushed by the slipstream. Then the ship hits ninety. Slowly, the Timbergrove lurches forwards, straining against the onslaught of wind, going deeper and deeper into the vortex. For several long seconds, the ship strains against the pressure while the violent air currents batter the hull, draining the ship''s mana. Once those seconds pass, the air-currents release their grip. We pass through the vortex in something of a freefall. Myers reacts quickly, shifting the ship back upright. Our ninety degrees turns back to zero. The Timbergroves sails expand so as to catch the much less violent wind. Calm in comparison to what was just experienced. The wind is still very strong, but not at the point of damaging the ship. ¡°So,¡± He begins, ¡°that¡¯s how you enter a slipstream with a smaller ship.¡± I give the man a glare. ¡°When you asked me to warn my crew about violent weather, you failed to mention that the ship is going completely vertical!¡± The old man chuckles. _____________________________________________________________________ The city of Memphis is located directly southeast of the central continent on the island of Splendor- one of the only medium sized islands that can support ships larger than destroyers while providing adequate water and food reserves for the populace. Not that either would be a problem on account of trade, but the guild prefers to save money where they can. The city, similar to Breston, separates docking size via the Basket, Fabricate, Perditor, and Navis. The Navis being where Galleons, Galleys, Brigantines, and Cruisers make port. Not that there are many Cruisers or Galleys at a trade city. The speed and versatility of a Cruiser and the Maneuverability of a Galley aren''t useful for trade in comparison to the larger holds of Brigantines and Galleons. It is at the Fabricate where the Timbergrove has just docked, and it is at the Fabricate where a problem Arises. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. The crew of the Timbergrove descend down the plank of the ship, only to be noticed by a pointing[Guard]. Which results in yelling, screaming, and the converging of several more [Guards] towards him. ¡°Myers, what the fuck is happening?¡± Quasi asks while sitting in clays arm. The old man grimaces at the question and tightly grips his cane. ¡°I-I don¡¯t know. I was not expecting this.¡± The crew waits and watches as more and more [Guards] converge- rapidly rising to a dozen. Only when a well-dressed male [Guard] arrives do they approach. While approaching, Quasi takes stock of his Job.
Garis Levine: Level 41 [Guard Lieutenant]
Garis nervously stops approaching a good several meters away, with all the regular guards patiently waiting behind him. Garis looks the crew up and down, halting momentarily on Nepenthes. ¡°Where is your [Captain]¡± He asks. Quasi sighs. He hops out of Clay¡¯s arms and climbs up on a nearby ledge. ¡°That would be me.¡± Every eye turns to Quasi in startled surprise. A few [Guards] reach for their weapons on instinct, but not Garis. The man has far more self control. He stares at Quasi for a long moment, seemingly reading something. ¡°What are you?¡± he finally asks. Quasi chuckles. ¡°What? What is but the function following the who, and who I am is the [Captain] of the Timbergrove.¡± The [Guard Lieutenant] frowns at the answer. ¡°I can see that.¡± ¡°Of course you can. I¡¯m not questioning your powers of observation, I¡¯m merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a kitten what he is.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve yet to answer my question.¡± ¡°Adequately answer your question!¡± Quasi corrects. ¡°Because I did answer your question, for I am an adorable kitten. But, if you require me to go into further detail, then you should understand you stand before a superior race. I am not merely an adorable kitten, but an apex predator of all those that would dare stand before me.¡± The cat flicks his tail. ¡°I have slain [Pirates], giant scorpions, and even a Leviathan. All have fallen before me as is expected, for I am a sovereign of levels.¡± The cat grins, revealing sharp teeth. ¡°Now, it is my turn to ask a question. Why have you stopped me and my crew?¡± Garis stares silently at Quasi for a long moment, before sighing. ¡°You¡¯ve got quite a tongue considering how many half-truths you¡¯ve said. But fine, you¡¯re free to have your secrets.¡± He raises a finger toward Nepenthes. ¡°I need to see some documentation on the bug before it can be allowed in the city.¡± ¡°Bug?¡± Quasi frowns. ¡°Insectoid,¡± Myers corrects. ¡°I believe the [Lieutenant] is mistaking Nepenthes species.¡± ¡°Really? Huh. Nepenthes, mind introducing yourself to the man?¡± Quasi extends a claw ¡°Yes, [Captain].¡± Nepenthes steps forward, towering all those present. She looks at the wary [Guards], gazing at them like a predator on prey. ¡°I am Nepenthes, daughter of the great tree, huntress of beasts, slayers of the flaming scourge, and servant of Matriarch Quasi. I am a war Phytonid, bred and trained to slaughter my enemies. If you find my strength lacking, then speak it so that I may have reason to end your pathetic mortal lives.¡± ¡°OK!¡± Quasi interrupts. ¡°I just said introduce yourself, not threaten the poor guy. He¡¯s just here doing his job and doesn¡¯t know you¡¯re a Phytonid [Druid]. Right Garis.¡± Garis swallows. He forces his eyes to divert from Nepenthes, something his own [Guards] are struggling to do. ¡°Yes. I apologize for my mistake. Your Phytonid looks far different than those I am familiar with.¡± ¡°See, he¡¯s just impressed with your ability to shape your body.¡± Nepenthes tilts her head and lowers her body. ¡°I see. I will accept your apology human and will forget your scent so that I need not slaughter your family.¡± Garis gulps again. ¡°I thank you. Please enjoy your stay in Memphis.¡± He turns around and quickly tells the [Guards] to disperse. Which they do very very quickly. As they leave, Quasi chuckles towards his crew. ¡°Well, that was a fun interaction.¡± ¡°Da, like dating strong Russian woman. Always want fight,¡± Boriss explains. Quasi snorts. He hops off the edge and into Clay¡¯s arms. The child giggles and quickly gives a nice pet. ¡°Alright, time to split up. Boriss and Emma will stay at the ship and protect our treasure until Irmgard can hire some [Guards]. Cillian will head to the merchant guild about selling our treasure.¡± ¡°Alone?¡± Cillian asks. ¡°No, with Nepenthes as your protection.¡± Quasi looks to the Phytonid. ¡°Until such time you have a good understanding of the world, I need you to follow any orders Cillian gives.¡± ¡°Of course, [Captain].¡± She nods. ¡°Good.¡± ¡°Where will you be going?¡± Cillian asks. Quasi grins. ¡°Your favorite kind of establishment.¡± ______________________________________________________ Leaving the Fabricate and entering Memphis proper, I find myself immediately impressed by the cleanliness of both the streets and all those walking on them. Speaking of the streets, the city is organized to the point of having sidewalks for people to walk on while the center has carts pulled by ox-like beasts with twirled horns. At nearly every intersection, I also notice numerous [Guards] wearing the Merchant guilds insignia. The [Guards] are generally well-leveled and all armed with an uncommon runed weapon. ¡°The Merchant Guild seems pretty organized.¡± I say from Clay¡¯s arms. ¡°They generally are,¡± Myers agrees. ¡°In pursuit of trade and profit, the guild found that when areas of trade are well-cared for, then more trade happens and thus more profit.¡± We pass by a store with thick glass windows and metal rebar. ¡°Wait. Hang on a second.¡± Myers and Clay halt at my command, giving me a moment to look past the glass. Flintlock pistols, muskets, and blunderbusses line the shelves. ¡°Guns,¡± I say aloud. Then I noticed the price-tag. ¡°Why the hell are they so expensive? I could buy a dozen crossbows for the same price. I mean, these guns are crap compared to what Cillian carries. No wonder [Pirates] don¡¯t carry guns.¡± The old man chuckles. ¡°Cillians revolver is worth more than the Timbergrove. It is a custom made firearm by the Gemma. As for the price of the guns here, they are priced as such because they are imported. Generally, such weapons would cost only double that of a crossbow.¡± ¡°Right. If I was an entrepreneur, I¡¯d just make my own guns here and sell them at a reasonable price. I¡¯d get so many customers.¡± Myers frowns. ¡°The creation of guns is a heavily guarded secret, both by the Gemma and the Gun Guild. Many have tried to produce their own, but all they¡¯ve done is create expensive hand-held inaccurate cannons.¡± ¡°I call bullshit on that. Buy a good gun and then reproduce it. It¡¯s that simple. The only thing I can think of that is happening is that those who can produce guns are being suppressed so that they can continue their monopoly.¡± He shrugs. ¡°Perhaps they are, but I also think you are underestimating how difficult it is to produce guns. The materials in the creation, the skills and levels of the craftsman, and the understanding of how to craft every piece of such a weapon is not something you¡¯d easily find.¡± Oh. I glance again at the guns on display. ¡°Alright, I''ll take that back. If every gun is completely handcrafted by individuals and not manufactured, then no wonder reproducing it is difficult.¡± Clay squeezes me tight. ¡°Quasi, can we eat? I¡¯m hungry.¡± ¡°Hm? Oh, yea. Let''s continue on. Myers, how far is this place?¡± ¡°Not far.¡± We continue past stores and streets, eventually arriving at our destination. I look up at the gold-lettered sign. The Grounded Gardener. Pub and food. ¡°You said you know the owner?¡± ¡°Something like that.¡± Myers opens the door and I¡¯m immediately hit with the smell of alcohol, sweat, and meat. When we enter inside, we find the place packed to the brim with bodies. Nearly every table is full. The only opening is at the bar at the end. Traversing under warm firelight, Myers and Clay take a seat on a stool while I hop aboard the table. On the opposite side, a young woman with a bottle pours the man a drink. She then walks up to us. ¡°Welcome to The Grounded Gardener, how may I hel-¡± her eyes widen on noticing Myers. The old man smiles faintly. ¡°Mentara, I don¡¯t suppose your mother is available?¡± Without answering, she raises the bottle over Myers head and allows the contents to pour on top of him. IC God Games - B2 - Chapter 66: Old Flame? Mentara is young, arguably in her early twenties or late teens. You can clearly tell by her youthful, angry expression. She¡¯s got that unmatured pissed off look down perfectly. No emotional control whatsoever. Just realization, immediately followed by the pouring of alcohol. Strong alcohol too in consideration of the smell. Eventually, all bottles must come to an end as the pouring finishes. Dripping wet, the old man looks unperturbed by the shower. So much so, that very few at the pub noticed anything happened. Glaring at Myers unfazed expression, the thought of smacking him across the head with the empty bottle crosses her mind momentarily. Like I said before, young fiery ladies have a tendency to yield to emotions. Myers hand reaches up and grabs the bottle before it can further ruin the old man''s hairstyle. ¡°You¡¯re still as hot-headed as ever,¡± He says calmly. With ease, he lowers the bottle down on the counter. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be if you¡¯d not just disappeared several years ago,¡± She growls. ¡°I apologize. Something happened and I needed to leave immediately. I didn¡¯t get a chance to leave a message. It was dangerous.¡± ¡°Dangerous? Because of your dangerous, mine and my mothers life changed for the worse.¡± Myers grimaces. ¡°Did something happen? Is Terresa alright?¡± ¡°No,¡± She shakes her head. ¡°She¡¯s not alright, and she¡¯ll be worse if I take you to her.¡± The old man heaves a sigh of relief. ¡°So she¡¯s alive. That''s good.¡± Her anger flares. ¡°Alive!¡± she somehow both screams and whispers. ¡°Being alive isn¡¯t living!¡± Her hand reaches under the counter and retrieves a knife. She then slams the knife into the counter, right in front of Myers, and finally attracts everyone''s attention. ¡°Tell me why the fuck I shouldn¡¯t just gut you here and now?¡± Quasi, ever the grinning hero that he is, places his paw upon the woman''s hand. Then he slowly caresses it. ¡°Shhh, child. Relax and focus on the kitten rubbing your hand.¡± Mentara freezes. She looks away from Myers. ¡°Yes, feel the rubbery pads and the magnificent fur.¡± Quasi continues. ¡°Let your anger rest, for you are in the presence of adorable royalty.¡± Clay muffles a giggle as Mentara stares slack-jawed at the talking kitten. ¡°Relax. Forget about the mean old man and focus on the adorable furball.¡± Quasi moves more of his body into her arm, rubbing the softest fur that Mentara has ever felt. Unconsciously, Mentara¡¯s hand shifts from knife to cat. Slowly, ever so slowly, her hand begins petting. ¡°Yes, like that. Mmmm.¡± ¡°You can talk.¡± She forces out. ¡°I am indeed experienced in verbal communication, but it is where the nonverbal we converse.¡± Her petting slows, but Quasi quickly pushes his body into the hand, reigniting the petting back to optimal levels. ¡°Do not stop. Continue stroking. Use both hands.¡± She pauses momentarily, then obliges by picking him up like a child. ¡°You¡¯re so soft,¡± she says. ¡°I know,¡± Quasi whispers. ¡°Have you calmed down?¡± ¡°I-I have.¡± ¡°Good. My name is Quasi Eludo, but many call me Fluffy- or Comrade Fluffy if you¡¯re Russian. The drenched old fart is my servant and the child next to him is my on-demand petter.¡± Quasi yawns before leaning into the woman''s chest. ¡°I understand there is clearly some history between you and my servant. History that I wish to listen to behind closed doors and in the absence of a crowd.¡± Quasi waves a paw to the now silent and staring pub. All eyes are on the talking kitten. ¡°S-sure.¡± _________________________________________________________________ ¡°I am not his servant,¡± Myers corrects. ¡°Yes you are,¡± Quasi says while being carried by the young lady. ¡°I am not,¡± He denies. Then glances at Mentara. ¡°We have a mutual understanding agreement.¡± ¡°Ignore him. He¡¯s going senile in his old age. He really is my servant.¡± ¡°I¡¯m the petter,¡± Clay adds happily. The old man sighs. ¡°Don¡¯t humor him, Clay.¡± ¡°Ignore him Clay. You can humor me as much as you want.¡± The child giggles at Myers sour look. Mentara can¡¯t help but grin at the back and forth. She can already tell that the talking cat is currently soothing her anger. Soothing enough for her to actually oblige with Myers request. Traveling behind the counter and up some stairs, they arrive at the living area of her home. A nice, modest home with many runic amenities. ¡°The Grounded Gardener seems to have been doing very well.¡± Myers comments. ¡°No thanks to you,¡± She counters. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Mentara, your beauty does not look well with such anger.¡± Quasi wiggles into her chest. She tries to grimace, but only blushes at the cuteness in her arms. ¡°My mother is in her room.¡± Mentara knocks first and then opens the door. She enters and the rest follow inside. What they find is a wheelchaired woman sitting in front of a desk with Quill and documents in hand. Her head shifts to the newcomers, and then immediately focus on Myers. She smiles warmly. ¡°Admi- Myers. It¡¯s good to see you''re safe.¡± The old man grimaces, eyes focused on the wheelchair. ¡°You as well.¡± He forces guiltily. She rolls her eyes at where the man is looking. ¡°Idiot.¡± She wheels herself away from the desk. ¡°Let''s go into the living room. My room is a bit too small for conversation. Mentara, bring some drinks and snacks- why are you holding a cat?¡± ¡°This is Quasi, a talking cat.¡± Mentara says. ¡°Quasi, this is my mother Adriana. Say hello.¡± ¡°Meow.¡± Adriana smiles, amused. ¡°That¡¯s nice, dear.¡± ¡°No, mom. He can actually talk. Quasi say something.¡± ¡°Meoowwww.¡± Adriana continues grinning at her now panicking daughter. ¡°I¡¯m serious, mom. He can talk. He was just talking to me.¡± Adriana chuckles. ¡°I believe you, dear.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not crazy. I swear!¡± ¡°Meeeeeooowwww.¡± Adriana wheels herself to her daughter. She raises a hand and pets the cat on the head. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you [Captain] Quasi Eludo.¡± The cat immediately pouts. ¡°Damn.¡± The chaired woman starts giggling. Once the giggling subsides, everyone is moved into the living room. Here, Mentara brings out juices, fruits, and a sausage for a certain kitten. ¡°Adriana, about your legs. What happened?¡± Myers asks after thoroughly rubbing a towel over his hair. Adriana sighs. ¡°Before I begin, I want you to know that this is not your fault. So do not blame yourself for what happened.¡± The old man nods, but clearly not in agreement. ¡°Now, is it alright to share any information with Quasi?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Quasi says. ¡°No,¡± Myers answers. ¡°He does not know anything other than that I am hunted.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a criminal,¡± Mentara exclaims. The old man tilts his head to the young lady. ¡°You haven¡¯t told your daughter?¡± ¡°It¡¯s better that she doesn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°What don¡¯t I know?¡± She asks. ¡°Yes, what doesn''t she know?¡± Quasi asks. Adriana smiles, ¡°You¡¯re a nosy one.¡± Quasi shrugs. ¡°And an adorably cute one.¡± Myers leans forward. ¡°A [Bounty Hunter] got a lead on Clay. They attacked and almost killed him before I intervened and escaped. Immediately after, I rushed to port and paid for an immediate departure. I couldn¡¯t risk coming back to you in case they were waiting for me.¡± ¡°They were,¡± Adriana says. ¡°When you never returned, they came for information.¡± ¡°You gave them nothing,¡± Myers says. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°You should have,¡± Mentara interrupts. ¡°Then you¡¯d still be able to walk.¡± Adriana shakes her head. She looks at Clay eating what looks like a strawberry. ¡°I made a vow a long time ago, and that vow still holds. If I break it, I will regret it for the rest of my life.¡± Clay blushes at her words. ¡°They tortured you.¡± ¡°They did. They broke my bones, flayed my flesh, and many other things I do not wish to speak of. When they realized I was willing to die, the leader shattered my spine before leaving.¡± ¡°Did you go to a [Healer]?¡± ¡°I did. All the other injuries they were able to fix, but the damage to my spine is not one of them. I¡¯d need to find an [Archhealer] or [Grand Surgeon] if I¡¯m to regain the ability to walk.¡± ¡°I bet my [Chief Physician] can fix your spine.¡± Quasi interrupts. Adriana smiles politely. ¡°I doubt a ship¡¯s [Healer] has the levels and experience to fix such extensive damage. But, I thank you for the offer.¡± ¡°Your doubts may not be warranted,¡± Myers says. ¡°His [Chief Physician] has a rather unique skill set that I¡¯ve never seen before.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± She taps her chin. ¡°Something you¡¯ve never seen before? That''s quite rare.¡± She looks at the kitten ripping into the sausage. ¡°Am I to presume there is a cost for your [Chief Physicians] services?¡± Quasi swallows. ¡°Yup. The question is, can you pay it?¡± ¡°Monetarily, not much. But if it¡¯s information you seek, then I absolutely can.¡± ¡°Good, because that''s exactly what I need. A lot of it actually.¡± ¡°Then ask.¡± ¡°I need three things. First, I need information on the locations of all Towers, including the one near here. Second, I need runes. I have a [Runesmith] that needs to expand her repertoire- specifically the rune that reduces recoil on cannons.¡± ¡°Towers? That is an odd request, but I can easily obtain it. Is there a reason why you need only the locations?¡± ¡°I need to visit all of them.¡± ¡°I see. There is a recent [Mage] who is doing the same as you.¡± ¡°Auranta,¡± Mentara says. ¡°Yes, her. She¡¯s a bit of an enigma, but her skills are exemplary. If you need a [Ship Caster], I¡¯d recommend hiring her.¡± Quasi frowns. ¡°I¡¯m willing to meet her.¡± Adriana looks to Mentara. ¡°If you see Auranta, inform her of Quasi.¡± Mentara nods. Adriana returns her focus to Quasi. ¡°Obtaining simpler runes is easy. I¡¯ve several books I can already provide. But, more complicated ones like [Reduce Recoil], [Reduce friction], and [Disperse Kinetics] are going to take some time to get.¡± ¡°I can wait. My [Quartermaster] needs to set up an auction for some valuable goods. That¡¯s going to take some time, so I can wait.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll start searching. You mentioned there is a third thing you needed?¡± Quasi sits up and glances at Clay. The child looks back at him with a puzzled look. ¡°Myers mentioned Clay was being hunted by a [Bounty Hunter]. A [Bounty Hunter] that tried to kill a child. Are they at Menston?¡± ¡°They are.¡± ¡°I want their name and everything else you know about them.¡± She scowls. ¡°Why?¡± Quasi grins, teeth showing. ¡°Clay is a good petter. A very kind child who I¡¯ve grown fond of. And now I¡¯ve just learned that someone attempted to kill Clay three years ago. Clay was what, four at the time? Yea, see, I don¡¯t have very many morals. I¡¯m not above slaughter, torture, and many other worse vices. But, I draw the line with harming children, especially against anyone who would kill a four year old for money.¡± ¡°You want to kill them.¡± Quasi starts giggling. He shakes his head. ¡°Kill? No. Absolutely not. Why would I offer someone like that the gentle reprieve of death?¡± Adriana glances at Myers, but the old man refuses to say anything. She sighs. ¡°Her name is Egressa Dleron¡­ IC God Games - B2 - Chapter 67: Auranta The moment Cillian leaves the port, he can¡¯t help but smile at the sight of Memphis mercantilism. People in dresses and suits walk the sidewalks while the streets in the center haul goods by cart. Numerous goods from food, to clothing, to even weapons. Houses are several stories tall with small alleyways behind each one to transport trash. This, most of all, explains why the city is so very spotlessly clean. As he traverses the streets, several looks are turned in his direction- most of them fearful, but also curious. Which he¡¯d found odd until he remembers that Nepenthes is following him. The woman is glaring predatorily at everyone that passes by. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so vigilant. You can relax.¡± ¡°Those who grow lax, grow weak and die,¡± She answers back. He sighs, but continues on. At the intersection of the street, he finds a bolted down map. ¡°Let¡¯s see. We¡¯re here,¡± he places a finger on a red dot, ¡°and the Merchant Guild is- oh, not that far.¡± Remembering the street names, he takes several twists and turns until he arrives at the largest building yet. The building is made of marble with a construction similar to ancient greece- but also taller and with windows. Two heavily armored [Guards] stand at the entrance. They carry magnificent glowing halberds that also match the glow of their armor. Counting the runes on the weapon, he infers them to be of Rare make, as does the plate armor. Walking through the entrance, the [Guards] ignore him, but give a slight glance at Nepenthes. The Phytonid matches their glance with an eagerness for violence, bloodshed, and the consumption of prey. They quickly avert their eyes and allow the two to enter the guild unmolested. The moment they do enter, a guild official swerves towards the newcomer. He walks to Cillian in what looks like a normal gait, but is actually much faster. ¡°Welcome to the Merchant Guild.¡± The man bows. ¡°I am Salence Annetice, a [Guild Journeyman] for the Merchant Guild. Is there anything I can assist you with?¡± ¡°His heartbeat is elevated to the point of eagerness or excitement. Possibly both. His eyes, gait, and focus are similar to that of a predator looking at prey. This human knows something of you and wishes to capitalize,¡± Nepenthes explains. The man finally looks away from Cillian while still smiling. ¡°You seem to have a very interesting companion with you.¡± ¡°His heartbeat is further elevated now and there is slight perspiration of this human¡¯s skin.¡± Cillian chuckles. ¡°I was hesitant about having you as my bodyguard, but this is pretty beneficial. Now, Salence. I¡¯m going to guess you¡¯ve got a skill of some sort that¡¯s telling you of great profit potential- which is good. I have some very valuable goods to sell- so valuable that I¡¯d prefer a nice cozy office with some snacks and a good bit of wine before I speak further.¡± Salence quickly nods. ¡°Of course, we have a booth ready for just that. Please follow me.¡± The man quickly turns and starts walking. Cillian chuckles at the little bit of sweat behind the man''s neck before following. The man opens the door to the room. ¡°This booth has sound dampening runes to keep any and all conversations private. Please, come in, take a seat, and feel free to enjoy the amenities.¡± Cillian does just that. He grabs two bottles, a container of nuts, and then sits down on the comfy couch. Before Salence even sits down opposite Cillian, the scott has the bottle open and is drinking directly from it. ¡°Would you like a glass?¡± ¡°No. Too slow.¡± He grabs a bite of peanuts. ¡°Of course.¡± The man leans forward. ¡°Now, what is it you have to sell?¡± ¡°Chests.¡± ¡°Chests, sir?¡± Cillian nods with a smile. ¡°Yes, several chests of Exceptional quality.¡± The man¡¯s back seems to straighten and his smile becomes more genuine. ¡°Exceptional? How exceptional are we talking about? Have you counted the runes? May I know the craftsman or in what location you¡¯ve found such items?¡± The phytonic grabs a nut from the bowl and consumes it. ¡°His heartbeat is elevated,¡± Nepenthes adds. Cillian takes another sip of the wine. ¡°There are many chests of different sizes. All are Exceptional quality. The smaller ones have six to eight runes while the two large chests both have ten. As for the rest of those questions, I cannot reveal such information without my [Captain''s] permission.¡± ¡°Such information will elevate the selling price of your goods.¡± Scott snorts. ¡°For common goods, I¡¯d agree. But scarce, exceptional goods will sell just as well on the market regardless of such information.¡± Cillian quickly raises a hand. ¡°Though, my [Captain] may be willing to supply such information for a better price. Even the location of where such goods are located.¡± Salence nods slowly. ¡°Are the chests engraved with symbols or names?¡± ¡°They are.¡± ¡°That will reduce the price.¡± ¡°My [Runesmith] informs me that the engraving is not connected to the runes. They can be changed.¡± ¡°The changes will impact the price.¡± ¡°With exceptional quality items, the cost of engraving a symbol is paltry in comparison.¡± The [Guild Journeyman] leans back. ¡°The general auctioning price for the guild is twenty percent- but, I can offer you fifteen percent and a percent discount if you reveal the information of where the chests are located. Cillian chuckles. ¡°Five percent commission, down to three percent if you want the information.¡± Salence shakes his head. ¡°The Merchant Guild runs the largest and most well-known auctions in the entire world. Because of this, we generally sell items far more than other auctions do. But, on account of your willingness to argue- I will reduce my offer by a single percent.¡± Cillian finishes the second bottle. ¡°Nepenthes, grab me several more bottles off the shelf. Looks like I¡¯ve got several hours of haggling to get through.¡± Nepenthes obliges. She grabs bottles, several more snacks, and refills the bowl of nuts. ________________________________________________________________ Irmgards sidesteps a sword strike. Before the man recovers, she uses the side of her cutlass to smack the man''s wrist with such force that he drops his weapons. Before the man can recover from his surprise, her blade stops at the man''s neck. He freezes. She tilts her head, She forces her blade into his neck. The man steps back and trips over her leg. He falls. Before he can get up, her boot slams on his crotch. He screams. Unfazed, she averts her gaze to the other men. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Is there anyone else that wishes to bed me?¡± The other [Mercenaries] stare wide-eyed at the woman who¡¯d just expertly dismantled one of their regulars. Granted, the man was drunk, but still. The [Mercenary Captain] starts laughing. The man has a build like Boriss and wields a battleax. Out of every [Mercenary] in the Mercenary Guild, he is arguably the highest leveled. ¡°First a mage blasts my boys into a wall and now a woman dismantles one of my better fighters. I really need to train them better.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve come to hire protection for my [Captains] ship.¡± Irmgard explains. The [Mercenary Captain] stands up. ¡°Really now. Considering you just dismantled my man so easily, getting hired by you might be a bit of an insult. So, how about a bit of a duel first. I win, you pay double our fee. You win, and you hire us for half.¡± ¡°I acce-¡± Irmgard halts as the door behind her opens up. An individual covered in a full black robe and wearing a crow mask walks in. In the individual''s hand is a magnificently detailed staff. The individual halts and looks down at the man with a boot on his crotch. Then the person looks at Irmgard. ¡°Do you require assistance?¡± She asks in a distinctly feminine voice. ¡°Auranta, stay the fuck out of my dealings.¡± The [Mercenary Captain] warns. Though, the warning is laced with wariness. ¡°No. I am attempting to hire protection for my ship. The [Mercenary Captain] has offered half price once I defeat him.¡± Irmgard explains. ¡°Then you best be capable of taking out all the [Mercenaries] in this room. The man is a sore loser that is not above attempting to overwhelm you with numbers.¡± ¡°Auranta! Shut your trap.¡± The masked woman tilts her staff towards the man and the man immediately steps back. ¡°You speak as though this has happened before,¡± Irmgard says. ¡°I came for information and was willing to pay for it. Grandis here offered to give it freely if I bested him. When I did, he sicked his [Mercenaries] at me.¡± ¡°You defeated them all.¡± Auranta nods. ¡°Yes.¡± She looks at Grandis. ¡°Have you heard any new information?¡± ¡°No. There are no ships heading for the tower.¡± She lowers her staff. ¡°I see. Unfortunate.¡± She glances again at Irmgard. ¡°Do you know of any ships headed to the nearby tower? Irmgard slowly nods. ¡°My [Captain] plans to head there soon.¡± ¡°Oh? I am willing to pay for passage to and back from the tower.¡± ¡°That is my [Captains] decision.¡± Auranta nods. ¡°Understandable. Then, as an act of goodwill, would you allow me to take you to a far more reliable and honest [Mercenaries]?¡± ¡°Auranta, get the fuck out.¡± The mask surveys the room. ¡°You seem to have fixed the holes in the walls. Do you wish to have to fix them again?¡± Grandis grits his teeth. ¡°Just get the fuck out of here.¡± Auranta nods. ¡°Come, miss¡­¡± ¡°Irmgard Von Braum, [First Mate] of the Timbergrove.¡± ¡°I am merely Auranta, an [Air Mage].¡± The two exit the Guild Hall building dubbed Grandis Mercenaries and enter into the Fabricate. ¡°Generally, Mercenary Companies located at the docks are cheap, but also of the lowest quality. The only exception is at the island of Magnis where the central Mercenary Guild is located. The competition is fierce enough that quality can be obtained for much cheaper.¡± Auranta starts walking and Irmgard quickly matches pace. The woman is slightly shorter than her, but her stride matches Irmgards natural long-legged pace. ¡°Why is there a single Merchant Guild but many Mercenary Guilds?¡± ¡°[Merchants] are all about efficiency and centralisation for profit. Multiple Merchant Guilds will compete at a single location to improve speed and efficiency of transactions, but Mercenary Guilds are different. Each [Mercenary] company is generally a guild in of itself. If the company is large enough, then they will have guild based classes like [Guild Leader].¡± ¡°I prefer how the Merchant Guild does it,¡± Irgmard states. Auranta slows her walk. ¡°There are benefits to both systems. A centralized system gains greater efficiency, yes, but it can suffer from a lack of adaptation and can easily lead to a more monopolistic system.¡± ¡°And a monopolistic system leads to stagnation. Yes, I understand the concept. But, it sounds like the Merchant Guild does¡¯t have such a problem.¡± ¡°They do not, precisely because the highest leveled [Merchants] are at such a level that they outperform their peers in adaptation. The leader of the central Merchant Guild is a Master classer whose profits alone are nearly five percent from the combined profits of all Merchant guilds combined. Out of all the master classers, he is the most influential.¡± ¡°You are knowledgeable about such things,¡± Irmgard says. ¡°Knowledge and understanding is power. The more you know and understand, the better decisions you make throughout life, and the greater the benefits you reap.¡± ¡°Is that why you are interested in the tower?¡± Auranta slows again. ¡°I am tasked by my mother to learn as much of the towers as possible.¡± ¡°Couldn¡¯t you have asked the Tower Ecclesiasticus?¡± ¡°My mother is already familiar with what information that group knows. Certain recent circumstances lead me to research the tower more intimately.¡± ¡°Are you willing to share said circumstances?¡± ¡°No¡­ we are here.¡± The two stop at another building also located at the Fabricate. The sign says Memphis Mercenaries. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that companies near ports aren''t the best?¡± ¡°Memphis Mercenaries has several locations, with the major one located near the Merchant and Bounty Hunter guild.¡± The two enter and are immediately met with a very different atmosphere of professionalism. The [Mercenaries] take only a paltry glance at the two women before returning to what they were doing. They walk down the hall to what is clearly a female [Secretary]. She smiles at them. ¡°Auranta, it is nice to have you back. Unfortunately, we¡¯ve heard no information regarding your request.¡± ¡°That is fine. I currently have a lead on transport. Now, if you will, Miss Irmgard here has a request.¡± Irmgard steps forward. ¡°I am looking to hire protection for my ship.¡± ¡°We have many [Mercenaries] with the [Guard] job available. Let me just ask a few questions. What is the ship size? Length of stay? External or internal guarding?¡± ¡°Frigate. Weeks to a month of stay. Possibly more or less. External guarding only.¡± She nods. ¡°Will you require [Guards] all the time or certain hours?¡± ¡°All the time.¡± She nods again. ¡°We can have that done. For frigates, we have a five [Guard] system. At least one of the [Guards] will be an Advanced class. You will have two teams. One for day and one for night. Is that fine?¡± ¡°So long as the price is right.¡± ¡°We will get to that last. You have many packages to choose from.¡± Auranta places a gloved hand on Irmgard. A hand that feels quite hard. ¡°I must visit the rest of the guilds and taverns. Will I be able to find you at your ship?¡± ¡°Most likely.¡± Auranta nods. ¡°Then I¡¯m off.¡± She walks down the hall and leaves. When Irmgards focus returns, the [Secretary] hands her several dozen stacks of documents. ___________________________________________________ The door to the Bounty Hunter Guild squeaks open, and the first sound Auranta hears is the sound of maniacal laughter. ¡°She¡¯s here. She is fucking here. I told you fuckers they would return. I told you!¡± She seethes happily. Auranta walks to the screaming lady. ¡°Miss Egressa, you seem to be quite happy.¡± The woman turns to Auranta with a crazed look on her face. ¡°Three fucking years my prey escaped. I waited three fucking years and now she returns. I¡¯m going to finally get my level Auranata, and I am going to be fucking rich.¡± ¡°That is nice. I wish you luck in your hunt. Before that, have you obtained any information regarding my request?¡± ¡°About a ship to the tower? No. No idiots are going to waste their time heading there unless it is the tower ecclesiastes. You¡¯re wasting your time. Just take the dagger and pay some [Captain] to take you there. I know it¡¯s expensive, but so is waiting.¡± I see. I will keep your advice in mind. Thank you for the information.¡± Auranta turns to leave. She opens the door. As she steps out, a cat walks into the building. IC God Games - B2 - Chapter 68: Adorably Evil It is commonly known that the most powerful and influential guilds in the entire world are those that have great and consistent profit streams. Because of this, the Merchant, Smith, and Mage guilds hold the highest influence. The profits of [Merchants], the constructions of [Smiths], and the advanced and diverse magical versatility of [Mages] gives these three groups a great deal of power. Not that they are a singular organization, but a combined political and financial one composed of many smaller guilds pooling resources to create beneficial change for the whole. After those three major types, the next ranking down is almost completely in the martial classes. [Mercenaries], [Soldiers], [Marines], [Knights], and especially [Bounty Hunters] have acceptably influential guilds. Acceptably influential in the sense that although in theory they have a lot of power as a group, in practice they aren''t organized enough to make such power a reality. For example, though [Bounty Hunters] have several major guilds in Magnis, many of those guilds are in direct competition with each other. [Bounty Hunters] from the Raven Guild and those from the Shark Guild do not see eye to eye as they generally compete for the same bounties. With such competition and lack of coordination, these [Guilds] naturally have a loose hold on their members. So, if a member of the Shark Guild decided to open up a branch of the Guild in a city for three years so as to wait for a possible prey to return, the [Bounty Hunter] may never be punished for wasting such valuable time. It is in this specific scenario where a certain woman finds herself in. _____________________________________________________ Egressa Dleron glares at her former [First Mate] while her hand pets the adorable kitten on her lap. A very large lap with very large hands. The woman is tall, broad shouldered, short haired, and built like a line-backer. On her left arm is a tattoo of a shark''s mouth, and on her right is a picture of several winged sharks in the midst of a feeding frenzy. Next to her is an elegantly runed glaive that has an open shark''s mouth design with the blade sticking out of its mouth. The shaft is made of wood reinforced with metal. The hilt has something of a fin design to go with the shark aesthetics. ¡°Three fucking years I¡¯ve been waiting in this shithole of a city for my prey, and my prey has just returned. Finding and killing the girl takes far more priority than wasting time to find this killer,¡± Egressa growls. The man sighs. ¡°Yes, we¡¯ve got all the members scouring the city- but it¡¯s important to look into the killing. Someone slit an [Apprentices] neck overnight within the confines of the building.¡± ¡°And we¡¯ll find them, but the hunt comes first.¡± She continues petting the cat, even scratching under its chin. ¡°Egressa, this is important- where did you even get the cat?¡± ¡°Fluffles? Yesterday, it just walked into the guild and started rubbing its head on my arm.¡± ¡°You named it already?¡± ¡°Of course, I even gave it a collar.¡± She slides a finger on the leather piece around the cat''s neck. ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t like animals.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t dislike animals, it¡¯s animals that dislike me. But this little guy is a brave boy.¡± The man sighs. ¡°Fine, but we need to address the killing. Just give a speech or something, or threaten to gut the killer.¡± Egressa rolls her eyes. ¡°Fine, after everyone returns. For now, focus on finding the child- or even the old man. He can be used to lead us to her.¡± ¡°Everyone is looking.¡± ¡°Then look harder. If we can get the kill, I¡¯ll get my level and we''ll be financially set for life.¡± ¡°I still can¡¯t believe waiting for the child to return worked.¡± Egressa chuckles. ¡°Remember that woman at the tavern three years ago? The bitch refused to give me information no matter how much I hurt her. Now that is loyalty, loyalty enough to return and check on her. Did you post anyone to the Tavern?¡± ¡°Three of our best. When they return, hopefully they will have some news.¡± ¡°Good. The moment you find them, do not engage. That old man shouldn¡¯t be underestimated. He injured me last time, but I won¡¯t have my guard down again.¡± ____________________________________________________________________ ¡°An underground tunnel. You seem to have prepared rather well. Does this lead to another building?¡± Myers asks. Adriana relaxes on her wheelchair while the old man pushes her. On her lap is Clay, sleeping comfortably in her arms. ¡°It does. After I lost my legs, I found it imperative I have a way to escape from the Grounded Gardener. I bought a building, renovated it into a small jewelry shop, and installed an underground passageway to it.¡± Myers nods. ¡°You were always excessive at dealing with problems.¡± ¡°I did learn from the best.¡± Adriana looks up with a grin. The old man blushes at the praise. ¡°That was a long time ago.¡± ¡°Maybe. But it was a good time, and it would have still been a good time if I didn¡¯t get pregnant.¡± The two continue walking down the tunnel in silence. ¡°Do you regret getting pregnant?¡± He asks. ¡°No.¡± She goes silent again. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°I regret who I allowed to get me pregnant.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve avoided telling me who the father is.¡± ¡°It¡¯s better that way.¡± The two continue in silence for a bit longer. Eventually, Myers stops. ¡°It¡¯s not,¡± He finally says. ¡°You showed no interest in any other guy while serving under me. Then, all at once, you said you¡¯re pregnant and left. I- I need to know.¡± She looks down, sad. ¡°The truth will hurt.¡± ¡°I have lost much of my time alive. Few truths will bother me.¡± She squeezes Clay¡¯s sleeping form closer to her. ¡°Promise me you won¡¯t blame yourself.¡± ¡°I-¡± Her eyes look upon him with several decades of hardness. ¡°Alistair! Promise me you will not blame yourself.¡± He matches eyes with hers. ¡°I promise.¡± Then he continues walking. She takes a breath. ¡°Remember the battle of Greenforge?¡± He nods. ¡°My fleet was caught by surprise by both the combined might of the rebels, mercenaries, and a member of the Corsair. I was forced to order a retreat but your ship was far too close to the island. They overloaded the runes of your ship and you were forced to surrender. You were arrested and confined to the island for a week until I returned and quelled the rebellion.¡± She frowns. ¡°I told you that they only tortured me for information¡­ That was a lie. They did far more than that.¡± Myers releases a heavy breath. ¡°You should have told me,¡± He says. ¡°Would that have changed anything?¡± ¡°Yes. I would have taken responsibility.¡± He stops walking right before a closed door. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± ________________________________________________________ ¡°Well, are they genuine or what?¡± Cillian asks with a grin on his face. He is currently in the hold of the Timbergrove with Salence at his side. Both are watching a Guild [Runesmith] kneeling and thoroughly checking the chests. The [Runesmith] finally gets up. ¡°They are genuine. Exceptional quality, all of them. The kingdom markings can also be changed without damaging the runes.¡± Salence smiles. ¡°Good, good. Do you by chance know the kingdom''s markings?¡± He asks, to the frown of Cillian. ¡°No. They are old, easily over three hundred years if we go by design.¡± Salence grimaces while Cillian¡¯s grin returns. ¡°I¡¯ve a map- even a book about said kingdom I can offer.¡± The [Journeyman] continues staring at the chests on the floor. After a moment, he glances at the short man. ¡°I¡¯m going to be honest here. I know you have something worth far more than a bunch of exceptional quality chests. Considering these chests are designed to be stored in a treasury, I am led to believe you found something far more valuable.¡± Cillian shrugs. ¡°Possibly, possibly not. Maybe your skill is faulty, or maybe the map I¡¯m offering is worth far more than the chests. Maybe the map is worth so much that selling it on the open market would put such a large target on my [Captains] back that not even Memphis could protect him.¡± Salences'' eyes widen in recognition. ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re demanding such a low percentage for the chests.¡± ¡°Perhaps,¡± Cillians says with a grin. The [Journeyman] chuckles. ¡°It seems everything is in order. Let us return to the Guild Hall, sign a contract, and then I will have men sent to retrieve the chests for auction.¡± ¡°Lets.¡± The three exit the Timbergrove, pick up Nepenthes, travel down the ramp, and then halt at what seems like a confrontation. ¡°I am part of the Timbergroves crew,¡± Myers argues. The old man is pushing a disabled woman with a sleeping clay in her arms. ¡°You have no Job and your name is nowhere listed under Timbergroves crew.¡± The [Guard] explains cooly. ¡°As of which, I cannot allow you to board the vessel.¡± Myers glares back, and then notices the Scot. ¡°Cillian,¡± he calls out, ¡°do mind assisting me here?¡± Cillian chuckles and walks up to Myers. ¡°He¡¯s part of the crew, so is the child,¡± he explains to the [Guard]. ¡°Where''s the [Captain] and who''s the cripple?¡± Myers grimaces at the word cripple. ¡°Quasi left to hunt someone down and this is Adriana. He has a deal with her for information in exchange for healing.¡± ¡°Healing? Really?¡± ¡°Yes. Quasi believes Nepenthes can fix her broken spine.¡± ¡°I will require excess nourishment and adequate time depending on the damage,¡± Nepenthes explains. ¡°Later, once I¡¯m done with the paperwork,¡± Cillian says. ¡°I need her as a bodyguard for the time being.¡± ¡°Isn''t Irmgard available? Or Boriss?¡± Myers asks. ¡°No. Boriss left for a drink and Irmgard went with Emma to restock supplies.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Adriana places her hand on Myers. ¡°I¡¯ve been crippled for many years, what is waiting a bit longer? We can try to fix my back when the [Captain] returns.¡± The old man sighs. ¡°Alright. We¡¯ll wait on the ship. Don¡¯t take too long.¡± ¡°Money waits for no one. Salence, let''s get this contract underway.¡± Myers watches them leave before pushing Adriana up the plank and into the ship''s hold. ____________________________________________________ After a rousing speech by Egressa, the rest of the [Bounty Hunters] part of the Shark Guild have their worries assuaged. She promised a massive payout, levels, and that she would find and kill whoever assassinated one of her members. A very rousing speech from Egressa¡¯s point of view. But, from the point of view of those who listened, all they heard was an angry woman yelling about money, levels, and a promise to slit the throat of whoever killed one of her members. It also didn¡¯t help that she cursed out several members on account of not finding any leads on the girl. Angry and pissed, she trudges to her room to sleep the night away, as do the rest of the [Bounty Hunters] living in the guild barracks. With night fallen and most members asleep, a kitten finds itself roaming the empty hallways of the building. The kitten, as silent as its species can be, finds its way into the guild mess hall. There, it searches the cupboards for whatever it can find. A bottle of bleach, some kind of liquid soap, and other various chemicals. Eventually, it finds a bottle with a skull label. The contents of the bottle are of a powder that would add an interesting taste to, say- a refrigerated broth. Finished with the kitchen, the kitten sneaks back into the hallways and makes its way to the barracks. Here, the rooms house two [Bounty Hunters]. Sneaking in and checking each and every member, the kitten finds those that were the most heavily berated by Egressa. With a practiced ease, throats are crushed and severed as silently as possible so as not to awake anyone. With the job done, the kitten returns to a little bed in Egressa¡¯s room. It sets its tiny head down on the comfy cushion, closes its eyes, and dreams of slaughtering those it considers its enemies. IC God Games - B2 - Chapter 69: A Typical Day Off ¡°This is a genuine map,¡± The [Cartographer] says. ¡°No others are available in the open market yet- so you may have the only copy.¡± Salence releases a sigh of relief. When making contracts in regards to maps, there is always a risk of getting swindled even with the benefit of skills. ¡°Good. Please place your signature of authenticity on it and prepare it for sale.¡± ¡°Yes sir. Is there a name you would like me to put on the map?¡± Salence raises up a book- Chorus, the Kingdom under the Aurora. A book detailing a kingdom called Chorus that specialized in Aurora-based magic. ¡°Name it Chorus.¡± ¡°It will be done.¡± ¡°Before you go. Tell one of the [Secretaries] that the booth I used will need to be heavily restocked.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± With the [Cartographer] leaving his office with the map in hand, Salence starts preparation for Auctioning the chests. It will take several days to complete, but even at the agreed 4% commission, the guild should still make a decent profit. _____________________________________________________ Returning to the Timbergrove with a shit-eating grin and Nepenthes in tow, the Scot enters the mess hall, grabs a bottle of alcohol, then sits down opposite Myers and Adriana. He extends the bottle to Nepenthes who wordlessly slices the lid open. Then he chugs the contents. All of this happens without a single word. ¡°I¡¯m guessing your dealings with the Merchant Guild went well,¡± Myers says after Cillian finishes his chug. ¡°Yes.¡± He glances curiously at Adriana if he should ¡°She is a close friend. Feel free to speak freely.¡± He nods. ¡°Those idiots accepted a four percent commission in exchange for the map.¡± ¡°That map will quickly lose its price once more than one is released on the market.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. Contract is signed. Though, I do wish I could sell the throne.¡± ¡°Memphis isn¡¯t large enough for something like that,¡± Myers reminds. ¡°Yea, yea. Legendary items get people killed and start wars. I know.¡± ¡°You have a Legendary item?¡± Adriana asks in surprise. Myers nods. ¡°Not me, the [Captain]. We found it on the island I was talking to you about earlier.¡± ¡°What does it do?¡± She asks. ¡°We¡¯re not sure.¡± Myers leans back. ¡°Sitting on it seems to do nothing and Emma lacks the knowledge and skill to figure it out. For now, Quasi is using it as a bed rest.¡± Adriana chuckles. ¡°A Legendary throne is being used by a kitten to sleep.¡± ¡°Where is our fearless kitten, anyway?¡± Cillian asks. ¡°It has been a day already.¡± The old man grimaces. ¡°Killing, probably.¡± ¡°What prey does the Matriarch hunt?¡± Nepenthes asks. The Phytonid, formerly content to stand silently behind Cillian, speaks up as her interest is peaked. ¡°He¡¯s hunting a [Bounty Hunter].¡± ¡°Is that prey strong? How long will the hunt take?¡± Before Myers can answer, the doors to the ship squeak open. All eyes turn as Emma, Irmgard, a woman covered in black, and Boriss walk down the stairs. Other than the women in black, the three look like they¡¯d been in quite a fight. Especially so for Boriss. The large Russian man looks like he¡¯d taken a hell of a beating and given one on account of the massive grin on his face. Cillian chuckles. ¡°Looks like you all had a decent bit of fun.¡± ______________________________________________________ Fourtolds is your typical cheap tavern located directly near the port. It has your typical cheap food combined with cheap alcohol that caters to a largesse of the most hardy individuals. ¡°Like Prison,¡± Boriss whispers when he enters the establishment by kicking the metal doors open. Some glance at the Russian, but immediately give the large man no mind. Boriss doesn¡¯t have the look of someone who unknowingly walked into a den of degenerates, especially not so considering the kick. After several more glances at those present, he makes his way towards the back and sits on a stool. The [Barkeep] glances at Boriss before striding to the big man.. ¡°If you keep grinning like that, people are going to want to pick a fight.¡± He looks Boriss up and down. ¡°Not that they have much of a chance to win- but drunken idiots aren''t the smartest when it comes to making decisions.¡± ¡°Is good. Like home.¡± ¡°Odd accent you have there, and your home sounds like shit. Anyway, what poison can I get you?¡± Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡°Strong poison,¡± He taps his chest, ¡°for big Russian man.¡± ¡°You¡¯re Russian? Never heard of the island- but I¡¯ve got something to put down cocky fucks like you.¡± The [Bartender] grins. He turns and begins preparing a concoction. While he does, two men enter the pub. Armed and armored men with shark tattoos on their arms. Those who notice them, immediately look away. The two men walk to the bar and lean on the counter directly next to Boriss. ¡°Oy, old man. Stop dicking with that mug and come over here. We¡¯ve got a question.¡± The [Bartender] sighs, but does continue dicking around until the concoction is ready. He places the mug in front of Boriss and then glares at the two men. ¡°The fuck you two want?¡± The men chuckle. ¡°Tyrus, are you still sore about that last little fight?¡± ¡°Little!¡± Tyrus growls. ¡°You sicked that damn gardener of a woman in the bar and wrecked all my shit.¡± ¡°It was for a job.¡± ¡°Fuck your job and get the fuck out of my tavern.¡± The man sighs. He leans on the counter. ¡°Tyrus, we¡¯d love to, but we need information first. If we don¡¯t get it, our gardener of a woman will need to come here herself. I think it¡¯s better for both of us if you tell us what we want to hear.¡± Tyrus glares at them, even grinds his teeth. ¡°Fine. Ask and then get the fuck out.¡± The two chuckle confidently. ¡°Have you heard or seen anything about an old graying man with a young child?¡± Boriss perks up and glances at the two men. A movement the [Bounty hunters] quickly notice. ¡°You look like you know something.¡± One of them says. Boriss nods. ¡°You are friends, yes?¡± Tyrus snorts. ¡°No, they¡¯re [Bounty Hunters] who are probably hunting them.¡± ¡°Shut it, old man.¡± One of the [Bounty Hunters] growls. He returns his focus to Boriss. ¡°If you¡¯ve got information on them, we¡¯ve got coin to offer.¡± Boriss shakes his head. ¡°I know nothing. Is bad memory.¡± ¡°Look, you¡¯re clearly lying. You mentioned the word friend, so I¡¯m going to guess you¡¯re protecting them, but that''s a really bad idea. See, our [Leader] is after them and she is not kind to anyone who gets in the way of her bounty.¡± ¡°She¡¯s even willing to kill her fellow [Bounty Hunters] for failure.¡± The other man adds. ¡°That''s just a rumor,¡± the first [Bounty Hunter] adds. ¡°People who pissed her off the most are dead. I even heard a bunch of us got poisoned from the stew and that she didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°It was just a bad stock and she didn¡¯t get poisoned because her cat puked a hairball in it.¡± ¡°Cat? Fluffy cat, yes?¡± ¡°What? Yea, very fluffy- look, don¡¯t try to change the conversation. We need to know what you want.¡± Boriss sighs. He glances at Tyrus. ¡°I am sorry.¡± Tyrus eyes widen in recognition. ¡°Don-¡± He doesn''t finish as Boriss punches the man in the face with such force that he crashes into a table filled with the most rugged men you can find. The table shatters while food and drink spill everywhere. One of the men grabs a bottle and throws it at Boriss. The Russian ducks and the bottle strikes another in the head, pissing off another group. The second [Bounty Hunter] goes for Boriss¡¯s jugular, but the Russian parries, picks up the man, and then yeets him at another table. Screaming, cursing, yelling ensues as the bar-fight begins. ________________________________________________________________ ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s alright to have bought this? It was very expensive.¡± Emma raises a Stylus of a much better quality than the one she owns. It is larger, but also better for runeing large equipment.¡± ¡°Will it help you rune the ship?¡± Irmgard asks. ¡°Um, yes. It will be much faster.¡± ¡°Then it is a good investment. The sooner you rune the ship, the sooner our capability will improve. If there is anything else you require to improve your job, then ask and I will attempt to commandeer funds.¡± ¡°No-no, this is fine. Already too much.¡± Irmgard shakes her head. ¡°You must become more assertive. Speak your mind and do not hold back your ideas no matter how foolish you think they are.¡± Emma pouts. ¡°Easy for you to say. You don¡¯t make mistakes.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve made numerous mistakes throughout my life. But it is through those mistakes that I have gained the wisdom to not repeat them. Whether that be in combat, in family, in school¡­ and even love.¡± ¡°You were in love?¡± Emma perks up with a smile. ¡°Yes. During my studies at Harvard university, I fell in love with the smartest man there. The only other person with a perfect grade point average as mine. He was intelligent, driven, and had a strong pedigree.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°He lost his perfect score and I dumped him. Clearly, I was mistaken about how truly driven he was. It is a mistake I will not repeat again.¡± ¡°You left him because his score wasn¡¯t perfect?¡± ¡°No. The loss of a perfect score is a result of his time cheating on me. That is why I chained and dumped him in a river. Now, I see an acquaintance. Come.¡± Emma gapes at the story, but doesn¡¯t get to ask further as they meet a woman dressed in black. The woman is covered head to toe and wears a raven mask that fully covers her head. ¡°Auranta,¡± Irgmard greets. ¡°It is a pleasure to see you again.¡± The masked woman looks to Irmgard. ¡°As is you, Irmgard. Have you spoken to your [Captain] about me coming aboard?¡± ¡°Not yet, though he may have returned to the ship by now. I am heading back, so you may join me if you wish.¡± ¡°I can, but I must stop quickly at a tavern near the port.¡± ¡°If it is near the Fabricate, then we can join you,¡± Irmgard adds. ¡°It is. I welcome the distraction.¡± While the three walk together, Emma can¡¯t help but find Irmgard and Auranta extraordinarily similar. They converse logically and with little fluff. Every question is answered directly and discretely with a word choice lacking in much emotion. They both kinda remind the gemma about her fathers general directness. When they arrive at the tavern, they are met with a stool shattering out a window. Curious, the three glance inside to find a violent brawl going about. A massive fistfight with several unconscious bodies strewn on the floor. It is then that they find a large man held down by four burly men while a fifth is beating on him. ¡°Schei?e,¡± Irmgard curses. ¡°Emma, cover me. We need to help him.¡± Irmgard rushes inside. Just as Emma enters, she watches as Imrgard jumps in the air and kicks the guy beating on Boriss in the face. Then she knee¡¯s one of the men keeping the Russian pinned. With a hand now free, Boriss fights back by yeeting one of his handlers across the room. Rushing in to be of some assistance, Emma trips over a body and headbutts a man in the face. He goes down, but his buddies take offense. They swing, she blocks, and now the brawl continues on in force. During this entire time, Auranta finds a nearby stool and takes a seat to watch the carnage as it continues. IC God Games - B2 - Chapter 70: Respect ¡°You incompetent pieces of filth!¡± Egressa screams. The woman grips her glaive tightly while glaring at the two cowering men. ¡°You find someone that knows where my prey is, and then you let him get away.¡± ¡°We tried, but he started a bar fight.¡± One of the men pleads. ¡°And you should have fucking ended it you incompetent shits.¡± Her glare moves to the rest of the [Bounty Hunters] in the room. A good thirty of them. ¡°What about you all, have you found anything?¡± She asks the others, only to be met with silence. ¡°You¡¯re all incompetent.¡± She growls. ¡°All I ask is for you to find one fucking child, and you can¡¯t even do that properly.¡± She stares at the [Bounty Hunters] afraid of her. She sneers and returns to the two whimpering idiots. ¡°Your incompetence deserves punishment.¡± ¡°Are you going to kill them too?¡± A voice yells from the group. Egressa¡¯s head swerves towards the sound where a group of [Bounty Hunters] look away. She notices Fluffy walking about, but gives it no mind. ¡°Who the fuck said that?¡± ¡°Or are you going to poison them like you did us?¡± Another voice calls out. She tries to find the speaker, but fails. At this point, all eyes are now turning towards her. Not yet with hostility, but wariness. ¡°If you have a problem, say it to my face.¡± ¡°You¡¯d like that, wouldn¡¯t you? Just so you can kill us faster.¡± Another, different voice. Again she tries to pinpoint the speaker, but nothing. ¡°What reason would I have to kill those under me?¡± ¡°You want the reward all to yourself. You probably already know where the child is!¡± Again a new voice, this one lighting the fire in those present. Her grip tightens on her glaive, while the rest of her [Bounty Hunters] reach for their weapons. ¡°You killed them for greed?¡± ¡°Murderer!¡± ¡°No wonder you were never poisoned. You knew!¡± She watches as the guild quickly turns on her. They unsheathe their weapons and point them in her direction. ¡°You¡¯re all making a huge mistake.¡± She warns, takes a step back, and then looks around. ¡°Baetron, where the fuck are you? Talk some sense into them.¡± ¡°He¡¯s in bed, dying from your poison, you uncaring piece of shit,¡± Someone yells. She grinds her teeth and takes another step back from the mob. ¡°Stay the fuck back. If you attack me, you¡¯ll be shunned from the guild!¡± ¡°Better shunned than dead.¡± ¡°Yea, Murderer!¡± ¡°Go fuck yourself.¡± The mob inches forward, emboldened by their numbers. All manner of weapons are now pointed at the [Guild Leader], ready to take her life. All this happens while a kitten perches atop a table for a more advantageous view. You can hear the grinding of her teeth and the seething anger. ¡°Fine, if you idiots want a fight, I¡¯ll give you one.¡± Her wariness disappears alongside her defensive stance. In the blink of an eye, she rushes forward with her glaive, slicing a surprised [Bounty Hunter] from groin to neck. Without slowing, her glaive twirls and sings a tale of carnage. Two more die before she is forced to defend against the others. As classes come, [Bounty Hunters] are one of the most diverse classes available. Combat, perception, stats, and conversational skill are all possible attainments an individual can obtain. Where one [Bounty Hunter] specialized in finding people, another can specialize in combating and subduing said bounty. Some specialize not in the bounty of mortals, but in the bounty of information or objects- of which such skills become available. Egressa is a level 49 [Bounty Guisarmier] that specializes in hunting bounties using a polearm. Such a specialization leads to a very highly capable combatant. The woman dodges, blocks, and pivots away from most attacks. For those she does not, she allows her armor to take the hit, leaving only a scratch. As she is pushed back, more and more [Bounty Hunters] surround her. She starts taking small hits and scratches, but the damage continues to pile up. She is faster and stronger than those present, but not at the level of a similar leveled Buxon. Regardless, there is still a vast level difference with most [Bounty Hunters]. Very few of them are advanced classes and those that are are on the lower end. Just as she is fully surrounded, she starts spinning her weapon around her. It twirls rapidly, forcing many to take a step back. As they step back, the weapon glows for a moment, specifically the edge. Then she kneels and slashes around her. As she does, a blade of ice forms at the blade, extending the weapon''s reach by two meters. Screams of pain reverberate as ten [Bounty Hunters] lose their legs in an instant. Seeing what happened to their comrades, the rest turn tail and retreat. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Egressa glares at the cowards running away before returning her attention on those now crippled. With the determination of someone who has killed and hunted many, she systematically executes the cripples one by one with only slight trepidation. Though angry, she can¡¯t help but not blame them for their actions. They legitimately thought she was killing them. As the last [Bounty Hunter] chokes on his blood, she allows herself to take a seat. When she does, she releases a tired breath. ¡°Must be exhausting to kill your comrades.¡± Jumping to her feet, she takes a stance and points her glaive towards whoever just spoke. What she finds is fluffy sitting on a table. The cat tilts its head. ¡°No need to get up. Just take a breather. Relax a little. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re exhausted from slaughtering those you consider comrades.¡± ¡°You can talk?¡± She blurts out. The cat sighs. ¡°It¡¯s always the talking that gets people surprised. You¡¯d think they¡¯d ask about my ability to think, or that I have a class. But no, it''s always my ability to make various sounds out of my mouth.¡± Egressa¡¯s hands tighten on her glaive. ¡°Did you turn my men against me?¡± She asks. The cat chuckles. ¡°Of course not,¡± he says with an elderly man''s voice. ¡°Well, maybe,¡± He says in a young girls voice. ¡°Possibly,¡± he says in a grisly man''s voice. ¡°Absolutely,¡± he says in Baetrons voice. ¡°WHY!¡± She roars. ¡°Why do this? What benefits do you get? Did another guild hire you? Who are you working for?¡± The cat stretches on the table. ¡°Do you remember that woman you turned into a cripple three years ago?¡± ¡°Did she hire you? Is this for revenge?¡± ¡°What? No. Not unless she offered me something very valuable- which she didn¡¯t. I¡¯m doing this for completely selfish reasons.¡± ¡°I did nothing to you,¡± she states. ¡°Actually, you did. See, I generally don¡¯t have many morals. Very few actually, but the one moral I have is that children are not to be harmed. And you, my former petter, are actively hunting a child I¡¯m extremely fond of.¡± ¡°You work for the crown!¡± she chokes in realization. ¡°You¡¯re one of her [Royal Guards], aren''t you. Nobody would protect her otherwise.¡± ¡°That''s quite a bold claim,¡± The cat says. Her eyes flutter for a moment. ¡°A [Captain]? No, you¡¯re keeping your status hidden.¡± ¡°Is that really the last thought you want to have before your death? I don¡¯t mind, but there are better options. Just saying.¡± She swallows saliva. ¡°Look,¡± she glances at the nearest exit. ¡°I¡¯m willing to forget everything that happened and abandon this hunt if you allow me to live. I¡¯ll keep my mouth shut and I won¡¯t say a word.¡± The cat sighs. ¡°My dearest Engressa. I believe I told you that I have morals. These morals dictate that any who are willing to kill children are to be punished by death. No exceptions.¡± The cat hops off the table and starts walking to her. ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be like this.¡± ¡°It doesn''t.¡± The cat grins. ¡°But I need to level.¡± _________________________________________________________________ One moment she¡¯s pleading for her life, and the next her body is blitzing across the room with the full intention of making a fluffy kitty skewer. I release my transformation a moment before her glaive makes contact. My gauntlet screeches as I parry her weapon away and prepare to capitalize on the opening- only for the woman to use the momentum of my parry to lance me with the butt of her glaive. My other hand is forced to block, allowing the women to coolly step back. She quickly takes a stance with a weapon again pointed at me. Her gaze focuses on me with the concentration of an experienced combatant. Then she grimaces when she notices the horns, spiked tail, and numerous eyes. ¡°A Fenrimorph?¡± She asks. ¡°No, an illusion to drop my guard,¡± She says cooly. I grin at the woman, revealing my sharp teeth. Then I take a stance. She does the same. The moment I rush at her, she starts spinning her glaive. I punch aside the weapon, but the woman used the momentum to attack. I intercept with another punch, only for her to do the same thing. For the next minute, glaives and gauntlets meet in a flurry of blows. I block, punch and riposte while the woman dances with the spinning weapon at a speed similar to the Buxon I fought. She is skilled, maneuverable, and has the range advantage. Thankfully, she lacks the physical strength and skill to give me a hard time. After seeing her movement and feeling her rhythm, I move to break the stalemate. I throw a punch to deflect the glaive, but instead of deflecting it away, I deflect it towards my other fist with the opposite level of force. The blade''s momentum nearly halts and the woman''s eyes widen in surprise. With the opening made, I move into her reach and throw a punch. Then I see it, a trickle of a smile. The glaive head glows for a moment. A scythe of ice forms from the weapon behind me. My fist makes contact with her chest- shattering her armor, flesh, and bones before sending the woman flying. With her hand still gripping the glaive, she pulls the scythe with her. I feel the sharp ice touch the back of my neck. Then it passes through smoke as my form changes into a cat. Her momentum continues until her body craters into the stone walls of the building. The glaive falls to the ground and the formed ice turns to water. A moment later, the woman''s body slides down the crater and on the floor. To my surprise, the woman is still alive on account of her coughing up blood. I walk up to her in my cat form. ¡°Damn woman, that was close. I didn¡¯t know you could make different ice blades with the glaive. I thought it only extended the range.¡± The coughs up more blood and even gives me a glare. ¡°G-g-g-o to shit,¡± she forces out with a gurgle of blood. ¡°Really? Are insults really that necessary? Couldn¡¯t you leave it on a nicer note? Maybe say something like That was a good fight or You¡¯re really skilled. I¡¯d even accept the words adorable and fluffy.¡± She opens her mouth to say something, but that only results in more and more coughing. ¡°Come on. I¡¯m listening and waiting. Just say either of those two words.¡± Realizing that her lungs are now full of blood, she lifts a hand with a single finger pointing up. Then her eyes close and head falls. Quasi stares at the still extended finger. Then nods. ¡°Aight, that was pretty badass. You¡¯ve got my respect.¡± IC God Games - B2 - Chapter 71: The hunt Continues ¡°So, the big man here gets into a wee tussle, starts a bar fight, almost loses-¡± ¡°I vas giving Russian handicap. I only break bones, not life.¡± Boriss adds. ¡°-only to get his butt saved by you two?¡± Cillian continues. Irmgard and Emma nod. Both women look like they gave as much as they took, though Emma barely seems injured. The woman''s skin makes for great natural armor against fists. ¡°And the only reason the fighting stopped is because some idiot pulled out a machete and crow-mask blasted him into a wall before he could even use it.¡± ¡°Using bladed weapons during a Bar fight is socially forbidden,¡± Auranta adds. ¡°Cowardly.¡± Irmgard nods. ¡°Like moose and vodka.¡± All eyes glance at the Russian. He returns their gaze, confused. ¡°Vhat? Is true, yes? You give vodka to moose, and moose try to kill everything, even Russian mother.¡± He licks his lips. ¡°Moose stew is good.¡± Cillian snorts. He grabs his bottle and chugs the entirety of its contents. ¡°Good thing I''m a happy drunk!¡± ¡°Why¡¯d you even get into a fight?¡± Adriana and Myers ask at the exact same time. The two glance at each other, even share a smile. ¡°They hunt Myers and Clay. Barkeep say they are [Bounty Hunters],¡± He explains. ¡°Damn.¡± Myers glances at Clay. The child worryingly looks up at the old man. ¡°They know you are here,¡± Adriana exclaims. ¡°Was there a leak? A skill?¡± ¡°There shouldn¡¯t be.¡± Myers glances at everyone worryingly, taking a longer glance at Nepenthes- the newest member of the group. ¡°Is this a conversation I should be a part of?¡± Auranta asks. ¡°I can leave and return later if that is alright.¡± Myers nods. ¡°That would be bes-,¡± the sound of a door squeaking open resounds through the ship, followed by the floorboard squeaking due to a heavy weight. All turn towards the sound and watch as a Fenrimorph holding a glaive emerges. ¡°Fenrimorph!¡± Auranta warns. Her arms spread wide, causing the wind to pick up and rapidly swirl around her fingers, palm, and forearm. She extends her hand towards the monster, only to freeze as Nepenthes bladed claws wrap around her neck. ¡°If you harm the Matriarch, your death will be swift and your body will be consumed until nothing is left.¡± ¡°Auranta, lower your arms. That¡¯s the [Captain]. He has the ability to transform.¡± Irmgard explains. Hearing the explanation, Auranta reabsorbs her mana and lowers her arms. Only then does Nepenthes retract her claws. Once the hostility is ended, the monster trudges to the table where everyone is seated. Lays the Glaive on the table, and then transforms into a kitten. ¡°Damn, sneaking in that form sucks. This city is far too damn lit and the ceilings of the buildings are weak. I think I left a good seven holes in various roofs. Also, the [Guards] we hired are kinda shit. They didn¡¯t see the glaive I threw on the ship nor me entering as a bird. You¡¯d think they¡¯d have some skill to notice intruders.¡± ¡°Why would their skills activate if the [Captain] of the ship they are protecting returns to his ship?¡± Auranata asks. The cat glances at the woman with a sparrow mask. ¡°That''s a very good point. Also, who are you and why are you here?¡± ¡°This is Auranta. She wishes to travel to the towers.¡± Irmgard explains. Quasi tilts his head up and down, examining the woman. ¡°Right. What¡¯s your class, what job can you do, and why do you want to go to the towers?¡± Auranta nods. ¡°I am a level 37 [Air Mage] and I have levels as a [Ship Mage Captain], [First Mate], [Squadron Captain], and [Scribe]. I am tasked with researching the towers from a greater authority than myself. I cannot reveal more than that.¡± Quasi nods. ¡°That¡¯s very succinct. You seem to not be bothered by my previous form.¡± ¡°Skills that transform are extremely rare and uncommon, but they exist and are very well documented. Though, the ability to transform into a Fenrimoph is unheard of.¡± She tilts her head. ¡°As is the form of a talking cat.¡± Quasi grins. ¡°I¡¯m special like that. Also, you can join the crew.¡± He turns to the old man. ¡°Myers, I dont have the [Ship Mage Captain] job- or even [Ship Mage] job. Why?¡± The old man releases a breath. ¡°Your level is too low to support a [Ship Mage]. We can construct a room into quarters for a [Ship Mage Captain] job. Though I doubt we have the time for it.¡± Quasi frowns. ¡°What? Why?¡± Myers grimaces. ¡°[Bounty Hunters] know Clay is here and are actively hunting him.¡± ¡°Yea, I know.¡± Quasi taps the Glaive. ¡°I went and killed their leader.¡± ¡°You killed her?¡± Adriana asks. ¡°How? She isn¡¯t someone to be easily defeated.¡± ¡°Honestly, she was much easier than a buxon I fought- though I did almost lose my head. Anyway, she¡¯s dead and I got her glaive as a prize. What do you think Emma, pretty good right?¡± The Gemma is already leaning over the table and tracing a finger down the weapons shaft. She pauses a third of the way to the head. ¡°The runes here were severed alongside the metal.¡± She frowns. ¡°Someone soldered and re-runed the shaft.¡± Myers brushes his hand softly on the cane at his side. ¡°Will that be a problem?¡± ¡°No. The [Runesmith] did a fine job on the repair.¡± ¡°Then that¡¯s good enough for me,¡± Quasi says happily. ¡°We¡¯ll sell the weapon in another city where nobody knows the now deceased owner.¡± He shifts to Cillian. ¡°Speaking of selling, how''s the selling of the chests coming?¡± ¡°dey wills be placed ona auction in a week. We shoulda get da coin shortly afta,¡± Cillian slurs. The man is grinning and swaying while holding an empty bottle in his hand. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°We don¡¯t have a week. Clay is still being hunted.¡± Myers explains. Quasi waves a paw. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Egressa was making sure that only her guild knew that Clay and Myers were here. Now that she''s dead, the threat is taken care of.¡± The old man perks up. ¡°You killed her and all her members, right?¡± Quasi blinks at the old man for a moment. He Licks his lips and looks at everyone present. ¡°Fuck me!¡± Myers groans. ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡®ll take a while before information spreads.¡± Quasi quickly assesses his crew. ¡°Irgmard, restock the ship so that we can depart tomorrow.¡± The woman salutes. ¡°Cillian, see what you can do about our chests. Otherwise, we¡¯ll abandon the profits.¡± The Scot burps in drunken acknowledgement. ¡°Nepenthes, fix Adriana¡¯s spine before we leave. Adriana, I-¡± ¡°-I¡¯ll rush the delivery,¡± Adriana interrupts. ¡°Good. Clay and Myers will stay with the ship.¡± Quasi glances at the even newer member of the team. ¡°I¡¯m going to need you to stay here until we depart. If you wish to grab anything, Boriss can pick up whatever you need.¡± ¡°You do not trust me,¡± Auranta says. ¡°You¡¯re new and a child''s life is on the line. I can¡¯t risk having you reveal anything. If you change your mind about joining my crew, you can leave when we depart.¡± The woman glances at those present for a moment before returning her gaze on Quasi. ¡°Before I decide, why are you visiting the tower?¡± The cat grins. ¡°Let''s just say that me and the towers have a unique interaction.¡± Auranta stares at the cat for a long moment before nodding. She reaches into her cloak and produces a key. ¡°I have many items of worth to retrieve from an Inn that I do not wish to depart from.¡± ¡°Talk to Boriss.¡± Quasi raises a paw to the Russian. ¡°He¡¯ll get it done.¡± ___________________________________________________________ [Guild Governor] Benedict Wickes sits at his desk with a stack of papers. A relatively large stack that details the day to day operations of Memphis. He is a very wealthy but also a very busy man. Running a city is not an easy job and is only possible on account of his expert class and job. Reading reports, shifting resources, adding or changing laws, making trade deals, and so much more keep the man very busy. Thus, when the doors to his office burst open, anger and relief war within the man. Anger for the distraction that will delay his duties, but also relief from having to deal with the mundanity of his job. Rushing into his office is [Guard Major] Travis Llord, another expert and probably the only person who has any right to rush into his office so aggressively. Anyone else, and Benedict would have them punished regardless of the news. ¡°[Governor], we¡¯ve got a mass killing,¡± Travis exclaims alarmingly. Benedict sighs. ¡°What is it this time? A gang war? Pirates? I dearly hope it¡¯s not a bunch of revolting slaves again. That was far too much paperwork for my liking.¡± ¡°[Bounty Hunter] Engressa Dleron has been killed alongside half her guild.¡± Benedict''s annoyance shifts to surprise. ¡°Egressa? As in the [Guild Leader] of the sharks guild?¡± Travis nods affirmatively. ¡°That¡¯s not good. She¡¯s level forty nine- has been for the last three years since she¡¯s been hunting in my city. Do we know the killers?¡± ¡°The [Guards] on the ground are giving conflicting reports about what happened and injuries. The [Guard Captains] on site believed there was only a single enemy. The corpses are being moved to the morgue as we speak. I will go down to check the bodies and evaluate what''s happened.¡± The [Guild Governor] squeezes the bridge of his nose. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you¡¯re going to need me to lock down the city.¡± ¡°That would be best.¡± Benedict releases a breath. Then he gets up. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you to the morgue, then I¡¯ll decide whether to lock-down the city or not.¡± ¡°They may escape-¡± ¡°-Then we send [Bounty Hunters] after them,¡± Benedict interrupts. ¡°The last time I locked down the city, the [Guild President] himself threatened my job because of the loss in profits. I¡¯m not about to risk my job unless the risk is worth it.¡± ¡°Then we rush,¡± Travis orders. The two experts run through hallways, down stairs, and eventually arrive at the morgue where the bodies are being brought in. ¡°[Mortician]¡± Travis rushes in first. ¡°We¡¯re here to see the body of Egressa and her members.¡± The [Mortician] is an elderly looking man that is younger than both of the experts in the room. The old man turns. ¡°They¡¯ve just arrived.¡± He leads the two deeper into the cold-runed morgue until they arrive at a dozen tables with bodies on them. The [Mortician] extends a hand to one of the larger, muscular specimens. ¡°I believe this is her.¡± The two walk up to the body. Benedict grimaces at the sight. ¡°Damn, that¡¯s her. I¡¯m going to have to start hiring the other [Bounty Hunter] guilds going forward. That¡¯s going to get expensive.¡± Travis ignores the [Governors] annoyance. The man shouldn¡¯t have favored solely the shark guild for city contracts- regardless of how cheap and effective Egressa was. His hand brushes across the woman''s chest, feeling the shattered armor. Applying a bit of pressure, he finds that her chest gives out easily. ¡°Odd. She has non-lethal cuts across the rest of her body, but what killed her was a singular impact on the chest. I¡¯d wager something like a Maul could do such a thing.¡± Travis turns to the Mortician. ¡°You have the [Final Sight] ability, correct? Have you used it yet?¡± ¡°I have not,¡± the man replies. Travis takes a step back. ¡°Then do so and tell me what you see.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± The [Mortician] places his hand on the woman''s head, specifically with each finger touching her eyes. He closes his own as he sees the final thing the woman saw. ¡°This woman lies dying and unmoving with a glaive at her knees. Her hand is raised with a single middle finger extended upwards. Across from her, there is a kitten.¡± ¡°A kitten?¡± Benedict asks. ¡°A very fluffy one, yes.¡± ¡°The killers probably went out of view prior to her death.¡± Travis explains. ¡°Smart and experienced. Though gouging out her eyes would have had the same effect.¡± The [Guard Major] crosses his arms. ¡°Something doesn¡¯t add up. I feel like I¡¯m missing something.¡± Benedict sighs. ¡°Well, until you figure that out, I¡¯m not going to shut the ports down until I know exactly what we¡¯re dealing with.¡± Travis frowns. ¡°I don¡¯t like it, but fine. Just be ready to move quickly if new information comes forth. Half a guild branch dying in a single night isn¡¯t something that can stay hidden for long.¡± The [Governor] perks up. ¡°Half? Not all are dead?¡± ¡°No, and my men are currently hunting the survivors down for interrogation. I¡¯ll get to the bottom of this soon.¡± He stares at the destroyed chest cavity once more. ¡°I just hope the killers don''t leave the city until then.¡± ______________________________________________________________ Sitting on her wheelchair, Adriana watches the Timbergrove departs. The ship, though frigate in class, is a frankenstein of beauty. Cannons built for destroyers, a siege weapon to attack castles, and enough armor to withstand a barrage from a cruiser. Not to mention the rather colorful assortment of crew. ¡°You¡¯re smiling, mom,¡± Her daughter says from behind her. She chuckles. ¡°I¡¯m just thinking how much fun Myers is having aboard that ship. I¡¯m a bit jealous.¡± ¡°Did you want to join him?¡± Adriana sighs. Her thoughts return back to what Alistair said in the tunnel. Words that even now resonate so well within her heart. ¡°I would have- but I¡¯d just be a burden until I get the strength to move my legs.¡± Adriana flexes her muscle atrophied foot slightly. ¡°Also, I can¡¯t very well abandon my daughter to travel with my former commander. Who¡¯se going to run the tavern, then?¡± ¡°What do you mean who?¡± Mentara growl. ¡°I can run the tavern fine without your help. I¡¯ve got the levels and I don¡¯t need to rely on your information brokering to pay the bills. As for your legs, didn¡¯t the [Head Physician] say you¡¯ll have a full recovery so long as you exercise your legs?¡± ¡°Yes, but-.¡± ¡°Then exercise, become mobile, then go hunt the man down. I¡¯m sure you know where to look.¡± Adriana looks back at her daughter. ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t like Myers.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t, but I¡¯ve never seen you smile more happily than when you talk about him. Plus, he¡¯s made amends and I can¡¯t fault his reasoning three years ago.¡± The mother returns her gaze back to the departing ship for a long moment. Then she sighs. ¡°Mentara, let''s go home. Seems I¡¯ve got a lot of exercise to get to.¡± IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 72: On the subject of Specialization ¡°Green! You floating ball of an eyeball. It¡¯s so nice to see you. Have you come to shower me with numerous levels for my amazing ability to slaughter a big muscular woman?¡± Green blinks once, unfazed by the words spewing from the mortal''s mouth. Quasi sighs. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose I can get a more advanced administrator? Something with a bit more personality? I¡¯m just saying, I could really get used to being praised.¡± The floating administrator blinks again, completely and utterly unhurried to fulfill its duty. ¡°I guess not. Alright Green, how many levels have I gained?¡± ¡°You have gained a single level. You have one attribute available.¡± ¡°One level? Really? I think two levels would be far more reasonable.¡± The ball of glorious floating eyeballness floats un-menacingly in complete silence. Even the occasional blinks make no noise. ¡°Fine. Just throw the attribute point into strength and then get me Red.¡± ¡°Acknowledged¡± Green disappears and is quickly replaced by the eyeball in charge of system recognized jobs. Red blinks and floats in the exact same way that green does. ¡°Did I get any levels in [Captain]?¡± ¡°Negative.¡± Red answers. ¡°Yea, figured as much since I had to call you over. Anyway, show me my crew page.¡±
Job: [Ship Captain] Level: Level 17 Job Skills: 2 Ship Size: Frigate Primary Jobs Available: 8 Support Jobs Available:5 Maximum Job Capacity: 22
Primary Jobs [First Mate] level 11: Irmgard Von Braun level 13 [Sword Officer] [Quartermaster] level 14: Cillian Wallace level 19 [Merchant] [Security Chief] level 10: Boriss Smirnov level 18 [Skirmisher] [Chief Carpenter] level 7: Emma level 29 [Rune Smith] [Head Chef]: N/A [Chief Physician] level 7: Nepenthes level 16 [Druid] [Artillery Chief]: N/A [Navigator]: N/A
Support Jobs [Boatswain] level 1: Auranta level 37 [Air Mage] [Gunner]: [Cook]: [Carpenter]: [Rigger]: [Physician Assistant]:
Lets see, everyone but me is leveling in their job. I guess delegating isn¡¯t going to give me levels. Damn, Nepenthes got seven levels already. Seems like reconnecting spinal neurons is something to get a burst of levels over. As for Auranta, it¡¯s good to know that she isn¡¯t hiding her level or class. All that¡¯s left is to make sure that she¡¯s not actually a champion. ¡°Aight, everything looks good. That''s all I need to know. Send me back.¡± ¡°Acknowledged.¡± ________________________________________________________________ Like a dream, the white room is replaced by my [Captains] cabin and my body is replaced to that of a kitten. ¡°All is good with the world.¡± I hop off the bookcase and walk outside my room. The moment I stop, my head pivots to a moving bright light at the end of the hallway. Following it, I halt right outside Irmgards room. What I find is Irmgard and Auranta sitting on a bed with an open book between them. Auranta¡¯s hand is extended palm up. Right above her palm is a floating ball of fire. Irmgard has her hand doing the same, though lacking in the actual ball and flame. ¡°You two seem to be bonding pretty well?¡± I walk inside and startle the two women. ¡°[Captain].¡± Irgmard nods in greeting. ¡°Auranta is trying to teach me to utilize magic.¡± Auranta closes her palm and the ball of flame disappears. ¡°Apologies if this is not allowed.¡± I hop onto the bed. ¡°It¡¯s only not allowed if you don¡¯t teach me too. I want to see if I can use magic.¡± Auranta tilts her mask to the side. ¡°I was under the impression that [Druids] are already experienced in the magic arts.¡± Right. People keep thinking I¡¯m a [Druid]. ¡°Ever heard of the [Shifter] class?¡± I ask. Auranta quickly leans forward in interest. ¡°Only in writing.¡± ¡°And what does the writing say about the class?¡± ¡°It says that [Shifters] obtain the ability to transform immediately upon obtaining the class. It also states that the transformations differ from [Druids].¡± ¡°How so?¡± This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. She takes a moment to stare at me through the tinted glass eye-holes of her mask. ¡°Where [Druids] cast spells to shift their forms, a [Shifter] replaces their body with another. The transformation also does not restrict the ability to regenerate mana, so a [Shifter] can stay transformed indefinitely.¡± She waves her hand towards me. ¡°That¡¯s why you are constantly in that form. It costs you less to stay in that form than the speed of your regeneration.¡± Yea, that checks out. ¡°Did that writing explain how [Shifters] obtain new forms?¡± ¡°It mentions the acclamation of willing souls.¡± Willing souls? So what I kill has to be willing to become a transformation? ¡°Care to expand on that?¡± She shakes her head. ¡°The book doesn¡¯t go into further details on that. I imagine it is similar to [Druids], where the beast is raised, cared for, and on its death the [Druid] obtains the ability to transform into the animal.¡± Well, shit. That sucks. I don¡¯t think I have the time to find a powerful beast, care for it, and then wait for it to die. ¡°Good to know.¡± I sigh. ¡°So, yes, I¡¯m a [Shifter] and I transform not by spell but by skill. I have no training or understanding of magic, but I want to take a crack at it. So, teach me like you¡¯d teach a complete beginner.¡± ¡°A beginner? Are you able to sense and shift your internal mana?¡± ¡°I can, yea.¡± ¡°Then you are not a beginner. Magic and spells are all based on one''s ability to manipulate mana in desirable forms. Those forms are dictated by the formation of runes, the number of them, and the specializations that you are capable of wielding.¡± Auranta grabs the open book on the bed, turns to a page, and then pushes the book to me. Looking down, I¡¯m met with five circular symbols. ¡°What type of magic a mage is capable of depends on which and how many of these specializations they have mastered. The specializations are Materialization, Destruction, Alteration, Transfiguration, and Mutation.¡± She flips to the next page where the first symbol is shown in greater detail. The symbol depicts a flowing gas. ¡°Materialization is the ability to manipulate mana outside your body. It is considered the most basic specialization and a requirement to even be offered the [Mage] class.¡± She flips to the next page where the second symbol is located. This symbol depicts a ball of fire. Auranta extends her hand with palm up. Immediately, a ball of fire comes into existence. ¡°Destruction is the ability to change the very nature of your mana into a different form. This is done by manipulating your mana into a specific runic formation. Currently, the runic formation I have produced is called Fehu- meaning fire. This ball of flame is a combination of Destruction and Materialization specialization.¡± With her other hand she flips to the next page, depicting a symbol of what looks to be random objects. ¡°Alteration is the ability to shift the qualities of objects, even created ones.¡± She lowers her arm and thus the ball itself. As I stare at it, the fire shifts and morphs into a compressed javelin of fire. She flicks the book to the next page. The symbol now is that of dozens of random directional arrows. ¡°Transfiguration is the ability to add a force to an object. That force can be applied to anything, including a spell.¡± The javelin of fire starts to move on its own. It twists, spins, and drifts around the room. Then it stops. She closes her palm and the magic disappears. She turns the page. ¡°The last specialization is Mutation. It is the rarest and most difficult- one that I¡¯m not skilled enough to even attempt without appropriate skills. Mutation is the ability to change the structure of the physical world. It is the realm of [Healers] and to an extent, [Druids].¡± She flicks back pages until all five specializations are present. ¡°The specializations are the very basics of utilizing your mana. You do not need to know them all, but if you wish to even be offered the [Mage] class, then you must learn to use one adequately.¡± I nod slowly as I stare at the five circles on the book. ¡°You¡¯ve done this before.¡± ¡°Done what?¡± She asks. ¡°Explaining magic. You sound like a professor.¡± Her hands move and rest on the open book. ¡°I was a [Professor] at Plidsonia Academy. Teaching aspiring [Mages] is something I have years of experience with.¡± I perk up in interest. ¡°Why did you stop?¡± I ask. ¡°My¡­ mother required my assistance as a [Ship Mage]. My studies took a pause until my assistance was no longer acquired. I eventually returned to the academy, only for my assistance to be called up once again.¡± I lean back to allow my tail to wrap around my legs. ¡°Right. That¡¯s vague as shit, but I won''t pry. Back to the subject at hand. How would I know if I¡¯m capable of magic?¡± ¡°All are capable of magic, even Buxon to the most limiting sense. But, not all species are capable of learning all specializations. For example, Buxon and Gemma are not able to use Materialization. Their bodies cannot naturally release mana, so they can never manipulate the external world. This limits them to only learning the other specialization. Unfortunately, that poses detrimental danger to the individual''s well-being.¡± ¡°Mistakes are lethal.¡± Irmgard answers. Auranat nods. ¡°Correct. An externally malfunctioning rune exploding a meter away may scar you, but an internal one can lead to a loss of a limb.¡± ¡°Or worse,¡± I add my two cents. ¡°So, I just need to first move my mana externally, right? If I can do that, then I can fling spells.¡± ¡°Correct.¡± ¡°Alright, give me a moment.¡± I close my eyes and feel the mana coursing through my body? Odd, it feels disconnected somehow, but also there. Willing the mana to move, I feel it course through my body with ease. Only when I try to force it to leave do I notice that there is nowhere to leave to, like my mana is completely enclosed. ¡°Huh. Odd. Let me try something else.¡± I hop off the bed and cancel my transformation. I am back into my Fenrimorph form and all that the form entails. Irmgard stares at me with her usual resting bitchface, while Auranata shows just as little reaction now. Honestly, she seems human, but in an uncanny valley kind of way. Looking away, I quickly focus on my mana. This time, the mana doesn¡¯t feel disconnected, though it does feel different- as though it is constantly raging and shifting. The reason becomes immediately clear as the mana is being suctioned into my gauntlets. As the mana is lost, my body recovers it. This new mana causes a constant shift of my internal flow- never allowing the energy to calm. With a stretch of my will, the raging mana comes under my control. I even halt the flow into the gauntlets- terminating the runes for the moment. Then, I attempt to force the mana outside my body¡­ and again. It refuses. After several more attempts, I¡¯m forced to give up. With a thought, my form returns to that of a kitten. ¡°Damn, I can¡¯t do Materialization.¡± ¡°Are you sure you attempted it correctly?¡± Irmgard asks. ¡°He did,¡± Auranta interrupts. ¡°Astoundingly so. I¡¯d argue he is even more gifted than me at the manipulation of mana. His ability to grab hold of his entire reserve is astounding.¡± When I look at Auranta, I find the woman''s eyes are aglow. ¡°You can see mana,¡± I say. The glow immediately stops. ¡°To an extent. But, I agree with you, your two forms are not capable of Materialization. Do you have other forms you wish to try?¡± Now you¡¯re just prying. ¡°I¡¯ll try my other forms later. In the meantime, I think you were teaching Irmgard something?¡± ¡°Materialization.¡± Auranta flips to a page much later on in the book where an image of a three dimensional runic image is superimposed next to a ball of flame. ¡°This is the rune for Fehu. It is one of the simplest Runes known and is ideal for training.¡± She extends her palm upward. A ball of fire forms directly above it. ¡°Irmgards job is to surround the rune with her mana via Materialization. This training improves Materialization and teaches one how to create the rune at the same time.¡± I stare at the rune in the book for a long moment, memorizing it to perfection. ¡°How would one learn destruction without Materialization?¡± I ask. ¡°By creating the rune within one''s body. Of course, the runes effect would be active in one''s body- which can be detrimental to health depending on the rune.¡± I pout. ¡°Something like Fehu would be a detriment, correct?¡± ¡°For training? Yes. But, I heard [Monks] can form Fehu close enough to their skin that the spell effect activates outside the body.¡± My spine straightens in interest. ¡°Why would they do that?¡± I ask. ¡°[Monks] are known to release explosive spells on physical contact with any object. Think of a fist that bursts into flames on contact with fles- are you alright?¡± I halt halfway out of the room. ¡°Huh? Yea¡­ I just remembered I have something to do. By!¡± I rush out with an eager grin on my face. IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 73: Playing with Fire Illuminated by lantern light, Myers sits alone in the Mess Hall of the Timbergrove. In front of him rests a map of the surrounding area and half a bottle of wine. Both items are ones to help him relieve his nerves. The wine to numb the stress and the map to give him an illusion of control. Over the years of service at his former command, maps were a constant companion in his daily life. They allowed him to plan, organize, and manipulate the battlefield before the battle even began. Even with these two items, his nerves are still on edge. Yes, he escaped Memphis with Clay¡¯s life intact, but he also lost the greatest strength at the same time: Anonymity. Three years of hiding should have made every [Bounty Hunter] give up the hunt. Three damn years should have been enough. Now his presence will be disseminated to every single Bounty Hunter guild and the hunts will start again! The wooden mug cracks under his grip. Wine spills out of the crack and drips onto the map. Cursing, he quickly gets up, grabs a rag, and wipes his mess clean. Once finished, he sits down and stares at the stain in the corner of the map. Once upon a time, if a subordinate spilled something on a map, he¡¯d have the man publicly whipped and punished. The man¡¯s pay would be permanently withheld until such time that ten times the cost of the map is covered. Now he¡¯d done exactly the thing he loathes most. ¡°Yee look like ya drinkin to stress. Thas rarely warks for most.¡± His head twirls to find Cillian with a bottle in hand and a grin on his face. The short man¡¯s face is red, as red as usual when he¡¯s drunk. But, what really gets Myers attention is his eyes. Though Cillian is very drunk, even leaning a little to the side, he can''t help but feel like his mind is sharper than usual. ¡°I need to relax.¡± Cillian snorts. He wobbles to the table and leans on it. ¡°Yur nat tha type ta relax like dis.¡± He grabs the bottle on the table and takes a smell. ¡°Drinkin makes ya emotion stronga. Ita makes yah feel mor and think l-less.¡± He lifts the bottle and takes a chug. ¡°Unlike me.¡± He burps. Myers frowns at the words of a drunk. Normally, he¡¯d never give the man''s words any thought, but Cillian has made impeccable deals while intoxicated. Even his former [Quartermaster] with double the level of Cillian would struggle to make the same profitable deal. Leaning back in his chair, he takes Cillians words to heart. Yes, things are going to be much more dangerous now that the [Bounty Hunters] know Clay was at Memphis. But, they still lack information on their looks, new names, and only the highest level [Bounty Hunters] would have any hope of even tracking them if all they use are items from three years old. ¡°Heh, yur relaxin.¡± Cillian chuckle. Myers nods. He does feel a bit lighter now. Still worried and stressed, but more manageable. He¡¯d been too focused too much on the worst possible situation. On top of that, he isn¡¯t going to be running forever. There is a way out for both him and Clay, he just needs to speak to Quasi about it. Speaking of which¡­ ¡°Have you seen my grandson?¡± Cillian nods. He points down. ¡°Kids wit tha cap¡¯tain. Dey playin wit fire and makin explosions.¡± And like that, his stress returns in full force. ¡°Thank you.¡± He gets up and rushes down to the hold. As he rushes off, Cillian salutes him with the bottle and then chugs the rest of the contents. __________________________________________________________ As Myers nears the hold, he¡¯s met with the smell of burning flesh, flashes of light, and the sound of popping. When he enters, he is also met with the stench of blood. Quasi is in the center of the room and is sitting on the stool as a Fenrimorph without his Gauntlets. Below quasi is a puddle of dark grayish-blue blood with bits of flesh and fur. As for Quasi, the man is smothered in burns, missing skin, and fur. Near him is Boriss with a thick singed blanket while Clay and Nepenthes watch from a distance. Before he can ask what''s happening, a part of Quasi¡¯s arm bursts into flame. Boriss prepares to smother it with the blanket, but the flame quickly dies down, leaving the fur only slightly singed. Speechless, he watches the same thing happen several more times. At some point, the fire is explosive and bright enough to rip flesh from the body. Only then does Boriss smother the flame. At such a sight, Myers gets a feeling of woozy. When he looks at Clay, the child is relaxed and curious. Seemingly unbothered by the gruesome display. Eventually, Quasi raises an arm and beckons Nepenthes and Clay. Both Phytonid and human rush to Quasi. It is here that he notices a box in Clay¡¯s hand. Quasi reaches inside and starts grabbing and consuming dried meat. At the same time, Nepenthes starts cutting away any burnt flesh on Quasi. It is here that Myers makes his presence known by walking up. ¡°I¡¯ve seen a lot of disturbing scenes in my life, but I think this might be the worst yet. I¡¯m guessing you¡¯re trying to learn magic?¡± He asks. Quasi growls in affirmative. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s safe?¡± Quasi elbows Nepenthes to speak. The Phytonid twists her head towards Myers without halting her surgery. ¡°The Matriarch''s body coagulates blood within moments of exposure to air- making the chance of bleeding out unlikely. The body is also incredibly resistant to both bacterial and viral pathogens. Combined with the most exceptional regenerative property I have ever seen, the Matriarch is completely safe from such artificial damage.¡± Nepenthes explains. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Myers blinks, still woozy as Nepenthes slices burnt flesh off of Quasi. ¡°I¡­ see. Why are you peeling him?¡± ¡°Though his regeneration is exceptional, we have found that it struggles to regenerate flesh that is burned. Thus, my job is to remove such flesh so as to continue rapid regeneration.¡± Myers ignores the queasiness of his stomach and patiently waits for Nepenthes to finish. When she does, Quasi doesn¡¯t even wait to heal before transforming into a cat. ¡°Holy crap it smells like meat!¡± ¡°Like roast wolf!¡± Boriss adds. Quasi frowns at the Grinning Russian before returning his attention to Myers. ¡°Right. You look like you need to talk.¡± ¡°I do, though I can wait if you¡¯re busy.¡± Quasi waves a paw. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I need to take a break anyway. Hours of blasting my own skin takes a bit of a mental toll on account of the pain.¡± Myers takes another gander at the pubble of flesh and blood. ¡°There was a lot more earlier.¡± Quasi quickly adds. ¡°Much larger chunks too before Nepenthes ate it.¡± ¡°You have improved faster than any of my tree siblings,¡± Nepenthes compliments. Myers raises an eyebrow. Quasi stretches. ¡°Yea, apparently Nepenthes¡¯ clan is all about body modification. Natural Mutation magic or some shit. Anyway, they grow and destroy their flesh constantly until they can fully modify their form. Not that I¡¯m modifying anything. I¡¯m just trying to blast fire when I punch.¡± Myers scratches his beard. ¡°Like [Monks].¡± Quasi nods slowly. ¡°Kinda, though I¡¯m not sure if they do it differently than how I¡¯m trying. So far, I can do something like this.¡± Quasi¡¯s tail moves in front of him and points upwards. Then the tip bursts into flame. He wiggles the burning tail back and forth like one does with a torch.. ¡°I can safely set myself on fire. Now, if I want to use this in combat, I¡¯m going to have to put in quite a bit more power.¡± ¡°Or learn other runes,¡± Clay says with a giggle. Quasi sigh. ¡°Right. I probably should have asked Auranta about learning¡­ safer runes.¡± Myers stares at Quasi for a long moment. Initially, he¡¯d thought that Quasi was specifically training some fire technique. Now though¡­ ¡°Look, I got excited, asked for help, and only after blowing my arms off several times did the thought occur to ask for a safer rune.¡± Quasi sighs. ¡°Let''s just change the subject. What did you want to talk to me about?¡± Myers takes a breath and steels his resolve. ¡°Mine and Clay¡¯s presence is a danger to you and everyone aboard this ship. This I know well and I am immensely thankful for your effort in keeping us safe.¡± The cat rolls its eyes. ¡°Yes, yes, compliment, thank you, thank you, more compliments, apology, blah, blah, blah. Just skip to the part where you¡¯re going to request something from me.¡± The old man pinches the bridge of his nose while suppressing the upward twitch of his lips. ¡°Comrade Quasi is right. Vhe are all family now. Family must never be afraid to ask for goat milk when cow is sick.¡± Boriss articulates with a friendly grin. ¡°Right.¡± Myers glances at Clay. The child is waiting patiently, but also mirrors Boriss¡¯s grin. ¡°As much as I¡¯d like to explain mine and Clay¡¯s full situation, the dang-¡± ¡°Just ask the damn request.¡± Quasi growls. ¡°I¡¯m not forcing you to tell me your secrets or why you and the kid are being hunted. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll tell me in time.¡± Clay giggles at Myers now annoyed look. He¡¯s trying to be diplomatic, but Quasi makes this very difficult. ¡°I¡¯d like for you to hurry to the island of Magnus. I have allies there that have the capability to protect mine and Clay¡¯s life indefinitely.¡± ¡°Magnus? That''s the island with the Republic of Guilds, right?¡± Myers nods. ¡°Yes. We will be out of your hair and I will speak to them about offering you a suitable reward.¡± Quasi tilts his head. ¡°I like you and I really like the kid, but just as you are rushing, so am I. I need to visit all the towers as soon as possible. Taking a detour to Magnus isn¡¯t something I can do without good reason.¡± ¡°Magnus has a tower on the island,¡± Myers explains. ¡°There are several more towers near all of the major powers too.¡± ¡°All the towers.¡± Quasi repeats. ¡°I need to visit all of them as efficiently and as fast as possible. That involves visiting every nearby tower on my way to Magnus. If you want me to get there as soon as possible, then you better make an efficient route for me.¡± Myers grimaces now, but he also figured that would be the answer. Not that it¡¯s a bad thing, either. The closer you get to the major powers, the higher the levels of people you deal with, and thus the more dangerous it becomes. Allowing Quasi to level will increase the likelihood that if something unexpected happens, they can deal with it appropriately. ¡°I¡¯ll have a route made.¡± He answers. Quasi stretches a little ¡°Sounds good to me. By the way, how long until we reach the tower?¡± ¡°Within a day or two. Sooner if the winds are kind.¡± ¡°That fast? Damn. I need to get back to training.¡± With those final words, Quasi returns to his Fenrimorph form and starts setting his body on fire all over again. This time, Myers doesnt wait to watch. ______________________________________________________________ Salence shakes his head in annoyance. One moment he¡¯s preparing the auction house in Memphis for the sale of the chests and then the damn guy barges in and changes his mind. Now he has even more paperwork to do. As he finishes the paperwork and stamps it with all the proper preparations, he leans back to release a sigh. A short sigh, because just finishing the paperwork isn¡¯t enough. Getting up from his chair, he leaves his office and finds his way to the [Secretary] in charge of transportation. ¡°Glacena, I need this document rushed.¡± Salence places the document in front of the tired looking woman.. The woman groans. ¡°More work already? I¡¯m kinda in the middle of something.¡± ¡°This is urgent too. I need you to add several Exceptional quality runed chests with the map shipment to Magnus. The seller took my advice and now wants to have the chests auctioned there instead of at Memphis. It should sell for a decent bit more there compared to here, so the shipping cost will more than pay itself- especially so if we use the Chests as storage containers.¡± By the time Salence finishes his explanation, Glacena is already shaking her head. He frowns. ¡°What''s wrong? Was the map already shipped off? That shouldn''t be until morning.¡± ¡°No. The map¡¯s still here, and it¡¯s going to be here for quite a bit longer,¡± Glacena says. Salence leans into the desk. ¡°What? Why?¡± ¡°[Guild Governor] Bernard just locked down the city.¡± IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 74: Gambino Today is a day filled with wonderful weather. No storms, calm winds, and nary a cloud in the sky. It¡¯s a very peaceful night. As peaceful of a night anyone can have at the sight of nearly a dozen vessels parked around a tower. Of the eleven ships, nine fly the same black flag with an orange flag underneath while the last two ships fly only an orange flag. All the ships are tied to the tower''s base with camps already erected. ¡°[Pirates]. Why is it always [Pirates]? Why can¡¯t it be [Merchants]? Hell, I¡¯d be fine with the Tower people too.¡± I whine as I sit on Myers'' shoulder. ¡°I really don¡¯t want to have to hide and wait for them to leave. Why are they even here?¡± The old man lowers the spyglass after a moment. ¡°They are trading.¡± I raise an eyebrow. ¡°How do you know that?¡± ¡°They fly the Tiger¡¯s eye.¡± ¡°And that is¡­¡± ¡°The orange flag. [Pirate Captains] from the Gambino family fly the flag when they wish to trade. Those who trade with the family are respected and left unmolested for some time.¡± I sigh. ¡°Myers, you can¡¯t just spew out names and expect me to understand what the fuck you¡¯re talking about.¡± The old man gives me a grin with the full realization he¡¯d done this on purpose. ¡°[Pirates] are generally disorganized with a few exceptions. One of those exceptions are the Gambino [Pirates]. They are a blood-related group of [Pirate Captains] numbering in the thousands. They are organized, powerful, and the leader of the family sits as one of the Corsairs.¡± ¡°Mafia. They¡¯re a [Pirate] mafia.¡± Myers bobs his head. ¡°That is a good way to describe them. They, unlike most [Pirates], have a stringent code they follow. One such code is that they do not attack anyone they trade with.¡± ¡°So if we approach for trade, they¡¯ll ignore us?¡± ¡°So long as we do attempt to trade. I imagine they would not look kindly on us if we don¡¯t offer them something worthwhile.¡± If I was part of a Mafia with rules, I¡¯d be kinda upset if said rules were abused too. Wait a second! ¡°Why do you know so much about them?¡± The old man closes his spyglass and places it into his coat pocket. ¡°I was¡­ tasked with hunting and destroying a group of them. This involved a great deal of research on the family.¡± ¡°How¡¯d the hunt go?¡± The old man scowls. ¡°Poorly. Their information network exceeded my own at the time. The amount of wealth they possess allows them to have an extensive network of spies- including ones in the nobility.¡± ¡°I see. Well, I¡¯m up for trade. We can sell the runed weapons from the castle and the glaive I got from the [Bounty Hunter]. Also whatever else Cillian chooses.¡± ¡°Then we best prepare something orange as a flag. I doubt they¡¯d attack us if we approach, but risks need not be taken.¡± ¡°Agreed. I¡¯ll go tell my crew.¡± With a pounce I jump off Myers shoulder and rush inside the ship. _________________________________________________________________ The party is in full swing and Karson Gambino is partaking in excellent wine. A nice, dark red color that splendidly goes with his tie. Grinning, Karson raises the glass to see any impurities, only to grin wider when he sees none. He takes a sip slowly before returning his attention to the party and the guest of honor- his grandson Emmanuel Gambino. As of today, the kid starts his career as a [Captain] aboard the Destroyer Anadasta - a gift from yours truly. A costly gift, but a worthwhile one as a starting vessel. You can¡¯t find Destroyers with thick hulls outside of those produced for military purposes. Just as Gambino is about to take another sip, he sees one of his men rush to him. ¡°Boss, there''s a ship approaching. A frigate class.¡± Karson raises an eyebrow. Though he has the Tigers Eye raised, he also has the Gambino flag hoisted as well. That alone should deter anyone from approaching. Hell, his cored galleon alone should deter even [Bounty Hunters] from approaching. It might be better to just blast the ship out of the sky. ¡°Does the ship hoist a flag?¡± He asks. ¡°It does¡­¡± the man says with hesitation. ¡°Well, spit it out then.¡± ¡°The flag looks like an orange blanket, boss,¡± the man says nervously. Karson frowns. The fact they have the colors of the Tigers Eye requires that he allow trade. But, besmirching the family by using an orange blanket is a grave insult to the family that must be properly punished. This is the reason the man before him is nervous. Karson shifts his gaze back to the vibrant party. Meat is being roasted over a fire, music is played by excellent [Musicians], and his wife is happily dancing with his grandson while father, mothers, aunts, and uncles watch. It is a beautiful and momentous day that Karson would prefer to end on a peaceful note. ¡°Allow the ship to port. Have some men help tie it down. Then direct the [Captain] to me alongside whatever they wish to sell.¡± ¡°Yes, boss.¡± As the man rushes off, another chuckles from his side. ¡°Gramps, that¡¯s abnormally nice of you. I¡¯d think you¡¯d set an example for your grandkid about respecting the Tigers Eye.¡± Karson smiles towards his adopted nephew. A bright man that married his daughter decades ago with a generally positive outlook on life. An amazing choice for his daughter. ¡°Marco, I should have guessed you¡¯d be listening in on my conversations.¡± Marco Gambino shrugs. ¡°Can''t help it. You¡¯re a constant font of wisdom. Speaking of wisdom, what''s the reason for allowing the ship?¡± Karson leans into his chair and takes a sip of wine. ¡°It¡¯s nice today and I¡¯m happy. I¡¯d rather avoid blood if I can.¡± His Nephew grins. ¡°If I can is the significance there.¡± Karson chuckles. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m going to see what they¡¯re offering to sell. If it pleases me, I¡¯m willing to allow the insult to slide.¡± This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°Hah! If you allow the insult to slide, I¡¯ll even gift the [Captain] one of my extra Tigers Eye flags.¡± Karson rolls his eyes before refocusing on the party. His family is far more important. Always is and always will be. That is the Gambino Way. ___________________________________________________________ When Myers said mafia, he fucking meant mafia. The Gambino are wearing suits. Full-on black with white striped suits and a tie. The only difference between them is that some of the [Pirates] have differing ties by color and pattern. When we are near, they quickly assist in tying down the Timbergrove. As soon as we plop down the boardwalk, one of the well-dressed [Pirates] rushes to patiently wait at the bottom. With just a cursory glance, the [Pirate] has a club on one side and a triple barrel blunderbuss on the other. This is mimicked in some way to all the others, though more often with hand crossbows instead of a firearm. Regardless, any fight against them is going to involve a hell of a lot of initial ranged damage. ¡°Me, Cillian, and Irmgard will depart. Everyone else will stay on the ship.¡± Nepenthes clicks her legs in agitation. ¡°You enter a nest of bees, Matriarch. Would it not be better to bring additional wasps in case they find you a threat?¡± ¡°Bees don''t sting unless threatened. A large group of wasps is a threat in and of itself. Now, Cillian, did you prepare what you¡¯re going to sell?¡± Cillian grunts in the affirmative under the weight of a bunch of sheathed weapons on his shoulder. ¡°Perfect, let''s go then.¡± I hop into Irmgards arms and make our way down the plank. Just as we reach the bottom of the plank, I take a cursory glance of the man while he does the same to us.
Joseph Luciano: Level 49 [Consigliere]]
The man frowns. ¡°Where is your [Captain]?¡± He asks in what seems like annoyance. I¡¯d even argue that he looks as though he is insulted. ¡°Right here.¡± I wave a paw from my perch in Irmgards arms. The man''s hand twitches towards his sidearm for a moment, but self-control wins. He stares at me for a moment before slowly nodding. ¡°You wish to trade with the Gambino family, correct?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± I answer. ¡°Then follow me. The boss wants to see you.¡± We follow the well-dressed man deep into the Mafia den. We pass numerous people, tents, and eventually arrive at what looks like a backyard birthday celebration. There is music, food, dancing, and even games. There are even children running around as well. We are directed to the corner of the party where a clean shaven man sits behind a table with a glass of wine in hand. His cheeks are slightly red and he has a grin on his face. Right until he sees my group. The grin disappears and turns to a glare.
Karson Gambino: Level 61 [Underboss Captain]
The fuck did I do? Karson extends a hand in front of him. ¡°Take a seat.¡± He orders. Immediately, several chairs are placed in front of Karson, right across the table. Shit. He seems pissed. Did we come at a bad time or something? When we take a seat, the man leans back and clasps his hands. ¡°Can I offer you a drink? Food perhaps?¡± Alright. Maybe not pissed. Just very Mafia-like. I hop out of Irmgards lap and onto the table. ¡°Milk.¡± My words startle the man. His hand twitches to the revolver on his hip, but only twitches. The goons surrounding don¡¯t have such self control. Numerous ranged weapons aim in my direction. I of course continue grinning and making eye contact with Karson. A long several second exchange of stares has Karson raise a hand and wave at the goons. They quickly resheathe their guns and step back. ¡°Apologies, my men can get a bit jumpy when startled. Now, you said you wished for milk.¡± ¡°Room Temperature if you have it.¡± He nods and glances at the rest of my crew. ¡°Would your crew like anything?¡± Cillian licks his lips. ¡°That wine you¡¯re drinking looks quite good.¡± He then glances at Irmgard, but the woman shakes her head. Karson looks towards one of his men. ¡°Get some warm milk and a bottle of the wine I¡¯m drinking.¡± ¡°Yes Boss.¡± As the goon rushes away, Karson returns his attention to us. ¡°I¡¯ll be honest, I very much wasn¡¯t expecting to meet a [Captain] in such a form.¡± I don¡¯t think anyone does. ¡°Not a bother. I¡¯m used to the reactions. It¡¯s not every day you meet someone of such superior species such as myself.¡± ¡°Superior?¡± Karson raises a brow. ¡°Of course.¡± I stand and walk around slowly. ¡°Do you see this fluffy coat and the grace of my movements? This is not something other species can ever hope to reproduce. And just so we¡¯re on the subject, I¡¯d like to also mention that I am one of the more superior specimens of my feline kind- ahh. Introductions!¡± I rise to my back legs and do a heavily practiced bow. ¡°I am Quasi Eludo, [Captain] of the Timbergrove, hero of many worlds, and the most fluffy sovereign to ever exist. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.¡± At my introduction, the man sitting next to him bursts out laughing. ¡°I-I can¡¯t.¡± the man spurts even while Karson shifts his glare. ¡°Marco, control yourself.¡± The man''s laughter subsides to a slight giggle and a fervent grin. ¡°Sorry, sorry, but this is hilarious. Easily the most interesting coming of age party I¡¯ve been to.¡± I perk up. ¡°Coming of age party? Who''s the guest of honor?¡± Karson seems to quickly forget about Marco as he gives a proud smile. ¡°I have just bought my Grandson a Destroyer. By the time he awakens tomorrow, he will be a full fledged [Captain] and start his career in service of the family.¡± Oh! Mafia¡¯s love their families. Let''s see if I can get a bit in his good graces. ¡°The Gambino family, right? I¡¯ve only recently heard about you guys and it seems what I¡¯ve heard is pretty correct. You guys respect and love your family just as much as you love honor and loyalty.¡± Karson grins warmly. ¡°Family above all is the Gambino motto. As for honor and loyalty- what man can love family without both traits?¡± ¡°Family above all. I like that. Who coined the term?¡± ¡°Tony Gambino. The first Gambino and the one who got the family business started. My Great great grandfather.¡± he explains excitedly. Next to Karson, Marco grins as he realizes what I¡¯m trying to do, but chooses to just watch for the moment. ¡°Oh? Now that sounds like an interesting story. Was it difficult for Tony to start the family?¡± ¡°Ha. Difficult is an understatement. The amount of suffering the man had to endure for the family- I could go all night. But, I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t have the time. You¡¯re here to trade, right?¡± ¡°I am, but I¡¯m fine with waiting. I can sell goods anytime, but listening to how a Mafia Boss came to be is something of a rare occasion.¡± For a moment, Karson''s smile slips a little. He wants to talk about his great great grandfather and all of the man''s amazing deeds, but something feels a bit off. ¡°Actually, before you begin.¡± I raise a paw at the party, ¡°Maybe have the children join us. I¡¯m sure they¡¯d love to listen to the deeds of the founder.¡± Karson blinks and glances at the running and giggling children. They¡¯ve probably heard some of the stories growing up, but probably not from someone who¡¯d met the guy in all his glory. ¡°Yea. That¡¯s a great idea.¡± Karson exclaims while Marco suppresses a snort. I give Marco a wink while Karson isn¡¯t looking at me and the man starts laughing aloud. Karson glances at his Nephew, annoyed at the man''s inability to not make a scene. ¡°Marco, what''s gotten into you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you later.¡± He says. IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 75: Not all Livers are made Equal. ¡°And that¡¯s when Tony ripped out of the sandworm''s belly, all covered in its juices. A horrifying thing to see, but Tony at the time was elated to have bested such a dangerous predator. Not that the danger was over. The deathroars of the sandworm could be heard from miles away. So loud was its roar that it attracted the attention of a scorpis matriarch.¡± ¡°What''s a scorpis matriarch?¡± A child asks. ¡°Those juices must be sticky,¡± another child of a similar age and holding a fluffy cat exclaims. ¡°What happened next?¡± A third asks. ¡°Did he kill it too?¡± A fourth. A group of huddled children make their voices heard to Karson Gambino. And each voice adds a wrinkle to the old man''s grin. Killing, stealing, pirating- that¡¯s just a job. It puts food on the table and feeds the family. Telling stories to your grandchildren and cousins about the grandeur of the family is what feeds the soul. Karson gazes at the children, taking note of Quasi Eludo sitting on his granddaughter''s lap. The cat has been listening with the children, even adding his own voice to the mix. For a moment, he¡¯d forgotten that the cat in question is probably a much older [Druid] or whatever other class allows him to transform into a kitten. He should probably be a bit more wary¡­ ¡°Did you ever fight a worm?¡± Another child asks, though the question isn¡¯t directed at him. The cat shakes his head. ¡°A worm? No. Though I did fight a scorpis matriarch and win. Now those things are annoying. They¡¯re the size of tents, are covered by a thick carapace, have four massive pincers and eight tails.¡± ¡°That sounds dangerous.¡± A child exclaims. ¡°It was.¡± The cat nods. ¡°Especially the damn tails. Unlike the regular scorpis, the matriarch can shoot its stingers like a crossbow from its tails constantly.¡± ¡°Wow! So you fight monsters like Tony too?¡± A child asks. At such a question, Karson starts to frown. ¡°Of course not,¡± Quasi quickly answers. ¡°I¡¯m sure Tony is far more capable than me. Probably defeated the matriarch easier than me. Right, Mr. Bongino?¡± Childish eyes all shift to Karson in abated interest. Karson, faced with childish wonder, hides his grimace as he continues his story. ¡°Tony chose not to fight. He left and allowed the sandworm''s corpse to be feasted by the matriarch,¡± Karson explains while not mentioning the detail that Tony ran for his life. He¡¯d been exhausted fighting the sandworm and didn¡¯t have the energy to also fight a scorpis matriarch. Hell, nobody likes to fight scorpis at all. Their poison is just far too lethal. ¡°Smaaarrttt,¡± The cat exclaims loudly so that the children could hear. ¡°He just fought a sandworm. Fighting a scorpis matriarch would be a huge waste of his time.¡± The children take the cat''s words to heart with renewed glee. Many call out praise over how amazing Tony is. Such praise that has Karson grinning from ear to ear. Eventually, such praise shifts to another question. ¡°How did you kill the scorpis matriarch?¡± one of the older boys asks the cat. The cat swallows in hidden panic. ¡°Ughhh, in a similar way to how Tony killed the sandworm.¡± ¡°You killed it from inside?¡± A child asks. ¡°Did you jump into its mouth like Tony did?¡± the older boy asks. ¡°Uhhh, not exactly the mouth. There was another entrance¡­¡± Quasi stares pleadingly at Karson. Karson quickly realizes the meaning behind Quasi¡¯s words. He leans forward, ¡°Children, I think it is getting late. Go grab something to eat and prepare for bed.¡± The children voice their complaints but the elder respectfully sends them all away. As the last child disappears, he turns his gaze to Quasi. ¡°You entered a scorpis matriarchs butt to kill it from inside?¡± ¡°Hey, I was exausted and starving at the time. There are too many teeth from the front end anyway.¡± Karson chuckles. ¡°I imagine there are. Now, how about we return to the table and discuss what you have a trade.¡± ¡°Sounds good to me. Lead the way.¡± _______________________________________________________________________ Marco can¡¯t help but chuckle as he watches Karson and the cat return from telling stories to children. The man has a content grin on his face while the cat just looks relieved to be done with the ordeal. He grins at the cat''s two crew members. The woman known as Irmgard has stayed very professional and constantly on guard. While the short man is the complete opposite. He¡¯s already on his third bottle and looks the most relaxed out of anyone in the party. ¡°Your [Captain] is a very capable manipulator. He kinda reminds me of Tony¡¯s wife.¡± ¡°Wife?¡± Cillian asks while staring at the bottle in his hand as though he¡¯s planning to make out with it. Marco nods. ¡°Yea. Believe it or not, Tony was a charismatic leader with exceptional individual prowess but lacked the skill outside of that. Martha Gambino is the one who expanded the family¡¯s fortune and allowed our business ordeals to flourish.¡± This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Quasi and Karson arrive back at the table. Karson returns to his seat next to Marco while Quasi takes the table. ¡°You look happy,¡± Marco says to Karson. ¡°I¡¯m guessing the kids had a good time.¡± ¡°They did. I told them stories of the founders'' adventures.¡± ¡°Impressive man.¡± the cat agrees. ¡°I learned a lot.¡± ¡°And you. I hope you were able to entertain our guests in my absence.¡± ¡°For the most part. Miss Irmgard here prefers to stay professional and on guard and. Cillian though, the man¡¯s gone through two bottles-¡± ¡°Three.¡± Cillian interrupts by holding his third bottle upside down over his mouth. Marco chuckles. ¡°Three bottles. I¡¯m still trying to figure out how he¡¯s still standing.¡± Karson glances at the short plump man. He then looks to one of his crew. ¡°Get him another bottle. Let''s see how many it takes to get him down.¡± Cillian grins happily while another bottle is procured. Shifting his gaze to Quasi, he finds the cat staring at him expectantly. Immediately, his spine seizes up. ¡°With the pleasantries over, I believe it would be a good transition to speak of what you offer for trade.¡± ¡°Weapons,¡± Marco interrupts. ¡°Runic ones too. They¡¯d be good presents for Emmanuel. Especially the glaive.¡± ¡°Glaive?¡± With a nod of Marco¡¯s head, the bundle of weapons is opened again and each piece is displayed on the table. ¡°They¡¯re offering us three Maces of crushing, a shortsword of cutting, a longsword of cutting, and this gem of a weapon.¡± Karson looks at all the weapons and uses [Remote Examination] on each one. Eventually, he stops at the Glaive.
Name Glaive of Ice Blade
Rarity Exceptional - 10 Runes.
  • 1(1-Durability)
  • 1(1-lightweight)
  • 1(8-Ice Blade)
Description This Glaive is +30% more durable, +30% lighter in weight, and can cast Ice Blade at will.
Sustain 0.02% Mana regeneration per minute. Ice Blade: 127.77 Mana to activate.
¡°A fine weapon,¡± Karson says. ¡°But the family does not use glaives. The Mace of Crushing and Shortsword of Slicing are proper Gambino weapons. Emmanuel can make proper use of those to bolster his crew.¡± Marco leans forward. He taps the polearm. ¡°I agree, but I was thinking of something else for the glaive. Emmanuel could succeed a lot easier if he has a skilled combatant to call on. Since we¡¯re not far from Gladius, we could buy a contracted [Elite Gladiators] that specializes in polearms and have him serve as an elite bodyguard for the kid.¡± Karson rubs his cleanly shaven chin. Not a stubble to be felt. ¡°Tempting and expensive. An advanced classer wielding a near epic weapon is something even a Buxon would be wary of. Still, it¡¯s expensive.¡± ¡°If I had a grandson,¡± Quasi begins, ¡°I¡¯d make sure he is as well prepared for the wider world as can be. If he died because of a lack of preparation on my part, I¡¯d not want to have that on my conscience.¡± Karson grimaces at the cat''s words. It¡¯s clear he benefits from the trade, but his words also ring true. ¡°Coin lost can always be regained. But a life lost is lost forever.¡± Irmgard says slowly and with a hint of honest emotion in it. She¡¯s still aloof and on guard, but her words carry none of that. Oddly enough, Karson nods slowly. ¡°Well said. Very well said.¡± The old man looks to one of his crew. ¡°Bring me my [Quartermaster].¡± ¡°Yes boss.¡± As the crewmember leaves, another returns with a bottle in hand. He hands it to Cillian. Without a care, he pops the cork and takes a long swig. ¡°Ahhh, gud shite. Reminds me of Morris¡¯s favorate brand.¡± Marco raises an eyebrow. ¡°Morris? Do you mean [Merchant Captain] Morris Menfield.¡± The Scot nods. ¡°Aye, thas him.¡± Karson and Marco share a look, then both grin. ¡°Get me the [Merchant Captain],¡± Karson calls to one of his men. The man rushes to the opposite side of the party. Not a moment later, he returns with none other than [Merchant Captain] Morris Menfield. Immediately, Morris and Cillian lock eyes. One with a grin, the other with a grimace. ¡°I believe you two know each other?¡± ¡°We¡¯re acquainted.¡± Morris nods as he scans the tall blond woman and grinning cat. ¡°It is from them that I bought the Destroyer you¡¯re buying.¡± ¡°Small world, eh?¡± Cillian wiggles the bottle in his hand. Morris glares at the [Quartermaster]. ¡°We¡¯re about to buy some weapons from them. Care to share your opinion on their character?¡± Marco asks. He nods. ¡°They¡¯re far more capable than you¡¯d expect from their levels. Especially him.¡± Morris points at Cillian. ¡°That man can drink over ten bottles of wine and still be cognizant enough to take all the coin I had on hand.¡± ¡°Yur still makin a profit.¡± Cillian counters. ¡°Just nat az big of wan.¡± ¡°Twenty bottles?¡± Marco grins ¡°Now that¡¯s something I want to see.¡± He waves his arm at a nearby crewmember. ¡°Bring me a case of wine.¡± Karson shakes his head. ¡°You¡¯re having too much fun with this.¡± Marco shrugs as Karsons [Quartermaster] arrives. The [Quartermaster] is tall, broad shouldered, and wearing thick glasses. ¡°You called, boss?¡± Karson nods. ¡°I want to buy this Glaive, shortsword, and mace.¡± ¡°Yes boss.¡± The [Quartermaster] looks at the rest of those at the table. He matches eyes with Cillian and a chill runs down his spine. _____________________________________________________________ Just because Irmgard is skinny doesn¡¯t mean she isn¡¯t hiding a great deal of muscle. Over one shoulder she carries a sleeping Cillian and over the other she carries the weapons that have yet to be sold. As for me, I¡¯m just walking beside her. I could try to hitch a ride, but that¡¯s not necessary and needless stress. With dawn breaking, we enter Timbergrove. ¡°You have returned, Matriarch.¡± Nepenthes exclaims. Then she notices Cillian on Irmgards shoulder. She gets up and unsheathes her pincers. ¡°Have they ended one of ours? Am I to prepare for slaughter?¡± ¡°Settle down. Cillian drank twenty bottles of wine. No idea how the man is alive, but apparently it''s not the first time. I wonder if he has a skill or something I don¡¯t know about.¡± I wave a paw. ¡°Regardless, everything is good. The [Pirates] will be leaving later today and then I can enter the tower. For now, it¡¯s nap time.¡± Nepenthes sits back down and sheathes her pincers behind her back. ¡°Rest well. I will continue to stay vigilant.¡± ¡°You do that.¡± I yawn. I rush to my room, mount my bookcase, and then allow sleep to take me. IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 76: Tower The next day, I wave goodbye to all the departing ships. The [Merchant Captain] is flying to Memphis while the Gambino family is heading to Gladius. We watch them for long minutes till they are specs in the distance. Then I turn to my crew. ¡°Let''s head to the tower.¡± We trudge the generally short distance to the tower, stopping only several meters from the entrance. Above the entrance is a message different from the previous tower. Here lies the test of the Tower. Through Vitality you will survive the environment. Through Intelligence you will find what you seek. Through Perception you will avoid destruction. Vitality, Intelligence, and Perception. Seems like a far more enjoyable test compared to the first tower already. Endurance is probably a bitch to deal with. At the entrance to the tower, the inside has a bunch of constantly moving dust as though there is a constant source of wind. Not that it can be felt because of whatever barrier prevents everything except for light to pass. Now, let''s see if I have some competition. ¡°Auranta, did you want to check anything about the tower?¡± I ask. The masked woman glances at me for a moment. She Nods once and then walks near the barrier. She retrieves a book from her cloak, opens it, and starts taking notes. ¡°Find anything interesting?¡± I ask. ¡°Yes and no.¡± She answers without stopping her note-taking. I pout. ¡°Want to expand on that?¡± She pauses writing for a moment to turn a page before continuing. ¡°Compared to the prior towers I¡¯ve visited, they are the same in structure and looks. The only difference of note is in regards to the entrance past the barrier.¡± ¡°I see¡­ is the barrier there?¡± She pauses, raises a hand and places her palm on the barrier. ¡°Why would it not?¡± She pulls back her hand. Seeing her hand unable to pass the barrier fills me with a sigh of relief. Looks like she¡¯s not a champion. I glance at Irmgard and the woman gives me a nod. ¡°Why should it?¡± I answer and walk past what should be a barrier. Immediately, I¡¯m bombarded with cold wind, dust, and an immediate feeling of wrongness.¡± I turn around to smirk at the masked woman. Though I can¡¯t see her expression on account of her mask, I can happily imagine the look of utter disbelief and surp- Auranta steps through the barrier as though it doesn¡¯t exist. Oh shit! Did she trick me? I prepare to transform into a Fenrimorph, only for Irmgard to step through next. What¡­ Next is Boriss, followed by the rest of my crew. Only Myers and Clay¡¯s attempt to pass are met with a solid wall. ¡°I¡¯m so confused right now,¡± I say aloud. ¡°I thought only me and Nepenthes could travel through because we¡¯re both champions.¡± My crew share the same confused expression, minus a single member. ¡°I believe the barrier allows subordinates of the champion to pass through.¡± Irmgard explains. I blink towards the tall woman. ¡°How do you know this?¡± I ask. Irmgard extends her hand through the barrier and back. ¡°During your foray through the first tower, Valentine ordered me to test if I can enter the tower. I did and found the corpse of a scorpis before leaving.¡± ¡°Why am I finding out about this literally now?¡± I ask, annoyed. ¡°I would have loved to know this beforehand.¡± Irmgard frowns. ¡°Up until now, I was under the impression that you already knew this.¡± ¡°I did not. Holy shit, I was actually debating on going through the barrier first and then assessing if Auranta was a champion. If she followed me inside I would have killed her outright.¡± Cillian chuckles, ¡°Well, it¡¯s a good thing you enjoy mocking people.¡± ¡°Da,¡± Boriss grins and slaps Auranta on the back, causing the woman to lose balance for a moment. ¡°Comrade Mask is not enemy, yes?¡± I sigh aloud while Auranta seems to glare at the grinning Russian. ¡°No, no she is not.¡± The masked woman in question shifts her focus back to me. ¡°Why are you able to enter towers?¡± She asks. I grin towards her. ¡°That¡¯s going to require a long explanation, one I¡¯d rather have while ascending the tower.¡± Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Just as I turn to go deeper and find out what test awaits me, Nepenthes quickly steps in front of my way. ¡°Matriarch, the air is poisonous. Extended exposure will have disastrous effects among most of the crew''s health.¡± I glance at the others, finding that nobody looks sick or even bothered. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Nepenthes answers. ¡°The poison is slowly degrading my body, but I am able to counter it. I cannot do the same for human flesh. Gemma flesh may be more resilient to the poison on account of their skin, but such risks are unnecessary.¡± Emma raises a hand. ¡°I¡¯m happy to stay behind and work on the ship.¡± Of course it¡¯s some weird invisible poison. ¡°Will I be affected?¡± I ask. ¡°Your Fenrimorph¡¯s regenerative ability will gradually weaken with continuous exposure, but should recover fully once exposure stops.¡± So I¡¯m on a time-limit. Good to know. I look at my crew. ¡°On account of the poison, me and Nepenthes will head deeper into the tower. Everyone else will return to the ship and await our return.¡± ¡°I decline to return and accept any and all risks associated with this poison,¡± Auranta exclaims. ¡°I must fully evaluate any and all secrets of the inner workings of these towers. My kind¡¯s survival hedges upon my findings.¡± I raise an eyebrow. ¡°Your kinds survival?¡± She nods slowly. ¡°Yes. If you require, I will remove my mask and explain my reasoning- though I would prefer to continue such secrecy.¡± You mean like the multiple heartbeats, abnormally heavy weight, and odd smell? ¡°No need, I already have an inclination of what you are. You can follow me, just know that you are to obey any and all commands I give you. Understood?¡± ¡°Understood.¡± She nods. ¡°Good. Everyone, return to the ship. Nepenthes, Auranta, let''s head inside.¡± __________________________________________________________________ The three of us climb the long staircase of the tower. As we ascend, I explain the entirety of the situation to Auranta. A risk, but my gut tells me she is in need of an ally¡­ and I kinda want a mage. ¡°-and that¡¯s why I need to conquer each and every tower.¡± I conclude. Auranta goes silent for a long moment, contemplating what she¡¯d just heard. Which is understandable. I did just explain to her that her entire world is created by a god who wants to play a game using mortal lives and a board the size of a planet. ¡°I have many questions.¡± She finally says. ¡°And I have many answers, but only after we deal with this.¡± I say as we arrive on the top floor. I quickly rush to the doorway and stop to smell the apocalyptic roses. Through the doorway, chaos reigns supreme over a canvas of an abandoned city. The sky showers and thunders with crimson lightning to the backdrop of several distant pulsating flaming tornadoes. Cracks and fissures line the concrete roads where spurts of fire and lightning burst from the ground. Around buildings, gravity seems to twist and turn around a black orb that forces debris to orbit its structure. Near them, balls of lightning hover and move meters above the ground, electrocuting anything that comes near. ¡°Well, now I understand what you meant by poison.¡± Nepenthes turns to me. ¡°Are you familiar with this malady?¡± ¡°Yup. This whole place is filled with high concentrations of radiation. Radiation interacts with living things and continuously damages cellular structure. Extended exposure will have a compounding negative effect on the body.¡± I glance at Auranta. ¡°Knowing this, are you still going to continue going deeper with me?¡± The masked woman nods. ¡°I am.¡± Her head shifts towards the chaotic environment. ¡°What is happening here?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ve only seen this a few times, but Radiation and Mana do not have a harmonious relationship. High radiation causes rapid shifts and changes to mana, allowing the mana to activate on its own. The last time I saw something like this was in another lifetime. A bunch of midgets mined into a mountain and caused an internal collapse that split the mountain in two. When it split open, it opened fissures of radioactive material that quickly spread and made the area unlivable. A decade later and,¡± I extend my paw, ¡°this is what the place turned into.¡± ¡°Are they dangerous?¡± Nepenthes asks. ¡°Yup.¡± I point at a flaming tornado. ¡°Think of something like that as a self-sustaining continuous spell that you can''t permanently destroy. You can disrupt it, but unless the radiation is taken care of, the anomaly will reform.¡± ¡°Am I allowed to use spells?¡± Auranta asks. I tilt my head. ¡°Probably. Radiation generally takes time to affect mana. Just be careful about casting spells on an anomaly. I¡¯ve little idea what will happen.¡± I do a quick stretch and walk through the exit. I immediately feel the rain as it falls upon my body. looking at a nearby puddle, I note that my fur has shifted to a lime green. As I continue staring, my fur morphs into a protective water-resistant layer similar to a Maine Coon. ¡°Where are we to go?¡± Nepenthes asks. The Phytonid looks ready for combat with her pincers ready and head shifting vigilantly for enemies. That¡¯s honestly a good question. I look around, noting things like the general stony structure of the buildings. Whatever race made this place is larger than a human with an odd level of technology. No cars but I can see the rails through the streets. It is only then that I look back at the tower behind me. The tower is different from what the previous tower looked like. The previous tower looked like something of a shell. This one is three times taller, sleek, and completely black. ¡°I think this test is similar to the previous one I did in the sense I have to find the tower exactly like this one.¡± Both Auranta and Nepenthes glance at the tower we¡¯d come out of and then look around to see where the other one is. ¡°I see none.¡± ¡°Neither do I.¡± they both answer. If you could, then this wouldn¡¯t be much of a test. ¡°Let me get a better vantage point.¡± Using feline acrobatics, I rush to a burned up tree, climb up to a branch before jumping again to a nearby roof. I then ascend further until I stand next to a chimney. I could climb even higher, but I don¡¯t think I can survive a lightning strike. With my new vantage point, I assess my surroundings. What I immediately realized is that we¡¯re in a pretty big city. Houses can be seen for miles on end alongside more flaming tornadoes. Finding nothing, I start looking for patterns. Something abnormal that most would generally miss. I do this for a long minute until I realize something. Noting the direction, I make my way back to the two ladies. ¡°I¡¯ve got good news and bad news.¡± I immediately start when I arrive. ¡°The good news is that I have a pretty good idea where the tower is going to be.¡± ¡°And the bad news?¡± Auranta asks. I raise a paw towards the direction where flaming tornadoes are quite numerous. ¡°The bad news is that it¡¯s most likely located where the anomaly concentrations are highest. It¡¯s going to be quite dangerous.¡± ¡°I have fought in rivers, swamps, deserts, and tundra. Each environment I have mastered and consumed. I relish the chance to savor this danger we are to face.¡± Nepenthes practically hisses. Both me and Auranta look at the Phytonid as she looks not only ready, but eager for battle. Practically twitching with excitement. ¡°Uhh, you alright? You seem a bit on edge.¡± I say. Nepenthes looks down at me with a tilt of her head. ¡°Yes, my edge has been honed. I have sharpened it daily so that when the hunt begins, I will shred sinew and bone with greater ease.¡± She kinda reminds me of a husky waiting for its leash. ¡°Right. Just watch my back while I lead.¡± ¡°Of course, Matriarch. I will sever anything that dares approach from behind.¡± I roll my eyes and begin walking towards the cluster of distant anomalies. IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 77: Shrooms part 1 ¡°Go for it.¡± Auranta raises her palm. An orb of flame forms above. She then aims her hand towards a distant gravitational anomaly. The ball accelerates towards the anomaly, exploding upon impact. The moment contact is made, the ball of gravity converges towards the center before rapidly expanding, sending debris flying away from it at high speeds. None reach the group for they are a distance away, but several slabs of stone are now embedded into nearby buildings. ¡°Yea, probably best to stay away from those. Lets try the fissures next¡± Quasi says. Auranta does the same to both the electric and flame fissures rising up off the ground. A single fireball nears it, and the fissure goes up, exploding with lightning and fire. Then quickly going dormant again. She retracts her hand. ¡°It seems these anomalies react violently to mana and then go dormant for some time.¡± ¡°Try the others.¡± She does and nearly every anomaly reacts the same way- though the larger ones require a stronger spell. For the next several hours, the group makes a path towards where the anomaly concentration is strongest. They activate anomaly after anomaly, passing each one during dormancy. ¡°I find this test unchallenging.¡± Quasi turns to glare at the Phytonid. ¡°I hope you realize you¡¯ve just cursed us all.¡± ¡°I sense no curse spell.¡± Auranta adds. ¡°I''m being metaphorical! Nepenthes just tempted fate and fate is going to shove danger down our throats.¡± ¡°I accept the challenge.¡± Nepenthes exclaims. ¡°No- you - ughhh. Lets just keep going. Keep your eyes out for anything odd.¡± Auranta raises an arm to point. ¡°Like those mushrooms?¡± Quasi follows her finger to the sight of mushrooms. Literal giant mushrooms that seem to start where the greenery disappears. ¡°Um¡­ maybe?¡± The group approaches the odd mushrooms. Most are small, but there are larger ones pointing near anomalies. Before Quasi says anything, Nepenthes rips a mushroom from a wall and immediately consumes it. Quasi pouts. ¡°You have no fear. What if it is poisonous?¡± ¡°It is,¡± Nepenthes answers, ¡°but with this radiation.¡± She pauses for a moment. ¡°Curious, it is attempting to parasitize my body.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you spit it out?¡± ¡°Attempting, but not succeeding. I am thwarting its attempts while suppressing and analysing its genetic structure. Please give me a moment.¡± Both Quasi and Auranta watch as Nepenthes just stands there with a blank look. After several minutes she blinks. ¡°These mushrooms have high neural-like activity and a rapid ability to repair cellular structure. They also possess an organelle capable of absorbing radiation and producing an energy rich product to fuel growth.¡± She grabs several more mushrooms and starts consuming them. ¡°Should you be doing that?¡± ¡°These organelles can be implanted into my own cellular structure to produce energy from the environment. This will reduce the physiological cost of constant cellular repair from radiation.¡± Quasi rolls his eyes. When he glances at Auranta, the woman isn¡¯t even paying attention. Instead, her head is swiveled deeper in. Following her sight, Quasi finds something humanoid. It has two arms, legs, and even what should be a head. The oddest thing is that the humanoid is smothered in mushrooms. The mushroom monster takes an odd step towards them. The cat sighs. ¡°I¡¯m calling it now. We¡¯re dealing with a sentient mushroom boss at the tower.¡± From nearby buildings, several more mushroom infected humanoids strut out slowly. All seem to instinctively walk around anomalous areas towards them. ¡°Matriarch, shall I engage?¡± Nepenthes unsheathes her scythes and takes a ready stance. ¡°Not yet. Let''s see how they react first. Auranta, mind hitting them with one of your fireballs?¡± The [Air Mage] raises her hand diagonally. As she does, the wind pickles up around her hand, honing to a visual edge. She then slashes her hand as one would a sword. The blade of wind rips forwards, slicing pavement, mushrooms, and finally one of the mushroom monsters in half. As the mushroom splits in two, you can see the visual outline of flesh and mushroom intermingled together. At the same time, all other mushrooms stop moving. ¡°Should I cast another Wind Cutter?¡± Auranta asks. Before Quasi can even deign to answer, every monster''s mouth opens to reveal hundreds of bonelike teeth followed by an ear-piercing scream. Then all hell breaks loose as they full-sprint towards them. ¡°Take them out and try to not get bit.¡± Quasi orders. He transforms into a Fenrimorph and rushes to engage. __________________________________________________________ Punching forward, I feel the impact of shattering stone followed by the ripping of flesh. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. That felt like punching a statue. Two more punches and another two dead, I¡¯m left with the same sensation of stone and flesh. Like statues with meat inside. Another six die by my fists before I¡¯m met with a disturbing realization. These are Gemma! Zombie Gemma! Another dozen corpses only enhances that idea. The smaller humanoid monsters, who are most likely younger, have thinner stony exoskeletons than those that are larger and most likely older. ¡°Matriarch! They outnumber us!¡± I glance at Nepenthes to find her dealing with significantly more than me. Like a reaper, she cuts and slices several with each swing of her scythe-like claws- but the numbers keep increasing. Glancing at Auranta, I find her somehow atop a nearby roof and slinging spells at those attempting to get to her. Funnily enough, they can''t climb. Instead, they seem to naturally create a growing pile of bodies. How did she even get up there? Actually, that doesn¡¯t matter. That¡¯s a great idea. I roar to get Nepenthes attention. Then I take a moment to point at Auranta. Understanding my plan, we fight our way to Auranta until we reach the base of the building. Nepenthes walks up the wall like a spider while I jump once to the roof. ¡°They are endless. My mana will run out quickly at this rate.¡± Auranta warns. Glancing at the horde, I can''t help but notice that they do indeed seem endless and are all rushing towards our location. Fuck. They¡¯re not that strong, but we can¡¯t take out an entire city of them. We need to push forward. Growling at the two, I point towards where the concentration of shrooms is ever greater. ¡°You want to go deeper?¡± Auranta asks. I nod. She glances at the growing zombie horde for a moment before deciding something. ¡°I can take the rear.¡± With a roll of my eyes and a growl, I start leading the two from building to building. The growing horde follows below, but we are left unmolested. After my ninth building, I glance behind me to make sure those two are keeping up. Nepenthes is right behind me with only Auranta lagging slightly behind her. Nepenthes can get a great deal of horizontal air with her jump, but Auranta seems to glide from building to building. When she does, it seems like the back of her cloak flutters. Once they catch up, I continue leading the team closer and close to highly anomalous concentration. As we do, the number and size of the mushrooms increases exponentially. With some of the ones near the flaming tornado anomalies growing to the size of houses. Regardless, we continue deeper and deeper, avoiding more and more anomalies on the way until we finally find the tower. Shit The tower, more specifically the very top of the tower is jutting out of the ground. Which means that the entrance to the tower is somewhere underground. Fuck! I look around my surroundings to see if I can find anything else, but all I see are buildings, anomalies, and the ground swarming with mushroom zombies. I need a better vantage. Bending my legs, I jump as high as I can, ascending several dozen meters into the sky. It is when I reach the peak that I notice a massive circular molten fissure with a flaming tornado in the center. That¡¯s probably the entrance. With my mind set and next location selected, I¡¯m finally reminded that gravity exists and that I¡¯ve never actually tried to jump as high as possible. I really should think this through more. Realizing that I¡¯m probably not going to walk away unscathed if I crash through a building, I take the unfortunate risk of transforming into a bird lacking any radiation resistance. When I do, I¡¯m met with a blinding number of sights and colors. Every anomaly is a potent condensation of mana, as is every zombie mushroom. It is also here that I see a massive concentration of energy directly underground where the tower''s entrance is supposed to be. And there''s the boss. Flying down, I transform into a cat. ¡°There''s a massive fissure,¡± I raise a paw, ¡°down that way where the flaming tornado is. I¡¯m betting there''s an entrance down there to get to the tower. We will probably need to deal with the anomaly though.¡± I walk to the edge of the building and look down at the converging horde. ¡°By the way, Auranta, would you say these things used to be Gemma?¡± Auranta kneels next to me and her head tilts down. She does not look at the horde, but more so the environment. ¡°I can''t tell from their forms, but the building architecture is similar to ones created by Gemma.¡± ¡°But different, right?¡± I ask. ¡°Yes. It looks old, dated, and lacking in any runic inscriptions. Do you know something?¡± I move away from the edge. The horde is nearing a density that will soon reach the roof. ¡°My planet was tested to find champions for the god games. I believe this city is the result of a failed test.¡± I walk to Nepenthes and hop up atop her. ¡°Come on, let''s head to the fissure.¡± ___________________________________________ It takes hours for the three to reach the chasm on account of the numerous anomalies and the multitude of destroyed buildings making a direct route impossible. But, eventually the group arrives atop a building leaning over the circular chasm with a flaming tornado pulsing in the center. Leaning over the edge, Quasi stares down into the chasm with a grimace. ¡°That¡¯s a pretty long drop.¡± He says after a moment. ¡°Though I can see a massive sewage hole pointing directly towards the underground tower. I¡¯m willing to bet that¡¯s where we need to enter.¡± The tornado pulses brightly this moment, heating the metal pipe till it is glowing bright red. ¡°Well, once we deal with the anomaly.¡± Quasi turns to Auranta, ¡°You¡¯re up. Disrupt the fire and we¡¯ll make our way down.¡± She nods and steps forward. She raises her staff and points it forward. Air starts to whistle and condense above the staff''s tip, forming into a pulsating orb of compressed air. Once formed, she takes aim, and the orb accelerates. It enters the tornado and explodes. For a moment, it looks like the tornado is about to go out as it condenses smaller and smaller. Then it expands. ¡°Shit! Take cover.¡± he orders and transforms into a Fenrimorph. At the same time, Auranta reacts by waving her staff and creating a barrier of wind between herself and the tornado. Then the tornado explodes in flame, sending a wave of fire all around it to the exact dimensions of the fissure. And just as fast as it hits, the wave disappears, leaving everything singed, including all of Quasi¡¯s furr. Quickly putting out the fire on his body, he turns to his allies. Nepenthes bark-skin looks singed but undamaged and Auranta is completely unharmed on account of her barrier. Before he can release a sigh of relief, the building they are standing on starts to shake and tilt towards the chasm. Whatever little bit was keeping the building from falling in is now giving way. Growling a warning, Quasi rushes to get off the building. Both Nepenthes and Auranta follow suit. The first to get off the crumbling building is Nepenthes. The Phytonid lands upon a swarm of mushroom zombies that she quickly begins dealing with. Not a moment later and quasi lands next to her and quickly joins the fray. As he punches through Zombie chests, he takes a moment to glance behind him. What he finds is that the building is crumbling down into the chasm. Then he grins when he looks up a little. Auranta hovers above the chasm with four chitinous wings protruding out of her back. IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 78: Shrooms part 2 Hovering above the chasm, Auranta can see the horde of mushroom infected Gemma converging on their location. They number in the thousands already, with that number increasing every second. For the moment, her two companions are holding out remarkably well. But, that won¡¯t last forever. Using her vantage, she flicks her staff and casts her favorite spell Wind Cutter. With her exceptional mana control and the available wind currents produced from her wings, the spell forms, condenses, and releases near instantly. The blade slices through several of the monsters with discernible ease. This creates a lull in the fighting. She quickly flies closer to them. ¡°I will descend to the bottom of the chasm and create a cushion of air for both of you to jump down to in a minute.¡± She quickly explains. Quasi growls in acknowledgement and then returns his focus on the horde. With the plan set, she descends down to the bottom of the chasm where this radiation is quite potent. So far, her body is unaffected, but external mana is more difficult to manipulate. Once at the bottom, she raises her staff and uses Materialization to extend mana outside her body. She then starts using Destruction to layer dozens of runes of air compression. Finally, she uses Transfiguration to rapidly spin in place. Within a minute, a localized twister forms fully under her control and creates a constant upward current. Once the minute she asks for is up, she watches as both Nepenthes and Quasi hop off the cliff. She shifts the vortex under them, catching the two and slowing their fall. Unfortunately, she doesn''t take into account the weight of them both as they hit the ground with a noticeable crack. Thankfully, both stand back up after a moment. Nepenthes has cracks all across her armor and Quasi¡¯s left arm hangs limp. With a growl, he lifts the arm and pushes it back into the socket. At the same time, Nepenthes produces a coagulating liquid from her mouth and smothers it over her cracks before turning to her. ¡°Auranta, your cushion is inadequate. I request you to produce a more effective solution in the future.¡± ¡°I did not expect both of you to weigh so much.¡± She answers truthfully. The twister could easily support twice her weight, but both Quasi and Nepenthes are significantly heavier than expected. ¡°A miscalculation of your allies'' structural integrity is understandable and forgiven. You are a foreign entity that I have purposely kept my capability hidden away from you until such time the Matriarch fully trusts you.¡± Nepenthes explains. Auranta blinks underneath her hood in surprise. Quasi growls to get their attention. He points at the sewage pipe and then points at where the flaming tornado anomaly was located. Already, she can tell that the anomaly is starting to reform. With the warning made, they rush into the sewage pipe a minute before the anomaly fully reforms. A good thing for it will keep the infected Gemma from following them inside. Once safely inside, Quasi transforms back into a cat. He stops, turns around, and then sits down. ¡°Auranta, mind sharing what you are?¡± It takes a moment for Auranta to realize the question, and then sigh. She¡¯d hoped the question would be asked much much later. Regardless, she¡¯d shown far too much. Using her arms, she unlocks the latches on her mask. Then, slowly, she removes the mask, allowing her antennae to straighten a foot above her head. Immediately, she feels a better connection to her ability to sense mana. ¡°I am an Insectoid princess of Queen Tinea.¡± Quasi nods, seemingly unbothered by the revelation. Nepenthes though, the Phytonid stares adamantly at her face. ¡°Why do you have hair that mimics humans? Is it for warmth? No- your structural body has significant human qualities that evolution would not normally support.¡± Nepenthes tilts her head to the side. ¡°You are either created or changed to have such a physical bodily structure.¡± ¡°You can assess that from a single look at my face?¡± Auranta asks, surprised. ¡°Yes. Ever since I was first birthed by the great tree, I have trained to manipulate the fabric of my body and can note any irregularities in your form. You have a weight that is much heavier than would normally be expressed by a human with your body structure. You also do not smell perfectly human and do not move with inefficiencies common in the human species.¡± ¡°What Nepenthes is trying to say is that we already figured you¡¯re not of any species we¡¯d met. Maybe a Buxon, but I hear the females are just as burly as the men.¡± Quasi adds. Auranta steps back and tilts her staff forward. ¡°Why call me out now? Why wait? What do you want from me?¡± Quasi rolls his eyes at the woman. ¡°Really? Your first reaction against us telling you we knew you were most likely from the Insectoid race is to get defensive? Like come on, we just saw you hovering with insect wings and then you went to try and save us. I figured that at that point you trust us knowing your secret.¡± She relaxes with her guard still up. ¡°That seems logical.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad you understand. Now, would you be willing to share why exactly you are so interested in the towers?¡± Auranta frowns. Her mother spoke to her to keep such information hidden, but it may be best to reveal it now. ¡°Yes. My mothe-¡± ¡°Later!¡± Quasi interrupts. ¡°I asked if you are willing, not if you will do so now. We¡¯re still inside a tower with more enemies that need killing. When we¡¯re safe, tell me the whole story. For now, don¡¯t be afraid to use those wings in my presence. Now let''s go.¡± He stands back up and begins walking deeper inside. Nepenthes follows right behind. After a moment, Auranta puts her mask back on and catches up to the two. When she does, she creates a ball of fire, illuminating the dark tunnel they are walking through. ¡°Can you see in the dark?¡± Quasi asks. ¡°I cannot.¡± ¡°How is your mana looking?¡± ¡°It is slightly below half.¡± ¡°Too low. I¡¯ll provide the light.¡± Quasi raises his tail above his head. Then the tail burst into flames, illuminating the tunnel significantly. Auranta blinks, surprised at the flames. ¡°I thought you can¡¯t use Materialization.¡± If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡°This is just Destruction at the very tip of my fur. ¡°Impossible. You can''t learn Destruction without Materialization.¡± ¡°What do you mean? You¡¯re the one that mentioned monks specializing in Destruction without Materialization.¡± ¡°Yes, but they must learn Destruction after Materialization. If they try to manifest runes within their body without training, they¡¯d most likely be causing their flesh to explode.¡± ¡°Ohhhh. Yea, that would explain a lot. A hell of a lot. Wait, if they can use Materialization, why the fuck arent they just throwing spells?¡± ¡°Internal formation of runes are significantly more potent and efficient compared to external ones.¡± She explains, and then remembers that Quasi can¡¯t do Materialization. ¡°How did you learn to form runes without hurting yourself?¡± She probes. Quasi grimaces. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ complicated. I¡¯ll explain later. For now, let''s pick up the pace. _________________________________________________________ Plumbing is something even more advanced civilizations tend to struggle with. The gemma though, they¡¯ve got the plumbing system down perfectly. Exiting the long pipe, the group arrives in a far more open space, this one filled with not only mushrooms, but glowing mushrooms. Yes, radioactive glowing mushrooms. ¡°The poison here is concentrated.¡± Nepenthes says. A hand plucks a glowing mushroom and then she consumes it. Then she frowns. ¡°Neural connections are significantly stronger and faster.¡± A nearby gargle attracts everyone''s attention. They turn to the sound and watch as a car-sized snake covered in mushrooms slithers out of a pipe. The snake, lacking eyes, turns towards the three. Then its mouth opens to release a high pitched squeal. ¡°Fuck me. Fight it and rush towards the tower. The sooner we get there, the sooner we leave.¡± Quasi is the first to move. He transforms into a Fenrimorph and yeets himself at the snake. The snake, to his surprise, dodges- something none of the zombies above have even attempted to do. It attempts to bite him immediately after, but Quasi dodges to the side and punch the snake. Mushrooms, stone, and flesh shatter from the snake''s side to reveal several Gemma bodies smooshed together. The snake, undeterred by the attack, moves to wrap around Quasi, only for Nepenthes to rip and tear the snake''s body apart. Even severed into multiple pieces, the body still attempts to move- even tries to rejoin together. All up until a jet of fire from Auranta sets the thing aflame. As it burns, the sound of more movement sends a warning to the group. Realizing they¡¯re on a time-limit, they leave the burning corpse and rush in the direction of the tower. More conjoined monstrosities of Gemma flesh bar their paths, but the three take as little time to deal with them before continuing on their way. Eventually, they arrive at what looks like a central chamber to the city''s sewer system: A massive cavernous area filled with pipes of various sizes, including ones large enough to fit vehicles through. The place is smothered in glowing mushrooms that cover nearly every inch of the cavern except for the central tower in the center. The tower is remarkably absent of mushrooms, none daring to cling to its black metal. Wary, the group looks around for enemies, but finds nothing out of the ordinary. The place is relatively silent until they hear the rustling sound behind them. The monsters they¡¯d rush past are now catching up. Auranta glances behind her. ¡°Should we move?¡± Quasi growls and makes his way to the tower. The two follow closely behind. Somehow, they arrive at the tower unmolested. Then they find the tower''s closed entrance with a singular keyhole. ¡°It''s locked,¡± Auranta exclaims. ¡°Where is the key?¡± A proper question that is answered by the rumbling of the cavernous area. All eyes look up as the entire ceiling shifts to reveal thousands of mushroomed Gemma bodies compressed together. It is here where the group realizes that the cavern is far more vertical than expected. From above, the mass of bodies shifts and moves, turning into what appears to be a Millipede hydra mushroom. The monstrosity walks across the wall on thousands of legs with numerous toothed snakelike mushroom appendages rising from where its head should be at. Most notable of all is that in between all those heads is a key embedded into its flesh. Quasi raises a claw towards the key and growls. In reply, the monstrosity opens all its mouth and screeches- starting the boss fight in earnest. The first to engage is Auranta. The Insectoid takes to the sky and calls up her mana. With a single swing of her staff, a blade of air accelerates at the monster. The monster reacts quickly by having a single head intercept. Instead of severing through the Gemma mushroom bodies as before, the attack explodes on impact, revealing that the heads are mostly comprised of dozens of layers of Gemma stony skin. A single spell that should have severed a dozen heads is halted by one. Not to be outdone by the [Air Mage], Nepenthes and Quasi rush into the fray. The heads react in the same way, sending a single appendage at each. Seeing how the spell affected a head, both close ranged combatants choose not to hold back. Quasi punches by adding the force of his hips while Nepenthes layers her scythes. One head shatters into stone and gore while another is cut clean through the middle. Seeing the threat, the monstrosity stops holding back and sends out multiple heads. It is here where the two are forced to dodge. They swerve, block, and attack as much as they can, but the attacks are far too numerous. Nepenthes takes a hit to her hardened bark armor, causing more and more crack to form while glancing strikes rip flesh from Quasi¡¯s body. They are losing, albeit slowly if it was only the two of them. But it¡¯s not, for there is a mage. Hovering near the ceiling with staff extended, Auranta pours more and more mana into a far more difficult spell- one of the highest layered wind spells she can cast. A swirling orb with dozens of Wind Cutters rapidly circling, twisting and turning within the enclosed space. The thing about Wind Cutter is that the spell rapidly reduces in potency the farther it travels. To maximize its effect, one needs to be dangerously close or have a way to transport the spell. Auranta prefers the latter. ¡°Get away!¡± She yells in warning. She then applies Transfiguration to the orb. The moment she does, she can already feel the orb struggling to contain the Wind Cutters housed within. The orb only has seconds before the boundaries shatter- seconds enough for the payload to reach the destination. Quasi and Nepenthes react to the warning by retreating away just in time for the orb to make contact against an intercepting head. Upon contact, the head explodes, followed by the rapid stream and rain of numerous Wind Cutters blasting onto the monster''s form. For the next three seconds, the sound of shattering stone and squelching flesh resound through the cavern. Eventually, the spell finishes, revealing the remains of the monster. Every head is crushed and its body lies unmoving. Atop the body is the key, undamaged by the maelstrom of attack. It is also at this point where things get exponentially dangerous. From every hole around the cavern, numerous monsters emerge and stream towards the group. Quasi points at the tower and growls an order. He then rushes to the monster''s corpse and rips out the key while Nepenthes and Auranta make their way to the tower''s entrance. The moment he grabs the key, the first swarm of monsters reach him. He dodges away, only to have another to intercept his path. Like a swarm, they converge on his location, grappling at his flesh like leeches. Roaring, he manages to throw the key towards the tower before the monsters pile over his body. Auranta catches the key midair and rushes to the door, inserts, and twists. Nepenthes arrives to push the door open. The two quickly enter inside. ¡°Close it!¡± Auranta warns. ¡°The Matriarch!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t save him. There are too many.¡± ¡°I am no coward!¡± Nepenthes moves to leave the tower, but Auranta stops her. ¡°He threw the key to make sure we escaped alive.¡± Nepenthes pauses, staring at the growing pile where Quasi¡¯s body is at. Indeed, what can she actually do? Maybe another of Aurantas spells? But they need time to prepare, something they do not have. Auranta places a hand on Nepenthes. ¡°Don¡¯t let his sacrifice be in vai-.¡± Her words are interrupted by a fiery explosion that sends numerous monsters flying away. In the center of the explosion stands Quasi Eludo. His skin is completely gone, revealing only burning flesh that coats his entire body. Unbound by the bodies restricting his movement, Quasi bends his legs, leans forward, and shatters the stone beneath his feet as he catapults himself towards the tower. Not to be outdone, the more intelligent and larger monsters jump into the air to intercept his path. The moment before he is intercepted, his form changes into a bird where-in he flaps and weaves between monsters. As he nears the tower, what he finds is the door closed and monsters swarming at the entrance. Realizing he may need to fight further, Quasi prepares to transform back into a Fenrimorph. Only for the door to rapidly open, followed by an explosion of wind that sends the monsters flying. With the path clear, Quasi dives into the tower where Nepenthes quickly shuts the door. IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 79: Blessing of the Tower ¡°Is this going to be a recurring theme? Am I going to almost die every fucking time I enter a tower? I hope the rest of the towers are better. Maybe I need to level more? Actually, I better get a bunch of damn levels!¡± Auranta and Nepenthes watch a little bird chirp loudly and angrily. They have no idea what it is saying, but it looks frustrated. Eventually, said bird shifts into a cat. ¡°Fuck this test.¡± Quasi curses. ¡°I do not believe fornication with tests is possible.¡± Nepenthes adds. Quasi gives the Phytonid a deadpanned look. ¡°You exploded. How are you even alive?¡± Auranta shifts the subject and Quasi¡¯s frustration. ¡°Oh, that? I layered as much of the destruction rune on my skin as possible. Right before I activated them, I flexed my muscles and directed the explosion outward. Still hurt a lot, and I probably lost a good quarter of my flesh, but I survived and got away.¡± ¡°You¡¯re insane!¡± Auranta exclaims. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I regenerate. How else do you expect me to learn destruction without materialization?¡± ¡°You blew up your flesh to learn to cast spells!¡± She screams, showing more emotion than Quasi had ever seen Auranta show. ¡°Jeez. Why are you getting so angry? It¡¯s my body and I can blow it up as much as I want to.¡± the cat counters. ¡°Because I¡¯m responsible! I showed you the rune and you- you.¡± She breathes out and forces herself to calm. It has been a very long while since she¡¯d lost control of her emotions. ¡°You¡¯re right. It is your choice, but I¡¯m not going to allow you to train without my supervision.¡± Quasi grins. ¡°Fair. There''s probably better spells to train with¡­ Ones that don¡¯t explode.¡± Auranta nods. ¡°Good. Now, how are we getting out of here? I doubt we can exit with all those monsters present.¡± Quasi yawns and stretches. ¡°Last time I passed the test, I was teleported back to the beginning. Hopefully it will do the same. Let''s go.¡± Finding the stairs, the group silently descends down under magical cat firelight. When they reach the bottom, they find a central pedestal with a glowing crystal ball. ¡°It¡¯s glowing.¡± Auranta observes. ¡°Yes, yes it is. Both of you stay put, I¡¯ll handle this.¡± Quasi shifts back into a Fenrimorph. When he does, the smell of burnt flesh wafts to all those who could smell it. This also allows both women to assess the extent of the damage. He has no skin and his muscles on his upper body are extraordinarily reduced. The only muscles that look generally undamaged are the ones on his legs. He probably avoided damaging them precisely so he could jump away. Walking to the orb, Quasi lays a gauntleted hand on the orb, at which point it immediately shatters to reveal a card. Looking closer, the card pictures a tower reaching up and through clouds. When he places his hand on the card, it disintegrates. _____________________________________________________________
Through Vitality, you have resisted the environment.
Through Intelligence, you have avoided the swarm.
Through Perception, you have safely traversed chaos.
Test of the Tower completed. Notifying the World System¡­
Towers completion identified¡­ Activating blessing interface¡­ Restricting Blood Flow to brain¡­
Wait? The swarm could be avoided! As I fall to the floor, I hear two more thuds accompanying mine. Then all is replaced with a room of endless white. The same endless light with the exception of a second card floating next to the first. Glancing away from the card, I find no object of Chaos to meet me. Instead, I¡¯m met with Green and Blue. Green for my level and Blue for my blessing. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°Before we begin. Green, am I level thirty yet?¡± ¡°Negative.¡± I turn to Blue. ¡°Then let''s begin with your buddy here since I¡¯m not getting any new skills. Blue, what have you got for me?¡± Blue blinks at me. ¡°Entity Quasi Eludo, you have obtained the Tower card. Please choose one of the following blessings:¡±
Blessing of the Tower.
  • Towers Vitality.
    • +5% Vitality
    • [Minor Healing Regeneration]
      • Increase Healing Rate by 100%.
  • Towers Intelligence.
    • +5% Intelligence
    • [Perfect Pitch]
      • Perfectly remember any and all sounds.
  • Towers Perception.
    • +5% Perception
    • [Flash Immune]
      • Light flashes do not blind you.
Reading the options, I can¡¯t help but find that they are lacking in comparison to those available in the previous tower. ¡°I don''t suppose I can reroll my options?¡± I ask blue. ¡°Negative.¡± ¡°Yea, thought not. Give me a moment to think about this.¡± I scratch my chin and stare at the floating box. Towers Vitality is a simply good blessing all around. Increased vitality improves my lifespan and base regeneration by five percent. The [Minor Healing Regeneration] skill is honestly really good and really useless. In a fight, doubled regeneration on my impressive regeneration as a Fenrimorph is still not fast enough to make a major difference in a fight. Healing a wound in five minutes instead of ten just isn''t worth it. Now, what it is useful for is training! ¡°Of course I¡¯m offered a skill that lets me blow myself up more often.¡± I shake my head and look to the next offer. Towers Intelligence is honestly useless for me. Over the centuries, I¡¯ve already learned how to manipulate my thoughts to remember anything, sounds included. This would makes it easier, but wasted. As for the stat boosts, not worth it. I look to the final blessing. Towers Perception is another that could potentially be useful, but I¡¯ve yet to deal with anyone trying to mess with my photoreceptors. On top of that, I don¡¯t think it would affect me as badly. Minor damage to eyes would be near instantly healed by my natural regeneration. I shake my head. ¡°Damn, funny how the blessing that helps me with self flagellation is the best option.¡± ¡°Have you chosen your blessing?¡± blue asks. ¡°Yea, yea. Just give me Towers Vitality.¡± ¡°Choice: Towers Vitality, accepted.¡±
Adding Title: Towers Vitality¡­ Title Added successfully.
Title Name Towers Vitality
Title Rank Tower
Title Effect +5% Vitality trait [Minor Healing Regeneration]
¡°Blessing application completed.¡± Blue blinks rapidly. ¡°Activating Reset Protocol.¡± ¡°Wait! I still have to talk to green about my stats!¡±
Reset Protocol Activated¡­ Teleporting Entity Quasi Eludo and servants to entrance¡­ Teleport Successful¡­ Test of Tower will reset once all entities leave the premises.
__________________________________________________________________ I wake up to the smell of fried Fenrimorph, the sound of pouring rain, and the flashes of red lightning. As I stand up, I watch as both Auranta and Nepenthes do the same. ¡°W-what happened?¡± Auranta asks while Nepenthes quickly takes a defensive stance. I take this opportunity to transform into my feline form. ¡°Teleportation. We¡¯re at the start of the tower. Once we leave, this whole test resets. ¡°I-I see.¡± Auranta tries to stand but finds herself exhausted. ¡°Are you alright?¡± I ask, concerned. ¡°I believe so. My body feels weak.¡± ¡°All cellular damage has been reverted since leaving the initial tower.¡± Nepenthes explains. ¡°I too feel weakened, but the effect is temporary.¡± ¡°Sounds like good news to me. Let''s get out of here. I¡¯m done fighting mushrooms from now on.¡± The three of us head to the stair and begin making our way down. ¡°By the way, did you guys get any levels?¡± ¡°I have gained five.¡± Nepenthes explains. ¡°My goddess blesses me with a new skill.¡± ¡°Five!¡± Auranta yells, seemingly forgetting her weakness. ¡°What level are you?¡± ¡°I am twenty-one now.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not even an advanced class! How are you so experienced with Mutation?¡± I chuckle. ¡°Nepenthes is from a different world like me. We¡¯re a lot more capable than you¡¯d expect.¡± ¡°That¡­ that explains a lot.¡± The woman goes solemn and thoughtful. Kinda sad too. ¡°So, did you get any levels?¡± I shift the conversation. ¡°Two levels. It seems the danger we faced was significant.¡± ¡°Yea, I agree. Kinda almost died, but all''s well that ends well. Speaking of which, it looks like we¡¯re back before night.¡± Reaching the descent, light beams from the tower''s opening. As we exit, I can''t help but be somewhat disappointed at seeing only my ship and nothing else. Oddly enough, I was somewhat expecting to see a giant ship parked next to the tower. But no, just calm winds and still plenty of light. ¡°If I¡¯m not getting fucked over, I bet someone else is going to be.¡± ___________________________________________________________ Over a hundred thousand Trist from a single sale. One of the largest hauls [Merchant Captain] Morris has seen to date. He¡¯d gained two whole levels. A rarity as an Advanced class. It truly was a smart play to sell the ship to the Gambinos. The added danger of dealing with pirates and greater profits really is a boon to leveling. Grabbing his quil and a clear sheets of paper, he taps the point in ink and starts planning on his next trade. With the influx of trist at his disposal, he can fill his ships storage with far more valuable goods. Something that would sell well to the major island like exotic fruits or rare metals. The Gemma tend to pay premium for quality, and Memphis does trade in quality metal. ¡°[Captain]!¡± He hears a shout. ¡°[Captain]!¡± The shout outside his office is closer. Morris stands up at the same time as one of his men bounds into his office. ¡°[Captain]! Come to the deck. There''s a problem!¡± Seeing the man''s panicked expression, Morris rushes up to the deck of his ship without question. Chubby as he is, boosted traits give him more mobility that would be expected as he outpaces the sailor. When he finally does arrive on the deck, what greets him is shock. The city of Memphis is burning- more specifically, the port is destroyed alongside every ship that was docked. Even the city¡¯s defensive towers and defenses are nothing more but slag. ¡°What''s your order, captain?¡± Morris swallows. ¡°Turn the ship around. I¡¯m not going to deal with this.¡± ¡°Aye [Captain].¡± The sailor moves and the ship begins to turn. Morris shakes his head and starts heading back into the ship. Just before he enters inside, he takes one last look at Memphis¡­ ¡­ and the Aurora above the city. IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 80: Plans going forward. ¡°My team, my buddies, my friends, my family-¡± ¡°Comrades.¡± Boriss adds. I nod to the Russian. ¡°Comrades. Two towers have been completed with twenty more to go. We¡¯re making good time and- Cillian, how are you already on your second bottle? I just started this meeting.¡± I call out the Scotsman. ¡°I was thirsty!¡± Cillian grins with a shake of his drink. I shake my head at his poor liver before surveying the rest of the team at the table. Everyone is present and staring at me expectantly while Clay strokes my furr. ¡°Alright, now where was I?¡± ¡°Good time,¡± Boriss reminds me. ¡°Right. We¡¯re making good time¡­ shit. I forgot where I was going with this.¡± They all look at me expectantly while I try to remember what the fuck I was planning to say. Only for my memory to fail me. ¡°Welp, I forgot. It probably wasn¡¯t important anyway. Or it was and It will bite me in the butt later.¡± I frown, staring at those present. Then my eyes fall upon our masked friend. ¡°Speaking of something probably important. Auranta, mind taking off your mask and introducing yourself?¡± Eyes shift to the [Air Mage] sitting directly across from me. She nods slowly and unlatches her mask. Then, ever so carefully, removes it to the gasps of most present. ¡°I am an Insectoid Princess of Queen Tinea.¡± Without the threat of the tower breathing down my fluffy neck, I can now take a proper gander at the woman''s looks. Her facial and body structure is that of a human but mixed with what seems like something of a moth. She has large red eyes, soft white scaly skin, and extremely white hair. Poking out of her head are two fuzzy antennae similar to something you¡¯d see on a moth. Honestly, when I¡¯d first thought of a race of insects, I¡¯d expected them to look more along the lines of Nepenthes. Myers crosses his arms and leans back into his chair. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of Tinea. She¡¯s a [Mage Queen] patroned to the Mage Guild.¡± ¡°That is correct.¡± ¡°Patroned? What do you mean patroned.¡± I ask. Auranta gazes upon me with her deep beady red eyes. ¡°All insectoids are created by a Queen, and each queen differs from one another. Most Queens are at war with others and in a constant struggle for dominance. They do not generally partake in alliances, nor are they accepting of other species. Queens who have mastered their baser instincts will patron themselves to either a guild or country- granting them the ability to travel alongside other species unmolested.¡± ¡°At the expense of the Patron.¡± Myers adds. Then he looks at me. ¡°Be wary of Insectoids, for their loyalty is to their Queens and the Queens are in service to the patrons.¡± Auranta frowns at Myers words. An actual, very human frown now that I can see her expression. ¡°All serve a master whether willingly or unwillingly. To state otherwise is a lie.¡± She says while taking a look at the child that pets me. Myers sees the intention of her words and matches her frown. I roll my eyes at the respectfully hostile undertones between the two. I¡¯d expected some infighting within my crew, though much earlier. I¡¯ve little idea how Irmgard, Cillian, and Boriss get along so well with each other. ¡°Auranta, mind telling me why you are after the towers? You¡¯re clearly not a champion, so there must be a reason.¡± ¡°There is.¡± She nods. ¡°The hivelands are in peril. A new Queen recently showed up and has begun consuming other hives at a rate my mother has never seen before. In response, many hives are now at war against this new Queen, but they are slowly losing and the Queen is getting more powerful with each hive conquered.¡± ¡°So what do the towers have to do with this?¡± I ask. ¡°My queen''s scouts have found that swarms of this Queen''s soldiers have been seen entering and leaving the towers at will with resources aplenty to fuel her hive. Now that you¡¯ve explained the subject of champions to me, I believe that this Queen is a champion like yourself.¡± That¡¯s Genius! She¡¯s farming the tower for resources to wage a long war she will win. ¡°So, why are you allowing this to happen? Shouldn¡¯t you try to take out the Queen before she gets too strong?¡± ¡°The Queen is deep within the hivelands. Moving a fleet capable of threatening this new Queen would leave my Queen undefended. Any nearby hives would relish the chance to slaughter her in her moment of weakness.¡± Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ¡°Can¡¯t you ally with another hive? Or several hives?¡± Irmgard asks the question I was about to. Auranta shakes her head at the blonde woman. ¡°It is within the nature of each Queen to be as aggressive and antagonistic to another. Queens that ally with each other do so because they have to and not because they want to.¡± Instinctually Genetic hatred. It¡¯s been many worlds since I¡¯ve seen sentient species with that kind of lifestyle. ¡°Well, now you know that that Queen is a champion. What are you going to do about it?¡± ¡°I will covertly send the information about champions to my Queen when we next land in a city. Then I will continue to serve you aboard this ship and record information about towers until such time I am ordered to do otherwise.¡± I can''t help but crack a smile. Not at the decision, but at the slight eagerness in tone. She doesn¡¯t seem like she wants to return to the Queen''s side. ¡°Then I¡¯m happy to welcome you aboard as a permanent member of the crew.¡± I say happily. ¡°Da, is nice have more comrades. Big family is good.¡± Boriss grins. ¡°Your combat ability is impressive. I welcome such a capable sister to serve the Matriarch.¡± Nepenthes says. ¡°Welcome,¡± Cillian waves a bottle. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you.¡± Emma says softly. ¡°Willkommen,¡± Irmgard says with a rare grin. At the words of the crew, I can¡¯t help the very human-like blush on Aurantas face even though her expression shows very little change. Chuckling, I look at the only unhappy guy at the table. ¡°Myers, last we talked was about a route. Have you got one for me?¡± Myers sighs. He reaches to the side and grabs the world map which he spread over the table. ¡°Our next stop will be in the city of Gladius.¡± He points a finger very center-east of the world map. ¡°That seems far,¡± I comment. And indeed, the location is a decent distance away from us. ¡°This map is old and the slipstreams aren''t updated.¡± He grumbles and points slightly to the left of the map right where Memphis is. ¡°If we take the slipstream next to Memphis and follow it here,¡± he moves his finger through the map, ¡°and then depart here.¡± he points at where the slipstream swerves left, ¡°We can travel a day east and take another slipstream that nears Gladius.¡± I nod. ¡°If I remember, I think the Gambino family is heading there too. I wonder if we¡¯ll meet them.¡± ¡°Maybe, though they do have a much faster fleet than our ship.¡± ¡°I see. Pity, I kinda liked them. Anyway, is Gladius where the next tower is located or are we just stopping there for a reason?¡± Myers nods. ¡°The city supposedly has a tower within it, but I''m ignorant of exactly where as I¡¯d never gone to Gladius.¡± ¡°Gladius'' largest coliseum is located on the tower''s disc and the entrance to it is heavily blocked off.¡± Auranta interrupts, grabbing the attention of everyone present. Her beady red eyes glance at those present before understanding why they are looking at her. ¡°I visited Gladius before Memphis but wasn¡¯t allowed to get anywhere near the tower unless I became a fighter in the arena.¡± I raise an eyebrow. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you?¡± I ask. She blinks back at me. ¡°They do not allow spells. My martial strength is mediocre at best. I wouldn¡¯t be able to pass the preliminaries that would allow me to gain access to the tower grounds.¡± ¡°I see. Well, maybe I can sneak inside or something. I guess I¡¯ll figure that out when I get there. How long is the flight?¡± ¡°Two weeks if we pass by Memphis and a little longer if we don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Ughhh,¡± I groan. ¡°Another long flight. How is our food supply? Are we going to need to stop anywhere? ¡°We used to before you started practicing magic,¡± Irmgard explains. ¡°If we ration it and you stay a cat, we can make do for two weeks.¡± I pout. ¡°Damn. I kinda want to train.¡± I look to Myers hopefully. The old man sighs. ¡°There are usually small villages and towns near slipstreams we can stop at.¡± ¡°Perfect.¡± I wiggle out of Clay''s grasp and hop onto the table. ¡°We¡¯ll stop at one and buy whatever food we need.¡± ¡°And alcohol,¡± Cillian wiggles his third empty bottle. I roll my eyes. I look away one moment, and the guy¡¯s consumed more alcohol than your average alcoholic. I swear, you must have some skill or something to drink like that. ¡°Ummm,¡± Emma raises her hand up. She¡¯d been pretty silent for the meeting. Hell, she¡¯d been generally shy ever since she joined the crew. ¡°What¡¯s up Emma. Don¡¯t ever be afraid to speak up.¡± ¡°The freezer room is done and the runes are charged. I can start working on the cannons whenever you want me to.¡± I blink, surprised. ¡°We have a fridge now? Nice! We can buy fresh meat now- wait a second. Did you say you can work on the cannons?¡± She nods slowly. ¡°I figured out the runes to reduce recoil from the books Adriana gave me. They¡¯re tedious but not complicated. But, I don¡¯t have enough materials for all the cannons.¡± She explains. My tail flicks left and right to the slight wobbles of the ship. ¡°Do what you can and I¡¯ll have Irmgard buy you whatever you need.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll need more crew to man the guns too,¡± Irmgard add¡¯s. ¡°Gladius would be an ideal place to buy crew for your ship,¡± Auranta says. ¡°Buy crew? As in slaves?¡± I ask. ¡°[Slaves] are banned everywhere outside of Buxon territory.¡± Myers quips. For some odd reason, the old man doesn¡¯t like Auranta now that he knows what she is. ¡°I was speaking about indentured Servants,¡± Auranta explains. ¡°Which are very much legal.¡± I stretch on the table as I feel a wave of sleepiness come over me as though it is time for my midday catnap. ¡°I¡¯m not keen on buying anyone as I prefer organically gaining crew, but my recent summon had a decent slave system. Then again, it was enforced by an immortal empress.¡± I yawn. ¡°Anyway, we¡¯ll talk later. Let''s set sail for now. I need to talk to Green.¡± I hop off the table and make my way to my room. Using reflexes that come with a majestic body like mine, I reach the top of the bookshelf, take a stretch, lay down and close my eyes. Within a moment, I am whisked off to a white room. IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 81: In the Meantime ¡°What the fuck do you mean Green is unavailable?¡± I ask Red. The floating eyeball blinks at me before replying. ¡°Entity Green will be present upon gaining a level in class.¡± ¡°I saw him the last time I was subconscious. I didn¡¯t even get to ask him how much I leveled and where to put my damn trait points. ¡°Entity Green will be present upon gaining a level in class,¡± he repeats. ¡°Well fuck you too you ungrateful shit.¡± Red blinks, unbothered by my choice of insult. Shaking my head, I force myself to calm down. It¡¯s not like I lost the levels or anything. But the attribute points would have been a decent boost. ¡°Red, show me my job page.¡± ¡°Acknowledged.¡±
Job: [Ship Captain] Level: Level 18 Job Skills: 2 Ship Size: Frigate Primary Jobs Available: 8 Support Jobs Available:5 Maximum Job Capacity: 22
Primary Jobs [First Mate] level 12: Irmgard Von Braun level 13 [Sword Officer] [Quartermaster] level 16: Cillian Wallace level 21 [Merchant] [Security Chief] level 10: Boriss Smirnov level 18 [Skirmisher] [Chief Carpenter] level 14: Emma level 31 [Rune Smith] [Head Chef]: N/A [Chief Physician] level 7: Nepenthes level 21 [Druid] [Artillery Chief]: N/A [Navigator]: N/A
Support Jobs [Boatswain] level 1: Auranta level 39 [Air Mage] [Gunner]: [Cook]: [Carpenter]: [Rigger]: [Physician Assistant]:
Oh, nice. I leveled twice in my job. No idea why, though. Maybe it¡¯s from how I interacted with the Gambino family? Doesn¡¯t matter, I need a lot more levels going forward. Sooner too, considering Cillian is catching up. The damn guy is double dipping in [Quartermaster] and [Merchant] levels by just trading and making deals. I mean, if memory serves, he was a level 19 merchant a couple days ago. I should probably ask him what skill he got from that. As I continue looking over my crew, I quickly realize that two others gained skills. Nepenthes hit twenty and Emma hit thirty. Actually, Emma also passed ten in her job, so she got two skills. Must be from finishing the freezer. The cannons will probably level her up further too. With one final check, I mentally close the job screen. ¡°I¡¯m done red. Take me back to the waking world.¡± ¡°Acknowledged.¡± __________________________________________________________ Quasi opens his eyes to the vantage of someone laying atop a bookshelf. He yawns and stretches before making his way down and out of his room. As he exits, he finds a lack of light and sound. It¡¯s the middle of the night and all seem asleep except for whoever is keeping watch on the deck. Curious, Quasi goes down the hallway, moves up the stairs, and arrives on the deck. What he finds is Myers sitting on a throne directly to the side of the crystal ball that controls the ship. The old man is staring at the night sky, seemingly deep in thought. At that moment, he reminds Quasi of an old man filled with wisdom and knowledge that is thoroughly chained down by a strong sense of duty. ¡°Myers, did you get tired of standing?¡± Quasi asks upon approach. The old man doesn''t flinch. He just casually turns his head to the cat as though he expected Quasi to arrive unannounced. He moves his arm from an armrest and allows Quasi to hop on top of it. ¡°Not me, Cillian. He had the watch before me and asked Nepenthes to move the throne here.¡± Myers taps the bottom of where he is sitting to show an extensive amount of padding. ¡°I found him sleeping.¡± Quasi sighs. ¡°Yea, might be best to restrict his alcohol before he needs to watch.¡± If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°I¡¯d punish him instead,¡± Myers says. ¡°Though restricting alcohol may be the same thing for him.¡± ¡°Yea¡­¡± Both cat and man sit in silence except for the soothing sound of flapping sails and the generally silent creak of wood. ¡°So, do you have a problem with Insectoids?¡± Quasi asks. ¡°I do.¡± Myers answers. Quasi glances at the old man in surprise, ¡°Damn, that¡¯s a hella straight answer from you.¡± The old man shrugs. ¡°There are few who don¡¯t have problems with them. The race in and of itself does not conform to moral norms. There is a reason why patrons are required for Insectoids to travel freely.¡± ¡°Auranta seems rather normal to me. She has emotions, interests, and her own ideas that I¡¯d argue matches that of any other sentient race.¡± Myers grimaces and nods. ¡°She does, though I believe that to be trained and not genuine. I-¡± He pauses for a moment before deciding something. ¡°I used to be in charge of a fleet of ships- a [Fleet Captain] if you will. During my time as one, Insectoid interactions have almost universally been negative. Nearly every interaction I¡¯ve had involved destroying a Hiveship that was raiding an island or hunting ships.¡± ¡°Why? I thought Patroned Insectoids follow laws.¡± ¡°They do and don¡¯t. Occasionally, non-patroned ships and even fleets of Insectoids find their way outside of the Hivelands- which is where I¡¯m tasked with hunting them down. But, it isn¡¯t too uncommon for a Patroned hive to go rogue when they feel that being a Patron restricts their growth.¡± ¡°That seems illogical.¡± Myers nods. ¡°That¡¯s where the problem arises. The Princesses, workers, and soldiers of the hives are logical thinkers who usually lack emotions, the Queens are quite the opposite. Though extremely intelligent, they are heavily dictated by emotions. If they are slighted by a patron, a Queen will bide their time before breaking patronage and getting revenge even at the cost of long-term growth and safety.¡± ¡°That honestly sounds pretty human.¡± Myers chuckles. ¡°Yes, if every human lacked emotional discipline and had a potent narcissistic personality.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ yea, that sounds pretty bad. How do the patrons deal with all this then?¡± ¡°With extensive control. They greatly restrict what the Queen is allowed to do- to the point that Tinea is nothing more but a servant of the Mage Guild.¡± ¡°Auranta doesn¡¯t sound like she serves the Mage Guild.¡± The old man brushes his beard with his right hand in what seems like agitation. ¡°Because I don¡¯t believe she does. She kept her species hidden from all of us and from Memphis. I believe Tinea wishes to keep this hunt for information away from the Mage Guild.¡± Quasi stretches on the armrest before laying down again. ¡°Any Idea why?¡± Myers shakes his head. ¡°Nothing concrete- though I imagine it most likely isn¡¯t for a morally good reason.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Quasi stands back up and does one last stretch. ¡°Well, nothing to do about it now. We¡¯ll play it by ear and react appropriately. For now, try to be a bit more respectful to Auranta. I don¡¯t think she likes her Queen very much.¡± ¡°Insectoids cannot disobey their Queens. They will end you if you are found to be a threat.¡± Quasi hops off the throne. ¡°Maybe, maybe not. My gut tells me Auranta is a bit different. Anyway, I¡¯m gonna go find some food. I¡¯ll see you later.¡± ¡°You may regret this,¡± Myers warns, but Quasi is already entering inside the belly of the Timbergrove.¡± _______________________________________________________________ ¡°DAAAADDD!!!¡± A young child of eight rushes to the fields of the small farm. He passes by herds of giant grazing spiders that make way for the child''s passage. The child, huffing, arrives just as his father finishes collecting the silk and eggs from their nest. ¡°Marcus, why are you yelling? You¡¯ll aggravate the Lacaranea.¡± The father admonishes. ¡°We¡¯ve already harvested the eggs late, I¡¯d rather not do so again.¡± ¡°There''s a ship. A frigate.¡± The child points beyond the farmhouse. He can''t see the ship on account of his home being in the way, but he can see the crowsnest. ¡°They¡¯re early,¡± the father grumbles as he looks at the unwound silk in his hands. ¡°Damn it all. Marcus, take this to my storage. I¡¯ll deal with the [Captain].¡± The man, cursing the entire way, rushes to the front of his home, only to pause when he sees the ship. The ship is a frigate, a heavily armed one considering the cannons sticking out. For a moment, fear takes him. It has been decades since [Pirates] have landed at his island. They¡¯re usually far too afraid considering how close the nearby slipstream is. ¡°Good thing I still pay that insurance,¡± He whispers under his breath. The plank of the ship falls on his small wooden pier. Then he watches as a tall blond woman and a short man descend. Looking at them now, his fear quickly abates, for the two don¡¯t look like [Pirates] nor do they have the job. Emboldened now, the man puts on a smile and meets the two halfway. He extends his hand. ¡°Names Carran. I¡¯m the owner of this farm.¡± The woman takes his hand. ¡°Irmgard. [First Mate].¡± The short man snorts. ¡°Irmgard, you know it wouldn¡¯t hurt to smile.¡± ¡°We are not here for leisure,¡± the woman reprimands. ¡°We¡¯re here to buy goods.¡± ¡°Bah, you¡¯ll never get a good price with that attitude.¡± The short man grins to Carran. ¡°Names Cillian, [Quartermaster] of, well, that ship. As my compatriot here says so blatantly, we¡¯re here to buy goods, specifically meat. You sell meat, don¡¯t you?¡± Carran nods. ¡°Lacaranea meat, milk, eggs, and silk.¡± The short man keeps grinning. ¡°We¡¯ll take the first three.¡± Carran nods thankfully. The first three he¡¯s got plenty of, what with the silk only now getting harvested. ¡°I only sell in bulk, though.¡± Cillian chuckles, ¡°and we only pay in bulk pricing. Let''s head inside and see what you have to offer.¡± _____________________________________________ ¡°Faster,¡± Auranta orders. She watches with [Mana Sight] as Quasi punches forward. As his fist accelerates, a rune forms within his wrist. At the point that his arm is fully erected, momentum follows the delayed activation of the rune, pushing it from wrist, to palm, and then to knuckle. It reaches the boundary of the skin on Quasi¡¯s knuckles and would normally shatter and explode, but the spell had already started activating. What should have been a fiery exploding knuckle is instead a weak and brief jet of fire. Quasi, flabbergasted, glances at Auranta for an explanation. ¡°It is believed that the inability to expend mana from their body is an evolved defensive feature. There are spells designed specifically to disrupt and corrupt the internal mana of an individual. These spells, also known as curses, are nearly useless against species that lack the ability to utilize Materialization. The reason is because their body''s internal mana is naturally in a state that is anathema to forms outside itself. A spell undergoing activation shifts into a state where it no longer matches the host''s internal mana structure. At which point the body attempts to push it out,¡± Auranta explains. Quasi nods slowly. ¡°Good. You¡¯ve done it once, but once isn¡¯t enough. You have to be consis-¡± Auranta stops talking as Quasi begins punching rapidly, with each punch creating a perfect jet of fire similar to his first actual success. This continues for minutes until Quasi compounds the singular rune with a second one to increase the potency. His knuckles explode in flesh, blood, and bone. Seeing this, Auranta suppresses the urge to rush and help with the wound as she¡¯d done before when a student of hers was injured. For anyone else, they¡¯d become a cripple without a [Healers] attention. Quasi frowns at the missing cracked white knuckle bone on his hand. Then he looks at Auranta. ¡°Compounding a rune increases the time for full activation.¡± Quasi growls in acknowledgement even as the damage to his knuckles begin to heal. Using his uninjured hand, he reaches into a bucket and begins consuming the raw flesh of an animal very similar in structure to an insectoid her Queen had previously warred with. By the time he is finished with the food, his fist is healed enough to continue the experimentation. Oozing confidence, Quasi takes a fighter''s stance. He closes all of his eyes and Auranta notes the runes being formed at the forearm instead of the wrist. Exactly twice the previous distance to his knuckles. ¡°Stop! It¡¯s not a doubled delay! It¡¯s only slightly incre-¡± her warning comes too late as Quasi¡¯s hand explodes in a shower of viscera and blood. IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 82: Gladius The weeks pass quickly aboard the Timbergrove. Their traversal through the skies was unfortunately uneventful. No pirates attacked and no pirates to attack- and thus no levels to be gained. Quasi, [Captain] of the Timbergrove that he is, finds the lack of adversity unwelcome. ¡°When I was a young [Captain] looking to make a name for myself, I also found the empty and safe skies boring. I hated the lack of action.¡± Myers explains with a smile on his face. The man looks content and happy on the throne, enjoying the sight of empty clear skies all around. ¡°Now though, I¡¯ve grown to relish in peace and safety.¡± ¡°Peace is for the weak and safety for the dead. I crave violence, levels, and actual milk. Not that mutant weird fat-free spider milk.¡± ¡°Lacaranea is a favored meat source preferred by the nobility and wealthy. An insult to all milk drinkers everywhere.¡± ¡°Fuck the spider chickens and their white pisswater. And their eggs too.¡± The old man sighs. ¡°You seem a bit aggravated.¡± ¡°You¡¯d be aggravated too if your training involves repeatedly blowing up half your body.¡± ¡°Hmmm. I do recall Clay mentioning that you''ve been eating a lot more.¡± ¡°Yea, training has slowed quite a bit.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Quasi groans and growls at the same time. Like he¡¯s angry at being annoyed. ¡°Partly because the magic training has progressed to the point that failing a spell explodes my arm, and partly because I¡¯m too hard-headed to train with safer, less explosive runes.¡± ¡°Sounds like you already know the problem and what you need to do to solve it.¡± ¡°Growl.¡± Myers chuckles. ¡°Well, your tortuous boredom is coming to an end.¡± He retrieves a spyglass, extends it, and takes a look. Then he positions it for Quasi. Looking through the spyglass, Quasi gazes at the island of Glatorius. A large magnificent oval island slightly lower in elevation than their current position. From his vantage, he notes that the island center has a large lake covered in massive farmland. The City, Gladius, is located at the edge of the island and surrounds the tower. Throughout the city, numerous arenas of various sizes numbering in the dozens can be seen everywhere - and the largest of these was situated at the base of the tower.. ¡°The city seems wealthy. The port is crowded and the ships get pretty big. Some of them even look fancy.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never visited Gladius, but it¡¯s a popular place for the wealthy to spend and make money. You¡¯ll find many [Merchants] and [Nobles] frequenting the city.¡± ¡°Make money? Like gambling in fights?¡± ¡°Yes. The city is an Oligarchy fueled by the fees they collect from those that gamble and those that watch the mindless bloodshed.¡± ¡°Oooohhh. Sounds fun. Do you think I could join in on the fights?¡± Myers raises an eyebrow. ¡°As a [Gladiator]?¡± ¡°No, as a gambler. I doubt they¡¯d let me join in my Fenrimorph form.¡± Myers slowly strokes his beard as one would mindlessly a cat. ¡°I don¡¯t actually know. I only know of Gladius, but never visited.¡± ¡°Damn. Sounds like I¡¯ll need to figure that out when I arrive.¡± ______________________________________________________________________ On approach, It is immediately made clear that the ports have a bit of a tiered system in place that just so happens to favor those with power, and thus money. The ports of larger ships are well-cared, well-cleaned, and well-guarded. While the ports for smaller ships are more towards the opposite, with Corvettes placed in the most dilapidated part of decaying wood and rusted metal. The Timbergrove though, cored that it is, is directed into an area where smaller cored ships are located. This area is of a quality similar to where the larger ships are moored. As the Timbergrove moves into position, it becomes blatantly obvious that the timbergrove really doesn''t belong. Both to the left and right of the ship are cored frigates designed not by a [Shipwright], but by an artist who just so happens to have the class. These are vessels for the wealthy nobles who wish to fly fast and without the annoyance of crew. They are ships whose design and construction loudly speaks of wealth and the willingness to dispose of that wealth for the vainest of purposes. In moments, the ship is tied down and a bridge is placed. A man wearing a toga arrives and waits at the entrance, a curious wrinkle stands squarely upon his brow. The man is aged, but muscular and scarred. An old fighter if Quasi were to guess. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. __________________________________________________ Gond isn¡¯t sure how to feel about the Timbergrove. It¡¯s not a fancily designed cored vessel built for speed and mobility, nor is it one designed for combat- even though the ship is arguably the most armed frigate Gond had ever seen. It honestly looks like a versatile vessel modified to fight destroyers and win. ¡°Very odd,¡± he whispers at the Ballista on the ship''s prow. His reaction only gets stronger when he sees the diverse crew. As soon as they depart the ship, Gond steps forward and gives a trained bow. ¡°Welcome to Gladius. I am Gond, a servant of this fair city and the designated caretaker for your ship. Who might be the [Captain] of this fine vessel?¡± A cat sitting upon the shoulder of a tall broad-shouldered muscular man raises a paw. ¡°That would be me.¡± To most, the sight of a talking cat would make most people pause. But Gond isn''t like most people. Life had honed him to react quickly or risk death. ¡°Then I would like to extend my guiding services to you for the remainder of your stay.¡± ¡°I get a guide?¡± the cat asks. Gond nods. ¡°Yes. Ships moored at this section are offered such services until they depart.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ damn. I was going to find a bar for information, but this is even better. Alright Gond, I accept your offer?¡± He bows again. ¡°How would you like me to call you?¡± ¡°[Captain] Fluffy, or just Fluffy is fine.¡± ¡°Of Course, [Captain] Fluffy. What services do you require of me?¡± ¡°Information. I need access to the central tower where the barrier is located. I heard it¡¯s blocked off or restricted?¡± ¡°You heard correctly. The central area of the tower is used to house the top [Gladiators]. None but the fighters and their guests are allowed within.¡± ¡°I¡­ see. Boriss, want to fight in an arena again?¡± Boriss grins like a child who was offered chocolate. ¡°Da. Is long time since I crack skull. Vhil be fun.¡± ¡°Gond, looks like my buddy here wants to show the [Gladiators] how to properly fight. Where can we sign him up?¡± Gond looks Boriss up and down, and what he finds is a body who looks as though it belongs in the coliseum. ¡°Is your fighter below level twenty-five?¡± ¡°He is.¡± Gond nods. ¡°Then, if we hurry now, he can be signed up for the base class qualifiers.¡± ¡°[Captain], I wish to join him in combat. It has been weeks since I have tasted the flesh of those fallen upon my claws.¡± Gond hides a grimace as Nepenthes reveals her mantis blade-arms. ¡°Only Humans, Wolven, and Gemma are allowed in the under twenty-five tournaments. Phytonids and Insectoids are forbidden from joining any fights.¡± The cat frowns. ¡°What about Buxon¡¯s?¡± ¡°Buxon are no longer allowed in the under twenty-five tournaments.¡± Boriss crosses his arm as a vein pops on the side of his neck. The man is actually upset. ¡°Vhy? Bug and plant is not fun: like punching tree and squishing bug. But break bone is good fun, yes?¡± Gond blinks, even going as far to have a slight smile. ¡°We used to allow Buxon in the under twenty-five tournaments, but the Gladius bosses got tired of seeing mostly Buxons in the finals. It was uninteresting and generally bad for profits.¡± Boriss spits to the side and into the depths of the planet. ¡°Cowards.¡± The man suppresses a chuckle. ¡°I¡¯d have to agree. But those are the rules and all must abide by them. Now, before I lead you there, do you have any more questions?¡± ¡°Where can we bet on these fights?¡± Cillian asks eagerly. ¡°You can legally bet at the betting house within any coliseum.¡± ¡°And illegally?¡± Cillian questions. Gond Shrugs. ¡°I hear the city gangs tend to avoid paying taxes and fees on their winnings. But that¡¯s just a rumor. Any more questions?¡± ¡°Where can supplies be bought?¡± Irmgard asks. Gond points at several nearby stores. ¡°We have quality supplies nearby, but if you are strapped for coins, then I recommend you roam the city. Gladius lives on trade and great deals can always be found. Are there any more questions?¡± ¡°Are there any nearby taverns?¡± Myers asks. ¡°Upper or lower class?¡± Gond asks. ¡°More towards the middle.¡± ¡°Same as the girl, then. Gladius has a tavern at every corner and a fight in every other. Travel the city and you¡¯ll find them everywhere. Any more questions?¡± ¡°None,¡± Quasi interrupts before Cillian can raise his hand. ¡°Just take me and Boriss to where we need to sign up,¡± Quasi tells Gond. He then looks at his crew. ¡°Enjoy the city and try not to start a scene. Irmgard, I¡¯m leaving you in charge while I¡¯m gone.¡± She nods. ¡°Good. Now, Gond, onwards!¡± ______________________________________________________________ It¡¯s a generally long trek through the city with many twists, turns, and crowds. Gladius is a massive hubbub of activity, hiding a much larger population than is expected. Eventually, we arrived at one of the larger coliseums. Not the central one, but not the smaller ones either. Entering through the white stone doors, we are met with the smell of blood and sweat. Numerous men stand about with bulging muscles strained under a single toga. They glance at us before returning to what looks like weight training. Further in, a small arena reveals the reason for the blood. Two men are going at each other, one in a toga and padded fists, and another wearing what looks like leather armor. The two go at it with fists, but it¡¯s quickly become clear that the guy with padded fists is a far superior fighter. The other guy swings randomly with little skill and poor footwork. It doesn¡¯t take long before an uppercut knocks the armored guy into the floor. ¡°A good showing, Florence. Just like I taught you.¡± Gond walks to where the small arena is at. There, a man fights with padded gloves, but immediately stops when notices the old man approach. ¡°Gond, you old fart. What are you doing here? I thought the bosses have you guiding money to the pits.¡± Gond chuckles, ¡°you¡¯re not wrong on that.¡± ¡°That a friend of yours?¡± Quasi asks. ¡°Did that cat just talk?¡± Florence asks. ¡°No, you¡¯re just dealing with brain damage and are hearing things,¡± I answer. Gond shakes his head. ¡°[Captain] Fluffy, Florence is in charge of testing anyone who wants to join the tournament. It would be a good idea to show him a bit of respect.¡± The cat rolls its eyes. ¡°I am a cat. A majestic being of extravagance that all other species pale in comparison to. The fact that I even deign to acknowledge anyone''s existence is a kindness few of my magnificent kind would ever give.¡± Gond sighs while Florence chuckles. ¡°I like him. What are you here for?¡± Gond ruffles his toga and extends an arm at me. ¡°[Captain] Fluffy wishes to enter his crewman into the tournament. I¡¯m taking them to the [Receptionist] to sign up.¡± ¡°Then back to me for testing. Gotcha.¡± The man in leather armor starts groaning beside Florence. ¡°Oh, looks like my partner woke up. Gond, since you¡¯re heading to the [Receptionist], tell her the last guy she sent doesn''t get the discount.¡± ¡°I will. [Captain] Fluffy, Boriss, please follow.¡± IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 83: Two heads are better than one. ¡°Why do they apply on the last day? Why!¡± A tall muscular woman in a white Stola whispers under her breath. Her muscles flex with each swish of her quill, as though she wants to use it to stab the young man in front of her. A young, somewhat fit man that avoids her gaze. The man is a well-leveled [Rogue], but his job as a [Dockworker] reveals a limited experience in actual combat. Levels in a combat class can only get you so far. She sighs. ¡°Kid, joining the competition isn¡¯t a game. A lot of people get hurt, some never even get the ability to walk away.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have a choice. I need the money,¡± the young man explains nervously. ¡°The money? Do you even have the five hundred trist to join?¡± ¡°I heard you can join for a big discount or even for free.¡± The woman shakes her head. ¡°The discount is if Florence acknowledges your skill and it¡¯s free if you can beat him in unarmed combat.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll fight him and win.¡± ¡°Fine. Just know we don¡¯t cover any injuries you may get from Florence.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t lose! I can¡¯t lose!¡± ¡°Right, right. What''s your name again?¡± ¡°Gino.¡± She scribbles his name on a paper and then stamps it. Then she hands it to him. ¡°Take this to Florence and he¡¯ll stamp it if he approves of the discount.¡± ¡°And if I beat him?¡± She snorts. ¡°I¡¯ll know if you do. Now go.¡± She watches the young man run off. As he disappears, she shakes her head one more time before returning to her job. ¡°Next person in lin- Gond! What are you doing here?¡± Gond laughs. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you too, Lynette. Seems your retirement is more interesting than my own.¡± She grins and rolls her eyes. ¡°Jealous, Gond? Are you getting bored of directing those wealthy pricks where they can feast upon the city''s most scrumptious lacaranea meat? Because that sounds a lot more interesting than sitting behind a desk and dealing with limp-dick wannabe [Gladiators] who don¡¯t know what end of the sword to shove up their asses!¡± ¡°Is not limp. Is strong and thick like vodka bottle.¡± Gond, Lynette, and a cat turn towards a grinning man with a beard. He blinks, confused. Then he raises his hands a good twelve inches apart. ¡°Bottle is dis long and,¡± he then makes a fist. ¡°dis thick.¡± The three continue staring at the man as he looks more and more confused. Eventually the most unlikely person breaks the silence. ¡°Boriss,¡± the cat pats his shoulder, ¡°I pray for your future wife''s survival.¡± Lynette''s attention quickly swerves towards the talking cat. She quickly blinks as though looking at something else. ¡°A [Captain] and an [Armament Shifter]. That¡¯s unique.¡± ¡°A [Shifter], not [Druid]?¡± Gond asks, surprised. ¡°I guess that explains the long transformation.¡± Quasi leans forward. ¡°Gond, are you familiar with the [Shifter] class?¡± The man nods slowly. ¡°To an extent. There was a [Gladiator] that fought as monsters for the crowd.¡± ¡°Really? I need to talk with him!¡± Gond shakes his head ¡°He¡¯s dead. Died a decade ago to Maksim.¡± Lynette leans forward on her desk. ¡°Gladius has been searching for a [Shifter] since then. You can make a crazy amount of coins if you¡¯re willing to become a [Gladiator].¡± The cat taps his mount again. ¡°No time for me, but monster dick over here is looking to join the competition.¡± ¡°Right, Lynette. Quasi here is the [Captain] I¡¯m in charge of guiding. He wants to enter Boriss into the competition,¡± Gond explains. Lynette''s spine quickly straightens as she realizes that Gond¡¯s guests are far more important than she thought. With a now more professional posture, she nervously grins at the rather fluffy kitten. ¡°Of course. I¡¯m more than happy to get that underway.¡± She then stares at Boriss for a moment. ¡°Level Eighteen [Skirmisher].¡± She frowns as though the level does not make sense. The muscled man in front of her has an aura of extreme competency. He should be level twenty-four at the lowest. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Quasi asks after a long bit of silence on her part. She shakes her head. ¡°No. It checks out. Did you want to pay the entry fee or fight Florence for a possible discount?¡± ¡°Fight, Fight,¡± Both cat and human answer in unison. Lynette retrieves a paper, writes something down and then hands it to Boriss. She then points down the hall. ¡°Take this paper to Florence. He¡¯ll test you in unarmed combat, and if he finds you skilled, you¡¯ll be allowed the discount. Just know it might take a bit of time. Florence is currently fighting someone and I just sent another.¡± ¡°Ahh, yes. We met Florence on our way here.¡± Gond remembers. ¡°He wanted me to tell you that the last guy you sent doesn¡¯t get the discount.¡± This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Lynette shakes her head. ¡°He needs to stop knocking these people out.¡± Then she smiles. ¡°Well, thank you. Now go and return to me after the fight.¡± Gond, Quasi, and Boriss make their way back to Florence. When they arrive, the young man named Gino is already in the ring and ready to fight. Florence notices their approach. ¡°Alright kid, looks like we have a small audience. Try not to get beaten too easily.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who''s going to get beaten.¡± The kid taunts. Florence chuckles before beginning to bounce on his feet with fists at chest level. ¡°Start whenever.¡± ____________________________________________________
Florence: Level 39 [Caestus Gladiator]
From the man''s form alone, I can honestly say Florence would easily compete in professional boxing. He has the footwork down perfectly, and he uses that now to keep a respectable distance from his younger opponent.
Gin: Level 24 [Dockworker]
His opponent though isn¡¯t very experienced using his fists. Instead, the kid lowers his posture and places his fist at odd angles. It looks very odd, but also reminiscent of a style. ¡°Boriss, do you recognize his stance?¡± I ask my mount. ¡°He fight with knife.¡± OHHHH! Now I see it. ¡°He¡¯s got good form.¡± Gond crosses his arms and releases a sigh. ¡°That kid doesn¡¯t have the levels to be a threat to Florence. Knife fighters win against slower opponents, and [Pugilists] are far from slow.¡± Boriss shrugs. ¡°Is true. But, man is old and- how you say? Arrogant? Vhen Boriss vhas little lad, he use head to win. Is good strategy.¡± ¡°Outsmarting your opponent can always work,¡± Gond acknowledges, ¡°but Florence is too experienced for that.¡± Boriss glances at the retired [Gladiator] for a moment, and then shakes his head. ¡°Fights starting,¡± I call out. The first to engage is the kid. He rushes in for a punch to Florence''s liver, but the man blocks and diverts with his arm while using his other to return a punch. Gino, having thrown a probing punch, easily maneuvers out of range. Only for Florence, who¡¯d seen the probe, to react by weaving towards Gino. Gino dodges two more punches and then gets clipped by the third in the face. Gino rolls away and prepares to block, only to find Florence back in his stance and a respectable distance away. The man has a smug grin on his face. ¡°Come on Gino. Don¡¯t give up yet. The beating has only just begun.¡± Florence taunts. The kid spits a bit of blood on the side and takes his stance. Arrogant, sure, but not stupid. Like before, Gino circles Florence like a shark in water. He hold his fists like one hold a knife, ready to stab and slice should the opportunity present itself. And the opportunity does as Florence stops his footwork. Gino rushes forward, only for Florence to grin as he releases a punch with extreme speed and force. To Florence''s surprise, Gino expected this, for the kid immediately enters a slide that narrowly avoids the fist. As he slides past, Gino punches for the man''s crowning jewels. A perfectly executed plan that would have worked if not for Florence''s knee slamming into the kids face. You could hear the whiplash and crack as the young man''s head was thrown back into near unconsciousness. The kid''s body continues to slide a short distance before he rolls into a stance with blood trickling down his nose. Florence glances at the kids'' pissed off expression, then chuckles. He raises his hands up and the gloves covering them. ¡°I wear these gloves because my fists can kill easily if I¡¯m not careful.¡± The kid wipes the blood and takes a stance. ¡°I¡¯m not going to lose.¡± Florence chuckles. ¡°Prove it.¡± For the next half hour, I watch a young man get beat down and countered with every engagement. Granted, each engagement against Florence is an improvement from the last, but only slightly. Florence has yet to take a solid hit while Gino looks like he¡¯s bruised all over. ¡°I-I I¡¯ll win.¡± Gino forces out while laying with his back to the ground. ¡°I just need a breather.¡± Florence shakes his head. ¡°You''re tenacious, I¡¯ll give you that. I¡¯ll even say you improve quickly, but nowhere fast enough to beat me. Still, you¡¯ve got guts and potential. So.¡± Florence walks to a paper on a nearby table. Reaches into a pocket and then stamps it. ¡°I¡¯ll give you the discount.¡± ¡°I-I can''t afford it. I need to win.¡± The kid whines. He tries to get up, but the injuries make it difficult. ¡°Hey Gino, why are you so hellbent on joining this tournament? Actually, why do you need the money?¡± ¡°To buy my sister''s freedom.¡± ¡°Freedom? What do you mean freedom? Is she in a cage or something?¡± I ask. ¡°Probably a servants contract,¡± Gond says. ¡°Your average contract goes from thousands of trist to tens if not hundreds of thousands. A [Dockworker] makes maybe a thousand or two trist¡¯s a year on average. His sister, if she shares his age, is going to take several decades to afford.¡± ¡°Vhe should help.¡± Boriss announces. He retrieves a pouch of coins by his side. ¡°Is only fifty, yes?¡± ¡°Boriss! Don¡¯t just give Cillians hard-earned money away.¡± I complain. ¡°Gino needs to earn it himself.¡± Boriss pouts. ¡°Comrade, I vhant to help. Russian heartstring is in pain. Little man suffers for sister.¡± I sigh. ¡°Your arguments are shit and I bet you know it too. But fine, how about a deal. You¡¯re only allowed to spend fifty trist. So long as you join the tournament, I don¡¯t care what you use the coin for.¡± ¡°Ha. Is good deal.¡± Boriss reaches picks me up off his shoulder and places me on Gond¡¯s. Then he retrieves fifty trist from the bag, walks up to Gino and drops the coins on the young mans supine position. ¡°W-what?¡± Gino asks. ¡°Relax and vatch. I vill show you how to fight.¡± Boriss walks in front of Florence and then starts stretching. ¡°You¡¯re quite the cocky one.¡± ¡°No. Is you who is cocky. You do not know yet.¡± ¡°Ha! Big talk from a big man. I won¡¯t be going easy on you like the kid. You look like you¡¯re made of sterner stuff.¡± ¡°Russian stuff.¡± Boriss grins. He stops stretching and then starts bouncing in the same way a boxer would. Though unlike a boxer, his hands are resting wider near his chest. The first to engage is Boriss with a step and punch. Florence diverts the punch with an arm and punches back. Boriss sidesteps and attacks again. For the next moment, you can see two professional boxers going at it with impressive speed. Eventually, lucky punches from both begin to land, though it¡¯s clear that more and more of them are getting landed on Boriss. Florence is faster, higher leveled, and generally more skilled in unarmed combat. Boriss attempts to incorporate his legs, knees, and elbows into the fight, only for Florence to counter with the same. ¡°Boriss is losing.¡± Gond states. ¡°He¡¯s getting tired and slowing down.¡± I sigh aloud. ¡°I¡¯d normally agree with you that Boriss is losing, but not tired. Boriss has a hell of a lot of stamina. There''s no reason Boriss should already be slowing down.¡± Gong frowns when he looks at the Russian. In all seriousness, the man perfectly looks like someone whose body is giving up. And then it happens. A perfect punch at Boriss¡¯s liver that would normally elicit a stunned reaction. Something Florence had seen Boriss show every time he¡¯d landed such a blow. This time, there was no reaction. From sluggish defense to a burst of speed, Boriss constricts his hand around Florence¡¯s neck. Then he pulls Florence and leans forward at the same time. The room cracks as skull meets face with such deafening force. Florence loses consciousness for just a moment, giving Boriss the moment to wrap both hands around the [Pugilists] head. ¡°CRACK.¡± Another violent and bloody meeting of heads. ¡°CRACK.¡± Florence desperately tries to push the man away. ¡°CRACK.¡± He kicks and knees Boriss in the stomach ¡°CRACK.¡± He loses consciousness for a moment, only to regain it as the head comes forward. ¡°CRACK.¡± He coughs up blood. ¡°CRACK.¡± His body goes limp. ¡°CRACK.¡± ¡°CRACK.¡± ¡°CRACK.¡± Then Boriss stops. A hand feels the side of the man''s neck. Boriss nods and drops the still living body. He then turns not towards me, but towards Gond. Then he points at his blood smeared face. ¡°Is good strategy.¡± IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 84: Black Card From a distance, Gladius seems like something of a medium sized city. Not too big nor too small. It should hold a relatively decent-sized population. Unfortunately, that population doesn¡¯t include the visitors who live on ships within the port. It is because of these numerous visitors that the streets are packed with bodies. [Nobles], [Merchants], [Traders], [Gamblers], [Mercenary¡¯s], [Captains], and any other manner of acceptable class and job prowl the streets in constant search of profits. And profits there are many to be made. But before that, there is the matter of information. Ignorance is all good and fun, but they rarely result in huge profits. A plump short man raises a finger and points at a tavern called the Screaming Sword. ¡°That one looks like a good one.¡± Myers looks at the name and frowns at the peeling paint of the tavern and lack of windows. ¡°Why there?¡± he asks. Just then, a man is yeeted out of the front door with such force that his body bounces twice before sliding to a stop in the middle of the road. To only Myers and Clay¡¯s surprise, the body is ignored and people continue on their way. ¡°That¡¯s why.¡± Cillian says with a grin. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit dangerous.¡± Myers starts walking behind him. ¡°A little, but that¡¯s why we have Nepenthes.¡± ¡°I will devour all that dare raise a hand upon my clan.¡± The monstrous multi-legged Phytonid threatens while Clay giggles at the threat. Upon entering inside, the tavern''s residents turn towards the new entries. They sneer at the old man, plump human, and child, like wolves who smell easy prey. Then the metaphysical manifestation of a bear in the form of a Phytonid enters with the steely gaze of a predator. Immediately, the prey have just become far too dangerous to even consider. The threatening gazes leave the group, all to the disappointment of the Phytonid who hungers for an excuse to enact violence. The group arrives at the end of the room where the [Barkeep] shines a glass. The man is tall, fit, and quite muscular. He¡¯s got a dirty gray beard and wears a stained tank top. He also just so happens to be a Buxon. As they take a seat at the counter, the [Barkeep] leans down, opens a bottle, and pours a red liquid into the glass he was shining. He then pushes the glass in front of Clay. ¡°Juice,¡± He says before moving his attention to the others. ¡°What¡¯s your poisons?¡± ¡°Information,¡± Myers says. His answer has the Buxon frowning. Cillian clears his throat, ¡°What the old man is saying is that I¡¯ll take something strong and he¡¯ll have something that¡¯s not going to kill him.¡± The Buxon nods. He then glances at Nepenthes. ¡°And you?¡± ¡°Meat,¡± the Phytonid hisses while making eye contact with everyone else in the room. ¡°How do you want it prepared?¡± ¡°Raw.¡± She answers. The Buxon has the slightest grin before he leaves. Buxon are easily the most physically adept of all other species. They are stronger, faster, and generally smarter. This can be seen by the Buxon carrying an entire skinned carcass of a pig-like animal in one arm and a tablecloth in the other. The entire room is silent as he spreads the cloth on the counter in front of Nepenthes, and then slaps the bloody carcass in front of her. Without missing a beat, he brews up a drink for Cillian and a much weaker one for the old man. By the time he places the drinks in front of them, Nepenthes rips off a leg and bites into it. The sound of bone crunching under her maw sends a shiver down every spine except for the Buxons. ¡°How''s the meat?¡± The Buxon asks. ¡°It is nutritionally dense and surprisingly soft. What animal is this?¡± ¡°Young repugnans boar. It¡¯s a Buxon favorite. They can''t produce adrenaline until they are older, so the meat is always soft.¡± Nepenthes takes another bite, to the grimace of the crowd. ¡°Normally I charge extra for information- but you all are an odd group,¡± he glances at Nepenthes, ¡°with a member that actually enjoys Buxon cuisine.¡± Cillian nods while watching Nepenthes take a third bone-shattering bite. ¡°I can¡¯t argue with you on that. By the way, can I get a refill?¡± Cillian wiggles his empty mug. The Buxon stares at the empty mug in surprise for a moment. He takes the mug and refills it. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Cillian,¡± the scot accepts the full drink. ¡°Yours?¡± ¡°Ragnar.¡± The Buxon pours himself a drink. ¡°Ask your questions.¡± Cillian grins. ¡°I hear there is a great deal of coin to be made- more than the usual gambling.¡± The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°The Gangs don¡¯t play fair,¡± Ragnar warns. ¡°You¡¯re more likely to wind up dead than rich.¡± The Scot chuckles. ¡°The upside is always better when your life''s on the line.¡± Ragnar slowly nods. He takes a sip of his drink while Cillian takes a gulp. ¡°That¡¯s true enough.¡± Leaning off the counter, Ragnard strides to the back and returns with a blank black card. Whispers throughout the building rise up upon sight of the card, only to quickly go silent from the Buxons glare. He slides the card to Cillian without removing his fingers off of it. ¡°You¡¯ve got the look of someone who¡¯s played with big boys and survived.¡± Ragnar removes his finger, allowing Cillian to pick up the card. ¡°At night, you¡¯ll find alleys guarded by armed [Guards]. Show them the card and they¡¯ll let you pass to the undercrust.¡± ¡°Neat.¡± Cillian pockets the rectangle. Ragnar shifts his gaze next to the old man. They lock eyes. ¡°What''s your question?¡± ¡°Fallantine. How does the kingdom fare?¡± ¡°General information coming from the crown is that other than increased pirate activity, it is doing very well.¡± ¡°And information not from the crown?¡± Myers asks. Ragnard looks the old man up and down. What the Buxon sees is not a frail human, but something akin to a roaming leviathan. ¡°Fallantine is in turmoil. The [Prince] lacks the skills necessary to keep the economy running adequately. The [knight] orders still loyal to the crown are predominantly a ground force. They lack the levels to properly counter the growing [Pirate] threat in the skies. Recent sanctions from Lapis on military goods doesn¡¯t help either- though many believe it to be a pretext for a future war. Lastly- the political situation may once again become inflamed from some recent rumors going about. ¡°Recent rumors?¡± ¡°Yes. Though just rumors, so take it with a grain of salt, but apparently the [Crown Princess] may have been recently sighted in Memphis prior to the attack on the city.¡± Myers grimaces first, and then grows confused. ¡°Attack?¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t heard? Well, it¡¯s still pretty recent and information is only coming in. [Pirate-Prince Captain] Valentine attacked Memphis and single-handedly disarmed the island.¡± Myers leans forward with a bit of panic. ¡°How? The city¡¯s defenses should be adequate enough to counter any single ship. Even the Bone-Leviathan can¡¯t withstand a contracted engagement against such a port.¡± Ragnar shrugs. ¡°The attack just happened, so the information is only now coming in. You¡¯ll have to wait a bit before then.¡± The old man squeezes his cane tightly in agitation, only for Clay¡¯s arm to rest on his palm. ¡°Grampa?¡± the child questions. And like that, Myers regains control of himself. He releases a sigh, and then grimaces when he remembers a woman''s face. ¡°What''s the death toll?¡± ¡°High if you were at port or on a ship, low if you were in the city.¡± Myers slowly nods. He reaches into a pouch and gives Ragnar fifty Tris. ¡°Thank you.¡± Ragnar takes the money and then turns to Nepenthes. ¡°Have you any questions?¡± Nepenthes swallows, her feast half complete. ¡°Yes,¡± she hisses. ¡°You are a warrior, a combatant. I see it from your form, your body, and the dense skeleton under your skin. You have slaughtered and killed- dismembered foes with arms alone. What is your story? What is your greatest kill?¡± For a moment, Ragnar is taken aback by the odd Phytonid. He is already intrigued by her form that mimics Insectoids and her desire to consume raw flesh. Granted, he knows Phytonids can consume nearly anything, but few ever would publicly do so. Only Insectoids and Buxon have no qualms about such things. And now, a Phytonid that looks built for physical instead of magical combat asks to hear stories of his kills? Absurd! But very intriguing.¡± ¡°I used to be a [Gladiator]...¡± __________________________________________________________________ ¡°Miss Irmgard, maybe we should go to another store? This one is creepy and people might enter.¡± Irmgards saber inches closer to the panicking man''s neck. The man, a [Shopkeeper] of a store hidden in an alleyway inches his head slightly from the woman''s blade. ¡°No! I swear they aren''t fake. They¡¯re legitimate quality crystals.¡± She moves the cutlass closer. ¡°My companion is a [Runesmith]. Do you expect me to take your word instead of hers?¡± She growls. ¡°And I know they¡¯re not fake. The problem is that they are of crap quality which you tried to deceive me over.¡± ¡°I-I-¡± Just then, two-burly men enter the store with arms and armor ready for battle. ¡°Help! Please. This woman is crazy!¡± the man pleads. The two men stare at the scene for a moment. They look at Irmgard, Emma, and a masked staff wielding [Mage]. Then they notice the wall crater where a [Guard] was blasted by magic. They glance at each other. ¡°It seems you¡¯re busy. We¡¯ll come back later.¡± The two leave, ignoring the crying pleas of the [Shopkeeper]. ¡°Now,¡± Irmgard returns her attention. She pushes the bladed edge towards the man, ¡°where were we.¡± ¡°Please¡­¡± ¡°Irmgard,¡± Auranta places a hand on the woman''s shoulder. ¡°I know you¡¯re angry and you plan to kill the man for his lies,¡± the [Shopkeeper] squirms ,¡°but he may provide us with the information that we seek.¡± ¡°Whatever you want!¡± Irmgard tilts her head but doesn''t release the pressure she applies. ¡°We need supplies for our ship and quality crystals for runeing. Where''s the cheapest place to obtain such goods.¡± ¡°T-the undercrust. Blackmarket with no tax and the best prices.¡± ¡°Yea? How do I get there?¡± ¡°Guarded allies at night. You¡¯ll need a card.¡± ¡°What card? Where?¡± The man glances behind his counter. ¡°My safe. I have a black card inside. If you let me go, I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± ¡°Emma?¡± Irmgard calls. The Gemma leans down behind the counter and pulls up a runed box. ¡°I found it. It¡¯s locked.¡± ¡°The cards inside. If you let me go, I¡¯ll open the box for you.¡± A hissing sound burns from the box. When Irmgard next glances, the box is open while Emma holds a stylus. The [Shopkeepers] eyes are wide open. ¡°You destroyed my safe! I paid a fortune for that!¡± Emma frowns. ¡°Really? But the rune is so simple¡­¡± Irmgard chuckles. ¡°Is the card there?¡± Emma raises a black rectangle up. Seeing the card, Irmgard removes her cutlass from the man''s neck and then pushes him to the side. ¡°Good. let''s get out of here.¡± Emma nods. ¡°Ok. But should we take anything else from the safe? He has a lot of Tris.¡± Irmgard shakes her head. ¡°Of course not. We¡¯re not thieves.¡± The three girls leave the small shop and the wide-eyed [Shopkeeper]. IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 85: Undercrust Upon enrolling Boriss and Gino into the tournament, the group exit the building to the sight of approaching dusk. With the world dimming, Gladius seems to come to life in colored firelight. The streets, formerly smothered in your everyday worker, are now replaced by those who excel when darkness reigns above. Women walk the streets in skimpy outfits while men stride about with purses bulging. Rich jewelry glistens from the firelight, attracting both wanted and unwanted attention. ¡°I¡¯m getting some Las Vegas vibes right now.¡± ¡°Is that a city?¡± Gond asks. ¡°It is.¡± I look at the old man. ¡°Gond, before I forget, how common are skills that can tell a class? I¡¯m not keen on having people knowing I¡¯m more than just a kitten.¡± ¡°Extremely rare. Gladius only has three who can tell classes under their employ- Lynette being a very rare case on account of her class.¡± ¡°Which is?¡± I urge. ¡°Something that she prefers to keep to herself.¡± Of course she does. ¡°Fine. Just tell me where I can gamble on Boriss winning.¡± ¡°Tomorrow in the coliseum before the tournament starts. There will be betting booths. You can make a lot of profit if you win.¡± Gond explains. Gino chuckles. ¡°After the thirty percent cut to Gladius. If you really want to make money, gamble in the undercrust. They barely take any cut.¡± I perk up. ¡°The undercrust?¡± ¡°Illegal gambling den that can get you arrested.¡± Gond warns. ¡°The [Guards] don''t care what goes on down there.¡± Gino frowns slightly. ¡°They never care.¡± ¡°I should mention that I am to report anyone that gambles illegally to Gladius authority. The smart thing for me to do is to ignore the kids words and avoid the Undercrust- whatever that very interesting place is. It would be stupid and illogical to involve myself in such a clearly illegal location where clearly illegal and dangerous activity is happening. ¡°Gino, how¡¯s your wounds? Are you still sore?¡± The kid shifts his shoulder with a grunt. ¡°U-ughhh. Yea, a bit. But I¡¯ll be good tomorrow.¡± I shake my head. ¡°You don¡¯t look good.¡± I hop off of Gond¡¯s shoulder and land on the kids. ¡°W-what?¡± ¡°Relax, you¡¯re clearly not at your best. And I, the magnanimous cat that I am, will escort you back home. In the meantime, Gond, you escort Boriss back to my ship. He needs to rest.¡± Gond rolls his eyes while Boriss gives me a grin. Boriss, the smart former prisoner that he is, removes his coin-bag from his hip and throws it at Gino. The kid catches it, nearly dropping it from the unexpected weight. ¡°Comrade Fluffy is hungry, yes? Snack is good, yes?¡± ¡°Good idea Boriss. I can''t exactly escort poor Gino on an empty stomach, now can I? Gino, take me to a restaurant, preferably one a bit underground that serves something with a nice crust.¡± Gond shakes his head, though he does have a slight smile. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure Boriss returns to the Timbergrove. Just try to keep out of trouble. There are a lot of Buxon who find cats to be a delicacy.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind. Gino!¡± I tap the side of the kid''s head, ¡°Onwards to adventure!¡± _______________________________________________________ Sore and tired, Gino wants nothing more than to steal something to eat and go to sleep. Unfortunately, the cat on his shoulder clearly has a different idea in mind. The thought of pushing the cat off and running away with the coin pouch does come to mind, but so does the bloody grin from Boriss. The man won a fight he shouldn¡¯t have, just to make sure Gino can enter the tournament. As much as he needs the money, it¡¯s not worth it if he betrays the person who gave him that chance. ¡°So, you mentioned you need money to buy your sister''s freedom, right? What''s the deal with that?¡± Gino frowns and looks down as the guilt hits him. ¡°It''s complicated.¡± ¡°Kid, you¡¯re giving me I screwed up big time vibes right now. I hope you realize my curiosity just keeps on increasing.¡± ¡°I said it¡¯s complicated. You wouldn¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°Of course I would. I¡¯m a cat, remember. There''s a reason why cats have nine lives, and it¡¯s absolutely, completely, undeniably not because we make safe, perfectly sane decisions that we never ever Ever regret. Understand?¡± ¡°Cat¡¯s have nine lives?¡± Gino asks. ¡°... right. Different worlds, different sayings. Look, Gino, you¡¯re clearly guilty as fuck. You ooze guilt like diarrhea oozes out of my ass. It¡¯s messy, it stinks, and if you don''t wipe it away with a conversation, it¡¯s going to attract flies. So just do the right thing and tell me what ails your puckered butthole.¡± This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Gino stops as his brain attempts to comprehend what he¡¯d just heard. ¡°What?¡± he look at the cat that grins expectantly on his shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re weird.¡± ¡°Yea, but I¡¯m not the one with an inflamed ass.¡± The absurdity of the situation and what he¡¯d just heard gives way to laughter. A pained laughter that slowly shits to tears. Gino trudges to a nearby wall and sits down with his back to it. ¡°I screwed up.¡± The kid cries. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have been so greedy!¡¯ The cat is no longer grinning. Instead, his paw is affectionately petting the kid''s dirty-brown hair. ¡°I stole. I stole the wrong thing from the wrong person and I got caught. It was supposed to be simple.¡± ¡°I fucked up and my sister had to pay the price. I-if I¡¯d only not taken the fucking job.¡± ¡°There there.¡± Quasi continues patting. ¡°I hope you realize you¡¯re lucky.¡± The kid looks up at the cat with his tear-stricken face. ¡°How am I lucky?¡± The cat raises a paw. ¡°Well, you¡¯re alive. Your sister is alive. You clearly have an unlikely, but not impossible way of saving her, and most importantly you have an adorably cute kitten on your shoulder. That alone makes you the luckiest person alive- and it is only your ignorance that keeps you from appreciating that.¡± ¡°You¡¯re an ass.¡± ¡°At least mine isn¡¯t inflamed.¡± The kid snorts at the comment. He wipes his face with a dirty sleeve and stands up. ¡°Feeling better?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Good. Now lead me to food and then this Undercrust.¡± ¡°How about both?¡± ¡°At the same time? That sounds absolutely Purrfect.¡± Snorting again, Gino makes his way into one of the numerous entrances to the undercrust. ¡°So what exactly is the undercrust?¡± ¡°It''s the city under the city.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not an explanation.¡± ¡°Well, it''s hard to explain. It might be better for you to see it first.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Turning into a dark hallway, two men can be seen standing guard over a closed door. They glance at him as he approaches. Reaching into his pocket, he flashes a black card to the two guys. Seeing the card, one of them turns the handle, activating numerous runes which allow the door to open. As Gino moves to enter, an arm moves in the kid''s way. ¡°The boss wants to see you as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Later. I need to get-¡± ¡°No. Now. You know how he is.¡± Gino glances at the cat on his shoulder. ¡°Meoowww.¡± The cat replies. ¡°Just go. The boss doesn¡¯t mind cats.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± The guard removes his arm. ¡°Good. Now go and mind your step.¡± Gino takes one last look at the guy and starts heading down the stairs until he is far enough away. ¡°So, who is this boss? I hope you¡¯re not planning to sell me- not that he could afford me. I¡¯m kinda one of a kind.¡± ¡°He¡¯s the gang-leader that screwed me over.¡± ¡°Oh? And you still work for him?¡± ¡°Once you¡¯re in a gang, there''s no way of getting out.¡± ¡°Pshhhh. That''s loser talk. Have you tried slaughtering the entire gang? If you kill every member including the leader, then the gang ceases to exist. It¡¯s not hard. I did it a couple months ago- though it did take me a while.¡± ¡°You''re crazy.¡± ¡°Not the first time I¡¯ve been called that, and it won''t be the last. By the way, why is this so far down?¡± Gino doesn''t answer because he can already see the bottom of the stairs. At the bottom, he opens the door and walks through. ¡°Oh shiiit. You weren¡¯t joking when you said there is a city under the city.¡± The undercrust is a massive underground cavern spanning nearly a quarter of Gladius in size and twice its height. Firelight blazes throughout the entire system, enlightening the entire cavern, making even the fighting rings all the way at the bottom visible. ¡°Welcome to the real Gladius- where dreams are made and destroyed on the regular.¡± Quasi continues assessing the cavern- consuming each and every detail like a child at his first candy store. Not that Quasi hasn¡¯t seen underground cities before- but it has been awhile since he¡¯d seen one built underneath an actual city. ¡°Aight. Where to now? Food or Gang?¡± The kid sighs. ¡°I have to see the boss. I¡¯d rather not get punished for taking my time.¡± ¡°Aight. I¡¯ll back you up if things turn violent.¡± Kid frowns. ¡°It might be best for you to wait. He doesn¡¯t like it when people are brought to him without him knowing.¡± ¡°Yea, but he likes cats. The guard guy said so.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re not a cat.¡± ¡°Of course I am. I mean, sure, I¡¯m superior to every single cat you¡¯ve probably ever dealt with before, but I am a cat.¡± ¡°Cat¡¯s don¡¯t level or talk.¡± ¡°What don¡¯t you understand about me being superior? Anyway, enough talk. Let''s go see the boss.¡± Gino groans but compiles. He strides through the cavern, filled with all manner of sights, sounds, and vices. Drugs and women line the streets like cocaine at a rapper''s home. You can¡¯t unsee it, though you can ignore it. ¡°So, where is this gang and how many are there?¡± ¡°There are three major undercrust gangs and seven minor ones. I¡¯m part of the Vultures, which is one of the minor ones.¡± ¡°Name them all for me,¡± Quasi orders. Gino yawns a little. ¡°Sure. The major gangs are the Royals, the Crusts, and the Warriors. The minor ones are the Hogs, the Locust, the Fish, the Fox, the Flamingos, the Lions, Gambino, and the Vultures.¡± Quasi chuckles. ¡°I love how the minor gangs have this animal theme going, and then there''s Gambino - a literal Mafia.¡± ¡°The Gambinos are new- they¡¯re not part of the originals.¡± ¡°Alright, you¡¯ve gained my interest. What''s the story with Gladius? How is there a city underground and how did these gangs come to be?¡± Gino shakes his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know the story too well but I know someone who does. We can go meet her after I deal with the boss. We¡¯re almost there.¡± Almost is an understatement, for the two walk a good five minutes until they reach Vulture territory. The gang members notice our arrival, but a single look turns their interest away. They eventually arrive at a stone building carved halfway into the cavern. ¡°Gino, you look like shit.¡± the [Guard] at the entrance comments. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just had a bit of a tussle. I heard the boss wants to see me?¡± ¡°He does- what''s with the cat?¡± ¡°Meooowwww.¡± ¡°Yea, yea.¡± The [Guard] opens the door and Gino makes his way up some stairs and stops at what seems like an office room. Gino knocks. ¡°Boss, you wanted to see me?¡± ¡°Come in!¡± Mount and cat enter inside the spacious room where bookshelves don the walls and a single desk sits in the center. Behind the desk is your typical tall, bony, gaunt, man with a black suit that matches the goatee and the toupee. Yes, the man is bald, probably balding, and a skilled feline eye notices the minor discrepancies with ease. Staring at the man, his job title pops out as much as the gaunt look in the man''s eyes.
Vulturan Gallinae: Level 49 [Gang Leader]
Then Quasi notices it. A ball of fluff on the man''s desk. IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 86: Cat Fight. A cat, a fluffy cat with smooth white fur lays leisurely upon the desk. It glances at Quasi with a hint of interest, and then it loses it as though Quasi is not even worth its time. You dare! You think yourself superior? Garbage! Pathetic furry garbage is what you are! ¡°Gino, it seems you¡¯ve brought a stray.¡± Vulturan begins with hands grasped together. ¡°Not that I mind. Cat¡¯s are such beautiful beasts and impressive hunters.¡± ¡°You called for me?¡± Gino asks with the slightest hint of disdain. ¡°I did. Take a seat.¡± Vulturan points at the chair opposite his desk. Though upset, Gino complies. When he sits down, Quasi hops upon the table- only to be hissed at by the other cat.¡± ¡°Tiera, my girl.¡± Vulturan places his hand on the cat''s fur. ¡°Relax. They are not threats.¡± ¡°Meowww.¡± Quasi says in what sounds like denial. ¡°Hisss,¡± Tiera replies. ¡°Um, maybe I should take Quasi outside.¡± ¡°Quasi? You¡¯ve already named him?¡± ¡°Um-¡± Vulturan shakes his head. ¡°It¡¯s fine, but you really should have chosen a better name. Quasi is so¡­ lackluster.¡± ¡°Meowww,¡± Tiera acknowledges the statement. ¡°Growl!¡± Quasi stands up aggressively. First you call me a mut and now you insult my name? You are courting death! Need I make an example of who the superior cat here is? Tiera seems to accept the challenge. She stands and even chuckles at Quasi. You have chosen death! Then it happens, Quasi rushes towards Tiera. Tiera, seemingly expecting this, lunges at Quasi. And then it happens. Instead of lunging himself, Quasi implants his front extended claws into the desk and shifts his momentum to the backside. Tiera expected to be met with teeth and calls, instead, Quasi¡¯s hindleg smacks her in the face and knocks her off the table. To Quasi¡¯s surprise, Tiera doesn¡¯t crash. She rolls into a standing position and growls threateningly. If the cat wasn¡¯t pissed before, it¡¯s pissed now. Quasi hops off the desk and the two cats start circling. The fight is far from over. ¡°Should we stop them?¡± Gino asks. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Tiera is a Mixian Pureblood trained for small-beast arena combat. Her breed has a natural tendency to dominate other feline species through violence.¡± Gino frowns at the circling and growling cats. ¡°They are a bit loud.¡± ¡°A simple fix. I¡¯ll need to activate the sound bubble anyways.¡± With a wave of his hand on the table, runes begin to glow and activate. A wave of air brushes against Gino before forming a clear bubble around them. Immediately, all soundwaves disperse when touching the bubble. With the bubble activated, Vulturan grasps his hands once more and smiles at Gino. ¡°That should keep any prying ears from hearing. Now Gino, I have a job for you.¡± ¡°No.¡± Vulturan raises an eyebrow. ¡°No?¡± ¡°I''m going to be busy.¡± ¡°Your dockworking job? Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll talk to the [Foreman].¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about my [Dockworking] job. I¡¯m going to become a [Gladiator]. I already qualify for the first round tomorrow.¡± Vulturan frowns. As he does, Gino notices the fighting in the background. Tiera found her way behind Quasi and is choking him while he attempts to get her off. Gino watches, surprised as Quasi climbs up a bookshelf before jumping off and slamming his body on Tiera, forcing her to let go. ¡°A [Gladiator]? What reason do you have to become a [Gladiator]? You¡¯re a [Rogue]!¡± ¡°I need the money to save my sister.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll have it if you do enough jobs for me.¡± ¡°Your last job is the reason why my sister is now an indentured servant!¡± Gino practically yells before realizing that angering the man in front of him will do more harm than good. ¡°And I can¡¯t wait. My sister needs her freedom as soon as possible. The winnings from the coliseum will be enough.¡± A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. The stick of a man un-grasps his hands and strokes his goatee. A clear sign that he is agitated. ¡°I understand your anger. Your sister paid a cost for your life. But, you shouldn¡¯t put the blame on me. Blame the [Spy] that ratted you out.¡± Gino frowns. Both at Vulturan¡¯s words and at the battle unfolding behind. Quasi has Tiera by the head and is systematically slamming her into a bookshelf. ¡°You think we have a [Spy]?¡± ¡°Nobody should have known you were going to be there. They were clearly waiting for you to show up with plenty of forewarning.¡± Vulturan explains. Reliving that day in his head, the thought of a [Spy] makes a great deal of sense. His failure was already planned. ¡°It still doesn''t matter. Unless you can offer me a faster way to buy my sisters freedom, I¡¯m sticking with my plan. Every day I wait is one where my sister suffers.¡± ¡°Do you actually believe you can win the entire tournament? You, a [Rogue] who just does odd jobs for me while working as a [Dockworker].¡± Though Gino tries to listen, he finds it hard, for the battle has grown excessive. Quasi is biting Tiera by the tail and is now spinning her like one would a sling. ¡°You¡¯ve no chance, Gino.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need to win the whole tournament. I get paid for wins and I can gamble on myself with my winnings. I just need to win enough to pay for her freedom.¡± Vulturan shakes his head. ¡°You¡¯re a child who knows nothing of the world. But fine, go, I¡¯ll allow it. Just know that when you eventually crawl back to me, you¡¯ll find the jobs I provide to be far less profitable.¡± In the background, Quasi yeets Tiera into a bookcase, shattering and causing the whole thing to start coming down. Tiera somehow survives the impact and is barely able to dodge the debris falling upon her. She turns to his hiss at Quasi, only for a book to smack her across the face. When she recovers, Tiera glares at Quasi like one would a mortal enemy. She seems to hiss in what are expletives before turning and running outside the room. Quasi watches her retreat, going so far as to raise a paw and meow into the sky. None of which Gino hears, but the sight alone is enough to give plenty of context. ¡°I¡¯ll take my chances,¡± Gin stands up. Quasi hops back on the table and then perches on Gino¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Your chances will fail.¡± Vulturan warns. He deactivates the bubble rune on the desk. Gino turns around and starts walking out of the room. Just before he closes the door, he hears a yell. ¡°What in blazes happened here!?¡± The door closes with a grin on Gino¡¯s lips. ______________________________________________________________ Once the two are outside of Vulture territory, the first to speak is Gino. ¡°That was a nice throw you did on his cat.¡± ¡°You saw that? Good, it¡¯s always nice to have an audience when I win. Though, Tiera is fucking strong for a cat. I¡¯d thought I broke her bones several times, but she just kept moving. She was also very smart and tactical. Good reactions too. Tried to strangle me at one point- though I used gravity to show how bad of an idea that was.¡± ¡°Animals trained by [Beast Tamers] tend to be smarter and stronger than otherwise possible. Considering Tiera is bred for arena combat, she¡¯s going to be even more superior.¡± ¡°Huh. Maybe you should enter me into these combats.¡± ¡°They check for jobs and classes.¡± Gino counters. ¡°Damn. That would have been an easy money maker. Welp, where are we heading to now? Food?¡± Gino nods. ¡°Yup, food. And I¡¯ve got just the place. The two weave through the streets of undercrust, ignoring all the hedonism that is prevalent on the streets. Eventually, they arrive at what looks like a market street with stores aplenty on both sides. Not far from there, Gino enters a restaurant called the Stew Fever. _______________________________________________________ Tiera is nowhere to be seen. The damn cat must have caused a bookshelf to collapse and then ran away. Probably to make the blame fall on the other cat. ¡°Smart enough to win in a fight, but too dumb to avoid making a mess of things.¡± Vulturan glares at the destroyed bookcase for a moment before deciding that the fault lies in Gino. If Gino hadn¡¯t brought the mut, then this mess never would have happened. Shaking his head, Vulturan takes a seat in front of his desk. He takes a paper and begins writing orders. The first is to have a new bookcase ordered and the current mess cleaned. The second is a small anonymous bounty that reads: 500 Trist to any [Gladiator] that defeats Gino in the upcoming tournament. Expenses will be paid on Tournament completion. He signs the bounty and leans back into his chair. ¡°Let''s see if you can even get past the first round.¡± Vulturan taunts. _____________________________________________________ The moment Cillian steps into the undercrust, he is immediately reminded of his stay in prison. From the sounds, smells, and light- it¡¯s like walking in memory lane. With exceptions, of course. There are actual women here instead of men dressed as ones and the general feel of the whole place doesn¡¯t give off the vibe that you¡¯re trapped. ¡°This place smells like a den of violence and death. The air is fresh with the scent of blood and flesh.¡± Nepenthes says. Her eyes roam the streets like a tiger searching prey. ¡°Yea, it¡¯s a good thing we left Myers and the kid back at the tavern. Those two would stick out like a sore thumb.¡± ¡°You already do. Many eyes focus on you and the bags of trist at your hip.¡± Cillian straightens his back. ¡°Good. A [Merchant] that walks with wealth visible is either an idiot or someone who you should take seriously.¡± Nepenthes tilts her head. Ownership of anything outside one''s body is a foreign thing to her. Her prior home did not have such extensive concepts of wealth or money. The only trade that ever happened was in favors. Otherwise, all were expected to obey the Matriarch. ¡°Which are you?¡± Cillian shrugs. ¡°Depends on how well you can keep prying arms away from my hips.¡± ¡°I see. Then I will endeavor that my clan is not depicted as weak.¡± ¡°You do that,¡± Cillian pauses a moment, ¡°Just avoid making too much of a scene. Cutting an arm off from a [Thief] is one thing, but I¡¯d rather not deal with eviscerated children.¡± ¡°Do not worry. The Matriarch has informed me that children are to not be dismembered or killed regardless of reason. For that, I will only eviscerate adults.¡± Cillian shakes his head before starting his descent. As he does, Nepenthes is following vigilantly behind. IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 87: Dana Dana isn¡¯t young. She hasn¡¯t been young for over fifty years since she¡¯d opened the Stew Fever. A name she chose because she really liked making stews. They were easy, filling, and most importantly, very profitable. Now though, she still has stew but also many other foods. Though most people still come for the stew. Apparently using the same pot and broth for decades had given her stews a unique taste that her competition can¡¯t hope to replicate. Just as she was adding fresh ingredients to the Pot, Dana hears the ringing of a bell. Turning to look, she can¡¯t help but grimace at the idiot young man she¡¯d taken in all those years. ¡°Gino,¡± she growls, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be doing double shifts at the docks? And what¡¯s with the cat? Unless I¡¯m shoving it in the pot, get rid of it.¡± Before Gino can even say a peep, the fluffy ball of fur is the first to open it¡¯s mouth. ¡°Woman! Are you mad? Do you want to get yourself killed?¡± The cat asks, quickly silencing Dana up. She glances at Gino, but the child looks resigned. Dana had seen a lot of shit over the years living in the Undercrust. A talking cat is weird, but nothing too out of the ordinary. ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± Dana asks while continuing to work on her stew. ¡°No, I¡¯m only giving you a friendly warning. If you put my magnificent flesh into your pot, the food will taste so amazingly good that you¡¯re going to steal all the competition from your competitors. At which point they will consider you too large of a threat to be allowed to live. Pooling their money, they will hire an [Assassin] to end your life.¡± Dana snorts. ¡°You¡¯ve got quite the imagination.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve also got quite the stomach.¡± ¡°And I¡¯ve got quite the price.¡± ¡°And I¡¯ve got quite the coin.¡± She chuckles. ¡°Then I¡¯ve got quite the stew. Take a seat and I¡¯ll bring you a plate.¡± While Gino and the cat sit at a table, Dana finishes adding fresh cuts to the stew. As soon as it is done, she fills up two plates, one of which has a significantly larger number of meat chunks. She then walks up to the two and places the bowls in front of them. ¡°The name''s Dana.¡± ¡°Quasi,¡± The cat answers. ¡°Why do I have so little meat?¡± Gino whines. When Dana glances at Gino, the kid immediately lowers his head as though everything that just came out of his mouth never happened. ¡°So, how¡¯d you meet Gino here?¡± ¡°I met him while he was getting beaten up.¡± Looking at Gino, only now does Dana notice that the kid has a decent bit of bruising throughout his body. Nothing severe, but he¡¯ll be sore for a good week. ¡°Who did you pick a fight with, Gino?¡± ¡°It was nobody.¡± ¡°You expect me to believe that?¡± She says. ¡°Technically, he¡¯s not wrong.¡± Quasi says. ¡°A fight involves two people fighting. From my view, it was more along the lines of a one-sided beatdown.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about it. I¡¯m just trying to make things right.¡± The thing about Dana is that Dana is not a small woman. She¡¯s big, not rounded big, but more like the pot is heavy enough to require the strength of two-men to reliably lift daily. Dana lifts it on her own. Her calloused hand makes a fist and her knuckles pop from the strain. ¡°Gino, Mellina sold herself to a gang so that you can keep your fucking head after trying to steal from them. If you are getting yourself into trouble again, then you better tell me or I¡¯m going to end up right alongside her.¡± Gino freezes at the statement. He¡¯d been avoiding eye contact with her ever since the incident. Now, when he does look up, he can''t help but see worry, care, alongside a big helping of fear. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Dana sighs as her flaring anger dissipates. ¡°Just tell me what you¡¯ve gotten yourself into.¡± Gino nods slowly. ¡°I¡¯m going to become a [Gladiator] and make enough trist to buy her freedom.¡± Dana groans while Quasi chuckles with a piece of meat in his mouth. ¡°I¡¯ve taken care of you for over a decade now. And in that decade, you were always a smart kid. But now, it seems you¡¯ve turned into an idiot! Are you trying to get yourself killed? Maimed? Your sister needs help and you want to risk your life as a fucking [Gladiator]? Are you mad?¡± ¡°I¡¯m doing this Dana! I¡¯m going to win the money and I¡¯m going to set her free.¡± ¡°Do you even know how much that will cost? Mellina is a virgin! The Flamingos aren''t going to give her up without a lot of trist!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll meet them and figure that out.¡± This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Dana groans. ¡°You¡¯re going to be the death of me.¡± ¡°Food and familial drama really goes well together.¡± Quasi comments. Dana glances at the fluffy cat licking the broth from its nose. ¡°Are you a [Druid]?¡± ¡°Cat [Captain]. Long story short, my muscular hard-headed minion is signed up for the tournament. Since my minion needs to rest for tomorrow, I am using Gino as a temporary minion to assist me in gambling my money.¡± It is only now that Dana notices the plump bag attached to Gino¡¯s side. ¡°I see.¡± ¡°So, what''s the whole story with the sister? Gino¡¯s been pretty silent about it like just talking shoves a rod of guilt up his butt.¡± Dana doesn''t even smile at the joke. Instead, she pulls a chair and sits down at the table. She then glances at Gino to see if the young man wants to tell the story, but he only looks down. ¡°Over a decade ago, Julia came with young Gino to my restaurant with only a trist to her name. She¡¯d come shortly after their mother died. They both entered my restaurant in rags and sat at this table specifically. I was about to shoo them both out until I noticed Julia held a single trist to her chest.¡± Dana sulks. ¡°They were hungry. Gino was holding back tears and Julia¡¯s were already dried. When I came to the table to ask their order, Julia asked for a single stew while pushing a trist to me. I asked why only one, and the poor girl said it was for her brother and that she wasn¡¯t hungry. She looked more famished and hungrier than Gino.¡± Dana shakes her head. ¡°In the undercrust, children in poverty are common. You see them often either as [Beggars] or [Thieves]. If they survive, they generally join one of the gangs.¡± Quasi slowly laps the broth from his bowl while listening intently to the woman''s story. Children in poverty, struggling to survive and eventually joining an organization that thrives on poverty and corruption that keeps the cycle going. It¡¯s a horrible society to live in if you¡¯re not at the top. ¡°Another thing common in the undercrust is greed and selfishness. Such a thing breeds in the undercrust and only allows those who have such traits to survive. A rare trait that moves my heart enough to offer an extra bowl free of charge.¡± Glancing at Gino, the young man is staring at his barely eaten stew while avoiding any and all eye contact with Dana. The kid looks ready to puke from the guilt rising up in his gut. ¡°When they finished eating, instead of leaving immediately, Julia came to me, apologised for accepting the free bowl and asked if she could work it off.¡± ¡°Damn,¡± Quasi voices. ¡°Sounds like she¡¯s looking for a job.¡± Dana chuckles. ¡°If it was only that, then I¡¯d have told them both to leave. I can run my restaurant fine on my own. But no, Julia looked stricken with guilt. She looked absolutely in pain for accepting such a free handout.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not normal.¡± Dana shakes her head. ¡°No, it¡¯s not. So I let her do the dishes while Gino sat silently at the table.¡± ¡°She must have impressed you.¡± Dana nods. ¡°She cleaned the dishes, pots, sink, and even the floor. It took her hours, and by the end, my kitchen was cleaner than when I opened. Once she finished, she looked happy like a weight had lifted off her shoulders. When she prepared to leave, I asked where they were going. She said to find a safe place to sleep.¡± The woman leans into her chair and smiles. ¡°I offered her a night in my storage room and Julia immediately refused as though the guilt for accepting would kill her.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not normal behavior,¡± Quasi says. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you offered her some work.¡± ¡°I did. My storage room was a mess and I told her to organize it before she sleeps.¡± ¡°And that worked?¡± ¡°It did and she did a phenomenal job too. Julia has exceptional attention to detail and a work ethic I¡¯ve never seen before.¡± ¡°What happened next?¡± ¡°Quite a bit. I offered food and rest for work until I ran out of things for her to do. I offered her a job and she refused. She believed that any assistance she helped wouldn¡¯t be worth a permanent job. I eventually had to guilt her.¡± ¡°Guilt her?¡± Dana grins mischievously. ¡°Yup. With how clean my restaurant became, I gained so much business that I needed assistance- a lie. I could handle the increased workflow on my own just fine, but I didn¡¯t want to give Julia up. I blamed her for the increased work and told her it was her responsibility to assist me. She accepted, but demanded more work and responsibility if she was to accept pay.¡± Quasi shakes his head. ¡°I¡¯m starting to think she¡¯s on the spectrum.¡± Dana tilts her head. ¡°Spectrum?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± Quasi waves a paw. ¡°What happened next?¡± ¡°Just life. She lived and worked for me until recently when Gino got caught trying to steal from the Flamingo¡¯s and was to be publicly executed last week. Hearing her brother''s danger, Julia rushed to the Flamingos and begged for his life. They accepted the plea in exchange for her signing a contract of servitude.¡± Quasi glances at the young man who looks like he wants to drown in the broth. ¡°No wonder Gino¡¯s willing to risk his life for his sister. His sister is amazing!¡± ¡°And now she will be a gang prostitute because of this idiot.¡± Dana glares at Gino. ¡°I told you to not get involved with the Vultures.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make it right.¡± ¡°How? By dying in the arena? She sacrificed her life for you and you¡¯re just throwing it away.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll win! I¡¯ll get the trist and set her free.¡± ¡°If they sell her, Gino. A virgin like Julia can easily make them hundreds of thousands of trist over a decade.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make sure they do!¡± Gino says again. ¡°I¡¯ll figure it out!¡± Dana groans at the pathetic display in front of her. ¡°Idiot.¡± She then glances at Quasi whose bowl is empty. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°Me? Honestly, he¡¯s an idiot, but he¡¯s a good idiot with his heart in the right place. You said the Flamingos has Julia, right? What kind of gang are they?¡± ¡°Drugs and sex. They operate nearly all of the brothels in the undercrust. Julia will probably be working in one of them if not already.¡± ¡°Then me and Gino best meet with their leader sooner rather than later.¡± Gino lifts his head and glances at Quasi. The cat has a smile on his face. ¡°You¡¯re going to help him?¡± Dana asks. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ve got a soft spot for suicidal idiots willing to help family.¡± Dana sighs, but smiles. ¡°Try to get it under eighty thousand.¡± ¡°What?¡± Quasi raises an eyebrow. ¡°Her contract. Get it under eighty thousand trist. I can sell my restaurant for that much.¡± ¡°NO!¡± Gino yells. ¡°You can-¡± ¡°Shut it, Gino. I care for her too. My restaurant for her freedom is an easy trade.¡± ¡°Y-you can''t.¡± Gino stutters. Dana looks Quasi directly in the eyes. ¡°Please, don¡¯t let this idiot sacrifice his life. He¡¯s young and has his entire life ahead of him.¡± ¡°Dana!¡± Gino yells, but the woman ignores him. Her gaze is still on Quasi. Quasi, watching this interaction, can¡¯t help but start laughing- causing the two to grow confused. Once Quasi¡¯s laughter subsides, he stands up and stretches. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll help- but only because you gave me extra meat in my stew. Gino, get up and let''s go.¡± ¡°Y-yes.¡± The kid hops up off the table without finishing his stew. As soon as he does, Quasi jumps on his shoulder and Dana watches them leave. IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 88: Burning Pussy The district controlled by the Flamingos is one of depravity, sex, more sex, and a lot of leather. Also, it¡¯s very colorful. Invitingly so- like a candy store. Except replace the candy with bondage and items to be inserted into bodies. ¡°Seems like a nice tame place. My guess is It¡¯s probably worse on the insides.¡± ¡°I heard it used to be worse before the former [Gang Leader] was killed.¡± ¡°Killed?¡± I ask. Gino nods. The kid glances at the glass windows and the woman dancing- expecting to see his sister as one of them. ¡°The story is that the [Gang Leader]- I think her name was Tiffany, was gifted a poisoned dildo.¡± That¡¯s¡­ a first. ¡°What do you know of her replacement?¡± ¡°Jonathan is his name, and he lived and worked as a boytoy for the wealthy.¡± ¡°So he banged rich women.¡± Gino glances at me for a moment but doesn¡¯t explain. ¡°Apparently, he is more competent than Tiffany and is far better liked by the gang.¡± ¡°I imagine he has to be, otherwise he too may die in the throes of pleasure.¡± Gino nods absentmindedly while his eyes roam for his sister. I lean forward on his shoulder for a more comfortable position. ¡°Do you think we¡¯ll get an audience? I mean, would he talk to us anyway?¡± ¡°Maybe¡­¡± ¡°Maybe? Really? So we¡¯re going to just ask for an audience and we might be accepted.¡± ¡°Y-yea. We could also sneak in.¡± I sigh. ¡°Let''s just ask. If they say no, then I¡¯ll sneak in. You clearly lack the skills to do it properly.¡± ¡°It was a trap,¡± he counters. ¡°That you lacked the skill to notice beforehand.¡± I counter his counter. ¡°And don¡¯t worry, if need be, I can always wage indiscriminate slaughter upon those who deny my superiority.¡± Gino sighs and stops. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± In front of us is a building smothered in pink, red, and white. The front of the building are a plethora of naked statues, all illuminated by runed lighting. Past the statues are two [Guards] in leather. They stand at both sides of the door, very non-menacingly. We walked past the statues and stopped before the [Guards]. ¡°Who are you and why are you here?¡± one [Guard] asks. ¡°I¡¯m Gino and I¡¯m here to talk to Jonathan about my sister Julia.¡± The [Guards] share a look. One enters the building and then returns shortly. ¡°Jonathan will see you.¡± __________________________________________________________________ Jonathan sits behind his desk as all men in power do. And power he has, for that power does not come from sex. Sure, his gang makes good money pleasing the wealthy and making sure their lust is sated. But the real money comes from selling information. You¡¯d be surprised how loose lips can get after a bit of drinking and a lot of fun. That information is then sold to the highest bidder- most especially information in regards to coliseum fights. To nobody¡¯s surprise, these fights aren''t purely random. Whether that is matching fighters whose class counters another or supplying a superior weapon to a combatants makes it possible to bet on a winner with a much higher degree of success. With the upcoming tournament, bets have already begun being placed- both for winners and for losers. Jonathan fingers a recent bit of information. A bounty on Gino to be defeated early in the tournament. If the kid has a bid placed on him winning, then Jonathan might be willing to take the bidder''s money. 500 Trist is going to put a pretty big target on his back, especially so considering winning the first round only pays a hundred trist. As he shifts a paper to the side, he hears the patter of feet. Turning to the side, he watches as a white cat walks towards him. ¡°Faelisa, you¡¯re here early.¡± The cat''s body shifts and grows, morphing from feline to a naked human female barely five feet in height. With milk-chocolate skin and long black hair, the woman seethes towards the desk. ¡°I was attacked!¡± she growls. Leaning down, he grabs a bag of clothes and throws it to her. She catches it and begins putting the contents on. ¡°Generally, you¡¯re usually the one attacking.¡± ¡°There was another cat.¡± ¡°That you probably egged on.¡± ¡°It was a mut- some hybrid I¡¯ve never seen before.¡± Jonathan raises an eyebrow. ¡°Sounds like you lost.¡± The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be here if I won, you idiot.¡± Jonathan, hearing that, leans forward in interest. ¡°What happened? How did you lose.¡± ¡°That cat- Quasi was its name. It¡¯s smart, fast, and too fucking strong. Whatever training the [Tamer] gave it must have been skill enhanced. Such a small form shouldn¡¯t be able to overpower me so easily.¡± Wearing a bra, underwear, and short skirt, Faelisa lays down on a nearby sofa. ¡°I spent far too much mana healing my bones. I¡¯m going to need to rest here a bit.¡± ¡°That''s fine. I¡¯m guessing Vulturan still has no clue you¡¯re a [Spy]?¡± ¡°He shouldn¡¯t unless he can bypass my [Espionage] skill.¡± ¡°Nobody in Gladius has the skill to counter [Espionage]. You should be safe.¡± Faelisa nods. ¡°Good, because Vulturan already suspects a [Spy]. You should have caught that Gino kid differently.¡± Jonathan tsks in annoyance. ¡°Not my fault. Gino should have been caught much earlier, but the kid has a good avoidance skill.¡± ¡°Well, now you ge-¡± Fealia quickly goes silent as the door to the room is knocked. The handle moves and a [Guard] peaks inside. ¡°There is a Gino here asking to speak with you in regards to his sister, sir. Should I let him in?¡± Faelisa and Jonathan share a look. Faelia shrugs. ¡°I was kinda getting beaten into a wall to do my job. So I know nothing if there''s a plan.¡± ¡°I see¡­ send him in.¡± Jonathan orders. The door closes and the [Guard] walks away. A minute later, the door opens with Gino pushed into his office. On the man''s shoulder is a very fluffy cat that looks confused. ¡°Gino, correct? Please take a seat.¡± Jonathan points at an empty chair. ¡°Don¡¯t mind my associate. She¡¯s just a bit tired after some strenuous activity.¡± Gino complies. He takes a seat. When he does, Quasi hops off his shoulder and lands on the desk. He sits down, sniffs, and then looks directly at the singular annoyed woman in the room. Jonathan leans into his chair while folding his arms on the table. ¡°I hear you¡¯re here about your sister, correct?¡± ¡°I want to buy her freedom.¡± Jonathan chuckles. ¡°Her contract, you mean. Unfortunately, a virgin like Julia is a prized piece that sells for quite a bit on the market. She¡¯s also quite pretty and her body is unmarred- something many of my wealthier clients would pay well to rent.¡± ¡°How much?¡± ¡°More than you can make.¡± Jonathan answers. ¡°I¡¯ll have the money by next week. Just give me your price.¡± The man leans forward. His elbow shifts on the table to support the hand now on his chin. ¡°Next week? Why not now? Julia¡¯s worth decreases every day that I wait.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to win the tournament and get the money for her.¡± Jonathan snorts. ¡°You¡¯re quite something. First you try to steal from me, and now you make promises you can¡¯t keep.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll win.¡± Jonathan shakes his head. ¡°You won''t, nor do I care if you do. But, I¡¯m willing to make a bit of a wager.¡± ¡°W-what wager?¡± ¡°You ask for a week, so I¡¯ll make sure you get a week. In exchange, you buy your sister from me at an agreed price. If you cannot, then you will sign a contract like your sister.¡± ¡°I accept.¡± Quasi meows loudly at Gino, who quickly adds: ¡°So long as the price is reasonable.¡± ¡°Oh, it is- for someone who wins the tournament. Three hundred thousand Trist or that runed champion armor set for her freedom.¡± ¡°T-three hundred? That¡¯s too much! Julia isn¡¯t worth anywhere close to that amount. How about twenty-thousand.¡± Jonathan chuckles. He shakes his head. ¡°Making a legal contract costs hundreds of trist per level for a basic classer, a ten-thousands surcharge for an Advanced class and a thousand trist for every advanced level. Julia is a level thirty-three [Versatile Manager] and a level twenty-four [Cook]. Her contract alone cost nearly twenty-three thousand Trist.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll pay that price.¡± Gino answers. The [Gang Leader] stares at Gino for a long moment before realizing the kid is being serious. ¡°I don¡¯t think you realize the situation you¡¯re in. You want what I have and I don¡¯t need what you offer. But, in fairness, three hundred thousand is more along the lines of maximum market price. So, I¡¯ll lower that to a recent offer I got for her of two hundred and twenty-seven thousand.¡± He grins predatorily, ¡°and not a trist less.¡± Gino gulps at the insane price. The kid knows that winning the whole tournament is very unlikely, but if he can win multiple days and bet all the winnings on himself- then he can get somewhere in the tens of thousands. But hundreds of thousands will require far more than just luck. He¡¯s going to need to level in the tournament- which involves even more risk. ¡°I accep-¡± ¡°-Decline.¡± Quasi interrupts Gino and causes Jonathan to pause. Both Jonathan and Faelia focus on the smiling cat. ¡°Jonathan, I think you misunderstand the situation here. You¡¯re not the one in control here, that would be me.¡± Jonathan frowns, ¡°You¡¯re not a normal cat.¡± ¡°Neither is the woman laying on the couch.¡± The man continues to frown. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you-¡± ¡°Of course you do.¡± Quasi interrupts again. He sniffs. ¡°Can you smell it, Jonathan? Can you smell the scent of a cat that just so matches one I¡¯d only recently beaten down like the slut she is.¡± ¡°Fuck you!¡± Faelisa curses. Quasi looks at her with a shit-eating grin. ¡°What¡¯s wrong Tiera? Are you still upset I threw you into a bookcase? I mean, I¡¯d be upset too if I got beaten so badly I had to run away.¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± She growls. ¡°Quasi, what''s happening.¡± ¡°Remember that cat I beat up in Valtura¡¯s office?¡± Quasi raises a paw at Faelisa. ¡°She is that cat and probably the reason why you got caught stealing.¡± ¡°Tiera is the [Spy]? The cat is the spy?¡± Gino asks. Quasi nods. ¡°Yup. A perfect [Spy] to easily counter another gang. Isn¡¯t that right, Jonathan?¡± Jonathan is no longer smiling. He looks pissed, angry even, but is holding himself back. ¡°What do you want?¡± He asks. ¡°Jonathan!¡± She yells in outrage. ¡°Shut it, Faelisa. You fucked up coming here.¡± ¡°She did indeed.¡± Quasi says. ¡°As for what I wan¡¯t, well, your price is a bit high for the girl. How about lowering it down to, say, the cost of her contract?¡± Gino blinks. ¡°Couldn¡¯t we just ask for my sister instead?¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± Quasi answers. ¡°You still tried to steal something and got caught, so your sister becoming a servant is still your fault. You will still need to fork over trist for her release.¡± ¡°But this is easier!¡± ¡°True, but you¡¯re a brat who did something stupid and you need to deal with the consequences like a man. So accept the new lower price now alongside keeping information about the [Spy] a secret, or I¡¯m going to Vultura right now and telling him about this whole situation. Then you can figure out how to pay off whatever hundreds of thousands of trist Jonathan wants.¡± Gino stares at Quasi for a long moment with his mouth open in surprise. Then, like a switch, he bites his lip and nods. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll accept that.¡± Both Gino and Quasi return their attention to Jonathan, who looks like someone just shat a cat-sized turd on his desk. ¡°I say we kill them before they talk.¡± Faelisa stands up and rolls her shoulders. Her pupils dilate slightly as though she¡¯s about to transform. Quasi chuckles. Quasi¡¯s fur bursts into a weak flame, causing both Gino and Jonathan to take a step back. As the flame continues and grows stronger, Quasi¡¯s fur shifts colors until it is a dark blue. ¡°Kill me?¡± The flaming cat tilts its head while the desk starts sizzling. ¡°I don¡¯t think you realize how dangerous I truly am. I don¡¯t fear your organization. I don¡¯t fear your gang. And I absolutely don¡¯t fear anyone in this room. The only reason why I haven¡¯t resorted to slaughtering your organization is because the effort is beneath me. So,¡± Quasi shifts his gaze to Jonathan. The man looks ready to run. ¡°Don¡¯t force my hand and instead do the reasonable choice of accepting the deal.¡± Jonathan swallows and nods. ¡°I will accept it.¡± The flame immediately goes out, leaving a dark-blue fluffy kitten sitting in a scorched circle on the desk. Quasi grins. ¡°Good choice.¡± IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 89: The Lions The undercrust reminds Irmgard of her prison- with a few exceptions. Those being the presence of women and the ability to leave. Otherwise, much of it is like the prison city she ran. ¡°Are you sure we can find quality supplies here?¡± Emma asks nervously. She eyes several people passing by, all armed and looking like they are itching for a fight. ¡°I share Emma¡¯s sentiment. It may be better to search above ground,¡± Auranta adds. Irmgard glances at the two women, shakes her head, and then starts silently walking. Emma and Auranta share a look before following. Running a city, even a prison city, has taught Irmgard that you will always find a separation of wealth and competence in accordance to where the wealth is concentrated. In the case of the undercrust, Irgmard can already tell that it''s going to be located near the bottom of the city, where the fighting rings are located. To the surprise of both Emma and Auranta, their descent is left unmolested. Normally, three girls would be found as easy prey for a variety of reasons. Instead, Irmgards presence alone is that of a warden ready to rip a prisoner apart should they take even the slightest step out of line. Her back is straight, eyes are focused, and hand rests on the hilt of her sword. The sheer confidence of her presence is a testament to not only skill, but the willingness to use said skill in the most violent way possible. Most prisoners understand this- those who don¡¯t. Well, the weak generally don¡¯t survive. Arriving at the bottom, the girls are met with flashing runic lights, yelling, screaming, and the sound of combat. Booths and stores stand ready with [Guards] as all manner of items line the shelves from weapons, armor, food, and objects of lust. Irmgard looks around for a moment until her eyes land on a larger shop selling a variety of goods. ¡°This way.¡± She orders. On her arrival, the [Shopkeeper] quickly grins as whatever skill he has warns him of a possibly large purchase. ¡°Ladies, welcome to Orman¡¯s Crusted Goods. I¡¯m Orman. What can I get for you all?¡± ¡°My [Runesmith] requires a large quantity of quality materials for runeing for a reasonable price. Can you provide?¡± Irmgard asks. Orman smiles. ¡°Depends on the quantity and what exactly you¡¯re looking for.¡± Irmgard extends a hand to Emma. Emma, realizing what she wants, retrieves a paper from her bag and hands it to the [First Mate]. ¡°Are you capable of supplying these materials?¡± Orman accepts the paper. He adjusts his glasses, begins reading, and then frowns. ¡°This is quite a bit. I can have these supplies ready in a week''s time if you¡¯re willing to wait- otherwise I can offer a fraction immediately.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll take what you have on hand and order the rest in a week if that¡¯s acceptable.¡± ¡°Perfectly. Just know that I will have to charge you a fee on account of getting the supplies.¡± Before Irmgard can answer, the sound of yelling attracts her attention. Turning, she finds an interesting scene involving a group of armed men wearing lion furs and Cillian. The leader of the men is yelling at Cillian, while the Scot is unbothered and sipping a mug. ¡°Orman, please wait a moment.¡± Irgmard leaves the counter and walks to the scene with Auranta and Emma at her heels. ¡°Cillian, what¡¯s happening here?¡± She asks on approach. ¡°Who the fuck are you?¡± the leader of the armed group of men asks. A quick glance at the group tells Irmgard that these men aren¡¯t weak. But she can also tell that they aren¡¯t at the level of someone like Boriss. Irmgard also takes a glance at Nepenthes standing behind Cillian- which she argues is the reason why Cillian is so calm right now. ¡°I¡¯m the [First Mate] of the crewman you are talking to. Is there a problem?¡± ¡°Yea, there is. This shrimp¡¯s been cheating in all the rounds.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not cheating! I¡¯m making logical bets that pay off.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t win seven rounds in a row! The fighters are the same level!¡± ¡°Fuck their level,¡± Cillian swishes his mug. ¡°I¡¯m making bets on their weapons, muscle distribution, stance, and all other manner of quality. I¡¯ve watched enough idiots bashing each other in a ring to predict who is the better fighter.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a fucking lie!¡± the man snarls. ¡°Do you have proof?¡± Imrgard asks. ¡°Proof? My proof is in my fucking axe if I don¡¯t get my money back.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not giving anything back. I won it fair and square.¡± The man growls and grabs the axe at his hip. But before he can pull it out, Irmgards cutlass unsheathes and stops at his neck as though she¡¯d expected such a reaction. ¡°I asked for proof.¡± She says. ¡°HEY! ALL FIGHTING IN THE UNDERCRUST IS TO BE DONE IN THE RING?¡± A fully armed and armored man with a shield and sword insignia on his chest arrives with a grimace. A glance is all it takes for Irmgard to realize that the man that just arrived is on a whole other level of capability- enough so that the men she¡¯s dealing with have grown nervous. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. The armored man''s gaze falls on Irmgards blade. ¡°Sheathe your weapon,¡± He orders. Irmgard frowns, but complies. ¡°Good. Now, what''s happening here?¡± Lion-furred man points at Cillian. ¡°This guy predicted and won seven fights in a row. He must be cheating.¡± ¡°They were easy predictions!¡± Cillian argues. ¡°It¡¯s not my fault you put so much emphasis on levels and class instead of actual experience, equipment, and skill.¡± ¡°Lies. Even the best [Gamblers] couldn''t predict seven straight fights.¡± The armored man shakes his head. ¡°There is not enough proof, so I cannot allow this fight to continue.¡± The lion-furred guy frowns. He retrieves a bag of coins from his belt and raises it forward. ¡°I ask for the right of combat to retrieve all winnings in equal combat.¡± The armored man raises an eyebrow at the request. After long moments of silence, he finally nods. ¡°I will grant this request.¡± The armored man turns to Cillian, ¡°Will you fight or will you use a proxy?¡± Cilian blinks. ¡°What''s the right of combat?¡± ¡°A way for warriors to deal with differences in the ring. If you do not accept, you must forfeit your winnings. If you do accept, then you must fight. If you win the fight, then your winnings will be doubled.¡± ¡°You said I can use a proxy?¡± ¡°As the accused, you have that right.¡± Cillian grins. ¡°I accept. Nepenthes here will be my proxy.¡± The armored man calmly looks at Nepenthes, and then shakes his head. ¡°Proxies must match the species of either combatant to keep combat fair.¡± Irmgard sighs. She steps forward. ¡°I¡¯ll be the proxy.¡± __________________________________________________________________ After our successful meeting with the leader of the Flamingos, me and Gino make our way deeper into the city. Which, surprisingly, involves going further down into its depths. As we travel deeper, the general quality of goods, people, levels, and wealth improve- to the point that I see actual [Nobles] wandering around. ¡°Why is the bottom of this place wealthier than the top?¡± I ask. ¡°I¡¯d expect it to be the opposite, where the poor and weak live at the bottom away from prying eyes.¡± Gino continues walking and descending. He raises a hand and points further down. ¡°The fighting rings and coliseums are at the bottom of the undercrust for foundational support. High level fighters make a lot of money but need sturdier Arenas. The bottom of the undercrust has the space and support to allow these fights to happen.¡± I nod to his explanation. We continue heading deeper and deeper until I start seeing some heavily armed and armored [Guards] with levels quite a bit higher than mine. ¡°Gino, those [Guards] with the Shield and Sword crest on their chest. Who are they?¡± ¡°Them? They are part of the Warrior Gangs. They keep the peace in the lower undercrust.¡± ¡°That''s one of the major gangs, right? They¡¯re pretty strong.¡± ¡°The three major gangs control the bottom of the undercrust. The Warrior¡¯s deal with protection and are composed solely of former [Gladiators].¡± ¡°What about the other two?¡± ¡°The Crusts are in charge of trade and the movement of money. The Royals are in charge of laws and all the combat that happens down there. Honestly, they¡¯re barely antagonistic to each other unlike the minor gangs which constantly have feuds.¡± ¡°I¡¯m guessing we¡¯re going to deal with the Crusts in regards to bets, right?¡± Gino nods. ¡°Yea. They accept bets from both Gladius and Undercrust.¡± ¡°Good. We¡¯ll put all of that money into Boriss winning.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± When we finally reach the bottom, I see a plump body holding a bottle and leaning over a railing. ¡°Gino,¡± I tap my mounts neck and point a paw, ¡°take me to the plump one.¡± I order and he obliges. ¡°Cillian, nice to see you¡¯re here.¡± Cillian glances and grins. He wiggles his bottle, ¡°[Captain], come here. I¡¯m about to make a lot of coin.¡± I hop off Gino¡¯s shoulder and land on the railing of the arena. Looking into the Arena, I find Irmgard with the rest of my crew on one side and a guy wearing a lion-fur cloak surrounded by men wearing the same. ¡°What''s happening here?¡± I ask. ¡°Irmgard is going to fight in the arena.¡± Cillian explains. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­ complicated. Long story short, I won multiple bets in a row and was accused of cheating. Now Irmgard fights to prove my innocence.¡± ¡°Right¡­ you do realize that she might lose, right?¡± I ask. ¡°Yea, but she¡¯s more skilled. Her chance to win is higher.¡± I shake my head at the Scot and take a closer look at her opponent.
Gorbichon Drevon: Level 34 [Gang Captain]
The guy has levels on her by a decent amount on top of being quite fit. He has two hand-axes at his side, so he probably fights with both of them. Considering the scars on his body, he has plenty of experience in regards to combat. ¡°Gino, what can you tell me about that guy''s gang?¡± I point a paw at Gorbichon. ¡°He¡¯s part of the Lion Gang. They¡¯re a gang of arena fighters. They¡¯re not as good as [Gladiators], but they also aren''t weak either. ¡°I see.¡± If memory serves, Irmgard trained heavily in hema with a specialty in fencing. Considering she only wields a cutlass, her chances might not be as high as Cillian expects. ¡°Gino, take my money and buy a rapier or some other long-light piercing weapon. Then go to the woman who is about to fight and give it to her alongside the dagger hidden in your left leg.¡± ¡°How do you-¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk, just do. Mention my name.¡± ¡°O-ok.¡± Gino rushes off as I return my attention back to the arena.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think she¡¯s going to need it,¡± Cillian explains. ¡°Know something I don¡¯t?¡± I ask the scot. He nods and points at Gorbichon. ¡°See his axes?¡± ¡°Yea,¡± I nod. ¡°Look at the bladed edges.¡± Blinking, I focus on the blade. ¡°It¡¯s chipped!¡± Cillian takes a gulp of his beverage and grins. ¡°Aye. Truly good fighters always keep their weapons well maintained. Irmgard and Boriss both always polish and sharpen their weapons. Even me,¡± he taps the revolver at his hip, ¡°I keep this baby well oiled and maintained.¡± I frown. ¡°I should have noticed that myself.¡± Cillian shrugs. ¡°I like weapons and guns. It¡¯s generally the first thing I notice before I meet a person. Anyway, the rapier and dagger is a good way to reduce risk.¡± I nod and continue looking down, hoping Gino arrives on time. IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 90: Rapier Running errands is something Gino has done a multitude of times for the Vultures. Granted, most of those errands involved going to places and stealing something. Now though? Now he needs to spend money to buy an item and deliver it. Specifically a rapier. He knows what a rapier is on account of growing up in Gladius. The problem though is that it¡¯s not a popular weapon by [Gladiators], thus finding one is difficult. A smithy could make one for a price, and a weapons dealer could procure one- but actually having one on hand is unlikely. Instead, Gino rushes to a man known for having nearly everything on hand. ¡°Orman!¡± Gino rushes inside the man''s store. I need a rapier! Orman immediately grimaces at his presence. ¡°Get the fuck out of my sight.¡± ¡°It¡¯s important!¡± ¡°Yea? So is seeing Julias smile- which I doubt I¡¯ll ever see again no thanks to you.¡± ¡°Please! It¡¯s an emergency. I have coin!¡± ¡°Yeah, but no sister!¡± He counters, not even deigning to look at the kid. ¡°Orman, I¡¯m trying to make it right. I¡¯ve joined the [Gladiator] tournament and I plan to win enough to buy her freedom.¡± This time Orman looks at Gino with a glare. ¡°And what? You want to learn to fight with a rapier? You think training with a stabbing stick is going to let you win against hardened fighters?¡± ¡°I-I I¡¯m going to win, Orman. I swear I¡¯m going to set her free.¡± ¡°Or die trying.¡± Orman snarls. ¡°Yeah,¡± Gino looks Orman in the eyes. ¡°Or die trying.¡± Orman shakes his head. Gino sighs. ¡°Fine. Just tell me if there''s anyone else I can buy a rapier from.¡± ¡°Shut up, kid.¡± ¡°Look, I nee-¡± ¡°Shut up and wait.¡± Orman leaves into a backroom and places a dusty, embroidered rapier on the counter. ¡°Take it and don¡¯t fucking return unless its with Julia.¡± ¡°How much.¡± ¡°Just take it!¡± Orman pushes the weapon into his hands. ¡°You either get her back or you die, you got it!¡± Gino feels the cold steel of the weapon in his hand for a moment. He matches eyes with Orman, and then slowly nods. ¡°I¡¯ll have her back.¡± He turns and rushes out of the store. Orman watches him leave with a sad smile on his face. Internally, the old man hopes that the kid at the very least survives. ____________________________________________________________ Just before the fight is about to begin, Gino arrives with the weapon in hand. He immediately notices the tall blonde woman as she turns to enter the arena. ¡°Stop! I need to give you something.¡± The woman halts her steps and turns towards him, as does a Phytonid, Gemma, and a masked [Mage]. ¡°Quasi wants me to give you this.¡± He extends the rapier to the woman. The woman frowns and blinks. She grabs the weapon and frowns. She retrieves a handkerchief from a pocket and wipes the dust off. She does a practice lounge, and then nods. ¡°This is well made.¡± She comments. ¡°Good runes too.¡± The Gemma points at what seemed like engravings to Gino are actually runes. The woman fingers the runes. Then she looks at Gino. ¡°I thank you for this delivery.¡± ¡°Oh, uh.¡± Gino kneels down and pulls out his own dagger. He used to have a runed one, but that was taken away once he was captured. ¡°He also said to give you this- though I need it back after.¡± The woman accepts the dagger and flicks it across her hand. ¡°Good weight. Not a stiletto, but the guard will serve well as one. Have you anything else?¡± Gino shakes his head. ¡°No. That¡¯s all he told me to give you.¡± ¡°Good.¡± She turns around and starts walking into the arena. While she does, Gino rushes away to rejoin Quasi at the vantage for a better view. ____________________________________________________________________ By the time he arrives, the duel is about to begin. ¡°Looks like you delivered it to Irmgard on time. Good job,¡± Quasi says with a grin. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°Thank you. Umm,¡± Gino glances about, ¡°Where is the other guy?¡± ¡°Cillian? He went to check the bets. Apparently everyone is betting on that Gorbichon guy to win.¡± Gino tilts over the railing to look at the impending fight. ¡°The Lions gang tend to win more often than not. He¡¯s also against women, who are weaker than men.¡± Quasi chuckles. ¡°If they want to underestimate her, go ahead.¡± ¡°You think she¡¯ll win?¡± Gino asks. ¡°Just watch. The fight¡¯s beginning.¡± Gino watches Irmgard take a stance with a rapier extended and dagger at the ready. Gorbichon does something similar where he has both axes armed alongside a lower stance. He¡¯d seen the stance before in [Barbarians]. They are aggressive, fast, and are good at overwhelming foes. The sound of a bell dings to start the fight. Gorbichon rushes towards Irmgard, but the woman waits. As he gets close, she stabs forward while stepping back. He tries to parry the weapon to the side, but it¡¯s already being pulled back. She strikes again with such speed that Gorbichon tries to lean to the side. The blade misses, only for it to retract and attack again. He parries again, but the Rapier is fast and efficient, recovering immediately to attack again. Gorbichon is, to his surprise, forced back while the woman pushes forward with stabs. Her distance is kept outside his own but inside her longer weapon. While the battle continues, her dagger has yet to move. Everything is done by footwork and single-hand stabs. Realizing that he¡¯s losing. Gorbichon rolls away and then pounces forward. One axe parries the rapier, the other goes for the kill. It is here where the dagger moves, latching onto the second axe and tilting and twisting it around. At the same time, she hops in the same direction of the swipe and takes the opportunity to stab his thigh. Before he can react, she hops away and creates the distance again- only to re engage her assault. With the injury to his thigh, his footing slows and dodging grows more and more difficult. Her stabs start to find flesh- first light, but they soon grow deeper as his movement slows from the loss of blood. Eventually, he trips and Irmgards rapier stops at his throat, signaling her win. ¡°YYYEAAAHHHHHH-,¡± Gino screams and then sputters as he finds himself to be the only one. He glances about at the audience, only to find them glaring at him. ¡°What?¡± Cillian chuckles next to Gino, frightening the young man. He¡¯d not heard the short man return with how engrossed he was in the fight. ¡°Everyone expected Irmgard to lose. They put money on him winning and now they lost a good helping of coin.¡± When Gino looks at the audience again, he can feel a great deal of enmity from their gazes. Quasi hops aboard Gino¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Lets go congratulate the winner. Cillian, collect the winnings and put it on Boriss.¡± ¡°Will do.¡± Leaving Cillian, Gino makes his way to where Quasi¡¯s crew is located. Now, without the rush of trying to get the rapier to the woman, he can now truly appreciate the diversity and uniqueness of Quasi¡¯s crew. He¡¯s got a Gemma, a Phytonid that looks like she could be an Insectoid, a masked [Mage], and the tall blond human woman who looks like she should instead be the [Captain]. On top of that, he¡¯s already met Boriss- who took out someone twice his level. And finally Cillian, a short plump man that just put a massive target on his back with his gambling. ¡°Irmgard, a bit slow for my preference, but good fight nonetheless.¡± Quasi says with a grin. The woman turns to the Cat. ¡°I prefer to avoid needless risks to expedite combat.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t take risks!¡± Quasi exclaims. Every member of Quasi¡¯s crew looks at the cat, seemingly thinking the same thing. ¡°They¡¯re tactically sound plans that just so happen to be risky,¡± He says nervously. ¡°Anyway, how''s the Rapier?¡± With her handkerchief, she wipes the weapon down slowly and with utmost respect. ¡°Exceptional, though not required. The cutlass alone would have been adequate enough to beat my opponent.¡± ¡°But riskier.¡± Quasi adds with a grin. ¡°Correct.¡± She assuages. ¡°Where¡¯d you get it?¡± Emma asks. ¡°The Runes are quite potent.¡± ¡°Runes?¡± Quasi asks. He focuses on the rapier for a moment.
Name Rapier of Stabbing
Rarity Exceptional - 8 Runes.
  • 1(1-Durability)
  • 1(1-lightweight)
  • 1(6-Greater Piercing)
Description This Rapier is +30% more durable, +30% lighter in weight, and has +300% Penetration.
Sustain 0.20% Mana regeneration per minute.
¡°Oh damn. That¡¯s nice. Very nice, actually.¡± Quasi says, then frowns as he looks at Gino. ¡°Where the hell did you get the rapier from and how much did it cost?¡± Gino looks down. ¡°I was given it for free to practice with.¡± ¡°I see. Do you want it back for the tournament?¡± Quasi asks. Gino shakes his head. ¡°I can¡¯t use it for the tournament and after looking at how Irmgard fights, I don¡¯t think I have the time to learn before tomorrow. I do want my dagger back, though.¡± Irmgard reaches into her coat and retrieves the dagger. She hands it to the kid, who quickly sheathes it into a sheathe hidden in his leg. Just then, Cillian returns with a grin on his face. ¡°[Captain], the bet has been set for the first round- though Boriss is going to need to take out at least five combatants otherwise we will actually lose money.¡± ¡°Five? Lose? What are you talking about? Doesn¡¯t he have to win all the rounds?¡± Quasi asks. ¡°The first round of the tournament is a free for all to reduce the number of fighters to a more manageable level.¡± Gino explains. Quasi blinks. ¡°Oh. That makes sense. How many fighters for the first round? Actually, describe the first round and all its rules. I was under the impression these were going to be one versus ones.¡± Gino nods. ¡°The first round is generally two-hundred fighters enter and only fifty leave. No armor and weapons are allowed to be taken with you except for whatever you find on the battlefield. After the first five minutes, water will be introduced into the arena from the outside to force the arena to become smaller. If your body touches the water, you are immediately disqualified. Once fifty fighters are left, a horn will sound and those remaining will be allowed into round two.¡± Quasi nods slowly. ¡°Simple enough, though I need to go warn Boriss and tell him he needs to take out at least five of the other fighters.¡° The cat hops off Gino¡¯s shoulder and then lands on the Phytonid. ¡°Aight. If we¡¯re done here, let''s head out. Gino, stay safe and thanks for being a good mount. It was fun and I wish you luck in the tournament and I hope you buy your sister''s freedom. If the Flamingos give you a hard time, find me at my ship, the Timbergrove. I¡¯ll make sure they comply with their promises.¡± Just as the group begins to head out, Gino remembers the weight on his hip. For a moment, he debates about staying silent about it, but immediately decides against it. Quasi opened a way for him to save his sister. Going against that just doesn''t feel right.¡± ¡°Quasi, wait,¡± He calls. He reaches for the pouch at his hip. ¡°I need to gi-¡± ¡°Keep it.¡± Quasi interrupts Gino. ¡°And thanks for the rapier.¡± The cat grins, waves a paw, and then the group leaves. Gino glances at the bag filled with hundreds of trist for a moment. He then glances once more at the backs of Quasi and his crew before rushing off to make bets with his newfound wealth. IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 91: Calm Before Blood Gino¡¯s room is Dana¡¯s storage room where she keeps many of the non-perishable goods for her restaurant. His bed is a hammock from the ceiling in the corner, while his sister¡¯s is just below his own. It¡¯s cramped, sure, but it¡¯s also warm, safe, and surprisingly soundproof. Hopping out of his hammock with practiced ease, Gino takes a quick glance at the hammock of his sister. Usually, she¡¯d still be sleeping and he¡¯d have to wake her up with how much of a heavy sleeper she is. Now though, the hammock lies empty. Stretching and yawning, he opens the door to the sound of conversation near the entrance. Walking past the kitchen and around the corner, Gino stops at the sight of Quasi sitting on a table and Dana mopping blood off the walls. ¡°Gladius is a pretty recent city- I¡¯d argue a good couple hundred years old. It was initially settled as a mining town after Copper and iron veins were found inside the cavern- only for the residents to realize that the veins they found were actually all of them. But, by then Gladius came to exist and the land outside the city was already transformed into sustainable farmland to support the population. So Gladius then became a farming city that grew large enough to have a place for the wealthy, a place for the merchants, and on for the slums. It was here that the first two gangs known as the Royals and the Gamblers came to be.¡± Dana explains. She grunts as she puts more pressure to remove a bit of dried blood. ¡°The Royals were initially a bunch of rich kids that flaunted wealth and started paying people in the slums to fight for their entertainment. Eventually, the Gamblers came along and started betting on the fights. This escalated to the point of creating larger and larger rings, eventually creating the colosseums of today. Once the colosseums were formed, the Warriors gang came into their own- consisting exclusively of former [Gladiators] too old to fight but too skilled to retire. They became the muscle for the Gamblers and Royals so as to keep everyone in line.¡± ¡°What about the Undercrust? How¡¯d this underground city form?¡± ¡°I was getting to that.¡± Dana says. She leans away from the wall and then notices Gino. ¡°Gino, you¡¯re awake.¡± ¡°Y-yeah. Did something happen? Why is there blood on the wall? Why is Quasi here?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a long story- but the short of it is that I came to see you, but you were asleep. So I slept on the counter, only to be awoken by several men stealthily breaking their faces on walls until they went unconscious. It was a very odd sight. Anyway, I disposed of the bodies and awoke Miss Dana here of the bloody mess. Now she¡¯s regaling me of how Gladius and the Undercrust came to be.¡± Gino blinks for a moment. Then realization hits. ¡°They came for me!¡± Quasi rolls his eyes. ¡°If they did, they wouldn¡¯t have been breaking their faces on the restaurant''s walls. Anyway, Dana, please continue the tale.¡± Dana chuckles at Gino¡¯s surprise. ¡°With the rise and popularity of the colosseums, Gladius became a hotbed for anyone who wishes to not only watch, but also fight and gamble. Most specifically, it was a place where the wealthy [Nobles] came to spend trist. At first, the money from the nobility flowed into the city¡¯s coffers, enriching the city more and more. Unfortunately, this led to a point where too many were trying to enter into the city- resulting in such congestion that the city¡¯s size couldn¡¯t support. In the end, the city implemented significant taxes on all gambling, greatly reducing the profit margins and reducing much of the congestion to something more manageable. Unfortunately, such high taxes resulted in underground gambling located in the cavern. These dens became the first places for the formation of numerous gangs and where illegal activity started to prosper. Once the leadership of Gladius, most of which are now the grandsons and granddaughters of the Royals and Gamblers, found out about the underground fighting- they too started to join in. They secretly created fighting rings throughout the cavern, even going so far as to create a colosseum sized one at the bottom of the cavern.¡± Dana licks her lips and sits down on a nearby chair. ¡°The largest gang at the time other than the Royals were known as the Crusts. They consisted of [Gamblers] and [Merchants]. They facilitated the trade in trist for all residents as well as created laws. To enforce the laws, they hired former [Gladiators] that, once again, created the Warriors gang. At some point, the name Undercrust began to stick and the city under the city came to exist.¡± ¡°What about the black cards?¡± Quasi asks. ¡°Those? It¡¯s to avoid the previous problem of too many people. Instead of making taxes, the Crusts use these black cards to restrict access to the Undercrust. They provide a certain number of cards to the minor gangs in exchange for the gangs to guard the access points to the Undercrust.¡± Quasi nods and then stands up. ¡°Thanks for the history lesson. I appreciate it.¡± ¡°Is that all you needed to know?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve got more questions, but time is of the essence. The tournament is about to begin and I want to make sure that Gino arrives safely.¡± Quasi glances at the kid. ¡°You ready to head out?¡± Gino blinks and then nods. ¡°Wait,¡± Dana quickly stands up. ¡°You both still have time. Let me get you something to eat first.¡± Before Quasi can answer, Dana rushes back into the kitchen. Stolen story; please report. Gino walks up to Quasi. ¡°You knew this would happen.¡± Quasi shrugs. ¡°Cillian made seventeen thousand trist from that little fight yesterday- the same one you cheered at. That much money is not something people are willing to walk away from.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Gino says truthfully. Dana returns with two full bowls of stew. She puts them down on the table, both bowls glistening with large cuts of meat. She then turns to Gino and looks him in the eye. Then she steps forward and gives the kid a crushing hug. ¡°Gino,¡± She whispers, her throat seemingly hoarse. ¡°I don¡¯t care whether you win or lose. Just don¡¯t die.¡± She releases him from the hug and wipes a tear from her eye. Gino nods slowly as he feels an overwhelming emotion in his gut. He¡¯d seen Dana hug Julia, but him? This is a first. Swallowing, he nods. ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± A very heartwarming scene, one that clearly isn¡¯t interesting enough to pay attention to for a fluffy kitten with a piece of meat in his mouth. ____________________________________________________________ Arriving at the Coliseum with Gino, I¡¯m met with numerous long lines of people filtering into the colosseum. ¡°Shit. Are we going to have to wait in line?¡± ¡°Just you,¡± Gino says and points at a singular booth where Boriss waits. Gino walks to Boriss who quickly grins when he sees us. ¡°Comrade Quasi, I vas scared you be late.¡± ¡°Sorry for the wait. I was offered food and I couldn¡¯t not eat it first,¡± I say to Boriss. ¡°Thanks for waiting though. Where is everyone else?¡± ¡°Inside vaiting for you.¡± I pout. ¡°Why didn¡¯t they wait for me?¡± ¡°Comrade Cillian says to fly inside to save money.¡± Oh yea. I can do that. ¡°Good idea. I¡¯ll head inside now. Both of you, good luck and have fun.¡± Gino frowns at me. ¡°You can fly?¡± Without answering his question, I transform into a bird and ascend into the skies and over the colosseum. Looking down, I find that the colosseum is covered in a hill of sand that¡¯s larger in the center and smaller at the outskirts. Throughout the arena, numerous weapons are strewn about- most of a rusted quality with edges quite blunt. Towards the center, the weapons are both larger and of better quality- though only in comparison to those found farther from the center. They still have rust, just not as much with edges that aren''t going to function as blunt objects. After assessing the battlefield, I quickly find my crew and descend towards them. Clay is the first to notice me. He opens his arms and I fly into them. Then I covertly transform back into a cat. ¡°Fluffy,¡± Clay squeals. ¡°This is going to be fun.¡± ¡°Yup,¡± I answer and then pause. ¡°Why are you here? Aren¡¯t you too young?¡± Then I notice that Myers isn¡¯t here. ¡°He doesn¡¯t know, does he?¡± Clay grins with a blush. ¡°I left him a note.¡± I shake my head. Myers is going to skin me when he finds out. ¡°Welp, what''s done is done. Is everyone excited for the match?¡± They affirm and nods, though one of our group is far more excited than the rest. ¡°Yessss,¡± Nepenthes hisses in excitement. ¡°This reminds me of the tests of slaughter between my sisters- where we race to hunt for the flesh of greater and more dangerous prey until such time we do battle with one another.¡± Of course the crazy warrior-plant woman would be into this. ¡°Quasi,¡± Cillian voices to my right. ¡°The center is a trap, isn¡¯t it? The hill isn¡¯t steep enough to allow upper-ground superiority. You¡¯d have a longer weapon but you¡¯d also be surrounded,¡± He assesses. I nod. ¡°Not just that. The sand¡¯s not firm at all. Running is going to drain your stamina like crazy. Unless you¡¯ve got a hell of a lot of endurance, you¡¯ll be out of breath when you do reach the peak. It¡¯s far better to take it slow and steady.¡± Cillian reaches into his coat and retrieves a bottle that he opens and takes a swig of. ¡°What do you think Boriss is going to do? Take it slow?¡± I chuckle. ¡°Boriss is built different.¡± ______________________________________________________________________ Entering the holding grounds with Boriss, both are supplied a locked chest where they are directed to strip down until they are only wearing their undergarments. Until the tournament is over or you are defeated, your items will be unavailable to you. In the meantime, the colosseum will provide clothing, nourishment, and a place to safely rest. Once Gino is practically naked, he looks at all the other competitors. Some have a more streamlined skinny build like his own. Others are more muscular. Then he notices Boriss. The man is wider, taller, and significantly more muscular than the competition. Hell, Gino can¡¯t help but notice the abnormally large bulge between Boriss¡¯s feet. Boriss notices Gino staring. He waves at him with a smile. Gino waves back, thankful that the big man isn¡¯t directly competing against him. Once undressed, a numbered runed collar is wrapped around each person''s neck. His number is one seventy-eight. The collar will allow onlookers to quickly designate who is who by number alone. His name and number will be public before the tournament starts, allowing for last-minute bets. After an hour, he is shuffled to his starting gate. With a max of two-hundred entrances in the current arena, he expects to see fighters starting much closer than he¡¯d like. He takes a deep breath as he hears the rumble of a horn and the screams of the crowd. He can hear the [Announcer] speak with a magic enhanced voice. It booms loudly, shaking the stadium and forcing the crows to die down. The man speaks and makes introductions- nothing that Gino hadn¡¯t heard before. Instead, he takes a stance and focuses his breathing. Then he waits. And waits. And waits. Finally, the horn is blown. The gate crashes open and he sprints forward. IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 92: Tournament Day 1 The first day of the tournament begins with the blare of a horn and screams of the crowd. Two hundred men rush into the sandy battlefield, only to find their legs falling into a good foot of sand, greatly restricting and slowing their movements. The smart ones realize their predicament and slow down to conserve stamina. The battle has only just begun after all. But many, especially those who are new and unfamiliar with how these arena¡¯s operate- continue to rush towards the center. They know that it¡¯s a trap and that the first to reach the summit will be the most exhausted unless they have some skill to conserve stamina or traverse the terrain easier. This is unlikely to be true, for such skills are rarely obtained from levels below twenty-five. Gino is one of the smart ones who slows his pace to something manageable. He glances about, noticing a nearby shortsword. Not a dagger, of which he is skilled in, but close enough. As he reaches it and grabs the hilt, a grimace lines his mouth. ¡°Good thing I prefer to stab.¡± He whispers to himself. The edge is rusty and blunt- more hammer than sword. But the tip looks usable so long as he applies a bit more force. His thoughts are then quickly interrupted by a sound of rushing water. He glances behind him and finds that it has begun. Water rushing from the outskirts of the stadium and rapidly drenching the sand. If he doesn¡¯t pick up the pace, the water will get him far before anyone else. Grunting, he continues striding towards the center. As he does, he notices something unusual. The sand is becoming firmer and firmer, allowing for better footing. Then his thoughts transition to the sounds of screams, the clanking of blades, and the roars of the audience. The fighting has just begun. Firmly gripping his shortsword, Gino glances about for threats, and just barely waves away from a hammer aimed at his head. The [Gladiator] tsks in annoyance that he was noticed. ¡°Could''ve made this a lot simpler.¡± The man says while walking forward. The man swings again, but Gino is prepared. He weaves to the side and stabs forward. The man intercept with the hilt of his hammer, pushing the blade to the side. He goes for another swing, but Gino dodges with a roll. As he rushes back to his feet, he hears the rustling of sand behind him. Instinct takes over and he jumps to the side. A handaxe misses him by an inch. ¡°Hey, he¡¯s my prey!¡± The hammer wielder warns. But the axe-wielder ignores him and rushes Gino for the kill. Gino parries with his shortsword once, twice, then has to roll to the side to not get smashed by the hammer. ¡°Why are you both after me?¡± Gino asks. ¡°Fight each other.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not worth any coin.¡± The axe wielder replies before rushing in. The man is fast and mobile, forcing Gino to play on the defensive. In the meantime, the hammer wielder positions to the side. Then Gino hears another rustle behind. A man with a longsword rushes at him. Panic takes at the realization that it¡¯s a three against one. Swinging wild at the axeman, Gino sets off into a sprint. He hears them curse and the sands swish rapidly as they start to chase. Just as he thinks he¡¯s going to be able to get away, something hard bites into his shin. He falls and drops his shortsword. As he tries to get up, he hears the swishing of sand and the grunts of several bodies. He looks back to find the three had caught up. To his surprise, the one with the hammer is the first to arrive. He raises his hammer for an overhead strike that will shatter bones if not kill him. He blinks and prepares to roll by pushing at the ground with his hand, only for his hand to sink into the sand. Realizing he¡¯s immobilized, Gino closes his eyes and raises his hand to intercept the blow and hopefully conserve his life. But the blow does not arrive. When he opens his eyes, the man with the hammer stands with a pike through his neck while simultaneously piercing the swordwielder through the chest. When he glances to the side, the [Gladiator] with the handaxe is completely paused with eyes wide and his focus behind Gino. Gino follows the man''s gaze to find Boris standing at the summit, grinning directly towards him. Boriss winks and grabs a battleaxe at his side. He spins to intercept a spear aimed for his chest, then continues the momentum to implant it into a man''s chest. Seeing the kill reminds Gino of his current position. He stands up and only now realizes that what he¡¯d tripped over was a shield. He grabs the shield and equips it just in time to use it to block the man with the handaxe. He blocks once, twice, and when he blocks the third time, Gino kicks out at the man for space. With the pause, Gino turns around and picks up the shortsword. It¡¯s here that the [Gladiator] becomes wary. The axe-wielder is better trained than Gino with his shortsword, but Gino has a shield now. Now, it¡¯s a far more equal fight. The two circle, neither willing to take the risk of engaging. ¡°One-hundred [Gladiators] are now disqualified. Only fifty more to go!¡± The announce warns. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. With the warning given, the [Gladiator] decides that he can¡¯t wait anymore. He rushes forward, swinging his axe in an arc. Gino parries with the shield and attempts to stab with his sword. The [Gladiator] expects this and positions himself to dodge. He does so, but then quickly pivots forward with his axe to follow-up strike Gino''s sword hand. If he can disarm him, then the fight will be in the Gladiators favor. Unfortunately for the [Gladiator], [Rogues] are notorious for being fast. Gino¡¯s hand retracts enough that the axe only hits air. Not that the [Gladiator] is too surprised. Instead, he flips and twists the axe, continuing the onslaught on Gino¡¯s shield. The man is larger and bulkier, meaning that his strikes have more weight on them. He can already feel his shield-arm getting weak. Realizing he can¡¯t just play defensive. Gino positions his body lower. Then, instead of blocking with his shield, Gino diverts the axe with his shortsword and then slams his shield into the [Gladiators] face. The man''s head whips back for a moment. By the time the [Gladiator] recovers, a shortsword enters his throat, twists, and then pulls out. The man drops his axe and places both hands on the wound. Gino matches gazes with the man for a moment, only for the man to crumple to the ground. Gino had killed people before- rarely, either for a job or in self defense. But this kill feels different. Ugly, even. It makes his stomach churn, but he suppresses the feeling. Instead, he hears the cheers of the crowd. He can hear them cheer a three digit number. As he focuses, for a moment he thinks they are cheering one seventy eight- his own number. But, the number isn¡¯t his. They cheer for one seventy seven. Gino turns to the apex of the hill to find Boris leaning on a greataxe, surrounded by weapons and corpses- all while a circle of [Gladiators] keep their distance from him. Then he hears it. The sound of a horn blaring. ¡°Stop fighting!¡± The announcer''s voice echoes over the stadium. ¡°Fifty [Gladiators] remain. The first battle is over.¡± Hearing the announcer''s words sends a wave of relief through Gino- shortly followed by exhaustion. The young man falls to his knees as the adrenaline and rush leave him. At the same time, the cheering from the crowd echoes louder. ¡°[Gladiators]. Choose a single weapon from this stage and bring it with you. Do not steal from another [Gladiator]¡± Grimacing, Gino forces himself to stand. He needs to get another weapon, a better weapon than a rusted shortsword. He needs to rush to the center and hope that- His thoughts are interrupted as a dagger lands directly in front of him. When Gino looks up, Boriss waves back with a grin while now resting a greatsword on his shoulder. Gino waves back absentmindedly. He grabs the dagger and finds its weight optimal and edge decently sharp. So long as he can get proper footing, he¡¯ll have a chance of winning. With his weapon chosen, Gino leaves the battlefield and arrives at the holding chambers. He quickly deposits his weapon in his chest and then puts on his clothes. Then he walks to Borris¡¯s chambers to find the big man being avoided by the other contestants. Boriss looks happy while he finishes putting his clothes back on. It is also here that he notices Gino. Boriss grins. ¡°Friend Gino, you have good fight, Yes?¡± He asks in his odd common. ¡°Fight?¡± Gino asks. ¡°Da, vith axe man.¡± ¡°Oh! Yea. Thank you for that pike throw. I think you saved my life.¡± ¡°Is fine,¡± Boriss waves his hand. ¡°You have sister to save. Dying now is no good. I only give little helping hand.¡± Gino raises an eyebrow. ¡°I don¡¯t think killing two [Gladiators] is a little help,¡± he says. ¡°Bah, Is little,¡± Boriss argues back. ¡°Now, vhere is food?¡± ¡°Foods not here.¡± ¡°Vhat? Boriss frowns. ¡°I vhas promised food if I vin!¡± Boriss argues. Gino taps the numbered collar on his neck. ¡°Restaurants and taverns in gladius aren''t allowed to charge fighters for drinks and food.¡± Boriss¡¯s eyes widen, then the big man grins wider than Gino had ever seen. __________________________________________________________________ ¡°I can¡¯t believe you brought Clay to a colosseum to watch idiots kill each other!¡± Myers seethes across a table in the Seething Sword. Clay giggles at the angry old man while Boriss and Gino stuff their faces with meat. Apparently fighting for your life really builds up an appetite. ¡°It¡¯sa fineee. Just a weee bit of fun,¡± Cillian explains drunkenly, which just makes Myers even angrier- not that he can have any kind of proper conversation with a drunk man. ¡°As much as I like to disagree with Cillian, I do find that you coddle Clay too much.¡± Irmgard says in-between bites. The [First Mate] sits with a lady¡¯s posture while she slowly eats her steak. Next to her, Emma tries to copy her form- even going so far as to eat a steak in the same way. And failing miserably at it all. For someone who''s elegant when it comes to writing runes, she really fails at everything else. As for Nepenthes and Auranta, the two are conversing with one-another over Nepenthes mastery over mutation specialization. ¡°I do not coddle Clay!¡± Myers yells defensively. ¡°You absolutely do,¡± I finally speak up over my bowl of milk. ¡°The world¡¯s not sunshine and roses. The kid needs to see what happens in the real world. A colosseum is a safe way to do so- far safer than teaching a kid to assassinate the entire crew of a ship.¡± ¡°What?¡± Gino stops midbite to ask. At that moment, the [Barkeep] Ragnar arrives with another mug. He places it in front of Cillian and then turns to me. ¡°Is the milk to your liking?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± I nod and tap the bowl with my paw. ¡°Best milk so far- better than that spider milk I had before.¡± Rangar grunts. ¡°Lacaranea milk is low in fat and sugar. Many like to call it white water.¡± ¡°White piss,¡± I correct. Rangar nods at my statement, even giving me a slight bend of his lips. That bend becomes even more pronounced when he turns to Boriss. ¡°The rumors are coming through and it seems I have an impressive [Gladiator] in my tavern. Seventeen kills- that¡¯s near the record of nineteen. I imagine you might become a fan favorite.¡± ¡°Shite!¡± Cillian curses. ¡°Thas gonna fook me profits.¡± ¡°Not for the next matches it won¡¯t.¡± Ragnar says. ¡°Really?¡± Cillian frowns. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°The next two matches involve teams. Tomorrow is a fight against beasts and the day after is a fight against other teams.¡± Gino explains. I lick the last bit of cream from my bowl and then stretch as drowsiness hits me hard. ¡°Sounds fun.¡± I yawn. ¡°Damn, I¡¯m oddly sleepy. That¡¯s some good milk.¡± Ragnar grunts. ¡°I think I might retire early. Irmgard, you¡¯re in charge. Gino, I¡¯ll see you tomorrow.¡± ¡°Good night,¡± I hear Clay yell as I walk out of the tavern. As the door shuts behind me, my drowsiness immediately disappears. Instead of heading back to the ship, I find my way somewhere else. Somewhere much farther down. IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 93: Julia That first fight was fun to watch. Two-hundred fighters enter and only fifty survive. Well, technically more survived, but only fifty were able to continue fighting. Boriss did remarkably well. He rushed the center like an idiot, and then began beating down the other idiots that also rushed the center. Then, when the slower guys arrived, the bodies lying around Boriss intimidate them from engaging the exhausted Russian. Now, one problem did arise, and that was in regards to Gino. Three [Gladiators] tried to take the man down- to the point of even ignoring one-another. That shouldn¡¯t happen unless there is a reason for it. As for the reason, I have a good idea in regards to who it might be. Reaching the Flamingo district, I¡¯m once again reminded of a redlight district. The place is vibrant, happy, with plenty of dancing women at the windows- next to stores that sell objects of lust. I ignore such distraction and find my way to the [Gang Leaders] estate that I¡¯d visited before. Maybe a more indirect route would be better. Going around the building, I find oddly placed steps that lead up to a window all the way up above. The steps couldn¡¯t support a human, but they could easily support a cat. Probably for Tiera to return covertly- or I guess her real name is Faelisa. Ascending up the steps, the smell of Faelisa hits my nostrils, enforcing my hypothesis that she uses these steps in cat-form. When I reach the apex, I crawl through a small kitty-door to a bedroom smothered in her scent. ¡°Nice room,¡± I say aloud. I search the room for a moment and find nothing of actual interest. She¡¯d not been here for the whole day. Flipping the lock and opening the door, I walk outside to the rather cozy hallway. The place is warm and inviting. Not the kind of inviting you¡¯d see at a brothel, but more along the line of a wooden home with a nice fireplace. I can already imagine myself sitting down on a recliner and reading a hardcover book using the light from the burning logs. Then I smell it. Garlic, onions, vegetables, and a good deal of meat. I guess milk isn¡¯t exactly filling. I am kinda hungry. Following the smell, I arrive at what seems like a kitchen. Peaking in, I see a woman with brown hair in a ponytail, green eyes, and the most concentrated expression I¡¯ve seen in quite some time. Even as the door squeaks open, the woman continues stirring the pot. Even as I get on the counter, she doesn¡¯t even realize my presence. ¡°You¡¯re an odd one.¡± I say. The woman freezes at my words. Her head tilts slowly to me, followed by several blinks. ¡°Yes, I can talk. No, I¡¯m not a druid. Yes, my fur is very soft. And yes, you can pet me so long as you feed me right after.¡± The woman stares at me for a long moment. Then she slowly nods, steps to me, then strokes my back with her hand. I blink, a bit floundered at the oddness of the action. Logically, there should be some kind of conversation, hell, even proper hesitation. But no, the woman went from listening, to a nod, then petting. ¡°Do you have a name?¡± I ask while she strokes my gloriously fluffy fur. ¡°Julia.¡± She says absentmindedly. I pause, frown, and then look up. ¡°Gino¡¯s sister?¡± Her petting stops at my question. ¡°You know my brother? Is he well?¡± She asks in a rather neutral tone. Maybe there is some worry there, but it¡¯s difficult to sparse. It¡¯s like I''m playing poker with a robot. ¡°For the most part. He plans to buy your freedom.¡± ¡°How will he do that?¡± ¡°Gambling.¡± Julia frowns. ¡°Gambling is a game for the very wealthy or the very foolish.¡± You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ¡°Or the very lucky.¡± I add. She removes her hand from my fur. Opens a cupboard, takes a bowl, and then fills me a bowl of stew. ¡°Will this be an acceptable payment?¡± She asks in complete and utter sincerity. ¡°Mostly.¡± I answer. ¡°I just need a bit of information.¡± She nods. I move to the bowl and lick the broth- finding it similar to Dana¡¯s, but lacking some unique flavor. ¡°Do you know where Jonathan is? I need to talk to him.¡± ¡°Master Jonathan should be in his office at this time.¡± ¡°I see. Where is his office exactly?¡± ¡°Down the stairs and to the far right. His office is at the end of the hallway.¡± ¡°Good to know. I¡¯ve another question. How is Jonathan treating you?¡± I ask. ¡°I am a servant. How he treats me is his own prerogative.¡± That¡¯s a fucking odd answer. ¡°Let me rephrase that question a bit. Is Jonathan treating you with kindness and Respect? Or is he beating you constantly? Does he have any plans for you?¡± ¡°He does not beat me, nor does he show kindness. I think he respects me for my worth- though that may also have recently changed.¡± ¡°Oh? Do tell.¡± ¡°Previously, his plans were to sell me off because I am a virgin. Until yesterday, I was being schooled on the proper way to pleasure men. Now, I have been delegated to cooking.¡± Huh. Seems like Jonathan is actually following the deal. ¡°Good, good. You sit tight and keep cooking, I¡¯m going to converse with Jonathan for a bit.¡± I hop off the counter. ¡°Wait!¡± She yells, the calmness leaving her like flickering a switch. ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten your stew.¡± ¡°It¡¯s too hot. I¡¯ll come back when it cools,¡± I explain. Her demeanor quickly returns to neutral. She nods. ¡°Then I¡¯ll make sure nobody touches it while you are gone.¡± ¡°Thank you, and I¡¯ll see you later, Julia.¡± I head out of the kitchen, down the stairs, across the hall, and then stop right outside Jonathan''s room. I place my head to the door and try to listen, but I hear no sound, not even gusts of wind. Either nobody is inside or it¡¯s runed. Hopping and pulling the handle, the door slides open and I quickly rush in. Jonathan hears the squeaking of the door. When he looks, a cat walks in. ¡°Faelisa, you¡¯re here ear-¡± he stops when he realizes it¡¯s not her. ¡°Jonathan, buddy, pal.¡± I hop on top of his office table, the same one I was on yesterday. ¡°We need to talk.¡± Jonathan folds his arms together. ¡°I believe our dealings were completed yesterday.¡± ¡°They were, but the deal was under the idea of fair-play. You see, Gino¡¯s fight today involved three [Gladiators] specifically targeting the kid. I don¡¯t suppose you know anything about that?¡± I ask with a smile. ¡°Vulturan Gallinae placed a five-hundred trist bounty on Gino to be awarded to whoever defeats him in the tournament.¡± I blink¡­ then grimace. Either this guy is an incredible liar or my first instinct is wrong. ¡°Not you? Why would Vulturan place a bounty on Gino? Why five hundred? What does he gain from it?¡± Jonathan leans back. ¡°To get the boy back under his thumb again.¡± ¡°And if the kid dies?¡± The man shrugs. ¡°Then nobody else can use the kids'' talent.¡± ¡°Five hundred trist seems like a pricey risk to pay.¡± Jonathan raises an eyebrow. ¡°Do you not know what makes Gino special?¡± ¡°Other than his obsessive drive to save his sister?¡± I ask. The [Gang Leader] stares at me for a second, as though debating in his head. Eventually, the decision is reached. ¡°Very few know this, but Gino has the skill [Hide Presence]. It¡¯s a skill common to advanced class [Assassins] and [Thieves]. Having the skill at his level is nearly unheard of.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ well, shit. That¡¯s not going to be useful in the tournament.¡± ¡°Which is why I¡¯m not worried about our deal. He¡¯d have to survive to the fifth round to make enough for his sister''s freedom. That¡¯s very unlikely for a [Rogue]. Though, if he does make it that far,¡± Jonathan smiles slightly, ¡°then I guess he deserves it.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t seem too bothered about losing significant profit.¡± The [Gang Leader] sighs. ¡°I used to be an orphan when I was young. Then I join the gang and became a dancer.. I worked and trained hard, for long grueling hours every day. I made friends, enemies, and struggled up the ranks of the gang. Now I sit as its leader.¡± He leans forward. ¡°Let me just say I have a fondness for those who struggle to do what many believe impossible. If Gino gets the money, then I hold no grudge if he buys his sister''s freedom.¡± Huh. I was not expecting that level of reasonability. Usually, gangs tend to be pretty cutthroat. ¡°You¡¯re a pretty reasonable guy. Now I feel kinda bad for bothering you. I guess I should¡¯ve expected this sooner, what with you ordering Julia to cook for you.¡± Jonathan groans. ¡°Is she in the kitchen again? I told her to just stay in her room.¡± ¡°Something wrong?¡± ¡°Yes, that woman is wrong in the head. I¡¯ve never heard a servant get upset at me for not giving them enough work.¡± ¡°Yea, that sounds wrong- but also positive for you, right?¡± ¡°I find it aggravating. I treat the Flamingos with respect. One of those ways is to make sure that they don¡¯t feel like I have a boot on their neck. I give them a good degree of freedom, which I offered to her as well.¡± ¡°And she refused?¡± ¡°Yes, and then demanded more work. I told her no and to go to her room. And ever since then, she¡¯d go to the kitchen and make food for everyone in my estate.¡± ¡°I¡¯m very confused right now. Did you try to punish her?¡± ¡°For what, cooking? I¡¯m not a [Barbarian]. If she wants to cook, she can so long as she knows she can rest when she wants.¡± I stand up and stretch. ¡°Well, it¡¯s time for me to go. My fears have been alleviated and I now can eat stew and go home.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going to meet with Vultura about the bounty?¡± ¡°Nope. That guy is Gino¡¯s problem. All I did was beat up his cat.¡± I hop off the desk and wave a paw goodbye. I leave the office and close the door like a good kitten that I am. Then I rush back upstairs. ___________________________________________________________________ IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 94: Russian Baby
Job: [Ship Captain] Level: Level 19 Job Skills: 2 Ship Size: Frigate Primary Jobs Available: 8 Support Jobs Available:5 Maximum Job Capacity: 22
Primary Jobs [First Mate] level 13: Irmgard Von Braun level 15 [Sword Officer] [Quartermaster] level 17: Cillian Wallace level 22 [Merchant] [Security Chief] level 10: Boriss Smirnov level 20 [Skirmisher] [Chief Carpenter] level 14: Emma level 31 [Rune Smith] [Head Chef]: N/A [Chief Physician] level 7: Nepenthes level 21 [Druid] [Artillery Chief]: N/A [Navigator]: N/A
Support Jobs [Boatswain] level 2: Auranta level 39 [Air Mage] [Gunner]: [Cook]: [Carpenter]: [Rigger]: [Physician Assistant]:
¡°Two levels on both Boriss and Irmgard. That¡¯s not bad, especially Boriss. He should get a new skill.¡± I rub the side of my neck as I talk aloud. ¡°Hopefully it¡¯s something good. He¡¯ll need it if he¡¯s to win the whole tournament. Then again, most of his competition is young and inexperienced on account of his level being too low- so he has that going for him.¡± I glance at Red¡¯s floating eyeball of a body. ¡°Anyway, want to explain to me how I got a level in my [Captain] class?¡± ¡°That information is restricted.¡± I sigh. ¡°Yea, I thought so. Let''s just end this meeting for now. Morning should be just upon me.¡± With the white world disappearing, the real world comes into existence as I awaken. I yawn and then wiggle outside of Julias grasp. The woman, to my surprise, continues to sleep deeply, completely unbothered by the loss of her fluffy pillow. Yawning and stretching my body, I leave the young woman who¡¯d offered me her room to sleep and exit into the hallways. Then I make my way to another room. I open the door, walk down the room and hop up to the cat-sized opening. The bed shifts as a naked woman leans up with sleep-crusted eyes. She blinks at me. ¡°What?¡± I wave a paw towards the woman. ¡°Go back to sleep, Faelisa. Nothing to see here.¡± I exit through the opening and hear the rapid rustle of bedsheets. With a grin, I rush down the estate and make my way to Gino. My arrival is met with the kid already awake and eating stew. So focused on his thoughts and eating, that he doesn¡¯t notice me get on his table. ¡°Gino, are you ready for your next match!¡± I yell, completely starling him. ¡°Quasi!¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s indeed my name. Now, are you ready?¡± ¡°Y-yeah.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Feeling nervous? Thoughtful?¡± ¡°Kinda confident.¡± He answers. ¡°That will get you killed.¡± I say. ¡°Not about the tournament,¡± he corrects. ¡°I made good money from betting with the coin you gave me. I¡¯m more confident now about having enough to buy my sister.¡± ¡°Well, you better. She¡¯s a very nice and odd young lady. I¡¯d prefer to see her with a better future than a [Slave] with extra steps.¡± ¡°Yeah. ¡° He answers, then blinks. ¡°You¡¯ve met my sister?¡± ¡°Not just met her, I slept with her too.¡± I hop off the table. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°What!¡± he yells with eyes wide. I give the man a grin. ¡°Eat fast and I¡¯ll tell you on the way to the tournament.¡± ________________________________________________________ Though the idea that he has a bounty on his head is disturbing, that bounty can¡¯t easily be claimed on the second day of the tournament. Once again he strips down to near nothing, but grabs the dagger he¡¯d obtained from the last round. Then he moves to where all the other [Gladiators] are huddled against. [Gladiators], a job taken by those who fight in the ring, isn¡¯t necessarily a useful job to have for winning combat. Instead, the job generally offers skills in regards to survival. Skills like Slowed Bleeding and Calmed Mind make it more likely that a [Gladiator] will survive instead of dying outright. Currently, Gino woke up yesterday with the [Gladiator] job. And as of today, that job has risen to level four. Not enough to be useful, but he hopes that at level ten, he¡¯ll obtain a skill to help him survive. Once he arrives, he finds that the [Gladiators] are huddled around a chalkboard. Reading it, he finds that the teams of five have already been chosen and the names posted. As he reads through the names, he can¡¯t help but smile when he finds his own right next to Boriss. Glancing around, he finds Boriss sitting on a bench in the corner with three other men. The three men seem to be around his age, maybe a bit older. Two of them have a muscular build while the third is covered in lean muscle and carries a spear. The other two wield a Greatsword and a Greataxe respectively. As he approaches, Boriss notices and grins. ¡°Gino, you are now comrade vith me, yes?¡± ¡°Comrade?¡± he frowns. ¡°That¡¯s his word for ally or teammate.¡± The lean [Gladiator] explains. He then extends his hand with a smile. ¡°Names Micheal, [Spearman]. Nice to meet someone who doesn¡¯t look like he¡¯s all about smashing things with a big weapon.¡± ¡°Uh, yea.¡± Gino accepts the handshake. ¡°Gino, [Rogue].¡± ¡°Smashing things is fun, Micheal. Maybe you¡¯d enjoy it more if you didn¡¯t dance around all the time with your pointy stick,¡± The guy with the greataxe taunts and extends his own hand. ¡°Names Agris, [Barbarian]. It¡¯s odd seeing a [Rogue] as a [Gladiator], but I don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°Well I do. A [Rogue] is just going to slow us down in this match. I doubt he can kill beasts with that toothpick.¡± Micheal sighs. ¡°And that¡¯s Baldric. He¡¯s a [Warrior] with a constant dick up his ass.¡± ¡°How about you go shove that spear up your ass,¡± Baldric growls. Micheal chuckles. ¡°See what I mean.¡± ¡°You three seem to know each other,¡± Gino says. ¡°Cause we do. We¡¯re all contracted [Gladiators] to Gladius. We¡¯ve trained and battled with each other before.¡± Gino frowns. ¡°And you¡¯re all part of the same team? That doesn¡¯t seem random.¡± ¡°It¡¯s never random,¡± Baldric interrupts. ¡°The royals just tell everyone that it is so that people think it¡¯s fair and spend more money.¡± Micheal frowns. ¡°It¡¯s not always like that.¡± ¡°Yes it fucking is and you know it. This whole team is so that Boriss and Gino don¡¯t accidentally get killed this round.¡± ¡°The Royals want me alive?¡± Gino asks. ¡°[Rogues] are rare and Boriss is already a fan favorite. They probably saw how Boriss saved your life with that pike throw and then later threw a dagger at your feet- so they put you both together and are making us three babysit,¡± Baldric explains. ¡°Ha, big Russian baby,¡± Boriss chuckles while everyone else gives the man an odd look. ¡°Vhat? Is joke, yes?¡± The four stare long at Boriss who grows more and more confused. Thankfully, before Boriss attempts to explain, a ringing bell attracts everyone''s attention. Micheal sighs. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s time to find out what''s on the menu today.¡± Micheal, Baldric, and Agris start heading towards the sound. Boriss and Gino share a look. Then they follow the three. _____________________________________________________________ The stadium is once again packed and just as loud as the previous day. Though this time, Myers and Clay are both present. The child looks eager and happy while Myers wears an annoyed grimace. He¡¯d not want Clay seeing bloodshed, but Quasi does have a point that life is cruel and it¡¯s better to realize that in a controlled environment. From an elevated stand at the side of the arena arrives a man wearing a toga. As he arrives, the crowds begin to calm down and wait for his words. When he arrives, the man, an [Announcer] looks at all those present. ¡°Welcome back to the second game of the tournament. For this second round, we have divided our fifty members into ten teams of five. Each team will be tested against the greatest and most dangerous beasts we can provide. It will take courage, skill, and possibly a bit of luck to survive this challenge.¡± The [Announcer] points to the battlefield below, which has been significantly restructured. Instead of weapons, numerous pieces of armor are strewn across the arena at the corners of the coliseum except for a single location. Like the weapons, they do seem to have a quality to them. ¡°For this challenge, the teams will be on a time limit to obtain armor for themselves. Armor of a quality proportional to the dangers present.¡± The [Announcer] clicks his fingers and numerous gates open throughout the arena. From these gates, monstrous chained beasts exit either in great numbers or in smaller, but larger form. ¡°We have monstrous wolves, armored salamanders, vicious lions, deadly griffins, Lethal Chimeras, enormous basilisk, and even a royal wyvern.¡± The crowd goes wild when the monsters enter, screaming with the bloodlust that many of these beasts feel not only for the crowd, but for one-another. The only thing keeping them from killing each other are the chains that bind them to a location at an arena corner. It is also at those locations where the armor is located- with the best pieces located near the basilisk. ¡°The team will need to distract or defeat these beasts to obtain the armors they protect. What beast you fight- if any- is completely up to you. Just know,¡± The man grins towards the audience. ¡°Some of those armors are runed.¡± His last words have the crowd cheering even louder. Even Gond, who¡¯d joined Quasi today, leans forward in interest. ¡°That¡¯s not normal.¡± He says. ¡°What¡¯s not? The Runes?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± He nods. ¡°Generally, these tournaments avoid runed equipment because it can give an edge to a weaker fighter to beat a superior one. It makes it so individual talent alone won¡¯t fully carry you through the fight. I hope the runes aren''t too strong.¡± ¡°The audience seems to like it.¡± I comment. ¡°They like it because it¡¯s new, but it may not be a good fit for the long-term health of these tournaments.¡± ¡°I can understand that.¡± Quasi nods. ¡°But, I imagine those runed armor pieces are going to be located by more dangerous threats like the Basilisk or the Wyvern- though that wyvern seems pretty beaten up. I mean, it¡¯s missing a piece of its wing and it looks kinda old.¡± Gond chuckles. ¡°That wyvern is Hellion, an old fart considering he¡¯s been around forever and still lives. He¡¯s old and injured, but I¡¯ll bet you my life that he¡¯s the most dangerous beast there. At his prime, those chains wouldn¡¯t have any chance of holding him, especially so if his breath still worked. He¡¯d melt through the chains and slaughter the rest of the beasts.¡± ¡°Fuck. Well, Boriss will probably try to fight that.¡± ¡°He¡¯ll be dead.¡± ¡°I doubt it, but we¡¯ll see. He just got a neat new skill.¡± ¡°Unless it¡¯s an activatable one, I doubt it will help.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see about that,¡± I say and return my attention to the arena. IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 95: Russian Tag With the second tournament ready to begin, the horn booms across the colosseum as the first team is ushered in. A massive sandglass is flipped over next to the announcer, signifying the start of the time-limit. With time limited, the first team takes the safest option. They rush towards the wolves which growl threateningly at their approach. The wolves, numbering ten, do not approach even as the [Gladiators] are in range. Instead, they wait for the five to get closer. Just as the first of the [Gladiators] is in range of grabbing a piece of equipment, the wolves rush to surround them. The [Gladiators] take a defensive stance with their backs to each other against ten wolves. For the next five minutes, the fight is bloody with half the wolves getting killed and two of the [Gladiators]. After the second [Gladiators] death, the remaining three quickly retreat out of wolf range. Then the trumpet rings and the first round of the day is complete. Once the remaining [Gladiators] leave the arena for treatment, a team of armored veteran [gladiators] rush into the arena. The wolves, seeing them, quickly scurry away, allowing the men to remove both human and wolf corpses. ¡°Are the wolves replaced?¡± Quasi asks as the veterans leave. ¡°No,¡± Gond answers. ¡°Those who go first have the greatest risk but also the first choice of equipment. Ten wolves for five [Gladiators] should have been dangerous, but doable with proper skill and planning.¡± ¡°Yea, huddling together isn¡¯t good when you¡¯re practically naked. It makes it difficult to dodge.¡± Gond nods. ¡°I could reliably take out all ten myself.¡± ¡°Same.¡± Quasi answers, getting a raised eyebrow from the retired [Gladiator] but choosing not to comment. The next round begins, and the [Gladiators] finish off the remaining wolves with only a single leg injury on one of the [Gladiators]. From there, they quickly rush to the pieces of equipment. It is here that Quasi notices that some of the larger equipment is tied or chained down. The [Gladiators] use their weapons to free said equipment, picking it up, and then quickly moving to the next. Then I hear the trumpet and all five stop what they are doing. Everything in their arms or on their body is theirs. They leave the arena with their haul of mostly pieces of leather armor. Once gone, the corpses are removed by the veterans. ¡°The next team will rush to see what¡¯s left. If not enough, they¡¯ll then need to fight the salamanders.¡± Quasi focuses on the five alligator-sized lizards. They remind him of larger Komodo dragons with thicker scales. ¡°They don¡¯t seem that much more dangerous than wolves.¡± ¡°They¡¯re easier than wolves if you¡¯ve got a good weapon. If not, getting through those scales will be difficult and take a bit of time. They are also quite deadly if they bite. The pressure they exert from their mouths is enough to crush bone and bend metal.¡± Just as Gond predicted, the next team rushes where the wolves were at, find nothing of significant interest, and then they move to the salamanders. Unlike the previous team, this one is more professional and goes in with a plan of action. Unlike the wolves, Salamanders don¡¯t use tactics. Once the [Gladiators] are in range, the group rushes towards them. The [Gladiators] separate as do many of the salamanders. Those chased by more than one are tasked with distraction. Those who fight only a single salamander or none, work together to strike them down using superior numbers and the two great-axes on their team. In minutes, the salamanders are taken care of and the team rushes to the equipment. Unfortunately, it¡¯s clear the fight against the salamanders took too long, for the trumpet sounds just as they reach the equipment. ¡°The next team is very lucky.¡± Gond says. ¡°They won¡¯t need to fight anything.¡± Once the corpses are cleaned up, the next team is ushered into the arena. A team Quasi knows so well. The crowd, seeing Boriss, starts cheering loudly. The big man, towering over the rest of his team, waves at the crowds with his usual Russian grin. ¡°Seems your crewman is quite lucky,¡± Gond comments. Quasi chuckles. ¡°No, no he is not.¡± Gond glances at the cat and frowns. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Cause Boriss is the only one smiling.¡± ______________________________________________________________ The [Announcer] looks down from his elevated position at the fan favorite, Boriss. The man is large, broad shouldered, and has the posture of a veteran [Gladiator]. His impressive display yesterday has ordered the powers at be to make sure the man survives long enough to enter into the finals. Hence, the man is given three experienced [Gladiators] and has had his position moved to the fourth team to enter the arena. As the fourth team, the likelihood of getting killed isn¡¯t too high and the equipment that can be obtained is adequate to get far in the tournament. Though, the [Announcer] wasn¡¯t expecting the previous team to finish off all the salamanders. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve got it very easy.¡± The [Announcer] says without activating the runes on the podium to extend his voice. With a flick of his fingers, the sandglass is flipped over and the trumpet is blown, signaling the beginning of the match. It is here where the crowd''s cheers quickly die down as the group of five don¡¯t rush left, where the salamanders were defeated. Instead, they rush right. From left to right, the order of beasts goes from wolves, salamanders, lions, griffins, chimeras, basilisk, and finally the royal wyvern Hellion. The group rushes towards Hellion, arguably one of if not the most dangerous beast on the field. The only thing that might be more dangerous is the basilisk, but only because Hellion is old and injured. ¡°He¡¯s insane.¡± The [Announcer] mumbles, his voice resonating to the audience with the same thought as most of them. The five run towards Hellion, and the wyvern notices this. He stands up and growls towards the approaching [gladiators]. As they enter Hellion''s range, four of the [Gladiators] split to the sides while Boriss rushes to what most believe is his death. Though wyverns aren''t as intelligent as a pegasus, or even a griffin, the royal variants are. Unfortunately, the royal variants are also far more aggressive. With an ear splitting roar, Hellion charges Boriss. The man grins as Hellion takes the bait. Then just as Hellion reaches the man, Boriss jumps. Not your expected two-meter jump. No, the sand gives way as Boriss leaps five meters into the air, avoiding hellions lunge and lands on the wyverns spiked back. Then he rushes to the neck and swings his weapon, cracking scales and nothing else. Hellion feels this and roars. He rolls to get Boriss off, but the man safely jumps off at the moment the roll starts. In the meantime, the rest of the team ignores the fight. Instead, they rush to the chain keeping Hellion restricted to his location. They fold some of the chains up over each other and then insert their weapon into the links. ¡°Boriss, it''s ready!¡± Gino screams. Hearing the call, Boriss throws his greatsword at Hellion and smacks the wyvern in the face. Then he starts running away. Hellion, seeing what just happened, roars and rampages after Boris, violently kicking up sand. As Hellion chases, the chain keeping the wyvern chained begins to straighten and tighten. Then, as the chain extends to its maximum, the force of Hellion''s rampaging form tightens the chain, tightens the inserted weapons, and then the force cracks and shatters, breaking the bounds that keep Hellion¡¯s movement restricted. Gasps descend from the audience at the sight of a untethered, very pissed off wyvern the size of a carriage. Now, for most, this would be considered death. But Boriss isn¡¯t an idiot. Fighting a royal wyvern at his level? Impossible. But he doesn¡¯t have to fight it. Boriss rushes to the basilisk- a massive legged serpentine larger than Hellion. The Basilisk see Hellion approach and then rushes to engage. Boriss, once again, jumps in the air, over the basilisk, and then rolls the landing before continuing to run. At this point, Hellion¡¯s target shifts from the puny human to the deadly basilisk. The two alpha predators begin a deadly dance of claws and teeth, ripping scale and flesh with gory ease. With the two beasts distracted, Boriss makes it to his team, picking up his greatsword on the way. While the beasts fight, the group of five rush to pick up the quality armors, many of which are made of metal instead of leather. Some even have runes on them, though what the runes do is yet unknown. Eventually, the fight between Hellion and the basilisk ends not with a winner, but a double loss. The basilisk''s mouth lies grasped around Hellion''s crushed chest, oozing blood and poison. As for the basilisk, it lies dead, its spine severed by the aged wyverns'' powerful jaws. The crowd is completely silent, unwilling to make a sound at what incredible violence they¡¯d just seen. The silence is only broken by the running out of time and the resounding echo of the trumpet. Even the [Announcer] has been distracted and would have continued to do so if not for the call. ¡°There you have it! The fourth match of today and the defeat of not only one, but two of Gladius'' most dangerous beasts! Lets give this team the applause they deserve!¡± The crowd breaks out of their stupor and you could hear a collective breath. Then the cheers and screams resonate throughout the stadium, louder than ever before. What they¡¯d just seen is something nobody will ever forget. Not the people. Not the [Announcer]. And especially not the Royals in charge of sourcing these extremely expensive beasts. Specifically, the basilisk. Hellion is old and has been getting weaker and weaker every year. The fact it survived for so long is impressive on account of it¡¯s tenacity, but it¡¯s wounded form no longer impresses the crowd. But the basilisk is young and not even at its prime yet. It would have grown larger and more dangerous- a perfect beast for the upper-level fights. Now it¡¯s dead and the Royals are having an emergency meeting. __________________________________________________________ ¡°How did this happen?¡± Flamentine Christof, the [Governor of Games] asks his compatriots at his table. A total of three others who rule Gladius alongside him. ¡°You underestimated him,¡± Stavros Cosmeas, retired [Gladiator Champion] and current [Gang Leader] of the Warriors. ¡°That man, Boriss. From what I hear, he¡¯s either some extremely high-level [Spy] that can lie about his class, or he¡¯s an experienced combatant that¡¯s never been stressed enough to get to that final level.¡± ¡°His class is [Skirmisher] and he went into the match at level eighteen,¡± Loukia Chondrotzi, [Gang Leader] of the Crusts explains. ¡°He¡¯s also a crewman for a [Captain] Quasi Eludo of a rune frigate named Timbergrove. The [Quartermaster] Cillian Wallace has placed incredibly large bets on Boriss, all of which are paying off. I believe the crew knows Boriss is extremely capable and expects him to win his rounds.¡± Flamentine frowns. He turns to the last member on the table. ¡°What are your thoughts?¡± An older, skinny man with a long flowing beard leans over the table. Miltiadis Rossallis, the first and only [Gang Leader] of the Royals grins at his great-grandson. ¡°Whether he is a [spy] or not matters little. What matters is that we win at the end. Allow this Boriss to win and gain the crowds love and trust. They will bet money on him, and with each win, more and more bets will be placed. Then, near the end, Boriss will find himself against a foe of a level far higher than he can hope to surpass. ¡°That¡¯s when we bet against him and make enough trist to easily afford several basilisks,¡± Loukia explains. ¡°Brilliant.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll prepare the opponent,¡± Stavros says. ¡°Just find a [Mage] who can cast [Glamor] and we can easily switch him out with one of our contracted [Gladiators].¡± The [Governor] sighs at the ease of which his advisors move to subterfuge. He wishes he can just focus on making the tournaments fun and engaging instead of constantly being forced to manipulate the games so as to maximize profits. ¡°Just don¡¯t get caught,¡± He warns and ends the meeting. IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 96: Screaming Pussy Ragnar polishes a glass on the counter, listening in to the conversations happening around him. Prioritizing more those who are trying to whisper and keep their conversations to themselves. Though everyone knows that Buxon are physically superior to every other species, what people tend to forget is that that includes the ability to hear. Right now, every conversation is fully within earshot, as are the multitude of footsteps right outside his tavern. The door of his tavern opens to reveal yesterday''s group of oddballs. And oddballs they are, for it''s a rare sight to see more than three species together. Human, Gemma, Phytonid, and even a masked Insectoid who thinks their mask hides her species. All they need now is just a Buxon and a wolven to complete the set. ¡°Ragnar, I hope you don¡¯t mind us bringing in a couple more [Gladiators].¡± The cat hops up to the bar counter with a grin. The thing about Ragnar is that he¡¯s used to being the most dangerous person in his tavern. The strongest, if you will. But, he gets the feeling that the cat may very well be more dangerous- as much as the old man. It¡¯s that strength that keeps Ragnar from throwing the cat out of his tavern for bringing its dirty paws on his countertop. ¡°That¡¯s fine. [Gladiators] bring more customers.¡± And sellable information. As the group takes a table, Ragnar takes note of the three new [Gladiators]. From their form and confidence, he can already tell these three are contracted [Gladiators] trained by Gladius. Taking their names and orders, he brings them drinks and then moves to the kitchen, where he begins preparing the food. While he does, he listens in on their conversation. ¡°I can¡¯t believe that worked,¡± Micheal says with a grin. ¡°I can¡¯t believe we actually went with the stupid plan,¡± Baldric says. ¡°Hey,¡± Agris grins, ¡°It¡¯s not stupid if it works.¡± ¡°You were just as against it as I was,¡± Baldric argues back. Agris shrugs. ¡°Yea, but it worked so now I¡¯m willing to go with whatever crazy plan Boriss has.¡± ¡°Is not my plan,¡± Boriss interrupts. ¡°Is plan from comrade Gino.¡± ¡°I only proposed the idea to Boriss. I wasn¡¯t expecting him to actually go along with it.¡± ¡°Is good idea.¡± The big man grins. ¡°How¡¯d you jump that high anyway?¡± Agris asks. ¡°Mind sharing the skill?¡± Ragnar zones in on their conversation. Knowing what skills a [Gladiator] has can sell for quite a good price when betting is concerned. ¡°Is called [Leaping Tendons]. It make legs extra strong to jump.¡± Ragnar nods slowly. It¡¯s a good passive skill to have. The skill improves not only how much force you can jump with, but also how much force your legs can support. Just having the skill allows one to don heavy armor and still be mobile enough to dodge projectiles. ¡°I thought that was a [Rogue] skill,¡± Agris says. ¡°I didn¡¯t know [Skirmishers] got it too.¡± ¡°It''s also a [Spearman] skill,¡± Micheal adds. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard of the [Dragoon] class.¡± ¡°What''s the [Dragoon] class?¡± Quasi asks. Micheal grins towards the cat. ¡°It¡¯s an expert class that a [Gladiator Champion] had. You need [Spearman], then [Leaping Spearman], and finally [Dragoon] in that order.¡± Agris rubs the mug with his thumb. ¡°That''s just what that specific [Gladiator] did. I¡¯m sure you can get [Dragoon] some other way. Hell, I bet Boriss¡¯s [Skirmisher] class has that avenue open to him too.¡± Ragnar can¡¯t help but disagree. The skills required to become a [Dragoon] have a much higher chance of showing up on a [Spearman] than a [Skirmisher]. It¡¯s possible, but extremely unlikely. With food ready, Ragnar brings it to the large group. ¡°Was the second round difficult?¡± Ragnar asks the clearly uninjured team of five. They probably needed only to mop up after a previous team. ¡°Not with Boriss,¡± Micheal taps the big man on the back. ¡°You¡¯re looking at the man here who single-handedly killed Hellion.¡± Ragnar almost drops the food when he hears that bit of information. That scaly bastard and almost killed him? ¡°Is not me. I only trick,¡± Borris complains. ¡°Mind telling me the whole story?¡± Ragnar asks, now actually very interested. What unfolds for the next half hour explains why [Leaping Tendons] was such a subject of conversation. Though he didn¡¯t kill Hellion, he did distract and bait the angry lizard into a fight against a basilisk. ¡°Boriss, a word of warning,¡± Ragnar begins. ¡°If you get too popular too quickly and people start betting on you, then you¡¯d best be careful. The royals aren''t above planning your downfall. I¡¯m sure these three can attest to that.¡± This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Agris, Baldric, and Micheal grimace. ¡°Are they going to try to poison him or something?¡± Quasi asks inbetween licks of his milk. Ragnar lifts the pants of his right leg to show a mangled flesh. ¡°Replacing a contracted [Gladiator] with an expert is something they like to do when there is a lot of coin to be won.¡± ¡°Damn, that looks bad.¡± Quasi says. The Buxon nods. ¡°They made sure to break my leg and then have the bones heal wrong. Only an expert class [Healer] could fix this- something far too expensive for me to afford¡± Quasi blinks at the leg. Then he glances at Nepenthes devouring raw flesh. ¡°Hey, Nepenthes.¡± The cat extends a paw. ¡°Do you think you can fix Ragnar¡¯s leg?¡± The Phytonid glances at the wound. ¡°I have no genetic knowledge of his flesh and its capabilities. Without consuming the flesh of his species, I will likely fail.¡± ¡°I appreciate the sentiment, but I have already accepted that I will forever be a cripple. Now, please, enjoy your meals.¡± As Ragnar leaves, he can hear the conversation continuing. ¡°You know, if he¡¯d just find some fresh Buxon corpses for Nepenthes, she¡¯d be able to fix his leg,¡± The cat says. The cloaked Insectoid taps her glass softly. ¡°Buxon are extremely resilient to the effects of mana. Nepenthes'' usage of Mutation would be greatly ineffective on their flesh.¡± The cat''s ears flicker for a moment as Quasi frowns. ¡°Auranta, have you even seen Nepenthes work?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Nepenthes doesn¡¯t use her mana to manipulate others'' flesh. She does surgery and produces drugs to promote rapid healing.¡± Ragnar halts his steps towards the kitchen. He can feel the beat of his hearts quicken and the blood flowing under his bones. He tries to suppress the thought that spiraling in his mind, but its too late. It¡¯s back and in full force. Something he¡¯d thought gone a decade ago. Something known as hope. _________________________________________________________________ ¡°GINO!¡± A yell violently wakes the young man from his hammock. One moment he¡¯s asleep, the next he¡¯s in his underpants with a dagger at the ready. Then he notices a grinning cat. ¡°Fuck you,¡± he curses. ¡°Why did you have to yell? I¡¯m a light sleeper.¡± ¡°Then you should have woken up when I entered your humble abode. Instead, I had to raise my poor little voice.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not even supposed to be able to talk.¡± Gino starts putting on his clothing, not that it will stay on him that long. ¡°And you¡¯re not supposed to be whining back to a talking cat. Now get dressed and let''s get some stew.¡± Gino sighs. ¡°Just two more wins.¡± He whispers to himself. ¡°Two more what?¡± ¡°Nothing, let''s eat and go.¡± Just like the last few days, Dana offers stew with a big helping of meat- followed directly by her calling him an idiot for putting his life on the line. Then they set off to their Coliseum. ¡°The next rounds a team versus team fight, right? How¡¯s that going to work?¡± ¡°It changes. Some years they put both teams in a gauntlet and have them fight until only one team survives. Other times it¡¯s a battle of one versus ones followed by a free for all. It really just depends on what the royals choose.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re still going to fight another human. No beast, right?¡± ¡°Yea,¡± he nods. ¡°I think I can handle a person.¡± ¡°Good. good. What happens when you win?¡± ¡°If I win,¡± Gino corrects. ¡°The losers equipment will be given to me and I will then become a finalist. From there, the rest of the battles will be conducted in the central coliseum at the tower.¡± ¡°Where only finalists are allowed to enter.¡± ¡°And stay,¡± Gino adds. ¡°Once you enter the central coliseum, you can¡¯t leave or have contact with anyone else outside.¡± ¡°Seems strict.¡± ¡°It¡¯s supposedly to prevent betting against yourself and then losing on purpose.¡± ¡°But more likely it¡¯s to better rig the game,¡± the cat says. The two make it to the Colosseum. Quasi turns into a bird and sneaks inside while Gino takes the [Gladiators] entrance. He quickly undresses, puts on a runed brigandine, leather greaves, leather bracers, and then moves to find his team. When he finds them, the young man pauses at the sight of Boriss in gleaming platemale. The man looks like a [Knight] with armor barely large enough to fit. ¡°Comrade Gino, is nice armor, yes?¡± Boriss spreads his arms with remarkable ease, as though the armor doesn''t weigh anything to him. Gino nods slowly. Whoever is Boriss¡¯s opponent is going to have a very bad day. ¡°It seems pretty light on you,¡± he comments. ¡°All of the plate-armor runes reduce weight,¡± Micheal says in a set of armor similar to Gino¡¯s. Agris and Baldric are wearing chainmail with banded mail greaves and bracers. ¡°Is Boriss the only one wearing plate armor?¡± Gino asks. Both Agris and Baldric grimace while Micheal grins. ¡°Generally, plate-armor slows you down too much. It¡¯s a liability and few [Gladiators] choose to wear it over something more mobile like chainmail or leather.¡± ¡°Just shut it, Micheal,¡± Baldric interrupts. ¡°How were we supposed to know the plate was runed to be lighter?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe be like Boriss and grab everything with a rune on it.¡± ¡°Boriss doesn¡¯t even know what the rune did until you just told him.¡± ¡°Metal vas like feather.¡± Boriss says. ¡°So I take.¡± ¡°See, he tested it.¡± Micheal adds with a grin. ¡°Micheal, stop with the shame already. We fucked up with the chainmail. At least it¡¯s great quality.¡± ¡°Da, is nice wavy armor. Like dry skin on rack after mother kill wolf.¡± Boriss adds with a wiggle of his hand. This somehow defuses the situation and shifts the conversation to Borisses mother. Which involve stories you¡¯d read in a book as Boriss explains how he grew up. As he spoke of his life and upbringing, it became clear to Gino that Boriss is not young at all. He spoke of grueling training, politics, and his time in captivity. Though Gino has never heard of Russia, the United States, or a city called Downside, he does know the world is a huge place and the islands numerous. As for his captivity, it¡¯s clear to Gino that that is the reason why his level is low even though he is so skilled. Eventually, the conversation is abruptly halted as a horn is blown and the [Announcer] takes his podium. IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 97: Tournament Day 3 ¡°Welcome back to the third day of the tournament. For this third round, ten teams will battle it out against another until only five teams remain. For this round, we will be doing multiple one versus one battles where every member will be given a random number between one and five. Those who have the same number will fight. Once all contestants have fought, then the winners from both teams will duke it out in an all-out brawl!¡± The crowd cheers and screams, roaring as they usually do. Nowhere near as loud as when Boriss¡¯s team won yesterday, but still loud enough to annoy Quasi¡¯s exceptional hearing. ¡°Gond, what about the team with less members? I think I remember a team with only three members and some others with four?¡± Quasi asks. ¡°They fight, but are given extra numbers.¡± ¡°Oh. So if Boriss was alone, he could technically still win by beating everyone on the enemy team.¡± ¡°Yes, though he doesn¡¯t exactly get a breather or time to care for his wounds in between fights.¡± ¡°Boriss doesn''t need stamina and I doubt the man will get hit.¡± ¡°Now, our first teams will take to the field.¡± With a swing of the [announcers] arm, the trumpet blair, signaling the start of the match. The first teams to arrive have full members on both sides. They are now armored somewhat haphazardly with pieces that don¡¯t match. Regardless, it is far more protection than they¡¯d have against beasts. With another blair of the horn, the battles commence. It is here that Quasi finds the [Gladiators] to be quite competent fighters. Of the ten, only two have actual trained skill with their weapons. Regardless, skill can only get you far, for both skilled combatants are beaten by experience, either with a kick to the groin or in this case, a throw of sand followed by a stab to the throat. ¡°They¡¯re pretty brutal,¡± Quasi comments. ¡°[Gladiators] fight to win. They must be fast, adaptable, and willing to be as underhanded as possible for a victory.¡± Gond explains. ¡°Few classes that specialize in a singular weapon get far in the tournaments. Diversity is what wins.¡± ¡°I see. Mind telling me what your class is?¡± Quasi asks. ¡°[Swift Blader]¡± ¡°And that is¡­¡± ¡°A advanced class specializing in bladed weaponry and speed. It¡¯s a diverse class good for these tournaments, but poor outside of them,¡± Myers explains. ¡°They struggle in large groups and against specialist classes of a similar level. I¡¯ve heard of only two who have become experts. Otherwise, the class is limited in growth.¡± Gond frowns, but he does not refute Myers'' words. After all, Gond has been stuck at level forty-nine for decades- unable to cross the hallmark that separates the strong and the elite. The first round ends with a single death and the team with the death is actually the winner. If the guy had survived, he¡¯d be in the finals. The next round is completely one-sided both in skill and in numbers. Five skilled opponents completely dominate a team of three. The third and fourth are far more interesting and enjoyable to watch. It is also here that Quasi realizes how useful good armor is against weapons lacking any runes. A [Gladiator] with a shorter weapon takes a hit to the cuirass from a longsword, but takes the opportunity to ram his mace in the opponent''s unprotected shoulder and wins the match. The final round of the day is where Quasi leans forward in interest and the crowd cheers preemptively. Boriss strides in with a gleaming full plate minus a helmet, followed by the rest of his team. Unfortunately, the opposing team mostly matches Boriss in armor. Three of the five from the enemy team are in full-plate while the other two are in half-plate. This team is the team that went after Boriss in yesterday''s match. They¡¯d ransacked the quality armor guarded by the Wyvern and the Basilisk. The two teams meet on the sandy battlefield at opposite sides of a [Gladiator] judge. The man gives each team a card with a number, then orders the first contestants to step forward. Gino steps forward nervously, as does one of the men in half-plate and mace. ¡°Could have been worse. The full-plate would be difficult for a dagger to get through.¡± Taking a breath, Gino lowers his posture and takes a knife fighting stance. A good stance, too. A trained stance. ¡°The kids got good form,¡± Myers comments. Quasi nods. ¡°He¡¯s trained, which is good. He¡¯s going to need that training if he¡¯s going to win.¡± The judge starts the fight immediately and the two combatants circle each other while moving closer. To Quasi¡¯s surprise, Gino is the first to go in. He rushes forward, only to be met with a swinging mace. The kid expects this and ducks and stabs towards the man''s exposed leg. The man lifts his leg and blocks it with an armored shin. Immediately after the block, the mace comes down, but Gino side-steps again. ¡°The kid¡¯s too short, the mans too tall, and that mace doesn''t have enough range,¡± Myers says. ¡°Gino needs to only land a single proper hit.¡± ¡°[Gladiators] are trained to fight beasts of a short stature,¡± Gond warns. Before Myers can comment again, the guy with the mace kicks towards Gino, landing an armored foot into the young man''s chest. Then he rushes forward for a swing, but Gino rolls out of the way as the mace hits sand. The armor on the kids chest had absorbed the kick well. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. The fight begins again the same way, though this time, Gino is more wary of his positioning. ¡°The kid¡¯s going to tire first.¡± ¡°Gino can¡¯t keep this up.¡± Myers and Gond comment at the same time. As though Gino had been listening, the kid does start to slow and breathe hard. His movements become sluggish and attacks less rapid. His opponent capitalises by increasing his own pace to accelerate the exhaustion. ¡°I bet Boriss would be proud,¡± Quasi comments with a grin. Just as Gino¡¯s opponent takes an opportunity to land a kick, Gino moves fast and his breathing becomes even. He not only dodges the kick, but kicks out at the other man''s leg, tripping him. The moment the mace-wielder falls, Gino springs atop him and places the sharp end of his dagger to the man''s throat. The two old men are silent while Clay suppresses a giggle. The judge rules Gino the winner and is then immediately congratulated by his team. ¡°It¡¯s amazing how even experienced fighters can so easily be tricked by an opponent that acts exhausted,¡± Quasi mocks. The next round of the match puts Michael against a full-plate [Gladiator] with a longsword. Both take a stance and the judge starts the battle. Like Gino, Micheal is very mobile and uses the spear''s superior range to poke and stab at the other combatant. Unfortunately, the force he can apply is only enough to scratch the metal. So Micheal focuses on the head, but his opponent easily blocks it with either gauntlet or longsword. ¡°The runed plate-armor is a bad choice to have been added to the tournament. It¡¯s too light and effective against most non-runed weapons.¡± Gond says with a grimace. ¡°I¡¯m seeing some small dents in the plate from the spear. He can penetrate the armor if he thrusts hard enough,¡± The cat comments. As though Micheal had been listening, he faints a thrust at his opponent''s face, who shifts his sword in the way, only for Micheal to kneel, hop and then thrust his spear with the full force of his body at the man''s heart. The spear penetrates the metal most of the way, even penetrating skin, but only the tip. The [Gladiator] reacts by sliding his longsword down the shaft of the spear, forcing Micheal to let go. Then the [Gladiator] rips the spear out with a paint grunt, only to shatter it under his boot. Micheal turns to the judge and tells him he gives up. With both teams now down a member, the next fight is between the [Berserker] Agris and another plated [Gladiator] with a greate-axe. Unlike the previous fight, this one is between two greate-axe users. The fight starts with a roar, followed up by a clinking of blades. A long fight of two [Gladiators] with equal skill that only ends in Agris losing on account of superior armor. Though a greataxe can penetrate plate, it can penetrate chainmail far easier. With a gash across Agris'' chest, the man is forced to give up. The fourth round has Baldric against the half-plate with a longsword. Baldrick''s greatsword has better range, but is a slower weapon compared to his opponents longsword. Not that it matters, for Baldric isn¡¯t the type to play fair. The moment the judge starts the fight, Baldric rushes forward with greatsword dragging sand. Before he reaches the opponent, he slashes upward, sending sand into the man''s face. The [Warrior] doesn''t stop there. He continues the spin of his momentum and predicts his opponent to hop back. He jumps forward with his followup swing and connects using the full force of his body. His opponent had recovered enough to raise his longsword to block, but the force applied by Baldric pushes not only the weapon aside, but his entire opponent is sent flying. When the [Gladiator] attempts to get up, he fails on account of his right elbow broken alongside several ribs. Though the armor wasn¡¯t penetrated, the kinetic force did. ¡°That¡¯s a [Warrior] for you.¡± Gond nods with a smile. ¡°Adaptive, violent, and unpredictable.¡± Baldric walks back from his win with the same grimace he usually has. Out of the three, Baldric has the most experience. He¡¯d pretty much been raised as a [Gladiator] since his mother sold him off at the tender age of five. Finally, It¡¯s Boriss¡¯s turn. The big Russian takes to the field not as a [Gladiator], but as a [Gladiator Champion] in all but job. His opponent comes to the field with a surprising level of confidence. That confidence comes in the form of a spiked maul. ¡°Alright you old farts, what are your thoughts?¡± Quasi asks the old men. ¡°The maul is a good counter against Boriss¡¯s armor. A direct hit will shatter the plate,¡± Gond explains. ¡°The same can be done with a Greatsword, as Baldric demonstrated.¡± Myers counters. ¡°Yes, but he had to put the entire force of his body through a long windup to do so. A maul can do it faster and easier.¡± ¡°True,¡± Myers nods, ¡°But Boriss weighs nearly three hundred pounds- nearly all of it muscle. If you notice, he wields that greatsword as though it¡¯s merely a longsword.¡± ¡°Being larger makes you slower,¡± Gond adds. ¡°Smaller opponents tend to win duels via superior speed and skill. If you¡¯re too slow to hit, then your strength is meaningless.¡± Myers strokes his long beard. ¡°Even so, I can¡¯t see Boriss losing. The man moves differently.¡± Gond shrugs. ¡°Maybe. I didn¡¯t see it, but I heard he took down seventeen opponents on his own.¡± ¡°Boriss is a combat savant in all its forms,¡± Quasi begins. ¡°He learns and adapts very quickly not only during battle, but also in his training. For example, Boriss¡¯s muscles are purposely developed for combat. Every day, he exerts his muscles with a combination of Plyometric exercises, resistance training, and extensive yoga. The structure of his muscles are streamlined for speed, power, and maneuverability.¡± ¡°Is that even possible?¡± Gond asks. Quasi chuckles. ¡°Yes, and I¡¯ve done the same- though the process is a bitch. Anyway, the fight is starting. Let¡¯s see how Boriss tackles this.¡± The judge raises his hand and then lowers it with both opponents beginning to circle. The first to engage isn¡¯t Boriss, but the [Gladiator]. The man rushes forward and swings his maul, but Boriss diverts the blow with his greatsword with as minimal movement as possible. The [Gladiator] doesn¡¯t relent and swings again, even spinning his body to keep the momentum. Boriss doesn¡¯t allow the man to complete the swing, for the Russian drops his Greatsword and rushes in with a grapple. The maul completely misses Boriss, while the Russian armored fist slams into the [Gladiators] face, forcing the man to drop his maul. Without allowing the man to recover, Boriss forces the man face-first into the sand while twisting the man''s arm behind his back. The [Gladiator] tries to fight back, but the heavier Russian just twists further until the man screams surrender. Quasi nods. ¡°Boriss really likes to be unpredictable.¡± With the round won, the next part of the match begins where Boriss, Gino, and Baldric face off against the two surviving members. Though outnumbered, the two [Gladiators] look ready to fight. As does Boriss. The Russian wields his greatsword with both hands and the flat of the blade pointed down. As the judge raises his hand, Boriss¡¯s posture lowers slightly, a movement covered by the greatsword. As soon as the match begins, sand explodes under Boriss¡¯ feet. The Russian travels ten feet through the air, landing three feet from the greataxe user. Then he transitions the momentum of his landing with a thrust of his Greatsword. The [Barbarian] [Gladiators] eyes widen as he moves to parry with his axe, but the man is too slow. Boriss¡¯s weapon moves so fast and with such force that the plate armor is penetrated not only from the front, but through the man''s chest and out the back, killing the [Gladiator] instantly. Before the other [Gladiator] can react, Boriss pulls out his blooded greatsword and turns it towards the man. As soon as the man realises what just happened, he drops his longsword and surrenders. Then the crowd goes nuts. ¡°BORISS, BORISS, BORISS,¡± They chant, all while Gond and Myers are left speechless by the incredible speed on display. IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 98: Final Breath The clink of drinks and the resonance of cheers turns the Screaming Sword into its initial namesake. When the tavern was first opened, its clientele were [Gladiators]. Big and strong fighters who can drink as hard as they can fight. Sometimes both. Eventually, [Gladiators] moved to other, better taverns when the [Governor] of Gladius made it illegal to charge tournament contestants for food and drink. The Screaming Sword lost its namesake, its clients, and eventually was sold off to multiple owners until Ragnar bought it. Now though, the tavern has grown quite alive on account of the number of people coming to meet a fan favorite, Boriss. Who is surprisingly adept at dealing with his admirers. He smiles, laughs, says something nice, and ends the conversation politely. Eventually, night came and the fans dwindled down to the tavern''s regulars. This gives Ragnar a nice reprieve to focus on listening to their conversation. ¡°The fourth match is happening in the central big Colosseum, right? What exactly are the rules?¡± Quasi asks the contracted [Gladiator] Micheal. The man is slightly tipsy from drinking, but still fully cognizant unlike Agris and Baldric. ¡°Yes,¡± the man nods to the cat. ¡°All the winners from the other Colosseums will enter the central colosseum,¡± Micheal explains plainly. ¡°Which my guess is at the very least two-hundred fighters. The fights will be one versus one and you¡¯ll have multiple fights in a row until a good fourth of the fighters are left. On the fifth day, the tournament continues until only two are left. The sixth day is the final fight for the champion. Lastly, the seventh day is the rewards ceremony where the prize is offered to the winner by the [Governor].¡± ¡°Some kind of runed armor, right?¡± Micheal shrugs. ¡°Usually more than that, but that¡¯s generally the minimum. The prizes for advanced expert class tournaments tend to be far better.¡± ¡°I see. I heard you have to live at the colosseum until you either win or lose. Is that true?¡± ¡°It is.¡± Micheal stretches his left arm. ¡°Once the finalists enter the stadium, they can''t leave. Gladius will supply food, water, bedding, and all other manner of comforts in the meantime. Well, so long as they win their fourth match.¡± ¡°Can Boriss bring anything with him?¡± ¡°He can, though it will be immediately placed in storage and he will be provided with clothing.¡± ¡°Last question. Is the tower opening blocked off?¡± Micheal frowns at the question. ¡°Kinda? You¡¯re not secretly part of the Tower ecclesiasticus, are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not, though I¡¯ve dealt with them. I¡¯ve just got a scholarly interest in the towers. I¡¯m curious if it being blocked off for so long has changed anything about it.¡± At Quasi¡¯s words, Micheal snorts and shakes his head. ¡°You¡¯re an odd one. Then again, I¡¯m talking to a cat, so maybe I''m just as odd too.¡± Micheal takes a swig of his drink, chugging the rest of the contents. ¡°It¡¯s not exactly blocked. The area close around the tower is used as a holding pen for beasts. So, I guess you can argue it¡¯s blocked by teeth and claws.¡± He chuckles. Ragnar frowns at the conversation. An obsession with the tower? He¡¯s heard rumors of people being able to enter the tower, but he¡¯d accepted those as rumors. Maybe there is something to them. While he contemplates such a thing, Ragnar notices that one of the [Gladiators] had left his tavern. _______________________________________________________________ Though a little woozy from the alcohol, Gino rushes into the Undercrust, passes Dana¡¯s restaurant, and continues descending to the bottom. Even at such a late time, the Undercrust is full of activity- more so than usual. Bets are being placed in the upcoming tournaments with many favorites getting a lot of money put into them. Passing by a board, a list of the twenty most popular names are written on it- most of which he doesn¡¯t recognize. But he does recognize two. Boriss and Baldric. Boriss currently stands at 138,000 trist to win the tournament compared to Baldrics 32,000. But, both do not compare to the top [Gladiators] who have over half a million. The reason why is because they¡¯ve become advanced classes while Boriss and Baldric are still basic like himself. Eventually, Gino arrives at a well-maintained betting house. The place is roomy, warm, and still somehow threatening. Which, considering this is a Gambino residence, makes a great deal of sense. ¡°Gino!¡± A man calls his name when Gino arrives. He rushes to him with a clearly practiced fake grin. ¡°Congratulations on your victory, young man.¡± ¡°T-thank you Mr Gambino.¡± ¡°Just call me Flause. Mr Gambino just makes me sound old.¡± Flause Gambino is a rather flamboyant man that reminds Gino of the Flamingos. Except Flause wears a suit and is arguably more wealthy and dangerous than the minor gangs. As far as Gino can tell, the gangs avoid the Gambino¡¯s like the plague. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡°Flause, what¡¯s my current balance?¡± ¡°Your winnings are thirteen thousand trist. Did you want to withdraw or continue the investment?¡± Winning the third day of the tournament has given Gino a nice payout. He reaches to the side of his pants, grabs a pouch, and then hands it to Flause. ¡°Invest all of it with another two thousand trist.¡± Flause accepts it. ¡°Same bet as before?¡± Gino nods. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You sure? There will be three fights for tomorrow''s tournament. You can bet on winning a certain number instead of all three.¡± ¡°All of them.¡± Gino says. ¡°I¡¯m confident.¡± Flause shrugs. ¡°If you say so. I¡¯ll have the bets placed. Is there anything else I can do for you?¡± Gino shakes his head and then yawns. ¡°That¡¯s all. I¡¯ll come back as soon as I can.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± Flause smiles and waves Gino goodbye. Gino waves goodbye before ascending the Undercrust to his home. The moment his head hits the hammock, sleep immediately takes him. _______________________________________________________________ Then wakes him with a weight on his chest and a slight headache. Blinking rapidly, he immediately groans at the sight of a grinning cat. ¡°Wakey wakey. It¡¯s time for you to fight big burly men in front of a large crowd.¡± ¡°Ughhhh.¡± He sits up. ¡°Yea, yea. I know.¡± ¡°If you know, then put your clothes on and let''s go. I have a busy day too.¡± ¡°Doing what?¡± Gino asks. He gets out of his hammock and starts dressing. ¡°I have to enter the tower, probably murder shit, and then return to make sure Boriss wins.¡± ¡°Enter the tower?¡± Gino asks. ¡°Yup. Now let''s eat and get to the stadium early. Boriss will be waiting.¡± Though confused, Gino doesn''t ask Quasi to explain himself anymore. Because every time he had, the cat would give him some crazy story about being a champion and being part of a game. Gino may be young, but he knows when he¡¯s being lied to. Eating quickly, the two rush out of Dana¡¯s restaurant and make their way to the most crowded area in all of Gladius. Dubbed Colossus, the central complex alone is nearly a hundred acres, with the internal arena being only half of that. It is the largest battleground in the world, with Fallantine¡¯s and Okami¡¯s being a somewhat close second. The two quickly meet up with Boriss, who looks absolutely giddy. ¡°Boriss, what¡¯s with the smile.¡± Quasi asks the big man. ¡°Von more level,¡± He says. ¡°Then I am advanced class.¡± ¡°Oh shit, already?¡± ¡°Da,¡± He flexes his muscles. ¡°But Comrade Cillian says it bad if I level.¡± ¡°Cause he¡¯ll profit less if you do.¡± Quasi explains. ¡°Ignore him. You leveling benefits everyone more than bigger profits. Now, are you ready to go in?¡± ¡°Da.¡± ¡°Good. Tuck me in a pocket.¡± Quasi transforms into a tiny bird. But instead of flying into the stadium, Quasi flies into a pocket within Boriss¡¯s coat. Gino frowns, but doesn¡¯t raise a question. The two men enter the stadium, where they are directed to the back to undress and remove their clothing. As they do, a cat stealthily leaves the area, beginning its exploration of Colossus'' vast underground network. __________________________________________________ ¡°Now, if I was a pen for a beast, where would I-¡± Quasi stops talking as the smell of poop, blood, urine, and all manner of other smells enter his nostril. ¡°Yea, probably that way.¡± Colossus is built around the central tower, but the actual arena is directly to the side of it. A giant metal rod in the middle of the arena would wind up blocking the view for many in the audience, after all. Regardless, the most important part of Colossus is the indestructible metal flooring that can withstand the violence of large beasts and expert classers. For Quasi, the arena isn¡¯t his destination. It is the pens connected to it, and those pens are unfortunately quite far away. Traversing Colossus is an annoyingly harrowing process because of the sheer number of people housed inside. Near constantly, the hallways have at least one person traveling through, forcing Quasi to either wait for them to pass or run past them. So far, very few give Quasi more than a passing frown and are happy to ignore his presence. Others, not so much- not that they can keep up with the running speed of a cat. Eventually, Quasi arrives at the pens filled with numerous beasts behind solid metal bars. Quasi¡¯s presence gains many a beast''s interest. Most notably are the numerous wolves that lick their lips at the sight of a possible meal. To Quasi¡¯s surprise, both the Lions and the Chimera show something akin to reverence. So much so, that the Chimera growls warningly at the wolves, shutting them all up. Then the Chimera lowers its head in what would seem like obvious fealty. ¡°Finally, someone understands feline superiority.¡± Quasi comments. He walks deeper into the pens until the cages grow larger and larger, eventually turning into large armored underground pastures. It is here where the largest beasts are housed like Basilisks, Royal Griffins, A Hydra, a giant wolf, and one more. The pen closest to the tower is where Quasi¡¯s destination is at. It is also where two aged retired [Gladiators] are currently looking into with forlorn expressions. ¡°You know, I remember when Hellion ate Basilisks for breakfast. They¡¯d have him fight one and then make the crowd watch as he devoured his kill. What a way to go.¡± ¡°Getting old will do that for you. Nearly a hundred years at the top and now you¡¯re poisoned and dying. What a way to go.¡± ¡°Should we end his suffering? I mean, the [Healer] said the poisons destroyed all his major organs and that recovery is impossible.¡± ¡°We¡¯d get in trouble. They''ll end his suffering when the butcher arrives tomorrow to skin him.¡± The [Gladiator] steps away from the pen with a sigh. ¡°You¡¯re right. I hope I don¡¯t suffer like that when I die.¡± The other [Gladiator] comforts the man with a tap on the back with a forced smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they won¡¯t leave you to suffer. Nobody wants your wrinkly old skin.¡± ¡°Prick,¡± the man chuckles. Their conversation over, the two leave the area, allowing Quasi to sneak into the pen. What he finds is a truly sorry sight of Hellion. The Royal Wyvern isn¡¯t even tied down- what with the injuries being so bad. Behind the wyvern is the entrance to the tower- perfectly open for Quasi to enter. Not that he rushes to it. Instead, he walks up to Hellion. Hellion''s eyes open. The wyvern tries to move its head, but only manages an inch. ¡°I honestly thought you died. I¡¯m kinda impressed you survived- though I imagine you¡¯d rather have died instead.¡± Hellion blinks, even seems to force out a weak growl. It tries to move again, but still only an inch. ¡°Yea, still trying to fight till the end I see. You¡¯ve got my respect, so I¡¯ll offer you a deal. I¡¯ll fight in your memory. In exchange, you offer your soul to me. Yeah?¡± Hellion blinks and growls. Either from pain or from approval, Quasi is not sure. But, he¡¯d already decided to allow the beast to rest. With a flex of his mana, Quasi transforms into a Fenrimorph. He raises a gauntleted hand. Seeing this, Hellion doesn¡¯t look surprised. Instead, the Royal Wyvern closes its eyes. A thump is heard and a favorite of the colosseum releases its final breath. IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 99: Test of the Hanged For a moment, I halt at the entrance to the tower and stare atop the plaque until the words come into existence. Here lies the test of the Hanged Through Perception you will traverse the darkness Through Mana you will fuel the light Through Control you will move in silence Ahhh, yes. Cryptic shit. Can¡¯t just tell you what you¡¯re getting into. Just go in and find out. Shaking my head in my Fenrimorph form, I take a breath before I pass through the invisible barrier. Once past, I¡¯m immediately hit with a lowered temperature shift. The generally eighty in Gladiusa seems to have lowered to less than half. Thank god for fur. I walk to the stairs and start ascending. By the time I reach the top, my natural night vision is working overtime to keep things visible. This changes once I step outside the tower. Light becomes completely absent- to the point that I¡¯m rendered blind. It is here where the Traverse the Darkness part of the plaque makes sense. Which also now makes the Fuel the Light make sense. Focusing my mana, I shove a weak fire spell to my shoulders, igniting the air and smothering darkness in firelight. With light emanating from my shoulders, I realize that I''m deep underground and in what looks like a large cave system. The walls of the cave don¡¯t seem to be made of normal rock, but instead obsidian. The ground though seems to be made of soft dirt. The ground should be much harder. I bet I¡¯m dealing with some kind of subterranean monster. Figuring that standing still and admiring the scenery is leading to nowhere, I start traversing deeper into the cave system. As I do, I¡¯m met with a lot of silence. The only sound I hear is the thumping of my feet on dirt. Eventually, the cave system starts expanding, growing larger and larger- to the point that my light barely reaches far enough to bounce off the obsidian. It¡¯s then here where instinct forces me to stop. I frown as I look around for whatever danger offers me this feeling. Have you ever had this gut feeling that something is wrong? Generally, this is because your subconscious is finding minute environmental cues of danger that your logical thinking isn¡¯t capable of perceiving in the moment. Think of this as looking at a forest with a camouflage predator. You can¡¯t see or find the predator, but your subconscious mind can see that the greens and browns aren''t nearly as organic as nature expects them to be. It¡¯s the same here. So, I glance around at the walls, the ceiling, and finally the dirt. If you¡¯re just looking, you¡¯d not see anything out of the ordinary. But, with a keen eye, I notice that the dirt in front of me is slightly less packed. Frowning, I raise my tail and wipe it in front of me. The dirt explodes in a shower of soil as a clawed monster leaps out with a swipe of long sharp claws. The monster is larger than me by a good foot and reminds me of a monkey fused with a blind mole-rat. It has no eyes, so it clearly cannot see, not that it needs to. Seeing that it¡¯s surprise attack failed, the beast twists and turns, swiping at the air. Eventually, it quickly stops moving. For a second, I think it is about to burrow into the ground, but instead it vibrates a little like a cat would purr. It¡¯s here where instinct warns me. I hop left just as the beast pounces in my direction. As soon as my feet touch the dirt, it turns. Oh. You can sense the vibrations through the ground. That odd purr was to create waves through the dirt. Interesting, but there is a weakness. Flicking my tail, I slap the ground next to me- causing the mole-rat monster to pounce in that direction. As it flies towards the location, I bend my knees, retract my arm, and slam my armored fist into its side. To my surprise, its leather skin is thick and bones are extremely firm. If I¡¯d not been wearing armored gauntlets, I might not have been able to apply enough force. I feel my fist rip muscle and crack bone before sending the monster flying. It rolls for several moments and immediately regains footing. You¡¯re pretty durable. The beast seems to reassess the situation for a moment. It¡¯s body rumbles again for a moment, at which point I prepare to dodge. It¡¯s head shifts at me, knowing my location, but it does not attack. Instead, it raises a clawed arm and taps the ground in a rhythm. Before I can comprehend what¡¯s happening, seven more mole-rats burrow out of the ground. Fuck me. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. They immediately start vibrating, so much so that I can see the particles of dirt shake. Then every head turns to me. You know, this wouldn''t be so bad if they weren''t bigger than me. Like a swarm they pounce and I dodge. I attempt to use the same trick, but they aren''t falling for it on account at least one of them is constantly vibrating. Grimacing, I¡¯m forced to take them on directly, which works surprisingly well. They pounce and swipe, effective if they hit, but easily dodgeable if I know it is coming. Which I do on account of my many eyes. By the time I strike down two with enough force to keep them down permanently, I barely react in time to block a mole-rat as it burrows out of the ground under me. I feel my arms shake and see the sparks of their claws raking against my gauntlet. Sneaky little shits. Another rises behind me. I growl as I tilt my body to the side to dodge. My dodge is only partially successful as the claw rakes off flesh from my back with discernible ease. Shit. I can''t be holding back. Growling, I grab hold my mana, form several runes of fire, and then send it down my arm- which I immediately use to punch one of the blind shits in the face. Newly drilled tiny holes at the end of my knuckles allow the spell to activate externally. Potent explosive heat damages my knuckles and slightly cooks my hand. But the effect on the monster mole-rat is significantly more pronounced. Flesh and skin burn and melt, cooking the brain and killing the thing near instantly. I then do the same with the others, dispatching them rapidly until corpses remain alongside my charred hands and half my mana-pool. With no enemy in my immediate vicinity, I decided to take a short break to regenerate the injury on my back and hands. It wouldn¡¯t be good to rush into another fight unprepared. __________________________________________________________________ With the tournament fully underway and about two hundred contestants are on the field, multiple groups of one versus one battles take place. It is here where a combination of skill, class, and equipment decide who wins and who loses. It is here where [Gladiators] truly level and shine, where fighting and winning against multiple powerful individuals will almost assuredly get you that last level to become an advanced classer. Not that having an advanced class assures victory. A [Swift Swordsman] will have a skill and trait advantage against just a [Swordsman], but unless that skill is truly potent, the difference is generally negligible. Not so negligible as to not have an effect on the betting markets, though. Hence, when you see the fan-favorite Boriss, a level twenty-four [Skirmisher] with a winning bet currently at the low six figures against a level twenty-five [Battle Warrior] in the seven figure mark. Hence, when Boriss counters, diverts, trips, and places his greatsword at his enemies throat, you can hear the screams of those who bet on the wrong fighter. The same is true for Gino, who battles another favorite. A level twenty-five [Hammer Warrior] who has beaten all of his foes with a single strike of his weapon. The man gained a skill that allows him to increase the weight of his weapon prior to impact, making it impossible for your average fighter to block. He¡¯d shattered swords, spears, and maces- forcing the contestants to surrender. Gino is unfortunately a good counter to such an opponent. Using speed and reflexes honed by his [Rogue] class, the kid dodges instead of blocks while stabbing at the open areas of his opponents half-plate. Eventually, the kid hits a tendon, slowing his opponent down further and allowing Gino to win. ¡°He¡¯s good,¡± Gond says. The man leans forward, impressed by the fight. ¡°Seems like a poor opponent and not a difference in skill,¡± Myers counters. Gond shakes his head. ¡°That¡¯s true, but not nearly as much as you think. Specialists who wield hammers are known to win so long as they can land a single hit. Gino¡¯s opponent swung twenty-seven times in that fight and the kid dodged each one. Consistency is a skill in and of itself.¡± Myers folds his arms with a frown. He agrees with Gond, but he¡¯s loath to admit it. How many [Captains] has Myers dealt with that are generally good, only to make a mistake a couple times a year under his command? ___________________________________________________________________ Once recovered, I make my way deeper into the cavern- which opens up more and more. At this point, I no longer can see the walls, though the ceiling is still visible. Staring at the ceiling, I memorize the position of the obsidian like one would a set of stars during the night. This allows me to know where I am and where the exit is if I can¡¯t find the next tower. As I get deeper and deeper into the cavern, I quickly notice that the ground is becoming more and more firm. Which seems like the mole-monsters haven¡¯t traveled the area. When I glance up to mark my position, the obsidian is no longer shining. Instead, it looks different and much darker. The stone looks smooth with no edges, as though it¡¯s man-made. Unfortunately, this makes it difficult to use as a directional tool. I¡¯ll need to scratch the ceiling. Kneeling down, I pick up a small rock. Grasping it with my meaty palms, I take a stance. With a spin of my body for centrifugal force, I yeet the stone with as much force as I can. A squish sounds is heard instead of a crash. Then I watch as a bat the size of a lion with a crushed chest falls onto the ground. I stare at the corpse, then I look up again. I can now see a little hole of obsidian. Then I watch as what I thought was smooth stone shifts in the hundreds to reveal blind bats. Fuck this tower and fuck my luck. The monsters open their mouths all at once. My ears wiggle as I hear a barely audible piercing screech. Then, all at once, the swarm descends towards me. For the next minute, my fists are in overdrive as I punch bats out of the sky, only for the swarm to dive with taloned claws. I can feel my flesh ripped and torn by numerous claws, but not deeply. What bleeding I sustain quickly stops, only to start again from another wound. Damnit. I think I¡¯d prefer the mole-rats instead. With a grimace, I¡¯m forced to do something I loathe to. Something known as retreat. Currently, the swarm numbers too high and my healing is nowhere near enough to sustain me. Bending my knees, I rocket away from the swarm into the darkness. Just as I¡¯m free from the encirclement, I immediately transform into a bird. It is at this point I realize I should have done this from the start, for the entire cavern becomes visible. Not that I can enjoy the scenery much because the bats are on the chase. Just because I¡¯m smaller doesn¡¯t mean they aren''t going to follow. Thankfully, speed isn¡¯t their strong suit, so my smaller form allows me to keep a respectable distance. After a good minute of fast flight, I feel my stamina sag- just in time for me to find a small cavern twice the size of my Fenrimorph form. Diving inside, I transform back into a Fenrimorph and take a stance deep inside. The swarm compresses into the tight corridors. I grin as I pull back my arm. Multiple runes form within my body, more than I¡¯d used on the mole-rats. Then, when most of the swarm is inside and several feet from me, I punch out. A jet of flame accompanies the sound of a cannon firing. The whole tunnel turns into a maelstrom of incineration, cooking bat flesh alongside my fur. IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 100: Mistakes were made. The second round of the day is met with cheers, for the number of combatants has decreased by half. It is here where winners of duels face other winners and where armor and weapons become progressively less impactful because a win gives you the loser''s equipment. It is precisely this reason why Gino finds himself against a far more dangerous foe. His enemy wields a bo-staff while wearing runed plate armor. Specifically, armor that had belonged to Agris, who had taken from his enemy in yesterday''s round. Specifically the armor with a hole in it¡¯s chestplate. An opening for Gino, but the only opening other than the man''s head. ¡°Kids gonna lose.¡± Gond says. ¡°He¡¯s got a chance.¡± Myers counters, but the retired [Gladiator] shakes his head. ¡°No. The bo-staff is a weapon that requires a lot of skill to wield effectively. You can¡¯t just swing it and expect to win. The kid''s good, but he¡¯s outmatched in range, speed, and armor. He¡¯d have a better chance if he¡¯d worn heavier armor.¡± ¡°He¡¯d be slower.¡± Myers says. ¡°He¡¯s not faster than the staff of a trained [Staff Berserker]. A single strike is going to break bones if his only protection is leather.¡± ¡°He just has to move with the hit,¡± Cillian chimes in with a bag of peanuts in one hand and a mug of not water in the other. ¡°That¡¯s what Boriss used to do until he became the one hitting.¡± The match begins with the [Staff Berserker] rushing forward while twirling his weapon. Using the momentum of the spin, he strikes at Gino. The kid dodge, but the [Berserker] recovers by bouncing his staff into an opposite twirl into another strike. The kid rolls a dodge, only for another strike to aim at him. He dodges again with a roll, crawl, hop. You can clearly see the panic on the kid''s face as he struggles. Eventually, the luck runs out and the [Staff Berserker] predicts a dodge and slamming into the kid''s shin with bone-breaking force. Gino screams from the pain. The [Staff Berserker] doesn''t flinch. He presses forward. Desperate, Gino throws his dagger, but the man merely raises a gauntleted arm in the way. Then, the man twists his staff in a spin, striking Gino across the face and ending the round. Both Gond and Myers fear the worst as the kid lays there, unmoving. They watch as the Judge moves to the body, his hand touches the kid''s neck. Then both old men release a sigh as the [Healer] is called. ¡°The kid¡¯s grown on you both,¡± Cillian chuckles. ¡°He¡¯s fighting for his sister''s freedom. I wish I had someone like that when I sold myself to pay for my mothers debt.¡± ¡°Your mother sold you?¡± Myers asks, surprised. ¡°No. You can''t be contracted unwillingly unless you owe money or you¡¯re a major criminal. My mother was being taken from me and my idiot self offered to go instead. To protect her and all that.¡± Gond shakes his head. ¡°A good choice in the long run. I¡¯d probably be starving in a ditch somewhere if I¡¯d never taken the opportunity.¡± ¡°What happened with your mother?¡± Cillians asks. Gond shrugs. ¡°No idea. I never saw her again.¡± ¡°Any regrets?¡± Myers asks. ¡°Family. I never got to start one. Too old now.¡± He sighs. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just an old man''s musings. Lets focus on the competition, looks like Boriss is up next.¡± _______________________________________________________ You know, I never realized it fully, but my ability to regenerate mana rapidly is very much focused on having fur. Without fur, it takes forever. I¡¯m going to avoid burning off my fur going forward. I grimace in real time as damaged flesh regenerates first, and then my fur grows back. A very long, boring, and chilly process on account of the air temperature. Eventually, my fur does grow back and the speed of my mana regeneration improves rapidly. Let''s try this a different way. I transform into my bird form and take flight. Immediately, I¡¯m met with impeccable vision. I can see the heat signatures of bats hanging from the ceiling as well as the moles hiding underground. With just a mental flicker, I can see soundwaves the same way a bat can hear them. Using the newfound vision, I traverse the landscape- one that is quite linear. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Eventually, I arrived at a cavernous waterfall pouring further and further down. With a quick flight around the area, I¡¯m met with dead ends. Down I go. Transforming back into a Fenrimorph, I plunge into the waterfall, descending down quite a long distance until my body falls into a deep pool. Swimming up, I exit the pool to the sight of another cavern filled with obsidian dildoes peaking out of the ground. At the opposite end of the cavern is a locked door with eight locks Eight locks and eight boulders. I wonder where these keys might actually be? For a moment, the thought of transforming into a bird to see what I¡¯m dealing with passes by my noggin, only for me to brush it off. If those boulders explode or something, I¡¯d rather not figure out what happens when I die while transformed. Taking a breath, I step forward and nothing happens. I continue stepping forward, and still nothing. Even as I get in the center of the pillars, there is nothing. Shrugging, I walk to one of the pillars, pull back my arm, and then punch with enough force to shatter obsidian. The obsidian cracks, but doesn¡¯t shatter. Instead, the stone starts to move and crack. I step away and watch as more cracks form. One moment I¡¯m staring at a pillar, and the next, I¡¯m dealing with a four-armed, six-legged golem with a glowing obsidian head. As I take a stance, the other seven pillars start to transform as well. Before the others can complete their transformation, I rush the current golem. The golem moves to intercept, but I easily dodge the slow speed. With a punch at one of the legs, the stone break and twists to reveal flesh within. The armor surrounding this monster is merely compacted obsidian. The monster moves to attack again, but the speed really isn¡¯t that impressive. I break two more legs and the monster falls. I then punch it in the head, and the stone only cracks. I dodge a first and then come back with another punch. I do this several more times until the head shatters to reveal brain-matter. One down. I glance at the rest of the now fully transformed golem monsters. Seven more to go. _________________________________________________________________ Boriss¡¯s second fight is a bit more difficult than his last. His opponent is actually skilled and fast, forcing the Russian to play a bit more defensively. Though a greatsword is long, the opponent''s halberd is longer. The man twirls the weapon with speed and ease as is befitting a [Heavy Halberdier]. The man¡¯s weapon hits not only fast, but surprisingly hard. ¡°It¡¯s been awhile since I¡¯d seen someone skilled with a Halberd.¡± Gond says. ¡°They¡¯re quite rare.¡± ¡°Standing armies tend to have a good amount,¡± Myers adds. ¡°As a [Soldier], yes. But [Gladiators] prefer simpler weapons like swords, maces, and axes. Anything with range is good until someone gets in your face.¡± ¡°That axe hits too hard.¡± Cillian comments. ¡°It doesn¡¯t make sense. Is it a skill?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the armor,¡± Myers says. ¡°He¡¯s transferring the weight of the plate and his movements into the swings.¡± ¡°No,¡± Gond interrupts, ¡°That¡¯s a skill called [Weighted Impact]. Advanced classes with heavy in their class generally get skills that either improve attacking ability or defense.¡± ¡°So he just hits harder?¡± Cillian asks. ¡°Yes. The force he can magnify using weight improves anywhere from a quarter to outright triple. Even plate armor runed with durability couldn¡¯t withstand such a strike.¡± ¡°If all he does is hit harder, then Boriss will win.¡± Cillian says. He then takes a sip from his third mug. Returning their attention to Boriss, they watch as the Russian steps back, dodging the halberd by mere inches. As the [Heavy Halberdier] twirls for another swipe, Boriss implants his greatsword deep into the sand using the weight of his armored body. The halberd strikes the greatsword, and the greatsword nudges several feet. Then it stops. The [Gladiator] attempts to pull his weapon back, but the trap has been set. Boriss flips himself up and lands fullforce on the axe-head and handle, snapping the weapon in two. Then, with a grin, retrieves his greatsword out of the sand. Before Boriss can even move to engage, his opponent drops his stick and surrenders. ¡°That¡¯s impressive.¡± Gond says and Myers agrees. Cillian chuckles. ¡°Boriss is very unpredictable. I think Quasi called him a combat Savant. Not sure if it¡¯s true, but the man has never lost a fight.¡± ______________________________________________________________ Against humans, most fights end very quickly unless the humans in question are equally matched. This is a rarity, for even the slightest superiority in skill leads to an immediate one-sided victory. But most beasts and monsters are different. They don¡¯t use weapons or advanced trained tactics. They are built to brawl until one side quits. For example, bears will maul each other until one leaves because fighting further isn''t worth it. That¡¯s evolution for you. It makes reasonable sense. Better to survive and fuck another day instead of dying. Now, whatever fucking evolution creates obsidian armored monstrosities needs to not exist. Like, why does this exist? How? My fist slams into the skull of the fifth monster, shattering it. Exhausted, I turn to glare at the remaining three enemies who trudge very slowly in my direction. My arms are so sore right now. I feel like I¡¯ve been punching walls of stone for the last several minutes. Honestly, there must be an easier way at this. I doubt most people could take these enemies out unless they are extremely high level or carry massive hammers. I kinda wish I had a hammer. The next grueling minutes involve me finishing the last three of these enemies. As soon as the last head explodes, I allow my burning arms to rest. The gauntlets feel extremely heavy on my arms right now. As I rest, I look around to see if I can find the keys for the door. And I do find the key quite easily. It is dangling directly on the underside of a monster from thin chains. With a little bit of effort, the chain breaks. I glance at the other corpses and find that the keys are in the exact same places- directly on the monster''s underside. Why isn¡¯t the key inside the monster? Why is it just dangling under them for anyone to pluck it with ease? Hell, I could have easily grabbed the keys, went through the door, and not even fought¡­ I groan as the realization hits. I wasn¡¯t supposed to destroy them! IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 101: Explosive Altercation. I¡¯m such an idiot. Grabbing all the keys, I move to the odd eight locked door and insert a key. I turn the key and hear a click. Then I pull the key out. Couldn¡¯t I? I use the same key on the next lock and hear a click. I do the same for the final six. The door slowly slides open. I glance at the bundle of seven other keys in my hand. Somehow, I hate this tower more than the previous two. Dropping the keys, I enter the open passage with an annoyed grimace. I¡¯m fully recovered from injuries, stamina, and mana. The only thing that has yet to recover is my mood. Traveling the long passageway of obsidian, a thought ries in my head that worsens my mood. The walls are obsidian. Couldn''t I just chisel around the door? I extend a clawed arm and watch as my claws scrape into the walls as easily as stone. It''s not some magical stone or anything. It¡¯s literally just stone. At the end of the passage, I arrive in a large obsidian chamber where the obsidian walls are very smooth. In the center of the chamber is my final destination. A tower with a locked door. Let me guess. I walk to the tower, the boss appears, I fight the boss and win, then I retrieve the key planted in the boss''s body. Before I approach, I take a moment to see if I can find the Boss in this room. I don¡¯t. The thought of transforming into a bird to use its superior vision does cross my mind, but I find the hassle a waste of time. It won¡¯t matter if I know where the boss is before the fight- so long as it shows up, I just have to kill it. Taking one final breath, I leave the protection of the passage and approach the tower. Only when I am halfway from the tower do I feel a rumble. The walls shift and move, grinding against stone. I watch as the smooth obsidian walls reveal creases that seem to elongate. Like a snake leaving camouflage, I watch a serpentine body morph out of the walls and slither towards me. A mouth opens from its head to reveal a circular mouth filled with sharp grinding obsidian teeth. A giant obsidian worm. That¡¯s just grand. I take a stance as the worm approaches. Once it is a distance close enough to me, it immediately stops with its open mouth pointed at me. I have a bad feeling about this. The numerous teeth turn towards and I¡¯m immediately reminded of the Scorpis Matriarch. I jump to the side a moment before hundreds of razor-sharp blades penetrate the floor I was standing on. Fuck me and these fucking projectile shooting monsters! ________________________________________________________________ With only about fifty [Gladiators] remaining, the last round of the day is going to be one of even greater skill and capability. Currently, every fighter is well-armed and well-armored. Most are skilled and most have leveled to an advanced class. The few that haven¡¯t are expected to if they survive this final round. Cillian raises a seventh mug. ¡°If Boriss weens dis round, weare rich.¡± He hiccups and then burps for a moment, spilling some of his peanuts on the stand. Gond and Myers give the Scot a glance, but return their attention to the tournament. Money is nice and all, but when you¡¯re as old as Myers and Gond, your priorities tend to shift. ¡°Oh, this is karmic.¡± Gond says with a smile. Myers shares the same grin. ¡°Indeed.¡± Boriss final opponent is none other than the [Staff Berserker] that won against Gino in the second round. The man looks at Boriss with a skilled confidence lacking much of the nervousness that the Russian¡¯s previous opponents had. The two combatants take to the arena, take a stance, and then the judge begins the fight. They immediately circle, neither side willing to be the first to engage at the start. Both combatants assess each other slowly, waiting for an opening or the other to move. Eventually, Boriss breaks the stalemate with a charge and swing. His opponent expertly diverts the greatsword to the side and then shifts to strike. Boriss counters with a block from his weapons pommel before swinging again. The two fighters go at it, parrying, attacking, dodging. It is a maelstrom of skill between two people that has both Myers and Gond leaning forward. Initially, they both seem to be equally skilled, but it¡¯s clear that the [Staff Berserker] is far more of an expert with wielding his weapon than Boriss is. The Russian is a skilled generalist with a physique superior to any [Gladiator]. It is precisely this physique that allows him to keep up where others would flounder. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Eventually, the pressure shifts as Boriss does the unthinkable. He jumps high, higher and over his opponent. The [Staff Berserker] shifts around to regain sight. When he does, the pommel of Boriss¡¯s greatsword slams into his face. The man recovers near immediately, but the opening is made. Boriss had thrown his greatsword the moment his opponent lost sight of him. Now, the Russian¡¯s hands grasp around the staff with a superior grip, followed by a pull and the crack of a headbut. The [Staff Berserker] loses consciousness for a moment and crumbles. He regains it quickly, but not quick enough to stop Boriss¡¯ armored boot slamming on his chest and the staff positioned on the [Staff Gladiators] throat. The [Gladiator] is forced to surrender, followed by a spilling of more peanuts and a happy squeal from a short plump alcoholic. _______________________________________________________________ I dodge to the sides via hops, avoiding the sprays of projectiles. Eventually, I get close enough to the serpent for an attack. Crouching, I jump forward, cracking the stone underneath my feet. I pull back my arm and then thrust my fist at the serpent''s obsidian-armored side. The stone cracks on impact while simultaneously sending the monster skidding several yards. When I retract my arm, I find that the damage is very minimal. The obsidian stone is just as dense, if not more-so than the prior monsters. The cracks in its armor is progress, but not that much. The serpent recovers quickly as it aims its head at me, forcing me to dodge. The good thing about this enemy is that the teeth shift a moment before they are shot- giving me a clear tell of when it¡¯s going to shoot. This is going to be one long battle. Dodge about, I find another opening for my fist to strike at the exact same location previously, increasing the cracks further. I do this half a dozen more times till the armor cracks inwards and causes slight bleeding. The serpent seems to get angry with the pain as its body shifts rapidly while its mouth takes aim. I dodge away and create distance from it. The beast does not follow or follow up, instead it seems to retreat a bit. I grin at its retreat. Yea, you better fucking run and stay over there¡­ while I catch my brea- oh come on! I watch in trepidation as the worm''s obsidian armor shifts and moves throughout its body. The damaged pieces are excreted from the wound and new ones quickly take their place. That''s just bullshit. It doesn''t end there either, for in between the plate, numerous obsidian blades extend and cover its body. That¡¯s¡­ annoying, but not exactly dangerous. The needles begin to move, shifting around the monster''s girth. At first it¡¯s slow and the blades slice the floor underneath it. But eventually, the speed builds up faster and faster- rising to an rpm not dissimilar to a handsaw. Shiiit. As soon as every blade is at max speed, the worm moves headfirst at me. From its mouth, it fires projectiles that I dodge. But now, it rushes at me with its body. I dodge again and grimaces as the stone floor is ripped apart on its passing. The worm does not give in as it turns at me, even climbing over its own body. When it does, the blades retract inward while keeping up the rotation so as to not harm itself. Goddammit I wish Auranta was here. A wind blade into its mouth would easily solve this problem. Dodging again and again, I¡¯m put on the backfoot with few openings to attack. Specifically, the only opening I can attack safely is the sides of its head. It is the only place that is absent of blades. It is also unfortunately where the obsidian is most thick. I¡¯m going to need to break through. But first, I need leverage. I grimace as I retreat from the worm and lead it to the tower. As I reach the tower, I see the monster getting into position. I jump up to the side of the tower, and then use it as a springboard to ascend towards the ceiling. If this doesn¡¯t work, I¡¯m either dead or I need to retreat. As I reach the ceiling with my legs bending fully. I call up my mana and form two separate spells. The first I activate at the same time as my legs extend. The runes rise from my chest and exit violently at my back. I feel flesh and skin cook as an explosion accelerates my jump to speeds that shatter the sound barrier. As I descend, my arm shoots forward with as many runes as my mana can create. My fist shatters into the armored plate of the worm''s head at the same time as the spell activates. Then everything goes completely dark. I awaken mid-flight with extreme pain that gets worse as my body bounces several times before skidding to a stop. The moment my body stops sliding, I attempt to move, only for it to fail throughout. Fuck, that¡¯s a lot more potent than I thought. Shifting my head up a little with only three working eyes. Then I grin at the flaming splattered corpse of the boss. Its head and a good portion of its upper body is shredded, ripped, and now cooking. I then shift my gaze to my right to find my arm missing shoulder down. Yea, I shouldn¡¯t expect to have an arm after turning it into an anti-tank payload. I continue looking over my body to find that it¡¯s mostly intact. Sure, most of my bones are broken and several organs have failed, but I¡¯m alive. I wonder how long I¡¯ll need to heal to be able to move. The answer is about an hour. Organs are first repaired, followed by bones shifting back into place, healing, and then finally my muscles. During this whole process, I am met with intense hunger that I forcibly suppress. Once my muscles have regenerated enough for me to move, I force myself to stand up and limp towards the still-burning corpse. When I arrive, I immediately gorge on the monster''s flesh like a desert when it rains. The taste is quite poor and very earthy, like eating meat with sand. Not that I care, for I can feel my regeneration accelerating. Fenrimorphs are surprisingly very heavy for their size. Not because of compressed muscle fibers and larger bones- but actually because they store excess nutrients throughout their body. These nutrients are there specifically to be used for healing so that the body does not consume muscles, organs, or bones. Once my belly is full and much of my body is healed. I look around the fleshy debris and quickly find a piece of metal that is my gauntlet. Emma¡¯s going to be pissed. I try to see if I can find my arm, but other than patches of flesh and bone, the arm is pretty much gone. This is going to take awhile to regrow. Shaking my head, I next try to see if I can find the key in the wreckage. I spend a good hour looking until I realize that there is probably a better way. I transform into a bird and ascend to near the ceiling. Then I flicker through wavelengths of sight. Immediately, a good distance away from the corpse is a metal key exactly the same as the previous ones I¡¯d used. Must have blown far from the explosion. I fly down, transform back into a Fenrimorph and pick up the key. I then walk back to the corpse, pick up my destroyed gauntlet, and walk to the door. With my only remaining arm, I lift the key and insert it into the lock. IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 102: Blessing of the Hanged. As soon as I turn the key I hear a click and the door opens slowly. I enter inside with flaming shoulders that illuminate the metal walls better than obsidian. I quickly find the stairs and descend down. As I do, my thoughts turn to the tests themselves. Anyone else at my level would struggle if not die outright against this boss. Hell, that Buxon I fought would have no chance against it. Sure, his bone-armor would allow him to ignore the obsidian projectiles, but there is little chance he¡¯d survive once the boss is enraged. Even a group of Buxon would struggle. Then again, the Buxon could bring explosives. Hell, even a ship''s cannon could work so long as they can bypass the armor somehow. Or maybe the cannon is strong enough to destroy the armor. A [Mage] could maybe solo the boss? I mean, Auranta pretty much took out the last boss with a single powerful spell. Maybe there is a spell as destructive as what I did to my arm. I shake my head for a moment and reset my focus not on who can pass them, but what I can do to make the tests less risky. The immediate option is to take my team with me to help me out. But, not all would be a good choice. Nepenthes can work, as can Auranta with her ability to fly and attack from range. Boriss and Irmgard are strong, but they are strong in comparison to normal humans. Maybe once they become experts it won¡¯t be risky, but I¡¯d rather avoid putting them against monsters similar to what I just fought. Arriving at the bottom, I¡¯m met by a familiar scene. Not wishing to waste anymore time, I touch the glass to shatter it, and then I grasp the card.
Through Perception, you have traversed the cavern
Through Mana, you have pushed back the darkness
Through Control, you have avoided confrontation
Test of the Hanged completed. Notifying the World System¡­
Hanged completion identified¡­ Activating blessing interface¡­ Restricting Blood Flow to brain¡­
Hello darkness, my old friend¡­ ___________________________________________________________________ I am met with the glorious white-room alongside two floating eyeballs. One green and one blue. They blink at me. I blink back. They blink again. I blink back even harder. They blink back the same as usual. ¡°Yea, you guys are still boring.¡± I pout. ¡°Blue, you¡¯re going second this time. I got fucked over last time and never got to use my points. Green, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve got quite a nice update for me. Show me my traits. Actually, show me everything. Traits, Skills, Blessings, Titles, souls. I want to see it all!¡± ¡°Acknowledged.¡±
Traits. Human Average Individual Base Calculations. Level modifications Trait Actual Value
Strength 10 42 +46% 61
Endurance 9 46 +0% 46
Vitality 12 0.27%M/R/M 28 0.63% M/R/M +0% +9.31 28 9.94% M/R/M
Perception 9 29 +5% 30
Intelligence 11 16 +0% 16
Mana The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. 388.8 510 +0% 510
Control 12 10 +5% 10
Attributes Available/Attributes total: 6 Level: 29
52
Titles Obtained: 6
Title Name Leviathan Slayer
Title Rank Legendary
Title Effect +10 Attribute points
Title Name Underdog Boarder
Title Rank Rare
Title Effect [Captain¡¯s Authority] stat decay is slowed when boarding enemy vessels.
Title Name Mana Fur
Title Rank Divine
Title Effect Increase Mana Regeneration by fur density. Current Bonus: +9.31 M/RM
Title Name Storm Swimmer
Title Rank Rare
Title Effect Reduce damage of storm currents by 90%.
Title Name Chariots Control
Title Rank Tower
Title Effect +5% Control trait [Minor Heat Resistance]
Title Name Towers Vitality
Title Rank Tower
Title Effect +5% Vitality trait [Minor Healing Regeneration]
Skills Obtained: 3
Skill Name Shift
Skill Effect Transform into the species of any souls you possess.
Class Modification Armament
Soul Count 4/6
Skill Name Stat Spread Allocation
Skill Effect All transformation benefit from 50% of level modifications
Skill Name Peak Transformation
Skill Effect All transformations will be based on the strongest and healthiest of the species at current age.
Souls Possessed: 4
Baby Mimicus (Soul) Mimicus are one of the most adaptable feline species in all of Tristique. They have the unique ability to adapt to even the most dire environments. They are also exceptional vocal mimics who can reproduce any and all sounds they hear. Activation Cost: 77 Mana Sustain: 0.8 Mana per minute Duration: Until Sustain Stops
Elder Decay Leviathan (Soul) Leviathans are the apex predators across all of Tristique. They are large beasts capable of flying via the absorption of ambient mana. Each Leviathan eventually gains a unique ability that grows stronger with age. Activation Cost: 237,631 Mana Sustain: 3,759 Mana per minute Duration: Until Sustain Stops
Baby Undammota (Soul) Monoculus are the rarest bird species in all of Tristique. They have the unique ability to sense all forms of seismic energy waves around them. Activation Cost: 33 Mana Sustain 0.4 Mana per minute Duration: Until Sustain Stops
Royal Wyvern (Soul) Royal Wyverns are a much larger, more ferocious species of wyvern with greater intelligence, thicker scales, and more powerful flames. Activation Cost: 534 Mana Sustain 9.3 Mana per minute Duration: Until Sustain Stops
¡°Damn, I blew up my entire arm and I¡¯m still not thirty yet.¡± I rub my chin as I stare at my traits. ¡°Oh, nice. I increased my base strength. Looks like the resistance training is working.¡± I glance at the percentage increases. ¡°Perception and control have a five percent boost. When did I- oh, right. The blessings!¡± I continue down the page until I find the two blessings in the titles column. Then I notice the soul count on my shift skill. I quickly scroll further down in the souls section. When I arrive at the very bottom, a grin rises on my lips. ¡°Royal Wyvern! I can transform into a fucking mini dragon!¡± My grin quickly recedes as I notice the extreme activation cost of 534 mana. ¡°Wait? Can I?¡± I glance at my maximum mana pool of 510. ¡°Oh come on! That¡¯s so bullshit! Wait, how many attribute points do I have?¡± Six points. If I put it all into Mana, then my mana increases to 540. With the sustain cost, I can become a monstrous wyvern murder machine for a good half minute! ¡°Green, put all six trait points into mana.¡± ¡°Acknowledged.¡± I see the shift at the change and watch as the number changes. A sense of giddy excitement overtakes me for when I awaken, but that is for later. I still have another boost to obtain. I glance up at the third card floating in the air. It is a picture of a bipedal humanoid hanging with a rope around its neck with the backdrop of a cavern. Under the man looks to be many pointy stalagmites. ¡°Green, I¡¯m done with you. Blue, it¡¯s your turn to shine. Show me what I got.¡± Green disappears into a portal while Blue floats closer. ¡°Entity Quasi Eludo, you have obtained the Hanged card. Please choose one of the following blessings:¡±
Blessing of the Hanged.
  • Hanged Perception.
    • +5% Perception
    • [Echolocation]
      • Perceive sound visually.
  • Hanged Mana.
    • +5% Mana
    • [Efficient Sustain]
      • Decrease continuous spell consumption by 10%
  • Hanged Control.
    • +5% Control
    • [Darkness Camouflage]
      • Your body better blends into the background in low-light locations.
Shit, these blessings are all actually pretty good. Hanged Perceptions Echolocation is something I already have in my bird-form, but only in that form. Having it as other species would be useful too. Then again, it¡¯s not that impressive when I think about it. As a Fenrimorph, I have natural night vision alongside the ability to see nearly everything around me. Unless i¡¯m in complete darkness, then it¡¯s ability is quite moot. Hell, I can always just set myself on fire if I need to see. And considering my mana regeneration, I can keep the fire going indefinitely. Hanged Mana is just a good passive buff that would reduce the sustained upkeep of my transformations by a tenth. Normally, I wouldn¡¯t even consider this blessing if not for my new Royal Wyvern transformation. The boost to my mana would mean I can be transformed for multiple minutes instead of seconds. Hanged Control is arguably the strongest contender. [Darkness Camouflage] just sounds perfect for sneaking. Blending into darkness means I can be extra stealthy, even as a Fenrimorph. Then again, will that actually be useful? As a cat, I¡¯m already pretty stealthy, and if people see me, well, they think I¡¯m just a cat. I can also sneak as a bird too. A sneaky Fenrimorph also isn¡¯t very efficient on account of its massive weight and size. As a cat, I can hide behind a bucket. As a fenrimorph, I can hide behind a carriage. ¡°Blue, let''s go with Hanged Mana.¡± ¡°Choice: Hanged Mana, accepted.¡±
Adding Title: Hanged Mana¡­ Title Added successfully.
Title Name Hanged Mana
Title Rank Tower
Title Effect +5% Mana trait [Efficient Sustain]
¡°Blessing application completed.¡± Blue blinks rapidly. ¡°Activating Reset Protocol.¡±
Reset Protocol Activated¡­ Teleporting Entity Quasi Eludo to entrance¡­ Teleport Successful¡­ Test of Hanged will reset once all entities leave the premises.
IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 103: Plant-based Steroids Exiting the tower as a cat, I find a grimacing [Tanner] with a runed cleaver kneeling beside Hellion¡¯s corpse. The man is systematically removing the leather without removing the scales. Near him, a man who looks like a [Gladiator] watches him work with hands crossed on his chest. Both men are thankfully not looking at the direction of the tower, allowing me to sneak past. As I do, I listen in on their conversations. With a careful hand, the cleaver slices in-between meat and skin, severing with barely a centimeter. When he cleaves through once, the level forty-nine [Monster Tanner] takes a breath. ¡°This would be a lot easier in my shop.¡± He grumbles. ¡°Much easier. I hope whoever executed Hellion gets punished.¡± The [Gladiator] shrugs. ¡°Don''t worry, whoever did it is going to get in trouble. You should just focus on getting the skin ready.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah. I¡¯ll try, just know the quality won¡¯t be as good. Too much time has passed since Hellion died.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure the [Governor] knows. Probably why they plan to make armor for the tournament champion.¡± The [Monster Tanner] pauses. ¡°I said it won¡¯t be as good, but the skin can still support Exceptional quality of runes. Maybe even Epic quality if the [Runesmith] uses a blue core.¡± The [Gladiator] raises an eyebrow. ¡°I didn¡¯t even know Leather armor can get to Exceptional Quality.¡± ¡°They can, it¡¯s just far more expensive because the materials are harder to obtain and the [Runesmiths] experienced with work on leather are harder to find.¡± The two continue talking more, but I¡¯ve already snuck past them. Now, I move through the internal halls of the Colosseum. Very large, spiraling halls with nary a way to know where I¡¯m supposed to go. The only thing I can do is walk in the general direction away from the beasts. It is only when I get far from the beasts do I smell the scent of humans, the taste of meat, and the sound of a conspiracy from a nearby room. A room that I just so happen to hear a familiar name. ¡°Boriss, eh? Odd name. Is he really that strong, Stavros?¡± Leaning into the room, I notice two men. Powerful men with impressive physiques. One looks at his prime while the other is old. Not old in the sense of frail and skinny. Old like a bodybuilder that never allowed his muscles to decrease. A focused stare reveals to me what I¡¯m looking at.
Stavros Cosmeas, the Arenas Spear: Level 49 [Gang Leader]
Garvey Embriss: Level 49 [Elite Gladiator]
¡°I¡¯ve seen his fights today. Strong would be an understatement. He¡¯s easily going to make it to the finals.¡± ¡°Which is where I come in. You want me to take him down before then, right?¡± Garvey asks. I guess I should have expected unfair play. ¡°No.¡± Stavros shakes his head. ¡°You¡¯re going to defeat him in the finals. You¡¯ll win your fight in the next round, but you¡¯ll make it look like you barely won and that you struggled. We¡¯ll make sure your opponents are also weak to make it more convincing.¡± ¡°Everyone will bet on Boriss to win.¡± Garvey says. ¡°And Gladius will bet on you. Now,¡± Stavros reaches into his pocket and produces a Jeweled armband. ¡°You¡¯ll wear this under your armor.¡±
Name Armband of Espionage
Rarity Epic - 18 Runes.
  • 18(1-Obfuscate Self)
Description This armband can change Name, level, Class, and Job that is perceived by others up to current class level.
Sustain 0.47% Mana regeneration per minute.
Damn. That''s an epic class item! It must cost a fortune! I wonder if I can steal it somehow. ¡°We¡¯ve already tuned it to the [Gladiator] you will be replacing and the [Mirage Mage] is on standby to cast [Glamor] before the tournament begins.¡± Garvey accepts the armband like one would a national treasure. Which, considering the rarity, it very likely is. ¡°Know that this armband''s existence is an absolute secret. Nobody is to know of it, including what is going on. If anyone finds out, you will be executed.¡± Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Garvey''s acceptance of the artifact shifts from reverence to one of fear. ¡°I won¡¯t fail you.¡± He promises. ¡°Good.¡± Stavros turns to exit the room, only to find a cat peaking by the doorway. Shit! ¡°Meowww.¡± I say before turning away and running off. Stavros frowns at the doorway for a long moment. ¡°Sir, is there something wrong?¡± Garvey asks Stavros shakes his head. ¡°Nothing, just seeing that cat reminded me of when I fought Chimeras.¡± ¡°From a cat?¡± Stavros nods, still staring at the doorway. ¡°Do you know that vibe that Lions and Chimeras give when they¡¯re hunting you? That cat was giving me the same feeling.¡± ¡°Must be hunting a mouse.¡± Stavros frowns at Garvey. ¡°We have mice?¡± ________________________________________________________ Running away with my heart pounding, I turn several corners before allowing myself to finally slow down. Fuck, that was close. That guy is strong. Not valentine strong, but more like Leonidas strong. I felt like he could have easily struck me from where he was standing. Once my heart settles down, I traverse the hallways again until my nostrils take a whiff of a familiar smell accompanied by roses. Well, that¡¯s interesting. Following the scent to a slightly open room. I squeeze inside to find Boriss snoozing naked in a tub filled with war water, bubbles, and rose-petals. Next to the tub is a table filled with cuts of meat, cheese, and fruits. ¡°You¡¯re looking relaxed.¡± I say as I approach. I hop to the table and steal a piece of meat. Boriss opens one eye in my direction- face still smiling in bliss. ¡°Comrade Fluffy, you are victorious, yes?¡± ¡°Yup, the tower is conquered. It seems like you won your match as well.¡± ¡°Da, vas easy. Like wrestling vith drunken goat.¡± Like wrestling with a drunken goat¡­ ¡°Did I ever mention that your sayings make little sense?¡± ¡°Vhat?¡± Boriss pouts. ¡°Vhen you fight drunken goat, is easy fight, yes? Drunken goat vhil fight tree because tree moves. Tree always vins.¡± I sigh and snort. ¡°Well, if you win your next matches, your final opponent isn¡¯t going to be a goat, and neither will they be drunk. Looks like we¡¯re going to be dealing with someone of a much higher level than you.¡± ¡°I am still twenty-four. Everyone is bigger level,¡± Boriss says. Oh¡­ damn. That¡¯s not good. Well, it''s probably good for Cillian, but it makes Boriss¡¯s fight riskier. ¡°No, your final opponent is going to be much higher. Gladius is going to cheat and have you fight an opponent with a level of at least forty-nine. My guess is that the guy¡¯s class is even higher than that.¡± Boriss leans forward with a disappointing frown, ¡°Cheating is not right.¡± ¡°Nope, but I¡¯ll see if I can do something to even the odds. In the meantime, just focus on your fights tomorrow.¡± Boriss nods and leans back into the tub. As I turn to leave, I pause for a moment to ask. ¡°By the way, did Gino win?¡± ¡°No, Comrade Gino vhas defeated.¡± Well, that¡¯s life for you. Determination can only get you so far. I¡¯ll have to tell Dana tomorrow to sell her restaurant. Hopping off the table, I glance one more time at Boriss before I leave the room. ________________________________________________ The moment I sneak out of the Colosseum is the moment I realize that I¡¯d been in the tower for far longer than I¡¯d realized. Even so, Gladius is lively at night, with bright lights both of flame and of magic illuminate the streets. The thought of descending down to the Undercrust rises, only for it to be squashed with a sigh. ¡°Best to let the kid mope a bit. I¡¯ll check on him tomorrow.¡± I travel back to the Timbergrove and enter inside. When I do, I find that both Myers and Gond are in the mess hall. The two are drinking and conversing over the day''s events. Specifically, they speak of combat and tactics. ¡°Old farts bonding in the middle of the night. How am I not surprised?¡± I hop atop the table, startling both men. Myers is the first to recover, ¡°I hope you don¡¯t mind if I invite Gond over.¡± I shrug, ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± The only thing I¡¯d be wary of getting revealed is the priceless crystal. Which is safely hidden in my room. I glance at Gond. ¡°Question. How well do you know the contracted [Gladiators]?¡± ¡°Decently well. I¡¯ve fought most and trained a good number of them.¡± ¡°I see. What do you know of Garvey Embriss?¡± ¡°Garvey?¡± Gond raises an eyebrow. ¡°He¡¯s one of the few contracted experts that Gladius has.¡± ¡°Right. Do you know his level? Class? Combat style?¡± Gond rubs the stubble on his neck. ¡°He¡¯s a [Myrmidon]- probably a low level one. No active skill that I know of, but still a dangerous opponent.¡± ¡°What¡¯s a [Myrmidon]?¡± I ask. ¡°It''s an expert variant of [Swordsman],¡± Myers explains. ¡°They generally wield blade weapons- usually in the form of dueling swords. ¡°Garvey was never a [Swordsman]. He was a [Warrior], then [Sword Warrior], and eventually became a [Myrmidon] that specializes in longswords.¡± ¡°Less specialized,¡± Myers comments. ¡°More adaptable,¡± Gond corrects. I wonder if I was this competitive when I was old and hadn¡¯t lost my mind yet. ¡°Right, right. So Garvey is an adaptable longsword wielder. Is there anything else you can tell me about him? Do you know his skills or traits? Any weaknesses?¡± Gond frowns at my questioning. ¡°Why are you so interested in Garvey?¡± ¡°It¡¯s complicated. Now, what do you know?¡± Gond takes a sip of his drink slowly. ¡°Honestly, Garvey is a bit of a generalist as far as I can tell. He has [Lightweight blade], [Enlarged Peripheral], [Minor Stamina Regeneration], [Sturdy Footing], and whatever skill he has as a [Myrmidon].¡± ¡°I see.¡± I say, and then glance at Myers. The old fart chuckles. [Lightweight blade] halves the weight of a weapon in hand. [Enlarged Peripheral] increases peripheral sight. [Minor Stamina Regeneration] increases the speed of recovery- including during a fight. [Sturdy Footing] makes it significantly more difficult to be bothered by terrain. [Myrmidons] generally get an activatable combat skill or a very potent passive one. The skill always affects the sword in some way. Thank you Myers for being a fountain of old fart wisdom. ¡°So, Garvey has good sight, good footing, good weapon speed, good stamina, and possibly another powerful skill. That¡¯s annoying, but workable. Thanks for the information.¡± I hop off the table and leave the old men to their discussions. Instead of heading to my room, I find my way to Nepenthes room. Nepenthes is sitting and meditating, though with open eyes. ¡°Matriarch, do you require bloodshed?¡± She asks as though it is the most normal thing to expect. ¡°No, not now. I wanted to ask, are you able to create a drug to increase combat performance? Something strong but also doesn¡¯t have any long-term negative effects.¡± Nepenthes tilts her head. ¡°I can make poisons to do so, but they will be ineffective on you as your body is extremely efficient at purging such toxins.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not for me. It¡¯s for Boriss.¡± Nepenthes tilts her head. ¡°For a human? I can have one prepared, then. When do you require it?¡± ¡°Tomorrow.¡± IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 104: Family Above All
Job: [Ship Captain] Level: Level 19 Job Skills: 2 Ship Size: Frigate Primary Jobs Available: 8 Support Jobs Available:6 Maximum Job Capacity: 22
Primary Jobs [First Mate] level 13: Irmgard Von Braun level 15 [Sword Officer] [Quartermaster] level 18: Cillian Wallace level 23 [Merchant] [Security Chief] level 10: Boriss Smirnov level 24 [Skirmisher] [Chief Carpenter] level 14: Emma level 31 [Rune Smith] [Head Chef]: N/A [Chief Physician] level 8: Nepenthes level 22 [Druid] [Artillery Chief]: N/A [Navigator]: N/A
Support Jobs [Boatswain] level 2: Auranta level 39 [Air Mage] [Gunner]: [Cook]: [Carpenter]: [Rigger]: [Physician Assistant]:
Fucking hell, Cillian is leveling fast. Is it because he keeps making more and more money? I mean, I don¡¯t mind the leveling, it¡¯s good and all. But, why the fuck is him gambling on Boriss giving him so many levels? Looking further at the jobs and levels, I find that Nepenthes also leveled in job and class. Is she done with the drug? Maybe she leveled from that? With one last glance, I find that nothing else has changed. Not even my job. It¡¯s been stuck at nineteen for a good while with no increases at all. I need to hunt [Pirates] or something. ¡°Alright red, let''s end it for tonight. It should be morning now.¡± ¡°Acknowledged,¡± The floating eyeball states. ________________________________________________ Flying into the stands to avoid paying the entry fee, I land on Clay¡¯s lap as a cat. The kid gives me a happy squeeze and a content brush of my fur. ¡°Myers, Gond, keep your eyes open on the competition. See if you can spot anything odd.¡± I tell the old men. ¡°What kind of odd?¡± I hear Gino¡¯s voice. My head swerves to the seat behind Clay. It is there that I find a grinning Gino staring at me. Next to him is his sister Julia. ¡°I thought you lost!¡± I exclaim in surprise. The young man only grins wider. ¡°I put all my winnings on Boriss instead of myself.¡± I can''t help but match the kids'' grin. Damn, I should have predicted this. I look at Julia. ¡°Congrats on your newfound freedom. It¡¯s nice that Jonathan kept his word.¡± ¡°I wish to speak with you later in regards to that.¡± Julia answers. ¡°Uhhh, sure. In the meantime, enjoy the show.¡± ¡°T-thas stoopid,¡± Cillian interrupts from next to Myers. He¡¯s got an abnormally large mug in his hand. ¡°Yah shulda save her lata. Invest in Boriss ana make mo-mo-more, hiccup.¡± Cillian explains. ¡°I¡¯m not taking that risk,¡± Gino answers. ¡°But I did put whatever was left over on Boriss.¡± ¡°Bah, is nat make yah reech.¡± ¡°Has he been drinking since morning?¡± I ask, curious. Usually, it takes a lot of alcohol and time for him to get drunk. ¡°Cillian¡¯s poison tolerance is abnormal,¡± Nepenthes states. ¡°During meetings where money is involved, I have noticed an exponential increase in concentration and cognitive ability, but a sharp drop outside of such factors. Surgical analysis of Cillians liver and kidneys show no abnormal behavior other than expected damage from alcohol consumption.¡± ¡°Ya was inside me?¡± Cillian asks. He lifts up his shirt, but there is no scar. The Phytonid nods. ¡°Yes. You informed me that if you were poisoned, I have full permission to assess your body and repair anything that seems damaged. During my analysis of your organs, I have removed damaged sections of your Liver and Kidney, and then replaced it with modified stem cells.¡± ¡°Modified how?¡± I ask, intrigued. It sounds like Nepenthes can modify bodies by quite a bit. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡°The new cells have Increased telomere length and greater resistance to damage from excess alcohol consumption.¡± ¡°Can ya make me taller?¡± Cillian asks. ¡°Not safely,¡± Nepenthes adds. ¡°Unless I obtain live humans for extensive experimentation, the likelihood of problems and mistakes is high.¡± Cillian turns to me. ¡°Capt¡¯n-¡± ¡°No. Whatever you are thinking, the answer is no.¡± I put my paw down immediately to the pouting Scot. Before the conversation can continue, the sound of a blaring horn reverberates throughout the colosseum. All eyes turn to the origin, where the [Announcer] stands on a raised platform. ¡°Welcome to the fifth day of the tournament. Today, the survivors from yesterday will continue these grueling battles until there are only two combatants remaining. With only twenty four contestants, we expect only five rounds of combat! I hope you all have placed your bets and are ready for the bloodshed!¡± The crowd screams at the man''s words, roaring as wildly as they usually do. ¡°Good! Let us ready the [Gladiators]!¡± At his words, twenty six armored men take to the field, most now wearing runed plate armor except for a few who wear leather precisely for the increased mobility. ¡°Hey, Gond. You mentioned Gemma and Wolven are allowed in these tournaments. Why are all the fighters human?¡± ¡°Gemma are too slow for the arena while most Wolven dislike the random nature of Gladius arenas. They prefer the fully-geared arena fights on Okami.¡± I pout at the answer, but only for a moment. My concentration is instead shifted to the first round that is about to begin. Boriss¡¯s first opponent is a man with a longsword who strikes a competent pose. Boriss matches the man, but with a heavier and longer greatsword. Instead of focusing on Boriss¡¯s fight, I shift my gaze to the other fighters. All are young and decently skilled, but only three others wield a longsword. One of those three is going to be Garvey. The question is, which one. As the battles begin, all of the fighters go at each other with skill and speed. At first, trying to find the fake is difficult because none of the swordsmen are fighting or dodging perfectly. But, eventually, I notice the slight tells of one of them.
Morgan Flares: Level 25 [Elite Gladiator]
The man dodges and blocks just as clumsily as the other two, but it is the unchanging closeness that he does so. When he dodges, he dodges by an inch, and only by an inch every single time. To the masses, it probably looks like the man is barely doing so against his opponent, but it¡¯s clear it is planned. ¡°I found the fake.¡± I say. ¡°Same,¡± Gond says, though with a very deadpanned voice. Myers frowns as he watches the fights. Eventually, the first round ends with two of the longswords and Boriss becoming victorious. ¡°I must be missing something.¡± ¡°Itz da one wit da longsword.¡± Cillian points. ¡°Da sword is betta. Parry clean.¡± I blink and focus on the two weapons of the two [Gladiators]. Indeed, Morgan¡¯s longsword does look slightly sharper and less chipped. If what Cillian says is true, then the parry¡¯s were done in such a way to avoid chipping the blade. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Myers asks. ¡°That guy seems slightly less skilled than the other.¡± Gond sighs and then looks at me. ¡°So that''s why you asked me about Garvey.¡± I nod. ¡°Yea, Gladius isn¡¯t playing fair. How¡¯d you figure out it was him?¡± ¡°Because I trained him. I know the flaws of my students well, even when they surpass me in levels.¡± ¡°I hope I can trust you to keep your silence about this.¡± ¡°Of course. I don¡¯t need the [Governor] breathing down my neck and restricting what freedom I currently have. That is if they don¡¯t kill me.¡± ¡°Has Gladius done this before?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve only heard rumors and hearsay, but nothing concrete. Seeing this is disconcerting- more so than manipulating the order of fights.¡± With the second round starting, it becomes blatantly clear that Morgan is Garvey, for the man fights his opponent with seemingly less skill, only to eek out what at first seems like a lucky win. The third and fourth match end in the same way, leaving only three combatants standing. Morgan, Boriss, and a [Heavy Axeman] who just so happens to have to unluckily become Boriss¡¯s final opponent while Morgan is automatically pushed as a finalist. It is this last round of the day where Boriss does struggle a bit. The [Heavy Axeman] is tall, fast, and swings his greataxe with the speed of a longsword and the force of a maul. Boriss raises his greatsword into a block that sends Boriss skidding away. Though Boriss is physically stronger, his opponent can produce significantly more force from his swings. ¡°How much you want to bet Boriss is going to grapple?¡± I ask. Neither Gond nor Myers takes the bait. Instead, they watch as Boriss rides the mans swing using his greatsword, abandoning his weapon and landing a punch on the mans face. You can hear the crack of the man''s jaw dislocating, only for Boriss to pull the man towards him. With another crack, Boss''s forehead meets his opponent''s nose. Then the Russian trips his opponent and pins him down on the ground, wherein Boriss¡¯s armored fist makes several more contacts on the man''s face. Eventually, the judge calls the match and announces Boriss the winner. ___________________________________________________________ After the match, Gino takes his sister back to Dana before descending further into the undercrust. Not long after, he arrives at his destination. Flause Gambino pouts when he sees Gino arrive. Not a malevolent pout, mind you. But more a disappointed one. A pout clearly noticed by a group of suited men sitting in Flause¡¯s store. ¡°Flause, who¡¯s the kid? He giving you trouble?¡± One of the men with a red tie asks. Flause sighs. ¡°Not that kind of trouble.¡± With a wave of his hand, Gino is invited closer, where the well-dressed men take a good look at him. ¡°Family?¡± Gino asks Flause, who nods with a smile. ¡°Yes, they¡¯re here for business. But you, are you here to take the rest of your winnings? I hope you realize your mistake in not investing everything from yesterday. You could have easily doubled in profits.¡± Gino can''t help but chuckle. ¡°Yea, Cillian already called me stupid for the choice. But, it is for a good cause.¡± Flause goes cross-eyed. ¡°Cillian? The chubby short drunk man winning every gamble?¡± ¡°T-that sounds like him, yea. Is something wrong?¡± ¡°No, just that he¡¯s moving the market with his winnings. He¡¯s taken some of the riskiest trades and has won every single one.¡± One of the Gambinos chuckles. ¡°Karson, sounds like it¡¯s the same Cillian.¡± Karson chuckles, ¡°Indeed Marco. Who''s Cillian betting on?¡± ¡°Boriss, a current favorite to win the tournament now. Not that the profits are that big now that everyone knows how competent the man is. His opponent is expecting to fold hard and fast.¡± ¡°Maybe we should get in on the gamble,¡± Marco comments. ¡°What do you think, Flause?¡± ¡°I¡¯d normally agree, but somethings off. Boriss¡¯s opponent has a large bit of coin placed on him by the royals. I¡¯m smelling a stink here.¡± ¡°The kid knows something,¡± Karson points at Gino. All eyes move to the young man with a clear nervousness on his face. ¡°I uh,¡± he pauses, unsure. ¡°Just heard some rumors.¡± ¡°Out with it lad,¡± Marco, ¡°Maybe we¡¯ll make it worth your while if the information is good.¡± Gino swallows. The Gambinos are honorable in their dealings, but can be quite the opposite depending on the situation. ¡°I heard Boriss¡¯s opponent might be hiding his actual levels.¡± Marco frowns. ¡°Sounds impossible.¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible,¡± Karson interrupts. ¡°I¡¯ve seen a couple artifacts with [Spy] skills to hide or change jobs and classes.¡± ¡°That makes a bit of sense, then.¡± Flause rubs his clean shaven beard. ¡°Though most believe Boriss to win, how fast Boriss is expected to win differs. Most expect Boriss to defeat his opponent in short trades. But Cillian is betting on a long extended battle.¡± ¡°Can you copy my bets to match Cillians?¡± Gino quickly asks. He was going to just bet on Boriss winning, but this is probably better. Flause frowns. ¡°I can, though your profits can be a lot more if you return yesterday''s winnings and put it all in the pool.¡± ¡°I already spent it.¡± Flause seems to grow angry. The man folds his arms across his chest. ¡°On what? [Whores]?¡± ¡°I freed my sister from a contract.¡± And like that, Flause¡¯s anger dissipates like a fart in the wind. Even the other Gambinos give Flause a disapproving look before smiling at Gino. ¡°Family above all,¡± they say in unison. IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 105: Russian Surprise. While Gino places his bets, a kitten sneaks into the main colosseum through a vent barely large enough to squeeze through. Once inside, the kitten makes its way through hallways, reaching a familiar room. The moment he enters, Boriss grins. ¡°Comrade fluffy, you have come vish me luck?¡± Quasi hops upon the bunk and spits out a finger-sized bottle. ¡°Boriss, drink that right before your match. It should make you stronger.¡± Boriss frowns, ¡°Is not right to cheat.¡± ¡°Cheating is fine if both opponents are cheating. And trust me, you¡¯re going to need it against your opponent. By the way, did you level today?¡± ¡°I did not sleep yet.¡± ¡°Then sleep. Hopefully you get something good.¡± Boriss nods and the cat disappears from the room. The cat travels the hallways until it finds another familiar room. This one has a man resting in a bed, nearly about to fall asleep. Sneaking inside, Quasi finds that the room is filled with objects from a mirror, to weapons, armors, and various other equipment. The room is quite full of places to hide, including pillars above. With a quick stretch, the cat parkours to one of said pillars. Then, while unseen, the cat opens its mouth. ¡°EXECUTED!¡± the sound of Stavros¡¯s voice echoes in the room, causing Garvey to jump up out of bed in panic. The man looks at the door, then around in panic. After a moment, he decides that he¡¯s just hearing things. He lays back down. ¡°Nobody is to know of it.¡± Stavros'' voice echoes again, but this time as a whisper loud enough to wake Garvey. After another moment, he rests his head. ¡°Armband!¡± The scream resounds, scaring him out of bed. Garvey grabs a nearby sword and looks around. But nothing else happens. He shakes his head after a moment. ¡°Must be the nerves,¡± he says. When he lays down and begins to truly calm down enough to sleep, the sound of a nearby bottle shatters loudly upon the floor, scaring him again. Groaning, the man rubs his neck and stares at the shattered remains. He doesn''t remember putting the bottle anywhere near the edge of the counter. Sighing, he clears up the broken remains, grabs another bottle, opens it, drinks, and makes sure to place it away from the edge. Then he lays back down in silence. As soon as his eyes close and sleep takes him, he is immediately awoken to another crashing sound. In the corner of his room, a mirror lies broken and shattered across the floor. _______________________________________________________________ Gond knows that Gladius doesn¡¯t play fair. He knows that they manipulate the matches and opponents to maximize profits. Usually, this is done through controlling who fights who. Generally, weapons and classes have a more difficult time against certain others. For example, [Berserkers] are faster and more aggressive than a [Warrior], making them good opponents against something like a [Rogue]. But a [Swordsman] is generally skilled enough to make a Berserkers speed and aggression easily punishable. They are small shifts that increase the chances of a win or loss by single digit percentages, but that¡¯s usually enough for Gladius to win bets more often than not. Boriss, as far as Gond can tell, is quite the enigma. The man adapts to his opponents quickly while being both physically stronger and faster. The only thing he lacks is specialized expertise with a singular weapon like a [Swordsman] with a sword or an [Axeman] with an axe. His opponent though, is Garvey Embriss. [Myrmidons] stand at the peak of swordsmanship similar to [Samurai] and [Sword Duelists]. Skillswise, Boriss cannot compete. Physically, Boriss is maybe an equal if Garvey put all of his trait points into something like vitality. Though that is unlikely as Garvey is contracted to Gladius and would be ordered to increase Strength, Endurance, and probably even control depending on skills. In essence, Garvey should win, and the large bet from the Royals says they believe the same. ¡°Still¡±¡­ Gond shifts his head to the Timbergroves crew. All of them seem confident that Boriss has a good chance to win. Even Myers- who Gond is sure is twice his age, seems to believe in Boriss. It is in the next moment that Gond finds out why. Quasi flies towards them as a bird, transforming back into a cat upon landing. Quasi yawns, ¡°I¡¯ve done what I can for Boriss. Everything is now up to him.¡± Gond looks at the cat and finds Quasi looking quite haggard and exhausted. The cat yawns again. ¡°Boriss better not forget to take the potion.¡± ¡°You¡¯re having Boriss take drugs?¡± Gond asks, surprised and upset. Taking performance enhancers can very easily get you disqualified if it is found out. ¡°Of course,¡± The cat blinks. ¡°Boriss needs whatever advantage he can get. I¡¯m not about to play fair against an opponent that refuses to.¡± As much as Gond hates to hear that, he can¡¯t refute the logic. ¡°Did you even sleep?¡± Myers ask. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Nope,¡± The cat grins while pointing a paw, ¡°but neither did he.¡± Gond follows the paw to find the finalists taking the field. Boriss is grinning energetically, waving towards the cheering crowd. The man seems bigger somewhat, more focused even. As for his opponent, Garvey is quite the opposite. He looks tired with sagging features, a pale complexion, and dark circles under his eyes. His posture depicts fatigue, one clearly born of a lack of sleep. ¡°You kept him awake all night.¡± Gond says in realization. Quasi chuckles tiredly. ¡°Yup. Do you think it will be enough for Boriss to win?¡± ¡°No,¡± Gond answers with a shake of his head ¡°He¡¯s exhausted, though. I doubt he can keep up.¡± Quasi says. It normally would. ¡°Garvey is an [Elite Gladiator], and one of the skills I know he has is [Deferred Exhaustion]. Once the fight starts, that exhaustion is going to go away until the end of the match.¡± ¡°Shit.¡± Quasi curses nervously. Gond sighs. Even if Garvey is exhausted, he doubts Boriss could win anyway. The difference in levels and skill is far too great to overcome. Once the fighters are on the field, the [Announcers] voice echoes to all those watching. ¡°Welcome to the final fight of the tournament. The fight you¡¯ve all been waiting for. The fight between Boriss and Morgan. Two contestants that have fought beasts and men to stand at this pinnacle. Men who have shed blood and tears to stand upon this great stadium. Let us all scream in support of who you expect to win! The stadium goes wild, with nearly all the watchers chanting Boriss. His name echoes across the Colosseum and probably into the city proper. Above where the [Announcer] stands is a small boxed room where the [Governor] of Gladius sits upon a throne. The man smiles with each chant, knowing full well that those men and women had placed their bids upon Boriss winning. Millions of Trist, all for his taking. With a wave of the [Announcers] hand, the trumpets are blown and the crowd dies down. ¡°Your voices have been heard, your expectations clear, and your bids are set. Let us begin the final fight of this tournament!¡± He [Announcer] raises his hand up. Boriss and Garvey take a stance. One with a sword and the other with a Greatsword. When he lowers his hand, the trumpets roar, and Garvey rushes forward- his exhaustion disappearing as though it never existed. Boriss reacts appropriately, with a thrust, but Garvey parries and attacks. Boriss diverts the attack with his pommel and swings. Garvey counters and thrusts, but Boriss is already giving ground as he steps backwards. Garvey follows and the two clash in a blur. Their weapons sing and dance, screeching on contact with a force that could not only slice, but crush bone. The runed platemail, light as it is, would fold from a direct impact. Through the engagement, it becomes clear that Boriss is moving faster than he¡¯d moved in any fight before. The greatsword in his hands he wields as though it doesn''t weigh twice that of his opponent''s weapon. Regardless, even as he moves at a speed few could reproduce, his opponent not only matches it, but exceeds it. Garvey¡¯s longsword lacks range, but the lower weight allows the man to easily react, parry, and attack. Which is why Boriss is being forced back step by step, engagement after engagement. Even as he avoids, he doesn¡¯t go unscathed as glancing blows rips flesh, skin, and metal from Borris. A twist of the hips, a lean to the left, a hop to the back. Small movements in the grand scheme of things, but each turns a fatal hit into an ignorable injury. Impressed would be an understatement for what Gond is seeing. Somehow, whatever concoction they¡¯d given Boriss is allowing him to survive against a [Myrmidon]. Survive being the correct word, for Boriss is fully on the defensive. ¡°He¡¯s going to lose.¡± Gond says. Myers grimaces with a nod. ¡°Probably.¡± ¡°My money!¡± Cillian cries. With how impressive the fight is, even the audience has lost it¡¯s cheer. Instead, they are silently staring at the two go at each other. Each swing of a blade, each dodge to the side, each impact of swords sends sand dispersing all around. And with each second, blood pools under Boriss feet, drenching armor and sand with every movement. But, even with the wounds, Boriss does not falter. Instead¡­ ¡°He¡¯s getting faster,¡± Gond blinks as Boriss gives less and less ground. His greatsword moves faster as does his movement. Even his reactions are sooner and predictions become more accurate. ¡°Was he holding back?¡± Myers asks, but nobody knows the answer. After another minute, the fight turns into a standstill as the speed seems to even out. Another minute later and Garvey steps back to dodge. Both Myers and Gond glance at each other for a moment, then return their attention to the fight. With each minute that the fight continues, Boriss seems to grow not only faster, but stronger. At some point, Boriss starts wielding the greatsword like a longsword. This most of all shifts the fight in his favor. By the next minute, Garvey is on the defensive, his weapon screeches from parry to parry, nary a time to do anything more. ¡°So, does anyone know what''s happening?¡± Quasi asks. ¡°Momentum.¡± ¡°Momentum.¡± Myers and Gond explain. The cat rolls its eyes. ¡°That explains nothing.¡± ¡°Did Boriss level recently?¡± Myers asks. ¡°Maybe? Why?¡± ¡°I think he gained the skill [Momentum].¡± Myers explains. ¡°Which does what?¡± Quasi asks. ¡°[Momentum] slowly increases all physical traits over the course of combat. The longer the combat, the higher and higher traits improve.¡± The skill makes sense, for even as Boriss is on the offensive, he seems to be getting faster and faster. At this rate, it¡¯s Garvey who is going to lose. Slicing sand and brushing it in Boriss¡¯s face while jumping five meters away, Garvey grimaces as he points his longsword at the Grinning Russian. Taking a breath, Garvey takes a stance. He glances above the announcer where the [Governor] watches. He knows that if he loses, there will be a punishment that¡¯s worse than death. ¡°[Overheat].¡± He whispers his skill as silently as possible. Instantly, the beat of his heart triples and the temperature rises exponentialy. Steam wasps from his nostrils as muscles expand. The world slows for a moment as his mind accelerates. With a jump forward, sand explodes behind him. Garvey watches, impressed as Boriss reacts with a swing. Garvey counters with a swing of his arm. His blade meets Greatsword, and both the weapon and Boriss are sent flying. Boriss bounces once but instantly regains footing by the second. Fast enough to block Garvey''s following blow. But not fast enough to avoid being sent flying. Garvey¡¯s legs rip holes in the sand with each jump, dispersing ground as he reaches Boriss again. The Russian somehow recovers enough to block properly. Instead of flying, Boriss skids on the sand. Growling, Garvey jumps forward and swings, but Boriss jumps meters into the air, avoiding the attack. Garvey doesn¡¯t relent. His legs bend as he repositions and rushes where the Russian is going to land. The moment Boriss lands, he¡¯s forced to block an incredible amount of force. So much so that the greatsword shatters in two and sends the Russian skidding. Seeing an opportunity, Garvey rushes in one last time. He swings, and Boriss attempts to block with the hilt of his blade. It works somewhat to slow his attack, but not enough to avoid the strike that rips through biceps, shoulder, and chest. With the blow landed, Garvey shifts his longsword to finish the man off, but pauses as he struggles to take a breath. When he glances down, he finds a piece of Boriss¡¯s greatsword sticking through his neck while blood rapidly squirts out from the wound. IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 106: Victory The crowd is silent. Completely and utterly silent. They watch, mesmerized as Garvey reaches at his throat using his left hand. The man feels the metal shard and the warm blood rapidly dripping down his arm. He then looks down at his opponent, lying injured at his feet. Garvey gets a single chuckle. His sword falls out of his right hand. He slowly shifts his gaze at the crowds, then up above the [Announcer]. The [Governors] mouth lies open in utter surprise. Then Garvey''s legs give way and the man falls back, dead. Silence continues for another long moment right up until Boriss forces himself to stand. The man has a large gash across his shoulder and chest- one most would find difficult to move with. But the man moves. With his good arm, he picks up the hilt of his destroyed Greatsword screams at the top of his lungs. And like that, the trance breaks. The crowd roars and chants his name, louder than ever before. So loud as to annoy a sleepy kitten''s delicate hearing. A very sleepy kitten that would love nothing better to do than go to sleep. Instead, said kitten watches as Garvey¡¯s body is lifted and retrieved while a [Healer] is brought to tend to Boriss¡¯s wounds. With a flex of his mana and the cast of a spell, a bird flies out of the stands and descends out of sight into the Colosseum proper. ___________________________________________________ With the final match concluded, Boriss is allowed to leave the Colosseum if he wishes. Which, injured as the man is, obliges happily. He still has to return tomorrow for his congratulations ceremony and his prize. Once the [Healers] patched him up the best they could, he left the Colosseum to find a big group of people waiting for him, with the only exception being Quasi. The [Captain] disappeared shortly after his win. Once the immediate congratulations are done, the group makes their way not to the tavern, but to the Timbergrove. It is here where the party and surgery takes place. In the middle of the Messhall, on the table lies Boriss. The Russian is grinning and talking about the match to all those present- which includes not only the Timbergroves crew, but also Gond, Agris, Micheal, Baldric, Gino, and even Ginos¡¯ sister Julia. At the same time, Nepenthes reopens Boriss¡¯s wound- constantly commenting about nerve damage and improper muscle-fiber repair. Not that Boriss feels anything. One of the many temporary side-effects of the drug he took is a complete numbness of the body. It is only now that a cat returns to the ship. Quasi rushes to his room first and then returns to the lively Messhall. He jumps upon the table and sleepily grins at Boriss. ¡°Good win there, Boriss.¡± ¡°Is easy.¡± Quasi snorts. ¡°No it wasn¡¯t and you know it. You¡¯d have lost if you didn¡¯t get that new skill- uhhh, what was it called?¡± ¡°[Momentum],¡± Boriss says with a grin. ¡°Is good skill.¡± ¡°Right. Well, you¡¯d have really lost if Garvey used his skill immediately instead of when he started losing.¡± ¡°Is little luck,¡± Boriss says with a grin while Quasi rolls his eyes. ¡°Sureee. Anyway, congrats on the victory anyways. You deserve it. As for me, i¡¯m going to go take a nice long nap. But first,¡± Quasi shifts his gaze to Cillian. The man is drunk. Like, so drunk he should have blacked out ten bottles earlier. Somehow, he¡¯s still conscious, though barely. ¡°Cillian, what''s our winnings from the whole tournament?¡± Cillian looks at Quasi like one would a stray cat. He blinks, smiles, and then passes out. The cat sighs. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll find out tomorrow.¡± Quasi hops off the table and walks to his room. Not a moment later does Gino get off his seat and rush after him. ¡°Quasi, can I talk to you before you sleep? In private,¡± Gino adds. Quasi yawns. ¡°Yea, sure. Come on.¡± Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. The young man follows the cat to a pretty small and cramped [Captains] cabin. Well, small for him. For a cat, it¡¯s probably plenty of space. Looking around, one of the first things he notices is a Runed-jeweled armband laying on the bed. It looks expensive, and the [Rogue] in him would love to get a hold of it if he could. Not that he ever would. Instead, he watches Quasi hop up atop a bookshelf where a cat-bed is located. ¡°You have until I pass out to ask your questions. Now ask.¡± ¡°Can I join your crew?¡± Gino asks. ¡°Yes. Next question.¡± Quasi answers. Ginos¡¯ mind seems to stop for a moment. ¡°Just like that?¡± Quasi nods. ¡°Yup.¡± Gino frowns. ¡°Do you even know why I ask?¡± Quasi stretches and pats his bed. ¡°I¡¯m sure you''re about to tell me some stupid reason like getting away from your sister to avoid causing her problems in the future. You know, stupid teenage reasons.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not stupid.¡± The cat snorts. ¡°It¡¯s stupid. You¡¯re just too young to realize it yet. But it¡¯s alright, what''s the point of being young if you can''t make dumb decisions.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not¡­ that''s. Look, I know I made a mistake and I made it right with my sis. I¡¯m going to take my winnings, leave it with her and I just want to disappear from her life. She deserves better than me. Is that really so dump?¡± When Gino looks up, he finds no answer. Instead, he is met with the soft snoring sounds of a puffy cat. ____________________________________________________________ After the tournament, an emergency meeting is called. One where the most powerful and influential people come together to deal with an emergency. At the head of the meeting is [Governor of Games] Flamentine. The man has a prevalent grimace on his face as he stares at his great grandfather, Miltiadis. His grandfather, though, is relaxed, seemingly unbothered by the current situation. He¡¯s even smiling at him. Before a word can be spoken, Loukia trudges in with a bundle of documents. ¡°How is it?¡± Flamentine asks, not even deigning to wait for Stavros to show up. ¡°Bad.¡± She says after taking a seat. ¡°Though we recouped some of the losses through taxes, we unfortunately have gone in the negative. Future expansions will need to be on a tighter budget.¡± ¡°Damn it. How did this all go so wrong?¡± Miltiadis sighs. ¡°That¡¯s the problem with the younger generation. You¡¯re so focussed on the now and never the future.¡± Flamentine shakes his head. ¡°This was your idea, so don¡¯t start spewing your nonsense now. I see no benefit to this whole cherage. We bet half our yearly profits and lost nearly all of it.¡± The old man leans back into his chair. ¡°If you¡¯ve lived as long as I have, watched the crowds, the matches, and listened. You¡¯d know that that final round is something you see only once in a decade. A long, arduous fight where the expectation of who will be victorious have shifted clearly for the masses to watch.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Flamentine rolls his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sure the masses enjoyed watching our coffers run dry.¡± ¡°You misunderstand,¡± Militiadis growls. ¡°That fight will be on the minds and words of all those who¡¯ve seen it for the rest of the year. They will speak of it positively, both about the feelings of the battle and the coin they¡¯d gained.¡± ¡°From our largesse.¡± Flamentine adds. ¡°I understand,¡± Loukia interrupts, eyes widening. ¡°I¡¯ve seen it before. After a major tournament, depending on how interesting people found it, the quantity of bets increases exponentially for a time.¡± ¡°Word of mouth is a powerful force. Where once you have [Nobles] being frugal, you can very much have [Kings] with open coffers in the markets.¡± The old man explains. Flamentine sighs. He understands where Militiadis is getting at- and if Loukia has seen it before, then Gladius should recover over the long term. Even so, the fact that they lost so much with a single bet puts a difficult taste in his mouth. While the [Governor] Laments, the door to the meeting room opens. Stavros trudges in with a grimace that would scare weaker men. ¡°Stavr-¡± Flamentine begins, only to be interrupted. ¡°We¡¯ve a problem,¡± Stavros growls. ¡°The artifact is missing. I believe it¡¯s stolen.¡± ¡°NO!¡± Miltiadis screams. ¡°How? Where? What happened?¡± The old man, usually a font of relaxed wisdom, is now in a state of panic. ¡°We¡¯re not sure, but someone took it off Garvey¡¯s Corpse. I have all the contracted [Gladiators] searching for it and the Colosseum''s lower levels are fully on lockdown.¡± ¡°And you¡¯ve found nothing?¡± ¡°Nothing yet. I¡¯ve sent for a [Bounty Hunter] that specializes in items. We¡¯ll find it one way or another.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll scour the undercrust,¡± Loukia says. ¡°An artifact of such quality can¡¯t stay hidden forever.¡± ¡°Unless it leaves Gladius,¡± The [Governor] counter. ¡°Should I put the whole city in lockdown?¡± ¡°Absolutely not!¡± Miltiadis yells. ¡°The [Nobles] and wealthy [Merchants] wouldn¡¯t stand for such a thing. We¡¯d lose far too many clients and the city would be in significant panic. Especially considering what happened at Memphis.¡± ¡°What does Valentine attacking Memphis have to do with our current situation?¡± Flamentine asks. ¡°I¡¯m only proposing a lockdown for a few days.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the problem! Memphis locked itself down right before Valentine demolished their ports a day later. People will see the two situations and act violently. The situation will get worse.¡± ¡°Valentine wouldn¡¯t attack Gladius. We¡¯re far more armed and higher leveled than a trade city.¡± Stavros counters. ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Miltiadis grumbles. ¡°The sheep will panic at the thought of a wolf regardless if the shepherd is near. There will be violence, and violence is not something we can afford now after significant financial losses.¡± ¡°If only it wasn¡¯t an artifact of such a price. I could have mobilized the entire undercrust to find it.¡± Loukia comments. ¡°Still, I think we¡¯ve got more time than you think. ¡°She points at the window and the approaching thunderclouds. ¡°Few ships are willing to leave during a storm.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve got a day, maybe two,¡± Flamentine stares at the clouds for a long moment. ¡°We need to get that artifact before the storm passes. Otherwise, it will probably be lost forever.¡± IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 107: Propper Russian Upgrade. Waking up to the sound of thunder and the rocking of the Timbergrove almost sends me back to sleep. There is just nothing like an ongoing thunderstorm combined with a cozy warm room. It is a perfect combination to just close your eyes and sleep in. Unfortunately, I¡¯m a busy cat with errands. Standing up, I stretch atop the bookshelf before I hop down to the bed and then the floor. When I exit my room, I find many of my crew already awake. Cillian, Irmgard, and Boriss are already at the table. Irmgard has already produced breakfast, of which both Cillian and Boriss are eating. Especially Boriss. The man eats like he¡¯d not eaten for months. ¡°Slow down Boriss, You''ll choke.¡± I warn once I hop atop the table. ¡°Also, good morning.¡± Cillian nurses a bottle with a sly smile. ¡°Nepenthes says he has to eat a lot because of that concoction he drank.¡± ¡°That makes sense. Speaking of which, where is Nepenthes? She barely sleeps if at all.¡± ¡°Cillian shrugs. Not sure. I was going to ask her to accompany me to the Undercrust, but she¡¯d already disappeared.¡± That''s odd. I hope she doesn¡¯t cause any problems. ¡°I have to go to the undercrust too. I can escort you if you want- actually. What''s our winnings?¡± Cillian grins with a chuckle. ¡°Should be half a million.¡± Holy shit. ¡°That¡¯s a lot.¡± The Scot nods happily. ¡°I¡¯ve already got cargo in mind. I just need to buy it.¡± Irmgard approaches and places a plate of meat in front of me. ¡°Emma is progressing quickly with the runes for the cannons. I recommend looking into obtaining more crew so that we can actually have all the cannons manned.¡± ¡°I¡¯m already working on that,¡± I say. ¡°But if you have ideas for anyone who¡¯d be a good fit for the crew, I¡¯m all ears.¡± ¡°Buying contracted personnel is also a possibility.¡± Irmgard explains. I frown. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how I feel about these contracts.¡± ¡°They¡¯re shit,¡± Cillian voices. ¡°A lot of islands charge you if you have any contracted crew. Maybe we can have a few, but too many will eat up long-term profits.¡± I chuckle. ¡°Allways the profits with you. But I get your point. I recommend everyone keep an eye out for anyone who¡¯d make a good fit.¡± Just then, I hear the creaking of a door above, shortly followed by Nepenthes walking down. The phytoid is dripping wet from the rain, but she seems completely unbothered by that. I mean, she is a plant. ¡°You¡¯re back.¡± I say. Nepenthes nods. ¡°Yes. My night was exceptionally fruitful,¡± She answers and then turns to Cillian. ¡°Are we to descend today?¡± Cillian grins with a wiggle of his glass. ¡°Yup, just let me finish here and we can get the earnings before Boriss¡¯s ceremony.¡± ¡°Oh, right, that.¡± I look to the Russian. ¡°I think they¡¯re going to make you armor from that wyvern. That should be nice.¡± Boriss nods with a mouth full of three different kinds of meat. ¡°Right, uhh, have fun with that. I have some business to get to first and if I have the time, I¡¯ll see you at the awards ceremony.¡± With several more goodbye, I leave the mess-hall and the ship entirely. The moment I step out I¡¯m reminded that the weather isn¡¯t good. Rain falls rapidly like a downpour while the wind makes most covers ineffective to stay perfectly dry. Directly on port I see a soaking wet Gond. The old man surprisingly doesn''t look miserable. Instead, he finds the weather relaxing, a blessing even if his expression is to be believed. Leaving the old man to the rain, I find my way to the undercrust, where an impressive level of plumbing shifts the water through numerous pipes so as not to bother anyone underground. It''s a mostly effective system with leaks existing here and there. Now, what I truly can say is that the Flamingos have the system perfectly maintained in their district. Not a spec of water can be seen dripping anywhere unless they want it to. Climbing up the side of the building, I enter through the cat-hole, ignore the sleeping [Druid], and enter the hallways. A short distance later, and my paw taps upon Jonathan''s door. ¡°Come in,¡± I hear him say. When I do enter, the man''s smile disappears into a grimace for a moment, but returns quickly. ¡°Welcome again to my private abode, Mr Eludo. Is there something I can help you with?¡± ¡°Yes, you can.¡± I hop upon his desk, instinctively looking for something to push off- only to find the desk clear save for the papers under Jonathan''s hand. ¡°If it¡¯s about our agreement, it has already concluded. I have accepted Gino¡¯s payment and freed the girl from her contract.¡± ¡°And I am absolutely impressed with the integrity of your promises. I¡¯m so impressed, that I¡¯ve come to freely offer you a bit of very profitable information.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°Indeed. You see, Gino informed me that the [Gang Leader] of the Vlutures obtained a very expensive item recently. Some kind of runed armband.¡± If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. The fake smile on Jonathans slowly disappears. ¡°And why would Gino reveal such information to you?¡± I grin back. ¡°Gino is now part of my crew.¡± I raise a paw slowly as though I am admiring the nails hidden within. ¡°Let''s just say that the kid does not appreciate having a bounty placed on his head.¡± Jonathan slowly nods. ¡°That¡¯s reasonable and the information is useful. And you offer this information without cost?¡± I tilt my head. ¡°Well, so long as the source stays anonymous.¡± ¡°Easily done.¡± Jonathan nods. ¡°Perfect.¡± I turn and hop off the table. ¡°Have a good day.¡± ____________________________________________________________ After a short conversation with Dana that has the woman both happy and sad, Quasi arrives just in time for the awards ceremony, which isn¡¯t actually in the colosseum, but in a large indoor hall built next to it. The whole place looks like it is modeled after a kings hall used for visitors. It is grand, gaudy, and needlessly fancy. Of course, at the back is a throne where the [Governor] sits in resplendent runed robes. Next to him stands the [Announcer], a different one than the one seen at the Colosseum, but clearly a more skilled one. ¡°Please be silent,¡± the man begins, his voice traveling through the entire audience hall with ease. To those who hear, it doesn¡¯t even sound like the guy is yelling. It¡¯s very reminiscent of a natural conversation where the person is generally louder than normal. It is surprisingly effective for every conversation ends and all attention shifts to the man on the throne.
Flamentine Christoff: Level 62 [Governor of Games]
Flamentine leans forward slightly with a perfectly political smile. One you couldn¡¯t tell was fake without a skill or thousands of years of experience. ¡°This year''s tournament has shown a significantly larger showing, both in the capability of the [Gladiators] and even in the bets made. I imagine many of you have made decent profits, too.¡± Flamentine chuckles. Many of the crowd chuckle good-naturedly. Which makes sense, for nearly everyone bet on Borris to win at the end, with the main loser being the one currently on the throne. Regardless, the [Governor] does incredibly well to reveal none of such things. ¡°But you all aren''t here to listen about the profits. You¡¯re all here to meet the tournament champion. Am I right?¡± The crowd cheers happily, not as loudly as when Boriss won, but quite close. ¡°Then what are we waiting for? Send him in.¡± Opposite the [Governor], the double doors screech open, allowing Boriss to waltz in. They¡¯ve dressed him up in what looks like polished and gold engraved segmented metal armor. He has an actual Gladius at his hip and a feathered helmet on his head. But most notable of all is a long flowing cape depicting the city¡¯s heraldry. The armor looks impressive and imposing on the Russian¡¯s massive form, but that¡¯s all it is. The piece is clearly made to look impressive rather than be functional. Boriss takes his time, grinning at his audience with each measured step. The audience cheers the entire time until Boriss arrives meters in front of the governor. ¡°Boriss Smirnov, please kneel,¡± the [Announcer] orders, which also hushes the crowd. Boriss complies. After a moment, the [Governor] nods. He then waves a hand to his left, ordering two [Gladiators] to place a covered stand at his side. ¡°Rise.¡± Flamentine orders and Boriss complies. ¡°I congratulate you on your victory, Boriss. An impressive victory, one that even impressed me. And I¡¯m not just speaking about your final battle. I also speak of your second, where you caused the death of Hellion.¡± It is those words that get a grumble from some of the crowd. Hellion is an old favorite adversary- one that will be missed. The [Governor] looks to the audience. ¡°Are you displeased?¡± He asks the audience. ¡°Hellion is as much of a [Gladiator] as anyone who takes to the field. And to die in battle is something to be praised, not scorned. And mark you me, Hellion fought to the death. Do not spit in the face of such a powerful beast.¡± The grumbles disappeared as fast as they arrived. ¡°As for the beast, what better way to honor its death but to allow the winner of this tournament to continue its fight.¡± Flamentine waves at the stand. The two [Gladiators] remove the cover to reveal an entire set of impressive black-scaled runed armor, with a scaled bone helmet included. Leaning forward from atop a beam, Quasi stares at the armor pieces.
Name Wyvern-Scale Brigandine of Fire Resist
Rarity Exceptional - 10 Runes.
  • 1(1-Durability)
  • 1(1-Lightweight)
  • 1(1-Muffle)
  • 1(1-Piercing Resist)
  • 1(1-Crush Resist)
  • 1(1-Slashing Resist)
  • 1(4-Fire Resist.)
Description This armor is built with interlocking metal plates that is +30% more durable, +50% lighter in weight, +100% quieter, +50% more resilient to Piercing, and +50% more resilient to Crushing.
Sustain 0.14% Mana regeneration per minute.
Name Hellions Senses
Rarity Exceptional - 10 Runes.
  • 1(1-Durability),
  • 1(1-Piercing Resist),
  • 1(1-Crush Resist),
  • 1(1-Cutting resist)
  • 1(6-Heightened senses)
Description This armor is +30% more durable, +50% resilient to piercing, +50% crushing, +50% Cutting, and increases Perception by +4.
Sustain 0.18% Mana regeneration per minute.
Name Wyvern-Scale Gauntlets of strength
Rarity Exceptional - 10 Runes.
  • 1(1-Durability)
  • 1(1- Pierce Resist)
  • 1(1-Crush Resist)
  • 1(1-Cutting Resist)
  • 2(3- Enhanced Strength)
Description This armor is +30% more durable, +50% resilient to piercing, +50% resilient to crushing, +50% resilient to cutting, and grants the wearer +15% strength.
Sustain 0.14% Mana regeneration per minute.
After reading the three pieces, she looks down at the final piece in her arms.
Name Wyvern-Scale Greaves of Featherfall
Rarity Exceptional - 7 Runes.
  • 1(1-Durability)
  • 1(6-Featherfall)
Description This armor is +30% more durable and grants the wearer the ability to reduce fall impact by 95%.
Sustain 0.09% Mana regeneration per minute.
Quasi suppresses a whistle at the impressive display of stats. None of it is greater than Exceptional quality, but overall it looks very impressive. ¡°Created from the skin, bones, and scales of our Royal Wyvern, this armor set I award to Boriss so that he may continue to fight in Hellion''s name.¡± The crowd begins clapping and cheering as Boriss stares at the armor in eager curiosity. Like a child given a fancy new toy. But just as fast as the cheering came, it stops as the [Governor] raises his hand. ¡°As is customary, I will allow the champion to ask something of me. And if it is reasonable, I will oblige. What is your request, Boriss?¡± Flamentine asks. Quasi kneels forward, his ears flickering in interest. He¡¯d known about the Armor, but not about the request. He wonders what Boriss would choose. ¡°I vish for Comrades.¡± Boriss says confidently. Flamentine raises an eyebrow. ¡°Comrades?¡± ¡°Da. I vish for Comrade Michael, Agris, and Baldric.¡± Flamentine now smiles in understanding. ¡°You¡¯ve an odd way to talk, but I believe you¡¯re asking about your teammates'' contracts in the second and third rounds, correct?¡± ¡°Da.¡± Boriss nods. ¡°Your request is feasible and accepted. Those three will be handed off to you.¡± IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 108: New Crew When Micheal was a young lad, he had always loved watching the Colosseums, the fights, the tournaments. He loved seeing the displays of impressive physical skill by the [Gladiators]. But, he¡¯d always been warned that [Gladiators] live difficult lives and that most do not live long. When he¡¯d asked [Gladiators] about him becoming one, each and every one told him to avoid the job and that it wouldn¡¯t be worth it. It was only when he¡¯d watched an experts tournament and saw a [Dragoon] rip through a Basilisk''s neck with just a leap, that is when his choice had been made. Without his parents permission, he¡¯d signed a contract with Gladius. By the contract, he will serve them until he becomes an [Expert], and in exchange they will house, train, and offer him opportunities to level. It was, in hindsight, a mistake. After years of being a [Gladiator], Micheal realized that he cared not for the tournament or even being a [Gladiator]. What he cares truly for is the skill of combat. Something he could have obtained by becoming a [Mercenary], [Soldier], or even a [Guard]. This way, a contract wouldn¡¯t have bound him. Regardless, he¡¯d signed the deal and thus accepts that he will be a [Gladiator] for most, if not his entire life. Well, that was the plan until his contract was given away to Boriss. With both Agris and Baldric in tow, Micheal enters the Timbergrove. Not as guests this time, but as crew for the ship. Agris looks nervous about the whole ordeal, while Baldric has a slight grin. As for himself, he doesn¡¯t mind so long as he levels. On entering the ship, Boriss directs them to the Messhall, where a larger table now sits. This table now seats most of the Timbergroves crew, with the [Captain] himself sitting on the table, right next to a map. ¡°Welcome, take a seat. I believe proper introductions are in order.¡± The cat extends a paw. ¡°Just leave your stuff on the floor. Boriss will take you to where you will be staying later.¡± The three former [Gladiators] comply. Once all three are seated, the cat clears its throat. ¡°Alright, first and foremost, I am Quasi Eludo, [Captain] of this vessel. I am the highest authority here and my orders supersede all others.¡± The cat points a paw at a woman who looks like she should be the [Captain]. ¡°Irmgard here is my [First Mate]. She is the second highest authority and is in charge of everything I¡¯m too lazy to deal with.¡± ¡°Which is most things,¡± the short plump man comments. The cat pouts, ¡°And that would be Cillian. He¡¯s the ship''s drunkard and [Quartermaster]. Please do not try to have a drinking contest against him. You¡¯d lose. The cat shifts its paw. ¡°Boriss is my [Security Chief]. He will be your direct superior. You¡¯ll all be given the [Gunners] job for the time being since my ship is too small to support actual [Ship Guards]. ¡°You just need to create a Guard Barracks,¡± the oldest looking man complains. Quasi sighs. ¡°Myers, I¡¯m not going to do a bunch of internal construction again. Also, we don¡¯t have the time. We have to leave as soon as possible.¡± The cat returns its focus to the there. ¡°By the way, that''s Myers and the kid next to him is Clay. They aren''t part of the crew, though Myers does all the [Navigator] duties. But I digress.¡± A paw raises to a female Gemma. ¡°This is Emma. She is the [Chief Carpenter] and [Rune Smith] of the ship. Every rune you see is made by her.¡± Emma waves nervously while Quasi shifts his paw again. ¡°Next we have Nepenthes, the ships [Chief Physician]. So long as you¡¯re not dead, I¡¯m pretty sure she can fix you up.¡± Nepenthes nods. ¡°I have consumed numerous human corpses. My knowledge on human anatomy is adequate for both external and internal surgical procedures.¡± The three men share a nervous glance. ¡°Right, um, moving on. Next we have Auranta, the ships [Mage] and current [Boatswain]. She¡¯s- actually, Auranta, mind removing your mask.¡± Auranta does exactly that, causing all three to gasp. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°As you can see, she is an Insectoid,¡± Quasi explains. ¡°I hope my presence does not bother you,¡± Auranta says. Micheal shrugs after a moment. ¡°Honestly, not too much. We¡¯ve fought captured rabid Insectoids before, so it¡¯s nice to deal with one that isn¡¯t trying to kill us.¡± ¡°Now, lastly, we have-¡± The door to the Timbergrove screeches open, followed by footsteps, a crash, a groan, and then Gino rushes in, out of breath. ¡°And that would be Gino, another new member of the team. He¡¯s going to also be a [Gunner] like you all.¡° ¡°Sorry I¡¯m late.¡± Gino groans to an empty seat. ¡°I was looking to say goodbye to my sister, but I couldn¡¯t find her. So I had to leave a message.¡± Quasi chuckles. ¡°I imagine you wouldn¡¯t be able to find her.¡± Gino frowns nervously. The kids'' thoughts immediately shift to the worst possible option. ¡°What do you mean? What happened to my sister?¡± Quasi continues chuckling. ¡°Julia, come here for a moment!¡± Quasi yells. Not a second later and Gino¡¯s sister rushes out of the kitchen with a ladle in hand. ¡°[Captain], the food is not ready yet,¡± She pouts. ¡°W-what is this?¡± Gino stutters, eyes widening at his sister who only gives him a slight glance. Quasi chuckles. ¡°Julia is the final new member of the crew. She is the Timbergroves [Head Chef.¡± Quasi explains. ¡°May I return to work?¡± Julia asks. ¡°Yes you can.¡± Without showing any acknowledgement, Julia turns and rushes back into the kitchen. ¡°What? Why is my sister here?¡± Quasi chuckles. ¡°It¡¯s your fault, actually.¡± ¡°How?¡± Gino asks, dumbstruck. ¡°Well,¡± Quasi flicks his tail mischievously. ¡°You told her the original price that she was going to be sold off for. I lowered that price significantly, but apparently me doing so has placed a several hundred thousand debt in Julia¡¯s eyes. So now she¡¯s working off that debt for me as the ships [Head Chef].¡± ¡°T-thats- no. I-ughhh. Fuck me.¡± Chuckles emanate from manny at the table as Gino grabs the sides of his head. ¡°Is fine,¡± Boriss grins, ¡°Now you care for sister on ship, yes?¡± Quasi snorts and shakes his head. ¡°Alright, introductions are over. Time to plan our next moves. Myers, what''s our next destination?¡± Quasi asks. The old man gets up and shifts the map more towards the middle of the table so everyone can see. ¡°The next tower is a decent bit closer to the center, at a large wolven town off the coast of a Major Slipstream.¡± ¡°Wolven?¡± Quasi asks. Myers nods. ¡°Yes. The town is controlled by the empire, so the presence of other species is going to be very rare.¡± ¡°They don¡¯t like others?¡± ¡°No, though they do like trade. We can visit, but opening up a business or owning property there is outlawed unless you¡¯re Wolven.¡± Quasi shrugs. ¡°Well, it¡¯s a good thing we only need to visit. How long will it take to get there?¡± ¡°A couple weeks at most.¡± ¡°Perfect.¡± Quasi grins. ¡°We depart early tomorrow.¡± His eyes move to Emma. ¡°Any luck on repairing my gauntlet?¡± He asks. Emma blinks, confused. ¡°What gauntlet?¡± ¡°I put it on your work-table.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t see it. The only thing on my worktable is a piece of melted metal someone left me.¡± Quasi blushes. ¡°Ughhh, yea, that would be it.¡± Emmas eyes bulge. ¡°How did you-¡± ¡°-Look, it''s fine if you can¡¯t repair it.¡± Quasi interrupts nervously. ¡°I¡¯ll make do with just the left gauntlet.¡± Emma rubs her temples. She¡¯d leveled a lot, gained even a nice skill too. But there are limits to what she can do, and those limits stop far from creating miracles. Quasi looks away from the distraught [Runesmith] to stop on Auranta. ¡°So, I¡¯ve got a decent grasp on Ignis. Do you have any other spells you can teach me?¡± _____________________________________________________ Jonathan rubs his chin while he leans on his chair with legs resting on the table. The man is relaxed and carries a slight curve of the lips. ¡°And you¡¯re sure that Vulturan doesn¡¯t have this armband the Royals are so interested in?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard nothing about an armband or anything that would have those uptight shits wanting to possess.¡± Faelisa says while lounging on the couch earlier than usual. ¡°I see. That¡¯s good. Very good.¡± The [Druid] frowns. ¡°How so? It sounds like the Vultures are going to be gutted by the Royals if they find this armband in their possession. Isn¡¯t that better?¡± ¡°No,¡± Jonathan shakes his head, ¡°Much of the unrest that would surface in the undercrust is suppressed by the combined capability of the minor gangs. If they find the Armband, Vulturan will be executed and another will take his place.¡± The [Gang Leader] of the Flamingos tilts his head to Faelisa, ¡°If that happens, then I lose a great source of information. It¡¯s much better for us if they find nothing in the long term.¡± ¡°So why¡¯d that Quasi guy tell you about the armband?¡± ¡°Honestly, I have three guesses. The first is that Vulturan unknowingly has this armband- unlikely that that is. The second is that Gino recently joined Quasi and the cat is enacting vengeance for his crewman.¡± ¡°I can see that pretty clearly. Cats can be very vengeful,¡± Faelisa agrees. As a self taught [Druid] who can change to a cat, she¡¯d had to learn the hard way to suppress both physical and mental urges of her form. Especially the mental ones. Vengeance and violence are things the feline species know far too well. ¡°My third and most likely reason is that Quasi is in possession of the Armband.¡± Faelisa perks up. ¡°You think he has it?¡± ¡°I do.¡± Jonathan nods. ¡°Telling me that Vulturan obtained such an item so that I sell such information to the Royals is clearly to create a distraction long enough for Quasi to escape.¡± The [Druid] shits again on the couch with her feet dangling in the air. ¡°Are you going to tell the Royals about this?¡± Jonathan shrugs. ¡°Maybe in a couple days.¡± Faelisa chuckles, ¡°They¡¯ll escape by then.¡± ¡°True, but they won¡¯t escape the bounty.¡± ¡°Huh. I¡¯d thought you¡¯d choose to let such information die down.¡± Jonathan leans back in his chair. ¡°I just don¡¯t like being manipulated.¡± IC God Games - B3 - Chapter 109: Book 3 End. The comfort of the white room raises a grin to my mouth. It is starting to feel like a natural part of me, floating ship, cards, and eyeballs. Well, just eyeball for now. Red blinks at me as he usually does. No emotion, no hovering movement. Just weird eyeball stuff. ¡°Anything new?¡± ¡°You have leveled to twenty in your [Captain] job. The passive skill [Second Commander] has been unlocked.¡±
Second Commander Number of ships under your command increase by +1 The [First Mate] job is replaced with [Sub-Captain] and they gain the [Captains Authority] skill.
I frown as I read the skill over and over, unsure of how exactly I feel about it. ¡°I was kind of hoping for something that will help me with combat, but I guess this can work if I can get another ship. Though, I don¡¯t know when that will happen or if it¡¯s even worth it. Also, what are even the limitations anyway?¡± ¡°That information is restricted.¡± ¡°I was just talking out loud, you red prick.¡± Red just blinks, unfazed. I¡¯ll have to ask Myers what he thinks later. I¡¯ll probably need to talk to Irmgard too. Actually, why did I even level? Was it because I hired a bunch of crew? I sigh. ¡°Not like I¡¯ll ever know.¡± I look at Red. ¡°Show me my job sheet.¡±
Job: [Ship Captain] Level: Level 20 Job Skills: 3 Ship Size: Frigate Primary Jobs Available: 8 Support Jobs Available:6 Maximum Job Capacity: 22
Primary Jobs [Sub-Captain] level 14: Irmgard Von Braun level 15 [Sword Officer] [Quartermaster] level 19: Cillian Wallace level 24 [Merchant] [Security Chief] level 10: Boriss Smirnov level 27 [Adaptive Skirmisher] [Chief Carpenter] level 14: Emma level 31 [Rune Smith] [Head Chef] Level 2: Julia level 43 [Peerless Tactician] [Chief Physician] level 11: Nepenthes level 23 [Druid] [Artillery Chief]: N/A [Navigator]: N/A
Support Jobs [Boatswain]:
  • level 2: Auranta level 39 [Air Mage]
[Gunners]:
  • Level 1: Micheal Level 25 [Swift Spearman]
  • Level 1: Agris Level 25 [Heavy Barbarian]
  • Level 1: Gino Level 25 [Swift Rogue]
  • Level 1: Baldric Level 26 [Blade Warrior]
[Cook]: [Carpenter]: [Rigger]: [Physician Assistant]:
¡°Huh. What the hell is a [Peerless Tactician] and why does Julia outlevel both me and my entire crew?¡± ¡°That informa-¡± ¡°-Shut up.¡± I interrupt the eyeball. ¡°Don¡¯t talk until I say your name.¡± ¡°Acknowledged.¡± Now where was I? Right! Levels and classes. Looks like everyone is leveling pretty quickly in their class except for Irmgard. She¡¯s honestly the weakest link. Now that I think about it, maybe the [Second Commander] skill will be useful for her. I could send her out with another ship and have her hunt [Pirates] or something. I wonder if I¡¯ll level from that? Or does she have to be near me? ¡°Myers, you poor man. I have so many questions for you.¡± I shake my head and turn to Red. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m done. You can send me back.¡± Red blinks at me once. I wait for a couple seconds, but nothing happens. ¡°I said you can send me back.¡± I say again, only to be met with continued silence. Oh, right. I¡¯m an idiot. ¡°Red, you can send me back.¡± ¡°Acknowledged.¡± The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. __________________________________________________________ One moment you¡¯re talking to a floating eyeball, and the next you¡¯re waking up in a flying ship. With a yawn and a hop off my bookshelf bed, I exit my room and ascend to the deck to find Myers awake and accompanied by Micheal. ¡°I guess me and Myers aren''t the only early risers,¡± I say. Micheal and Myers smile at my approach. ¡°Agris and Baldric are also awake.¡± Micheal adds. ¡°Though they chose to lay in bed a bit more.¡± Micheal stretches his shoulder until he hears a little pop, ¡°I can¡¯t blame them, though. Sleeping on a ship is going to take some getting used to.¡± ¡°They¡¯ll get used to it after a few days,¡± Myers says. ¡°Now enough about that. Why¡¯d you have me depart so early?¡± ¡°Oh, yeah. I stole an Armband of Espionage from Gladius. You know, the artifact that they were using to manipulate that guy''s class and level.¡± Myers frowns. ¡°How many runes?¡± ¡°Eighteen.¡± I answer truthfully. The old man groans while Micheal just looks shocked. ¡°Huh, I wasn¡¯t expecting such a reaction,¡± I say. Myers glances at Micheal, gaining strength that at least someone else understands what¡¯s happened. He takes a breath and begins to explain. ¡°Items of epic quality are extremely difficult and expensive to produce- which raises the prices of such items considerably. Generally, nearly all items of Epic quality have eleven or twelve runes. More than that and the price doubles per additional rune. At eighteen runes, we¡¯re talking about an item that sells for millions of trist at minimum.¡± ¡°You¡¯re making me really excited right now.¡± I grin. The old man sighs and shakes his head. ¡°Millions of trist is not something that¡¯s going to be ignored. Gladius will hire experts [Bounty Hunters] to track this armband and return it to them.¡± ¡°Good thing they don¡¯t know we have it.¡± ¡°They don¡¯t need to. [Bounty Hunters] specializing in finding items can track the item location quite easily. If we do not get rid of it soon, then an altercation is inevitable.¡± ¡°Is there any way we can hide it?¡± ¡°Not unless you have a mana suppression room or container.¡± ¡°Or a [Smuggler],¡± Micheal adds helpfully. ¡°Neither of which is perfectly effective when you¡¯re dealing with an expert [Bounty Hunter]," Myers continues. ¡°It will make it more difficult for them, yes, but not impossible.¡± Quasi pouts, ¡°If you¡¯d not mentioned the price, I wouldn¡¯t have minded throwing it off the ship. But now, I don¡¯t think my greed would allow such a thing. Is there anything else we can do?¡± Myers sighs, defeated. ¡°Yes. A [Bounty Hunters] skill is only as good as what or who it is tracking. If an item is being worn by someone whose level is higher, then their skill is less effective and more difficult to use.¡± I nod. ¡°So you should wear the armband.¡± Micheal glances at the old man curiously. So far, his first hour away from Gladius is quite an exciting ride. First he finds out that they just stole an Epic level artifact worth millions, and now he finds out that the old man is some kind of expert. ¡°Yes. Bring it here and I¡¯ll put it on.¡± ¡°Perfect.¡± I rush into the ship, to my room, and then back on the deck with the armband. Myers grimaces as he takes the item and equips it under his clothing. Then he looks at me. ¡°Is it working?¡± Oh.
Myers: Level 38 [Slipstream Navigator]
¡°It is. I like the job choice. Though, you should lower the level to twenty.¡± Myers grunts. ¡°It¡¯s fine. A level 20 [Navigator] at my age is going to have questions asked. At level 38, People will just think that I joined for coin instead of levels.¡± I shrug. ¡°Works for me. Anyway, I¡¯m heading down to train with Auranta. In the meantime, feel free to inform Micheal about myself.¡± ¡°I will.¡± As I leave, I hear Myers begin speaking about the towers. My descent into the depths of my somewhat tighter ship quickly leads me to Aurantas'' empty room. Frowning, I sniff to follow the scent further down into the hold where I see Irmgard and Auranta in the midst of practice next to numerous crates of runed weapons, armors, and quality gems to be sold by Cillian for greater profits. Sneaking closer to them, I watch, surprised as Irmgard thrusts with the rapier while unleashing what looks like a bolt of lightning down the blade. She does several more thrusts, each one flickering with a bolt of lightning. ¡°Damn, that looks pretty powerful. Wanna teach me?¡± I interrupt the two girls. They turn to me, surprised at how easy I can sneak up on them. Which they shouldn¡¯t be. Cats are naturally sneaky, and I¡¯m even sneakier. ¡°You¡¯d make a great [Assassin]." Aurantas antennae swish above her head. ¡°I couldn¡¯t even feel a shift in the wind at your approach.¡± ¡°Too squishy. I find direct brawls more fun¡­ or subterfuge. That¡¯s fun too.¡± I tilt my head to Irmgard. ¡°By the way, your jobs changed to [Sub-Captain]- fuck. I forgot to ask Myers what exactly that means.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve gained the [Second Commander] skill, correct?¡± Auranta asks. ¡°Yea, I did. I¡¯m not sure how good it is, though.¡± ¡°Any skill that increases the count of ships a [Captain] has control over is incredibly rare and powerful outside of [Fleet Captains]. [Second Commander] is one of the most coveted skills, for it not only grants an additional ship, but allows the second ship to function independently from the [Captain] so long as the [Sub-Captain] is aboard.¡± ¡°Any downsides?¡± I ask. ¡°Just one. The [Sub-Captain¡¯s] maximum level is still restricted to your maximum.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine, I plan to level my [Captain] class as much as possible anyway. But first, what¡¯s with the lightning and how can I learn it?¡± Auranta grabs a book atop a crate and opens it to a page. She then places the open book in front of me. ¡°Fulgur is the name of the rune and the spell Irmgard is casting is Fulmen.¡± Staring at the rune for a moment, I memorize its structure whose complexity rivals that of Ignis. Which means it¡¯s a very basic rune. ¡°What''s Fulmen?¡± ¡°It is Fulgur Destruction combined with Alteration and Transfiguration.¡± I perk up. ¡°Not Materialization?¡± ¡°No. But. Fulmen requires a long pointed metal weapon to be used so as to not harm the caster. Generally, this spell is used with swords or spears, but Irmgard Rapier is just as effective.¡± ¡°Would it work on Gauntlets?¡± I ask. ¡°Only if you don¡¯t mind electrocuting your hands too.¡± Pffft. I¡¯ve done worse. Far worse. ¡°I¡¯ll survive. So, anything else I need to know?¡± ¡°Fulgur is more potent than Ignis,¡± Irmgard warns. ¡°I¡¯ll survive.¡± I repeat. ¡°Learning Fulgur is the leading cause of death for young [Mages],¡± Auranta warns. ¡°If you¡¯re going to try the spell, do a single rune and do so in your Fenrimorph form.¡± Sheesh. It''s just a bit of electricity. ¡°Fine.¡± With a mental command, I transform into a Fenrimorph with a single armored left gauntlet. Alright, let''s see what we¡¯re dealing with. With a command of my mana and a raise of my right hand, I create the Fulgur rune within my palm. Just a single rune. Then, completely unafraid of electricity- what with Fenrimorph being quite naturally resilient to it, I activate the spell. Oh. I fucked up. The spell activates and releases a magical induced current of electricity. This current, created from my own mana, spreads violently through my body, utilizing my own mana as some kind of amplifier. By the time the spell disappears, it¡¯s been ten seconds and I¡¯m on my knees. When I look up, I¡¯m met with the smug looks of both women. Swallowing my pride, I transform back into a cat. ¡°So, do you have another rune I can learn?¡± ¡°Ventus is the most common rune used by [Monks]. It is also the safest.¡± Auranta flicks the book to the ventus rune. A just as complicated as the previous two. Sighing, I memorize the rune and transform back into a Fenrimorph. Like Fulgur, I do the exact same thing. When I release the spell, I feel a decent bit of pressure on my palm, but I also feel a gust of wind escape from it. ¡°Ventus on its own is weak,¡± Auranta starts explaining, ¡°even stacked upon each other. To make it lethal, it requires significant usage of alteration. The spell needs to be compressed as much as possible and then Transfiguration needs to be applied to direct the pressure. If you compress multiple Ventus into a thin line, you create a spell called Wind Blade, as I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve witnessed before.¡± I nod slowly at her words. I turn towards the hull of the ship and prepare to punch. Then I stack multiple Ventus runes and compress them around my fist. I simultaneously add a directional forward force to the runes. I hear a sigh from Auranta, but I ignore it. With a grunt, I punch forward and activate the spell. The spell violently slams into the ship''s hull alongside the dismembered flesh of my right arm. IC God Games - B4 - Chapter 110: Infestation The Merchant guild rivals countries in financial power, with an influential stranglehold that allows them to significantly shift both political and financial power of not only a town, but the region itself. It¡¯s not uncommon for a small village to turn into a wealthy town because the merchant guild set up somewhere nearby. One such hub is Memphis, which dictates a significant portion of regional trade for the southeastern lands. It is such an important city, that any disruption in trade can lead to widespread financial losses and enormous famine. Thus, when the [Guild Leader] of the central merchant guild heard that the city was attacked, and that the attack was orchestrated by Valentine, the man immediately loaded up his ship with supplies before departing with a Battleship strike group. After weeks of travel, the Tycoon finally exits the slipstream bordering Memphis. What he sees causes the human man to grimace. ¡°That damage is going to take a while to repair,¡± He says as he looks at the damage. ¡°And costly,¡± he adds after a moment. ¡°Why did he attack here? There''s plenty of better, easier, and more profitable towns and cities to waste ammo on. What is Valentine''s goal?¡± He rubs his chin. ¡°Was there something valuable in the city that he needed? Is he just luring me to this city to rob me? Is he trying to disrupt trade in this part of the region? The woman besides the richest man in the world sighs. ¡°Silver, stop trying to predict the actions of a madman. Valentines known for being chaotic.¡± Silver grins, undeterred by the words of his [Strike Group Sub-Captain]. ¡°Jasmine, Valentine is indeed chaotic, but even chaos has some logic to it. All I need to do is figure out what that is, then I can prepare accordingly. Now, what¡¯s your thought on why Valentine attacked Memphis? Is it to lure me out so he can kill me?¡± Jasmine shakes her head. ¡°The report says an aurora formed above the city prior to the attack and only dispersed once Valentine left. I believe Valentine can create an aurora and was just testing it out in a siege scenario.¡± Silver pouts. ¡°That¡¯s wasteful and dumb. Well, unless it¡¯s to lure me into a trap to kill me.¡± ¡°The Magnate isn¡¯t something Valentine can easily deal with, even if he can create an aurora. On top of that, you can always activate your skill to escape.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like using that skill,¡± Silver whines. ¡°It adds too much paperwork. I¡¯d rather just let you handle it.¡± The woman sighs. ¡°Let''s just deliver all the supplies. We can theorycraft a reason for Valentine''s attack once we have a bit more information.¡± ________________________________________________________ ¡°That ship is so big,¡± Mentara exclaims. Her eyes roam the incoming massive cargo ship. Adriana leans on a cane with a smile. Her legs are getting better, and she believes she won''t need a cane at all in a couple more weeks. ¡°The Magnate is the largest Carrier in the world and is captained by the Leader of the Merchant Guilds; Silver Prodest,¡± Adriana explains. ¡°Though most people would know him by the name Tycoon.¡± Mentara and Adriana stand near the broken port, watching the Magnate turn perpendicular to the city while the Battleships creates a defensive position. To Mentara, the Battleships look tiny in comparison to the Magnate''s enormous size. ¡°What''s the Tycoons job and class?¡± Mentara asks after a moment. ¡°What¡¯s his level?¡± Adriana chuckles. ¡°It¡¯s been awhile, but if memory serves, his job is [Guildmaster Admiral] and his class is [Suzerain of Sky Routes]. His job is twenty four and his class is eighty one. Though both could be even higher now.¡± Mentara frowns at her mother. ¡°That doesn''t sound like a class.¡± Adriana repositions her cane a bit to better lean on it. ¡°All master classes are long like that. They¡¯re also all unique, too.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s like being named, right?¡± ¡°Not exactly. What name you obtain is based on a single significant action you do as an expert. For Silver, he became the Tycoon after singlehandedly crashing the economy of several major cities. As for his class, it¡¯s name depicts a mastery over a field. Silver has a skill called [Create Slipstream], which does exactly what it sounds like. He can create his own slipstreams.¡± Mentara widens her eyes, and then frowns. ¡°That¡¯s too amazing. There must be a catch.¡± ¡°There is. The slipstream lasts a very short time, allowing only for the Magnate and a small fleet to utilize it. It also weakens any nearby slipstreams that the Magnate passes by for several weeks.¡± This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. ¡°That¡¯s still amazing.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Adriana smiles at her daughter before returning her attention to the carrier. ¡°Looks like they¡¯re about to transfer goods.¡± Mentara stares at the Magnate hovering still a bit far from port. The ship is both vertically and horizontally large, though much of the vertical aspect consists of numerous stacked metal containers the size of Corvettes. ¡°They¡¯re too far from port. How will the-¡± Mentara¡¯s words are interrupted as a horn is blared loudly for all to hear. Not a moment later, the side of the ship opens. Then, several dozen griffins exit the ship into immediate flight. They ascend up and land on top of a metal container. The [Griffin Riders] get off their mounts and connect the metal container to the griffins via a harness. They remount and take off, flying the container to Memphis¡¯s damaged port. _________________________________________________________________ The monster raises its head and opens its mouth. It takes a breath, only for a runed blade to sever fur, skin, sinew, and finally bone. Jiro¡¯s brother collapses alongside the severed head. Jiro stares at the corpse for a long moment, bile rising up in his throat at what he¡¯d been forced to do. But a nearby scream reminds him that this is only the beginning and that he should not be distracted. Regardless, he takes a moment to offer a silent prayer to the Emperor so that his brother''s soul may rest peacefully with the divine. With the prayer done, Jiro attaches his brother''s sword to his hip and rushes out of the building, Katana grasped tightly within his hands. No sooner does he step outside, does he pivot to the left as a claw skids upon the overlapping plates of his shoulder armor. Without skipping a beat, his Katana sings, slicing an arm, then leg, before finally stabbing his weapon through one of the monster''s six eyes. He retracts his blade from the monster corpse and assesses the situation. Smoke and fire accompany screams and howls. The sickness spreads rapidly across the town, infecting more and more every second. Seeing that no monsters have invaded his current position, Jiro rushes to where he can hear not only howls, but the screams of the emperor''s citizens. When he arrives, the scent of so much blood makes him want to hurl, but such a thing can wait until later. For it seems the [Guard] has not yet been overrun. They live and fight, organising a retreating wall of spears and blades while those who cannot fight hide behind them. The monsters, though, can see the corpses of their brethren lining the streets. They can see blood dripping from the [Guards] weapons. And instead of engaging mindlessly, they wait and howl, calling for a larger horde. Has an alpha already formed? This isn¡¯t good! Grimacing, Jiro rushes to the [Guards] as fast as he can. Two of the monsters see him out in the open and react, pouncing to intercept. The [guard] screams in warning, not that he needs it. The sun is out and the monster''s forms are fully on display. With a twist of his body, he bisects one of the monsters in half and then continues his momentum to quickly sever the second head clean off its body. Before the body even strikes the pavement, Jiro is sprinting to the [Guard]. When he nears, the encirclement opens and then closes. ¡°Jiro, where have you been?¡± A woman in full blood-smeared yoroi armor asks. ¡°Where are your brothers?¡± ¡°Training at my family garden and then assisting at the port.¡± Jiro grimaces. He taps the second scabbard on his waist. ¡°The infection killed Akio.¡± Though he can¡¯t see the woman''s expression on account of the Kabuto on her head, he can easily predict the grimace. After all, she was to be his wife. ¡°So, the infections spread all the way to your family home?¡± Jiro nods. He and his brothers had been attacked during a spar. They¡¯d killed the monsters that attacked them, but one of his brothers was splattered with blood. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And the port?¡± ¡°Overrun, but we¡¯d been able to assist several ships to depart.¡± ¡°How overrun?¡± Jiro glances at the number of tired [Guards]. ¡°You do not have enough.¡± The woman nods and then turns to the crowd of citizens. ¡°Change of plans!¡¯ she yells to the crowd. ¡°The port is inaccessible, so we will head to the base of the tower to form a defensive position and await the inquisition.¡± Jiro can hear the screams and yells of those present, many realizing that the chance of survival just reduced to the single digits. It¡¯s common knowledge that if an infection hits critical mass, then not only the town, but the entire island is lost. ¡°Silence! If you wish for a chance to survive, then walk slowly to the tower.¡± The screams and crying continue, but the masses obey her words. They move slowly, step by step in the tower''s direction while the [Guards] walk with the crowd, continuing the encirclement. ¡°Jiro, I need you to scout ahead. I don¡¯t want any surprises,¡± She orders. ¡°If you find any more civilians, send them my way.¡± Jiro grimaces under his Kabuto. Even as capable of a [Samurai] that he is, he can¡¯t reliably handle a large swarm on his own. Not at his current level. Grabbing his brother''s katana, he removes it from his waist and offers it to her. ¡°Hina, I leave you with his will if I do not return.¡± Hina hesitates for a moment before grabbing the weapon. ¡°I accept.¡± Jiro nods. He turns and rushes out of the encirclement, towards the direction of the tower. As he travels the streets, he finds numerous corpses of both civilians, [Guards], and monsters. What he doesn¡¯t find is anything living. Which is both good and bad. Either the civilians have retreated to the tower, or the monsters in the area have turned into a horde. It is after he passes ten buildings that Jiro hears the sounds of screaming, accompanied by loud banging. Tightening his grip on his Katana, Jiro rushes to the noise. When he arrives, he¡¯s met with his former teacher pounding violently at the cellar door. Jino sighs. He takes a stance. ¡°Elder Ning, of all the [Samurai] in Kyoshi, I did not expect you to have turned into a Fenrimorph.¡± The Fenrimorph stops its banging. Its ears twitch for a moment. Then it turns towards Jino, allowing him to take a good look at the remains of Elder Ning¡¯s clothes covering the monster''s muscular form. ¡°Regardless, allow me to put you to rest.¡± Jino tightens the grip on his Katana and waits to react. The Fenrimorph lowers its body for a moment, then the ground shatters as it pounces at an incredible speed towards Jino. Jino releases a single breath. And in that breath were two words. ¡°Blade Maelstrom.¡± IC God Games - B4 - Chapter 111: I refuse The thing about most [Pirates] is that they are cowards at heart. They don¡¯t ever fight fair, and are more than willing to run away if they believe their prey to be equal to or even stronger than them. Generally, they like to fight down. So, if you¡¯re the [Pirate Captain] of a Destroyer class vessel and you see multiple unarmed Frigates in the distance, obviously you¡¯re probably dealing with weaker prey. So, like any proper [Pirate Captain], Irwin raises the black flag, opens his sails, and accelerates towards the ships. Now, generally, a Frigate would notice their approach and attempt to run away. Maybe even try to fight back if there are enough of them. Instead, what happens is that the vessels all pull up a white flag. Irwin grimaces at the display. He raises his spyglass to look at the ships, and find that the crew is all wolven. Which makes sense considering the town of Kyoshi isn¡¯t too far away. ¡°Your orders, [Captain]?¡± His [First Mate] asks, having seen the white flag himself. Irwin sighs. ¡°They probably have nothing noteworthy, but we should check just in case. Approach slowly.¡± ¡°Yes, [Captain].¡± As his ship, the Demure approaches closer and closer to the frigates, he notices a bit of an oddity to the crew. The crew is overwhelmingly filled with mostly women and children, with barely any having the [Sailor] class. ¡°I count thirty bodies on a single ship.¡± His [First Mate] warns. ¡°Is it a good idea to board? They outnumber us significantly.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Irwin says after a long moment. ¡°They¡¯re just women and children.¡± As soon as they arrive near the four frigates and just before the Demure is about to get into position to board, Irwin hears the sound of a distant explosion, immediately followed by something crashing into the Demure''s hull.
Hull Integrity 2421/2673 Mana +1.8 Mana regeneration per second.
Regaining his balance, he looks to where he¡¯d heard the initial sound to find a distant Frigate shooting at him. Another bang from the new arrival, followed by a third, and then fourth. ¡°TAKE COVER!¡± He warns. Two of the three balls strike his hull while the third misses his ship by a meter.
Hull Integrity 2007/2673 Mana +1.8 Mana regeneration per second.
¡°Lay the cannons. Ready a full broadside on the enemy vessel!¡± ¡°They outrange us, [Captain]¡± one of his men warns. ¡°What?¡± Irwin raises his spyglass towards the Frigate and only now realizes how far the enemy is as well as the needlessly long cannons sticking out of the ship''s side. The cannons fire all at once this time, three strike the Demures Hull while the fourth lands perfectly on one of his three sails.
Hull Integrity 1630/2673 Mana +1.8 Mana regeneration per second.
¡°[Captain], what are your orders?¡± his first mate asks. Irwin grimaces as two options come to mind. Either he can attempt to rush the distant frigate and hope his hull integrity will endure, or he can attempt to retreat outside of the frigate range, while also hoping that his [Hull Integrity] endures until he can get far enough away. Neither option is good, with the third option of surrender unacceptable. Unlike humans, Wolven prefer to execute [Pirates] instead of taking them to prison. He¡¯d probably be walking the plank the moment a white flag rises on the Demure. Thankfully, he has a fourth option. ¡°Position the ship behind the surrendered Frigates. We¡¯ll use them as shields. They wouldn¡¯t risk shooting their own kind.¡± ¡°Yes sir.¡± Before the enemy vessel can reload, the Demure repositions. Then Irwin waits to see what happens next. Which is nothing for a long moment. No new shots are fired, indicating that the enemy vessel does care for the lives aboard the nearby frigates. Even better is when the Frigate turns and starts approaching. ¡°Ready the cannons!¡± He orders. ¡°When they¡¯re near enough in range, we¡¯ll give them a broadside.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we look into boarding them instead?¡± his [First Mate] asks. ¡°No. They wouldn¡¯t approach us if they aren''t confident in combat. Best to take them out of the sky. Have the cannons ready.¡± Grinning, Irwin waits patiently as the frigate approaches. Eventually, it approaches enough so that he can get a good look at the vessel.
Timbergrove (Three-Mast Cored Frigate) This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Max Speed: 10 knots Construction: Wood Modifications: Plated Hull, Enlarged Gun Ports, Installed Ballistae. Hull Integrity: 1233/1233 Mana
He frowns at the odd modifications. Especially the installed Ballistae. What idiot installs a siege weapon on a frigate? ¡°They¡¯re in range, sir.¡± ¡°Good, rise up and fire all cannons.¡± The Demure rises and he feels the ship shake as a dozen cannons open fire. The Timbergrove reacts surprisingly well by turning, avoiding most of the shots.
Timbergrove (Three-Mast Cored Frigate) Max Speed: 10 knots Construction: Wood Modifications: Plated Hull, Enlarged Gun Ports, Installed Ballistae. Hull Integrity: 913/1233 Mana
But not all. ¡°Lower the ship and rearm the cannons.¡± ¡°Yes, [Captain].¡± With the Timbergrove approaching at only ten knots, he¡¯ll have two more full broadsides, maybe even three before he¡¯ll be forced to board. ¡°[Captain], cannons are armed.¡± Irwin nods. ¡°Rise and fire. Aim for the enemy''s hull.¡± His crew obeys. The Demure rises above the surrendered frigate, the cannons take aim, and then he feels his ship shudder and tilt. His cannons go off, but the tilt makes all twelve completely miss. ¡°What''s happened?¡± He roars. ¡°One of the surrendered vessels is bumping into us, [Captain].¡± ¡°Damnit. Quickly, arm the cannons. We need a full broa-¡± Another shudder interrupts him and shakes his ship. ¡°Another frigate just rammed into our hull, sir.¡± ¡°Just focus on the can-¡± The ship shakes again, this time causing him to trip and fall. ¡°A third frigate now!¡± ¡°Canno-¡± ¡°The fourth frigate is moving out of the way!¡± Irwin gets up and reassesses his situation. The Demure is pincered by three ships, restricting any attempt to fire accurately. The fourth has moved away, giving the Timbergrove an easy way to board. At this point, firing the cannons point-blank at the Timbergrove isn¡¯t going to stop the boarding. It¡¯ll just anger the Frigates captain.¡± ¡°All [Pirates], prepare for deck combat,¡± He releases a breath. ¡°We fight to the death!¡± He hears his crew roar alongside the unsheathing of their weapons. As they prepare, the Timbergrove gets closer and closer, right up until the ship looks like it¡¯s going to crash. Then, it slows down and skids to the side, stopping literal inches from crashing into the Demure. Immediately, his ship is boarded by six armed and armored humans, a Gemma in full plate, a masked [Mage], a monstrous Insectoid, and a kitten. Not a large group, but their equipment speaks volumes, especially the level eleven [Security Chief]. The man''s equipment and posture just screams upper advanced class. His superior numbers aren''t going to matter against their quality. Regardless, this is a major blessing in disguise. None of them seem to be Wolven. All he needs to do now is find the [Captain]. ¡°Where is your [Captain]!¡± He yells to the boarders. The cat hops aboard a barrel. ¡°Right here,¡± It speaks. For a moment, Irwin¡¯s mind freezes as it attempts to comprehend what¡¯d he just see. After a blink and a long stare, a screen pops up.
Quasi Eludo: Level 20 [Captain]
A [Druid]. Good. They tend to avoid needless violence and death. ¡°[Captain] of the Timbergrove, I wish to surrender in your care.¡± ¡°Surrender?¡± The cat blinks, then looks aghast. ¡°What do you mean surrender? I just boarded you!¡± ¡°Yes. I am surrendering.¡± He moves to lower his sword down. ¡°Stop!¡± the cat yells. ¡°If you put that sword down, I¡¯ll fucking skin you alive!¡± the cat warns. ¡°Now why the fuck are you trying to surrender?¡± Irvin pauses the descent of his sword. ¡°Because your crew is stronger than us.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know that. You haven¡¯t even tried to fight us. Maybe we¡¯re all show and no skill.¡± ¡°Da,¡± the [Security Chief] nods. He taps his massive armored biceps. ¡°Is not big Russian muscle under armor. Is only squishy fat.¡± ¡°See.¡± The cat grins. ¡°We¡¯re actually really weak underneath our armor. You should try to fight us.¡± ¡°[Captain],¡± the [Chief Physician] tilts her monstrous head at the cat. ¡°My confusion grows. I am under the assumption that boarding involves slaughter and violence, but I was not informed that prey must be persuaded to resist violently.¡± The cat sighs. ¡°Neither was I. Now be silent while I speak with this sorry excuse for a [Pirate].¡± The cat returns its attention to the [Pirate Captain]. ¡°Irvin, you can¡¯t just surre-¡± A frigate crashes on the opposite side of the Denure at the same elevation. Immediately, four wolven armed with light armor and a cutlass board the ship. ¡°Crew of the Timbergrove, I am [Captain] Ren of the Shikaku. I come to support you in battle against these scoundrels!¡± Color drains from Irvin¡¯s face at the sight of a Wolven. ¡°We are surrendering to the Timbergrove,¡± Irvin yells. ¡°No you¡¯re fucking not!¡± The cat growls at the [Pirate Captain], then shifts its attention to the new arrivals. ¡°Ren, don¡¯t listen to Irvin, he¡¯s a filthy liar.¡± Ren¡¯s eyes widen in surprise at the sight of a talking cat, but immediately comprehends the situation when the job pops up in his vision. ¡°[Druid] Quasi, rare is it that your kind understands the deceptive nature of these vile scoundrels. It will be an honor to fight alongside someone of your wisdom.¡± The cat rolls its eyes. ¡°I refuse your assistance. Please kindly take your honor back to your ship and allow me to handle this situation.¡± Ren¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, followed quickly by a grin. ¡°I thank you for your honorable concern for my safety. But I cannot in good conscience leave you to fight these criminals on your lonesome.¡± Ren unsheathes his katana. ¡°If I am to die fighting a just cause, then my ancestors will smile upon my honor.¡± Irvin, seeing the unsheathed katana, kneels down and drops his word. ¡°I surrender! Please accept my surrender.¡± Quasi groans. ¡°Oh my fucking god, pick that damn sword up you damn coward! I¡¯m refusing your surrender!¡± ¡°Noo. Please! Have mercy,¡± Irwin lowers his head. ¡°Are you fucking begging? Seriously? I¡¯m just asking you to fight the people boarding you.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t cause problems! I swear.¡± ¡°You''re causing me problems now!¡± The cat growls, outraged at the turn of events. ¡°I¡¯m trying to goddam level myself and my crew. How the hell am I going to do that if you surrender the moment we board your ship? Just grow some goddam backbone. You¡¯re a damn [Pirate Captain] who¡¯s probably slaughtered numerous innocent people over the course of your career! Now pickup your weapon and stop sniveling.¡± ¡°Mercy, please.¡± Irvin begs. ¡°Do not listen to his empty pleas, honorable [Captain]. Such scoundrels always lace their words with venom!¡± Ren warns. Another bang shakes the boats as another Frigate crashes at the Demure. Three armed wolven boards. ¡°Ren, I have come to lend you my arm against these dishonorable [Pirates].¡± The new arrival frowns, ¡°What is happening here?¡± The wolven [Captain] of the new frigate asks. ¡°Ichiro, I welcome your blade.¡± Ren raises a finger at the cat. ¡°[Druid] [Captain] Quasi Eludo wishes for honorable combat against the [Pirates], but the dishonorable [Pirate Captain] Irvin refuses. He speaks lies of surrender, going so far as to relinquish his blade and beg for mercy.¡± ¡°A [Druid]? Despicable vermin!¡± Ichiro unsheathes his katana. ¡°The cutthroats know the kind and honorable nature of [Druids]. They wish to avoid death by pleading upon such care and kindness.¡± Ichiro growls at the [Pirate Captain] and then shifts his focus on the cat. ¡°Honorable Quasi, do not be waylaid by their dishonorable lies. Any mercy you offer them will not be reciprocated.¡± Quasi groans even louder. ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± The wolven smiles. ¡°I am Ichiro, [Captain] of the Foxhound. I will join you in honorable combat against these heathens.¡± Quasi raises both frontal paws to his head and then covers his face. ¡°I just want to fucking level?¡± He removes his paws and glares at the man. ¡°Why cant you be a fucking normal [Pirate Captain].¡± Irvin lowers his head down further down to the floor. ¡°Mercy!¡± He begs. Boriss nods approvingly, then glances at Quasi. ¡°Is good fancy bow, yes?¡± ¡°Uuuughhhhhhh.¡± Quasi groans. ¡°Fuck this day and these damn cowards. Irmgard, I need to go vent. You¡¯re in charge.¡± Quasi hops off the barrel and rushes back to the Timbergrove. As soon as he disappears into the ship, Irmgard turns to the sniveling mess of a [Pirate Captain. IC God Games - B4 - Chapter 112: Honorable Plans. Ren understands that accepting the surrender of criminals is considered a great insult, almost as much as surrendering to those without honor. Granted, all of the [Captains] aboard the frigates were willing to do just that for the sake of the civilians they ferry. ¡°They should have been slaughtered.¡± Ren says after a moment. ¡°The [Druid] is much too kind.¡± Ichiro chuckles at the younger [Captain]. ¡°Agreed, but what [Druid] would harm someone that refuses to fight?¡± ¡°I know,¡± Ren grits his teeth. ¡°The [Druid] had his second in command facilitate the surrender so as to save what face he could.¡± ¡°In hindsight, I believe it partially may have been our fault that it¡¯s come to this,¡± Ichiro says. Ren frowns. ¡°I don''t understand.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve sworn to fight against the [Pirates] and put our lives on the line. I imagine the honorable [Captain] Quasi did not wish to needlessly risk our lives in a conflict.¡± Ren grimaces at the slow realization. ¡°We forced his hand. When he refused my assistance, I should have realized it was to protect not only his honor, but my own. I-I must apologize!¡± ¡°And thank him for coming to our rescue,¡± Ichiro adds. He gets up and extends a hand, ¡°Facilitating the surrender should be completed by now.¡± Ren accepts the arm. They both exit the shikaku to find most of the civilians huddled at the bow of the ship, gazing upon the masses of tied up and disarmed human [Pirates]. Ren turns to one of his [Sailors]. ¡°Has the Timbergroves [Captain] returned from his ship?¡± The [Sailor] nods. ¡°Just recently. He went into the Demure with a short human male.¡± ¡°Good. We will go see him now. Await our return.¡± ¡°Of course, [Captain].¡± Boarding the Demure, their presence immediately innacts fear into the surrendered [Pirates], as though they expect to be executed on the spot. Which both Ren and Ichiro find appalling. Their surrender was accepted. Executing them now without proper tribunal would be a grave loss of face and honor. Ignoring the [Pirates], both Wolven rush to the current individual in charge. ¡°[Sub-Captain] Irmgard, may we have a word?¡± Ichiro and Ren bow forward to the human women. She raises an eyebrow. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°We wish to formally thank your [Captain] for his timely intervention.¡± She tilts her neck to the Demures entrance. ¡°Go ahead. He¡¯s somewhere inside the ship with his [Quartermaster].¡± Ren and Ichiro bow again. ¡°Thank you.¡± As they walk to the ship''s entrance, both men can¡¯t help but find the Timbergroves crew to be quite odd. They¡¯re all generally low leveled in their job, but both Wolven get a feeling each one is very capable in combat. More so than the limited training they both have. They enter the Demure and descend into the depths of the ship. And descend they do, for the [Captain] is at the bottom of the hold. ¡°Nothing, really? First they refuse to fight, and now they don¡¯t even have any good loot.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say any,¡± The short human taps a large cask of sake. One clearly produced in Kyoshi if the signature on the barrel is to be believed. The cat sighs and shakes his head. ¡°I guess we¡¯ll just take what we can. I¡¯ll have Boriss or someone carry it back to the ship. But first,¡± The cat turns to Ren and Ichiro, ¡°We have company.¡± Ichiro and Ren take that moment to approach and give the [Captain] their lowest, most respectful bow. ¡°Honorable Quasi, we thank you for your timely assistance and apologize if our presence caused you to lose face.¡± Ren says. The cat rolls its eyes, ¡°It¡¯s fine. The [Pirate Captain] was a coward anyway.¡± ¡°Has he been punished?¡± Ichiro asks. ¡°I¡¯ve not seen him with the other prisoners.¡± ¡°He¡¯s dangling off a rope at the side of the ship.¡± ¡°Dead?¡± Ren asks, surprised. ¡°I wish, but no. He¡¯s just naked and dangling. I hope his balls freeze from the cold.¡± Ren glances at Ichiro to see what the older [Captain] thinks. Generally, prisoners should be offered a modicum of respect- though he¡¯s not sure if dangling naked off the side of a ship is below that modicum. And considering the look Ichiro returns, the old man is not sure either. Regardless, neither would consider Quasi¡¯s honor tainted by such an action. ¡°Anyway, are you two the only [Captains]?¡± ¡°That is correct. Our crew is divided into two ships so as to maximize our civilian capacity.¡± ¡°Right. Your civilians comprise mostly women and children. I¡¯m guessing there''s a story to that?¡± Ren and Ichiro share a glance. Ichiro nods. ¡°Yes, we come from Kyoshi. The city is¡­ infected. The curse of Fenris has sprouted and the city is lost. The civilians you see are the survivors.¡± The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Kyoshi? As in the city with a tower on the island? It¡¯s infected with Fenrimorphs?¡± Ichiro nods. He wipes the fur off of his left arm with a grimace. ¡°We¡¯re currently transporting the survivors to another city until the Inquisition arrives to cleanse Kyoshi of the curse.¡± ¡°Shit. When did this happen and how long is it going to take for the inquisition to arrive?¡± ¡°The city was overrun three days ago, which is the same time a [Courier Captain] was dispatched. I imagine the Inquisition should arrive in two or three weeks.¡± ¡°And how long is this cleansing going to take?¡± ¡°Weeks, maybe months depending on how much the curse has progressed.¡± Ichiro says. ¡°Though you should not quote me on that. A [Samurai] would know a lot more.¡± Quasi pouts. ¡°Damn. I don''t have months to wait. Looks like I¡¯ll have to fight Fenrimorphs again.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve fought them before?¡± Ren asks, surprised. The cat yawns. ¡°Yup. I had to escape a city infected with the damn things. Barely got out in time.¡± Ren¡¯s tail swishes back and forth. ¡°If you¡¯ve fought them before, maybe you can join Yuto and the others on a rescue mission.¡± ¡°Ren, do not endanger an outsider in the city¡¯s affairs.¡± Ichiro admonishes. ¡°But he¡¯s a [Druid]. He¡¯s immune to the curse,¡± Ren counters. ¡°And Yuto needs all the support he can get if he¡¯s to rescue his brother and the clan heads.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a suicide mission, Ren. Everyone but Yuto knows this. That¡¯s why Hekima refuses to allow him off the Wolverine.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true. Hekima will allow Yuto to depart if he can convince enough people to join him.¡± ¡°Which isn¡¯t going to happen,¡± Ichiro counters. ¡°Nobody in their right mind would willingly enter a Fenrimorph infested town. Even Yuto wouldn¡¯t if his brother wasn¡¯t on the island.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Quasi interrupts the two, ¡°It¡¯s a good thing I¡¯m not in my right mind. I just have to talk to Yuto and this Hekima guy, promise assistance, and then I¡¯m off to the island, right?¡± ¡°Honorable Quasi, with all due respect, entering Kyoshi is suicide,¡± Ichiro warns. ¡°Wait for the inquisition to arrive. They exist precisely to fight the curse wherever it may be.¡± ¡°Yea, but that takes too long.¡± Ichiro stares at the cat for a long moment, only now remembering that the person before him is a [Druid] - one of the most respected, beloved, and empathetic classes in the empire. If lives are at stake, they are always the first to offer support, even if it comes at the detriment of their own lives. Clearly, waiting for the Inquisition to arrive is too much for the honorable [Druid]. Ichiro sighs. ¡°I understand. When you arrive near Kyoshi, Raise a white flag and ask to board the Wolverine, then speak with Hekima. If you mention my name- better yet, I¡¯ll write a letter, I¡¯m sure he will allow you to offer assistance to Yuto.¡± ¡°Ichiro¡­¡± Ren starts, but Ichiro gives him a smile. ¡°Who am I to get in the way of Quasi¡¯s honor?¡± ¡°Riiiggghhhttt. Honor. I¡¯ll go with that. In the meantime, do you guys want this ship? I¡¯m not sure if you have enough crew for it, but I imagine it¡¯s a lot more spacious than your frigate.¡± ¡°You¡¯d offer us this ship?¡± Ichiro asks, surprised. ¡°Are you sure? What of your prisoners?¡± ¡°You can keep the prisoners alongside the ship.¡± ¡°The civilians would be more comfortable here,¡± Ren says. ¡°Between the two of us, we have enough to create a skeleton crew.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll do that,¡± Ichiro nods. He turns again to Quasi and bows. ¡°Truly, your honor and kindness knows no measure.¡± The short human snorts as he suppresses a chuckle. The cat gives the man an annoyed side-eye. ¡°Alright,¡± Quasi stretches and then turns, ¡°let''s head upstairs and get that letter on the way. I want to be on my way to Kyoshi in the next hour.¡± _________________________________________________________________ A day''s travel is all it takes for the Timbergrove to reach the island of Ruuku. The island is quite large, with a central hill consisting of only the top portion of a tower- with the entrance hidden underground. On one side of the island is the town of Kyoshi, and on the other is a lake surrounded by flooded fields used to grow what looks like rice. None of this interests Quasi as he sits upon Myers'' shoulder. Instead, his eyes are focussed right off the port of Kyoshi, where a single ship hovers in the way.
Wolverine (Eight-Mast Battleship) Max Speed: 16 knots Construction: Wood, Metal. Modifications: Armored Hull, Thick Hull, Expanded Gun Deck. Hull Integrity: 81,371/81,371 Mana
¡°Huh, so that''s the Wolverine. Honestly, for a Battleship class it doesn¡¯t look impressive at all.¡± Myers glances at me with a frown. ¡°Have you ever seen a Battleship before?¡± ¡°Well, yea.¡± My tail flicks left and right. ¡°Valentine¡¯s ship is classed as a Battleship, and it¡¯s significantly more impressive.¡± Myers sighs. ¡°The Bone-Leviathan is a Cored Battleship created and designed for a [Prince], by a nation who fight leviathans for a living. The Wolverine is a mass produced Battleship designed for territorial defense. The two are not close to being the same in regards to quality.¡± That-that does make sense. ¡°How much do you think it¡¯d cost to buy something like the Wolverine?¡± ¡°Tens of millions at the minimum-¡± ¡°That¡¯s not too bad.¡± ¡°-Without runes and cannons. With them, the cost reaches into the hundreds.¡± ¡°Nevermind, that¡¯s expensive.¡± Myers chuckles. ¡°Battleships are incredible force multipliers. A single one like the Wolverine can decimate a fleet of destroyers with ease. Even a fleet of Cruisers would find it incredibly dangerous to face a lone battleship.¡± ¡°How much of that price is inflated precisely because of its combat potential? Like, how much would a Barge or Capital ship cost in comparison?¡± ¡°A barge is about a half to a third the price of a Battleship. Whereas a Capital ship is never for sale.¡± ¡°And if it was? What number would you put on it?¡± ¡°Billions at the least. Same with Valentine''s ship.¡± Oof. Numbers get big fast. ¡°What about a Carrier?¡± I ask. The old man sighs. ¡°Trillions.¡± ¡°You just added three digits to the price!¡± I whine. ¡°I¡¯d like a bit more accurate of a number.¡± ¡°I¡¯m being as accurate as I can. Carriers require a sixth tier core like the one in your possession to even function. Combine that with the required materials, time, space, and classes to build the ship, the price increases to the point that generally only major nations can even hope to afford them.¡± So, buying a Carrier isn''t going to be poss- wait a second. ¡°You just said generally. Are there exceptions?¡± Myers nods, seemingly annoyed that individuals could own a Carrier class. ¡°Two exceptions. The first is Sliver Prodest, the Master classer known as the Tycoon. His phenomenal wealth and position as the head of the Merchant Guilds gave him everything he needed to build the Magnate.¡± ¡°And the second?¡± Myers grimaces as though just the thought brings him pain. ¡°The second was stolen by the leader of the Gambinos a long time ago.¡± I perk up and grin, my tail wagging like a dog excited for treats. ¡°Aight, now you¡¯ve really got my interest. How does something that large and expensive get stolen?¡± The old man shakes his head. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you later. We¡¯re nearing the Wolverine now, so I want to just give you a bit of a warning. Me and Clay are going to stay hidden inside the Timbergrove the entire time you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°What? Why?¡± ¡°The wolven may have [Inquisitors] on their ship. And [Inquisitors] have the skill [Perfect Sight], which allows them to see an individual''s class and job regardless of a person''s level, class, or items.¡± Oh, right. Myers is a wanted man, as is Clay. ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± I hop off his shoulder and land atop the crystal ball. ¡°Head inside and tell Irmgard to come here. I¡¯ll have her pilot the ship in the meantime.¡± Myers nods and disappears into the ship. While I wait for Irmgard to show up, my mind wanders to my last day in prison. Specifically in regards to the odd voice ordering me to submit. IC God Games - B4 - Chapter 113: Plans? ¡°[Captain], we¡¯ve a heavily armed cored frigate incoming.¡± Hekima frowns at his [Sailor], unsure how exactly the words frigate and heavily armed could be in the same sentence. When he looks out of the window of his ship, he sees the oddest thing. A cored, wooden frigate is armed with cannons that¡¯d more commonly be equipped on a cruiser alongside a ballista of all things. Throw in armored plating and you¡¯ve got the most dangerous frigate Hekima had ever seen. Granted, it¡¯s still not a threat to the Wolverine, even if it can land a bolt from the Ballista. ¡°The ship is heading towards us [Captain], what are your orders?¡± the [Sailor] asks. Currently, the Wolverine fly¡¯s the red flag, a universal sign to stay the hell away. Most [Captains] know this, and those that don¡¯t learn very quickly when a warning shot is fired at the approaching vessel. Normally, he would do just that. But, the raised white flag reveals prior knowledge of the circumstances regarding Kyoshi. ¡°Allow them to board and bring the [Captain] to me. I¡¯ll speak to them myself.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± _______________________________________________________ After the Timbergrove is latched to the side of the Wolverine, Irmgard and I board the ship, and are immediately stopped by armed [Security] and their leader.
Botan Kimura: Level 49 [Security Officer]
The man''s eyes fall upon Irmgard, my presence on her shoulder completely ignored by the no-nonsense frown. The man kinda reminds me of Irmgard, just not human. ¡°Are you the [Captain] of this vessel? [Captain] Hekima wishes to speak to you.¡± The man asks. ¡°No, that would be me. I hope my form won¡¯t be a problem.¡± I answer, surprising the [Security] and even raising Botan¡¯s tail slightly. It is here that I realize the reactions from Ren and Ichiro aren¡¯t nearly as abnormal as I¡¯d thought. The [Security] seem to relax, even smile, while Botan¡¯s aggressive stance shifts to something more neutral. Then, of all things, he bows. ¡°Honorable [Druid], apologies for not realizing your presence sooner. The [Captain] wishes to converse with you directly in regards to your presence.¡± They really have a hard-on for [Druids]. It¡¯s not like having the class makes you honorable or something. Hell, the first druid I met was a [Spy] for a gang that specializes in information and running brothels. That¡¯s not exactly a very honorable [Druid]. ¡°Perfect. I want to speak with them anyway. I hope it¡¯s fine if my [Sub-Captain] comes with me.¡± Botan glances again at Irmgard, then bows. ¡°I am sure the [Captain] would allow such exceptions for someone like yourself.¡± For the next minute, we are taken into the Wolverine, where we pass by a large number of what looks like civilians huddled within the ship. ¡°You¡¯re pretty packed with bodies. I¡¯m guessing all of these people are from Kyoshi,¡± I ask our armed chaperone. Without turning around or stopping, Botan nods. ¡°When we departed Kyoshi, the Wolverine was filled with thrice the number that you see. It is only now that we are actively transporting them out of the ship.¡± ¡°Via Ichiro and Ren, correct?¡± I ask. Botan pauses for a moment, seemingly surprised, but then continues walking. ¡°You¡¯ve met them?¡± ¡°Yup. Nice guys, very respectful. It¡¯s thanks to them that I learned about the situation happening in Kyoshi.¡± ¡°That is, disconcerting.¡± ¡°How so?¡± I ask. ¡°They are required to keep information about the infection to themselves. Though, I imagine they made such an exception because you¡¯re a [Druid].¡± ¡°That, but also because I saved them from [Pirates].¡± Botan finally looks back, though he still continues leading. ¡°They were attacked?¡± ¡°And saved by yours truly.¡± Botan slows to a stop, a frown on his lips. ¡°We are here. I recommend you inform the [Captain] of such a plight.¡± ¡°Part of the plan.¡± I answer. Botan nods and opens the door. He steps to the side and Irmgard steps through. Immediately, I find myself in something of a modern ship''s bridge. Wheel, windows, chairs, fancy table with map, and of course a graying old wolven male with a permanent grimace on his lips.
Hekima Kobayashi: Level 63 [Reload-Heavy Captain]
Hekima leans on a cane. ¡°A [Druid] [Captain], it¡¯s been awhile since I¡¯ve seen such a combination. Is there a reason for your arrival on my ship?¡± ¡°Irmgard.¡± I tap her on the neck. She reaches into her coat and produces the letter that Ichiro had written. It is only as Irmgard hands off the letter do I realize that I¡¯d never actually read it. Hekima accepts the paper, unfolds it, and then starts reading. As his eyes move left to right, his eyebrows raise, ear twitch, and tail swishes. By the time he finishes reading, my interest is extremely peaked. He folds the paper and places it into the pocket of his coat. Then he lowers his head. ¡°Honorable Quasi Eludo, I thank you for your honorable intervention for not only the lives of my people, but of the life of my grandson Ichiro. Though I find your noble wish to assist Yuto honorable, I should warn you that his pleas are foolish. Such a mission is more suicide than honor. But, if you insist on speaking with him, I will not stop you.¡± ¡°I do insist.¡± Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Hekima nods. ¡°Botan, lead them to Yuto and allow them to converse.¡± ¡°Yes [Captain].¡± Botan bows. ¡°Please, follow me.¡± We leave the bridge and begin our descent into the belly of the Battleship. ___________________________________________________________ ¡°They¡¯re alive, I¡¯m sure of it. My brothers aren''t going to die so easily and the [Guard Captain] isn¡¯t a dumb woman. I¡¯m sure they also have Elder Ning to protect them.¡± The [Guards] grimace at Yuto¡¯s words. The [Samurai] makes good, logical points, but he fails to comprehend both the dangers involved and the low chance of success. Seeing the reaction, Yuto tries to shift his argument. ¡°If honor and logic alone is not to convince you, then know that if you are successful, the clan heads will reward you. My own clan of Yamamoto will reward you! There is both honor and riches if we are successful.¡± The argument does gain some interest, but Yuto still finds it lacking. ¡°Honor and wealth is only good if you¡¯re alive, Yuto.¡± Yuto turns around to find Botan entering the armory with a human woman in tow with a cat on her shoulder. ¡°Honor and wealth require risk to obtain,¡± Yuto counters the [Security Officer]. ¡°Nothing is ever given for free.¡± ¡°True,¡± Botan stops and glances at the [Guards] of Kyoshi huddled in the armory. ¡°But there is a point where the risk and reward is not worth it.¡± Botan extends his claws towards the walls where mundane weapons and armor is kept. ¡°Do you see Runed blades to slice the bone and flesh of Fenrimorph¡¯s? Do you see enough armor upon these walls to protect against the claws of such monsters? Can you not comprehend how dishonorable your offer is to these [Guards]?¡± Yuto grinds his teeth as he stares upon Botan and the words he spouts. Words that hold some truth and logic that as much as he hates to listen to, are ones he must accept. What he asks is extremely risky, one that grows riskier by the day. A risk he would wholeheartedly accept on his own if not for Hekima¡¯s restrictions. ¡°I accept your point, but I believe the cause is far more honorable. Now, why are you here and who is beside you?¡± ¡°Hello.¡± The cat upon the woman''s shoulder waves. ¡°The name is Quasi Eludo, [Captain] of the Timbergrove. I hear you¡¯re trying to get on the Island. I¡¯ve come to offer my assistance, which seems like you¡¯re in need of.¡± Botan frowns at the cat''s words, but recovers quickly. ¡°Hekima is allowing Honorable Quasi Eludo to converse with you. I suggest you avoid accepting such assistance from outsiders, especially one the [Captain] finds to be honorable.¡± Botan turns and bows to the cat. ¡°Honorable Quasi, I will wait outside the armory for when you are ready to leave.¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± Quasi answers and Botan leaves. Then the cat looks at Yuto and grins. ¡°So, you¡¯re planning a suicide mission?¡± Yuto folds his arms together and bows. ¡°Yuto Yamamoto greets the Honorable [Druid] Quasi Eludo.¡± When he straightens, he shoves the desperation down in his gut. As much as he disagrees with Botan, he cannot ask an outsider for assistance, especially not from the generally softhearted [Druids]. There is a limit to the dishonor his ancestors would accept. ¡°As much as your offer intrigues me, I must refuse it. As for the mission, it is risky, yes, but not suicidal- regadless of how much Botan will disagree.¡± ¡°Oh, nice. So you¡¯ve got a plan, right?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Yuto nods, ¡°But it is fo-¡± ¡°So what¡¯s the plan? Does it involve going to the tower?¡± ¡°Honorable [Druid], I cannot acce-¡± ¡°Your refusal is denied.¡± The cat interrupts. ¡°You¡¯re getting my assistance, and if you refuse again, I will treat such an action as spitting upon my honor. Now, what''s the plan?¡± Yuto opens his mouth to deny again, but stops. ¡°The plan matters not until more [Guards] are willing to join me.¡± ¡°Right. Well, then convince them.¡± ¡°That is the problem.¡± Yuto says. ¡°It¡¯s not, you¡¯re just inadequate at it,¡± Quasi counters with a grin. The cat glances at the ten [Elite Guards] silently sitting and listening to the conversation. Each is an advanced classer, and each has experienced a great deal of combat. They are the ones that Yuto needs to assist him if he is to convince Hekima. ¡°So, my ship deals in arms and armor. We¡¯ve got a bunch of runed weapons and enough armor to get everyone here equipped- if equipment is the problem. As for survival, I¡¯ve fought and killed Fenrimorphs before. I¡¯m immune to their curse, as is a [Druid] on my ship. I also have an [Air Mage] that can fly, scout, and slaughter dozens with a single spell. With my support, this mission is far less risky so long as Yuto here has a proper plan.¡± Surprised at Quasi¡¯s declaration, Yuto takes a glance at the [Guards] to see their reaction. What he finds is that all of them are now leaning forward and staring at him expectantly. As though the previous disinterest didn¡¯t actually exist. Thanking the divine for the opportunity, Yuto clears his throat. ¡°As you know, the storage for all the alcohol and rice is located underground, at the tower''s center. What many do not know is that the underground storage was initially created as an emergency bunker in case of war or a curse outbreak. It is an ideal place to form a defensive position against the Fenrimorphs.¡± ¡°The entrance to the underground is in the center of the island.¡± One of the [Elite Guards] voices. ¡°Are you asking us to fight through all of Kyoshi?¡± ¡°No,¡± Yuto shakes his head. ¡°As I mentioned, the facility was built initially as a bunker. There are old, hidden entrances spread throughout Kyoshi that lead to the tower. We will use the entrance hidden in the cellar of my sect''s home to avoid the dangers above ground. Once we find the survivors, we will take another underground passage that exits into the rice fields. Fenrimorph concentrations should be manageable from there. We¡¯ll travel through the rice fields, wherein we will be picked up by the Wolverine.¡± With his explanations done, what he finds is the [Elite Guards] staring at him in surprise. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± He asks them. ¡°Yuto,¡± Quasi calls. ¡°Is this your first time voicing out your plan?¡± ¡°Yes, it is.¡± He answers truthfully. The cat sighs. ¡°You know, I thought I was initially joking when I said your ability to convince people is inadequate. I¡¯d like to correct that and say that it isn¡¯t true. Your ability to convince others is utter crap.¡± ¡°What?¡± Yuto exclaims, flabbergasted. When he looks at the [Guards], each and every single one of them is grimacing in confirmation The human woman clears her throat. ¡°What my [Captain] is trying to say is that if you were to articulate your plan as you did now, you¡¯d most likely already have significantly more support. I imagine most of the [Guards] here believed the plan involved fighting through hordes of Fenrimorphs instead of traveling through a safer, unknown underground route.¡± Yuto frowns at the explanation. ¡°It will still be dangerous, regardless of my plan. I wish to be followed by those who do so out of honor and duty, and not because my plan is acceptable.¡± ¡°Dumbass!¡± The cat yells. ¡°The difference between suicide and survival is the presence of a good plan.¡± ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Botan rushes in with his hand resting on the katana at his hip. ¡°I heard yelling.¡± ¡°Botan, did you know that there are underground passages in the city leading to the tower and that those passages can be used to avoid dealing with Fenrimorphs?¡± Quasi asks. Botan frowns. ¡°I did not.¡± ¡°And if one of those passages also leads to the rice fields, wherein you can traverse reasonably safely to a ship moored nearby, would you consider such a plan suicidal?¡± ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Botan answers. He turns to Yuto, ¡°I¡¯d consider such a rescue both acceptably possible and honorable to attempt¡­ and not the ravings of a suicidal [Samurai] looking to end his life because his brothers are most likely dead.¡± When Yuto looks at the acknowledging looks of the [Elite Guards], all he can feel is immense shame. It is only now he realizes that his promises of honor were taken as a man looking for a place to die, even at the cost of the lives of others. Swallowing his immense pride, Yuto kneels before the people he has been pestering all this time. He then lowers his head. ¡°I apologize for my dishonorable requests of you, and I will atone for such displays. But, please, I request your assistance in saving those still trapped within the island.¡± Yuto hears a loud sigh. ¡°Stop rubbing your dick on the floor and get up. They¡¯ve already accepted when they heard the plan. All you¡¯re doing now is just making the situation awkward.¡± The cat explains. ¡°I must offer a sincere apolo-.¡± ¡°-Shut up. You can do that afterwards.¡± Quasi interrupts. He hops off of the human woman''s shoulder and lands atop Yuto¡¯s ¡°Right now I need you to go with me to Hekima to explain the plan.¡± The cat shifts his gaze. ¡°Botan, bring these [Guards] to my ship. Irmgard, update the crew and give our new allies proper equipment.¡± ¡°Cillian will not be happy,¡± Irmgard warns. ¡°Tell him it¡¯s an investment or something. Now go.¡± Quasi lightly taps the side of Yuto¡¯s neck. ¡°And what are you still doing on your knees? Get up and let''s go see Hekima.¡± Though Yuto wishes to refuse such a request, such time is unfortunately not on his side. The sooner he leaves, the better chance the rescue will be a success. Grimacing, he stands up and nods to the [Elite Guard] in acknowledgement of the insulting requests he asked of them. So long as he survives, he vows to properly apologize when time is better available. ¡°Stop with the staring and get on with the running.¡± ¡°Yes, Honorable [Druid].¡± And with that, Yuto rushes off to meet with Hekima. IC God Games - B4 - Chapter 114: Introductions. After a conversation with Hekima that involves a generous number of insults directed at Yuto, the plan is approved and given full support by the [Captain]. After that, Yuto and Quasi leave the wolverine and board the Timbergrove. The ship is quite nice, albeit small. Which, considering the vessel is a Frigate, is understandable. Once they descend inside the ship, the lack of space becomes a decent bit more pronounced. Eventually, Yuto arrives at the mess hall where some of Quasi¡¯s crew is waiting. An old human man, a human child, an odd Phytonid, a masked woman, and a leaning short, but plump human. ¡°Oy you prick, them hairy mutts be raidin ma weapons!¡± A short human growls while waving a bottle of what Yuto can smell to be quite hard liquor. Quasi hops on the table. ¡°Cillian, it¡¯s fine. It¡¯s an investment.¡± ¡°Givin our shite away is a crap investment,¡± The short, intoxicated human whines. ¡°We¡¯re letting them borrow it for the upcoming mission. They¡¯ll return it after.¡± ¡°If dey all survive!¡± Yuto steps forward and bows. ¡°Honorable Cillian, when our mission is successful, I am sure the survivors will reward you several times the worth of such weapons. But, if they do not or they¡¯re all dead, then know that I will use the standing of my clan to properly reward, if not reimburse you for any costs.¡± Cillian looks at Quasi. ¡°Who da hell is he?¡± Quasi stretches and then sits on the table. ¡°He¡¯s leading the rescue mission to the tower and will be in charge of the [Elite Guards]. Me,¡± He raises his paw out to two others,¡± Nepenthes, and Auranta will be joining him.¡± ¡°Can I come with?¡± Eyes turn to the interruption to find a tall, skinny human male arriving with a grin. A glance is all it takes for Yuto to ascertain the new arrival to be quite skilled based solely on his walk. He is a man not only trained in the art of combat, but experienced with it. ¡°Sorry Micheal, but we¡¯re fighting Fenrimorphs. A single misstep or scratch is going to end your life.¡± Yuto heavily disagrees with such a decition. He folds his hands upon the table, head lowered in respect. ¡°In most fights that matter,¡± he begins, ¡°there is always a risk of death. It is the choice of the individual if the risk is worth the honor or not. Having such a choice made by another is a great dishonor not only to them, but to the one removing the choice.¡± Quasi pouts. ¡°Riiight. Well, that¡¯s nice and all, but I¡¯m the [Captain], so unless I can make Micheal immune to the Fenrimorphs curse, he¡¯s not joining the mission.¡± ¡°I can synthesize medication to offer temporary immunity for the length of the mission,¡± Nepenthes interrupts. ¡°Impossible.¡± Yuto can¡¯t help but call out. ¡°Such a thing has been attempted and failed by levels greater than my own. The best medication created can only slow the transformation.¡± The massive Phytonid tilts her head at Yuto. ¡°I offer temporary immunity, not permanent. The replication rate of the Fenrimorph virus is far too rapid for the human immune response to have any hope to overcome. By Injecting white blood cells modified with suppressor proteins created to suppress Fenrimorph replication, it is fully possible to completely stop the infection from overcoming the human immune response.¡± The cat frowns. ¡°When did you figh- you ate my flesh and experimented with it. Damn. Alright, fine. Micheal, inform Boriss and the other [Gunners] to prepare for combat. Nepenthes, get that drug ready- actually, can you produce some for Yuto and the [Elite Guards]?¡± ¡°I have no knowledge of wolven flesh to generate medication that will not be accepted by their bodies.¡± ¡°Damn. That sucks, but fine. Can you make more of that steroid you provided for Boriss in the Colosseum? We may need it in case of an emergency.¡± The Phytonids bark armor around her neck creaks as she nods. ¡°I can, though Boriss must not consume it, otherwise he risks severe brain damage due to neural strain.¡± ¡°Wait, wait, wait. There''s a risk to the drug?¡± ¡°Temporary physical performance augmentation is limited without temporarily removing pain limiters upon a human''s psyke. This removal acts by forcing new neural pathway formation that temporarily reduces muscular limits placed by one''s mind. A second injection will not only form new pathways, but will use the same ones created. The end result is an overstimulation of the effect and a complete removal of muscular restrictions.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ huh.¡± Quasi leans down, frowning. ¡°I was expecting just some kind of stimulant, not a superhuman serum. Still, make some for the others.¡± Though Yuto detests the consumption of drugs to boost combat, he is willing to make an exception if the foe are against the empire''s most hated enemy. ¡°Quasi, I believe you are forgetting a rather significant detail.¡± The old human finally speaks. And with his speech, Yuto straightens his posture more than it already is. And when the man lands his eye upon him, they remind him of Elder Ning. ¡°Your other form is going to be disliked by your new allies.¡± Stolen novel; please report. Quasi looks at Yuto. ¡°Myers, remember what Valentine said about me. ¡°Valentine? As in the leader of the Corsairs?¡± Yuto asks. ¡°You¡¯ve met the Astral Phantom?¡± Quasi nods. ¡°I have, and the man is the first to have realised something few have not. For example, care to guess my species? Here''s a hint, I¡¯m not a [Druid]?¡± Yuto shakes his head. ¡°It matters not your species, only the honor with which you dictate yourself. Though, if you¡¯re not a [Druid], what are you?¡± ¡°A [Shifter].¡± Yuto nods slowly. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of the class, though I¡¯m unfamiliar with its workings. All I know is that [Shifters] have a greater variety of transformation than a [Druid].¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct. Now, speaking of transformations, what is my current species?¡± Yuto takes a good look at Quasi and his feline traits. He¡¯s clearly some kind of cat, except cats cannot converse verbally as he does, which Yuto believes to be a product of a skill. Though, oddly enough, that prediction now seems incorrect. ¡°I do not know.¡± He answers. ¡°Another hint, then. I am currently not transformed.¡± The [Samurai] freezes at the declaration, his eyes widening as he assertions such information. Something feline with the ability to converse outside of a skill, but is also able to carry a class. Eventually his thoughts shift to a story from Elder Ning. A story about how he met the clouds. ¡°You''re a sovereign!¡± The cat grins. ¡°Indeed. I hope that¡¯s fine with you.¡± Yuto bows his head while repeating what he¡¯d said earlier. ¡°It matters not your species, only the honor with which you dictate yourself.¡± ¡°Huh,¡± Quasi glances at Myers, ¡°I was told that Wolven tend to be quite discriminatory against other species.¡± ¡°That is mostly true to those who live on Okami and have little interaction with other species. Kyoshi accepts trade from outsiders, and that is enough interaction to reveal that honor can exist in all beings.¡± ¡°But you guys don¡¯t allow other species to live and work alongside you.¡± ¡°Not by choice. If one wants the Inquisitions protection, then they must follow their laws.¡± ¡°I see. Well, that makes it easy then. Yuto, I¡¯m going to show you a transformation that you are not going to like. All I ask is that you remember it¡¯s only a transformation and that you do not reach for the weapon at your hip.¡± Yuto stands and bows. ¡°Honorable Quasi, your presence offers me hope that I may save my brothers and the lives of those I am sworn to protect. I swear upon the Yamamoto clan that what you reveal will not gain my ire.¡± Quasi chuckles. ¡°Let''s see how much your word is worth.¡± The cat hops off the table and transforms. _________________________________________________________ The moment I shift into a Fenrimorph, I feel a very familiar weight press upon my psyke. A weight I¡¯d not felt for a very long time. Submit! Submit! Submit! Once again, the voice has returned, albright far less potent. The pressure is manageable, and whatever entity that tries to command me lacks the proper force required to exhaust my mental defenses. Then again, the pressure originates somewhere deep within Kyoshi- a considerable distance from my current location. If memory serves, the closer I get, the worse the voice will become. Regardless, the pressure is currently manageable. As for my current situation¡­ You know, you could have shown even the slightest bit of surprise. I didn¡¯t even see a raise of an eyebrow. Or is it a furbrow? I can¡¯t exactly tell, what with the fur and the wolfish facial features. Sighing at the lack of reaction, I activate my skill and transform back into my cat form. Not that he needs to know it¡¯s a transformation. ¡°So, what¡¯d you think?¡± I ask. Yuto nods slowly. ¡°I can see why your transformation can be apprehensive. It is a good thing you asked me to restrict my ire, otherwise I would have attempted to take your head.¡± Yea, that kinda almost happened before. ¡°Well, it¡¯s nice you didn¡¯t. Now, do you think there will be a problem with my form for the mission? It is the one I use most for combat.¡± ¡°So long as they are warned, I do not believe any of the [Elite Guards] will have significant misgivings about your form. But, I should make it imperative that you have all of them and myself swear to secrecy in regards to your form.¡± ¡°Really? I thought you said it would be fine.¡± ¡°By those in Kyoshi, yes. But if the inquisition were to find out that you have such a transformation, you will be hunted down and killed. The risk of leaving someone like you alive would be considered unacceptable.¡± I hop back on the table and nod. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you don¡¯t feel the same?¡± He shakes his head. ¡°The Inquisition is the place where duty is above Honor- something many clans find egregious. My own clan included.¡± He sighs. ¡°Regardless, your form is not something that will be easily hidden as not all are honorable enough to stay silent. I can vouch for myself and the [Elite Guards] to not break their words, I cannot do the same for all those we come to rescue.¡± ¡°Do you recommend I keep my form hidden from the survivors?¡± ¡°I do.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll do that.¡± I decide. ¡°Now, how much do you know about Fenrimorphs? Specifically about how they transform.¡± Yuto nods, ¡°Are you asking about Hoka-Kaeru or Jibun-Kaeru?¡± ¡°Both, maybe? I¡¯m not familiar with those terms.¡± ¡°I see. Then allow me to explain.¡± He clears his throat. ¡°When a Fenrimorph grows stronger, they go through something known as Kaeru. And they do this in two ways. Hoka-Kaeru is a tempering of the environment. Jibun-Kaeru is the tempering of oneself.¡± Before I can ask him to explain, Yuto raises his hand. ¡°Hoka-Kaeru is instigated through environmental trauma like setting a Fenrimorph on fire. They will experience Hoka and ascend into a form best able to survive. They will grow larger, stronger, become immune to fire and even be able to breathe it. Jibun-Kaeru differs in that there is no instigation other than time. After a period of time, they will undergo Jibun, gaining strength and size, including a random beneficiary change. A good example is the loss of fur with a replacement of scales.¡± ¡°Wait, are you telling me they can transform on their own?¡± I ask. Yuto nods. ¡°Indeed. It is why the inquisition rushes to purge islands. If the curse is left to fester, then the island is deemed permanently lost for the infection has grown too powerful.¡± ¡°So they just leave the island?¡± I ask. ¡°They destroy it.¡± Myers adds. Yuto grimaces with a nod. ¡°The inquisition has a mythical class item with the power to sink islands. It is considered a last resort.¡± Yea, I imagine no Fenrimorph can survive the heat of a planet''s core. ¡°How quickly do they undergo Kaeru?¡± I ask. ¡°Depends on the infected individual''s levels. A basic classer can take weeks to months, whereas an advanced classer needs only days. With experts, then you can expect hours. Further Jibun takes longer, while additional Hoka require more extreme environments.¡± Before I can ask another question, I am distracted by the arrival of Julia carrying a tray filled with empty glasses. The moment she sees me, she stops. ¡°You are back.¡± My tail weaves left and right. ¡°Indeed. What¡¯s with the tray?¡± ¡°I offered drinks to the guests.¡± She answers. ¡°Oy! Thas mai sake!¡± Cillian whines. I can''t help but chuckle. I then turn and hop on the [Samurai] shoulder. ¡°Yuto, we¡¯ll talk more later. Let''s head down and make sure your team isn¡¯t too drunk for the mission.¡± Yuto chuckles back before heading down into the hold of my ship. IC God Games - B4 - Chapter 115: Ning A day of preparation is all I¡¯m given before the mission starts, which is honestly something I can¡¯t complain about. Every day that is delayed increases not only the risk of survivors dying, but it also increases the risk that Fenrimorphs will undergo Jibun-Kaeru. Which is disturbing to think about because I¡¯d left a prison full of those monsters. If they somehow evolve the ability to fly, they¡¯d be able to exit the prison. The mission begins with a loud bang as the Wolverine unloads its cannons on the leftmost side of Kyoshi¡¯s port. The explosions ring loudly with each impact, sending shockwaves through the large town. In response, howls near the impact sprout up as Fenrimorphs call for assistance. From my vantage point aboard the Timbergrove, we watch as these monsters converge on mass to the left. We wait minutes, watching as monsters scramble to the sound. Then, once it seems like they¡¯d all left, the timbergrove approaches the rightmost side of the port. As soon as we are close enough, the mission begins. Yuto, his [Elite Guards], Boriss, Agris, Baldric, Micheal, Gino, Nepenthes, and Auranta land on the port. As soon as we land, Nepenthes stabs a needle-like appendage into the humans and injects them with a serum. One that will hopefully last the whole day. Before hopping off of Boriss¡¯s shoulder, I assess the group one last time. Everyone is armed and armored, with each person wielding a runed weapon that has enhanced Sharpness- nearly all of which are longswords- Something the [Elite Guard] dislike wielding, but is necessary if your opponents are Fenrimorphs. ¡°Move quickly,¡± Yuto orders and leads. The group complies and follows, undisturbed long enough for me to appreciate the architecture of Kyoshi. Wolven architecture has a very similar look to feudal japan on earth with some key differences. One such difference is that the buildings use stone for support. Without a fear of earthquakes, more durable construction material can be used, allowing for better long-term residences to be crafted. ¡°Movement!¡± Yuto warns. Between the moment of warning and a shift of my head, Yuto¡¯s hand blurs, severing the head of a Fenrimorph just exiting a building. ¡°Keep going. The Alpha will direct them to us now.¡± I frown at the term. When the first Fenrimorph grows its third set of horns, it creates a psionic connection that connects to other Fenrimorphs. The creator of the connection is termed the Alpha and has not only improved its intelligence, but it also greatly accelerates its rate of undergoing Kaeru. Killing the Alpha will destroy the psionic connection until a new one takes its place. During that moment, Fenrimorphs lose any semblance of organization, allowing an easier time for them to be dealt with. As the group rushes deeper into Kyoshi, it becomes clear that they¡¯re on a time-limit. Another two Fenrimorph arrive, this time from the roof of a building. Seeing us, they raise their heads and open their maws. Only for a Wind Cutter from Auranta to sever them in half. Good. If they howl, we¡¯ll be swarmed. Not a second after I¡¯d thought that, I heard a nearby howl. Turning my head, I see a Fenrimorph within a nearby third story of a building, it¡¯s head held high and jaws unclenched. ¡°Faster!¡± Yuto yells. Our pace quickens, but the howling has been received. Distant howls rise up from around us, a warning of what is to come. All we get is a minute of running until the first swarm arrives. Over a dozen Fenrimorphs reach our position, jumping from the roof towards Yuto and his men. ¡°Spread and sever.¡± Yuto orders. The [Elite Guards] comply, distancing from one-another, allowing the Fenrimorphs to land on the hard concrete. The moment they do, the [Elite Guard] reacts by severing limbs, weakening the monster before finally slicing through its head. One of the Fenrimorph had jumped higher than usual, avoiding the wolven men. Only for Nepenthes to catch it mid-flight with arms like a praying mantis. Followed immediately by a needle-like appendage that stabs through its neck to pierce into the brain- a Fenrimorph greatest weakness. ¡°Keep moving! We¡¯re almost there,¡± Yuto yells. We comply as the group continues running unmolested for several long minutes. A surprisingly long amount of time. Long enough for me to believe that I might not even need to lift a paw. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. ¡°We¡¯re here. It''s just around the corn-¡± Yuto stops dead in front of a large mansion. Which normally wouldn''t be a problem if not for hundreds of Fenrimorphs seemingly waiting at the mansion. And these Fenrimorphs are different too, for most of them have a second set of horns, many of which are not only larger but covered in scales. In the center of them all is an even larger silver-furred Fenrimorph with a third set of horns. Other than its larger size, the most notable thing about it is that its fur has something of a metallic shine to it. Is that the Alpha? ¡°Elder Ning!¡± Yuto cries out in pain. Not physical pain, but something else. ¡°What''s wrong?¡± I ask, but Yuto shakes his head and takes a stance. Katana lowered and pointed at the Fenrimorph. ¡°Nothing. We must fight through to get inside. I will lead- follow after I engage.¡± The [Samurai] releases a breath and rushes towards the hoard with a scream. The largest Fenrimorph reacts with a growl, ordering the charge. The monsters rush forward, a dozen of them beelining at Yuto. When they do arrive, Yuto reveals what it truly means to be an expert classer. ¡°Severing Vortex!¡± What happens next boggles my mind. Yutos katana glows brightly for a moment, and in that moment, swings his blade in a circle around him. When he does, a cyclone of thousands of transparent ghostly blades manifest outward from his location, cutting everything as it expands. The Fenrimorphs, unable to react in time to avoid the blades, are severed into chunks of meat. By the time the vortex disperses, the battle is fully underway with the [Elite guard] joining the fray alongside my own men. Turning into a bird and flying in the air, I assess the situation with a calculated singular eye. What I see is that though Fenrimorphs are stronger and faster than most, they are quite a bit at a disadvantage in regards to both skill and defense. Their dense muscles and bones are but butter to runed blades, whereas their speed isn¡¯t fast enough to overwhelm skill. A claw is an effective weapon so long as a blade does not sever your arm when you try to use it. Unfortunately, superior ability means little when your opponent has a significant numbers advantage, even with Auranta blasting anything that tries to approach. Looking at the entrance to the mansion, I frown at the silver Fenrimorph. The monster isn¡¯t looking at the ongoing skirmish in front of it. Instead, it¡¯s eyes are positioned up at our flying [Air Mage] as she slaughters any flanking Fenrimorph with a wave of her staff. Don¡¯t you fucking dare. The Silver Fenrimorph bends its powerful legs. Oh hell no. As the stone cracks from its jump, the monster soars at Auranta with a speed the Insectoid couldn¡¯t hope to dodge. Not that she needs to as I transform mid-flight to slam my right fist into the monster''s side. The silver Fenrimorph goes flying, crashing through a building from the impact. When I land on the ground, I can¡¯t help but grimace at my mistake. I should have used my other arm. Glancing at my right hand, I¡¯m met with a piece of shattered ground meat. Felt like I just punched a piece of metal. My musings are cut short as I hear the ruble shift. The silver Fenrimorph walks out of the building covered in dust, but otherwise unhurt. The monster titles its head at me, seemingly confused. Then its head shifts to the left, the same direction as I hear and feel a mental pressure. Submit! Submit! Submit! Though much stronger now, the pressure is still manageable. Once the pressure ends, the Silver Fenrimorphs attention returns to me. Curiosity now replaced with aggression. I guess you¡¯re not the Alpha. I take a stance, leaning more to my left where my armored hand is located. The Monster snarls loudly, bends its legs, and then rushes me. Though larger than me, the difference isn¡¯t significant enough to put me in a different weight class. I dodge the swipe of its claw with a step to the side and take the moment to shove my gauntleted left fist into its belly. I am rewarded with a whine, only for the beast to recover enough to try to bite me. I react instinctively with my right arm, further tenderizing it with a bone-grinding punch that diverts the head to the side. Taking the opportunity, I jump away from a followup swipe of its armored claws. So, I get mana fur, but you get steel fur. That¡¯s so unfair. I take a stance again while the Silver Fenrimorph reorients itself. This is actually pretty bad. If I¡¯d still had my other gauntlet, I could probably somehow win. Unfortunately, one arm isn¡¯t going to give me enough pressure for that. Just as I was contemplating a transformation, I hear the wind pick up behind at the same time I hear a warning. ¡°Quasi, Jump!¡± I follow the direction and ascend into the sky. Passing by where I was is an orb of wind. The orb reaches the surprised Silver Fenrimorph and unleashes its magical payload. Similar to the first time she¡¯d created the orb, the housing shatters, releasing a storm of Wind Cutters on the Fenrimorph, ones strong enough to sever steel. ¡°Quasi!¡± Auranta yells, ¡°The mansion is reached! Let''s go!¡± Turning around, I find that the Fenrimorphs are mostly dead and that everyone else is rushing into the mansion. I grunt in acknowledgement and rush inside. As I enter, I hear a howl behind me. When I turn around, I see the Silver Fenrimorph somehow standing even with its flesh mangled by the spell. It should be dead, but it somehow still stands. Then I feel a sense of dread as I watch its flesh rapidly knit together, faster than any Fenrimorph should be able to. My surprise lasts only long enough to notice the growth of another pair of horns. Oh Shit! I shut the mansion door and rush inside. I then quickly find Yuto waiting for me near a trap door leading down. I jump inside and descend a good five meters. Yuto follows me right after, closing and locking the entrance with a click. He slides down the ladder just in time to hear the walls of the mansion shatter, quickly followed by an ear-piercing howl. IC God Games - B4 - Chappter 116: Reunion. Heart pounding, I can hear the silver Fenrimorph roaring and making a violent racket above. It seems to be angrily destroying the mansion in its attempt to find me. Seems to be too angry to use its other senses. Releasing a slow breath, I take a moment to assess what seemed like a cellar, and is instead revealed to be some kind of dusty armory. Weapons and armor adorn the walls while large boxes filled with weapons sit in the bottom. A closer look reveals that it¡¯s less armory, and more weapon stockpile. ¡°Give me a moment to find it.¡± Yuto says and rushes to the far end of the armor where he begins moving containers. While he does, I turn my attention to the survivors. So far, everyone is accounted for except for three [Elite Guards]. Which, considering the number of Fenrimorphs we¡¯d just fought, is quite low. As for my team, the humans minus Boriss look exhausted, with Gino¡¯s arm hanging limply at his side. A bad gash, one that Nepenthes is actively treating. Maybe handing a [Swift Rogue] a runed longsword and taking him to battle wasn¡¯t the best option. Then again, he''ll be sure to level faster. When I return my attention to Yuto, I notice that the Wolven is struggling to remove some boards from the wall. Glancing at my right arm, it has mostly regenerated now. All that¡¯s left is a bit more skin and then fur before I¡¯m fully recovered. I walk next to Yuto, place my hand on a board, and then crush the wood with superior strength. I do that for the entire wall, revealing a dark tunnel leading deep inside. The tunnel is made of stone with decaying old wood pillars keeping it from breaking down. ¡°Thank you, Quasi.¡± Yuto says. With my Fenrimorph form practically healed, I transform back into a cat. ¡°Yuto, what the hell was that silver Fenrimorph? Its fur felt like it was made of steel. Which Kaeru allows that kind of evolution?¡± A pained look crosses Yutos face. ¡°Neither. That was Steel Fur Elder Ning, my master and teacher. He is the strongest [Samurai]- was the strongest [Samurai] in Kyoshi. His metallic fur is not an evolution, but a passive skill that Ning has.¡± ¡°Wait, wait, wait. Are you telling me Fenrimorphs still have class and job skills even after they''ve turned?¡± ¡°Just Class,¡± Yuto corrects. ¡°They have access to all passive and active skills. Though, most active skills require a verbal component, so they thankfully can¡¯t utilize it.¡± Not that I think they¡¯re smart enough to do so. ¡°Well, Elder Ning has eight horns now. I say we avoid him, otherwise my [Runesmith] is going to have another chunk of metal on her desk.¡± Yuto frowns. ¡°A chunk of met-¡± A roar above interrupts the [Samurai], reminding him that we¡¯ve still got a raging monstrosity directly above them. ¡°Lets move and talk later,¡± I propose. ¡°Agreed.¡± Yuto raises his arms and instructs his [Elite Guard] to lead inside with torches they¡¯d taken from the walls. My team follows right behind, with me and Yuto taking the rear. Before we depart, Yuto takes a moment to push one of the larger boxes to block the hole. The tunnel is dark and quite clearly abandoned, but also somehow still stable. This I can only contribute to the thick pieces of wood placed at the side of the tunnel for support. Eventually, the darkness becomes thick enough that I raise my tail and ignite it. Yuto notices this, even raising a furry eyebrow, but says nothing else. It is only after five minutes that he glances back and sees the change. ¡°You¡¯re completely on fire and your fur is blue,¡± He states the obvious. ¡°Are you alright?¡± I grin back at him. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just making sure we¡¯ve got plenty of light.¡± ¡°By setting yourself on fire?¡± ¡°When my coat is blue, I¡¯m extremely fire resistant, not fire immune. If I increase the heat too much, I¡¯ll actually cook.¡± Yuto nods slowly. ¡°Is this a Sovereign ability?¡± ¡°Yup. Do you like it?¡± Yuto nods slowly. ¡°I do. It reminds me of a named wolven known as Flame Fur. I¡¯ve met the man when I was but a child, but his ability to set himself on fire is something I still find alluring to this day. I can¡¯t help but pout. ¡°Damn, so burning fur isn¡¯t unique. I¡¯m kinda disappointed now.¡± Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°Don''t be. Flame Fur ended up dying after he accidently set off explosives on a ship. So, you¡¯re still the only one who can set themselves on fire.¡± That doesn¡¯t necessarily change the fact someone else can do it with the right skills. ¡°Let''s change the subject for a second. When we reach the survivors, I¡¯m going to have to abandon the group for a moment to visit the tower.¡± ¡°To pray?¡± Yuto asks curiously. ¡°How long will this take?¡± Hours probably, maybe days if I have to traverse a desert. ¡°A while. I¡¯ll leave my crew with you in case it takes me too long.¡± The wolven frowns at my answer, staring at me with a hardened gaze. ¡°To pray?¡± ¡°Ehhh, something like that.¡± I answer. Yuto continues staring at me for a long moment. Eventually, he speaks. ¡°I¡¯ve heard rumors that there have been individuals who are able to enter within the towers. Are these rumors true and are you one of them?¡± ¡°If I were to say yes, does that change anything?¡± Yuto continues staring at me for a long moment, then releases a breath. ¡°Not with me. But, I should warn you that the towers are considered sacred. The Inquisition will most likely investigate you if word gets out.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you can keep such information to yourself?¡± Yuto nods slowly. ¡°I do not hold the towers in such high regard, but many I care about do. So long as you can give me your word that what transpires within the tower is honorable, then I will keep my word.¡± I chuckle. ¡°I don¡¯t think there is a dishonorable way to do anything within the tower. So that''s a promise I can easily keep.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Yuto nods and continues walking. Odd. ¡°Are you not going to ask what the towers are?¡± Without turning around, Yuto shakes his head. ¡°I have no reason to know, nor do I wish to distract my thoughts with such things. All I want right now is to rescue my brothers and whatever other survivors are present. The mind can wander when time allows.¡± I can''t help but bob my head at his words. Just as knowledge is power, it can also be a detriment. A bit of interest can be a catalyst of thought that stifles one''s focus and distracts from what is truly more important. With our conversation over, we continue through the narrow tunnel for several hours, eventually reaching what seems like an end. At the end of a tunnel is a wood wall. Not the decaying, old wood of the tunnel, but a much newer, thicker singular piece. ¡°We¡¯re almost there,¡± Yuto rushes to the front and stops a foot away from the wall. He rests his hand on the wood, even tapping it for good measure. ¡°Are we breaking through?¡± I ask, catching up at the front to provide a lot more light. ¡°Want me to do it?¡± ¡°No, there may be survivors on the other side. Just give me room, I''ll do it.¡± I take several steps back as does everyone else. Yuto takes a stance, his left hand grasping his sheath and his right hand grasping the hilt of his katana. With a single growl, I watch as the katana exits the sheathe at incredible speed, slicing into the wood as though it was made of butter. Three swings, all angled and silent. When he sheathed his katana, a triangle of wood fell from the wall, revealing a room filled with not only bags of rice, but numerous wolven civilians. Yuto enters inside. ¡°Do not fear me. I am Yuto of the Yamamoto clan. I have come to save you all,¡± He announces to the surprised crowd. Immediately after his speech, several [Guards] and [Elite Guards] rush into the current room. They are led by a male wolven with a single arm. When the man notices the intruders, he stops solid, his eyes going wide. ¡°Yuto!¡± The man yells. Yuto grins at the familiar face. ¡°Jiro, it¡¯s good you¡¯re still alive.¡± He looks at the other [Guards] and frowns. ¡°Where is Akio?¡± He then asks. _____________________________________________________________ Jiro stares at his younger brother and the distraught look on his face. ¡°I warned you this could happen, Yuto,¡± Jiro says as softly as he can. ¡°Akio knew the risks too.¡± ¡°I know¡­ I know. I saw the monster''s blood splattered on Akios face. I just hoped he¡¯d have been lucky.¡± ¡°He was lucky, Yuto. He was lucky enough to assist the civilians at the docks before he turned. It is an honorable last moment.¡± Yuto takes a breath at the words. Several slow, even breaths. Out of everyone, Jiro knows that Yuto is easily the most compassionate of the three brothers. He feels the most, but is also the one to follow honor through any hardship. Jiro extends a palm to Yutos companions, many of which aren''t even Wolfen. ¡°Now, did you want to introduce me to your allies before I call for Mei?¡± ¡°The [Major] is still alive?¡± Yuto perks up, and then remembers that Akio was to be her husband. ¡°She is the reason so many are still alive,¡± Jiro comments. ¡°But I can speak of what she accomplished later. I believe introductions are in order.¡± Jiro extends a hand to an approaching cat. Yuto extends a clawed hand. ¡°This is the honorable [Captain] Quasi Eludo of the Timbergrove. His assistance is the sole reason for our success in reaching you.¡± ¡°The sole reason?¡± The cat snorts. It hops up on a nearby rice-wine barrel. ¡°I helped, sure, but you did plenty of the heavy lifting.¡± ¡°Honorable Quasi, do not belittle yourself,¡± Jiro admonishes. ¡°If my brother says you are the sole reason, then that is so.¡± ¡°The weapons you provided and the assistance against Elder Ning was pivotal in our success arriving here.¡± ¡°You slew Elder Ning!¡± Jiro touches the stump of his elbow. ¡°How?¡± ¡°Delayed,¡± Quasi corrects. ¡°It was my [Air Mage] that almost slew him. Only for him to have a Kaeru and heal the damage.¡± ¡°That is my failure,¡± Jiro apologises. ¡°My skill was not strong enough to end Elder Ning when I fought him. He nicked my arm and barely escaped with his life.¡± ¡°You cut your arm off to survive the infection!¡± The cat exclaims. ¡°That takes some serious guts.¡± ¡°A paltry sacrifice,¡± Jiro says, though his words do not match his expression. ¡°All I need is my sword arm to fight effectively.¡± Quasi sniffs. ¡°Well, your left arm smells bad. You might want to have my [Chief Physician] look at it when you can.¡± ¡°Later,¡± Jiro says. ¡°For now, I will endure. Instead,¡± he looks to Yuto. ¡°Am I to believe you have an escape plan prepared now that you have arrived?¡± ¡°That is correct. The Wolverine will be waiting for us past the paddy field. If we use the tunnel leading to the fields and then make our way through, we can escape.¡± Jiro grins. ¡°As expected of my brother, you always have a plan prepared.¡± ¡°So long as he tells someone of it.¡± Quasi chuckles while Yutos¡¯ fur crinkles. Jiro sees the crinkle and grins wider. ¡°Sounds like a good story for when we are free. But first, let me take you to Mei. She is currently keeping watch at the entrance.¡± The wolven turns and waves to follow. Quasi orders his crew to sit tight while he hops on Yuto¡¯s shoulder. They depart from the current room and make their way to the [Major]. IC God Games - B4 - Chapter 117: Honor X Foot Mei lifts her head out over the palisade- at the dozens of Fenrimorph corpses spread at the entrance. Her snout wiggles in distaste at the smell, for much of it has started going rancid. She wishes she can clean the mess, or at least smother it in alcohol. But alas, it is this smell which protects them from being found. A temporary measure, for the smell will eventually fade away. And when it does, the monsters will sniff them out. ¡°[Major]. Someone is coming.¡± She hears one of her [Guards] warn. So Mei turns, her eyes bulging under her armored mask at the sight of Yuto. ¡°Stay vigilant,¡± She orders the [Guards] and leaves the palisade. ¡°Jiro, I thought you¡¯d told me your brother should be aboard the ship.¡± Jiro grins. ¡°He was.¡± ___________________________________________________
Mei Kobayashi: Level 62 [Major]]
The first thing I notice about Mei is her adorned, handcrafted mask that shows some similarities to a Fenrimorph. It has small horns atop the mask and four red circles near the eyes- none of which is useful in combat, but it does create something of a dangerous aesthetic. ¡°Jiro, I thought you¡¯d told me your brother should be aboard the ship.¡± The woman exclaims, completely ignoring my presence on Yutos¡¯ shoulder. ¡°He was.¡± Jiro answers. Then nods his head to his brother. ¡°[Major] Mei.¡± Yuto bows. ¡°I have returned to offer salvation off this island.¡± The female wolven removes her mask to reveal a scowl. ¡°And how will you do that?¡± ¡°I have a plan, Honored Mei. A Good plan.¡± Jiro winces as Mei¡¯s scowl deepens. ¡°Your plan endangers those I am responsible to protect!¡± She growls and spreads her hands. ¡°Other than having the inquisition at your back, what plan do you believe will allow everyone to escape with our lives?¡± ¡°Dayum,¡± I can¡¯t help but voice aloud. ¡°Are you normally this much of a bitch or is the stress just getting to you?¡± And like that, her anger shifts to another. Though, that anger is slowly being replaced with confusion. ¡°A [Captain]?¡± ¡°A cat [Captain],¡± I correct. ¡°And you¡¯ve yet to answer my question.¡± ¡°Mei,¡± Jiro quickly interrupts. ¡°Yuto and honored Quasi have come with an effective plan to escape and the support of many [Elite Guards] to make such a plan possible.¡± Mei returns her scowl, shifting it back to Yuto. ¡°And what plan is that?¡± Yuto bows. ¡°Your uncle Hekima is positioning the Wolverine past the rice fields. If we traverse the wetland, we can escape before the Alpha can effectively respond.¡± ¡°And how will we safely get to the fields? The moment even a single Fenrimorph sees us, we will be swarmed.¡± ¡°Through the tunnel leading to the fields.¡± Yuto explains. Mei frowns, her head shifts to Jiro. ¡°You told me the tunnels lead into the city.¡± Jiro scratches the side of his head. ¡°One of them also leads to the rice paddies.¡± ¡°There are dozens of tunnels. Do you know which one?¡± She asks. When the brothers are unable to answer, it becomes quite clear to me why her first impression is to be annoyed. She sighs. ¡°Rest and recover. I¡¯ll open the tunnels and send someone to ascertain the correct one. Then we¡¯ll prepare and depart.¡± Yuto and Jiro bow while Mei shifts her focus to me. ¡°As for you, if you insult me again, I will end your dishonorable life.¡± I can¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°End me? Oh please, I could easily sla-.¡± Yutos¡¯ hand smothers my mouth. ¡°Honorable Quasi is exhausted from his battle against Elder Ning.¡± He says quickly. ¡°His thoughts are muddled. Please forgive him for his dishonorable words. They are not born from malice.¡± She glares at me with disdain, not at all believing Yutos¡¯ words, but decides against aggravating the situation. ¡°Yuto, go rest and take the [Druid] with you. Jiro, lead me to the [Elite Guards]. I will have to incorporate them into a proper defensive formation.¡± _________________________________________________________ Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Once far enough from the [Major], Yuto removes his hand from my mouth. ¡°Honorable Quasi, please do not aggravate her. Mei has a temper only Akio could hope to suppress. And now, with his death, I imagine it is far more easily flared.¡± ¡°I can suppress her anger real easily. I¡¯d barely need to lift a paw.¡± I grumble. ¡°How does someone like that become the leader of the [Guards]?¡± Yuto sighs. ¡°Skill, levels, and hard work. She is fair and honorable in her dealings with others, but will not accept anyone to belittle her in the slightest.¡± ¡°Sounds like she¡¯s got far too much pride.¡± Yuto raises an eyebrow as he continues walking. ¡°And you don¡¯t?¡± ¡°Hey, my pride is justifiable. Hers is much less so. By the way, where are we going?¡± Yuto shakes his head at my words, though there is a smirk. He turns a corner to reveal a candlelit cavern, a large carpet, and the tower''s entrance. Incense wafts through the room as a dozen wolven are in the midst of prayer. The smoke is prevalent, but not so much as to be annoying. ¡°You mentioned you wish to enter the tower.¡± Yuto explains. ¡°With the need to find the entrance, we are afforded additional time. Will you return soon enough before we depart?¡± ¡°Depends on what I find inside.¡± I say. I glance up at the plague. Here lies the test of the Priestess. Through Intelligence you will choose the correct path. Through Perception you will find the outliers. Through Vitality you will gain wisdom. Oh? Is this one of those none-combat tests? Am I actually not going to have to kill or fight anything? I guess I can go alone then. ¡°This might actually be quick.¡± Yuto nods. ¡°Do you want me to ask everyone here to leave?¡± He asks. When I look at the wolven, each and every single one of them is in deep prayer, all with their backs to us. ¡°No need. Just inform my team that I¡¯m inside.¡± With but a thought, my form shifts into a bird. I ascend into the sky and dive into the tower at a speed few would notice. ______________________________________________________________ Yuto watches Quasi dive inside, a feat he¡¯d thought impossible. Some of the praying Wolven do notice their movement, but quickly decide it as a trick of the mind. After a good minute of staring, Yuto turns around and returns to the others. Upon his arrival, he finds that the reorganization is fully underway. Mei is already giving orders to the [Elite Guards] while Jiro is conversing with Quasi¡¯s team. Yuto approaches his brother. ¡°Quasi has chosen to rest at the tower,¡± He informs them on approach. ¡°He says it might not take too long.¡± Quasi¡¯s crew nod knowingly at his words, though his brother grows curious. ¡°At the tower? Is he praying?¡± ¡°In a way, yes. But that''s not important right now. I wish to speak to you about Elder Ning.¡± Yuto starts. ¡°I just heard the full story from the [Air Mage],¡± Jiro says. ¡°It seems as though Steel Fur isn¡¯t going to go down easily.¡± ¡°Eight horns. I believe the larger bulk is thickening his fur and improving his skill,¡± Yuto says. He taps his sheathed katana. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if my blade will be adequate.¡± Jiro shakes his head. ¡°It won¡¯t. I couldn¡¯t end him with my sword when he was at two horns. But, now that you¡¯re here, I may have a solution. Follow for a moment..¡± Yuto follows Jiro for a minute to the entrance of a small storage room. ¡°Wait outside.¡± Jiro enters. He returns shortly after with something that has Yuto¡¯s eyes wide open. With a grin, Jiro extends the Odachi to his brother. Hesitantly, Yuto accepts the larger weapon. ¡°After my fight with Elder Ning, I traveled to his residence and found Severing Sky still sheathed next to a barrel of sake. I believe Ning was heavily intoxicated when a Fenrimorph attacked.¡± Jiro explains. Yuto frowns sadly. ¡°His inability to accept his past is what led him to this.¡± He unsheathes the Odachi and stares at the fourteen runes etched onto the blade. The metal glints from the firelight for a moment before Yuto sheathes the blade into the thick metal scabbard. ¡°You will need to wield it against Ning.¡± ¡°Me? Not you?¡± Jiro chuckles. He wiggles the remains of his elbow. ¡°Not with a single arm. And before you say Mei, she doesn''t have an activatable skill to fully utilize Ning¡¯s blade.¡± Yuto runs a claw down the metal scabbard, enjoying the feel of the scratched metal. It is a weapon made to not only cut flesh, but of metal. It is, Yuto admits, morbidly funny that Ning carries a weapon capable of ending his own life. Yuto bows. ¡°I accept the responsibility. If Ning shows up on our escape, I will make sure his end is swift.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Jiro nods. ¡°Ning would want that.¡± The wolven man shifts his weight to the side and leans next to a barrel. ¡°Since we have time, do you mind telling me more about Quasi?¡± ¡°Why?¡± Yuto asks nervously. Jino sighs and points at Yutos¡¯ bristled tail. ¡°Because everytime you¡¯re trying to keep a secret from me, your tail bristles. The same thing happened when you spoke of Quasi praying. There is clearly something you¡¯re not telling me.¡± Yuto frowns. He can feel the expectant gaze of his brother and the want for information. But he shakes his head. ¡°I have sworn to secrecy.¡± ¡°So there is something.¡± Jino frowns. ¡°Mei¡¯s intuition is always impressive.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not something dishonorable,¡± Yuto quickly adds. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°I- um, maybe?¡± Jino sighs. ¡°You are too trusting.¡± ¡°He offered to explain, but I refused. I did not want the distraction.¡± Yuto explains, but that only has Jino frowning further. ¡°Tell me.¡± ¡°I swore.¡± Jino takes a breath and releases it. ¡°Yuto, as the eldest brother and acting head of the Yamamoto clan on Kyoshi, I order you to tell me what you are keeping secret.¡± ¡°B-but that''s not fair. That¡¯s dishonorable!¡± ¡°Then let the dishonor fall upon the Yamamoto clan as a whole. If there is truly no dishonor, then a greater debt will be provided to Quasi.¡± Yuto growls at his brother in anger, but Jino does not even flinch. He merely waits until the eventuality. ¡°Fine. Do you remember the rumors about individuals entering the towers?¡± ¡°They are just rumors.¡± Jino answers, but Yuto is already shaking his head. ¡°They are not.¡± Yuto counters angrily. ¡°Quasi transformed into a bird and entered inside.¡± Jinos eyes widened. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Yuto nods. ¡°I saw it myself.¡± ¡°For what reason? What is inside? Is he speaking with the divine?¡± Jino asks. ¡°I don¡¯t know and I refused to ask. I only asked that what he does inside is not dishonorable.¡± ¡°Idiot! Why? There are countless theories of what can be found within. How are you not interested?¡± ¡°Because I do not need such thoughts plaguing my mind. Not until those I care about are free from danger,¡± He growls. Jino quickly goes silent at his younger brother''s words. Only now remembering he¡¯d forced him to break his oath and thus dishonor himself. ¡°Keep quiet about this until we are off the island.¡± He orders his brother. ¡°If we survive and Quasi is determined to have acted in honor, I will make sure he is exceptionally awarded.¡± Yuto shakes his head, turns, and then begins walking away. ¡°What is the point of one''s honor if the head of a clan can step on it on a whim.¡± IC God Games - B4 - Chapter 118: Explosions! Once again I find myself alone within a tower, this time hopeful that the test will involve less combat and more reasonable enemies. With luck, I won¡¯t have to deal with an indestructible stone serpent thing. Then again, did I really need to kill it? I mean, it¡¯s not like I found the key inside its body. I found it quite a bit away from the it¡¯s corpse. For all I know, I didn¡¯t exactly blast it out of the body. It could have just been on the floor the entire time¡­ I shake my tiny bird head to avoid such thoughts and ascend up the stairs via flight. Regardless of whether there was a significantly easier way to beat the last tower doesn''t matter anymore. What¡¯s done is done. All I can do is move forward. That key was completely dry too¡­ Reaching the top floor of the tower, I cancel my transformation into something quite a bit more durable before exiting. Upon exiting the tower, the first thing that graces my eyes is complete whiteness. An extremely dense white fog smothers my vision, limiting what I can see to only a foot away from my eyes. It is rather disorienting, moreso because I have six eyes. Ahhh, yes. A nice little fog test. Find the tower without the ability to see. Heh, too bad I can cheat. With but a mental command, I transform into my bird form with the expectation the fog isn¡¯t going to restrict a different wavelength. Damn. Though I cannot see the fog, what I can see is the extreme concentration of mana everywhere. It¡¯s like trying to see through a ship''s hull, except the hull is literally the air. With an upset tweet, I shift back into my Fenrimorph form. Looks like I¡¯m using my other senses. Closing all my eyes and taking a deep breath, I focus on my sense of smell, hearing, and touch. A surprisingly potent combination given the superior senses of a Fenrimorph compared to a human. From my smell, I am inundated with the scent of soil- a combination of petrichor, decaying leaves, and the earthy smell of bark. From touch, I feel a soft wind caress my fur. From hearing, I can hear the creaking of branches and the flutter of leaves. Damp forest with a little wind. Considering the weak smell of decay, the climate reminds me of spring. This would be a pretty nice forest to traverse if not for the fact I can¡¯t hear any animals or insects. Either this is part of the test, or this forest is rather dangerous. After standing for a good five minutes, I begin walking forward, purposely indenting my feet into the ground so as to create tracks I can follow if I need to return. Eventually, I came near my first tree. Or more accurately, the tree slams its branch into me. I feel barbed spikes penetrate my flesh, followed by the branch retracting, pulling some of my flesh with it. I hop back, grimacing at the pain- grimacing further as a numbness spreads from where I¡¯d been struck. Of course I¡¯m going to be attacked by poisonous trees. I growl in the direction of where the attack had come from. Just once, I¡¯d love to have a test that doesn¡¯t involve some kind of violence. While I wait for my regeneration to remove the poison and heal the damage, I listen to the movements of the tree''s limbs. So far, no new attack lands, which reveals that the tree is immobile. I could go around it, but that¡¯s not going to solve the problem of dealing with monster trees. Once fully healed, I¡¯ve listened enough to create a mental landscape of the tree itself. I bend my knees and call up my mana. I start forming runes within my elbow, preparing a payload. Lets see how fireproof your bark is. I extend my legs and hop towards the tree, my arm pulled back and ready. The moment I¡¯m in range of getting struck, I tilt to the left and hear the whistle of wind as a branch flies past. I tilt right, then left, dodging two more swings before I finally reach my destination. With my gauntleted fist, I slam into the bark of the tree, ripping apart the numerous spines covering it. The bark shatters and breaks, allowing my arm to enter inside. It is only now that my spell activates. Fire and flame burst from my arm, expanding the hole and rapidly engulfing the tree. I hop back quickly to avoid retaliation, not that that can happen, for it seems the tree is quite internally flammable. The entire thing is completely alight, with a potency enough that I can even see the burning outline through the fog. As the tree seems to wiggle in what seems like excruciating pain, I can¡¯t help but feel that not only is the temperature increasing, but the trees seem to be burning brighter and brighter. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Something is wrong. The same moment I get such a thought is the same moment a pillar of flame violently erupts into the sky from within the tree. As it does, the fog follows the eruption, ascending into the sky and creating a moment where I can not only see the sky, but I can see above the fog. It is at this moment that I briefly see the tip of a tower, barely visible in the distance. Then the fuel is used up and the fog rapidly returns in full force, leaving me with singed fur, a slightly charred arm, and the smell of ozone. You know, it''s probably going to one day bite me in the ass if I continue to rely on my regeneration. Shaking my head, I start making my way in the direction of where I saw the towers tip. __________________________________________________________ For the next eight hours, I have smothered the sky in ash and created eighty-seven bonfires, simultaneously laying down the preparations for a road through a murderous forest. With each tree I burn on my way to the tower, I find that not only are the trees larger and more dangerous, they also burn brighter and quite a bit longer. By my ninetieth tree, I finally reached where the tower should be. What I found is another tree. A massive tree, one considerably larger than those I¡¯ve been destroying. The tree is fully engulfed around the lower end of the tower, completely blocking any ability to find the entrance. Time for one last bonfire. Over the hours, I¡¯ve become progressively better attuned to my other senses, so when I approach the tree with a spell ready and my arm retracted, I can feel the slightest rumble under my feet. I hop left, avoiding a spiked root as it attempts to puncture me. Grimacing, I feel the earth tremble with even more movement. Alright, root spears are something new. With each rumble, I dodge and twist, thanking the fact that the sentient trees aren''t capable of greater thought. With the quantity of shifting roots, it would be childs-play to intercept my dodges. Thankfully, the attacks stay simple, albeit constant. After dodging a good minute and getting a good feel of the pattern, I start dodging closer and closer to the tree. The roots grow exponentially larger, but not faster. Unfortunately, it is when I get closer that I¡¯m immediately forced to backtrack to avoid a dozen branches. I¡¯m going to need a lot of mobility if I¡¯m to effectively approach. Dancing to avoid the roots, I prepare several spells within and throughout my body. Runes coat just under my skin, ready and waiting to be activated. Next I prepare a potent fire spell, one powerful, but not powerful enough to destroy my gauntlet. Once the preparations are done, I take my stance and bend my legs. I¡¯d rather not do this blind, but I don¡¯t exactly have a choice. Maybe I could have turned into a wyvern, but those roots are thick enough to crush scales, not to mention I need to strip the bark before I can set the damn tree on fire. A moment before a root is about to penetrate out of the ground, I extend my legs and leap towards the tree, the ground shatters under my feet. Focusing on my sense of sound, I listen to the intercepting branches. As the branches move to intercept, I activate the wind spell Ventus. A gust of wind from my side explodes outward, shifting my aerial trajectory to avoid the branches. When I land, I leap again close to the tree. More branches come my way, followed by more spells going off and pushing my body to dodge. With each spell I activate, I lose both fur and skin, but I ignore the pain and damage. Unlike with Ignis, Ventus is far less dangerous on account of it being an explosion of air and not fire. By the time half my skin is removed, I¡¯ve arrived near enough to the tree. A final leap and growl sends me hurtling at the tree itself. I swing my armored gauntlet and shatter through the surprisingly thick hull, wherein my entire gauntlet submerges in an extremely thick nectar-like fluid. This fluid is not only flammable, but violently so. It is the sole reason that the trees instantly burn from a single spell. The problem now is that the quantity of this flammable sap was miniscule in all the previous trees. Now though, my hand is completely engulfed in it. Oh, this is so going to fucking hurt. The Ignis spell in my arm flows down to my fist and violently releases my payload. _______________________________________________________________ Three working eyes open to the sight of an enormous flaming pillar accompanied with the smell of burnt Fenrimorph flesh. Looks like I survived. I lift my head and glance around to find that my entire left arm, gauntlet included, is completely gone. Well, mostly. I force myself to stand, though with difficulty. My skin is now charcoal and quite a bit of my muscles are now medium rare. Thankfully, I can already feel my regeneration going into overdrive alongside my increasing hunger. As I stand there and wait for my body to do its thing, I take a moment to glance around for my gauntlet while the fog is lifted. Or better yet, the key. Neither of which immediately presents itself to me. After five minutes of searching and finding nothing, the vortex sputters out, once again allowing the fog to return. By this point, most of the important aspects of my body have regenerated. All of my eyes are working, organs are back online, and my muscles have regenerated to the point I can easily move around. Unfortunately, my left arm is taking a while to regenerate. I¡¯ll need to eat soon. With the fog returned, continuing my search for my gauntlet wouldn¡¯t be very effective. Instead, I make my way to the tower. Pushing away the burning remains of the tree boss, I finally reach the tower. When I arrive at the entrance, I can''t help but breathe a sigh of relief. There is a key already inserted into the door. I turn the key and open the door. When I enter the tower, I find my vision returned. The fog seems to be unable to penetrate inside. With familiarity, I descend down the stairs to the bottom, wherein I¡¯m met with a crystal ball and the card within. The card is a picture of a massive spiked tree accompanied by numerous branches and several rings of fog surrounding it. Out of all the previous towers with all its monsters and bosses, somehow the tower that almost kills me involves an immobile sentient tree. Shaking my head, I place my hand on the crystal ball. It shatters. I then pick up the card.
Through Intelligence, you have found the way forward.
Through Perception, you have avoided confrontation.
Through Vitality, you have withstood the fog.
Test of the Priestess completed. Notifying the World System¡­
Priestess completion identified¡­ Activating blessing interface¡­ Restricting Blood Flow to brain¡­
IC God Games - B4 - Chapter 119: Blessing of the Priestess White room returns with another card flying atop the sky, accompanied disappointingly by a single floating eyeball. ¡°Blue, I don¡¯t suppose the other eyeballs are going to show up later?¡± I ask. ¡°Negative.¡± ¡°Damn. So no level. You¡¯d think exploding a tree and barely surviving would level me.¡± Blue doesn¡¯t comment, completely content to wait patiently. I sigh. ¡°Alright, let''s just get this over with. Blue, what¡¯ve I got?¡± ¡°Entity Quasi Eludo, you have obtained the Priestess card. Please choose one of the following blessings:¡±
Blessing of the Priestess.
  • Priestess Intelligence.
    • +5% Intelligence
    • [Advanced Spatial Cognition]
      • Create mental maps of your surroundings at will.
  • Priestess Perception.
    • +5% Perception
    • [Infrared Vision]
      • You are able to see temperatures at will.
  • Priestess Vitality.
    • +5% Vitality
    • [Efficient Metabolism]
      • Food sustains you 300% longer.
Reading through the offerings, I find them all to be rather useful to some extent. [Advanced Spatial Cognition] is simple enough. It seems like it would allow me to create a mental map of my surroundings whenever I want and with not only greater detail, but greater speed. A perfect skill to have had for this test. Now though, it¡¯s probably much less useful, especially for a Fenrimorph. ¡°Decent, but rarely used. I doubt I¡¯d be placed in a situation where I¡¯m unable to see again. So Priestess Intelligence is probably out. The next one though, that could be useful.¡± Priestess Perception wouldn¡¯t necessarily have been useful against the trees unless they somehow modified their temperature, but outside of this test, the ability to see heat has many uses as a Fenrimorph. It allows me to see living things through walls and easily notice abnormal heat signatures. The downside is that my bird form already has a superior sight ability that can see wavelengths. Well, with the restriction that I can¡¯t see through extremely dense mana. ¡°Useful, but not absolutely required.¡± [Efficient Metabolism] is initially very simple, but possibly useful depending on how the effect works. If all it does is allow me to eat once every three days, then the skill is basically useless to me. I have no problems obtaining nourishment, nor am I a picky eater. As a Fenrimorph, I can eat anything that moves without problem. The real question to the skill is how exactly I am longer sustained. If my body is just better efficient at converting food into energy, then the skill becomes significantly more useful to me. One of the weaknesses to a Fenrimorphs regeneration is that the regeneration has a catabolic cost. If my caloric stores are low, my regeneration weakens and takes forever if at all. For example, my arm will likely take hours to regenerate if at all without additional food consumption. If the skill works as I think it does, that means the cost to regenerate my body decreases to a third. ¡°Then again, the skill only works when I¡¯m getting hit. It¡¯s not like I¡¯ll be severely damaged all the time, right?¡± My question goes unanswered as I think back to every moment I¡¯d been severely wounded. I can¡¯t help but groan. ¡°Ughhh, every fucking tower so far,¡± I groan. I glance at the silent spectator with a pout. ¡°Blue, give me the Priestess Vitality blessing. Blue blinks. ¡°Choice: Priestess Vitality, accepted.¡±
Adding Title: Priestess Vitality¡­ Title Added successfully.
Title Name Priestess Vitality
Title Rank Tower
Title Effect +5% Vitality trait [Efficient Metabolism] Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
¡°Blessing application completed.¡± Blue blinks rapidly. ¡°Activating Reset Protocol.¡±
Reset Protocol Activated¡­ Teleporting Entity Quasi Eludo to entrance¡­ Teleport Successful¡­ Test of Priestess will reset once all entities leave the premises.
_______________________________________________________________ Waking up back at the initial tower, I find that my mana has fully recovered, my arm still missing, and the pangs of a gnawing hunger. I growl in annoyance alongside my empty belly. Damn, I need to eat. Hopefully I didn¡¯t take too long on my test. Hungry, I make my way down to the tower and glance at the opening and the empty room past it. Shit. Did they leave without me? Striding out of the tower and the moment I leave the barrier, I¡¯m quickly brought to my knees. SUBMIT! SUBMIT! SUBMIT! The mental force hits me like a truck as I sense the Alpha attempt to ascertain control over my mind. The psionic force is even stronger than when I was in the prison, but still nowhere near strong enough to do anything more than to stun me. Shaking my head, I recover quickly and frown as I turn towards the direction where the force originated. Of course the Alpha is in the damn rice fields. And with my luck, It¡¯s probably going to be directly in the path to the Wolverine. Transforming into a cat, I rush out of the room and to the storage. When I arrive, I find the place completely empty. Did they leave already? Shit, how long was I gone? Following their scent, I rush to a tunnel. At the side of the tunnel, someone carved the words Quasi. Rice fields through here. At least they left a message. I rush into the tunnel, dearly hoping that my crew is still alive. _______________________________________________________ Jiro watches with arms crossed as the last of the civilians enter the tunnel and make their way to the rice fields. As the last person enters, Jiro grimaces and turns. He strides to the tower to find his brother kneeling in prayer. An odd thing to see considering his brother isn¡¯t religious at all. Then again, seeing someone enter the tower does bode a great deal of interest. It creates questions that he himself would love to get answers to. Answers that unfortunately must wait for a better time. He approaches his brother until he is but a meter away. ¡°It¡¯s been hours now, Yuto. Preparations are complete and we can¡¯t delay any longer.¡± Jiro explains. Yuto sighs aloud. ¡°I understand. I just hope he is well.¡± ¡°His crew trust him to be alive, especially the large human in wyvernskin. He seems the most unbothered by Quasi¡¯s absence.¡± Yuto nods slowly. As his brother stands, Jiro can¡¯t help but admire Elder Ning¡¯s scabbard on his brother''s back. It is a hardy thing of metal, one that has slain the emperor''s enemies for a long time. ¡°Let''s go.¡± As the brothers reach the tunnel''s entrance, Jiro watches his brother stop and scratch a message at the side. Then they enter and rush through, quickly reaching the exit. When they do exit, it¡¯s clear that something has already gone wrong. ¡°They¡¯ve already left?¡± Yuto exclaims in surprise. Jiro grimaces. The plan was to wait for both of them first and then make their way across the fields. ¡°We need to catch up.¡± The two rush through the fields, their movement impeded somewhat by the knee-high water, but such a thing is easily overcome by their levels. When they do finally reach the group, the reasons for their abrupt departure is made clear. Fenrimorphs surround the group in numbers far denser than expected. Wherein they¡¯d expected to maybe deal with a dozen or two, Jiro can already see four dozen surrounding the convoy. Not an insurmountable number by any means, but a greatly unexpected one. ¡°Spitter!¡± Yuto warns. Before Jiro can react, he feels his brother push him to the side moments before a blast of water passes his previous location. Recovering immediately, Jiro follows the trajectory to find a finned six-horned Fenrimorph staring in their direction. The thing about Fenrimorphs that undergo Hoka-Kaeru is that not only do they grow stronger and adapt to their environment, but they also gain the ability to spit a projectile. Hence, they are also known as spitters. Somehow, this Fenrimorph must have been drowning to evolve in such a way. When Jiro looks at the other Fenrimorphs, the picture of why Mei chose to rush becomes clear. ¡°Seventeen spitters!" he warns his brother. ¡°Do we thin their numbers?¡± Yuto unsheathes his weapon and points it at the spitter. ¡°Rendezvous with Mei first.¡± Jiro orders. As the two rush to enter the circlement of the convoy, their position away from the larger group is noticed. Several Fenrimorph move to intercept. ¡°Save your skill,¡± Jiro warns his brother. When the first Fenrimorph arrives, it attempts a direct assault, one which would have been quite effective in the watery fields. But for a [Samurai], they are barely a restriction. Shifting his body to the side while simultaneously swinging his sword. The Fenrimorph misses its lunge by inches, while Jiro¡¯s blade slices through the monster''s neck, killing it instantly. Then Jiro steps to the side, dodging a thin line of water that explodes behind him. Yuto rushes forward, both hands firmly gripping the Odachi. Two more Fenrimorph rush at him, but his brother reacts appropriately with a dodge and swing as he had. Though he is more skilled than his brother in regards to combat on account of higher levels and age, the odachi makes easy work of Fenrimorph flesh. The long sharp blade slices through flesh like a scythe through wheat. When those two Fenrimorphs fall, the others back off, including the distant spitter. ¡°They¡¯re reforming. The Alpha is taking control. We need to catch up.¡± ¡°Agreed.¡± Yuto nods. The two brothers catch up and enter the moving convoy. They are then quickly directed to Mei. ¡°Jiro, Yuto,¡± she notices them approaching, her voice antsy. ¡°You¡¯re both late.¡± ¡°You left without us. I imagine our convoy was found.¡± Jiro says. Mei nods. ¡°One of the spitters hid under the water and noticed our group. It howled and now the Alpha knows our location.¡± She explains. ¡°The only saving grace right now is that we¡¯re far from the city, so if we move fast, we shouldn¡¯t need to deal with reinforcements.¡± Jiro nods. ¡°Good. So the plan is still underway. Where do you need us-¡± A nearby splash and explosion of water shifts their attention. Followed immediately with a violent howl. ¡°I need you over there to stop Elder Ning.¡± She raises a finger. ¡°Some of the [Elite Guard] and the three of [Druids] crew are keeping it at bay, but I¡¯m not sure they can win.¡± ¡°Elder Ning? Shouldn''t he be in the city?¡± Yuto asks. ¡°I don¡¯t know nor care.¡± She growls. ¡°Both of you, get over there and either kill or delay.¡± Yuto and Jiro share a look. They bow to Mei and then rush off to join the fight.