《Sadistic Player In A Fantasy Game World》 Acclimatization "Please help me, I don''t want to die." cried the girl in front of Gray. However Gray was frozen still in shock, he had never imagined that this new world would become so brutal. As the monster in front of Gray chomped down on the girl, gnashing her bones as it did, he gave out a sadistic smile. "Maybe I won''t be plagued by boredom anymore." laughed Gray, as the blood from her corpse splattered on his face. *** The start of this story goes back to a few days ago, an event the world now refers to as ''The Acclimatization''. On the outside, Gray seemed like your average high school kid. He wasn''t popular, but neither was he at the bottom of the school hierarchy either. "Gray, why do you always look so tired? Did you stay up all night playing New Frontier again?" asked one of his friends during recess, as they ate their meals on the school rooftop. "Of course he was, just look at what level he is." replied another one of his friends, showing the group a gameboid with Gray''s character stats. "Level 90 already? Isn''t the game still in its beta? Gray, aren''t you cheating?" Gray continued enjoying his meal, pretending not to hear the people around him. "Why does it feel like they follow a script? At this point, I can tell what they''re going to say before they say it." thought Gray as he munched down on his meal. "Gray, why do you only have dry bread for lunch? Do you want some of mine?" thought Gray as his friend said the exact same thing he had predicted. "Why are you treating him like a charity case? He''s obviously on a diet." thought Gray, and once again his prediction was on the mark, his other friend said exactly what he knew he would say. After school, Gray went straight home. Usually, this would be the time when people went for extracurricular activities, but not Gray. To Gray, everything was predictable, boring, everything except games of course. But even that would only last a short time. As he logged into New Frontier on his desktop, he was greeted by a series of messages and notifications. [How did you clear Vampire Valley so quickly?] [How are you already level 90? Are you cheating?] [When are you going to post the video of your Tower Boss solo raid?] Gray was what people referred to as a speedrunner in online games. At first, he played online games for the fun of it, but that soon died out. So he decided that he would try to complete them as fast as possible as a challenge, but even that slowly became boring. After posting several of his speedrunning videos on WatchTube he became famous, ofcourse no one knew who he was. He never once showed his name or personal information in the videos, he didn''t want the fame. He posted the videos simply because he wanted the money from the views. Although Gray looked like your average high schooler on the outside, he was actually plagued by responsibilities due to his deadbeat dad and drug addict mother. It wasn''t always like this, but after his mother started abusing drugs his family slowly fell apart. But Gray didn''t mind the way things were, he liked the freedom. Occasionally his father would come and beat him when he was angry, but Gray allowed it. It made him feel something in this numb, grey world, something other than indifference. "Here''s the payment for this week''s rent." "It''s the only thing you''re good for. Don''t forget that the rent''s increasing next week, and don''t you even think about moving somewhere else again," replied Gray''s father as he grabbed the money that Gray had offered him. Since both his parents weren''t working, there was a time that they were nearly evicted. Seeing that people made money from posting videos of their gameplay online he gave it a try as well. Once he got his first paycheck from gaming, he decided to help pay for his small family home. Seeing this his father decided to take advantage. It was something along the lines "You can''t expect to live in this house for free. If you''re getting paid then you''re going to have to start paying rent." Of course Gray knew it was absurd, but he paid it nonetheless. To him, it was entertaining seeing his father stoop so low. Clearly, there was something wrong with the way Gray''s mind worked, he knew that all too well himself. ["Oi look. GrayReaper is online."] ["Come raid with us."] Gray never actually replied to any of the pm''s he was sent. People thought that he was just a serious gamer and didn''t have time for friendships, but it was actually the opposite. Gray played solely for fun, even if he couldn''t make money off his videos, he wouldn''t mind being thrown out on the streets. To him life was meaningless, he was simply here to entertain himself and wasn''t looking to make any friends. [Level 92!] "This is boring." thought Gray as he was about to log off. [New Update coming in 8hours] "I''ll check it out once I wake up." yawned Gray as he shut down his desktop and went to bed. *** *drriinggg* *drriinggg* "What''s going on?" murmured Gray as he reached for his beeping phone. He didn''t even know which notification to look at first since his screen was filled with them. [South America and Australia gone missing.] [Towers appear in New-york city.] [Towers appear in London.] [New land masses have appeared all over the globe.] [Satellites show that the Earth has doubled in size overnight.] [The US Army has decided to send troops to new unidentified landmasses.] [Dragons are real?] Gray turned his phone off after reading the absurd notifications. "I need to unsubscribe to some of these newsletters." thought Gray as he went back to sleep. ================= Join the community ^^ Discord link: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Acclimatization Part 2 *drrringgg* "It''s 9 already? Guess I''ll be late for school again." thought Gray as he looked at the time on his phone, unsubscribing from all the newsletters once he was done. "I wish that the school building would get hit by a meteorite or something, anything. The mundaneness of it all is enough to make me want to kill myself." thought Gray as he walked to look at himself in the mirror. "Maybe I''ll change things up by smiling today?" wondered Gray as he played with his face, pulling the edges of his lips up into a smile. Though it was a smile, it didn''t look all too friendly. "Oh, that''s right. I''m late, aren''t I? I should probably start running." thought Gray as he put on his uniform and ran out the door for school. "The streets seem emptier than usual." However Gray didn''t stop to investigate. Right now his only goal was to get to school. "Wait, why am I running? It''s not like there''s going to be something new today." realized Gray as he stopped running and began walking at his own pace. He finally reached his classroom at 10, and ofcourse his teacher scolded him for being late. "Sorry, my mom needed help taking her medication," the excuse wasn''t completely bogus. His mother really did need help with ''medication'', ofcourse Gray just never helped her. "We all have our own problems to deal with. Take more responsibility for your mistakes and be on time next time." "Anyways settle down. I''m sure you''ve all read the hoax messages being passed around. And no, this does not mean that schools will stop. The government is looking into the weird structures that appeared in town, but before they give out an announcement we will continue as normal." "But teacher, I heard that monsters started to appear as well." "Nonsense, some irresponsible good for nothing probably started that rumor to scare people. Now if there are no further questions we will move on with today''s lesson." "I wish she would get hit by a bus. No, I wish she would be mauled to death by vicious beasts." thought Gray as his heart started beating rapidly, and his eyes dilated in excitement. As if on queue there was a reverberation in the air, sending all the students, chairs, tables, and other forms of furniture into the air, teacher included. Gray''s excitement only rose after this. "What''s going on?" asked one of the girls in class. "AAAAAAAAHhhhhhhh", a loud scream could be heard from a class on the lower floors, followed by the sound of desks moving and people running. "Stay calm. It was probably just an earthquake. Response teams should be on their way." said the teacher hesitantly as she looked out the window. *Hihihihihi* Gray turned to look at the door to find a weird-looking creature, with green skin, an unproportional head, and long teeth laughing as if it were a hyena. It wasn''t alone, there were maybe 4 or 5 of them, all holding swords or spears. "W-what is that?" screamed one of the girls in class as the creatures ran for the teacher, tearing her clothes off. The teacher tried fighting back, but they were simply too many. "Help! Help!" she screamed, but the students were too shocked to respond. "Please help me! I don''t want to die!" screamed the teacher, as the creatures removed her underwear and began defiling her body, stabbing her as they did. The children were locked to their desks in pure animal terror. Not a gasp came out of their mouths due to fear. The unexplained gruesome fear that was lay bare in front of them kept them from even breathing as they watched their teacher become nothing but a pile of meat. As the creatures chomped down on his teacher, taking turns defiling her as they did. Gray gave out a sadistic smile. "Maybe I won''t be plagued by boredom anymore." laughed Gray, as the blood from her corpse splattered on his face. As Gray was laughing, even more of those green monsters entered their classroom and began attacking students. "Wait, aren''t these goblins?" wondered Gray as one of them approached him. "Goblins, monsters of weak stature but higher intelligence than most. They''re weak without numbers," remembered Gray as his classmates screamed and howled in pain. Some were being raped, while others were simply being stabbed to death, but to Gray, this was something unexpectedly interesting. His heart was racing faster than it ever did before, and he had a genuine smile on his face as he heard his classmates scream in pain. With death knocking on his door, he felt more alive than ever before. "Attack them while they''re split up." thought Gray as he kicked the lone goblin in front of him. The goblins had grown too confident and dispersed, and since the humans were too scared to realize just how weak they were individually, they hadn''t even tried to fight back. However, once they saw one of their fellow goblins flung into the air, they began to group up. Attacking the weakest and most vulnerable first. Girls hid behind boys, while the boys stood still in horror. At first they had tried retaliating by throwing anything they could get their hands on, pens, chairs even desks. But now when faced with an entire horde all they could do was remain silent, waiting for their timely demise. Gray would''ve loved to stay and see how it ended, but he had to survive first. "The world seems to have gotten interesting overnight. There''s no way I can die right now." As Gray ran through the hallways, he saw blood splattered on all the walls. The sound of people screaming and goblins laughing filled the hallways as Gray ran for the exit. On his way he found a lone goblin defiling a girl. She had a spear stuck in her stomach, even if Gray helped her there was probably a low chance of survival. "H-hey! H-hey, you over there. P-please H-help me!" screamed the girl as she saw Gray come into vision. The exit was right past her, but Gray stopped, he stopped for her. Ofcourse, a lone goblin had the strength of a kid, and with its weapon stuck in the girl, it was like a sitting duck. "I remember her. She''s the school queen, she''s the one who finds pleasure in torturing others, bullying them, mentally abusing them. I don''t blame her though, everyone has their own definition of fun, however." "Enjoy that feeling of pain. After all, you''re only human." laughed Gray as he watched the goblin tug at the girl''s breasts, prompting her to scream in pain. Gray jumped over them and ran towards the exit. The bright sun temporarily blinding him as he opened the doors. ========================== Join the community ^^ Discord link: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Survivors "L-look, one of them is coming out!" "It''s just another student. Please keep calm, the police are on their way." Gray''s heart stopped racing, and his ragged breathing went back to normal as he saw the faces of some of his fellow schoolmates waiting outside. As he stared at the only survivors of this horrific event shiver in fear, Gray felt the excitement leave his body, the mundaneness of life returning like a cold during winter. "Maybe I should go back in," contemplated Gray. He was tired of seeing the world in black and white. Although he had only been face to face with death but a minute ago, he missed the feeling of uncertainty, of not knowing whether you would make it out alive or not. But what''s more, he missed hearing the cries and screams of his fellow classmates, the look of pure despair on their faces as they were met with something unexpected. Gray knew there was something wrong with him, but he was long past the point of actually caring. His thoughts were disturbed by the sound of sirens. "Look it''s the police." "We''re saved." A wave of relief passed among all the survivors, all of them except for Gray. "Sorry we took so long to respond. We''ve received several reports from areas all over town. It seems that this wasn''t the only place to experience an attack. Please describe to me what happened." said one of the police officers to the only teacher amongst the survivors. He seemed to have the highest rank among the police officers that arrived. The other police officers got into a formation and began approaching the building, moving past Gray as they did. "They might have hostages, so please proceed with caution." said the police officer who was talking to the teacher as the other police officers opened the door. *Hihihihi* The goblin that had been defiling the girl seemed to have gotten its fill and was waiting at the door for more prey. "What is that?" asked one of the police officers before getting stabbed in the stomach with a spear. *kukk* "Fire!" shouted another police officer,due to fear the police officers fired off more rounds then necessary. "This wasn''t mentioned during training." said a police officer as the dust settled and the lifeless green body of the goblin lay on the ground, filled with bullet holes. "Be careful" said a police officer as his comrade bent over to inspect the body. *fwii* An arrow came flying from inside the building and shot the police officer right in the head, spraying blood on the colleague who had warned him to be careful. "What''s going on?" asked one of the surviving police officers, clear confusion and dread on his face. He was answered by the sound of nearly 50 goblins laughing simultaneously, heading for the exit. "Open fire, don''t let them escape!" shouted a police officer as they opened fire on the goblins. The students who heard what was going on, still traumatized from what they had scene began running for their lives. If the police couldn''t deal with them, then they weren''t safe even if they stayed. "Please remain calm students. The police are trying their best." shouted the teacher, however she soon realized that they were right to run away. The swarm of goblins seemed endless. Although at first they seemed to be 50 at most, their numbers kept increasing, and sadly bullets weren''t infinite. The police officers soon ran out of bullets and became easy prey for the goblins. Ofcourse many tried running when they realized they couldn''t fight against a swarm of creatures, but the goblins quickly caught up to them and dragged them back. Dancing and playing on top of their corpses once they were killed. Gray was watching the scene from behind a nearby tree. The rush of blood returning as he saw the police officers struggle to survive. "They''re supposed to protect us?" laughed Gray as a police officer cried for help. By then all the students had already run away, and the remaining police officers had retreated in their police cars. "Huh? What''s that?" wondered Gray as he saw a humanoid creature on the school rooftop, looking down on the scene as well. The creature seemed like a goblin as well, but it was more humanoid, with more proportional features, and a bigger stature. "A goblin king?" As Gray was staring up at the goblin king he heard an announcement on the public address systems. "All surviving residents please make your way to the town hall. Military assistance will be provided. I repeat, all surv...." "So it''s gotten so serious that they called in the military? Well might as well go there anyway, it''s not like there''s anything fun left to do here." As Gray walked along the abandoned streets, he heard the occasional cry for help or screams of pain. Several buildings seemed to have been infested, and as enticing as it all looked, Gray began to speed up, afraid that he would meet his end before enjoying himself even more. As Gray approached the town hall he was stopped by a few guards dressed in military attire. After confirming he was entirely human they let him in. The scene looked straight out of an apocalypse film. Everyone looked scared, people were either crying, comforting their colleagues, or talking to themselves in hysteria. Gray went to lean against a nearby wall at the back of the hall, he made sure to note all the exits and windows as he walked there. "Attention please. As I''m sure you''re all aware, there have been strange creatures attacking the town." began a woman dressed in a black suit, she looked like she was part of the secret service. "We want answers!" "What''s going to happen to us!" Several survivors raised their complaints, finally having someone to blame in front of them. "We will get to that. First I want you to know that the government is trying its best to accommodate all the survivors. However, due to the unexpectedness of this crisis, food supplies will take a while to reach here-" "Reach here? Do you mean we have to stay in this hell hole?" shouted another survivor, causing a wave of whispers and shouts amongst the other survivors. "You have to understand that this town isn''t the only one that''s suffered attacks. Attacks have been reported around the globe. I''m sorry, but even if we had the resources to evacuate all of you, there''s nowhere to evacuate to." ========================== Join the community ^^ Discord link: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw New Vautis "So you''re just going to leave us here to die? How the hell are we supposed to survive with all those monsters roaming around," protested one of the survivors. "Like I said, the government is trying the-" [Welcome people of New Vautis. The Council greets you.] interrupted an autonomous voice before the government official could finish what she wanted to say. "Where is it coming from?" murmured a few people, looking around to see who was talking. [Congratulations on surviving the transmigration. Everyone who has made it this far shall be rewarded shortly.] "Cut the PA systems" whispered the government official to one of her aides. [As an additional reward for surviving, the council has decided to give you some information on this new world.] "It''s not working, I don''t think that the voice is coming from the PA systems," replied the aide. [As you''ve all noticed, New Vautis looks similar to your former planet. This is because it is a fusion of three worlds, the planet called Earth, the planet called Merrum, and the planet known as Shiva.] "What''s going on?" "A fusion?" murmured a few of the survivors, as the autonomous voice continued its announcement. [As such, lands that were once yours no longer have ownership. In this new world, all races will start from scratch. Only the powerful will have the right to own, and as is the law of nature, the weak shall perish to the strong.] "Perish to the strong? Wait does this mean that we''ll be wiped out by those creatures" The survivors began to feel restless, a feeling of impending doom suffocating them as they listened to the voice. [But fret not, we are not unfair. We are aware that there are races less gifted than others and have decided to introduce a system to watch over the planet''s development. The system shall be called Laplace, and it will help all people of New Vautis to have a chance at surviving till the end.] "System?" "Laplace?" "Is this some publicity stunt being pulled by the government?" "I don''t think so, look, the government officials look as confused as we are," [We will be watching. For now, this is goodbye.] said the voice before the room was filled with silence. [Welcome Player, to New Vautis.] [A skill tree has been created to contain any skills you may acquire.] [As your level increases, so will the number of skills you can own.] This time the voice sounded different, more human. And what made it even more discernable from the previous voice was the fact that "It''s in my head?" That was what everyone had just realized. The voice wasn''t something they were hearing but something that was playing in their minds instead. [Player Gray, as a reward for surviving the transmigration, the exclusive skill ''He who pleasures death'' shall be added to your skill tree.] said the voice in Gray''s head. "He who pleasures death?" thought Gray as all the survivors began to panic. "I''m going crazy," shouted one of the survivors, unable to cope with the new voice suddenly intruding into his mind right after facing such a traumatizing event. [He who pleasures death, an exclusive skill that allows the player to steal the skills of those who he has seen die. The skill will only activate if you saw the cause of death, deaths that were already in motion before being seen will not count.] [Only skills of an equivalent level to ''He who pleasures death'' can be stolen. Currently, only three skills can be stolen and used with the current level of this skill. Cooldown, 1 week] replied the voice. "It''s just like a game," thought Gray, as a high-pitched scream rang in his ears. "What was that?" murmured the people around Gray. "If the government won''t help me, then I''ll just help myself," shouted a man as he flung fireballs across the room. "So it''s already started? What happens when you give a weapon to a child? The same thing that happens when you give it to an adult, they''ll use it," laughed Gray inwardly as the town hall became a battleground. Everyone started unleashing their powers, at first it was used in self-defense, but it quickly escalated to an all-out frenzy. Some people tried raiding the government vehicles lined up outside, trying to take as many supplies as they could, but they were met with fierce opposition from the government officials who had gotten powers as well. The most notable of them was the woman dressed in black. With every flick of her finger, lightning shot out. Literally frying whoever it touched. Soon the town hall reeked of blood and sweat. What started off as just a puddle of blood now flooded the entire hall, making it hard to walk. Gray hadn''t moved from his corner ever since the fighting started. Instead, he studied those around him, looking at which powers would be the most beneficial to steal. "How about her," thought Gray as he laid his eyes on a woman who was manipulating the blood on the floor, shaping the blood into solid weapons. She was currently in a battle against the man who was shooting fireballs out of his hands. At the man''s feet were dozens of charred bodies, whose peeled skin floated on the pool of blood as the two fought, the smell of their burned corpses attacking Gray''s nostrils as he approached them. "I don''t think she''ll last too long," thought Gray as he snuck up on the two. "She doesn''t seem to be able to manipulate the blood directly, instead she can only make weapons from it. And whats more, is the delay time between each weapon she makes, if she was a bit more tactical with her ability she might''ve had a chance," "But as it is now," Just as Gray arrived few meters away from the fight, the woman was lit aflame, her screams piercing the air, causing even Gray to cover his ears in pain. As the fire burned her alive, her skin was peeled off, her eyeballs melting due to the intense heat and a yellow substance oozing from her orifices. [Would you like to steal the skill ''Blood Weapons''?] asked the voice. "Yes," replied Gray with a satisfied smile on his face. [The exclusive skill ''Blood Weapons'' has been added to your skill tree.] [Blood weapon, use blood to create weapons of your liking. However weapons are limited to one''s that you are familiar with, and for every weapon, there is a required price to pay in blood. The full blood price does not have to come from the user''s own blood, however, a small portion of user''s blood will be used with every weapon created. Cooldown 60 seconds,] "I guess it''s my turn to have fun," smiled Gray as he created a spear out of blood and threw it at the flame-throwing man before he had time to react. ========================== Join the community ^^ Discord link: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Fire and Blood "Fuck! Who threw that?" shouted the flame-throwing man as he fell to his knees in pain. "Oh, did I not throw it hard enough?" asked Gray, with a hint of genuine curiosity in his voice. The blood spear had managed to pierce through the flame-throwing man''s skin, however, only a few centimeters of its tip had actually penetrated through. "Are you insane!?", the flame-throwing man still confused about what was going on shot out fireballs in self-defense. However Gray easily dodged the poorly aimed fireballs by ducking under them. "You''re never going to hit anything if you don''t aim properly," said Gray as he grabbed one of the corpses that was floating on the pool of blood beneath him. As he did this, the flame-throwing man removed the blood spear from his back and used his fire to close the wound. "You''re dead kid!", once the spear was out of his back, the flame-throwing man began throwing a barrage of fireballs at Gray. However, Gray had predicted this and used the corpse he had picked up to protect himself from the barrage. "Aren''t you a bit too far? Maybe you should come closer and try again," taunted Gray. "Why you!" the flame-throwing man was quickly losing patience and decided to move closer to get a better angle on Gray. When the flame-throwing had man moved closer, Gray tossed the corpse he had been using to protect himself into the pool of blood, creating a splash of blood that acted as a smokescreen. Whatsmore is that some blood entered the flame-throwing man''s eyes, effectively blinding him. "I''m coming for you," taunted Gray in a musical tone, as if he were having the most fun he had ever had. The flame-throwing man, having his vision blinded, shot out fireballs left, right, and center, trying to create a space between him and Gray and prevent himself from being killed while he was still blinded. However, Gray wasn''t actually charging after his blinded opponent. Instead, he began circling the man, creating another blood spear as his opponent tried rubbing the blood out of his eyes with one hand and shooting out fireballs with the other. As the two fought, most of the remaining survivors who weren''t currently in battle watched them intently. For a while, the flame-throwing man had been the most dangerous obstacle due to his ability. "Oh look, we have an audience," laughed Gray. The scene was truly shocking to say the least. Gray''s face was covered in dried-up blood from the corpse he had picked up earlier, his hands were stained crimson red, and his clothes were soaked in blood as well. "Why isn''t he finishing him off?" murmured one of the remaining survivors. Out of all the people that got exclusive skills, of course not all of them were offensive. Some people got more defensive abilities, while some got seemingly useless abilities as well. So they could only hope that someone else would take out the homicidal flame-throwing man. "Where''s the fun in that?" asked Gray as the flame-throwing man finally got the blood out of his eyes. "Listen here kid, I don''t know which mental asylum you escaped from, but I''ll turn you into charcoal before they take you back," shouted the flame-throwing man, fed up with Gray''s antics. The flame-throwing man held out both his palms, aiming directly at Gray, this time they were just a few meters away from each other, and Gray and nothing to shield himself with. "Your dead," smiled the flame-throwing man as he tried shooting out fireballs, but nothing came out. "What the hell?" the flame-throwing man tried once again but to no avial. "Ahh, it seems you''ve run out of mana. What? Did you think you could just throw fireballs out infinitely? Even I know there''s a rule of equivalent exchange." said Gray calmly as if he had been expecting it. Gray slowly walked towards his now defenseless opponent, dragging his feet through the pool of blood as he did. The flame-throwing man tried running, but tripped over a corpse and fell face-first into the pool of blood. The blood of some of his victims invading his nose, nearly drowning him. "W-wait, you don''t have to do this. L-look, if we work together we can easily take control of this area. W-what do you say?" smiled the flame-throwing man nervously, trying to save his ass. "Hmm, work together you say? Interesting. Okay, I accept, but only if we do what I want first," "O-of course" replied the flame-throwing man happily. The people who had been watching began to flee the scene, realizing that the two of them were capable of eliminating everyone if they tried. The only people that stayed behind were what was left of the government officials. "We can''t let those two work together," ordered the government official dressed in the back who had been addressing the survivors earlier. "Okay, so first order of business. Entertainment," smiled Gray as he stabbed the flame-throwing man''s thigh with his blood spear. The man screamed out in pain, as blood gushed out of his thigh, some of it spraying onto Gray''s face. "Do you know what I just punctured? My biology teacher calls it the femoral artery. One of the major blood vessels in the thigh." The man didn''t seem to hear Gray, he was too focused on trying to stop the bleeding however he had already lost too much blood and was struggling just to stay conscious. "Do you know why I stabbed you there? My teacher claims that if a human is stabbed there they would pass out after a few seconds, however, that''s not what I''m interested in. What I want to know is, on a scale of 1 to 10 how much does it hurt?" asked Gray, however, the flame-throwing man was already unconscious. "Well that''s no fun, he died before answering my question," said Gray with disappointment in his voice. Gray''s breathing returned to normal, the smile on his face slowly disappeared as the adrenaline that had once coursed through his veins dried up. ========================== Join the community ^^ Discord link: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Recruitment? "Huh? Why isn''t it working?" wondered Gray, as he failed to steal the flame-throwing man''s power for the third time. [Skill ''He who pleasures death'' is on cooldown. Time remaining: 6 days 23 hours 59 minutes.] replied the voice in Gray''s head. "Fuck, I forgot about the cool down, it seems I''ll have to come back for it later." thought Gray as he was about to hide the body in a safe place so he could return to retrieve the power once his skill was off cooldown. "What now?" wondered Gray as he noticed the government officials approaching him. They had grim expressions on their faces as they looked at Gray, the image of his insanity still etched into their minds. "A-are you sure we should be trying to recruit people like him ?" whispered one of the aides that walked beside the woman who looked to be part of the secret service. "Shits hit the fan. The higher-ups have already become aware of the situation and have ordered the recruitment of talented individuals. And as mental as the kid may seem, he fits the bill," Gray tried walking away once he saw them whispering to each other. "This can''t be good," thought Gray as he realized how messed up the situation seemed. He, a 17-year-old kid, was covered in the blood of the man he had murdered. And what''s more, is that a second ago he looked like he was enjoying it. "P-please hold on," called out one of the aides. "My name is Agent Ria, a captain of the Emergency Response Division. We noticed how well you took care of that criminal and would like to recruit you to join a new division that has recently been created by the government." said the woman dressed in black once Gray had stopped. "Criminal huh? So that''s how they''re going to play it," thought Gray as he listened to what the woman had to say. "Of course incentives for working for us will be provided. For now, I''ll just need your assistance in gathering other individuals and getting back to HQ in one piece." "Agent Ria. I don''t mean to sound rude, but do you think that the government will survive this incident? I mean look at you already, trying to recruit a minor, to commit what should still be considered murder. Sure I killed this man, but it was just in self-defense," replied Gray, using the most innocent voice he could manage. "However you look at it, the world as we know it has changed, you heard what the voice said. We have no ownership of land that was previously ours, doesn''t that mean that the government now has no authority over this new country?" asked Gray, as if it were a question he was genuinely concerned with. "W-well," stuttered Ria, She had also realized this fact, however, she had a sense of duty towards her work. If the world governments didn''t try to do something, then the world would be flung into chaos. "The government is adapting to the situation. After all, the government is the people, not the land. So long as there are people, there will be a government to help those people," "Sigh, I suppose your right. However I can''t join you," replied Gray once he realized that debating with agent Ria would not bear any fruit. "Why? Don''t you want to help the people? There are people who weren''t as lucky as you in the power draw, don''t you feel a sense of duty to protect those weaker than you?" Gray nearly couldn''t contain his laughter. "For an adult, she''s rather naive isn''t she," thought Gray, trying his hardest to prevent himself from bursting out in laughter. "I''m just a kid. I''m not cut out for doing scary stuff like saving the weak. I''m still traumatized from having to kill this man, if anything I''m just lucky that my teacher told me about the femoral artery so I didn''t have to stab him in the heart." replied Gray, still hiding under the guise of an innocent child. "There''s no way this kid is sane. We all saw him smiling as he killed that man. I say we take him out now before he becomes a nuisance later on," whispered one of the aides to agent RIa. "We will not be killing a minor just because he killed a man to defend himself. Sane or not, we can''t let ourselves fall victim to whatever is causing these changes," replied Ria before talking to Gray again. "Look, I know that it might seem difficult, but if you ever change your mind just give me a call. If you''re looking for a safe place for you and your family to stay, our doors will always be open," said Ria as she gave Gray a business card. "T-thank you," replied Gray before putting the business card into his pockets. "Your doors are always open huh? I wonder if this opportunity would be available to me if I didn''t have these powers?" thought Gray sarcastically as he turned to go home. "Are we really going to let that maniac roam free? You saw what he did to that man, didn''t you? You saw the pleasure he had while doing it right?" asked one of the aides as Gray was leaving the hall. "Better a maniac hiding behind a mask, then one baring their fangs in the open. Unlike the flame-throwing man, he didn''t commit any mass murder. If he wanted to, he could''ve hunted down every single person here if he actually found pleasure in killing people that much," "I believe he''s a necessary evil. It won''t be long before he realizes he can''t make it in this new world alone and come knocking on our doors. And we''ll accept him with open arms, ofcourse he will have to work for us if he wants to keep his family safe," smiled Ria as she and her group left for their armored vehicles as well. "Call HQ, tell them we''ll be returning once we collect a few more talented individuals," said Ria as she entered a black Mercedes. "Pfft. Protect my family?" laughed Gray once he had left the hall, throwing away the business card that Ria had given him as he did. "Why ever would I want to do that?" smiled Gray as he walked towards his house, a dangerous thought running wild through his mind. "I hope they have interesting powers as well. I wouldn''t want them to become easy prey for the monsters, after all my heart would be broken if I had to watch them be devoured. Might as well spare them the trouble." "Oh wait, I forgot to hide the body," remembered Gray as he turned around to finish the job. ========================== Join the community ^^ Discord link: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Family? After Gray had used a shovel he had found inside the tool cabinet of the town hall to dig a shallow grave, he buried the flame-throwing man''s corpse. Looking around to make sure that no one was watching him. "I hope his body hasn''t decayed to a large extent by the time I come back for him," thought Gray as he rubbed the dirt of his face and threw the muddy shovel to the side. "Now time to go home," Gray walked through the desolate streets, making sure that his footsteps were as loud as possible. It was as if he were just begging to be attacked by beasts of some sort. "I really want to test the limits of my new power. It would be nice if I were to stumble upon some monsters on the way home. I''m not too picky, even a monster dressed in human skin would be okay. " thought Gray as he finally reached his house. The front door hung on its hinges, well that''s if you could still call the fibrous splinters of wood that were left of it a door. Gray created a blood spear, consuming a good chunk of his blood to do so. As the blood price was paid, he felt a wave of nausea pass through his body, a painful reminder that every weapon he created came at a steep price. He walked through the front door into the kitchen. The kitchen sink gushing water onto the nearly flooded kitchen floor. The claw marks on the cupboards painted a vivid picture of the struggle that ensued earlier. "Hello!" called out Gray, his voice echoing throughout the seemingly empty house. Nobody answered. The house was completely silent, apart from the constant dripping of water, and other liquids. Gray entered his room, his pillows were piled on the floor, and his bed was a mess. All his drawers were open and it looked as if someone had been searching for something in a rush. "That bastard" whispered Gray under his breath. He found that his computer and all the money he had hidden in his drawers were gone. His father had probably stolen all of it. "Well, it''s not like money will make much of a difference in this new world anyway. Right now it''s just spoilt paper." thought Gray as he left his room and entered his mother''s room. "What the f-" A series of red blotches were painted along the walls. Small pieces of green were scattered within the red Picasso, giving Gray the impression that they were goblin corpses instead of human ones. "It seems that mother must''ve gotten a rather powerful ability. Though I worry for the people that she will come across. A drug addict with this much power is probably going to be the Joker incarnate." smiled Gray as he thought about how many foolish people must''ve died to his junkie mother already. Gray had a complicated relationship with his mother. She was once the person that Gray loved and looked up to the most, but after she had a miscarriage and started using drugs to help forget her pain, they slowly drifted apart. And when his father began drinking, he began to despise her more and more. That was when Gray started having a sadistical, nihilistic outlook on life. What little love he had for his parents died with the old Gray. "Well, she''s not my problem anymore, so long as we never meet. However, I''ll have to pay him back in blood." smiled Gray as he went through his father''s belongings. "Drats he took it," thought Gray. "Well, I can always find another gun somewhere else. If I''m able to analyze the way it works, I might be able to make blood firearms. Hopefully, the ability description works just as it says it does." smiled Gray as he read the ability description again. [...However, weapons are limited to one''s that you are familiar with...] "But if I go to a gun store there are bound to be other survivors looking to use the guns as a means of protection," thought Gray, but his contemplation was cut short by the sound of the autonomous voice that had been talking earlier. [Citizens of New Vautis. The first towers have been made active. Rewards for completing the tower floors will be awarded to those who succeed in doing it first.] [Dungeons and ruins have also been made active, rewards will be awarded for completing them first.] [Those who complete all the tower floors will be awarded S-rated rewards. Keep in mind that all races are allowed to participate in the tower, dungeons and ruin raids. A maximum number of citizens will be set for each raid. Good luck.] As the voice finished talking a shockwave reverberated through the air, sending Gray to the ground. Gray quickly ran outside to see what was going on, and that''s when he saw it. Giant pillars of red light shot out into the sky from the giant structures that have appeared all over the town. "This is becoming more and more like a game. I think I might actually be in love with this new world," laughed Gray hysterically as he thought of all the fun he would have while completing the tower levels. The number of bloodbaths he would have to fight through, and the number of weapons he would create to increase that bloodbath by using the spilled blood. Just as Gray thought that things couldn''t get any better, another shockwave reverberated through the air. A purple portal that seemed to exude a cosmical power appeared a few yards away from Gray. And out of it came a wolf-like beast. The beast sniffed the air and turned to look at Gray. It had grey scales instead of fur and had two long tusks protruding out of its face. It stood at an enormous 4meters, and its eyes gleamed with a burning bloodlust as it stared at Gray in hunger. "Isn''t this progressing a little too fast," said Gray with an awkward smile, clutching on to the blood spear in his hand ever so tightly. ========================== Join the community ^^ Discord link: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw First Dungeon "There''s no way I can beat this thing without a plan," thought Gray quickly. It was obvious that there was no way for Gray to overpower such a massive creature with brute force alone, so his brain began working on overdrive. Meanwhile, the beast stalked closer to Gray, like a lion on the prowl, growling with every step it took. "Yes, I love situations like these. Come at me!" shouted Gray with a wild smile on his face, trying to provoke the beast into attacking him hastily. The beast took the bait, the sudden shout agitated it causing it to charge towards Gray at full speed. "Sucker!" laughed Gray as he consumed a small amount of his blood to create a bladed tip on the other side of his spear, so that it was sharp on both ends. He quickly planted the spear into the ground at an angle, while at the same time creating another blood spear with the same design and planted it into the ground in the same manner alongside the first. The beast, charging towards Gray in a bloodlust craze didn''t care about the red sticks being planted into the ground. [Skill on cooldown: 60 seconds] resounded the voice in Gray''s head as he tried to make a third spear. However it was too late, the beast was already right in front of him. Gray stood still, cold sweat running down his face as he gambled his life on the spears in front of him. *Schloook*(AN: I know childish. But I couldn''t find a better stab sound) Blood sprayed from the beast as it was punctured by the two spears in front of Gray. The angle that the spears were in was just enough to pass through the spaces between the beast''s scales. However, that wasn''t enough, the beast quickly picked itself up, splattering blood onto Gray as it did. Trying to shake off the spears that had punctured the lower part of its body. "You aren''t very smart are you?" laughed Gray as a fountain of blood sprinkled onto him from the two holes in the beast''s torso. "Here let me help you," said Gray as he ran towards the side of the rampaging beast blinded by pain. Gray removed one of the spears that were embedded in the beast and used it to stab it in the eye. The beast began jumping up and down, flinging Gray several meters away as it did. "Fuck, I think I almost broke something," said Gray as he stood up. Dusting his clothes before turning to watch the beast bleed out. The beast repeatedly smashed into walls, post boxes, and other objects as its depth perception was ruined due to the loss of vision in one of its eyes. "You''re pretty resilient aren''t you. All this and you''re still not dead?" Gray ran towards the beast, using the blood that had sprayed on him to create a blood dagger. "Thanks for being my test dummy," said Gray as the beast roared in protest. Gray grabbed onto one of the spears that were still embedded in the beast, tugging at the beast''s flesh as he used it to carry all of his weight. The beast began roaring even louder as Gray climbed up its massive body using the spears as platforms. Gray had to use every ounce of muscle in his body just to stay on. "Reminds me of bull riding," laughed Gray nervously as he held on for dear life. Once he had claimed to the top, he used his dagger to stab the beast in its other eye, twisting the dagger once it had punctured its eyeball. "Wait, that''s not all," smiled Gray as he used the blood around him to change the properties of the blood dagger, turning it into a spear. The dagger grew in length within the beast''s eye, extending into a spear, as it did this the blade of the newly made spear punctured the beast''s brain, instantly killing it. The once rampaging beast turned into a lifeless carcass, its massive body plummeting to the ground. As the dust cleared Gray was still on top of the beast in a daze. "So my theory was right. I can use blood to change the properties of already made blood weapons. And what''s more is that it doesn''t even trigger the cooldown," "Anyway, I feel kind of, tired." thought Gray before collapsing onto the beast''s carcass. The blood all over his clothes painting the illusion that he was dead. Meanwhile, the portal changed from purple to blue and started giving off rhythmic humming sounds, as if calling out for someone to enter it. ***(A few minutes later) "What''s that?" asked a white-haired girl as she and her group approached the humming portal. "Didn''t you hear the voice? It must be one of those things we can get S-rated rewards from," said a black-haired boy with confidence. "I don''t know Lance. Look at that beast. What if they''re more of them inside?" replied another girl from the group. This one had red hair and a worried expression on her face. "It''s dead isn''t it?" replied Lance. "Well so is that boy." replied the white-haired girl. "He was just weak. With power''s like ours, we''re probably unstoppable," said Lance as he pulled a glowing sword out of thin air. "I don''t think we should do this guys," pleaded the white-haired girl. "Well, if you aren''t going in Tesse, then we''ll have to kick you out of the group," said a different boy, this one with blonde hair and a sly look on his face. Tesse turned to look at the unconscious Gray''s body, covered in the beast''s blood. "I hope we don''t end up like him," thought Tesse as she nodded her head. "Okay, let''s go," ========================== Join the community ^^ Discord link: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Saviour? (1) "Well that wasn''t pleasant," yawned Gray as he woke up from his long slumber, turning to look at the portal as he rubbed the dried blood off his eyelids. "It changed color? I expected this place to be overrun by monsters by now, but it seems that this portal isn''t meant for monsters to come out of. Maybe it was meant for us to enter." "However, as much as I like the sight of blood, I think I should go wash up first," thought Gray as he picked himself off the beast''s carcass and dragged himself back into his house for a shower. After grabbing a change of clothes, and pulling out one of his blood spears from the beast''s carcass he entered the blue portal. "Huh? Where did the portal disappear to?" thought Gray as he turned and found that the portal had closed behind him. "There''s probably a different way out somewhere within this place" "Looks like someone was here before me," whispered Gray as he kicked one of the goblin corpses piled up at the entrance of the portal to the side. The inside of the portal seemed to be an underground settlement of some sort. With tunnels coming out from every direction. It reminded Gray of the primitive villages that were usually portrayed in historic films belonging to barbarians. However, everything seemed miniature. "Goblin village," muttered Gray as he stalked around silently, looking for signs of life. The goblin village was empty, however, it didn''t seem as if it was due to all the goblins in the vicinity being killed. "There aren''t enough corpses here to conclude that all the goblins were wiped out. There are only nine corpses here, I''m no expert but that isn''t enough to make up the entire population of a village this big," inferred Gray as he bent over to inspect the ground. The ground was muddy and moist, with the smell of urine and excrement attacking Grays''s nose as he inspected the footprints that were scattered across it. "It seems like there was a big chase here," thought Gray, covering his nose with his forearms to block off the smell. "They went this way it seems," said Gray as he looked towards the tunnel where all the footprints seemed to be leading to. Although the section in which the village was in had a high ceiling, the tunnels had a lower ceiling, it was just barely high enough for Gray to walk through without craning his neck. "There isn''t a lot of light here." thought Gray, just as he was about to walk into a trap. "Yikes, that''s not how I want to go out," thought Gray as he just barely avoided the sudden gap in the floor. Gray looked closer to see what it was and found a human corpse punctured with dozens of spikes crammed within the gap. The corpse had black hair, and in his hands was a sword covered in dried blood. "This isn''t a cute look," whispered Gray as he moved the corpse to the side and pulled out the sword. "Huh? Light?" muttered Gray as he saw tiny pieces of light escaping from the spaces in between the dried blood. "Excuse me," said Gray to the corpse as he used its shirt to clean the blood of the sword''s blade. The blade began glowing with a magnificent light, but with the magnificent light came an intense heat, that threatened to burn Gray''s hand if he continued to hold on to it. [Mighty sword(minor replica) is the product of an exclusive skill. It can only be wielded by the owner of ''Mighty Sword'' exclusive skill] resounded the voice in his head. "An exclusive skill huh? As beautiful as it seems, I''d rather not waste one of my ''He who pleasures death'' charges on it. I can always create a replica of it with my blood weapons skill after I analyze it anyway," thought Gray as he covered the blade in dirt. "I''ll come back for it once I make sure it''s safe," Gray continued walking through the dark passageways, this time more slowly to make sure he didn''t fall victim to any of the traps. "Really not a pretty way to go out," thought Gray as he saw a head stuck on the tip of a spear. The head''s eyes were missing, and all that was left were dark hollows. Though most of its hair was stained red in dried blood, there were a few patches of blonde hair. A few meters away lay a headless body, with the smell of urine, excreta, and blood oozing from it. There were several holes punctured within the corpse''s chest, and its limbs were positioned in obscure angles. "That probably hurt. Though I can''t commend the methods these goblins used. It''s all too vulgar," thought Gray as he shook his head in disappointment at the state that the corpse was in. He searched the corpse to see if there were any valuables, but when he found none he continued his exploration. As Gray was walking along the passage he heard the sound of goblins laughing, accompanied by the smell of smoke. He continued walking and saw shadows dancing along the side of the tunnel walls as he got closer to another clearing at the end of the tunnel. "So this is where they all are," thought Gray as he squatted down, and inched closer to the clearing, making sure to stay close to the dark side of the tunnel to not be seen. "What are they doing?" wondered Gray as he saw all the goblin shadows surrounding what looked to be a human shadow in a queer manner. There was no resistance or cry for help. The red-haired girl''s clothes had been ripped off, and there were bruises all over her body. Her eyes were rolled backward, and foam came out of her mouth. The goblins took turns raping the girl''s corpse around the fire, dancing and laughing as they did. Gray didn''t seem bothered by what was going on. Instead, he counted the number of goblins that were gathered there. "Ten, still not enough. Maybe there are more hiding in the other tunnels." thought Gray as he began making preparations for his attack. "The voice said something about rewards. Hopefully, this is one of those dungeons it was talking about." thought Gray as he walked back to the headless corpse he had found earlier. ***(12 minutes later) "Okay this should be enough," thought Gray after he had finished making his tenth spear, drying up all the remaining blood within the headless corpse''s body. Although he had used the corpse''s blood to pay the blood price, he still felt nauseous as every blood weapon required a small amount of blood to be paid by the user. "Anyway, there''s no way I can take on ten goblins alone. That group found that out the hard way, but I think I know how I can win this." Gray began planting the spears at random locations within the tunnel, making sure that they were in obscure angles so that anyone who didn''t know of their existence would only realize what had happened once it was too late. "Okay, this should do it. Now for the opening act." smiled Gray as he walked back to the small clearing where the goblins were gathered. *Stab* Gray threw his spear, managing to hit a goblin right in the head, killing it in a single blow. "Lucky!" shouted Gray as all the goblins turned to look at him in shock. "Aren''t you going to chase me now?" taunted Gray as all the goblins stopped what they were doing and began charging towards Gray. "Let''s see how fast those little legs can take you," taunted Gray as he turned to run as well. The first goblin fell victim to his trap. He had left a spear lying at a low angle at the entrance of the clearing, right under the line of sight. The poor goblin who had succumbed to the low trap was trampled upon by its comrades, turning it into a bloody paste. ========================== Join the community ^^ Discord link: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Saviour? (2) The goblins, unaware of the traps that Gray had set up, were falling victim to them one by one. Although some were not killed by the spears that they had inadvertently run into, they were incapacitated, left to bleed out and scream for help much like their prey. However, their brethren were too busy chasing the intruder to worry about those that had fallen during the chase. Soon there were only 4 goblins left. They began to move more cautiously as they realized that their numbers had greatly diminished. "Have they caught on?" wondered Gray as he noticed that the goblins weren''t as close behind him as they had been before. "Well, killing them this way was kind of boring anyway," muttered Gray as he turned around, creating a short sword in his right hand. "This should be easy to swing in these tunnels," "However I wonder if I can create shields with these powers. Do shields count as weapons?" [Shields are considered weapons and thus the blood weapon skill has the authority to create them. However, the strength, thickness, and sturdiness of the shield will depend on the amount of blood the user is willing to pay. Shields are also limited to designs that the user is familiar with.] replied the voice in Gray''s head. "Hmm. I already used a lot of blood creating the blood spears earlier. I can''t afford to lose consciousness in these tunnels. I guess I''ll just have to create a blood bath first then," smiled Gray as he stalked his way back through the tunnel. Goblins were hard to deal with if they surrounded you in numbers. However, the tunnel pathway was only wide enough for two people to walk through at the same time, meaning that in effect Gray only had to face two goblins simultaneously. When Gray had made his way back to the remaining goblins, he found that they were using the body of a dead comrade to test for any traps ahead by throwing the corpse and seeing if it got caught in anything. "Smart, and thank you," The corpse they had thrown landed right beside Gray. Although Gray couldn''t see the goblins any better than they could see him, it was a different story when one made noise. Every sound produced was amplified within the tunnels, echoing throughout the tunnel walls. Gray created a throwing knife he had once seen in a certain manga and threw it blindly in the direction from where the corpse was thrown. "Aaakh, akkhhh!"(AN: Goblin screams. Ye, SFX are childish but whatever.) A goblin had been hit in the eye and began screaming in pain. The other goblins were put on high alert, but it was already too late. Gray followed the screams of pain that the goblin was making, and began swinging his sword haphazardly, hoping to hit one of the goblins in the dark. One of his swings managed to connect with a goblin''s head, causing it to die from the trauma. Gray tried pulling out his short sword, but it was stuck in the dead goblin''s head, and the blood made the handle ever so slippery, making it hard for him to even hold on to it. The other goblins realized that their attacker was right on top of them, and began throwing their spears. "Fuck" muttered Gray under his breath. One of the spears had managed to puncture his leg, causing a steady stream of blood to flow out of it. "Come on, come on," thought Gray urgently as he tried his best to dodge the incoming attacks by randomly moving his body. He was impatiently waiting for the cooldown of his skill to finish. "Finally!" Gray created a huge tower shield using the blood of a goblin corpse nearby him, turning the corpse into a shriveled-up green skin bag. "Yup, never creating one of these using my own blood," The tower shield was so tall that it scraped the top of the tunnel and was so wide that it left barely enough space for someone to pass through the sides of the tunnel walls. Gray charged ahead, limping as he did, trying to push the goblins as far away back as possible. However he only managed to move them back a few meters before they began to retaliate, although goblins were weak individually, there was no way for Gray to overpower three goblins with an injured leg. "I just have to buy some more time." thought Gray as he let himself be pushed back and then retaliated just as the goblins got comfortable, causing them to tumble over. "That won''t work again. Isn''t there a way to reduce the cooldown of this skill?" [Affrimative. Leveling up the skill will cause the cooldown and blood price to be reduced.] "How the fuck do I level it up then?" asked Gray harshly as sweat dripped down his pale face. He was losing a lot of blood due to the injury in his leg, and if he continued to move around, the wound would only become worse. [By repeated use of this skill, and through the use of skill level-up pages obtained as a reward for completing dungeons and ruins,] "Fuck that," shouted Gray in a frustrated voice. Although he was in very dire straits, there was a wide grin on his face, as if he were enjoying the situation. "I never thought that goblins could be so fun. No wonder these guys became easy prey," As a goblin tried to squeeze itself past the small opening on the side of the tower shield, Gray let the shield fall forward, temporarily pinning down the other goblins. Meanwhile, he grabbed the goblin that had been trying to squeeze itself through by the head, once it had come close enough for him to see and slammed it on the tunnel walls. He picked up one of the spears that the goblins had thrown at him and used it to stab the goblin in the neck. "Apparently it''s called the jugular. Though I''m sure my lessons are wasted on the likes of you," smiled Gray as blood gushed from the goblin''s veins, sprinkling all over Gray. "It seems I have a tendency to be soaked in blood lately. Not that I''m complaining though," Gray created a long pole using the blood from the goblin corpse, just as the other goblins made their way from underneath the tower shield. "Well, this is awkward," smiled gray nervously as the surviving two goblins screamed at him in rage. Normally he would''ve been able to take care of the two of them easily. However, after paying a bit of his blood to create the pole, he was paler than ever, and his vision was getting blurry. "I''ll need you to step back a little," said Gray, as he randomly struck his pole in the direction that the goblin''s screams were coming from. Once he couldn''t feel anything with his pole, he moved to recover the tower shield. However, a goblin had hidden itself along the tunnel walls, avoiding the pole. Once Gray came close enough for it to see him, it jumped out of his leg, stabbing it three times. Gray kicked out in retaliation flinging the goblin away, however, the damage was already done. Gray used what little strength he had left to pin the pole under the tower shield allowing it to stand on its own. He left just enough space for the goblins to pass through on the sides and waited for them to fall into his trap. "Sucker," smiled Gray as he saw a little goblin head trying to make its way past the space. He moved the tower shield to the side, attempting to pin the goblin down, however, he was too weak for it to be effective. "Fuck this," muttered Gray as he quickly snatched the weapon that the goblin had in its hand and used it to stab the creature multiple times in the chest. Every stab was shallow due to his reduced strength, however, due to the number of stab wounds it had, the goblin began to bleed out. Gray slouched his body against the tower shield, causing it to fall forward once again. He stumbled his way to the pinned-down goblin and used the spear in his hand to stab it in the eyes. Pile-driving it deeper in by pushing his weight against the other end of the spear causing the spearhead to dig in deeper, puncturing the goblin''s brain. "What a mess," laughed Gray as he staggered towards the clearing from where the goblins had been gathered. "I can''t pass out in these tunnels. I have to find a hiding place," Gray knew it was inevitable that he would pass out. The amount of blood he had lost was significant and he wasn''t even sure if he would survive this. Though he kept moving on, using sheer willpower to drag his body forward. He entered the goblin clearing with the demeanor of a zombie. "This looks like a good hidi-" Gray was about to say before he tumbled over, falling unconscious. "Saviour?" whispered a hoarse voice in the dark, once Gray had fallen unconscious. ========================== Join the community ^^ Discord link: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Master!? (1) ***(A few hours prior to when Gray entered the portal) "An underground village?" whispered Tesse as she and her group walked through the portal. "Shhh, look," whispered the red-haired girl as she pointed to the goblins that stood guard outside the village. "The portal, i-it''s gone," shouted Lance in fear as he began to show signs of panic. He scraped at the walls with his fingernails as if the portal were hiding behind it, and began breathing heavily as if out of breath. "What the hell Lance? Are you trying to get us killed?" asked the red-haired girl as she and her group retreated behind a nearby boulder, pulling Lance along with them as they did. "He''s claustrophobic" replied the blonde-haired boy with a look of disappointment on his face. "Claustrophobic? What the hell are we supposed to do when the only person in our group with an offensive ability is acting like bitch?", whispered the red-haired girl as her face turned red in anger. "How was he supposed to know that we would be fighting in a confined space? It''s not like people just randomly tell other people their phobias you know," replied the blonde-haired boy, trying to defend his colleague. "I knew this was a bad idea from the start. We shouldn''t have joined forces with you guys. I''m sorry Tesse, I didn''t know that these guys would be so useless. Sorry for dragging y-" "G-guys. I think we should run," said Tesse as a goblin the size of a professional wrestler approached the group''s hiding spot. "Fuck, Lance snap out of it. We need you!" shouted the blonde-haired boy, as a group of goblins began running towards their group. "T-the walls, t-their closing in, c-can''t you see that the ceiling is about to fall!" shouted Lance hysterically, his eyes had a faraway look as if he were in a daze. "Fuck him. Trent you''re going to have to be the damage dealer from now on. Activate your ability and I''ll empower you, Tesse will heal you if you get injured." ordered the red-haired girl as the goblins neared their location. "O-okay!" replied Trent, as his eyes began glowing a blue color. The red-haired girl raised her palms and a yellow light flowed from her body surrounding Trent. "Take care of Lance," said Trent before running towards the incoming goblins at an astounding speed. With a single punch, he completely shattered the ribs of a nearby goblin, causing it to die on the spot. Trent continued his onslaught, using his superior speed to out-maneuver the horde of goblins, killing one of them with every punch he threw out. He rushed at the giant goblin and kicked it at the side of the knee, completely dislocating its knee joint and causing it to buckle over. "T-this is easy!" shouted Trent as a look of euphoria covered his once terrified expression. He began gaining momentum, now punching his fists through the goblins'' chest cavities as he killed them. Spilling blood all over his clothes. "He looks like a maniac," whispered Tesse from behind the boulder where the rest of the group was hiding. "Better a maniac help us than being killed by the likes of them," replied the red-haired girl nonchalantly as she cleaned her nails. "Still, your ability is pretty good. Enhancing one''s strength is as good a skill as any offensive skill," replied Tesse as she watched the onslaught. "I suppose your right. Though it would''ve gone better if this sword-wielding bastard kept his act together," "R-Rey, how long does your buff work for?" "I never tested the cooldown time before. Why do you ask?" "Because Trent isn''t killing them as easily as he was before. Actually, his being pushed back," replied Tesse, fear, and worry audible in her voice. "What are y-" Rey was shocked to see Trent struggling to overpower a single goblin. "What the hell! It''s just one goblin! Stop playing around and hurry up before more of them get there!" shouted Rey. "I-I can''t! I feel weak, are you sure your buff doesn''t have side effects!?" "Side effects? What is he talking about?" "Rey, don''t tell me you haven''t tested all the conditions of your ability yet," replied Tesse, scared at what Rey''s answer would be. "Of course I didn''t. My ability has a four-hour cooldown. Why would I waste that by playing around with it?" "Trent come back here so I heal you! We have to leave now! We can''t continue this fight!" shouted Tesse. Trent kicked the goblin he was fighting against away and picked up one of the daggers that the dead goblins had dropped, using it to stab the downed goblin before it got the chance to stand up. As Trent was running back to his group, his speed returned back to normal. Relieving him of any advantage he may have had against the goblins. "Fuck, my legs hurt," complained Trent as he made it back to the rest of the group. ''Their abilities have really troublesome side effects. But who am I to talk, so does mine.'' thought Tesse as she held out her palms. "Tesse are you sure you want to do this?" asked Rey with a worried look on her face. "Y-Yes. It''s no use if I''m the healthy one anyway. I can''t deal any damage, we need Trent to be in top shape in order to finish this dungeon." A white light erupted from Tesse''s hands, surrounding Trent causing him to shine with an intense magnificence. "I-I feel perfect!" exclaimed Trent as he clenched his fists and did a few stretches. "I-I''m happy to help," replied Tesse, with a sickened look on her face. Her face burned red with fatigue, and she was struggling to stand upright properly. "Anyway, let''s go enter one of those tunnels for safety. I''ll carry Lance,". The other goblin''s within the village were confused to find that their scouts had been dealt with so quickly. A few goblins carried the giant goblin through one of the tunnels, while the rest split up to look for the intruders Master!? (2) *Agu Rhaaha* (AN: Goblin speech) Shouted one of the goblins once it saw the group trying to escape through a tunnel. "Fuck, they found us. Run!" shouted Trent as he began to run as fast as he could while carrying Lance. "Let me go ahead of you guys. It''s harder for me since I have to carry Lance!" ordered Trent once he saw that Rey and Tesse were going on ahead of him. "Why the fuck would we do that!?" shouted Rey as she continued to run on ahead. "If you don''t, forget about me helping you get out of this dungeon!" replied Lance with a sly grin on his face. "Rey, I-I think we should do what he says," Tesse wasn''t looking too good, and even though Trent was carrying Lance, she was barely running faster than him. "Tesse!" exclaimed Rey once she saw the state that Tesse was in, and slowed down her pace to match Tesse''s. "Once we leave this dungeon the deals off," said Rey as she glared at Trent. Trent ran past the two with a smile on his face, however, he was surprised to find that the deeper he ran into the tunnel the less light there was, until eventually, he couldn''t see a thing. As he was running he stumbled over a tripwire and fell, causing him to get injured. "Fuck! It''s too dark here! Hey Tesse, heal me!" ordered Trent as he let go of Lance and turned to Tesse. "She can''t heal you again! Can''t you see the state she''s in? The goblins are going to catch up to us, just dust yourself off and keep running," replied Rey, trying to defend Tesse. "I-It''s okay Rey. I''ll manage, remember we need Trent to be in top shape," said Tesse as she held out her palms and healed Trent once again. The side effects of the healing caused her to be even more out of breath than before. Once Trent was healed he ran forward at full speed, leaving the rest of the group behind. "You forgot Lance!" shouted Rey, however, Trent didn''t care. He had already given up on Lance. "Tesse, let''s go as well. The goblins might reach here at any second," "W-what about Lance? We can''t just leave him behind," ''Sigh, you''ve always been this way. Trying to help people even when they''re taking advantage of you. I''m sorry Tesse, but this time our lives are at stake. I can''t let you kill yourself,'' thought Rey. "We''re going to leave him behind. He''s just going to be dead weight anyway. If he really wants to live, then he will pull out his sword and kill those goblins once they reach him. We can''t help someone who doesn''t want to be helped." pleaded Rey, as Lance mumbled something to himself. "Are you sure?" asked Tesse hesitantly. "Yes, now let''s hurry," said Rey as she carried Tesse under her arms and they rushed forward as fast as they could. "Don''t leave me alone. Please come back," mumbled Lance as the goblins approached him. His panic attack had worsened due to the fact that he was in an even more confined space, and the lack of light just added fuel to the fire. It felt like his heart was about to jump out of his chest, and he could barely stand due to the nausea, however, his primal instincts were kicking in. Although he was still scared senseless, his fear of death forced him to get up once he heard the goblins approaching. He pulled out his sword and began running forward as fast as he could, ''I-I have to survive'' thought Lance as his body shivered in fear. "Aaahhhh," shouted Trent as he fell into a spike trap. "Help! Tesse please help me!" shouted Trent as he realized that he was bleeding. Now he really needed help, however as Tesse and Rey approached him, Rey stopped Tesse from healing him. "No Tesse. We''ll find a different way, you can''t keep healing him. If you heal that injury then you won''t be able to walk anymore. And if you die, then we''re all as good as dead. Please think about yourself for once, think about me. Please Tesse," pleaded Rey as Tesse tried to resist. ''B-but I can''t just leave him like this,'' thought Tesse. However, she had never heard Rey sound so helpless. Rey was her best friend, and she had just met Lance and Trent a day ago. She was always ready to help anyone, but now that her life was at stake, she began questioning whether she was in a position to be helping other people. "L-let''s go," said Tesse with a heavy heart, as they jumped over the trap that Trent was caught in and continued walking. "You selfish bitch! Just wait till I get out of here! I''ll kill the both of you, you hear me! I''ll kill the both of you!" shouted Trent as the two continued walking. Tesse began crying, the feeling of guilt bit at her consciousness like a rabid dog. "It was the right thing Tesse. We have to survive." comforted Rey, however, this didn''t lower the feeling of guilt that overcame Tesse. "Okay. 1,2,3" Trent took in a deep breath and pulled his impaled foot out of the trap. He was losing blood but continued to march on. The thought of revenge running through his mind acting like fuel. As Lance was running, the goblins began closing in on him. He could hear them right behind him, so he began running at a faster pace, however, this led to his demise. He fell into the same trap that Trent was caught in, giving enough time for the goblins to catch up to him. He had accidentally dropped his glowing sword into the trap and bent over to pick it up. However, due to his positioning, the goblins couldn''t see him and just trampled over him, squashing him into the spike trap and instantly killing him. Blood gushed out of the multiple holes that were impaled into his body, he died with his sword still in hand, the blood flowing out of his newly made orifices covering its once magnificent glow. Trent continued marching on ahead, but ultimately the injury made him too slow, and the goblins caught up to him quickly. "P-Please don''t kill me!" shouted Trent as he heard the horde of goblins running towards him. The goblins couldn''t see him, however, his scream alerted them of his presence and they swarmed him like a pack of wild dogs. The goblins stabbed the air indiscriminately, sometimes injuring one of their own comrades. As they did this, Trent slowly became filled with holes. With every stab, he let out a shrill cry for help that echoed through the tunnel walls, however, this only hastened Rey''s speed and made Tesse cry even more. In the end, they cut Trent''s head off and placed it on a spear in celebration, continuing their hunt. Tesse and Rey eventually made it to the end of the tunnel. However, it was a dead end. Master!? (3) "N-no. W-why, why?!" shouted Rey as she realized her fate. She tried looking around the small encampment but realized that there was no way out. Meanwhile, Tesse broke down into tears. "We''re being punished for what we did. We shouldn''t have left them behind. We shouldn''t have left them to die!" cried Tesse. However, instead of feeling pity, Rey looked at her in spite. "You know, here we are about to be killed, yet all you can think about are the people we left behind. I''m jealous I really am Tesse. I wish I could take my mind of the way I''m about to be killed," as Rey said this she began laughing hysterically. "You know, back when our school was attacked you didn''t see it because I shielded you, but do you know they rape girls before killing them?" asked Rey as she pulled up Tesse''s face so that their eyes could meet. Rey had a crazed look on her face. "Huh?" murmured Tesse innocently. "Yes, that''s right. Now how do you feel? All the people you''ve helped in the past, all the charities you''ve donated to, all the hours you''ve wasted slaving away for other people''s happiness, and now you''ll be defiled before you die," "It''s actually pretty funny, you know. It really is," laughed Rey. "Y-you don''t mean that," whispered Tesse hesitantly. "And why the fuck wouldn''t I? We''re about to die Tesse, there''s no point in faking our friendship anymore. You know, back when we first met I really hated you. Everyone in the school seemed to like you, you were treated like a princess. At first, I wanted to ruin you, to take your spot." "But then I realized something. You weren''t a princess, but a slave. You sacrificed every little thing you had for those around you, and an idea crossed my mind." "If I became best friends with the resident slave princess, then wouldn''t I become popular by association without having to slave away as you did. And the fact that you help me out with everything just sweetened the deal," laughed Rey as she looked at Tesse''s tearing eyes. "Y-you''re lying. W-why did you stop me from healing them then? Why didn''t you leave me behind?" "Because I need your healing for myself idiot. I was waiting for my ability to get off cooldown, and I realized my chances would be higher with you alive. However, I didn''t think slave princess would really leave behind those innocent people. Well done, for once you thought about yourself and now look at you," "I-I''m not a slave princess," replied Tesse hesitantly, as if she didn''t believe what she was saying. "What''s with that look? Are you finally realizing how stupid you''ve been?" "You''re just scared, you don''t mean any of this!" shouted Tess as she pushed Rey back. "Don''t touch me!" Rey retaliated by punching Tesse in the stomach, causing her to double over. ''Maybe if I use this bitch as a distraction I''ll be able to escape through the tunnel back the way we came'' thought Rey as she continued hitting Tesse. Tesse didn''t retaliate, her heart was broken, her friendship had been a lie all along. She was now covered in bruises and just lay still as if in a daze. The goblins were approaching and Rey hid behind a few rocks, waiting for the goblins to take her bait. The goblins entered the encampment and found Tesse lying there. They surrounded her and began tearing off her clothes. Tesse tried to stand up and push them off but they were just too many. "R-Rey! Please help me!" shouted Tesse, as tears streamed down her face, she was scared senseless at the prospect of being raped. The goblins stopped what they were doing and turned to where Tesse was shouting to, one of them approached the rocks that Rey was hiding behind and began shouting to its comrades. "You bitch! Why did-" Rey was cut off by a goblin as it hit her on the head, causing her eyes to roll back, foam came out of her mouth as she began having a seizure. However this didn''t stop the goblins, they tore of her clothes and began defiling her. A few goblins stayed around Tess, two of them held her arms and legs while one of them began its business. Tears streamed down her red cheeks as she watched her friend being defiled. ''She''s right, even now I''m only thinking about someone else, yet even I''m getting raped''. Tesse gave shrill cries every time the goblin thrust into her, the pain was unbearable, but soon the sounds died out. Her mind had been broken, she had lost all hope. ''Please god. Please save me, I''ve helped so many people, please just this once.'' prayed Tesse inwardly, however, nothing happened. The goblins seemed to have been done with her and one of them was about to stab her in the neck. ''If g-god won''t help me then. Please, demons if you''re hearing this please help me. I promise to serve you for the rest of my life please,''. Realizing that even after all the good deeds she had done she would still die a cruel death, she forsook her beliefs. She was willing to make a deal with the devil to survive. And as if the devil heard her pleads. "Lucky!" The goblin that had been about to stab her was hit in the head with a red spear. Tesse still couldn''t process what was going on. ''Am I being saved?'' "Aren''t you going to chase me now?" said the voice, and all the goblins in the encampment chased after him. Tesse just laid there with a smile across her face. ''Thank you. Thank you, I will keep my promise,'' thought Tesse as she cried tears of joy. She stood up, her body covered in bruises, and fluids flowing out of her exposed genitalia. She stood up with what little strength she had left and waited. After a few minutes, Gray came back, exhausted and with an injury on his leg. "This looks like a good hidi-" Gray was about to say before passing out. "Savior?" whispered Tesse from where she was standing. She immediately walked to Gray''s body and healed him. "I knew you would be back," Master!? (4) "Huh? What''s going on?" murmured Gray as he woke up and found a naked Tesse lying on the floor, her body covered in bruises and her breathing irregular. ''Must''ve been getting raped before I came here. Some people are just unlucky I guess, at least she''s still alive,'' thought Gray as he was about to leave, but then. "This doesn''t make sense," whispered Gray with a confused expression on his face. He was examining his injuries and realized that they had completely healed. "And how come I don''t feel nauseous anymore? No matter how you look at it, blood doesn''t just replenish after a single nap," Gray had no idea that he had been unconscious for barely a minute, however, his fast recovery was still flabbergasting. ''Was it her? No, but look at her. If she had a healing ability then why would she still be in this state? And why would she help me?'' thought Gray as he stared at the unconscious Tesse. "Oi, you. Wake up," said Gray as he poked at Tesse''s unconscious body with his finger. "H-huh?" murmured Tesse, her voice barely a whisper. ''She''s weak, no way she has a healing ability,'' "What ability do you have?" asked Gray with a quizzical expression, he didn''t care too much to waste time by beating around the bush and just asked her directly. If she refused to answer he would just kill her and check whether or not she really had a healing ability. Afterall a healing ability was the best thing that Gray could''ve hoped for, with this he would be able to cast blood weapons without worrying about passing out, he would basically become a moving weapon. "Oi didn''t you hear me? I asked what ability you have? No matter how I look at it, all my injuries are gone, and you''re the only one here. So tell me, do you have a healing ability or not?" "T-thank you," croaked Tesse, Gray had to come closer to her mouth just to make out what she was saying. ''Thank you? Is she thanking me for killing the goblins? I see, it all makes sense now. She healed me out of gratitude for saving her, however, this doesn''t explain why she''s still in this state. If she really has a healing ability then why hasn''t she replenished her strength, unless... "Is this the side effect of using your ability?" as Gray asked this, he realized that Tesse''s eyes were fixated on his the entire time. She hadn''t blinked even once since she woke up, which gave him an eery feeling. Tesse nodded her head, confirming Gray''s suspicions. ''What''s the use of healing myself if this is the side effect? Sigh, well it wouldn''t be fun if everything was too easy anyway,'' thought Gray as he stood up and walked towards the tunnel opening. "W-where?" croaked Tesse, her voice barely audible even though it echoed throughout the entire encampment. "Are you asking me where I''m going?" asked Gray Tesse nodded her head in confirmation. "To go have fun ofcourse. There are still goblins to be had." "T-take me with," replied Tesse with a dry, coarse voice, as she tried to stand up, but fell back down as she was unable to carry her own weight. "And why would I do that? You hold no worth to me, and even if you did, you''re in no state to be fighting. Why would I risk my life and bring you along?" asked Gray, his tone made it seem as if he were asking this as a genuine question. "I-I ... heal you. I-I will s-serve... forever, to k-keep t-the promise," replied Tesse, her voice but a whisper and her speech incoherent. ''Serve? Has she gone mad due to trauma? I don''t have time for this,'' thought Gray as he walked back to Tesse. "Heal me? Serve me? In this state?" laughed Gray, his voice booming throughout the encampment. "You know if I were any other person, I would''ve taken advantage of this situation. A defenseless, pretty girl is lying naked right next to me, anyone else would''ve had their way with you," laughed Gray as he played with Tesse''s white hair in between his fingers. "But the thing is, I have no interest in satisfying desires like those. Right now my only desire is to have fun in slaughter, and this slaughter is not limited to monsters, humans are fun to slaughter too," said Gray as he dropped her hair and made a blood sword. "T-this b-body .. yours. D-do as y-you p-please," replied Tesse as Gray held the tip of his sword to her throat. ''So I guess she wasn''t just lying so that she could escape using my help. If she''s willing to let herself be killed without asking for mercy then she really has forfeited her life. Though I wonder if it would be wise to walk around with an unstable lunatic like her,'' thought Gray. (AN: Lol kettle meet pot) Gray was certain that Tesse was saying all this just to escape. But now that he had confirmed that this wasn''t the case he was conflicted. ''If I take her with me, I would be able to heal myself each time my blood reserves are running low, without taking on the side effects myself. Her unstable mind could work well to my advantage as she won''t question her overuse'' ''The problem now is how to get her out of here. There''s no way I can carry her around like this, and the way things look, she''ll probably die if she uses her abilities again,'' thought Gray as he stared at Tesse. Tesse''s eyes were blank, they stared at Gray as if he were the only thing in the world, this still gave him the chills. "Hmm, if you''re going to serve me then you have to make a pledge." smiled Gray ''I''m not against manipulating mentally unfit people,'' "To never disobey. To never question. To risk your life to save mine, to accept death in my place. To treat me as if I were your god. And if you ever break any of these rules, you accept death by my hands. And trust me, these goblins are fruit flies compared to me," smiled Gray as he told Tesse his conditions. Tesse seemed to hesitate for a second, but then quickly replied, "I a-accept. I shall s-serve with e-every last o-ounce of strength. T-to repay t-the debt of l-life I w-will gladly g-give mine when the t-time c-comes. T-to t-treat y-you a-as a g-god, and s-serve without q-question, to a-accept death by y-your hand w-when y-you see f-fit." croaked Tesse in response. "Then it''s a deal," smiled Gray. ''Today I got a new play toy. She''s a bit broken, but once she''s fixed up she will help amplify my fun'' laughed Gray inwardly. Goblin Slayer (1) ''Now, should I wait till she recovers, or just go kill all the goblins myself?'' thought Gray as he stared at Tesse. ''No, I shouldn''t be too hasty. If I just wait for her to recover then my combat abilities will rise exponentially,'' "How long does it usually take for you to recover from the effects of your ability?" "F-four hours," ''Four hours? Maybe I can analyze that sword I saw earlier and think of a strategy to kill all the goblins here'' thought Gray as he walked to the fire at the center of the encampment and grabbed one of the pieces of wood. "L-leaving?" asked Tesse, trying her best to stand up. "Sigh, I don''t think you quite understand our arrangement. You don''t get to ask me questions like that, I do what I want and you follow. I hope you didn''t think we would work as partners, think of it as you being one of my weapons, a tool if you will," "And just so you know, I like my tools quiet. Now stop trying to get up and rest, you''ll need it for the fun we''re going to have later," said Gray as he walked towards the dark tunnel using the burning piece of wood as a torch. ''O-okay'' thought Tesse as her mind went blank and she finally allowed herself to pass out. Gray made his way towards the place where he had hidden the glowing sword, making sure to keep a mental note of where all the goblin corpses were in case he had to make blood weapons later on. "What are these markings?" whispered Gray as he examined the glowing sword lying on the floor. It had a bright blue color and strange markings along its blade. Apart from that, it had the same structure as a traditional long sword, which would make it rather hard to swing in a tunnel. ''I mean, there''s no way I can use this in here, but what if the blade has special properties attached to it because of these markings. Logically speaking, there''s no way a normal sword would glow like this,'' thought Gray as he continued examining the markings. After several minutes Gray was finally confident enough to create a replica of the sword in front of him, along with the strange markings it had on its blade. [Warning, the blood price for the creation of this weapon exceeds the maximum amount which the user can pay. A larger amount of blood is needed to fully create this weapon. Would you like to create a replica without the Arcanian runes?] asked the voice in Gray''s head. ''Arcanian runes huh? It must be referring to those markings, anyway if my blood isn''t enough, what about the corpses of those goblins I killed earlier?'' thought Gray as he made his way back to collect the goblin corpses. After walking around the tunnel for several minutes and collecting the goblin corpses, Gray piled them into a heap and tried creating the replica again. [The blood price is sufficient. Keep in mind that a larger activation blood price will be taken from the user. The created weapon will only retain a few of its previous abilities as the quality of blood used is low. Confirm whether you wish to create ''Mighty Sword blood replica''.] "Yes," replied Gray. [Creation confirmed.] as the voice said this, all the goblin corpses were sucked dry turning them into shriveled-up skin bags, the blood then collected in front of Gray and began to take the form of a sword. ''This hasn''t happened before,'' As the blood tried forming the Arcanian rune engravings the tunnel began shaking, and a bright red light illuminated from the floating blood sword. As Gray stared into the red light, two gleaming eyes seemed to stare back at him, however, they were gone in a flash. [Insufficient qualifications to use Mighty Sword. A blood price will be offered each time it is used in order to compensate for missing qualifications.] [The blood used in the creation of Mighty Sword is of a lower species and as such certain abilities will be restricted. Use of higher quality blood will improve the weapon. Confirm contract with Might Sword Blood replica,] This time the voice wasn''t coming from Gray''s head, but instead from within the blood sword. ''What the hell? It''s no use backing out now, I already sacrificed too much blood,'' thought Gray as he realized that he was felling a bit nauseous. With every blood weapon he created, a blood price was paid as well as a small amount used for activation. Although the main blood price could be supplemented by the enemies he had slain, he still had to pay the activation price himself, but usually it was negligible. However, now Gray felt like he had created several blood weapons using his own blood, he was already feeling anemic. "I accept the contract. This better had been worth it," As Gray said this a shockwave reverberated through the air, knocking Gray to the floor. The engraved sword then turned back to blood and floated towards Gray, forming a mark on Gray''s right hand. He felt a searing pain almost as if he were being burnt as the mark was engraved onto his skin. [New skill ''Mighty Sword Blood replica contractor''.] [The original Mighty Sword was owned by the king of Arcania and was one of the ten swords of the end, used to seal a demon. Although merely a replica, it can exert a good fraction of its original power based on the quality of blood used. Though it may be a replica, the essence of the demon sealed within the original resides in this blade.] said the voice in Gray''s head giving him a description of the weapon. "Couldn''t you have given me a rundown of the abilities it possesses?" asked Gray as he tried summoning the blade. A red light shone from his right hand, and blood ebbed from the marking completely covering it in blood. The blood sword then took shape in Gray''s right hand, giving off a faint red glow. Goblin Slayer (2) Gray looked at the blade in awe, its red color causing his blood to rush in excitement. He swung the sword in a vertical slash, leaving behind a red trail as it released a curved blast of unknown red energy in the direction that he was swinging. ''A ranged attack huh? I mean it''s pretty good but is that all?'' wondered Gray as he continued sending out curved blasts of red energy whenever he swung the sword. ''Overall the blood price for sending out an energy blast is bearable, and with my new toy, I reckon I''ll be able to send these out indefinitely. However, they seem rather weak don''t they,'' thought Gray as he stared at the shallow marks the energy blasts left on the tunnel wall. ''Plus it''s going to be rather difficult to swing this in a confined space, I might end up hitting the sides of the tunnel while I''m fighting. However, I wonder..'' thought Gray right before he tried changing the form of the blade. Because the Mighty Sword blood replica counted as a blood weapon, Gray could change its form at will by paying a blood price. "This won''t work" murmured Gray with an unimpressed look on his face. He had succeeded in changing the long sword into a short sword, however, the short sword seemed heavier than it should''ve been. ''Could it be that the new form should match the mass of the original sword? Well in that case..''. This time Gray changed the short sword into twin daggers of equal weight, their combined weight being the same as the long sword. ''They''re still on the heavy side for daggers. however this will have to do,'' thought Gray with a wide smile on his face. Gray slashed the daggers towards the tunnel walls sending out a barrage of curved energy blasts, ''The blasts have a smaller radius but this is to be expected. On the upside, I can swing these daggers faster than I could ever swing the long sword, plus I send out two times as many blasts each time.'' thought Gray as he continued testing the limits of his new power. After Gray was satisfied with the way the daggers worked, he tried changing the form of the daggers, experimenting how fast he could transform them. "Perfect," whispered Gray, satisfied with the speed at which he could transform the weapons, however, he was beginning to feel the toll of constantly sending out energy blasts and changing its form. ''I should head back and rest as well.'' Gray made his way back to the encampment and went behind a few rocks to take a nap. ***(5 hours later)(AN: I know only four hours were needed but how realistic is it to wake up exactly on time without an alarm. So I don''t wanna see any smartasses talking about the 4 hours in the comments section.) When Gray opened his eyes he found Tesse sitting in front of him, staring at him intently. "That''s creepy you know," complained Gray as he stood up, pushing Tesse aside. "Are the sideeffects of your ability gone?" "Yes, but uhm... excuse me, but what do I call you?" asked Tesse with a dejected, emotionless voice, as if her mind were drifting elsewhere "That doesn''t matter. Names won''t be needed in our arrangement, as such, I won''t be needing your name either. Now that you''re all healed up I hope you haven''t forgotten the pledge you made, don''t forget that if you break your promise I''ll take your life as payment." "I understand. I have no regrets about my choice, I will serve you with all my being," "Good, now let''s go. We have things to do," said Gray as he picked up a piece of firewood from the fire to use as a torch. "Oh, here have this," said Gray as he created a short sword for Tesse to use. "Heal me," ordered Gray, as he felt the effects of creating the blood weapon. Tesse healed him and he was back to normal, the side effects of his ability being alleviated. ''This is the real deal isn''t it'' thought Gray with a smile on his face as he entered the tunnel. They made their way back to the main village and found that a few goblins had appeared and were standing guard outside the village. "Let''s go," said Gray as he released the Mighty Sword from his hand, the red light coming from the mark illuminating his and Tesse''s face. This drew the attention of several goblins and they came rushing towards the two. Tesse''s eyes began twitching as she recalled the horror she went through, however before the goblins could come any closer, Gray sent out several energy blasts, knocking down all the goblins. "This isn''t enough to kill them, we have to go finish them off," said Gray as he rushed to stab a goblin in the face, its blood splattering on his face. As he did this the mighty sword absorbed some of the goblin''s blood, causing Gray''s eyes two give out a red gleam. Gray''s usually composed expression became that of a crazed killer as he twisted the blade in the goblin''s face. He then transformed the sword into daggers and shot out energy blasts towards a goblin that was about to stand, jumping on top of it once it fell down and repeatedly stabbing it, his clothes slowly becoming drenched in goblin blood. The might swords continued to absorb blood, every time it did this Gray''s eyes would glow a brighter red, and his speed and strength seemed to slightly increase. He changed the daggers back into a long sword and used some of the blood from the goblin he had killed to create throwing daggers, which he threw towards a nearby goblin. "What are you doing just standing there?" asked Gray in a slightly deeper voice, his face shrouded in blood and a noticeable red glow illuminating from his iris. "I said get to killing," Tesse stared at the spectacle in awe. She had been so afraid of goblins yet Gray killed them as if they were flies. ''Master i-is powerful'' thought Tesse as she watched Gray handle the goblins. Tesse joined in, stabbing any goblins that Gray knocked down to the floor with his energy blasts. Over time his energy blasts became more and more powerful, with each goblin he slew using the Mighty Sword increasing his power. "Heal me!" shouted Gray as he began feeling anemic once again, the bloodlust caused by the Mighty Sword seemed to be increasing the blood price he had to pay. At this point, it was as if Gray were the monster and the goblins were his prey. The goblins began fleeing to the safety of their village, running away from the crazed human who sought out their blood. Once all the goblins had entered the village, an enormous goblin the size of a professional wrestler came out. It stood over Gray at 2 meters tall and gave out a roar in challenge. "That''s it. Come, feed me more," said Gray, however it sounded as if two voices were talking at the same time. Tesse looked on in awe, although it looked as if Gray was being dwarfed by his opponent, Tesse had the feeling that the giant goblin would meet a terrible end. Gray''s mark began glowing once again, the blood that soaked his clothes and covered his face was being absorbed by the mark on his hand, causing the Mighty Sword to glow as well. The long sword began to change shape and became a greatsword. [Blood lust has reached critical level. Warning, excessive use of this mode exponentially increases the blood price toll. A sacrifice must be offered before the blood lust expires or the full toll will be paid by the user.] "Become my sacrifice," laughed Gray hysterically as he used his newfound strength to swing the greatsword, causing a giant wave of red energy to cut the giant goblin in half. Blood gushed out of the lower half of the goblin as its intestines splattered onto the wet, moist floor. The energy blast went through it and hit the village destroying a good chunk of its defensive walls. "I think I went overboard," whispered Gray as he fell to the ground. "H-heal me!" ordered Gray, and Tesse obliged, causing her to fall down in his place, and him to stand back up. "I see it wasn''t a mistake to bring you along," smiled Gray as he ran towards the village, the thought of all the goblins he would slaughter causing his mind to run wild. Dungeon Clearer Gray rushed through the hole within the village walls, slaughtering any goblins that dared retaliate. The goblin''s numbers meant nothing against the strength and speed that Gray''s bloodlust mode offered him. Although the blood price for staying in his bloodlust form kept increasing, he easily paid for it using the blood of all the goblins that he was killing. Gray''s body was slowly changing form, his iris was now completely red and his hair became paler with every kill. A red aura surrounded him, and his mark kept glowing brighter and brighter. *Argha gahara*(AN: Goblins shouting to their comrades) [Mighty Sword blood replica has leveled up.] said the voice in Gray''s head, however, it fell on deaf ears. Gray was fixated on only one thing, soaking his clothes in the blood of the goblins in front of him. Pretty soon the blood price was becoming too steep, and they were only a few goblins left. Gray began feeling withdrawal symptoms, and when the last goblin had been killed he turned to Tesse. The stench of blood filled the air, and the blood that soaked Gray''s clothes seemed to be moving towards the glowing mark on his hand. "M-master?" asked Tesse, as she stared at Gray in awe. ''W-what kind of power is this? It''s almost as if it isn''t really him,'' thought Tesse as Gray approached her. "Master? Do you need me to heal you?" asked Tesse, before running towards Gray and healing him. She felt an eery presence overcome her body as she healed him, a primal urge to feed attacked her brain before causing her to double over in pain. Gray''s eyes went back to normal, and his hair returned to its former jet black color. The gruesome aura that once surrounded him disappeared, and the mark on his right hand stopped glowing. Gray stood there motionless, with a smile on his face as he looked to the sky. The Might Sword changed from its greatsword form back to its original form before turning into blood and retreating back to the mark on Gray''s hand. Gray''s laugh echoed throughout the underground cave as if someone had told him the funniest joke in the world. "Fun wasn''t it? Who would''ve thought that I would find such interesting toys within this dungeon?" laughed Gray as he turned to look at Tesse lying on the floor in confusion. ''Master is rather queer. I wonder if the demon that answered my prayer was actually him,'' thought Tesse as she stared back at Gray. [Congratulation on completing the dungeon. Rewards equivalent to the difficulty of this dungeon will be rewarded.] [Dungeon difficulty: F-] [Rewards: Goblin Trinket] said an autonomous voice as a blue portal opened in front of Gray. "F- difficulty? So you''re telling me that this dungeon was a small fry?" laughed Gray as he looked at the goblin corpses that littered the ground. "Well, whatever. It was worth the trouble anyway," said Gray as he walked towards the portal. "Did you get any rewards as well?" "Yes, I got a goblin trinket," replied Tesse, as she held out a weird-looking pendant. "Bring it here," [Goblin trinket. Causes confusion in goblins for a small amount of time.] said the voice on Gray''s head. "Well what did I expect from an F- dungeon. Anyways let''s get you some clothes. I don''t have time for weirdos to start attacking us because they can''t keep their dicks in the trousers" said Gray as he passed through the portal. "Yes master," replied Tesse as she followed him through the portal. Gray walked to his house and took a shower, Tesse following close behind him. "What are you still doing naked? Didn''t I say that you should get dressed?" asked Gray as he came out of the shower and found Tesse on his bed naked. "Forgive me master. I don''t know where to find clothes," "You''re like a puppy I swear. And what''s with all this master nonsense? Didn''t I say there was no need for names?" There was clearly something mentally wrong with Tesse. It was as if her mind had reset, like she was an empty shell of what she once was. "I have no way to refer to master. And simply referring to master as you is inadequate." ''I didn''t think she would take this whole servitude thing seriously.'' "Anyway, look in the closet and pick out some clothes. You have a rather large bust, but I''m sure you can fit in some of my clothes once they stretch out" "I should wear master''s clothes?" "I hope that isn''t a question, because if it is then I''ll have to take it that you''re questioning my orders," said Gray as he walked past Tesse to his closet, picking out a fresh pair of clothes and dressing right in front of Tesse. Tesse followed and picked out a pair of clothes for herself as well. "Anyways I hope you know how to cook because I''m rather hungry." "Yes, I do," "Very well then, go prepare something, and get some rest after. We''re going to head out soon," said Gray as he lay on his bed and closed his eyes. ''Even though she healed me I still feel weak. It seems that the strain from using that mode is rather burdensome. However I have to admit, I''ve never had more fun in my life,'' thought Gray before dozing off. Tesse went to the kitchen and found it a mess. ''It will be rather hard to cook for master in this place. Maybe I should go to another house and prepare some food for him there,'' thought Tesse as she left the house and went to one of the neighboring houses, taking the blood sword that Gray had given her with. She found the door wide open and went in. There was an eery silence, however, Tesse paid no mind to it. She had one mission and that was to prepare something for Gray. She went to the kitchen and began picking out ingredients to cook with. As she was boiling water to prepare some pasta she heard something growling behind her. She picked up the blood sword that she had placed on the counter and turned around, a small wolf-like beast with gleaming red eyes was stalking towards her. Dystopian (1) The wolf-like beast charged at Tesse aiming to bite her neck, prompting her to jump to the side to avoid being killed. ''This beast is a hindrance to master''s orders'' thought Tesse as she raised her sword and ran towards it. The beast was about the size of a german shepherd, with grey fur and gleaming red eyes. It wasn''t particularly fast, but its agility was something to be wary of. As Tesse tried to stab the beast on its side, it dodged her attack, using its agility to its advantage. The beast then counterattacked by biting her left arm, tearing through her flesh, and drawing blood as it did. Normally when someone was bitten, they would scream in pain and drop their weapons, however, instead Tesse had a smirk on her face. She held in the pain and used her free hand to stab the beast in the eye while it was still latched on to her arm. The beast squealed in pain as it let go of her arm, and began backing away as Tesse approached it with a cold expression on her face. As she walked closer towards it, the wound on her left arm disappeared as if it had never been there in the first place. The beast would''ve already run away however Tesse was standing on the side with the door, and with its deteriorated vision it was a bit hesitant to run past her, afraid that the crazy human would try to attack it. As the beast growled at the approaching Tesse, the pot that she had been cooking with began spilling its contents. "Oh no, master''s food!" exclaimed Tesse as she walked back to her pot. The beast took this chance to escape, dropping its guard as it bolted for the door. However, just as it was about to leave, a red sword came out of the side of its head, causing its blood to gush onto the floor. "Master will be angry that I spoiled the clothes he gave to me so quickly," said Tesse with an expressionless look on her face. Her clothes were soaked scarlet red, and her sword slick with the beast''s blood. She washed her hands and continued cooking as if nothing happened, "This smells good, I hope master likes it," smiled Tesse, blood still covering her face. (AN: Lol, Gray is such a bad influence LMAO). Meanwhile, Gray woke up and opened his phone. ''Since dungeons seem to open up at random locations it isn''t viable to go looking for them. Perhaps I should try going to one of those towers that appeared around town instead, the internet should have something rega-'' Gray''s thoughts were disrupted as he read the notification on his browser. [No internet connection. Contact your ISP] ''But it was working just yesterday'' thought Gray as he tried reloading the web page. ''Ahh, ofcourse. How could I be so silly, with the world being in disarray, ofcourse the ISPs wouldn''t remain online. After all, what would be the point in working if you weren''t going to get paid? Looks like I''ll just have to walk to one of the towers and investigate it myself.'' ''Where is that girl anyway?'' thought Gray just as Tesse entered his room carrying a tray full of food. "What''s with the blood on your face, and what happened to your clothes? I hope you didn''t spill any of that in my food," said Gray as he took a bite out of the chicken that was on the tray. "Forgive me for soiling the clothes you gave master, I''ll go wash them right away. I had to deal with a beast that was causing a hindrance, however, I made sure that no foreign substances entered your meal," said Tesse as she wiped the blood of her face. ''Having her call me master is kind of cringe but it''s better than her calling me by name. That would just cause attachments, although I don''t care much for other people anyway, its way easier dealing with someone once you dehumanize them,'' Tesse stared at him as he ate his meal, making him uncomfortable. "Why are you staring at me like that? If you''re hungry don''t stop yourself from eating, we''re going to head out soon, and I don''t want you dying before I''ve had my fill of fun there," said Gray as he pushed one of the bowls of food towards Tesse. "N-no master that isn-, t-thank you" replied Tesse as she picked up the bowl she was offered and began eating as well. ''Thank you? You have no idea how much I''m going to overwork you in the coming fights. With the blood price of the bloodlust mode being so high, I wouldn''t want you to pass out before I''m done,'' thought Gray with a smile on his face as he watched Tesse. ''Master is so kind,'' thought Tesse instead as she ate happily from her bowl. After they were done eating Gray ordered Tesse to go rest to reset the side effects of her ability. After resting for four hours the two of them headed out, it was in the late afternoon and the sun was just bringing to set. ''A car would be nice, but I don''t wasn''t to draw attention so I''ll just have to walk'' thought Gray as he left the house and began his journey to one of the towers that had appeared across the town. "god has not forsaken us, this is merely a trial. The day of judgment is nearing, repent now so that you may not be denied the eternal kingdom. Hey there young ones, won''t you stop to hear the word of god?" said a man dressed in a church clergy''s robe. (AN: I put a small g for god to avoid any religious complaints. Remember this is a fictional novel, although it got some inspiration from actual religions in real life, in no way or form is it regarding the actual holy churches. I do not want to offend anybody''s religion.) Gray turned to see where the voice was coming from and saw a man dressed in white robes surrounded by a large group of people. People seemed to be queuing up in front of the church for something. Dystopian (2) "Ignore him, let''s continue on our way," said Gray as he turned back and continued walking. "The church can offer you food, shelter, and protection from the demons that fill our land. All that we ask is that you use your god given gifts to help others as well. " continued the clergyman as Gray walked away. "Hey, you! Can''t you hear the priest talking to you!" shouted one of the people who were queued up in front of the church. "You should be grateful that the church is willing to help out delinquents like you," said a thin man as he left the group and approached Gray. Gray continued walking, paying no mind to the man. ''There will always be people like this. When times get hard they turn to ''gods'' for help. If a god really existed then they are the ones who put us in this situation in the first place. But I guess these idiots were brainwashed into believing this rubbish, can''t blame them anyway.'' "Are you ignoring me you little shit!" shouted the thin man angrily as he ran towards Gray and attempted to pull him back by the shoulder. However Tesse pulled out her sword and glared at the man, threatening to chop his hand of if he continued. ''Oh, what''s this? Is my little toy trying to protect me.'' wondered Gray as he watched the situation without so much as turning his head. "People like you make me sick. Using the gifts that god has given us for your own selfish means. Everyone should be using they''re powers to fight the calamities we''re facing yet you walk around aimlessly instead of joining the cause." protested the thin man once he saw Tesse''s threatening glare. "Leave them be. god does not force his will upon his children, sooner or later they shall see the light and come running to his doors, and we shall welcome them with open arms," said the clergyman as he raised his arms to the sky. "B-but father," complained the thin man as he stared at Gray in annoyance. "I bet every single one of you here got shit-ass abilities, and that''s the only reason you are looking for protection at the church," sneered Gray as he stared back at the thin man. The thin man lost his cool and grabbed Gray by the collar, however, this was a big mistake. Tesse cut of his hands without hesitation, causing the man to scream in pain. She was about to finish the job before the priest interrupted. "Please leave it at that. Although I agree that he provoked you, any more and I will have to deal with you myself," said the priest as he walked to the man lying on the floor. A few other people dressed in white robes stood at the church doors and glared at Gray as if warning that things could get ugly if he made the wrong move. A white light came from the priest''s hands and he healed the man, causing the man''s amputated limbs to reattach. "We''re leaving," announced Gray as he and Tesse walked away quietly. "Father, how could we just let them go?" asked one of the people dressed in white robes. "One had the eyes of a killer, while the other had the eyes of one who was already dead. We cannot help those who do not wish to be helped," replied the priest as he looked at the two walk away. ''There are only about three people here with combat abilities, and even their abilities are trash. I can''t risk failing this mission just because of two rascals'' thought the priest. "K-killer? Aren''t they just kids?" "We cannot blame them, many people have done terrible things in order to survive the trials that god has given us." said the priest as he fell down in exhaustion. "Father are you okay?" asked the thin man who had been healed. "It''s nothing, its just that my abilities drain so much of my energy," replied the father. ''Of course, I''m lying. The only side effect my ability has is that it can only be used for a set amount of times each day, however, if everyone knew that, then they would question my power,'' thought the priest as the other people dressed in white robes carried him back into the church. "Interesting," whispered a young girl dressed in white robes, as she stared at Gray and Tesse with a smile on her face. *** As Gray continued walking towards the tower, he found many such priests preaching the word of god and collecting followers. Large numbers of people crowded the front of churches, seeking protection, food and shelter. ''I see what the church is doing. They''re monopolizing the people in the hopes that some of them will have good abilities. You can''t expect me to believe that the church would just open its doors to so many people for nothing in return,'' ''There''s a difference between stupid charity and profitable work. The church is still an organization run by rather intelligent people, there''s no way that they''re doing this without getting something in return. Otherwise, they would go broke in a few years, and then what?'' thought Gray as he passed by another church. As he neared the tower he found a large group of people crowded outside the tower gates. There were more than three hundred people, and all of them were divided into groups of four or more. "What gives you the right to determine the order in which we go in the tower! In case you haven''t noticed the government holds no power anymore!" shouted someone from the front of the crowd. "Please understand that we have to maintain order. Only a hundred people are allowed at a time on the first floor of this tower. And there''s also an issue of safety, we can''t just let everyone enter without ensuring that they have the adequate skills to survive," "Many people have already died in this tower, and we want to avoid casualties as much as possible," replied a female voice. ''This voice, it sounds familiar,'' thought Gray. Indeed it was, it was the voice of the captain of the Emergency Response Division, Agent Ria. Dystopian (3) "If it''s so dangerous why haven''t you gone in with these tanks yet? Are they all just for show?" asked someone else from the crowd. "Trust me, we''ve tried. But it seems that vehicles of all kinds are not permitted within the tower. We''ve equipped the previous challengers with guns as well, but it seems whatever they''re facing in there is impervious to bullets." replied Agent Ria. "This is such a bust man," "I know right. I was hoping to get some cool rewards too," murmured some people in the crowd. "How hard could it be anyway? My group and I already completed a dungeon earlier. The people who went in there were probably all just weak anyway." the voice was coming from a rather thin man in a group of seven people. The people around the group avoided his gaze, as if they were all scared of him, and rightly so. The man and his group looked like they were escaped convicts, with many of them sporting tattoos and sinister looks on their faces. As they used their intimidation tactics to cut to the front of the line Gray walked on ahead of them, brushing past the shoulders of their leader. "Hey, you! Did you just touch me!" shouted the skinny man with a tattoo on his face. Gray continued pushing past the crowd, ignoring the man as he struggled to get to the front. "Kukk, this kid has a death wish," announced the leader to his teammates and they pushed past the crowd as well following close behind Gray. Gray finally made it to the front and found a portal similar to the one he had to pass through in order to get into the dungeon. However, instead of the blue color the dungeon portal had, this one had a red color instead. "Sigh, another group has died," murmured Agent Ria as she looked at the portal''s color. "Next!" shouted Agent Ria before setting her eyes on Gray. ''If it''s him, then maybe there''s a chance,'' thought Agent Ria as she remembered the show that Gray, put on against the flame-throwing man. "Put him on the next group," whispered Agent Ria to one of her aides. "Him again!? Captain I don''t mean to question your orders, but if I remember correctly isn''t he the lunatic from the town hall?" asked the aide she was talking to. "Yes he is, and so what. Just put him in the next group. If we continue to delay, then the government will fall behind. We can''t let the other factions get ahead of us or we will lose face," "B-but what about the safety of the other people?" "Safety? They''re as good as dead once they enter the tower anyway. Might as well increase the chances of them getting out safely, lunatic or not his abilities aren''t something to scoff at," replied Agent Ria before walking away. "I don''t like this," whispered the aide as she called for the next group of people to enter the tower. "Hey, kids. Don''t you know it''s dangerous to be walking around all alone like this, especially when it''s getting so late," said the leader of the group of thugs as he licked his knife. ''Who are these bozos?'' wondered Gray as he and a bunch of other people formed a line to enter the tower next. "You''ll cut your tongue if you keep doing that you know," replied Gray as he followed the queue. "T-this kid. Listen her-" as the leader of the group was about to threaten Gray with his knife, Tesse pulled out her sword. "What''s this? Is your girlfriend going to protect you? Are you so weak that you need this little girl to rescue you?" laughed the leader of the thugs as Tesse stared at him with a cold look in her eyes. "Kuk, why are you staring at me like that? You know you''re rather pretty, ditch the kid and come hang with us, I''m sure we can give you way more than he has to offer." said the thin man as he played with his tongue in a vulgar manner. "Come to the front of the line please," called out an aide as the group reached the front of the row. "Hope nothing bad happens to you inside the tower," laughed the leader of the thugs as Gray walked towards the aide. "I doubt anything will, though I''d watch my back and front if I were you," replied Gray with a sinister smile on his face, giving the aide the chills. ''I really don''t like this,'' thought the aide as she watched the smiling Gray approach her. "Please state your powers and give a demonstration of it. This is a requirement that needs to be filled out by all tower challengers," said the aide. ''You mean a requirement to see who you''re going to hire once this is all over,'' Tower (1) "My ability is creating blood weapons, and hers is healing," said Gray as he pulled out a blood sword. "Okay, please come this way," said the aide as she led Gray to the front of the tower portal. "Wait here until the other challengers are ready," said the aide before leaving again. Soon the front of the portal was crowded with a hundred people. Some people looked afraid, while others had the look of greed in their eyes. ''The more people there are, the more blood for me to use, so you won''t hear me complaining.'' thought Gray as Agent Ria began announcing something. "The next group is entering the tower! Please stand back!" [Tower of the Dead.] [Floors 10] [Difficulty F-A+] [Maximum number of players allowed: 100] [Please confirm entry] said an autonomous voice as the group waited to enter the tower. "Accept!" shouted Agent Ria, and the tower portal changed from red to blue. "You may proceed!" said Agent Ria, before the group of one hundred slowly entered the portal. *** Once the group went through the portal someone screamed in terror, at the horrific scene that lay in front of them. "What the hell happened here?" murmured someone else at the front of the group. The first floor of the tower seemed to be another world altogether. It was as if they were not inside a building anymore. The group seemed to have been teleported to a cemetery, with hundreds of dead bodies lying on the ground, their blood staining the floor red, and the putrid smell of rotting flesh filled the air. [Tower of the dead Floor 1] [Conditions of passage, kill all enemies.] as the autonomous voice said this, the bodies of those who had died, as well as the bodies of those buried in the cemetery came back to life. ''This is a bust, the dead have no blood for me to use, which means I can''t see the Mighty Swords'' bloodlust ability'' complained Gray as everyone else began screaming in fear. "So what? Basically, kill zombies?" laughed the leader of the group of thugs as he and his group charged at the undead. The leader threw his knife at one of the zombies, calling it back once it had hit its target. ''So he can control knives huh?'' thought Gray as he watched the group fight. The largest person in their group, a man who stood at 1.98 meters tall pulled out a giant sledgehammer that made shockwaves each time it hit the ground. ''Impressive'' thought Gray as he watched the zombies fall one by one. ''However, will that really be enough?'' The zombies that were seemingly defeated kept rising each time they fell. Although the group had impressive powers and were aiming for the zombie''s heads, only the giant man seemed to be dealing any real damage. And that was because he completely destroyed the bodies of the zombies with his war hammer, otherwise, they would''ve stood up all the same. "Come, let''s go," whispered Gray before running away from the main group deeper into the cemetery, dodging any zombies that tried to attack him, Tesse following close behind. Soon the giant man became exhausted from swinging his war hammer so much, and the group slowly became overwhelmed by the sheer number of zombies present. Although they were slow-moving, there were three times as strong as a goblin, making them harder to deal with, especially due to their number. The others weren''t coping so well either. ''These idiots, do they really think that shooting zombies in the head would work?'' wondered Gray as he heard gunshots. Some of the people in the group had come equipped with guns, however shooting a zombie in the head only worked in the movies. ''Zombies are beings created by necromancy, as such they can only be killed once the source of the magic that brought them back to life has been destroyed as well,'' thought Gray as he searched the cemetery for anything suspicious. Gray was using the knowledge he had gained from playing games to his advantage, however, surely he was not the only one who was thinking of this out of all the people that ever challenged this tower. ''There are too many of them for it to be a normal necromancer. Perhaps a lich? No, the voice claimed that the tower had an F to A+ difficulty, why would something as powerful as a lich be on the first floor?'' thought Gray as he used a normal blood sword to cut off another zombie''s head off. Tesse was doing a great job in dealing with the zombies that strayed to close to them as they ran around the cemetery looking for clues. If they stopped running they would risk being mobbed by the zombies, something that they couldn''t afford to do, especially when they had no idea what was fueling the undead. Tower (2) ''Perhaps it''s a magical item rather than a sorcerer, but where could it be?'' thought Gray as he continued his search. Meanwhile, the group of one hundred was reduced to half in less than thirty minutes. The people in the group had been too reliant on their belief that guns could deal with whatever they would have to face, and most of them didn''t have abilities that could permanently defeat the zombies. With every person that died, the difficulty of the tower increased as the dead were added to the ranks of the enemies. The few that survived all had elemental-magic abilities of some sort, with most of them being flame wielders who burnt the zombies to a crisp, however even they were running out of steam as the toll of using their ability so much was starting to have an effect on them. "Boss, we can''t keep this up." "Yeah, you''re right. I say we hide behind those fire-wielding brats till Russ recovers," said the boss referring to the big man with a war hammer. "Hey Aran I don''t think we can keep this up much longer," said a girl with glasses to a brown-haired boy. "There should be a necromancer somewhere close by, however, I don''t see it anywhere. I thought that if maybe we could take care of it, then we''d be able to clear this floor easily," replied Aran. "It''s been a while and I haven''t seen any zombies that looked special to me. Maybe the floor is unwinnable with our specific abilities," replied the girl. The two seemed to be in a group with two other magic users. The two of them had flame-wielding abilities, while the other two used water abilities. "No, I don''t believe that. There has to be a way to win this," said Aran as the group of convicts ran behind them. "Hey what are you doing!?" shouted the girl once she saw what they were doing. "Clara leave them be. We don''t want to start any trouble," whispered Aran, before Clara had the chance to tell them off. "B-but they''re using us as cover," replied Clara. "Worst case, we break them and use them as a distraction for our escape," replied Aran with a smile on his face. (AN: lol how many psychos do we have here?) Meanwhile Gray and Tesse came across an odd-looking tombstone, that had glowing letters engraved on it. "This should be it," said Gray as he turned the blood sword in his hand into a hammer. "Once we destroy this thin-" Gray about to say before something appeared from underneath the tombstone, carrying it 6 meters into the sky. "I don''t think that a hammer will be enough to destroy this," said Gray as he looked up at the gigantic flesh golem, that had been created out of the flesh of zombies. "I''m guessing this is the floor boss, isn''t it?" asked Gray to no one in particular before he started running in the direction of the main group. The beast roared in anger before chasing after the two, causing the entire floor to rumble. "What was that!?" asked Aran as he turned to the direction from where the sound was coming from. By now there were only fifteen people left in the main group, the four magic users from Aran''s group, the seven thugs who hid behind his group, and four people dressed in black uniform who seemed to be part of the government. The only reason they were still alive was because one of the government officials seemed to have some sort of barricade ability, that created walls out of dirt to protect the group. "I''m nearing my limit, I''m not sure I can hold these walls up any longer," said the government official to the remaining survivors. "Hey, can''t the big guy go out and take care of some of the zombies, haven''t you guys free-loaded enough?" asked Aran, referring to Russ. "What do you mean freeloading?" asked the boss. "While we''ve been here keeping the zombies at bay, all you guys have been doing is resting. I say we take a vote, all those who want the big guy to go out and slow down the zombies raise your hand," said Aran, with a smile on his face. ''This asshole, it''s eight vs seven so ofcourse they will win, and by doing this he is creating sides. I hate manipulative bastards like him the most,'' thought the leader of the thugs. Flesh Golem "We aren''t voting on nothing, who made you captain anyway. I say we j-" before the boss could finish Clara interrupted him. "G-guys, w-what the hell is that?" asked Clara pointing to the flesh golem that was slowly creeping towards them. "What the fuck? How are there only so few of you left?" shouted Gray as he ran for his life. "Whatever, this works out better anyway. Less retaliation," shouted Gray as he began attacking the newly risen zombies. "Keep the old zombies at bay, don''t let a single one of them near me," ordered Gray as he began his massacre. ''I can finally use the Mighty Sword,'' thought Gray as he summoned the Mighty Sword, his mark glowing a bright red color as the blood sword took form in his right hand. "What is he doing? Doesn''t he think we''ve tried that already? What good will stabbing them do if they''re just gonna stand up again?" asked Aran as he watched Gray fight through a small opening in the dirt walls that surrounded them. "W-what!?" exclaimed Aran once he realized what was going on. Each time Gray stabbed a zombie it shriveled up, making it too weak to stand back up again. "T-that guy, he''s sucking them dry," stuttered Aran as the rest of the group turned to watch the slaughter as well. "Not like that is gonna help much anyway, look," said Clara pointing to the flesh golem that was coming closer with every passing second. "We''re doomed," complained a girl in Aran''s party. "W-wait, look," stuttered Aran, pointing towards Gray once again. "Yeah we get it, he has a strange ability but that ain''t gonna cu-" the boss was about to say before he looked at Gray properly. Gray''s eyes were bright red, and he seemed exponentially faster and stronger than when he had first arrived. The slow-moving zombies were no match for him, and their numbers meant nothing against his speed. Gray constantly sent out waves of red energy, knocking down the zombies and jumping on them with blood daggers once they had fallen, absorbing every last drop of blood out of them. "How come he''s ignoring some of the zombies?" asked the boss as he realized that only Tesse was fighting some of the zombies. "I get it. His ability requires fresh blood to work, meaning he can''t absorb the blood of those that had been dead for too long. Maybe once he gets enough blood he''ll be strong enough to kill the flesh golem," proposed Aran he began to regain hope. "You want to gamble your life on some kid?" asked the boss, skeptical that anyone could take on the flesh golem. Even Russ looked too scared to fight against the golem with his current abilities. "You have a better idea? If he dies, then any hope of us getting past this floor dies with him, unless you have some ability you haven''t used up till now," "N-no, I don''t" "Then let''s go!" said Aran, before gesturing for the government official to drop the walls. "Go ahead," said another government official as his comrade looked to him for confirmation. Gray''s body was completely soaked in blood, however, the blood kept moving towards the mark on his right hand, drying him a little before he splattered even more blood on himself. Soon his iris was completely red and his hair was becoming so pale it looked almost white. Nearly sixty zombies lay on the ground shriveled up, however, many more were still walking around. The other survivors joined in, using the best of their abilities to prevent the older zombies from reaching Gray while letting the newer ones through. The stench of rotting flesh became even more unbearable as the flesh golem came near. "Hurry up kid!" shouted the boss as he looked back at the flesh golem. [Blood lust has reached critical level. Warning, excessive use of this mode exponentially increases the blood price toll. A sacrifice must be offered before the blood lust expires or the full toll will be paid by the user.] said the voice in Gray''s head as he got rid of the last fresh zombie. "More! More!" shouted Gray, his voice seemed to be a combination of two different voices speaking out of sync. "What do you mean more? That''s all the new zombies there are. Unless you can use the old one''s blood that''s as much as you''ll get," said Aran, fear creeping in as he began to question his previous beliefs. "Master requires more blood, be grateful that you can be of use," said Tesse from behind Russ. "What the? When did the doll get behind m-" Russ was about to say before Tesse stabbed him in the neck with her blood sword. Blood gushed from the hole in Russ''s neck before he fell to the ground. Spraying blood all over Tesse as he did. "What the hell do you think your doing bitch!" shouted the boss before he was about to throw his knife at Tesse. "Well done," laughed Gray as he rushed towards Russ''s bleeding corpse before it had the chance to stand back up as an undead. A legend is born Gray stabbed it with both his blood daggers, absorbing every last drop of Russ''s blood shriveling up Russ''s corpse, causing his hair to turn completely white. A silence crept over the battlefield, [Conditions unlocked. Due to the amount of blood sacrificed, a fraction of the Mighty Sword''s original power will be released. However, due to the weakness of the vessel, the user shall sustain major damages. Confirm use of original power] prompted the voice in Gray''s head. "Accept," whispered Gray, before the daggers in his hand turned into a greatsword. "W-what''s going on?" asked Clara before Gray rushed of towards the flesh golem, leaving cracks on the floor where he had just been. Gray swung his greatsword in a wide arc, cutting off one of the golem''s legs. However, it used the corpses of nearby zombies to heal itself. "It won''t be enough, we have to help him!" shouted Aran once he realized that Gray couldn''t defeat this thing alone. "I''m not helping those brats. This bitch here killed Russ, someone has to pay," replied the boss, as he and his goons approached Tesse. "Touch my toy, and you''ll act as my nutrition next," said Gray, with a smile on his face, as he looked back at what was happening. Gray kept swinging his sword, however, each time he cut of one of the golem''s limbs it would just heal itself again. ''What the fuck is going on here. There''s no way that this thing is immortal, there must be some way to-'' right then an idea popped up in Gray''s head. "Keep the other zombies busy!" order Gray before jumping on the beasts head. The beast seemed to dislike this and tried swatting Gray, clobbering itself in the process. As Gray was about to destroy the tombstone on its head the beast ingested it, bringing the tombstone inside its body. "That''s how you wanna play huh?" smiled Gray, his canines were now extended, almost like those of a vampire. Gray changed his greatsword into two katanas and cut a hole in the flesh golem following after the tombstone. [Warning, bloodlust mode is reaching its limit. Continuous use after this warning will result in irreversible consequences.] warned the voice in Gray''s head. The monster''s blood smelt rancid, attacking Gray''s nose nearly causing him to pass out. What''s more is that the pressure within the golem''s body was unbearable, if not for Gray''s blood lust form he would''ve been squashed already. ''Just a little more,'' thought Gray as he struggle to stay conscious. His sword was just a few centimeters away from the tombstone, however, it wasn''t enough. All their fighting had been in vain, Gray''s consciousness was slipping. Just as Gray''s eyes were closing in defeat, he gave out a small grin, "I can''t die here, not yet," said Gray as he shot out a blast of red energy, cracking the tombstone. "Where the fuck did he go?" asked Clara as she burnt a zombie to a crisp. "Where ever he is, he isn''t here to protect this bitch anymore," said the boss before he and his group pounced on Tesse. Just as they were about to kill her an autonomous voice announced [Tower of the Dead, Floor one complete.] [Difficulty F] [Rewards will be handed out according to contribution.] "He did it," whispered Aran with a shocked expression on his face. "This wasn''t fun," croaked Gray as the golem''s body fell apart spitting him out. The smell that reeked from Gray''s body was akin to that of a dead dog that had been buried in a pool of rotten eggs. "Master!" exclaimed Tesse as she made her way from underneath the flabbergasted thugs and ran towards Gray''s unconscious body. Tesse healed Gray, passing out in his place, prompting Gray to stand up back up. "Well done," said Gray before pushing Tesse''s unconscious body off of him. ''He treats her like a slave,'' thought Aran as he looked at Gray in awe. [Item shop has been unlocked to all players as an additional reward for completing the first tower.] [Items from the item shop may be bought with Arcanian points.] said the autonomous voice. [Do you wish to continue to floor two?] "No!" shouted Clara, prompting a blue portal to open in front of the group. Gray picked Tesse up and walked through the portal, a look of disappointment visible across his face, with everyone following close behind him. "T-they did it!" shouted Agent Ria in excitement, before covering her nose at the putrid smell that Gray gave off as he walked through the portal. "Eww, what is that?" murmured a few of the people who were waiting to enter the tower. It was morning, meaning that the group had been in there for a while. "Where is everyone else?" asked Agent Ria, however, Gray just walked past her and continued walking home. "Officers report," said Agent Ria to the four government officials who had followed Gray into the tower. "Everyone else is dead Captain," announced the officer. "I see, their sacrifice shall not be in vain. So how did you do it?" asked Agent Ria. "We didn''t do anything, he did," said Aran as he looked at Gray walking away. Everyone present turned to look at Gray. On that day a legend was born, that of the hundreds of people that entered the tower, a kid carrying a white-haired girl had been responsible for defeating the first floor. "Agent Ria, headquarters just called in. The Atenria guild completed the first floor of their tower a few seconds ago as well." said one of Ria''s aides. "We have to bring that kid over to our side no matter the cost," murmured Ria as her aide made the announcement. Factions (1) ''I should''ve used an energy wave there instead, and I shouldn''t have turned the Mighty Sword into daggers here, it was a complete waste of blood. And who said that the blood weapons skill was only restricted to these weapons anyway? If I had been thinking properly I could''ve locked the flesh golem down using blood fetters. I had an adequate amount of blood so why didn''t I change the way I fight?'' Gray often did this back when he used to play online games, he would watch a replay of his raids and think of different ways to improve on his fighting, however now instead of a replay he had to rely purely on his memory to analyze his fight with the flesh golem. ''What would''ve happened if I had shot out that energy blast one second later? The only constellation in all this is that I found a new way to use her, her combat abilities are a bit shabby but with proper training, I can use her to a better extent,'' thought Gray as he stared at Tesse sleeping on his bed. ''Anyway, the only reason we cleared that floor was due to pure luck. Looks like I have a lot to learn before I can challenge the second floor. If the difficulty of the first floor nearly killed me even with my bloodlust mode, then there''s no telling what dangers await me on the second floor.'' After analyzing his previous shortcomings to the greatest extent that his memory allowed him, he went outside to practice using his blood weapons skill. ''If I''m going to have fun, then I ought to do it properly,'' A few hours passed and Tesse finally woke up. "Master!" exclaimed Tesse with a groggy voice, the last thing she remembered was Gray being unconscious after defeating the flesh golem. "Huh, I''m in master''s bed?" whispered Tesse with a red tinge on her face. She looked around the room however Gray was nowhere to be seen, "Master?" asked Tesse as she staggered off the bed in search of him. ''Master is.. training?'' wondered Tesse as she peaked at Gray training in the yard. He had his shirt off and sweat trickled down his body, Gray had a rather athletic build for a shut-in, although his father was a deadbeat he couldn''t deny that he had passed on rather good genes. Tesse walked into the yard and sat down, watching in awe as Gray switched the form of his weapon with every movement he performed. Gray even pulled out some new forms Tesse had never seen before. After swinging a long sword he changed it into a battle-ax, using the momentum from the previous swing to cut through the air, right before the battle-ax was about to hit the ground he changed it into a war-hammer, using its weight to increase the power of the impact. Gray breathed heavily as he changed the war hammer into twin blades. He looked pale, almost as if he would faint at any second. "Here, take this and get ready to spar," said Gray as he threw one of the blades at Tesse. "Master, I don''t mean to question your orders, but are you sure you want to fight in this state?" "Oh, perhaps you think you can beat me? Just take the blade and come at me," ordered Gray as he got into a battle stance. ''I''ll go easy on him,'' thought Tesse as she charged at Gray. Gray quickly changed the form of his sword into that of a sword breaker in response, catching Tesse''s blade in one of its teeth completely shattering it once he pulled downward. "Don''t be mistaken, this training isn''t so much for me as it is for you. Your fighting skills are lacking, if you are unable to beat me even in this state, then you''re a failure as a subordinate. And don''t question my ability to throw away things I find useless." "Y-yes master," stuttered Tesse, still amazed that she had actually lost even though Gray''s moves were sluggish. Gray picked up the broken pieces of Tesse''s sword and brought them back to one piece. "Again," said Gray as he handed Tesse the weapon. Tesse charged at Gray once again, this time swinging the sword from a low angle to avoid it being caught by the sword breaker. Gray changed the sword breaker into a blood shield, using it to block Tesse''s attack, right as the sword and shield made impact, he changed the shield into a sword, slashing at Tesse''s side. Tesse let go of her blade and fell down in pain, blood trickling out of the wound. "Heal yourself and stand up, we''ll continue until you win or I faint," said Gray, his voice almost a whisper under his heavy breathing. "M-master let me heal you as-" Tesse was about to say before Gray interrupted. "Grab the weapon and get up, you can heal me once I faint. Perhaps I''ve been taking it too easy on you if you have time to think about others," "You still don''t get it, do you? With your powers, we can push ourselves to the limit. We can spar as hard as we want, so long as no one dies you can just heal them back to full health. And if you faint from the side effects of your ability, you will just sleep and we will restart again once you wake up." laughed Gray as he turned his sword into twin daggers, a crazed smile on his face. "The next time we go into the tower there will be no ''lucky moments'', welcome to hell, savor the pain you are about to endure," said Gray, his speech rather unconvincing due to the paleness of his skin. "Now come at me," *** "Captain, the General wants to speak to you," "Put him through," ordered Agent Ria from the portal station of ''The Tower of the Dead,'' "Agent Ria, what''s the situation with the tower?" asked a rather harsh old voice from over a large analog communication device that seemed to be from world war 2. "We''ve completed the first floor General, however, the second floor seems to be a challenge. Just give me a bit more t-" "Agent Ria, need I remind you that the government is currently facing threats of being overthrown by the Church on one side and the ''Guilds'' on the other? If we don''t show the citizens that we still hold power then there''s no salvaging this situation," Factions (2) "I-I understand general, it''s just that we''re lacking personnel. I''ve sent in large numbers of officials, however, they''re power levels seem inadequate," "What about that kid that you told me about? Why haven''t you brought him over to the military yet?" "Preparations have been put in place General," "Agent Ria, if the Church or any of the other Guilds contact him before we are able to bring him over to our side, then you will take full responsibility for this loss. The Church has already cleared the second floor of their tower, we need to hurry." "U-understood General," "I hope so. I will contact you again in a week, I want to see results by then," "Yes Gene-" before Agent Ria could finish her sentence the General cut the call. "Captain, what are we going to do?" asked the aide. "Bring the kid over to our side of course," said Agent Ria as she walked out of the tent she was in and out into the front of the tower. Large numbers of people were still crowded outside waiting to get in, they seemed even more eager than before. This was because of the recently opened item shop. "Open item shop," said Aran as he stood a distance away from the crowd with the rest of his group behind him. "Why aren''t we challenging the next floor?" asked Clara. "That''s because it''s impossible with our current powers, or at least not alone that is," replied Aran as he looked through the item shop. His group seemed to have gained four new members, totaling eight. "Are you looking for.. him?" asked another girl from his group. "Come on, don''t tell me you guys actually believe that bullshit. Either someone exaggerated how big that flesh golem was, or that kid didn''t actually kill it himself," replied a blonde-haired guy in Aran''s group. "I agree, it''s rather unlikely that someone that powerful exists yet," said another guy in the group, this one had glasses and a rather calculative look on his face. "Well, what you believe doesn''t matter anyway. We need to get him into our group before someone else does. The group with the most Arcanian points basically hold the most power," replied Aran, a wide grin on his face as he picked out an item from the item shop. "Are you talking about the elixirs from the item shop?" asked Clara as Aran drank a yellow elixir. "Not just that. If the level one item shop contains such items, then imagine what items the level 500 item shop has," [Item shop Level 1/500] [Minor stamina enhancing elixir. (1000 Arcanian points)] [Minor strength enhancing elixir. (1000 Arcanian points)] [Minor agility enhancing elixir. (1000 Arcanian points)] [Minor ability enhancing elixir. (1000 Arcanian points)] [Bane of the undead elixir. (1000 Arcanian points)] [Minor healing elixir. (1000 Arcanian points)] "But the items are rather expensive," complained a green-haired girl from Aran''s group. "Yeah, even with the 2000 Arcanian points we got from the first floor of the tower, we can only afford two items," complained Clara. "Then we just have to get more, I got intel that several ruins have opened nearby," replied Aran. "Intel from where?" asked the blonde-haired guy. "They call themself the information guild. I guess people have already started creating large groups to conquer the ruins, dungeons, and tower floors," "Guilds? Then should we start one as well?" asked Clara, impressed that people had already established new factions. "Pfft, forget about it, we aren''t enough. Anyways I heard the competition is harsh, the Church seems to be preventing the rise of new Guilds. And there''s also the issue of the so-called otherworlders." "Otherworlders?" asked Clara with a confused expression. "Beings who aren''t humans. Some people say they spotted elf-like beings entering one of the ruins on the outskirts of town," "Don''t tell me you buy that," asked Clara. "If there are goblins, what''s stopping elves from existing. Anyway, I heard that you can get Arcanian points from ruins as well, although to a smaller extent then tower floors," "Then if that''s the case why are we still standing here?" "Don''t be fooled, just because ruins are easier than the tower, that doesn''t mean we can take them lightly. I was hoping that he would show up and we could take on the ruins together, anyway it seems he didn''t show up today. We might as well just head out," said Aran before he and his group left. "So it seems that he''s become rather famous. I wonder if it really is the guy from earlier," smiled a girl dressed in white robes, after eavesdropping on Aran''s group. "Father it seems he hasn''t shown up today, should I continue waiting?" asked the girl over an amulet on her hand. "It''s okay, just get back. The attack force is going to take on the ''Forbidden Ruin'', and your presence is required," "Aww, but father I wanted to play with him a little. I heard that he was rather strong," said the girl, with a lewd expression on her face, and glowing yellow eyes. "That''s rather unbefitting language for a sister, sister Eleanor." replied the voice over the amulet. "Sigh, your no fun, whatever I''m coming. We''re going to meet soon anyways, there''s no way that the other Guilds won''t try contacting the first tower clearer. One way or another I''ll have my fun," said the sister before running off. *** "The preparations have been completed Captain Duarte," "Very well. Call the main attack force, The Daybreak Guild is about to be the first to complete an E difficulty ruin." Ruin of the legion (1) ''How long has it been already?'' thought Tesse as she gasped for air, the hot sweat trickling down her body causing her shirt to become sticky. The two of them had been going at it nonstop for nearly half a day, taking breaks only when one of them fainted. So far Tesse had only managed to beat Gray twice in the past twelve hours, and on both occasions it was due to Gray fainting from Hypovolemic shock. (AN: sudden blood loss due to excessive us of the blood weapons skill,) "It seems you''re a fast learner, in the past twelve hours you''ve done well in keeping up with me. Even though my ability makes my attack pattern unpredictable, you''ve been able to defend against a good portion of my attacks." "T-thank you master," replied Tesse as she breathed heavily, leaning on the bo-staff weapon she had been using to prevent herself from falling. "From now on your main weapon will be the bo-staff. Out of all the weapons you fought against me with, I felt the most pressured when you used it," "Y-yes master," "I think this is enough training for today. We''ll have to go searching for a dungeon tomorrow to test out the tactics we practiced," "Anyway, how many Arcanian points did you get from completing the first floor?" asked Gray as he returned the Mighty Sword to the mark on his hand and walked back into the house. "U-uhm, two thousand, should I transfer them to master?" asked Tesse as she followed close behind Gray, using the bo-staff as a crutch. "I''m not familiar with this currency system so I have no idea if transferring points is even possible., And anyway if I''m not mistaken the only items we get from the item shop right now are elixirs, so you might as well just spend your Arcanian points on those instead." "So I should buy elixirs and hand them over to master?" "That won''t be necessary, however, based on our fights I noticed that your agility and stamina are severely lacking. Buy enhancement elixirs to make up for those weak points," "T-thank you master," "Thank you? We''ll see about that," laughed Gray as he removed his clothes to take a cold shower. "Oh, and prepare something, I''m famished," ordered Gray before stepping into the shower. "Y-yes master," Tesse looked like she was about to collapse, however she still complied, her master''s orders were absolute. *** "Is this everyone?" asked Captain Duarte as he stood in front of seven of his men. "It says a maximum of forty participants are permitted, however that doesn''t mean all forty actually have to participate. If the other groups are late we will just have to start without them, they can follow in after, if they don''t mind eating scraps that is," replied Sister Eleanor as she stood in front of seven other people dressed in white church attire. "Very well then," replied Agent Ria, disappointment visible across her face. She had been hoping that Gray would show up at this raid since it was the first E-difficulty ruin to be discovered, however, it seemed as if Gray was as elusive as a ghost. "Are you information guild bastards sure that you got the right details on this ruin?" asked another squad captain. He had blonde, slick back hair, and wore a black suit similar to that of the government officials from Agent Ria''s squad, however it was blatantly clear that his was many times more expensive. "Ofcourse we are, we have the ability to tell the difficulty of a dungeon, ruin or tower floor just by looking at the portal," replied a man in a brown hooded cloak, who was surrounded by at least fifteen other people with the same cloak, destroying any ideas that the guilds would''ve had about kidnapping him and using his abilities for themselves. The problem of ruins and dungeons was that normally the difficulty would not be revealed upon entrance, but only when you cleared it. Meaning that people had no idea what dangers awaited them, this was especially dangerous since the only way out was through completion. As the different groups were about to enter the portal a voice shouted out, "I hope you weren''t planning on starting this party without us," ''The Riot Guild'' thought Agent Ria as she turned back to see where the voice was coming from. "Judith it seems you made it, but where''s Andre, is your guild leader so confident in you that he has failed to show up himself?" asked Agent Ria as she looked at The Riot''s guild attack force with a suspicious gaze. ''They were able to amass thousands of followers within mere days, and most of them aren''t your average lightweights. According to my intel, they currently control two towers and have given fierce opposition to any groups trying to take one away from them.'' ''Last I heard they just recently completed the second floor of both their towers. Apparently it was all thanks to Andre, I was hoping to get a glimpse of him, but it seems both tower clearers are afraid of the sun,'' thought Agent Ria as she turned back around to go through the portal. "You needn''t worry government bitch, the boss is completing the third floor of the tower as we speak. Pretty soon there won''t be any country for you guys to govern, and your little tanks and weaponry will soon become useless in the face of abilities," replied Judith with a contemptuous gaze. ''Ahh yes, Judith Esparza, an orphan who had been abused for several years in the state orphanage. She ran away after killing one of the caretakers who allegedly tried to rape her, but the same government that should''ve been there for her locked her up instead. After that, she went through a long stint of crime, up til now she had several criminal offenses on her record,'' remembered Agent Ria from the case file she had read when she was researching the Riot Guild. ''I don''t blame her for hating the government, however,'' "Is that so?" asked Agent Ria as sparks of lightning bounced off her fingertips and she went through the portal. "Best not anger her Judith. I''s heard she''s called Thor by some people," said one of the men who stood behind Judith. "Thor? Like the hero? Don''t make me laugh," laughed Judith as she walked through the portal as well. Ruin of the legion (2) "What the hell happened here?" questioned sister Eleanor as the group stepped through the portal into a seemingly different world. The once morning blue sky was replaced by a dusty brown horizon, whose only redeeming quality was the way the setting sun reflected off the dust particles making it seem as if they were sparkling. Remnants of a long and brutal war littered this new scene, the bodies of soldiers dressed in what seemed to be ancient roman attire lay haphazardly on the dusty battlefield. Broken down chariots, shields, swords, and armors were buried underneath the sand, only visible due to the skeletons that seemed to be holding on to their former possessions as if their souls depended on it. "It was probably some kind of war," replied Agent Ria as she stared into the distance. A few hundred meters away stood a greek style temple with a burning pyre in the center, what was odd about it was the fact that instead of a reddish-orange glow, the fire was green. "I know it was a war, what I mean is why isn''t anyon-" before sister Eleanor could finish her sentence, the ground began rumbling. "Attack force get ready!" ordered Duarte, and all his men stood at attention, drawing out their weapons and preparing for the imminent threat. As if on mark, all the other groups and their leaders did the same as well, waiting to see what horrors they would have to face. After a few moments went by and nothing happened, the gentleman wearing a black suit with slicked back blonde hair lowered his guard. "It was probably just an-" [The Legion awakens and seeks to add more to their ranks. Burn the remains of their general or join them in the eternal army.] As the autonomous voice announced this, the skeletal remains of the dead soldiers rose from the ground, wielding their broken weaponry. Their eye sockets were filled with a blue aquamarine glow, devoid of all intelligence. Although their movements were clumsy, they made up for it with their vast numbers. At least two thousand fully armed undead soldiers stood in front of the group of eighty. Behind the army standing right in front of the pyre was a skeletal figure on a rusted golden chariot, wearing a general''s regalia. The general''s eyes turned from blue to green, and as if it were a war cry, so did all the skeletal soldiers''. The army of two thousand charged at the group, like a swarm ready to devour its prey. "Looks like guns are out of the question," said Judith as she rushed off to face the incoming threat at an astounding speed. "W-wait you can''t just -" Agent Ria was about to say before sister Eleanor interrupted. "I never quite liked the dead," as she said this her eyes began glowing yellow and a light flashed from the sky. A white figure floated down to the dusty battlefield and tore a hole in the skeletal army''s offensive. "Is that, a mecha?" asked Duarte as he watched Judith and a four-meter tall mechanical figure wreak havoc on the battlefield. Judith lay waste to the skeletons that surrounded her, her super speed allowing her to prevent herself from getting caught up by the large army that was quickly advancing. However, as impressive as she was, the mecha adorned with holy symbols and made of a white glowing metal seemed to be destroying three times as many skeletons as she did with every swing of its two-meter long great sword. "That''s my Michael, though I have to say, if all of you just watch while the church takes the top contributor spot in this ruin, then it won''t be worth the paperwork I''ll have to fill in later." said sister Eleanor with a smirk on her face as the group watched the Holy Mecha draw most of the army''s attention. "Don''t get ahead of yourself little girl, the fight has only just begun," said the man with slicked-back blonde hair as he loosened his tie and his eyes began glowing a fiery red. "Arise Sarafina," shouted the man, and a fire spirit erupted from the ground, sending a few of the skeletons who had made it close to the group flying away. The fire spirit stood at four meters tall as well and held two 1.5 meter long swords. It dashed through the battlefield at a terrifying speed, almost as fast as Judith was, and just like the Mecha Michael, it destroyed large numbers of skeletons at once, "Kukk," snorted Judith as she saw the two summons wreak havoc. She quickly pulled out the item shop and spent all 4000 of the Arcanian points she had received from clearing two tower floors on two strength and two agility elixirs, drinking them immediately. Right after she finished, her speed increased ever so slightly, however that made a big difference. Before where she could only cover 100 meters in five seconds, she could now do it half a second faster, where she could only overpower two skeletons, she could now fight three. "Let''s see you keep up now," said Judith with a smile on her face as she mowed down the skeletons. ''Two summoners huh?'' thought Agent Ria, as a dozen skeletons finally arrived in front of the group. The officials within her group began engaging in combat, with most of them having some sort of armament ability that strengthened their normal physical capabilities, allowing them to give out a receive a larger beating. "It seems all the leaders are showing off their powers, I might as well join in," said Agent Ria as she shot light bolts from her fingertips. The blasts were so powerful that they turned the brittle bones of the skeletons to dust, and left scorch marks where they once stood. Agent Ria eliminated ten skeletons in the time it took Sarafina and Michael to take care of five. ''It seems we got lucky, this group is well equipped to fight against an army,'' thought Duarte as he and his comrades engaged in battle as well. ''The hierarchy has been drawn out. Right now I''m at the top, followed by that disgusting sister and the blondey, Judith comes in fourth and this Daybreak leader guy comes in last,'' thought Ria as she continued thinning down the enemy''s numbers. Ruin of the legion (3) "Ruins are pretty easy huh? They''re nothing compared to the tower floors," boasted one of the members of the Riot Guild''s attack force as he bashed a skeleton in the head with a baseball bat. "Well, that''s to be expected. We only have to deal with the small number of skeletal soldiers that get past those four," replied another member of the attack force as he turned to look at the destruction that Judith, Sarafina, Michael, and Agent Ria were causing on the battlefield. "But isn''t it kind of weird?" asked the first member of the attack force. "What do you mean?" "We''ve been here for nearly thirty minutes, but it doesn''t seem as if the number of skeletal soldiers is decreasing, if anything it kinda feels like they are getting harder to kill," "You''re just exaggerating, stop thinking so hard and deal with the skeletons that slip through," replied the second member as he bashed another skeleton with his gauntlets. *** "Master I''ve confirmed that the guild leaders of the Daybreak Guild, the government, the church, and the Quincy Guild have entered the Ruin. However, the guild leader Andre was nowhere to be seen, and instead, the vice-captain of the Riot Guild represented him." said a man dressed in a brown hooded robe, as he bowed to a dark figure sitting atop what seemed to be a throne in a dimly lit hall. "The captain of the Riot Guild huh? It doesn''t matter, with his attack force thinned he won''t be able to retaliate once we decide to take over this region." replied the Master. "Master I know it''s highly unlikely, but what if they are able to beat the ruin of the legion? After all, we didn''t lie about it being an E-difficulty Ruin," "Beat a ruin? Amos are you aware of what the success rate of ruin raids currently is?" "Y-yes master, isn''t it 60%?" "Wrong, those were figures I forged in order to lure out the attack force of various guilds. The real success rate is 0%. That''s right, out of all the F-difficulty Ruins challenged none of them were ever successfully cleared," "B-but how? Surely others would catch on and realize that ruins were never completed," "How would they my dear Amos? My information Guild currently controls the spread of information, all network lines had been cut so there is no way for them to communicate unless they have government links or use radio communication." "But even then, if there are no survivors to tell others that a ruin was not completed then how would people know? " laughed the master from atop his throne. "So, the guild leaders are currently facing a ruin harder than the ones that haven''t even been completed yet?" "Indeed. In this world information is power, and he who controls the information controls the world," *** "Oi, could you guys hurry up and advance towards the general? I can''t keep shooting out these lightning bolts forever," shouted Agent Ria over the sound of weapons clashing. Her lightning bolts seemed to be getting weaker, the radius of her blasts was half what they once were, and the intensity of the heat wasn''t even enough to completely disintegrate a single skeleton anymore. "I''m trying, but Michael can''t make it past the skeletons at the front, and I''m not sure how long I can keep him in this realm," replied sister Eleanor, sweat dripping off her face. "The same goes for Sarafina, the ten skeletons in the front seem to be different from the rest," added the blonde man in a black suit. "Am I crazy or does it seem like these skeletons are getting stronger?" shouted Judith, her face covered in sweat and blood as she struggled to deal with the skeletons that were slowly surrounding her. "Actually, now that I look at it, their attack patterns have gotten more complex, it''s almost as if-. Fuck!" shouted Agent Ria as she finally realized something. "What? What is it?" asked the blonde guy. "We have to finish this quickly. The skeletal soldiers are learning new combat abilities in real-time, just look at them. When we first came here their combat abilities were subpar, but now they''re at the same level as most of the members of the attack force," "S-shes right!" shouted one of the members of the Daybreak Guild before getting stabbed in the throat with a rusted sword. His skin instantly turned to dust, exposing his skeleton, he then stood back up and in place of his eyeballs was a green glow. "A-Alvin!" shouted his comrade, however his cries fell on deaf ears. The undead Alvin activated his ability, causing the skeletons nearby him to have a higher defense. "T-they retain their abilities even after joining the legion?" stuttered sister Eleanor as she watched what had just happened. The general at the far end of the battlefield raised his hand, and at the same time, the undead Alvin raised his hand as well. "What''s he doing?" shouted Judith from where she was fighting. The general''s hand shone a bright green color, causing every skeleton on the battlefield to glow green as well. "D-don''t tell me," stuttered Agent Ria, a look of despair visible across her face. "He''s using that ability on all the skeletons. So for every member we lose, the whole legion gains their ability," added Judith with a hopeless expression as she became mauled by the skeletons around her. Before it had just been a tad difficult to fight against the skeletons, but now with the defense upgrade, it became nearly impossible to deal with all of them. The number of cuts on her body was steadily increasing, and soon she wouldn''t be able to hold on anymore. "T-This is supposed to be an E-difficulty Ruin!? Those bastards lied to us!" shouted the blonde guy as Sarafina began getting swarmed by a horde of skeletons. Her blades had become cooler and could no longer cut through the enemies like swiss cheese. "We have to defeat the general quickly!" shouted one of the members of the RIot Guild, before getting slashed at the throat. Just like before, her skin turned to dust, and her skeleton was exposed. Both she and the general raised their fists, and all the skeletons gained the ability to create an ethereal shield. "Fuck!" shouted all the leaders in unison as they realized that this ruin was a death trap. Ruin of the legion (4) "Have you gotten the information I asked you to gather?" asked Gray as he practiced using his blood weapons skill once again. Lately it was all he ever did, it was almost like a sick obsession. "Yes master, I''ve overheard several groups talking about getting their information from a group of individuals known as the information guild," Tesse had been ordered to gather information on where dungeons or ruins had opened up and report back to Gray once she had collected sufficient intel. "And so, where do we find these information guild bastards?" asked Gray, sweat dripping down his now pale face. "They have taken over the library in the town square, however, according to what I''ve heard, they require Arcanian points in exchange for their services." "Very well then. Have you taken the elixirs I ordered you to buy?" "Yes master," "Let''s see how well they do," replied Gray. Gray hadn''t used a single one of his four thousand Arcanian points as of yet and wanted to test how effective the elixirs would be. He wanted to make sure that they weren''t just a waste of resources. "Very well master," said Tesse as she held her bo-staff in one hand and began twirling it in a clockwise direction. Without warning, Tesse struck her staff aiming to hit Gray in the face. He managed to turn the mighty sword into a shield at the last second and deflected her attack, however the force of the attack caused him to stagger backward. ''Her speed and strength have slightly increased, even though I''m tired right now to think she would be able to push me back to such an extent just due to an elixir.'' Tesse didn''t stop her advance, she used the momentum from the deflected attack to hit Gray in the stomach with the other side of her staff. The attack was so powerful it winded Gray, causing him to double over in pain. "Master are yo-" Tesse''s sentence was interrupted when Gray turned the mighty sword into daggers and tried slashing at her. However Tesse used the side of her bo-staff to hold of the attack, Gray used this chance to kick at Tesse''s stomach causing her to tumble backward. Tesse flipped backward, using the bo-staff to maintain her balance. ''She''s learned how to use the bo-staff in ways other than as a weapon?'' thought Gray as he used blood to add chains to the hilts of his daggers, throwing them at Tess as she landed. Tesse managed to dodge one of the daggers, however, the other one managed to puncture her stomach. Gray then changed the tip of the dagger inside Tesse, turning it into a sort of anchor, and pulled Tesse back towards him, the anchor within her tugging at her insides causing her to scream out in pain. Gray recalled the daggers and the chains, turning them back to blood and absorbing them into his mark. "You''ve grown a little. You''re doing quite well with a bo-staff however its deadliness is reduced due to a lack of blades. Perhaps you should use a spear since they have more or less the same battle mechanics," said Gray as he changed the tip of Tesse''s bo-staff into that of a spear. "Now heal yourself and let''s go again," ordered Gray once he was done. "But what about you master?" "How many times have I told. You''ll heal me once I faint, now get up and let''s go again," *** "I don''t think we can win this," said sister Eleanor with a tired expression on her face, as she dodged another one of the skeletal soldier''s attacks. Michael had been recalled several minutes ago, and Sarafina''s flames were getting dimmer by the second. The only reason that she and some of the others were still alive was due to the effects of elixirs they had drunk in order to increase their stats. "Someone better come up with something and fast, unless you want every skeleton here to move with the same speed as me," shouted Judith as she fended off the skeletons, using what little strength she had left. "We can''t let them get the abilities of the captains!" shouted Agent Ria, her lightning bolts becoming sparks compared to what they used to be. "Speaking of captains, where is the leader of the Daybreak Guild. That bozo has been useless ever since we got here!" shouted Judith. "Now that I think about it I haven''t seen him around for a w-" Agent Ria was about to say before she saw a group of skeletons getting decimated somewhere in the center of the battlefield. "How is he still that strong? Doesn''t his ability have a side-effect?" asked sister Eleanor as she watched Duarte cut through the enemy lines, faster than even Judith could. "I don''t remember him being that fast even when we first came here," shouted Judith, envy audible in her voice. "I see, that''s why he''s called the juggernaut," whispered Agent Ria as she realized what was going on. "What do you mean?" asked one of the few surviving members of her attack force. "Now that the cat''s out of the bag, I might as well tell you," said one of the few surviving Daybreak members. "The longer the Captain fights, the stronger he becomes, hence the name juggernaut. We''ve been fighting non-stop for nearly an hour, so the captain has gained a bunch of momentum," explained the Daybreak member. ''I see, the only downside to his ability is that if someone manages to kill him before he gains momentum then his ability becomes useless. But still, if we can survive long enough then we might be able to win this,'' "We just have to hold off a little longer. Putting this childish competition aside, the only way to escape this is to rely on the captain of the Daybreak Guild!" shouted Agent Ria. However, it didn''t seem as if the group would last much longer. They were down to only nine people, and all of them were about to reach their breaking point. Duarte''s advance was stopped by the ten skeletal soldiers who stood at the front of the general. "I can''t get past these boneheads," shouted Duarte as one of the skeletons pushed him back. "Fuck this! I have an idea," shouted sister Eleanor, (AN: sigh forgive me for my blasphemy) "What is it?" asked Agent Ria, The remaining members had created an encirclement to watch each other''s backs and keep the skeleton horde at bay. "The clear conditions are to burn the remains of the general. However it never stated what we had to burn exactly or where we had to burn it," replied sister Eleanor under her heavy breathing. "So where are you going with this?" asked the blonde guy, as he struggled to keep Sarafina in this realm. "I''m saying we use Sarafina to burn him. Even if it''s just a piece of his clothing, anything will do," "Are you sure about this? And even if we could, I already tried to get to him, those ten skeleton soldiers are as strong as Sarafina if not stronger," "The Daybreak guy can distract them while Sarafina makes a break for it, it''s our only hope," replied sister Eleanor. "You hear that Duarte!" shouted Agent Ria from where she was standing. "You don''t have to tell me twice," replied Duarte as he picked up his speed, and began bombarding the ten skeleton soldiers with all the strength he had collected so far. "Now!" shouted sister Eleanor and Sarafina shoved off the skeletons around her and began running towards the general. The four-meter tall fire spirit ran as fast as it could towards the enemy general. One of the ten skeletons that Duarte had been fighting tried to block her advance, however, Duarte quickly stopped it, sacrificing his left arm to block its attack. The fire spirit made it to the front of the temple, but right as it was about to attack the general, the general began laughing. "What''s going on?" asked Duarte, as his left arm lay limp on the side, making it harder for him to fight. "I don-" before the blonde guy could finish his sentence, the general held out its hand, and skeletal hands dug up from the ground, and pulled at Sarafina''s legs, stopping her advance. "We''re fucked!" whimpered sister Eleanor, all hope had been lost. "Don''t underestimate the Quincy guild captain," said the blonde guy with a smirk on his face. "Sarafina, release!", once he said this Sarafina detonated, causing the general''s regalia to set fire. Although not even a scratch was visible on the General, all the skeletons stopped moving. [The general speaks to you.] said the autonomous voice. [You won this battle. But the legion is eternal, face me once more, but with higher stakes. I shall be waiting, but for now, I gift this to you.] said the general, before one of the ten skeletal warriors that had been giving the group trouble walked towards them. "Be on guard," warned Agent Ria. [You have received Skeletal Warrior Lvl 1.] said the voice in the blonde guy''s head. "W-wait, that skeletal soldier, it''s become my summon?" [As a gift to the rest of you, I give to you some of my precious artifacts. Begone from my realm, and return when you are ready to fight again. The legion will never die, the legion is eternal,] announced the General before the group was sent back to Earth. Master meets Master (1) "Just wait till I get my hands on those information guild bastards," grunted Judith before falling to her knees in exhaustion. "I don''t think you''re going to be able to do anything in that state. However you''re right, somebody''s gotta pay," added sister Eleanor, sweat still dripping down her face as she breathed heavily. ''We lost nearly all our forces during this battle. The sister, Judith, and the Quincy Captain are the only survivors from their attack forces, and I only have one member left in mine. Sure the Daybreak guild got out of this with the least damage, but I''d say that the Quincy guild made the biggest profit out of all this,'' thought Agent Ria "So how are we gonna split the summon? Surely you don''t believe that you contributed enough to deserve it alone," asked sister Eleanor once she had caught her breath. ''This is dangerous'' thought Duarte as he watched sister Eleanor size up to the taller Quincy Captain. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" asked the Quincy Captain, looking down on sister Eleanor as if he would kill her at any second. "What''s with that look. All I''m saying is that without my plan none of us would have made it out of there alive, and I''d say that I contributed just as much as you did," "The summon was rewarded to me by the system, meaning it recognized me as the top contributor. Unless you want to start a fight here and now I suggest you stop your pestering. And remember, your precious Michael is probably still on cooldown, whereas my Skeletal Warrior is still itching to fight," warned the Quincy Captain, his eyes glowing green as he threatened to summon the skeletal knight. ''Fuck! I forgot he''s a summoner as well, he probably knows that summons have a massive cooldown time,'' "And what about the rest of you? Are you just going to let him have it for himself?" asked sister Eleanor to the rest of the captains as she realized she couldn''t take him on alone. "We''ve already lost enough people as it is. Even though we all equally contributed to this win, we can''t refute that the system gave him the summon, meaning it recognized him as the top contributor." mediated Duarte, trying to stop more blood from being shed. "Anyways it''s not like this was a complete loss. We all got artifacts and Arcanian points in compensation for our efforts. I say we go home happy that we even managed to get out of this alive," added Agent Ria, realizing that without her lightning she was at threat of dying if there was a scuffle. "Pfft, cowards. This isn''t over," said sister Eleanor as she walked away, leaving the rest of the survivors in front of the portal. "Now that I think about it, how come the portal didn''t disappear?" asked one of the survivors of the Daybreak guild. "He said to challenge him again once we are ready. My guess is that it''s a linked ruin, maybe the ruin''s difficulty will increase until eventually the General is killed. Although that''s just my guess," said Agent Ria before a black, tinted limousine with a government plate number appeared. "Anyways it was a pleasure working with you all. I hope that the government can create a long-lasting bond with all your guilds, here''s my contact information in case you ever want to discuss some sort of alliance," said Agent Ria, handing business cards to all the captains present before leaving in the limousine. "Ye, I''m out too. Let''s go guys," said Duarte before he and his team left. Another black limousine appeared, but this one had a private number plate. The Quincy Captain entered it without so much as looking back at Judith and left. "Bastard," grunted Judith before picking herself up and staggering away from the portal. "Master isn''t going to be too happy about this," whispered a brown hooded figure from behind a wall. *** "What! Impossible, there''s no way that they completed an E-Difficulty ruin, no one has even completed an F-difficulty ruin yet!" shouted the master of the information guild from atop his throne, once his subordinate told him of what he saw. "It''s the truth master, they lost most of their attack force, however, all the captains were still alive when they left. And I heard something about the Quincy Captain getting a new summon, it must''ve been really powerful since the representative of the church was willing to start a fight over it," "What! So not only did they not die, but we also managed to hand over a summon to the Quincy guild! Fuck! Someon-" the master''s ranting was interrupted when another hooded figure walked into the dark hall and bowed to the master. "What do you want? Can''t you see I''m busy," "Master, a person fitting the description of the first tower clearer has just entered the building," "Huh? Are you sure?" "Yes master, he''s being accompanied by a girl with white hair carrying a blood-red weapon," replied the hooded figure. "Very well then. It seems I''ve been given a second chance, if I couldn''t get rid of the other guild captains then I''ll just have to take the first tower clearer for myself. That or I''ll send him to his deathbed." said the master with a smile on his face. "Tell him I wish to see him," ordered the master. "Very well master," said the hooded figure before bowing again and leaving the hall. *** ''It seems that this is a rather large group. So far I''ve counted more than fifty brown hooded figures in this building,'' thought Gray as he stood in a queue in the library, waiting for his turn to speak to the information clerk. ''But what I don''t understand is why all these people are staring at us,'' The second Gray and Tesse entered the library, all eyes were on them. Rumors had spread about how a boy with jet black hair, together with a white-haired girl wielding blood-red weapons had been responsible for clearing the first ever tower floor. "You guys seriously believe those rumors? And even if they were true, there''s no way it''s them," whispered a few people standing behind Gray in the queue. "I''m telling you man, it''s him. I saw him leave the tower with me own eyes," replied one of the men standing next to the first. "Then the brat''s gots to be loaded with Arcanian points," said another one of the men standing behind Gray, with a greedy look on his face. Master meets master (2) One of the men who had been whispering about Gray began approaching him from behind. "Wait. I don''t think this is a good idea Bill," warned one of his colleagues, however the greed in his eyes blinded him from all reasoning. "Master," whispered Tesse. "I know," replied Gray quickly, without so much as turning to face the oncoming threat. "Why don''t you and the little lady here come with me," whispered Bill as he put his hand on Gray''s shoulder and flashed the gun he had hidden under his shirt. Tesse quickly thrust her spear, stabbing the man in the arm, causing blood to drip to the floor. During all this Gray never once turned to look at what was going on, he kept his vision forward, as if whatever was going on was beneath him. Bill stood there in shock, he hadn''t expected that he would be stabbed by a mere teenager after showing off his gun. As if it took some time for him to register that he had been injured, he screamed out in pain, drawing the attention of all those around him. "What''s going on?" murmured a few people within the library, before Bill''s group came to see what had happened. "That bitch stabbed me, she stabbed me," shouted Bill hysterically as if someone had chopped of his arm. "Quiet down, it''s just a flesh wound," said one of his comrades, looking at Tesse with a dangerous glare. "How are you going to make up for this?" asked another one of Bill''s comrades with a greedy smile on his face. "I mean, hospitals don''t work anymore, and I''d say you''ve all but prevented Bill here from doing any work. Surely you should compensate him for damages," said the man in an avaricious tone. "Be glad master let you off with just a wo-" Tesse was about to say before Gray raised his hand in a gesture for her to stop. "As you wish master," "Listen here you little shit!" shouted the man once he realized that Gray was looking down on them, but before he could do anything a man dressed in brown robes approached the group. "Master wishes to see you," announced the figure. "Master?" questioned Gray unsure of what the man was talking about. "The leader of the information guild. It would be within your best interests to comply," said the hooded figure before turning around, in gesture for Gray to follow him. "Hey, I''m not done talking to them!" shouted Bill''s colleague. "Guards, please escort these gentlemen out of the premises," said the hooded figure, and four massive figures dressed in brown robes pushed the group out of the library, carrying the injured Bill and throwing him out the door once he refused to stand up. "Just you wait," swore Bill''s comrade, a promise of revenge in his eyes. *** "Ahh, welcome, welcome," said the master in a joyful tone as Gray and Tesse entered the dimly lit hall. ''Why is it so dark in here,'' wondered Gray, ready to call out the mighty sword the second anything smelled fishy. "Why do you call me here?" asked Gray, his voice stone-cold, showing that he had no interest in playing nice with this unknown figure. "So cold. As for the reason I wanted to see you," said the figure as one of the two hooded figures behind him handed him a clipboard containing a few documents. "You''ve become quite the celebrity. Rumor has it that the completion of the first floor was entirely due to your combat ability," "And so? What of it?" "Well, I''d like to offer you a proposition.. join the information guild as part of the attack force. Of course, I''ll give you a high position and you''ll be rewarded handsomely," said the master as he handed the clipboard back to his subordinate. "Pfft, if that''s all you have to say then our conversation is done. I have no interest in joining any guilds, or being given high positions," "You don''t seem to understand the situation you''re in. Listen if it''s Arcanian points you want, then the guild can provide you with the best sites to farm them," "Arcanian points?" laughed Gray, as he noticed the hooded figures hidden in the dark corners of the hall drawing out their weapons. "I have no interest in currencies of that sort. If you want to pay me, pay me in blood," said Gray with a smile on his face, his eyes flashing red for a second as he pondered about the chances of killing every member in the guild. "Surely you don''t think that you can take on everyone in my guild? Even if you are as powerful as the rumors make you out to be, surely you don''t believe you will make it out alive," said the master, a hint of panic audible in his voice. "You''re right, I''m not confident that I can take on all of you, however, I''m sure that I will at least take you with me," replied Gray, "However, I am willing to end this conversation without any blood being spilled. I humbly decline your request, I hope that you respect my decision," "Hmm, a smart one I see," said the master, regaining his composure. "Master," warned one of the hooded figures behind the master, however, the master waved him away. "How about this, if you aren''t willing to be an official member of the guild, how about working for us as a mercenary? You take part in some of our raids, and we''ll provide you with some of the best grounds for farming Arcanian points," "And how would you know where to find these ''farming grounds''?" asked Gray, he already knew that the information guild must have some sort of ability that allows them to see the details of a portal, however, he had to confirm it. "We have our ways, there are some with the ability to see details about dungeons, ruins, and towers. If you work under us then we will support you however we can," ''I don''t like the idea of joining an organization, however, it''s not like I have much to lose. If I join them then I will be able to have more fun than I''ve ever had before. Plus once I find out who has the ability to see the details of portals, then I''ll just kill them and steal their ability, then I''ll be on my way,'' analyzed Gray. "Very well then, however, I have a few conditions," replied Gray. "Hmm, let''s hear them, I will grant them if they are within reason," "I will work on a mercenary basis only, meaning I expect payment for every task delegated to me. And I want a 100 percent discount on all information I get from the guild." "Hmmph, just that? Very well then, deal. My subordinate shall run you over what we expect from you. I look forward to working with you," said the master, relief audible in his voice. The Devil Incarnate "But before all that, I''d like to see the person who I''m making a deal with. You know my face, but I don''t know yours," "Oh, how rude of me," said the master before standing up from his throne and walking into the little tendrils of light that made it into the hall through the cracked windows. "I''m not very pretty am I?" asked the master as he removed his hood, revealing his disfigured face. It was truly a face only a mother could love. His nose had been reduced to two holes into which air flowed, and his facial features were obscured by a deep red scar that extended from his chin, all the way to his head, causing a bald spot. "They say that beauty is within," replied Gray as he shook the master''s hands. "Indeed they do," said the master, his smile fading as Gray looked at him with an almost expressionless face. "Anyway, if you''ll excuse me. I have other matters to attend to," said the master before walking back to his seat. Gray and Tesse walked out of the hall after one of the master''s subordinates handed them a document containing what was expected of them. "Master, I don''t mean to question your reasoning, however, was it really wise to only employ him on a mercenary basis?" asked one of the two subordinates behind him. "My dear Amos, I thought at least you would''ve noticed," replied the master, his tone distant. "W-what do you mean master?" "That boy, couldn''t you tell? He has no interest in material things, he''s a brutish beast who only seeks violence. And I have no use for subordinates who can not be reasoned with, it''s better to keep him as a mercenary and cut him off once he has served his purpose." "I-I see. How smart of you master," said Amos, as he realized what the master was talking about. ''Now that I think about it, that kid didn''t hesitate to show hostility once he noticed the hidden guards. Usually, people would try to find a way to talk themselves out of that situation. It''s almost as if,... he wanted it to turn bloody,'' thought Amos as he pondered on the master''s words. *** "Here is the information on the E-difficulty dungeon you requested," said one of the master''s subordinates as he handed Gray a yellow envelope. "What about the information on the ruin I requested?" "Master has warned that ruins are currently too difficult for you to handle alone. Once the guild''s attack force is ready you will be informed of the ruin raid," "Pfft, whatever. I''ll be off then," said Gray before turning around to leave. "Don''t forget to tune the walkie-talkie we gave you. Notifications will be sent to you through the private frequency," said the subordinate before Gray and Tesse left the room they were in. "Hmm, not that bad. They even have information on the possible threats I might face," said Gray as he looked through the documents while he walked down the street. *Crack* "What was that?" asked Gray as Tesse quickly got into a battle stance. "Well, well, well. Look who we have here," said Bill''s comrade as he and his group slowly surrounded Gray. Some of them had approached them from behind, carrying out a pincer maneuver. "What do you guys want?" asked Gray, as he counted the number of enemies around him. He noticed that a few others were hiding in an alleyway on the right. "I told you this wasn''t over, didn''t I? Now hand over your Arcanian points and the bitch beside you, and we''ll at least let you go with just a few injuries," said the leader of the group with a smile on his face. "I see, so this is what it''s about," laughed Gray, his heart racing at the prospect of a bloody battle. "You don''t seem to understand the situation you''re in, do you? Hand over your Arcanian points, before we stop asking nicely," said the man as he pulled out a gun. "Master!" shouted Tesse as she charged at the man with a spear, which caused him to panic. He pulled the trigger, blood dripping to the floor. "Look what you''ve gone and made me do. I darn broke the doll," laughed the leader of the group, beads of sweat dripping down his bald scalp. "Did you just injure my toy?" asked Gray in a dangerous tone, his eyes flashing red. "H-hey, don''t think about doing anything stupid," said the leader of the group as he pointed the gun at Gray. ''It seems he''s the only one with a gun.'' thought Gray as he looked at all the other thugs and realized none of them had a firearm. Most of them were equipped with baseball bats or knives. The sound of chains moving disrupted the silence that had come over the group. "What''s tha-" the leader was about to ask, before a dagger with chains attached to its hilt punctured his throat, causing him to cough out blood and fall dead to the ground. "Wha the h-" another member was about to say, but Gray swung the chain, causing the danger to move in a wide arc and slice the gang member''s face. "G-get him" shouted the other gang members as their comrade fell to the ground screaming in pain, but Gray was already on them. Gray used the chains to absorb the blood from the gang member he had attacked and used it as a blood sacrifice to use the blood lust mode. He turned the dagger back into a long sword, swinging it at the closest enemy. The sword slashed the man''s stomach, causing his innards to fall to the ground. The sword absorbed the dead man''s blood, causing Gray''s hair to turn pale. "T-the gun," shouted one of the thugs. Gray attached blood chains to the hilt of the long sword and threw it, turning it into a shuriken mid-air. *Splosh* The sound of one of the gang member''s necks being slashed off echoed through the street. "H-he''s the devil," whispered one of the thugs after realizing his mistake. There were still a few gang members left however most of them had already fallen to their knees in despair. Blood, guts, and the piss of a few frightened gang members covered the tarred road. Seeing that there was no movement Gray dragged back the shuriken using the chains and turned it into a katana. "Hey, are you still alive?" asked Gray as he kicked Tesse''s body. "Y-yes," struggled Tesse, luckily the bullet only entered her stomach. "Heal yourself and stand up while I deal with these mice," said Gray, blood covering half his face. A few pieces of human flesh littered his clothes, and his katana had a constant stream of blood dripping onto the floor. "St-stay away from me!" shouted one of the gang members as Gray approached him with a smile on his face. The gang member held out his knife, his hands shaking out of fear. "P-please," cried the gang member, his trousers becoming stained as he urinated on the floor. Gray stroked his hair, like one would a dog. "But someone''s got to pay for damages, isn''t that right?" said Gray, repeating what the thugs had said to him before. Gray put his free hand on the man''s chin, gesturing for him to open his mouth, out of fear the gang member obliged. The pure insanity of this situation causing his thinking to be impaired. Gray then slowly inserted his blade into the man''s mouth, puncturing a hole straight into him. "Rejoice, you are my nutrients," said Gray, his voice almost like an echo, as if something else was speaking behind it. Gray''s hair had become fully white, and his eyes were glowing a deep red color. He walked towards the gun, and picked it up, dismantling it once he was done studying its surface. "Like this?" asked Gray, his voice still an echo as he created a blood gun. Several of the gang members had regained their sanity and realized that if they wanted to live they had to run, however, Gray shot the first person who stood up. "Doesn''t feel intimate enough, but it will have to do," said Gray as he shot another gang member. "L-look, I told them it was a bad idea, please man, spare me," said Bill, the smell of excreta radiating from where he was kneeling, "Did you just shit yourself?" laughed Gray, a tinge of sanity coming back to him Bill joined in the laughter, feeling a bit of relief once he saw that the thing in front of him was still human. Gray put the barrel of the gun in Bill''s mouth, smiling at him as he cocked it. "Hmfdp, prff" muffled Bill, the sound of a gunshot bringing an end to the squeals and pleads for mercy. Kobolds (1) "It may not be intimate, but I rather like the way his blood splattered all over me as I shot him from point-blank range," whispered Gray, looking at his gun as if it were the most precious thing in the world. "Oi, you. Are you still resting?" asked Gray, pointing the barrel of his gun at Tesse''s forehead as he approached her. The bullet wound wasn''t fatal enough to kill her, however, she had still lost a lot of blood, and there was a hole in her innards. Healing all that damage caused her to become nauseous, the side effects of her ability making it too hard for her to even stand. "Get up and search them for valuables, we''ll move as soon as you confirm that you''ve taken everything of possible use from them," ordered Gray, pressing the tip of his pistol so hard on her forehead that it left a mark. Tesse looked right past the barrel of his gun, straight into Gray''s eyes, not a hint of fear present on her face, "Yes master," she replied, using her spear as a crutch to stand up. What was left of the gang members could hardly be called remains. Some of their corpses had been turned to mincemeat, due to all the slicing that Gray had done. The others who had been lucky enough to have died from a gunshot had been sucked dry of all their blood, turning them into shriveled-up skin bags. Not even flies would land on what was left on the road, viscera, blood, urine, and excreta wreaked havoc on Tesse''s senses as she tried searching through the gang member''s clothes. However, she soldiered through, her master''s orders being more important than anything else. "P-please, s-spare me," begged a gang member. His face, or what was left of it at least, had pieces of flesh hanging from it, blood dripping to the floor as he lay there covered in blood and piss, shaking as he begged Tesse for his life. "Master thi-" Tesse was about to say, but Gray quickly shrugged her off, he was too busy studying his new weapon to pay any attention to small insignificant details. "If he''s alive just kill him quickly, I want to go looking for more firearms to study," said Gray, a hysterical smile on his face as he lifted his gun to the air and stared at it with great enthusiasm. "P-please young lady, y-you d-don''t have to d-" the gang member''s begging was cut short as blood filled his throat. Tesse had become proficient at aiming for vital spots much like her master. With one swift movement, she punctured the gang member''s jugular, flooding his mouth with blood. After several minutes of thoroughly searching the corpses, Tesse found nothing of real value. Her clothes were stained, red, brown, and yellow from going through all that waste, and her arms were painted red with blood till her elbows. "They have nothing of value master," announced Tesse, as she stood as straight as she could under the side-effects of her ability. "I expected as much, very well then. It seems that you''re going to be nothing but dead weight if I take you along with me to go complete the dungeon," said Gray, turning the gun back into blood and absorbing it into his mark. "N-no maste-" "Listen here. I don''t care what kind of servitude bullshit you got going on in your broken little mind. But, I''m not willing to waste all the time I invested in you, just for you to go and die in an F-difficulty dungeon." said Gray, holding Tesse by the neck as he did. Tesse offered no resistance, almost lying limp in his vyse, "Now go home. We''ll commence training once I get back," ordered Gray, releasing her and walking towards the dungeon by himself. "I''ll try to be more useful from now on master," whispered Tesse as she fell to the ground, bruises in the shape of Gray''s fingers showing on her neck. "It seems that she''s just an expendable doll rather than a partner. Sigh, which means we can''t use her as leverage," whispered a man in a brown hood from behind a building where he had been watching the whole time. "But still, Master was right. He is a brutish beast, we best act with caution when dealing with him," whispered the man, as he removed his hood, revealing him to be Amos. "Now to report to the Master on my findings," said Amos as he walked back to the information guild headquarters. *** "Hmm, Eastfield park. This should be it," whispered Gray as he looked at the information that the information guild had given him about the dungeon. "It seems that I''m not the only one who knows about it,'' thought Gray as he noticed the small crowd waiting outisde. The portal was still red, signifying that the maximum number of participants had already entered. Several small groups were sitting haphazardly under trees, waiting for the portal to turn blue so that they could enter. Gray sat under a tree alone, keeping an eye on the portal. "What happened to you kid?" asked a woman with chocolate brown skin, and a scar on her face. She looked down on Gray who was sitting under the shade of a tree, noticing that he had dried blood all over his face and clothes. Gray ignored her, only paying attention to the portal. "Hey, can''t you hear her talking to you!" shouted one of the men behind her. They all wore a bandana with a raised fist insignia, alerting everyone that they were all part of the same group. "Do you have any idea who she is?" asked another one of her men, they were five in total including the woman in the front. "She''s one of the captains of the Riot guild, that''s right, the biggest guild in town," boasted another one of her men, pissing Gray off. Right as Gray was about to refute, the portal turned blue. Gray stood up and brushed past the group, heading straight for the portal. Kobolds (2) "Hold on there partner, it''s first come first serve. Just wait your turn like everybody else," said a man wearing military clothing, as his group of six entered the portal, fully equipped with guns and military equipment of all sorts. ''The military? No, the people on his team don''t seem trained at all,'' analyzed Gray as he saw a girl on their team strap her AK-47 towards her back instead of her front. ''They probably just got lucky and raided what was left of a military base. But still, this could work out quite nicely,'' thought Gray as he waited for them to enter the portal. After all the groups had entered and the portal was still blue he followed in. "I can never get used to this," murmured one of the members of the Riot guild that had entered the dungeon. "Yeah, it''s almost like we''re in another world," replied another member, as he scanned the scenery. They were underground, with a system of tunnels leading in all directions. Unlike the golbin dungeon Gray had cleared in the past, there was no main village at the center, instead, there was a hub of tunnel entrances. The group members spoke to each other silently and decided on which tunnels to enter, most of the groups deciding to go into different tunnels. Gray waited for the paramilitary group to choose a tunnel, and followed after them after waiting for a few minutes. The tunnels weren''t that dark as there were torches mounted on the walls at regular intervals. ''It seems kobolds have an intelligence of some sort,'' thought Gray as he examined one of the torches. *Crunch* Gray had stepped over the corpse of a kobold, its tiny bones cracking under the weight of his body. ''Small body frame, with canine-like legs, probably agile as shit, and long fangs that can probably tear your eyes out. They''ll probably be harder to deal with than goblins in an open space," analyzed Gray as he examined the kobold corpse. "Huh, what''s this?" wondered Gray as he saw something blue shining within the kobold''s bloody corpse. "Hmm, this really is like a video game," murmured Gray as he pulled out what seemed to be a blue gemstone from within its split skull. "I''ll have to ask those information guild bastards what this is about later," decided Gray, putting the gemstone into his pocket, and continuing his march. Along the way, Gray found many kobold corpses sprawled on the floor, and each time he came across them he would split open their skulls and pull out a blue gen stone. *aaahh* Gray heard a scream from the other side of the tunnel, followed by the sounds of gunshots. "It seems it has already begun," smiled Gray, running as fast as he could to catch up to them. "What the hell is that thing?!" shouted one of the men wearing military gear. "Probably the dungeon boss," replied their leader, using his M-16 to shoot at a kobold holding a magic staff. The kobold put up a force field, blocking the bullets and causing them to bounce back, piercing through one of the paramilitary member''s heads. "Fuck! No wonder everyone else died," said the leader, breathing heavily as he hid behind a stalagmite. Around the kobold boss lay the bodies of dozens of people, probably its past victims. "We have to get the others for help, there''s no way we can kill this thing al-" a girl from the group was about to say before a gunshot silenced her. "Maggy!?" shouted the leader as her body went limp and fell to the floor, a bullet wound visible at the back of her head. "What the-" another member was about to say, before a chain wrapped around his neck, and dragged him back into the darkness, snapping his neck in two. Gray had gotten behind the stalagmites as well and started taking care of the paramilitary members. Making sure to hide in area covered by the shadows cast by the stalactites on the cave ceiling. "Whose there?" asked the leader, only one other member from his group left. The kobold boss shot a fireball at the stalagmite that he had been hiding behind, causing it to fall over. "Fuck! Henry cover me!" ordered the leader, however, his command fell on deaf ears. Henry''s head rolled over to him, and two red gleaming eyes floated in the darkness of the cave. The kobold boss shot another fireball, causing the leader to roll backward to avoid it. Gray took this to his advantage and threw a shuriken at the leader. The leader lunged to the side, just barely avoiding it, and began shooting blindly into the darkness. Gray hid behind a stalagmite, avoiding the bullets. The kobold boss approached the leader, holding up a force field as it did. The leader turned to face the oncoming boss, however, this was a fatal mistake. A blood-red sword protruded from his chest, the boss looked down, trying to cover the blood that gushed out of the hole in his chest, but it was already too late. He fell to the ground, dead. "Thank you for the guns," laughed Gray as he absorbed all the blood from the leader''s body. The kobold boss shot a fireball at Gray, prompting him to create a tower shield to protect himself. "Just wait your turn will you," said Gray as he picked up the M-16 that the boss had been holding. "Ugh, this will take longer than the pistol since it''s more complex. I don''t have time for this," said Gray as he turned his full attention to the boss. "Looks like I have to kill you first," Gray turned the tower shield into a long-sword, swinging it at the kobold boss. *Cling* The sound of Gray''s sword reverberating as it hit the kobold boss''s force field echoed throughout the cave. "Hmm, it seems you''re going to be a lot of fun," smiled Gray, turning the long sword into chains. Gray threw the chains at a stalactite, wrapping around it and tugging at it will all his strength. The kobold boss kept its force field up out of caution, scared that perhaps this was a tactic to make it lower its guard. "Fuck, I''m not strong enough," grunted Gray, as he created a blood pistol in his left hand and shot at the stalactite. "There we go, suck on this!" shouted Gray, as the stalactite fell on the kobold boss. "That wasn''t so difficult now wa-" Gray was about to say before the kobold boss climbed out of the rubble, its eyes glowing blue in anger. Kobolds (3) The blue and red from the kobold boss and Gray clashing as they stared at each other. The kobold boss howled, increasing in size as it did. It now stood at 5 meters tall, and its fangs extended to a dangerous length. Gray''s smile widened, baring fangs of his own, he turned the chains back into blood, and switched the pistol to his right hand. "And so? Is that new form of yours all for show?" asked Gray, taunting the boss and causing it to charge at him. Gray lunged to the side, trying to avoid the clash, however, the boss was simply too agile for him. It changed direction to meet him, slamming him into the cavern floor, Gray coughed out blood, all the air winded out of him. "I knew you wouldn''t disappoint," laughed Gray, shooting at another stalactite causing it to fall to the ground. However in this new form, the kobold boss was too agile to be caught by such cheap tricks, it swung its tail, swatting the stalactite towards Gray''s direction. Gray rolled to the side, barely avoiding the attack, small shards of limestone cutting his face. He changed the gun into a long sword, swinging it at the kobold boss. The kobold boss ducked under it in response, its tremendous speed in great contrast to its massive size. Gray didn''t stop his advance, he used the momentum from the first attack, turning the long sword into a battle-ax. He pushed his full weight to increase the arc''s momentum, swinging it in a full circle till it came back for a second attack. This time the kobold boss moved backward, avoiding another clash. Sweat and blood dripped down Gray''s face, his heavy breathing and the sound of their footsteps being the only sounds present as they faced each other. Gray used the momentum from the second swing and turned the battle-ax into a greatsword, he slightly changed the blades arc and aimed to slice the beast in half, however the kobold boss put up it''s force field, nullifying that attack. Gray quickly turned the greatsword into a dagger, and ran around the kobold boss, trying to find an opening, however, the bodies lying on the floor made it hard for him to maneuver. The boss shot out fireballs from its mouth, prompting Gray to hide behind the surrounding stalagmites to avoid its attack, however, the toll from creating such heavy weapons was beginning to slow him down. A fireball hit him on his left leg, causing him to stagger and fall down. Gray quickly rolled behind another stalagmite and pulled out the item shop. "I''m glad I haven''t used any of this yet," laughed Gray, sweat blurring his vision as he picked out one minor healing elixir, two agility elixirs, and one strength elixir, using all 4000 of his Arcanian points at once. He quickly drank them wiping his mouth once he was done,"Time for round two" shouted Gray, his injuries fully healed. Gray started off strong, creating a greatsword from the beginning. He swung it in a wide arc, prompting the boss to dodge backward again, but as Gray rotatated his body, a smirk was visible on his face. He swiftly turned the greatsword into a pistol and shot at the kobold boss once it thought it was safe, one of its eyes was now out of commission. Gray didn''t give it time to relax, he turned the gun back into a greatsword while still rotating his body, extending its blade until it was long enough to reach the boss. The boss put up its force field once again, blocking Gray''s attack, however Gray was counting on that. He changed the greatsword into chains, turning the tip of the chain into a spiked ball. He flung the chains around like a mad man, hitting down as many stalactites as he could, the additional strength from the elixir allowing him to do so. As the stalactites fell, the kobold boss removed its force field in order to dodge the oncoming debris, realizing that they were too many for it to block with its force field. "I thought so. You can''t move with your force field up can you?" laughed Gray. After he had taken two agility elixirs, his speed was nearly on par with that of the kobold boss, and with it''s vision deteriorated, it couldn''t maneuver like it once could. Gray followed after it, swinging his chains at it as he did. The kobold boss used its tail to catch Gray''s chains, pulling him as the chains wrapped around its tail. "Got you," smiled Gray, as he turned the chains into a giant scythe with a massive blade. At that moment the other participants entered the boss room, the sight of Gray smiling hysterically as he used a massive scythe to chop of the kobold boss''s head was reminiscent of the devil. As the kobold boss''s head fell to the ground, so did Gray, the strain he had accumulated during the fight finally having an effect on him. "Stay back," warned Gray as he created a blood gun, pointing it at one of the participants who tried to approach him. "I don''t need your help," a blue portal appearing in front of him. As his eyes turned back to normal an autonomous voice rang out. [Congratulation on completing the dungeon. Rewards equivalent to the difficulty of this dungeon will be rewarded.] [Dungeon difficulty: F] [Rewards: kobold trinket] "Kuk, whatever, lets go boys," said the woman with chocolate brown skin, annoyed that someone else had found the boss room before her. She and all the other participants went through the portal, disappointment painted across their faces. Gray split the Kobold boss''s head open and pulled out a gaint blue gem stone. As he was picking up the guns that the paramilitary members had dropped, he realized that the kobold boss''s staff was on the floor as well. "Hmm, it left it''s staff," whispered Gray, with a smile on his face. A Barrier ''I hope I''m not trying to bite off more than I can chew here'' thought the Master after Amos had reported to him about the slaughter that Gray had caused earlier. "Anyway, has Arena returned from her scouting mission yet?" asked the Master from atop his throne with a distant tone. "Yes Master. It seems that the information we got earlier was correct. A barrier surrounding the entire town has blocked all travel preventing everyone from leaving or entering the area." replied Amos, as a slender woman dressed in a tight black bodysuit entered the dimly lit hallway and bowed before the Master, holding what looked to be a file full of documents in her hands. "I greet you master. Here''s the report that you asked for," said the woman in a monotone voice, almost as if she were a computer AI instead of a human. "Very well then," replied the Master as Arena handed him the documents. ''Hmm, so I was right. I found it weird that the government hasn''t tried to bolster its control over this area, it seems that they can''t ship in more personnel or supplies because of the barrier,'' thought the Master carefully, stroking his stubble as he looked over the documents. "Wait, Arena are you sure of this? In your report you''ve written that there is a forest directly bordering the barrier. But from what I remember isn''t it supposed to be gravel for miles?" asked the Master with a surprised expression as he came across this information. "I doubted it at first as well. But I can confirm that a forest has indeed appeared right outside of town. According to the few locals who live on the outskirts, it appeared right after the voice made an announcement about New Vautis," replied Arena, keeping her head bowed the whole time. "And what about the so-called elves that were spotted entering border portals? Has information about them been collected?" asked the Master, his interest piqued. "They''ve only been spotted on the other side of the barrier master. And only on occasions when they are entering a border portal," "And your report claims that all these portals are ruins ranging from D to C difficulty?" "Yes master. I''ve taken Clifton to confirm their difficulties, and his ability stated that the lowest difficulty ruin was a D, while the highest was a C+" replied Arena, causing Amos to look visibly confused. "Wait, then how powerful are these elves for them to even think about entering C-level ruins? Didn''t the group led by guild captains nearly get wiped out by an E-difficulty ruin?" asked Amos, disbelief audible in his voice as he looked to the Master for an answer. "I guess it would be foolish to assume that we''re anywhere near the strongest beings in this, New Vautis, as they called it. After all, the voice did claim to have merged three worlds together. It''s only logical that there are beings way above our level here," "We should just be lucky that the barrier is up, for now at least," said the Master, before gesturing for Amos and Arena to leave the hall. "How are preparations for the ruin raid going?" asked the Master to a dark figure hiding in the shadows of the hall. "Everything is proceeding smoothly Master. We will be ready to go within a few days," replied the shaded figure, before disappearing into the shadows. "Everything is going along nicely," whispered the Master with a smile on his face. *** "Welcome back master" announced Tesse, as Gray walked into the living room carrying a military green duffel bag. "Clear the table," ordered Gray before setting the duffel bag on the living room table. *Zuuppppp* "Are those spoils from the dungeon?" asked Tesse as Gray opened the duffel bag and pulled out an M16. "How good are you with guns?" asked Gray, inspecting the M16 with a lustful gleam in his eyes. "My father once taught me how to fire a rifle, but that''s about it," replied Tesse, looking at what else was in the bag. "Master is that a magical staff?" asked Tesse, pointing to what looked like a magical staff from fantasy movies, with a blue gem at its top. "Yeah, I picked it up from the dungeon boss. It only has one spell attached to it though, and I''m not keen on having to use a staff just to shoot fireballs," replied Gray as he began deconstructing the M16 carefully. "Perhaps there''s a way to attach it to a blood weapon. I''ll know once I study it more and try to duplicate it as a blood staff, however for now.." grunted Gray, struggling to remove a segment of the gun. "...I''m going to be busy with these firearms. While I''m doing that," as Gray said this he tossed a blood pistol to Tesse. "Teach yourself how to use it. It seems that spear won''t be enough for you," "Y-yes master," replied Tesse, a feeling of disappointment and embarrassment washing over her. ''I can''t let him down again,'' resolved Tesse before gripping the weapon and walking out to practice shooting. "Wait, master are you not hungry?" asked Tesse, turning around before passing through the door. However Gray was fully immersed in studying his new toy, he hadn''t even realized that Tesse had left. ''Perhaps I''ll prepare something after I''m doing training,'' ***(A few hours later) "Finally," whispered Gray, beads of sweat dripping down his pale forehead as he held a crimson red M16 in his hands. He had tried many times to create it, however, each time there was always something slightly off. And each time he had to destroy it, starting over from scratch since he didn''t have a clue where he went wrong. "Now to test it," said Gray, creating a mag filled with bullets in his right hand and loading it into the M16. As he walked into the yard he found Tesse aiming at a can that she had placed on the roof of the house opposite to theirs. ''It seems she''s taking this seriously. I love pets that are dedicated,'' thought Gray with a smirk. Tesse fired the pistol, hitting one out of three of the cans she had placed on the roof. ''Well, I can''t expect a novice to master it in one day,'' thought Gray as he fired the M16, hitting the other two cans down. "Master," gasped Tesse in surprise once she heard the sound of the M16 going off. The sound was painstaking enough to make her feel like her eardrums were being stabbed. "Do you perhaps have past experience with firearms?" asked Tesse out of curiosity, healing her pain away. "The old man used to take me hunting when I was younger. Back then things were still," Gray stopped talking mid-way and turned around. "Anyway, that''s enough firearm training for today. Prepare something for dinner so we go to bed. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow," said Gray, walking into the house with a shrouded expression. "The horizon looks pretty today," whispered Tesse, staring at the myriad of red, orange, violet, and yellow streaks that painted the sky as the sun was setting. Monster cores? Gemstones? (1) "What''s your progress Captain?" asked an old voice over the monitor that stood in the government''s communications center. "W-we''re still trying to track him down General. However we''ve managed to recruit other talented individuals in the meantime," replied Agent Ria, beads of sweat dripping down her forehead as she realized that she was slowly running out of time. "So are you saying you''re close to completing the second floor?" asked the General flatly. "N-no General," "It seems we made a mistake in placing you at such a position, agent Ria. There are others there who might be able to fill in your..." the General''s sentence was cut midway by the sound of a match being lit. "...position more competently if you delay his recruitment any longer. Anyway, this barrier still prevents us from sending you any supplies or reinforcements. The higher-ups have our researchers working on a way through, but the way I see it..." the General''s sentence was cut midway once again, probably because he was exhaling the smoke. "... it''s still going to take some time. How''s the general state of affairs in your area? Several sectors have already been flung into chaos, truly incompetent leadership," mumbled the General as he took a puff of smoke. "It isn''t looking pretty General. There is hardly enough food left for us to feed ourselves, much less to give to the public. There has been a huge dip in security for obvious reasons, and I''ve heard rumors about a human market in the making." replied Agent Ria, pain and exhaustion audible in her voice. "Well that''s to be expected, I''m not asking you about issues we''ve been facing for years, I''m asking how the power struggle is going," replied the General with no sense of remorse for the current social state of the area. ''This bastard,'' thought Agent Ria angrily. "For now it seems like all the major groups are laying low and watching each other quietly. Though there is a group that''s been making a lot of movement lately. I believe they call themselves the information guild." "However they are practically just information brokers, there''s no need for us to be threatened by their movements," added Agent Ria. "So you have one there as well huh?" asked the General, puffing out smoke. "Y-yes, why?" "Listen, we never know when this barrier might come down, but when it does we need to be prepared. We''ve already lost several branches and stations and we can''t afford to lose any more.." said the General his voice becoming a whisper. "What I''m about to tell you is top secret." whispered the General, it sounded as if he were walking very fast. "Whenever you kill some of those creatures a gemstone drops. We currently aren''t certain about which creatures drop them, but our researchers are certain of one thing," "They''re a power source." "So far the only method of application we''ve discovered is by turning them into an elixir. I''ll have one of my subordinates send you the production method." whispered the General. "General, won''t you get in trouble for this?" asked Agent Ria, worry audible in her voice as she wondered whether she would be charged with mutiny and treason for just hearing what the General was saying. "Probably, but we need to use every weapon we can. Nobody want''s to say this, but if things keep going the way it has, then the government will cease to exist within a few years. And anyway as it stands I''m irreplaceable so whatever punishment they give me can''t be anything too bad," said the General, a tinge of pride audible in his voice. "What do you mean, ''irreplaceable'', General," "Did you believe that you were the only one who got a high-level power?'' "I have the ability call down airstrikes at will, well I think these science nerds called it a meteor strike, but whatever," "How is that different from using normal missiles?" asked Agent Ria. ''I mean sure it sounds cool on paper. But isn''t it just the same as sending out a strike force?'' "My airstrikes can be called down from anywhere in the world. So long as I''m aware of its exact co-ordinate then I can call down the airstrike. And it passes through barriers as well, so I''m basically a living weapon," laughed the General, clearly proud of himself ''No way, with a power like that....'' "Then can''t you-" "Calm down Captain. The cast time on this thing is three hours, and the cooldown is one, and even after all that there''s a resource called Arcania, which get''s depleted each time I use it. So I can''t use it as much as I''d like," "I-I see," "Anyway, my subordinate has sent you the file. Although the elixirs created are of lower quality than those found in the item shop, it''s still a valuable resource," "We have soldiers close to being war gods because of them... and pretty soon guns and firearms will become a thing of the past," mumbled the General, his mind drifting elsewhere. "I''ll talk to you soon, probably after my punishment. By that time I want the boy in your attack force and the second floor cleared," said the General before cutting the link. "Anne can you print out the production method?" asked Ria to the woman who was sitting at the desk in front of all the machines. "Yes Captain," "I want all of you to keep this a secret. If we monopolize these elixirs then taking full control of this area will be easy," "Yes Captain," said everyone in the room in unison as Ria grabbed the paper containing the production method and stormed out. ''Master will be very pleased to hear about this,'' thought one of her men with a smile on his face. Monster cores? Gemstones? (2) "Hey Dean, wanna join us for lunch?" asked one of the officials in the communications room to a blonde-haired man with a crew cut. "Nah, I still have some stuff I need to finish up," replied Dean, gesturing for his colleagues to go ahead without him. "He''s been acting really weird lately," whispered one of his colleagues as they left the room. "I know right," murmured another. ''Now where did Anne store those files?'' wondered Dean as he entered the required credentials into the main monitor and began searching for the elixir production method. You see Dean wasn''t actually Dean. Unbeknownst to all his colleagues, Dean had actually been killed a few days ago, the person impersonating him right now was a man called Syndren. Syndren was a spy sent by the Master to infiltrate the government''s headquarters and keep an eye on their movements. His ability allowed him to shapeshift into any person he killed, taking on their voice, behaviorisms, and even some of their memories, making him the perfect candidate for the job. ''Ahh, here it is,'' thought Syndren, as he found a file titled ''prmt'' and quickly clicked on it. ''Fuck, it''s encrypted,'' as Syndren tried opening the file a message prompting him to enter a password came onto the screen, stopping him in his tracks. ''It seems this might take a while,'' worried Syndren as he got up from his seat and left the room. ''For now I''ll report what I know to the Master,'' thought Syndren, removing a walkie-talkie from the inner pocket of his suit. *** ''It seems it''s already been more than a week since I used my power ''He who pleasure''s death,'' so it should be off cooldown by now,'' remembered Gray as he inspected the staff that the kobold boss had dropped. It had a shape similar to those found in fantasy games, with its length being made of dark wood and a deep blue gem fixed at its top. Much like the Mighty Sword it had indecipherable runes etched along its length, giving Gray the impression that its function could be copied like he did for the Might Sword. "Here''s your breakfast master," announced Tesse as she set Gray''s food on the table. ''It''s about time I got a new power, and lately this girl''s been getting more powerful. Perhaps it''s about time I got rid of her before she''s disillusioned from her master complex,'' thought Gray as he looked up at Tesse. "Is something the matter master?" asked Tesse, confused by the look that Gray was giving her. "Can you do me a favor?" asked Gray, pointing his index finger at the center of Tesse''s forehead. "Anything master," replied Tesse without hesitation. "Die for me," as Gray said this his mark began glowing and blood percolated from it, forming a gun in the hand that was pointing at Tesse. Gray grabbed the blood pistol and cocked it as he stood up, pushing it against her skull. "Very well master," replied Tesse, not so much as flinching as Gray pushed her head back with the pistol. ''But then again, having a lap dog who is willing to die for me is way more fun. Perhaps I''ll kill her some other time, and anyways I already have a power that I want to steal.'' thought Gray as the pistol turned back into blood and flowed into his mark. "Hurry up and eat as well, we''re going to the town hall after this then the library. I have to ask the information guild what they know about these blue gemstones," said Gray as he looked at the blue gemstones he had collected from the dungeon pilled to the side of the table. "Very well master," replied Tesse before walking back to the kitchen. ''Master still wants me around,'' thought Tesse happily, her cheeks flushed red and a wide smile on her face. ''Can I create a staff capable of shooting flames like this one?'' asked Gray as he picked up the staff. [It is possible, however unlike the Mighty Sword, the item ''Kobold Boss Staff'' is not an artifact, as such its power core is required to cast the spells it contains,] replied the voice in Gray''s head. ''I see.'' ''Well for now I''ll just memorize the runes, you never know when it might come in handy,'' thought Gray before creating a small dagger with a very sharp blade. ''Of course, I''ll be needing this regardless,'' thought Gray as he used the tip of the blade to gently remove the gemstone at the top of the staff. As Gray removed it, the runes along the length of the staff began glowing, before going out once the gemstone had been completely removed. ''Interesting,'' Gray quickly ate what Tesse had prepared for him and the two set off to uncover the body that Gray had buried close to the town hall. *** "It should be somewhere around here," thought Gray as he created a blood shovel and began digging. "Master let m-" Tesse was about to protest once she saw Gray digging by himself, however Gray raised his hand to stop her "Do you know what I''m looking for? Or how deep what I''m looking for is?" asked Gray as he continued digging. "Exactly. Just keep an eye out to see if there''s anyone around. The town''s gone to shit and I won''t be surprised if someone thinks they can have their way with us. Not that I mind though," said Gray, a smile on his face as he thought about all the fun he could have slaughtering any thieves who were foolish enough to try and rob him. After digging for several minutes he finally hit something. "Ahh, here he is," smiled Gray, before a putrid smell attacked his nose causing him to stagger back and cover his face with the inside of his arm. ''It''s begun to rot," commented Gray, as he stared at all the worms wiggling into and out of the corpse''s body. A putrid fluid flowed out of the corpse attracting flies and several patches of skin had already turned green. Monster cores? Gemstones? (3) "Master is something the matter?" asked Tesse from where she was standing guard. "No it''s okay, just keep looking out," replied Gray as he approached the corpse and tried activating his skill on it. [Invalid target. The target has been dead for more than a week and therefore all abilities previously owned by them have been lost.] replied the voice in Gray''s head. ''Then why didn''t you tell me about this earlier? The description never said anything about not being able to steal the powers of those that have been dead for more than a week.'' complained Gray, angry that he had lost such a powerful ability. [The restriction is not on the ability but a rule presented by the higher beings. The ability ''He who pleasures death'' does not have a time limit on its casting, rather the higher beings have removed the ability from the corpse, hence there is nothing to steal,] replied the voice. "Fuck!" exclaimed Gray angrily, kicking the sand in a show of dissatisfaction. "Master?" asked Tesse, worried that something had perhaps gone wrong. "Let''s get out of here," ordered Gray, clearly in a foul mood as he made his way to the library. *** ''I finally got it,'' thought Syndren happily as he put the copy of the elixir production method into a yellow file and began walking out of the government communication''s office. He had spent the last few hours following Ria around, waiting for the moment she would stop paying attention to the production method. The second she looked the other way he swooped in and stole the document. Ofcourse she would suspect someone took it, but there was nothing to link him to the theft, and anyways he could always change his face if this identity was found out. ''This town has really gone to shit hasn''t it,'' thought Syndren as he walked past the gloomy streets. Shady figures stood in alleyways, hungry kids ran around the streets, but what really made things gloomy was the dead look that everyone had in their eyes. Many of them had lost loved ones to either monsters or crazed humans drunk on their new powers. And the ones that hadn''t still felt lost, they were usually the ones who weren''t so lucky in the ability shuffle, and had no way to gain Arcanian points. ''Anyways that will all change when Master takes control of this area, just you wait,'' thought Syndren, quickening his pace. ***(A few minutes later) ''Ahh headquarters, it''s busier than I remember it,'' thought Syndren as he saw the line that extended till outside. Word had gotten out that the information guild could provide information on easier dungeons, allowing people to gain Arcanian points without putting a high risk on their lives. Once people heard this, they stormed the library with requests to procure information on F-difficulty dungeons. Even newly formed guilds were a part of the rush, looking for the more difficult dungeons in order to gain large amounts of Arcanian points, quality rewards, and fame. The more fame a guild had the more members would want to join them, and the more people they had, the easier it would be to take control of the town. "Kukk, a line? Fuck this, we''re going in," complained a boy with black hair, who was clearly in a foul mood, a girl with white hair followed close behind him. As Syndren was walking up the stairs the boy with black hair bumped into him, pushing him back. "You little shit watch where you''re g-" Syndren was about to pull Gray back however the girl with white hair pulled a gun on him, pointing it directly at his head. "What''s going on?" murmured some of the people who were standing in the line, however, a good number of them kept quiet and acted like nothing was going on. They had learned not to involve themselves in other people''s squabbles, after all these were dangerous times. "What''s going on here?" asked a man wearing brown robes as he came out to check what the commotion was about. It was the same man who had instructed Gray to meet the Master the first time he came to the library. "Ahh, Gray. The master was just about to send for you," said the man once he saw Gray. "Amos, it''s me, Syndren," said Syndren just as Amos was about to turn around. "Syndren? I didn''t recognize you in tha-, anyways the master has been waiting for your arrival as well. Come along," said Amos, gesturing for him to join them. "When did this brat join the guild?" whispered Syndren as he and Amos walked in front of Tesse and Gray towards the main hall. "The Master hired him as a mercenary a few days ago," replied Amos. "Him? Why?" asked Syndren confused, as he looked back and gave Gray an up and down, wondering what he could possibly have that the Master would hire him as a mercenary. "He''s much more dangerous than he seems," warned Amos as he opened the door to the hall. The group entered the dimly lit hall, as always the Master sat atop his throne, two subordinates behind him, and several others hidden in the darkness of the hall. "Ahh Arya, Syndren, welcome." "Thank you Master," replied Syndren, bowing together with Amos, leaving only Gray and Tesse standing. ''Kukk, this brat,'' thought Syndren as he noticed Gray''s lack of respect. "Since you came here without me calling, I''m guessing you have something to ask?" asked the Master, his chin laying in his hand in a gesture of boredom. "Yes, I''ve come to ask what you guys know about these," replied Gray, pulling out a blue gemstone as he said this. "Hmm, we are aware of their existence, though we have no idea what their us-" the Master stopped talking midway once he saw the look on Syndren''s face. "It seems you are aware of something I''m not Syndren. Please feel free to speak," said the Master, gesturing for Syndren to stop bowing. "That''s actually what I called about earlier Master. Though are you sure it''s okay for me to talk about this while he''s still here?" asked Syndren, looking back at Gray in spite as he said this. Monster cores? Gemstones? (4) Gray gave the Master a stern look as Syndren waited for his reply. Almost as if to warn him that keeping such information secret would later result in some unsavory consequence, and the Master knew all too well what Gray was capable of. "He''s a part of the guild, mercenary or not. If we chase him out now, we would only be creating root for distrust in our relationship," replied the Master before gesturing for Syndren to go on with what he had to say. "Very well then, if you''re sure about this Master," replied Syndren looking at Gray with an annoyed expression before continuing. "The Captain of the government officials in the area, Agent Ria, got a transmission from General Clifton yesterday. In it were details describing the production method of elixirs similar to those found in the item shop," "By using the gemstones as reagents, elixirs of subpar quality can be created. Their researchers have confirmed that the gemstones are a power source, however, this is the only method they currently have to utilize this power," explained Syndren, handing over the yellow file to the Master. "I see, very well done Syndren. With this we can increase the strength of our forces exponentially, not only that but we can start a market for these elixirs, making them just a bit cheaper than the ones from the item shop," smiled the Master happily as he stroked his chin at the endless possibilities. ''Maybe forming an alliance with these guys was actually a blessing in disguise,'' thought Gray as he walked a few steps towards the Master, prompting all the hooded figures in the room to pull out their weapons "Calm down," said the Master gesturing for all his subordinates to drop their weapons. "It''s okay, put away the gun," said Gray as well, gesturing for Tesse to put away the gun that she had pulled out exactly when the subordinates pointed their weapons at Gray. "Since we''re in a partnership and all, I''m guessing giving me a copy of the production method isn''t too much to ask now is it?" asked Gray, a smile on his face as he looked at the Master with greed in his eyes. "How dare y-" Syndren was about to shout in outrage however the Master raised his hand in gesture for him to stop. "Unfortunately, even with our partnership, that''s impossible. Information like this is too precious to hand over to someone who isn''t a full member of our guild," replied the Master calmly, looking back at Gray with cold eyes. "Very well then. However making elixirs for me shouldn''t be a problem since that doesn''t require you giving me the secret to your elixir," said Gray, still trying to involve himself in this new gold mine however way possible. "Of course we can, at a price," smiled the Master, looking at Gray with the same greed Gray had in his eyes earlier. "No can do, remember the details of our contract. I get everything from you guys free of charge, dungeon information, as well as this," replied Gray, a smile on his face as he continued the negotiations. ''To think that this brat is negotiating with the Master,'' thought Syndren, the idea of it all too absurd for him to comprehend. "Hmm, I had forgotten about that little detail. However this wasn''t a resource we had during the signing of that agreement, as such you can''t expect us to give you elixirs completely free of charge." replied the Master, his smile slowly disappearing as he realized that Gray wouldn''t easily let go of this. "Then how about we come to a compromise. Since I have no use for these gemstones, how about you produce elixirs for me free of charge, but I provide the gemstones so that you only have to pay for the cost of production," said Gray, the smile on his face getting wider. "Hmm, this doesn''t sound so bad. We will discuss the exact details at a later stage, for now we have a deal." said the Master before shifting in his chair. "Now moving on to other pressing matters. We are going to be holding a ruin raid in two days, an E-difficulty ruin raid to be exact." "Two other guilds will be joining us in the raid. A guild called the Hephaestus guild, they mainly consist of summoner type members with a few other members of augmentation and armament class." "And a guild called the Riot guild. Which doesn''t seem to have a specific class of members." said the Master as one of the two subordinates standing behind him held out the document from which he was reading. "Anyways, although we are all going there with the goal of completing the raid, I want you guys to be on guard. No one can be trusted." "The attack force will consist of Gray''s group, accompanied by Amos, Arena, Trent, and Eino. Since the raid only allows twenty people I can only send a maximum of seven," as the Master was talking he noticed the displeased expression on Syndren''s face, prompting him to halt his explanation. "I would''ve put you on the attack force, however now that information about these gemstones has been discovered, I need you to stay at the government headquarters and continue to survey any information they might recieve." "This is a job only you can do, I hope you understand Syndren," said the Master before continuing his explanation. For the next two minutes, the Master told the group everything that the information guild had acquired on the other guilds that were accompanying them, in case things got dodgy. "Okay, that''s all. You guys will meet at the Central Plaza at 19:00 in two days. Don''t be late," said the Master as his subordinates handed files containing the ruin details to all the members of the attack force. "Gray you can leave behind your gemstones and we will convert them into elixirs for you. Of course, the rates can only be negotiated once we are sure of how much will be used during the production process," said the Master right before Gray was about to leave. Booksmart ''This bastard. He doesn''t have any gemstones and wants to test things using mine. However what choice do I have?'' thought Gray as he handed most of the gemstones he had in his possession to the subordinate that the Master had sent to collect them. ''But of course, there''s no way I''m handing over all of them,'' smiled Gray as he made his way towards the door. "Oh, I forgot to ask. Does this library actually still function as a library?" asked Gray, stopping at the door as he waited for the Master''s response. "Yes it does. What books are you looking to borrow?" replied the Master. "I want every book you guys have on modern firearms, martial arts, and weaponry," "Very well then. Please get the books that he has requested for," said the Master, gesturing for one of the subordinate''s behind him to search for the books Gray was interested in. ''So it seems he has to have knowledge of a weapon before he can create it huh? Interesting to note'' thought the Master as he analyzed Gray''s reasons for borrowing those specific books. ''Even if he becomes aware of the requirements for my power. It means nothing if I can always steal a new one,'' thought Gray with a smile on his face as he followed the subordinate to collect the books he had requested for. "Here they are. This is everything of relevance we currently have on the topics you requested. Most of the other books were stolen, or spoilt due to the ruffians who occupied this building before us," said the subordinate as he stacked all the books Gray had asked for on the counter. There were nearly thirty different books, piled so high that Gray had to crane his neck to see the top of the stack. "Thank you for the help," said Gray before creating a tower shield to carry all the books in. "Did you see that?" "Yeah, did he just create that out of thin air?" murmured some of the people in the library once they saw the tower shield take form. "Place the books on the tower shield and drag it along quickly, we have to do some training before the raid," said Gray, gesturing for Tesse to put the books in the tower shield he had created. "Is he really making that girl do his work for him?" murmured some of the men in the library before one of them approached the two. "Hey pretty, why don''t you come with me. I''m sure I can treat you better than th-" before the men could even finish what he was about to say Tesse stuffed the crimson red pistol that she had been given into the man''s mouth. "If you so much as speak a word about the master, I''ll paint the floor red with your brains," said Tesse, a cold expression on her face as she did this. ''She''s becoming more lively lately,'' laughed Gray as he saw the 1.68-meter girl threaten a man almost twice her size. The man raised his hands shaking, a tear nearly dropping from his eye as he stared in awe at the gun currently in his mouth. "Mffpph ffprppr" muffled the man, begging for his life. Tesse pulled the gun out of his mouth, wiping the saliva off on his shirt before placing it back in the waist of her trousers. She then turned back to continue her work as if nothing had happened. The man walked away slowly, promising himself that he would never try picking up girls with white hair again. "Crazy," murmured the people in the library, from that day a rumor about a lunatic white-haired girl spread across half the town. Not that anyone paid it much mind though, nearly everyone was a lunatic lately. *** The two made it home relatively quickly. With the strength and agility elixirs that Tesse had taken she managed to carry the books without much problem. ''But still, I need to decide on what power I''ll be stealing next. Since I only have three slots open I have to choose carefully,'' thought Gray as he slouched down on the living room couch. "Master I''ll prepare something for you to eat right away," said Tesse as she carried the last of the books into the living room. "Yeah sure. Go rest right after eating, we''ll be training for the remaining two days till the ruin raid. There''s no telling what we might have to face," ordered Gray before Tesse left to prepare food in the kitchen. ''Ahh, I forgot about the Arcanian points I collected from the dungeon I raided earlier,'' remembered Gray as he opened the item shop. ''Only 1000 Arcanian points as the main contributor? Sigh, well I guess the guns and staff were well worth it,'' thought Gray as he picked out an agility elixir and drank it. ''Now to read on some more guns to widen my arsenal,'' smiled Gray hysterically as he picked out a book on modern firearms. ''Oh, this one looks good. Barrett M82A1, god bless America, you guys created something interesting,'' smiled Gray as he looked at the schematics of the massive sniper rifle. ''Wait, no way. I never knew rifles could get this big'' Gray''s smile now covered his entire face as he saw the rifle listed right below the Barret, it was a Solothurn s18-1000, an anti-tank rifle. Gray''s blood rushed as he read their specs, nearly giving him an erection. ''Even big monsters will flee in front of this thing. I''ll paint the world in guts and blood, oh what a wonderful world.'' thought Gray happily as he began memorizing the schematics of all the guns that piqued his interest. G.I. Tesse (1) "Huh, master?" yawned Tesse as she walked into the living room and found Gray sleeping on the couch. He had spent the whole night reading on different types of firearms and ended up falling asleep, a dozen incomplete guns lay sprawled on the floor next to him. Tesse watched him for a few minutes, admiring him in silence before collecting a blanket from one of the rooms. She was about to cover Gray, however the second the blanket touched his body his eyes opened. In one swift movement he stood up, placing his arms in front of him as if he were holding a sniper rifle. Blood percolated from his mark snaking up his arms before taking the form of a gun. The muzzle of a crimson-red VC32 sniper rifle kissed Tesse''s lips as Gray looked through its scope ready to kill whatever had touched him. "Oh, it''s you. Be careful not to touch me in my sleep, next time the safety might be off," said Gray as Tesse looked at the rifle. Gray''s finger had indeed pulled the trigger, however, since the safety was was on no shot was fired. "Y-yes master," replied Tesse, an expressionless look on her face even though her life had nearly been terminated a few seconds ago. "Anyway, let''s hurry up and have breakfast. For today''s training I have a special place in mind," yawned Gray as he began stretching his back, the sniper rifle turning into blood before snaking back into his mark. "Y-yes master," replied Tesse, walking to the kitchen to prepare their meal. After they had eaten they made their way across town, the streets were more desolate than before. It seemed as if the lost hopeless people that once plagued the streets had disappeared, nowhere to be seen. However Gray couldn''t care less, he had a smile on his face as he whistled the whole way, his blood rushing so fast that his eyes were tinged red. ''Master seems excited,'' thought Tesse silently from behind Gray, her hand on her pistol in case someone suddenly appeared. "Here we are," announced Gray, his arms outstretched as if to marvel at the sight. "A-a school?" asked Tesse, confused about what Gray was so happy about. "No, no, no, it''s not the school we''re here for. It''s the fun inside the school I want," said Gray as he made a crimson red Barrett M82 sniper rifle and tossed it at Tesse. "With your current strength you should be able to handle the recoil from this," said Gray before pulling out Tesse''s pistol from the waist of her trousers. "Master I don''t understand. What am I supposed to do with this?" asked Tesse, still confused about what was going on. "Learn how to use it of course. You''re a smart girl I''m sure you''ll figure it out. I''ve modified it slightly so the magazine currently holds 15 bullets. Use them wisely." replied Gray before walking towards the blood-stained school doors. "Ready?" asked Gray, a smile on his face as he kicked down the school doors. *Haghr Grahm grr* shouted a goblin who had been standing behind the door before Gray blew a hole between its eyes. *Maghr Maghr!* shouted another goblin, alerting every goblin in the vicinity of the intruder at the gate. A dozen goblins screamed and laughed as they rushed towards the entrance, each carrying a crude spear, sword, or dagger of some sort. Smiles across their faces as they looked at Gray like a lion would look at prey. Gray turned the pistol in a long sword and swung it at the nearest goblin, chopping its head off. He quickly turned the long sword into a katana and began slicing his way through the horde mercilessly, blood soaking his new clothes. The goblins at the back stopped their advance, staring at Gray in fear as they realized who the prey really was. "Yes, yes, that''s the look," laughed Gray, the blood covering his face dripping into his mouth as he stared at the goblins with a hungry look on his face. "Oh, did I miss one?" asked Gray as he felt a cold metal digging into his back. "Yes, yes, it''s no fun if I''m the only one whose cutting," laughed Gray, before pulling out the spear that was embedded in deep into his skin, blood dripping out of the flesh wound. He turned around to face the goblin who had stabbed him, staring at it with his blood-red eyes as it stood frozen still in fear. The other goblins took this chance to run away. They needed backup if they were going to kill this monster. "Looks like you''re all alone," said Gray as he put his hand on the goblin''s shoulder, its body vibrating as even its breathing became erratic. "Where did all your fighting spirit go? Come on, here have it," said Gray before giving the goblin back its spear. "Do something," commanded Gray after the goblin stood motionless for a few seconds before a yellow liquid trickled down its legs, some of the droplets splashing onto Gray''s shoes. "Did you just pee on me?" asked Gray, his smile only becoming wider, however his eyes stone cold. *** Tesse was still figuring out how to hold the sniper rifle properly when a goblin suddenly stabbed Gray in the back. She was about to rush in however stopped when she saw the bloodlust in his eyes, she knew not to interfere with his hunt. She watched in awe as Gray stood amidst a pool of blood, his own clothes soaked crimson red as he conversed with the clearly traumatized goblin. Goblin guts lay sprawled on the ground next to him, viscera and dismembered body parts floating amongst the soup of crimson red that flooded the floors. "What''s going on?" whispered Tesse, before the goblin began urinating on the floor. "How dare it dis-" before she could even finish her sentence a blood-red greatsword formed in Gray''s right hand, and with that single hand he lifted it into the sky, before slicing downwards, butchering the goblin in half. Blood gushed from the two halves of its body as its innards spilled out mixing with its urine. "There''s more upstairs. Try to shoot as many as you can without hitting me," said Gray, a crazed look on his face as he ran up the stairs before she could even reply. ''It seems he''s enjoying himself. I should join in too,'' thought Tesse, her face turning red at the thought of being with Gray while he had fun. She held the sniper with its butt to her shoulder, looking through its scope in the same way soldiers in action movies did, and ran up after Gray, her finger on the trigger ready to blow anything that came within her sight. G.I. Tesse (2) Gray went rampant on the second floor, killing any goblins too slow to run into one of the classrooms, his katana becoming dull with blood. A melody of screams and laughs flooded Tesse''s ears as Gray sliced a goblin''s head clean off, its dismembered braincase lobbing to the ground with a splatter, reddening the already crimson floor. The goblins had locked themselves in a class labeled 8C, a human skull pinned on a spear decorating the entrance. *Argha* screamed a goblin as it rushed at Gray from the other end of the hallway, however, a split second later a huge gaping hole appeared on its face, shattering its jaw and exposing the insides of its mouth. "Good job," said Gray, blood flowing out of his ears as he turned to look at Tesse. She had her eyes looking through the scope, and the sniper butt to her shoulder, however, something seemed off. "Perhaps move the sniper a bit more away from the shoulder joint next time," warned Gray, ignoring the pain exuded from his burst eardrums. Tesse had an awkward bump at the back of her shoulder blade as she stared at Gray blankly. Unable to hear a thing he had just said due to the damage to her eardrums. "Now where were we?" asked Gray, turning his katana into a pistol. "Oh yes, goblins" laughed Gray as dozens of bullets fired into the door handle. The lock came undone and Gray opened the class door slowly. *Aghrah* A dozen goblins plowed their spears through Gray''s torso, catching him by surprise. Blood gushed from his stomach as the goblins stared at him with teary eyes, still shivering from fear. "Well played," whispered Gray, coughing out blood as his smile slowly disappeared, his blood-red eyes going dim, and his vision turning black. "M-master," a mix of emotions flooded Tesse''s heart as her mind went blank. The tip of their spears protruded from Gray''s back, her master''s blood dripping to the floor as his body went limp on the spears. The goblins were silent for a moment, before bursting out in joyful laughter, a look of relief visible on all their faces. *Ragsgah Rashah* laughed the goblins, however, that was short-lived. In a flash, the muzzle of a sniper rifle pressed against one of the goblin''s heads, the shoulder blade of the white-haired girl holding shifting back into place as if it were magic. "U-unf-forgivable," whispered Tesse, rage seething into her words as she was unable to even complete that single phrase without stuttering in anger. The goblins were confused, they simply stared at her in silence, wondering what was going on. A loud bang burst the eardrums of all those present in the room, causing stress cracks to appear on the windows. A few goblins looked at Tesse in horror, their face covered in the brains of their ally, while the others were too confused to even process what was going on. "You''ll all die here," whispered Tesse in a cold voice, aiming at her next victim. The goblins snapped out of their stupor, fear turning into rage as they realized that she was but a single opponent. A goblin thrust its spear at Tesse, aiming to puncture her stomach. She reacted quickly, using the length of the sniper to block the attack, following up with a kick to its head sending it flying towards the other side of the room. The other goblins joined into the fray, slashes and slices sent in every which direction towards Tesse, wounds and cuts littered her body, but she seemed unphased. The cuts closed as fast as they appeared. Using her sniper as a club, she swung at all her attackers, crouching into a sniping position once they had given her just a bit of breathing space. Three bangs caused even more stress cracks to appear on the windows, the kick from the recoil causing Tesse''s whole body to jerk backward. "Master would be pleased to see this," thought Tesse, a single tear running down her cheek as she looked at the mess in front of her. Two goblins had their brains splattered on the floor, while another was screaming in pain, its arm nothing more than a bloody stump. The remaining goblins were all shell-shocked, drowned in confusion as their eardrums bled, their screams inaudible even to themselves. Tesse rushed to Gray''s side, his stomach bleeding out at a visible rate. ''Please be okay master,'' thought Tesse, her tears mixing in with the blood that covered Gray''s face. A white light covered Gray''s body, and a split second later Tesse was on the floor, while Gray stood up, anger distorting his facial features. "I wanted to have fun, but you''ve gone and broken my toy," said Gray cooly, his mark glowing red as he looked at the goblins with an amused expression. "You guys are lucky, you get to see me use something new," as Gray said this a blood red katana formed in his right hand, undecipherable encryptions written along its length. [In order for the Kobold boss''s fire enchantment to be added to the Mighty Sword, the Kobold boss''s gemstone is required. Add Kobold Boss''s gemstone to Mighty Sword?] prompted the voice in Gray''s head. "Accept," whispered Gray, his pace slow as he walked towards the cowering goblins. "Enjoy hell," laughed Gray as his katana went ablaze, its intense light gleaming in his eyes. *Aghrah Afrhga* cried a goblin, its body set on fire. It ran around the room in agony, rolling on the ground as its green skin peeled back, turning ashy black. The five remaining goblins used what little courage they had to charge at Gray, and a split second later a charred head dropped to the ground. Gray''s eyes red with bloodlust. His laugh echoed throughout the classroom as the goblins rushed at him with their spears, the katana transforming into a spear as well. He thrust it at them, driving its flaming tip into one of the goblins'' heads while jumping into the air to dodge the incoming attacks. Gray lifted the spear into the air, dragging the goblin corpse into the air along with it. "Yes, I quite like this attachment," laughed Gray wildly, the intensity of the flames on the spear becoming so harsh that the Goblin corpse was set ablaze. The smell of roasted flesh began to fill the room as the three remaining goblins ran for the exit. "You can''t leave without saying goodbye," said Gray, his eyes still fixated on the burning corpse before turning the spear into a crimson red vector pistol, the charred corpse slamming the ground all at once. Glowing red runes ran along its length, shining with a mysterious power right before Gray pulled the trigger. "And anyway, you haven''t had a taste of hell yet," commented Gray, a smile on his face as a stream of flaming bullets flew out of the gun, puncturing charred bullet holes all over the goblins backs. Goblin Champion (1) "Captain, the second floor has just been cleared," reported one of the officials working at the ''government'' tower base, her words coming out erratically as she breathed heavily. "What? Was the first-floor clearer there?" asked Ria, already making her way towards the tower portal to see the survivors. "N-no captain. The agents working there didn''t report anyone with his description going in. And what''s more, there are only two survivors, both are female," replied the agent, trying to keep up with Ria''s pace although she could hardly get her sentences out without gasping for air. ''Maybe if I can get these two on our s-'' Ria was thinking before the two survivors came into view. "Wait, don''t tell me it''s those two?" whispered Ria, turning back to her subordinate, who could only nod her head in agreement. Standing in front of the tower portal was a frail woman, wearing black thick glasses, with a kitchen knife in her left hand. Her stance was awkward and she kept her eyes fixed to the ground, never once looking up. What was peculiar about her was the mixture of red and green fluid that dripped down her clothes, and the small blotches of red that covered the left frame of her glasses. Standing beside her was a little girl who looked to be five, laughing happily as she played with two dolls on the ground. Unlike the woman beside her, she was clean, not a drop of blood on her clothes, however, this in itself was peculiar as well. "Who let a child into the tower?" whispered Ria angrily, but her subordinate could only shake her head in confusion. "Hey there, I''m Agent Ria, Captain of the Emergency Response Division, as well as acting head of all government officials within the area," introduced Ria as she approached the two with a forced smile on her face. "I just wanted to ask you two a few questions about the tower floor you guys just cleared, if it wouldn''t be too much to ask of course," continued Agent Ria, however, their response was somewhat discouraging. The woman with glasses began shivering as if scared of Agent Ria, while the girl acted as if no one was speaking and continued playing with her dolls. ''Sigh, at this rate I''m sure to get fired.'' "I''ll cut right to the chase then. I want you two to join a new division that the government has been working on. Of course, there will be compensation, we''ll give you anything you want if you show results." said Agent Ria finally, her voice sterner than before. ''What''s the point of trying to play friendly if all I keep getting are social weirdoes,'' though Agent Ria as she stared at the two waiting for an answer. The woman with glasses began mumbling something, however, all that Agent Ria could hear were inaudible whispers. "I can''t hear y-" Agent Ria''s sentence was cut off by the little girl as she looked up for the first time. "Mommy and Daddy say they want more friends, but good friends are hard to come by. If I join your party can you get them more friends to play with?" asked the little girl in a sweet voice, a voice so sweet indeed it seemed strangely threatening. "Y-yes, ofcourse," replied Agent Ria, goosebumps appearing on her skin as she saw the smile on the little girl''s face. "A-Arcanian points. I-I need Arcanian points," blurted out the woman next to the little girl, finally raising her voice. "Y-yes, of course. I can arrange for that as well," replied Agent Ria. ''I''m wondering if I made a mistake asking these two to join,'' thought Ria uneasily as she looked at the two new recruits. "Okay, please follow me to our headquarters. There you will give a full report on what happened in the tower, as well as an in-depth explanation of your abilities," said Agent Ria, gesturing for the two to follow her as she walked back to her office. Her subordinate couldn''t help but shiver in fear as the two girls passed by her, something about them felt eery, however so did everything else nowadays. *** "Where are you guys hiding? Come out and play, I''m starting to get lonely," echoed Gray''s voice throughout the empty school hallways. Behind him lay a pile of goblin corpses, drowned in blood and piss. Its red and yellow monotony only broken by the black patches of charred skin caused by the flames of his weapons. He held a katana in his right hand, with glowing red inscriptions along its length and a glowing blue gemstone at the center of its hilt. His blood-red eyes contrasted his snow-white hair, giving him a dangerous cold look. Blood and sweat rolled down his forehead as he breathed heavily in excitement, a near erection forming due to the thrill of blood being splattered by his blade. "Are all of you dead already?" asked Gray as he walked up the final flight of stairs to the roof, the door at the end of the path covered in both goblin and human flesh, with a big X at the center warning to stay away. "X marks the spot," laughed Gray, drunk on bloodlust. He kicked down the door, the power he had gained from absorbing all the goblins'' blood giving him inhuman strength. "Hmm, you''re awfully big for a goblin," commented Gray as he looked at a goblin about the same size as him riding atop a wolf-like beast standing 4 meters tall with scales instead of fur. "Well, I''ve seen a bigger one than you and killed it too. And your little pony, I''ve killed one exactly like it," laughed Gray before turning into a blur and appearing behind the goblin. "Now give me more blood," said Gray, two distinct voices speaking at the same time. "Human, who makes deals with demons, You shall now know death," said the goblin as it blocked Gray''s katana with a silver sword of its own. "Talking goblin?" asked Gray, ignoring his bloodlust for a second due to confusion. Now that Gray got a better look at it, it was wearing a jet black cloak, its cape reaching ankle length of the beast it was riding. Underneath the cloak, it wore jet black clothing, with three knives strapped to its chest, and another two at its waist. On its back was the scabbard of the sword it was currently holding. Glowing black inscriptions ran along both the length of the silver sword and the scabbard, the darkness exuding from it like pure corruption. A single dark green gemstone gleamed at the hilt of the goblin''s blade, its eyes staring dully at Gray as if it were bored. "Wait, what?" Where it all began The beast''s tail slammed into Gray, prompting him to block it with his sword, however, the hit was so strong that he was sent flying a few feet away. ''I don''t remember that overgrown furball being this strong,'' thought Gray as he coughed up blood, using his katana as a crutch to stand up. "You survived that?" asked the goblin in a somewhat noble way, looking at Gray as if he were intrigued by his existence. In a flash the goblin was behind him, breathing down his neck, "I will add your head to my collection," whispered the goblin as it slashed at his neck, aiming to lop off Gray''s head. Gray blocked it, but just by a hair, a thin line of blood ebbed from his neck where a part of the silver blade had cut. He pushed back, swinging his sword at the goblin, the clanging of blades clashing was the only sound that could be heard, everything else was silent. The goblin seemed to predict every single one of Gray''s moves, a bored look on its face as it blocked off all of Gray''s attacks without so much as a sweat. Gray on the other hand was sweating profusely, veins began showing on his arms as he put his all into his attacks. In the next second Gray found the world turning upside down as the goblin swept him to the ground, the air in his lungs being forced out all at once. "Not even a demon''s blessing can save you from corruption," said the goblin as the wound on Gray''s neck turned black, and began spreading outwards at a visible rate. Gray turned the katana into a dagger, slashing it quickly towards the goblin, however, the goblin blocked his attacks with relative ease, showing mastery in swordsmanship. Using the little space that the goblin had yielded to fend off his barrage, he quickly stood up, jumping back several spaces to create distance. But once again the world around him went upside down, this time the hot breath of the goblin''s beast was forced down his nose as its front paws held him down. "This is fun," laughed Gray, turning the dagger into a pistol and using what little mobility his hands had to aim at the beast. Several gunshots were fired, all of them sending out flaming hot bullets that normally would pierce through flesh easily. However, this time the bullets could only manage to leave a flesh wound on the armored beast. The beast lifted its paw in reaction to the sudden pain, giving Gray enough space to get out of its vise. "Behind you," whispered the goblin, its silver sword thrusting into Gray''s back right out his stomach. Blood gushed to the floor as the goblin withdrew its sword, slashing once more at Gray, severing his right arm clean off at the shoulder joint. His weapon fell to the ground at the same time as his arm, at this point a puddle of blood began forming beneath Gray, and a black substance began running up his skin. The wound on his neck had become corrupted, a thick black goo oozed from it, causing the cut to become deeper with time. The goblin simply stood there, watching him with intrigue in its eyes as if waiting for something. "If you don''t hurry up I''ll collect your vessel. It seems you rather liked this one since his mark is so big," said the goblin, looking at Gray''s mark which now extended till his forearm. However his words fell on deaf ears, Gray''s mind had been corrupted by the black substance, putting him in a state of coma, lost in the abyss that was his mind. "Mother?" whispered Gray, his eyes staring into nothingness. "It seems I''ve already broken it. Very well then," said the goblin raising its blade into the air. "Goodbye," as it said this its blade came rushing down towards Gray''s neck and time seemed to be suspended in that very second *** "Gray I''m gonna get you," said a warm voice as Gray ran around the kitchen table. "Mom, mom, help me," laughed Gray, his father chasing after him with a smile on his face. "Stop running in the kitchen you two," scolded Gray''s mother playfully as she prepared pancakes. "We better listen to her bud, before she turns into a monster eats us all up," said Gray''s father lifting him off the ground. Rays of light trickled through the kitchen windows, giving the memory a warm feel. "I guess even people like you have happy memories," said a voice that sounded more like an echo than the actual thing. *** The scene changed, now Gray was on a swing in a park, with his father pushing him. Gray laughed happily as he swung up and down, the color of the flowers around him so bright they seemed almost exaggerated. "Mother? Won''t you come swing with me?" asked Gray in his little voice as he looked at his mother reading a book under a nearby tree. "I''m coming darling," replied his mother as she stood, rubbing her round tummy with a smile on her face as she walked towards the two. "Who would have thought," scoffed a figure watching the happy family from behind another tree, it had white hair, and although the shadow of the tree covered his face, his gleaming red eyes were still visible *** Once again the scene shifted, this time they were in a car. "Dad are we there yet?" asked Gray for like the thousandth time, and once again his father replied with, "Nearly there bud,". "You said that ten minutes ago," complained Gray as he crossed his arms, pouting angrily. "Don''t worry darling we''re almost there," said his mother, caressing his face as she sad this. Her belly was bigger this time. "I''m sorry bud, it will only be a f-" *Beeeeeeeppppp* "Richard watch th-" Her voice was cut off by the sound of metal being crushed. "So this is where it all went wrong huh?" smiled the figure, this time standing at the side of the road, staring at the wreckage. A contract (1) Its face was a black slate with two gleaming red dots for eyes. It had the same body build as Gray, and wore the exact same clothing he was wearing while fighting the goblin earlier. *** The scene shifted, this time they were home. Gray''s mother was crying, his father was trying to comfort her but nothing seemed to be working. Gray was confused and scared, so he kept quiet. The once warm feeling slowly became colder, no light came through the windows even though it was midday. *** "Dad, what''s wrong with her?" cried Gray as he stared at his mother sprawled on the floor, foam coming out of her mouth. Pills lay scattered all over the floor next to her, a glass of water spilled on the ground. "Stop crying, I''m trying to think," shouted Gray''s father, shock, confusion, sadness, and disappointment all mixed into his voice as his hands shook in front of him. "Will she be okay dad?" asked Gray, his crying only becoming worse. "I don''t know, I said stop crying," shouted Gray''s father, this time slapping him so hard across the face that blood started dripping out of his nose. Gray stood there in shock, his father had never hit him before. His little eyes just stared up at his father, as if asking what had just happened. "I''m sorry bud, I didn''t mean to do that. It''s just that..." whatever his father said after that became inaudible to him as ambulance sirens rang in his ears. The colors around him began losing their contrast, everything looked dull, nearly black and white. *** "You fucking junkie!" shouted Gray''s father, slamming his mother into the kitchen table. Gray peeked from the door, hoping not to be seen. "I don''t know what I ever saw you in you," snarled his father, picking up the bottle of alcohol he had placed on the counter before walking towards the door. "And you," said his father, kicking Gray to the ground. "You should''ve never been born," The room felt cold and the darkness seemed to wrap itself around Gray. Everything was black and white, everything except the small puddle of blood that collected around Gray''s mother''s mouth. Its red color shone brilliantly, and for some reason, a certain warmth seemed to radiate from it. "So this is where it all started. Your thirst for blood, for pain," said the figure, bending over to dip its index finger in the puddle of blood. "Who are you?" asked Gray, finally remembering that he was about to die. "I am your only hope of living," replied the figure. "What do you mean?" asked Gray, prompting the figure to show Gray a glimpse of what was happening in the real world. The goblin''s sword was slowly approaching Gray''s neck, certain death seemed inevitable. "Me? Die? I can''t yet, I haven''t had my fill of fun, I haven''t killed that fucking bastard yet. I can''t go now, the world has just become interesting," complained Gray, standing up in defiance. "That''s where I come in. But everything has a price," said the figure, its black slate of a face right next to Gray''s. "Pfft, what do you want? My soul? Take it, I don''t need it anyway," said Gray "What good is a single human soul? No, what I want is something like an investment," replied the figure. "Investment? I didn''t know demons liked money," laughed Gray, the absurdity of the circumstances causing him to find the whole thing funny. "Not money, souls. I will take your right arm as payment, as well a billion living souls," replied the figure, the echo which was its voice sounded as if it were laughing. "Fuck off. Where will I get a billion souls from? It''s clear that you''re just messing around here, send me back, I''ll kill the thing myself," replied Gray, his eyes stone cold as he stared at the demon with an unamused look. "Why so serious? And anyway what will you be able to do in the state you are currently in. You''re bleeding to death, your right arm was cut off and your blood has been corrupted. And even if you were still in top shape, a goblin warrior isn''t something a human like you can handle," said the demon mockingly, laughing at Gray''s situation. "Look, just kill a billion living creatures with that right hand of mine, be they human or otherwise and our debt will be repaid. " "What happens if I can''t repay you?" asked Gray "We''ll be using your body and powers as collateral, you see your ability to create weapons out of blood is quite interesting. The fact that you were able to create one of the replica''s of the demon swords using nothing but this is what amazes me the most," replied the demon "Not to mention your ability to steal the power of others. I''m sure one of the minor demons here wouldn''t mind inhabiting your body and finishing your task." "Anyway, you have nothing to lose. You already planned on killing at least this many from the begin didn''t you?" added the demon, persuading Gray to take the deal. "Hmm, you''re right, I was going to do this much anyway," replied Gray a smile forming on his face. "Then I take it we have a deal?" asked the demon. "One more thing, a billion souls for just one is kind of a rip off however way we look at it. Why don''t you add in all information you have on rune inscriptions, as well as anything important I might need for my survival. After all, won''t it be to your benefit if I become stronger?" asked Gray, literally trying to negotiate with the devil. "What a funny human," laughed the demon, like what Gray was asking was the funniest thing in the world. "You are nothing but a replica holder. The only reason I''m even helping you is because I quite like your character, but apart from that you are nothing but a weak worthless body bag." A contract (2) "Since you''ve made me laugh I''ll give you a warning. Beware of the original ten wielders, they won''t take the news that I took favor to a replica holder well. When the screams grow louder, you will know that one of them is near." said the demon as the kitchen around them dismantled itself as if it were nothing but an illusion. [Gray Verlice, do you accept the deal offered to by the high demon Amaymon?] asked an autonomous voice that seemed to echo throughout the abyss that Gray floated in. "I accept," replied Gray. [Then the contract has been made. From this day on all affiliations to holy beings and deities will be severed. Your soul now belongs to the plains of New Vautis hell.] said the voice before silence filled the empty dark void. ***(Throughout the entirety of this fight, the demon controls Gray''s body. I''ve said this to avoid confusion, this isn''t Gray fighting.) "It seems you''ve come to help your toy," said the goblin as Gray''s very blood formed a shield in front of him, blocking the goblin''s attack. Tendrils of blood extended from the stump on Gray''s shoulder, snaking its way to his severed arm. A link made of blood dragged the arm back to his body, reattaching itself. The mark on Gray''s arm extended, going all the way until his shoulder. Its design became many times more complex than it had previously been, and it began shining with a hot red radiance. His eyes turned completely black, with a small red glowing dot at the center that seemed to be an iris. His snow-white hair grew till shoulder length and began glowing with a cooling brilliance. "I always hated goblin nobility," said Gray, however his voice sounded like an echo as if it came from the deep depths of the abyss. The goblin turned into a blur, disappearing from Gray''s view. *Ting,* In that very second Gray formed a katana in his right hand, effortlessly blocking the goblin''s attack from behind without even so much as turning. "Burn," whispered Gray, and the flaming red inscriptions that covered the length of the katana let out huge bursts of fire. If not for the goblin''s suit it would''ve been charred meat. "It seems I''ve underestimated you demon," coughed the goblin as it jumped back a few spaces. "But you''re forgetting that this isn''t a one-on-one," said the goblin with a smile on its face as its beast stalked Gray from behind. "I haven''t forgotten about your puppy," laughed the demon as it thrust his katana into the beast''s open mouth. "Burn," with that single phrase the beast was set aflame, its squeals for help causing blood to flow from Gray''s eardrums. "Yes, that''s it. Make this task worth my while," laughed Gray as the smell of burnt meat flooded his nose. "You dirty demon," shouted the goblin, for the first time changing its reserved demeanor. It touched the black gemstone at the center of its sword, causing black tendrils to extend all along its length. "To think I was sent to this backwater area, with nothing but mindless slaves for subordinates, just to be humiliated by a demon? Prepare to face my full wrath," shouted the goblin before throwing the knives it had strapped to its chest. (The suit it''s wearing has compartments for knives at the chest area, this was explained in an earlier chapter.) The demon moved its katana quickly, slashing left and right blocking all the incoming attacks. The second it blocked the last knife, the goblin''s blade was an inch away from his eye. "That''s it," smiled the demon, turning into a blur, dodging the attack by a hair. The demon appeared behind the goblin, slamming it to the ground with a kick. A crater formed where the goblin had been slammed, with tendrils of stress cracks forming all around it. "It seems this body is weaker than I thought," whispered the demon as it felt a sliver of pain coming from Gray''s shattered knee cap. The goblin quickly removed another knife from its waist, throwing it towards the unsuspecting demon. "I didn''t know nobility fought dirty," laughed the demon as it caught the knife mid-air. "I didn''t know demons were so dumb," laughed the goblin, before inscriptions suddenly appeared on the knife, causing it to explode. A thick black cloud of smoke surrounded the demon, suffocating it as it seeped into Gray''s lungs. The goblin dashed through the smoke, its blade ready to sever Gray''s head. "Inferno," shouted the demon right before Gray''s head was severed, this time pouring in even more power into the gemstone. The inscriptions along the katana changed, becoming more complex while the gemstone began glowing brighter than it had ever glowed before. A pillar of fire so high it could be seen all around the city erupted into the air, causing the very air around it to sizzle. The goblin reacted right as the demon chanted "Inferno," jumping back as many spaces as it possibly could, however even with its ultra-fast reflexes, it couldn''t escape the heatwave that the pillar caused. Gray limped out of the pillar of flames that consumed half the roof, his clothes completely burned off, and his hair shining more brilliantly than it had ever shone before. [Bloodlust mode has been activated. More blood will be consumed in this mode. Warning excessive use of this mode could cause irreversible side effects.] warned the voice in Gray''s head Two small stumps that looked to be horns protruded from his forehead, a smile on his face as he stared at the goblin with an excited look. The goblin on the other hand had been tanned due to the heat. Its suit although seeming to have high resistance against fire, had been charred as well. However, the suit seemed to be fixing itself, while healing the goblin from its burns at the same time. "Corrupt," shouted the goblin, and the black tendrils that covered its silver sword rushed out towards the demon. "Burn," whispered the demon a second later, however, nothing happened, the red gemstone that was at the center of the katana crumbled to dust, and the inscriptions went dim. "Fuck," (AN: This is still the demon ''Amymon inhabiting Gray''s body. I will tell you when Gray returns to avoid confusion.) Goblin Champion (2) The black tendrils zipped through the air like living tentacles, coming in every which direction towards the immobile Gray. ''Damned weakling,'' thought the demon angrily before slashing its katana in the air, sending out waves of crimson red energy slashes towards the tendrils. The tendrils ate away at the energy waves sent towards them, absorbing the energy before continuing their advance. The demon rolled to the ground, pain emanating from Gray''s knee cap as it dodged one of the tendrils. The tendrils followed suit, like homing missiles they dived to meet the demon. The demon created a large circular shield, about the same radius as a truck''s wheel. The tendrils ate through the crimson red shield like it was made of butter, slowly corroding their way through it. By this time the goblin had already healed itself, it dashed towards the prone Gray, a knife in its left hand and its silver sword in the right. "It''s over vermin," said the goblin, its face distorted in anger. "Is that so?" laughed the demon. A blood dagger took form in Gray''s free hand, a chain attached to its hilt. The demon threw the dagger at the approaching goblin, prompting it to dodge the attack before continuing its advance. All the while the tendrils of black goo kept corroding at its shield, almost halfway through. The demon pulled on the chain, turning the dagger at its end into a hook. "Looks like I caught an ugly fish," laughed the demon as the hook caught the goblin''s suit, pulling it towards Gray. The demon quickly turned the shield into a spear, allowing the black tendrils to attack him, while at the same time piercing right through the goblin''s head. "Too bad your suit doesn''t cover your face," laughed Amaymon as blood poured out of the dead goblin''s face. However, he himself had sustained damage. The black tendrils didn''t die with their master, instead, they continued to eat away at Gray''s body, turning his skin into a black sticky goo.(AN: Amaymon is the demon''s name, I used it here because it sounded better.) "I can''t have this body corrupted when I just got it," whispered the demon as it watched Gray''s innards become visible. "Listen brat, don''t forget our deal," said the demon before chanting something in what seemed to be a foreign language, made of shrieks, whispers, and wails. Gray''s wounds healed and the black substance completely disappeared from his body. The whites of his eyes returned, however, although dimmed, his iris still remained red. His hair stopped glowing however it remained white, its length still up to his shoulders. The mark on his right arm stopped glowing as well, but like everything else, the intricate inscriptions and patterns remained along its length, proving that his right arm was now the demon''s property. "That was fun," smiled Gray before passing out, his heart rate greatly slowed, and his breathing ragged. At least he wouldn''t have to endure the pain that currently attacked every cell of his body. ***(WARNING TRAUMATIZING CONTENT, RAPE AND ABUSE) "Boss we''ve brought in the new merchandise," said a gruff voice as two man dragged in a girl who looked to be 19. "Put her in my quarters, I''ve gots to have my fun with her before I give her off to the public," smiled the boss, as he looked at the girl with a lustful gleam in his eyes. The boss had a gold tooth and was rather chubby and short. However, his subordinates looked at him with a hint of fear in their eyes although they were nearly twice his size. The girl''s clothes were tattered, and her eyes were puffy and red. She had bruises all over her thighs and arms, and a broken look in her eyes. She starred silently down the hallway she had just been dragged into. They were in a prison, but instead of inmates, ragged-looking girls were locked up within the jail cells. All of them had the same broken look on their faces, they all seemed lost, lifeless, almost like human-sized dolls. "We''re gonna have fun all night long," said the boss caressing the girl''s face. A single tear rolled down her cheeks, making his finger wet. "Damned bitch," shouted the boss once he felt his finger get wet. He smacked the girl across the face, slamming her head to the ground. A patch of blood covered her forehead as the boss shouted profanities at her. However all his complaints fell on deaf ears, her mind had long since been broken the first time she was raped. "You guys didn''t touch her yet did you?" asked the boss, kicking the girl once more. "O-ofcourse not boss." said one of the two men, an unconvincing look on his face. "This dirty bitch really made my finger wet. Anyway, go wash her off before bringing her to my room. She reeks of piss and shit." said the boss covering his nose with his arm before walking off. "If you tell the boss about what we did to you, I''ll kill you in the worst way possible," threatened one of the two men once again, before dragging the girl by her hair towards the end of the hallway. The other girls didn''t so much as turn to look at their newest edition, they all seemed to be drugged, staring into the sky, mumbling something to themselves. As the two men poured buckets of water onto her, one of them forced his phallus into her mouth, causing her to gag in reflex. "How dare you vomit on my dick you bitch," shouted the man as he slapped the girl across the face, her nose bleeding from the impact. "Grizer, perhaps we shouldn''t rough her up too much. The boss might notice, and you know what happens when we make him mad," said his comrade. "Yeah, I know. But still, how come he gets to have fun with all the beauties," said the man before caressing the girl''s blue hair. "If you''re praying to god to save you, you best give up now. If he really loved you, he would''ve given you the power to defend yourself." said Grizer before kissing the girl roughly. ''Help me, somebody, anybody,'' thought the girl as another tear rolled down her cheek. "Enough Grizer lets just hurry this up," said his comrade, scrubbing the girl''s naked back. Code Name: Thanatos "So you''re saying that you guys fought against man-eating ghouls?" asked Ria for something like the hundredth time, unable to believe that the two girls in front of her were capable of doing such a thing. "And explain your power to me again, you say your immortal?" asked Agent Ria, looking at the frail woman wearing glasses with skepticism. "Y-yes. Look," said the woman before stabbing herself in the neck. "No what the hell are yo-" Agent Ria stopped what she was about to say when she saw the deep cut on the woman''s neck close up as if it had never been there in the first place. "I-Immortal. Okay, but that still doesn''t explain how you killed all those ghouls. You guys said that there were at least a thousand of them. Are you saying that you''re so skilled at fighting that you were able to deal with all of them by yourself?" asked Ria. However the woman simply pointed to the little girl playing with her dolls on the table. "What? Are you saying she did it?" asked Ria, pinching her nose in exhaustion. ''I need to rest,'' thought Agent Ria before turning to the little girl. "Suzzie, can you focus on me for a few minutes please," asked Ria in the sweetest voice she could muster, dealing with children clearly wasn''t her strong suit. "Okay," replied the little girl, still playing with the dolls. "Clare explained her side of the story, but you are yet to tell your side. How did you survive against the scary monsters?" asked Ria, still using her sweet voice. "They weren''t scary. Mommy and Daddy took care of them easy, but the other people kept running instead of bashing them, so they ended up dying. That was pretty dumb of them if you ask me," replied Suzzie in her cute childish voice, a messed up smile on her face as she remembered the carnage. "Mommy and Daddy? Where are your mommy and daddy then?" asked Ria, goosebumps appearing on her skin once again as she saw the girl''s smile. "They''re here, but you can only see them if I call them," replied the little girl still playing with her dolls. "Can you call them for me th-" before Ria could finish her sentence the frail woman wearing glasses began shaking her head profusely, urging Ria not to finish her sentence. "Are you sure you want me to call them here? They''re still pretty angry because I haven''t found good friends for them to play with," said Suzzie for the first time looking up at Ria, her smile evoking a sense of fear in everyone in the room. "N-no. That''s okay. So Suzzie, what did you say your powers were again?" asked Ria trying to change the subject. "Oh, I don''t have any powers. I''m too young to have them," replied Suzzie before continuing to play with her dolls on the table. ''This is going nowhere. I''ll just have to send them on a mission and have someone follow them to report on their results,'' thought Ria before pulling out a yellow file from her drawer. "The government has tasked me with creating an elite squad to maintain order within the town. This new division will also deal with the clearance of ruins, dungeons, and tower floors, as it has been reported that monsters begin to come out of these structures if left unchecked," said Ria, reading off the file she had placed in front of her. "Complying with new government protocols, all personal will be given a rating based on the effectiveness of their abilities. Only personnel with a rating of B and above will be considered to join this new division. Measurement of effectivity will be decided based on merit, and since you two completed a tower floor you are automatically B rank." continued Ria, looking up to see the two girls'' reactions. However Suzzie didn''t seem to be paying attention, and the frail woman kept shivering and looking around the room awkwardly. ''I really need to find that kid,'' thought Agent Ria before continuing with what she was saying. "By order of the Government of Clarmbia, on behalf of the president, I, Captain Ria Ardiento head of the Emergency Response Division, now call the Special Division code name: Thanatos into operation, with Suzzie and Clare being its first members," said Ria as if on oath. "For your first mission, you two will take on an F difficulty dungeon along with one other officer. You are to keep the officer alive at all costs and complete the mission as quickly as possible, compensation will be given on adequate completion of the mission. Meeting adjourned," said Ria, standing up from her seat with a sigh of relief. ''I didn''t think I would survive all that,'' thought Agent Ria as she walked out the door. "Are you sure you don''t want to be friends with Mommy and Daddy? You seemed quite strong," whispered Suzzie, this time her voice sounded cold, nothing like what a kid should''ve sounded like. "Like I would ever want to play with those two eyesores. But still, for a kid your acting is pretty spot-on, who would''ve thought that they were making a deal with a little devil like you." laughed Clare, her once frail demeanor taking a complete 180. "You''re a pretty good actor yourself. I was wondering why you were acting so weak," "Well, it''s easier to gain their trust if they don''t see us as a threat. Anyway, just stay out of my way on this mission, we aren''t friends never forget that," "Whatever," replied Suzzie before standing up from her seat. "Oh and one more thing, don''t show them too much on the first mission, or they might start overworking us. I don''t want to do extra work for the same pay just because of you." *** The price of living ''It seems the master has been having fun all by himself,'' thought Tesse as she walked over the butchered goblin corpses that littered the hallways. She followed the blood trail that her master had left behind, walking all the way up to the roof. "N-no, master. Please no," shouted Tesse, tears already rolling down her cheeks as she looked at the state that Gray was in. She walked slowly towards his blood-covered naked body, hoping that it was all just a bad dream. "H-he''s alive," sighed Tesse in relief as she saw Gray''s chest lift, however even then his breathing was laboured, like he was being suffocated. She tried healing him but he wouldn''t wake up, and his breathing remained ragged. Tesse tore off a piece of her shirt and began wiping the blood of Gray''s body. As she was doing this her cheeks tinged red, the thought of Gray lying there naked, unable to protect himself made her blood rush. But out of respect she resolved not to do anything without the master''s permission. ''When did the master''s mark become this big?'' thought Tesse as she wiped all the blood of his arms. ''And his hair, why hasn''t it turned black yet? What happened here?'' thought Tesse looking around before she noticed the shriveled-up goblin corpse lying a few feet away. After wiping all the blood off him, she removed the black cloack that the goblin was wearing and put it on Gray. ''Handsome,'' thought Tesse as she stared at the unconscious Gray, his black uniform contrasting beautifully with his white hair. She slung her sniper over her shoulder and picked Gray up, however his long hair kept getting in her face so she put him down and tied it into a bun to prevent it from flying around. ''I hope he doesn''t min-'' Tesse thoughts were brought to a halt when she noticed the silver blade lying a few feet away from the goblin''s corpse. ''He certainly wouldn''t forgive me if I left some of his loot,'' thought Tesse before picking up the blade. "Perhaps," whispered Tesse as she put the blade in the scabbard behind Gray''s new uniform. *** "Thantos division, the Captain wants to talk to you guys," said one of the government officials to the two girls who were eating dinner. Clare nodded in her frail demeanor while Suzzie completely ignored him, focusing on the food in front of her. "Pfft this new division is a joke," snarled the official as he walked away. "Let''s go," said Clare, before standing up abruptly and walking towards Ria''s office. ''Fuck, what is it this time? Don''t tell me they found out my real identity. Fuck, Fuck, Fuck, Fuck, I wonder what the odds of me killing everyone in this base are. Maybe if I get the girl to help me I''ll be able to make it out alive,'' thought Clare as she looked back at Suzzie. "Captain you called?" said Clare in a shaky voice as she entered Ria''s office, looking at her innocently. "Yes I did. Some new information has come to my attention that will affect the group''s operations," replied Agent Ria, pulling out a few files. ''It seems there''s no way around this,'' thought Clare as she gripped the knife hiding in the sleeve of her oversized black suit. "The information guild has released a statement that they will be raiding a new E-difficulty ruin along with the Riot and Hephaestus guilds " "Based on past information, the rewards from ruins are higher than those from dungeons and even lower level tower floors, as such the government has secured three slots in this new raid, and you two will be part of it," announced Agent Ria still going over her files. "I''ll be going with you two to personally monitor your strengths and weaknesses, and begin a training schedule based on it. We''ll be entering tomorrow at 19:00, so wait for me near the garage at 18:30. That''s all you may go now," said Agent Ria, looking at the two girls in front of her once she was done. Clare had sweat dripping down her face as if she was nervous about something, and kept fiddling with something in her sleeves. ''god I hope I didn''t make a mistake recruiting these two,'' feared Agent Ria as she stared at the nervous Clare. "You know if you want, we can get you one that fits better. It seems your suit is a little too big for you," "N-no, I''m fine. I like it this way," replied Clare before walking out of the office, Suzzie following close behind her. ''That was close,'' thought Clare, a nervous smile on her face. ***(For clarification, Gray isn''t awake, these are merely his thoughts,) ''Shut up! Stop it! Stop it!'' shouted Gray, the voices in his head swarming his mind like a hive of angry bees. ''Leave me alone you bastards,'' it felt as if a billion different voices were shouting into his ears, each one of them eating away at his sanity. His mind was in such disarray that he couldn''t hear his own thoughts properly. ''Souls, souls, souls,'' this was the single phrase that the specters within Gray''s mind demanded from him. He was given no rest although his eyes were still closed. Every second he lay there trapped in the dark abyss that was his mind, the specters would constantly demand the souls owed to them, the souls that Gray promised the demon. "Master," whispered Tesse in a worried voice as she watched Gray turn in his sleep, his pillow soaked wet by the beads of sweat that constantly ran down his pale face. His mark was glowing red and was becoming hotter by the second. It subdued for a bit each time Tesse healed him, but after an hour the symptoms would come back. "Gray, white, come in, over." said a voice over the walkie-talkie on the dresser of Gray''s mirror. ''White? Do they mean me?'' wondered Tesse before answering back. "The master is currently unable to answer. However this is white speaking... over," "This is a reminder of tomorrow''s raid at 19:00 Central Plaza. Don''t be late, over and out," "Fuck," whispered Tesse under her breathe before healing Gray once more. ''If the master doesn''t wake up by then. I''ll just have to do it myself,'' thought Tesse, scared that the master''s deal might be canceled if they didn''t show up tomorrow. White Huntress (1) ''It seems I''ll have to go alone'' thought Tesse as she picked up her sniper rifle and stared at the unconscious Gray lying on his bed. Although she didn''t need sleep due to her healing ability, she still felt exhausted. Bags had formed under her eyes due to all the anxiety she had faced throughout the night caring for Gray. "I''ll finish the mission and come back as fast as I can. Just wait for me master," whispered Tesse before healing Gray once more, and kissing him on the forehead. ''I wonder if he has extra magazines,'' wondered Tesse as she walked to the living room and looked through the pile of incomplete guns that Gray had left. ''Ahh, here they are,'' thought Tesse, picking up the .50 caliber ammunition that was buried in the pile of guns. As she was getting up she noticed a crimson red pistol on the shelf of the closet right next to her. ''I''ll borrow this too. Forgive me master, I''m not as strong as you, I need all the weapons I can get.'' thought Tesse, before grabbing it and looking at the clock. "18:30, better get going," whispered Tesse before walking out the door. *** "Drink these, they are special elixirs that our research team has come up with. They haven''t been tested extensively yet, but have been approved for use in the field," said Ria as she handed Clare and Suzzie two blue elixirs each. "L-like the one''s in the item shop?" asked Clare as Ria started the HUMV they were in. "No, not exactly. These elixirs aren''t as effective as the ones in the item shop. Our researchers tried examining the item shop elixirs but the compounds they''re made off are unlike anything we''ve ever seen before." "These on the other hand are made from known substances but have the downside of being 70% less effective. The one upside is that they increase agility, strength, and stamina stats simultaneously" said Agent Ria as she reversed out of the garage. "K-known substances? So does that mean you guys can produce as many as you want?" asked Clare, trying to hide her enthusiasm, however, it was blatantly clear that she was excited at the premise of such a thing. "Y-yes we can. However, it''s been reported that taking more than two a day has grievous consequences. An agent of ours thought he could get into the Thanatos division by consuming large quantities of it, but we had to scrape him off the walls after his little drinking party." "So whatever thoughts you may have, dash them off right now," said Ria sternly as she stepped on the pedal, zipping through the empty streets. ''But still, two elixirs a day with 30% efficiency isn''t that bad. And if what this bitch says about them having the properties of agility, strength, and stamina elixirs then joining this joke of a government wasn''t such a bad idea .'' thought Clare as she stared out the window. "Can I give mine to Mommy and Daddy, they said I shouldn''t drink things that I don''t know," said Suzzie in her cute voice. "I''m not sure if tha-" Ria was about to say before she thought about it better. "Sure you can." ''If her Mommy and Daddy are summons like I think they are, it would be worthwhile to test whether elixirs can be used on summons as well.'' *** "Where are Gray and white? It''s almost time," complained Arena as she and the other raid party members waited outside the portal for the rest of the squad to arrive. "Look, if they aren''t here in the next 5 minutes we''ll just have to go on without th-" the thin, black-haired man who was talking was interrupted by the sound of a heavy vehicle approaching. "Is that them?" asked Arena. "I don''t know," "Sorry we''re late," said Ria as she stepped out of her vehicle, prompting Arena to growl in anger. "I knew that kid was useless," whispered Arena before turning towards the portal. "Why did they bring a kid here?" whispered some of the raid party members as Suzzie struggled to get out of the vehicle. "Whatever man, who they chose the bring is their problem. Just focus on the mission," whispered another one of their comrades. "If it isn''t Thor. And what''s this? Did you bring your daughter along?" asked a familiar voice. "Judith Esparza, it seems your captain has a habit of never showing up to important events," replied Ria as she stared at the smug Judith. "The Riot guild doesn''t need to bother its captain with a mere ruin raid. He''s too busy clearing the tower floors, you know how it goes. Pfft sorry I forgot, from what I''ve heard you guys just cleared the second floor recently," said Judith, her grin becoming wider. "A mere ruin raid almost killed you last time, or have you forgotten how you begged us to complete the raid quickly so that you wouldn''t be mauled by skeletal soldiers," replied Ria, wiping Judith''s smug grin off her face. "You litt-" Judith was about to say before Tesse appeared carrying a crimson red sniper rifle on her shoulder and a pistol on her waist. ''Isn''t that the girl who accompanies the first floor clearer.'' thought Ria as she remembered Tesse''s face from the last time they had met. "Who''s she? Is she one of yours?" asked Judith as she turned to the Hapheastus party leader. "N-no," replied the thin man with black hair. "She''s one of ours," said Amos before looking at Tesse with a confused expression. ''Wait don''t tell me,'' "Is he working for the information guild? The boy, the one with black hair, where is he?" asked Agent Ria approaching Tesse. "Enough, we''re going in without him," said Arena before walking through the portal. ''Someone''s still angry that The master likes Gray over her,'' laughed Amos inwardly as he followed closely behind, prompting everyone else to enter the portal as well. "Please refrain from touching me," said Tesse as she removed Ria''s hand from her shoulder with the barrel of her pistol. ''Great, more crazies,'' thought Clare as she looked at Tesse''s cold lifeless eyes. White Huntress (2) ''Souls, souls, souls,'' whispered the voices in Gray''s head. "I said shut the fuck up," shouted Gray as he woke up, sweat covering his face, and the mark on his right hand glowing ever so dimly. ''Huh? When did I?'' wondered Gray as he realized that he was back in his house. "These clothes, the goblin noble, I see, that demon kept his end of the bargain," whispered Gray as he got out of bed and walked to the dressing mirror at the corner of his room. "What?" whispered Gray in confusion, although it had been a while since he had seen himself in a mirror, he clearly remembered having both his eyes and hair black. "Demon what did you do to me?" asked Gray as he ran his fingers through his hair, causing the sleeve of his black suit to droop and reveal the mark that ran along his hand all the way to his forearms. "When did the mark, wait," as Gray said this he began getting out of his cloak. There was a look of pure surprise on his face as he saw the intricate runes and patterns that ran along his right arm like crimson red tattoos, their warm slow glow seemed to hint at something both sinister and powerful. [Goblin ranger blood has been used to upgrade the Mighty Sword replica. More abilities have been unlocked based on the quality of the blood used.] said the voice in Gray''s head as he ran his finger along the marks. "Upgrad-" as Gray opened his mouth he realised that his canines were longer and sharper than before. "Vampire?" asked Gray finally, the white hair, red eyes, and fangs all hinted to one thing. ''No, more like lap dog,'' whispered a voice in Gray''s mind. Gray instinctively removed the silver blade from the scabbard on his back and turned around quickly, holding it much like how the goblin noble he had recently fought did. ''For a lap dog you learn pretty fast. You''re already trying to copy that goblin noble''s swordsmanship. However it''s a useless endeavour, such a technique will require a teacher, and I doubt the goblins would ever teach a demon thrall even if you held a knife to their throats,'' replied the disembodied voice. "Who are you? Come out, only cowards hide when they speak," taunted Gray with a smile on his face, still holding his blade out. ''So you can slash my head off? What a funny human,'' laughed the voice. "Human? Amaymon?" asked Gray, still not dropping his guard. ''You don''t have to speak out loud. If someone were to hear you, you would harbor suspicion. And no, it''s not Lord Amaymon, I am one of his subordinates, tasked with replacing you incase you become incapable of completing your mission,'' replied the voice. ''I said I''ll get it done, now leave. I don''t need a leech eating away at my mind,'' replied Gray. ''A leech? Me? Or do you mean the billion soulless specters that demand their pay? Sure, I''lll leave. But know this, the only reason your human mind hasn''t been fried by the burden of so many specters is because I shoulder half of it. Still, its a miracle your still sane,'' ''That demon bitch never mentioned this in our contract. He never said that I would start hearing voices,'' replied Gray angrily as he placed the sword back in its scabbard and created a crimson pistol. ''Well, what did you expect making deals with the devil. Anyway what are you doing?'' asked the demon. Gray placed the crimson pistol in the waist slot of his suit that was meant for short daggers and began walking towards the door. ''Ignoring me huh?'' asked the demon. ''Shut up, you''re just as annoying as the specters. I''m going to claim the souls I owe,'' replied Gray. ''Right down to business. It seems Lord Amaymon didn''t choose a dumb dog after all,'' ''I wish I could slash my brain open and fish this leech out,'' thought Gray angrily as he walked down the empty streets. ''I can hear what you''re thinking by the way,'' *** "White, where is Gray?" whispered Amos immediately after Tesse had passed through the portal. "Master is... he couldn''t make it. But I will make up for that," replied Tesse, a hint of concern appearing on her stone-cold face. "Hmm, if you don''t show results, your contracts could be terminated," warned Amons before handing Tesse a satchel. "There are four elixirs in there. Take no more than two a day. Based on your performance, you will receive more later," whispered Amos before turning to walk away. "Oh, and don''t drink them in front of the government party. If they see you they''ll know that we stole the production method from them," warned Amos before finally walking to the front of the group. "A forest?" asked the captain of the Hephaestus guild as he swept his black hair to the side. "It seems so," replied Ria as she stared at the scene in front of her. Everything was green as far as the eye could see. Trees towered into the sky, if not for the clearing in front of the portal they wouldn''t even know that the sky had a milky green texture. The landscape was reminiscent of an equatorial rainforest, however devoid of the sound of all wildlife. "What''s that?" whispered Judith as she noticed two blue eyes floating in the shadow of the massive trees in front of them. "What do you mean captain?" asked one of the members of the Riot guild squad as they squinted their eyes in the direction where Judith was pointing however the eyes were already gone. "Suzzie did you see that?" whispered Clare, prompting Suzzie to nod in affirmation. "Amos," whispered Arena. "I saw it too," ''It seems that this ruin has something to do with beasts,'' thought Tesse as she removed the sniper from her shoulder and held out it in front of her. [The Ancient forest of the Amunkah clan does not welcome visitors. Hunt down the shadow runner, and avoid the hunter of the forest, lest you seek certain death.] announced an autonomous voice, prompting the portal behind them to disappear. "So a hunting raid?" asked the captain of the Hephaestus guild. An Underground Scheme "These girls aren''t as fun when they''re drugged," complained a naked man, sweat dripping down his body as he slammed a ragged-looking girl to the ground, thrusting into her once her face hit the floor. "Quit complaining, if they weren''t so drugged do you think they would let someone like you fuck them?" asked another naked man as he poured a purple liquid onto his phallus. "Hey you two, your times almost up. Either you pay another 20 Arcanian points or you bounce," shouted the man at the door of the small room they were in. The room was run down, with two squeaky beds at the corner. The walls were dusty and had some mold growing on them, and the window panes were browned due to aging. "Yeah, yeah. Here you go," said the first naked man as he opened up the item shop and selected the Arcanian points tab. The guard at the door opened his item shop as well, selecting the Arcanian points tab. The naked man selected transfer and typed in the amount, clicking send at the same time the guard clicked receive. "And you?" asked the guard turning to the second naked man while his comrade continued thrusting into the girl with her head to the floor. "Nah, I''m out of here. The girl you gave me isn''t worth it anyway. Just look at her, she can barely breathe," commented the other naked man as he pointed to the girl trying to lick the purple substance of his rod. "Enough," shouted the man as he pushed the girl away and walked towards the pile where he had left his clothes. "Next time get me a better doll," said the man before leaving. "Whatever man, you''re too picky. A doll is a doll," commented his naked comrade before dousing the girl on the floor with the purple liquid. The girl went into a craze, licking the liquid off the blood-stained floor. As she did the man''s phallus slipped out of her, making him fall to the ground as he tried thrusting. "Stupid bitch who said you ca-" as the man was about to slap the girl the guard stopped him. "You''ll have to pay extra if you damage our merchandise," warned the guard promoting the man to rethink. "Whatever," snarled the naked man before dragging the girl back and stuffing his rod in her mouth. *** ''Hmm, are the human streets always so empty?'' asked the demon in Gray''s mind as he wandered down the deserted streets. ''The state of security must''ve gone to complete shit if there aren''t even beggars on the street.'' thought Gray as he looked down every alleyway he passed by. ''But then again, most of them must''ve been taken in by the church, while others have probably become prey to the hungry masses,'' ''Hungry masses? What do you mean?'' asked the demon. ''I forgot this rachet thing could read my thoughts,'' thought Gray as he continued searching for human souls. "Hey man, are you heading to the doll place?" asked a man in a group of six as they came out of a nearby dungeon portal. "Yeah, there''s nothing else we can spend these Arcanian points on anyways. The item shop elixirs are just too expensive. And what''s the point anyway if we can take on F difficulty dungeons with our current power level," replied another man in the group. ''Doll house? Like brothel?'' wondered Gray as he created a crimson katana in his right hand, blood ebbing from the patterns on his mark as it took form. ''Six souls guaranteed, or the chance to find a jackpot? Might as well take my chances,'' smiled Gray as he hid behind a broken down car and followed the group. *** After walking around in circles for about 30 minutes the group finally walked into an alleyway, looking around to make sure they weren''t being followed. "Are you sure we can go in yet? What if someone was following us?" asked one of the men in the group. "So what? We walked in circles like we were told to, if someone followed us that isn''t our problem to deal with. And anyway isn''t it good business for them if we bring in more customers," replied one of his comrades as he knocked on the door four times in a rhythmic pattern. "I don''t have anything of value to give you, please leave me alone," replied an elderly voice. "We''ll leave," replied the man, prompting the gate to be opened. "You know the drill, 50 Arcanian points entrance," said the old man at the door. Although he was old, he had the build of a professional bodybuilder standing at 2 meters talls. He was shirtless showing off his nearly inhuman abs, his bulging pectorals and unreal biceps and triceps the size of a grown man''s head. "Yeah, yeah," "Daylight robbery I tell you," murmured one of the members of the group. "If you don''t like it you can go elsewhere," snorted the old man. The group members opened their item shops and sent the required entrance fee to the old man before heading in, the old man closing the door once they had entered. ''What''s this? To think that businesses based on Arcanian points have already been established. I didn''t think you would be able to make one out of anything other than information. "But I forgot that humans seek satisfaction over information, heck I''m exactly like them," thought Gray as he licked his lips, his breathing becoming heavy at the thought of all the blood he would spill. ''Are you sure you were human before this?'' asked the demon, surprised by the bloodlust Gray was emitting. Gray walked up to the door, knocking in the same pattern that the previous group had knocked with. "I don''t have anything of value to give you, please leave me alone," replied an elderly voice. "I''ll leave," replied Gray prompting the man to open the door. "I haven''t seen you around before," commented the old man as he towered over Gray, looking down on him as if he was about to pummel him. "Do you think an old man like you can remember every single person that comes in here?" asked Gray assertively as he opened his item shop. "Here''s the 50, now let me through," ordered Gray. "Pfft, kids these days. Anyway, you know the drill, your sword. You''ll get it back once you leave" replied the old man, holding out his hand as he confirmed that the required amount was transferred. ''Fuck,'' thought Gray as he removed the sword on his back from its scabbard, placing the shining silver blade in the old man''s hands. "Nice sword. Now hand over the pistol on your waist as well," said the old man, gesturing for Gray to hand it over as well. Gray bit his lips, removing the pistol from his waist slot as well. ''I wish I could slaughter this guy right now, but who knows what kinds of abilities the others inside have,'' thought Gray as he looked at the old man with bloodlust in his eyes. "Those are some interesting eyes kid, but your still 50 years too young to tangle with me. Anyway you may pass," said the old man, stepping out of Gray''s way. ''You almost got caught,'' laughed the demon as Gray pushed the katana deeper into his cloak. White Huntress (3) "If it''s a hunting raid I think it would be best if we all organized ourselv-" Ria was about to say before Judith interrupted. "No way we''re letting another guild have the rewards this time. You guys can work together if you want, but the Riot Guild is doing this solo," announced Judith before walking into the forest with her team following close behind her. "She''s right. Logically speaking there is no real benefit in working together. We can''t trust each other and even if we did, we haven''t operated as a squad before. By grouping together we would reduce the chances of succeeding in a hunt where teamwork is a necessity." said the black-haired leader of the Haphhaestus Guild. "Hephaestus Guild follow me," said the leader as he walked into the forest as well, taking a different route from that of the Riot Guild. "And what about you guys?" asked Ria, turning to the members of the information guild. "What about us? Do you think we have time to babysit that kid you brought? If you''re planning on leeching off of us you better just stay here, there''s no telling what accidents might occur in the forest," threatened Arena as she lead the Information Guild members into the forest. Everyone followed, everyone except Tesse. ''Master won''t be pleased if his prize has to be shared amongst the Information Guild,'' thought Tesse as she watched her group go. "White, come on, we''re leaving," shouted Arena once she noticed that Tesse wasn''t following them. "I''m not going with you guys," "What?" replied Arena, confusion, and anger audible in her voice. ''What is she thinking?'' thought Clare as she watched Tesse carefully, interest painted across her face. "I only take orders from master. I will complete the task, however, the rewards will be his alone," "Are you mad? The master was the one who ordered all this, we''re all on t-" one of the other members of the Information Guild was about to add before Amos stopped him midway. "Her master is different from ours. It''s okay, leave her be. But White, remember this, if you don''t perform well, your master''s absence will cause his contract to be terminated," warned Amos before walking into the forest. "Are you really going in alone?" asked Clare in a shaky voice, intrigued by Tesse''s determination. Tesse ignored her, disappearing into the shade of the forest. ''She might be interesting to play with,'' thought Suzzie as she stared at Tesse''s back. Tesse walked silently through the forest holding her sniper rifle ready to fire at a moment''s notice. The forest was quiet, so much so that Tesse could even hear her own footsteps as she marched through the muddy ground. *** An hour had passed without seeing anyone, the only form of life she had come across were silent flying fruitflies, that seemed to follow her wherever she went. ''Night already? But it''s only been two hours,'' thought Tesse as she looked at the watch that Gray had given her. [Eternal night has fallen. Beware the hunter.] announced an autonomous voice as the moon rose into the night sky. It''s full circle akin to an eye looking down on all the raid members. "Run!" Tesse heard shouts in the near distance, followed by the sound of at least a dozen people stampeding through the forest. A split second later the night sky was lit up by the spells of retreating guild members, drawing Tesse''s attention. ''Is it the hunter or the shadow runner?'' wondered Tesse as she slowly approached the scene, stalking behind the cover of nearby trees. *** "Retreat and fall into defensive positions. We have to locate the position of the enemy," said the leader of the Hephaestus Guild as he watched his members disappear one by one. At first, he had thought that perhaps they had just wandered off, but the carcass of one of his comrades was found lying just outside their camp. Their skin and bowels missing. "Clockwerk" as the leader said this a giant mechanical golem rose from the ground, standing at 3 meters tall. In its hand was a giant spanner, and on its right eye it had a weird-looking ocular device, as if it were an inventor of some sort. ''Clockwerk isn''t really meant for battle. If whatever this thing is turns out to be powerful. I''ll have to use clockwork as a distraction to get the other members to safety,'' thought the leader of the Hephaestus Guild as he stared into the darkness of the forest. "All those with melee offensive skills come to the front line right behind Clockwerk. You will act only as a secondary attack force, do not strain yourself until we are sure of what exactly we are facing," ordered the leader. "Those with ranged skills, do not activate your abilities, without vision you might hit a comrade. And those with supporting abilities, use them all on Clockwerk and the other melee fighters. If we continue to run any longer we will all end up prey to whatever this beast is," *** "What kind of doll are you looking for today?" asked the man at the reception of the dollhouse. The place looked worn down, and although there was some effort to hide what the building was previously used for, it was still very apparent that it had been a prison. "Give me anything you have," replied Gray, while trying his best to survey the area without looking suspicious. "We just got some new shipment, though it will cost an extra 10 Arcanian points," replied the receptionist with a grin on his face. "Yeah sure," replied Gray, sending the receptionist the necessary funds. ''It seems we got a rich customer today,'' smiled the receptionist. "Room 2D, here are the keys. And here''s the nectar, the dolls only behave if you feed them this" said the receptionist, handing Gray a single silver key and a bottle filled with purple fluid. As Gray walked to his room he looked around. There were at least 50 guards stationed outside the rooms, and all of them were armed with firearms of some sort. ''Even with bloodlust mode, killing 50 armed men will be difficult.'' thought Gray as he opened the door to room 2D. Inside it lay a ragged-looking girl with blue hair. She seemed to be 19, with cuts and bruises on her face. Gray ignored the girl, walking towards the only chair in the room. He sat down and began plotting his scheme, his eyes lost in thought. The girl approached him, attempting to find the zipper to his trousers. The second she touched Gray the katana he had hidden in his cloak danced at the tips of her fingers, ready to sever them off if they weren''t any further. "No need for service. Just keep quiet while I think. Here, this is what you want, isn''t it?" asked Gray, tossing the bottle with purple fluid towards her. She lunged backward in order to catch it, falling to the ground. White Huntress (4) The bottle containing the purple liquid smashed to the ground, sending shards of glass flying everywhere as the liquid spread onto the dirty blood-stained floor. ''I swear once I''m out of here I''ll get my revenge. I''ll kill every single last one of these bastards,'' thought the blue-haired girl as she slurped the spilled liquid off the ground vigorously, making sure to avoid the shards of glass not to cut herself. ''If it wasn''t for my ability I would''ve long forgotten who I am, who I was, and the people who did this to me.'' thought the blue-haired girl as she continued to force the nasty tasting liquid down her throat. ''If only I had a map of some sort, then I could plan my massacre. But now who knows how many corridors there are, or if there are any other floors besides this one,'' thought Gray, folding his hands together as he stared at the ceiling in thought. ''But still. I''ve never seen someone so young here. He looks to be about my age, however, his appearance is peculiar,'' thought the blue-haired girl as she tried to get a look at Gray without arousing suspicion. ''Well, might as well start building my arsenal, there''s no way I''m backing out now," smiled Gray as he created a blood dagger in his right hand before placing it in one of the chest slots on his suit. ''H-he just created a dagger out of blood?'' thought the blue-haired girl nervously, trying her best to act as if she were really drugged. After Gray had created the dagger he just sat there in silence, staring at the ceiling with a sadistic smile on his face. "So how long do you plan on acting? I have to say you nearly got me there," whispered Gray as he created a short sword and placed it in the waist slot of his suit. The blue-haired girl remained silent. her eyes seemingly lost in nothingness as she stood on all fours, vigorously slurping up the liquid that had spilled on the ground. "So you won''t answer me?" asked Gray as he stood up from where he was sitting and slowly approached the blue-haired girl. "Since you started you''ve been avoiding that bloodstain on the floor," said Gray, pointing to a red stain on the floor underneath the girl as she slurped off more of the liquid. "Now why would a druggy care whether her drugs were on clean ground or not? Perhaps it was a coincidence, maybe she would get to it, I thought," continued Gray, crouching down to look at the girl in the eye. The whole time she never once stopped or reacted to Gray, she continued slurping the liquid on the floor as if her life depended on it. "Then I thought, surely she will cut her lips if she continues to drink this," said Gray, picking up a shard of glass from the purple mess. "But no, not a drop of blood on you. Now why would that be you wonder? Perhaps she isn''t really drugged," said Gray, grabbing the girl by the chin and turning her towards him. *** The Hephaestus guild was now down to half their original number. Headless corpses lay sprawled on the floor, while the remaining members breathed heavily, both out of fear and exhaustion. ''How can this be?'' thought the leader of the party as he constantly turned his head, looking to see where the beast would come from next. His summon had chunks of metal missing from its torso, and its neck had a huge chink in it as if something had tried to take a bite out of it. "Frederick we have to get out of here. Hunting this thing is suicide, if you can even call this hunting," said a blonde-haired girl wearing brown engineering overalls. "Mackenzie, you''re still alive?" asked the leader, as if he were finally brought out of a daze. ''He can''t keep this up. The death of all our comrades is weighing down on his mind,'' thought Mackenzie as she looked at her captain with concern. "Everyone fall back on my mark," announced Mackenzie as she removed a handful of metal pieces from the sling bag she was carrying and crushed it in her hands. "Flashbang! Now!" shouted Mackenzie, throwing a spherical object similar to a grenade towards the dark forest in front of them. Some of the members foolish enough to look at the flashbang shit themselves from the horror they had witnessed. Although it was just for a split second, they saw it. A red beast two times their size, with bottom canines so large they protruded from its mouth. The beast wore a black suit, however, it was stained red by the blood of their fallen comrades. The beast wore a necklace made from the heads of those it had killed, and the sound it made once the flashbang had exploded was akin to a wild boar screaming in pain. As most of the party members retreated, the few that had been affected by the flashbang shouted the same thing over and over again as they rolled on the ground in pain. "We''re doomed," they all said. Mackenzie grabbed Frederick, running away as fast as she could. The whole time Tesse had been watching, she too had seen the beast. For the first time since the goblin cave, fear overcame her. Luckily for her, she had a healing ability, allowing her to instantly fix her vision once the flashbang took effect. As she hid behind a tree holding her breath, she heard the sound of bones crunching. "Human, since you have not given up on the hunt I shall allow you to live. Once I am done with my meal, I shall begin my chase. This is your warning, make my time here worthwhile," whispered a guttural voice so close to Tesse''s ear she could smell the stench of blood coming from its mouth. Goosebumps appeared all over her skin as she turned to look at the thing that was talking to her. The monster dwarfed her at a height of 3.5 meters tall, its eyes deep red as it stared at her in interest. For such a big monster it moved with such agility that Tesse hadn''t even realized it was next to her before it spoke. The beast looked similar to the orcs from fantasy movies, but what was even more familiar to Tesse was the suit it was wearing. It looked similar to the one she had put on Gray, except that its regalia had a different pattern, and it had stripes of red on the inner garment. "Now run," whispered the orc, before disappearing from Tesse''s view. An Unexpected Upgrade (1) Tesse stood there in fear, unable to move. After standing there for nearly a minute she realized that she wasn''t even breathing, the thought that her life had nearly ended without her even knowing it still gnawed at her mind. But suddenly an image of Gray appeared. It was the day he had saved her, the day she had forfeited her life to him. The words she swore repeated in her mind like a broken record player, urging her to move. ''Right, master wouldn''t falter just because the enemy was powerful. If I ever wish to live up to the promise I made to him, then this much is nothing,'' thought Tesse as she slowly reached for the pistol she had placed on her waist. Her hands shivered as she slung the sniper over her shoulder and held the pistol out in front of her. ''The sniper takes too long to reload. And anyway, it''s not like it''s much use in this darkness anyway,'' thought Tesse as she peeked from the side of the tree she was hiding behind. The silhouette of the beast stood above the bodies of the party members who had remained, their cries for help but a mere whimper as the beast stared down at them. "P-please," whispered one of the party members too scared to even scream as the beast grabbed him by the head and picked him up, his legs dangling as the beast stared at him in the eyes. "As a hunter you have lost your honor by giving up on the hunt," said the beast almost solemnly in its low guttural voice. "N-no," stuttered the beast''s victim, shaking his head as his body shivered in fear. "Since you are no longer a hunter, you have no use for your head," said the beast, ripping the man''s head off with its bare hands. The sound of blood trickling to the ground was the only thing that could be heard in the pitch-black darkness. Tesse''s body kept screaming at her to run, to get away from her as fast as she could. However, the image of Gray in her mind willed her through it, pushing her closer and closer towards the beast. As Tesse approached it, hiding behind the cover of nearby trees, the beast sat down, its legs crossed in front of it. A second later the sound of bones crunching could be heard, the beast was feeding upon the man it had just killed. The remaining survivors began murmuring, pleading for mercy. They had the choice to run, but were painfully aware that escape was impossible. They had already given up hope, begging for mercy was the only logical course of action for them. *Taw* (Pistol sfx) The snap of a pistol being fired rang in the ears of all the remaining survivors, its sound like a glimmer of hope, causing some of the survivors to shed tears of joy. However that was short-lived. "Little huntress, I admire your grit. However, I have watched your group since you arrived, like many others none of you have the capabilities to hunt me." "My offer still stands little huntress, flee now and complete your hunt. You remind me of myself when I was younger, always wanting to hunt game too strong for me. Go now, before I change my mind," the beast''s words shattered any hope of survival that any of the survivors had. The suit it wore deflected the bullet like it was made of paper, the beast didn''t even flinch at the impact the bullet made with its body. "Y-you are my quarry. I must hunt you for the master," replied Tesse, trying her best to keep her legs from giving out on her. "I am not your quarry, your people seem to be mistaken. You come to me like crazed prey who run to their predator. I am the hunter of this forest, and YOU are my quarry," said the beast before continuing with its meal. At those words Tesse backed away slowly, keeping her pistol raised in case the beast tried to attack her. ''Beware the hunter.'' thought Tesse, remembering the words that the autonomous voice had announced at the beginning of the raid. *** "Speak," shouted Gray, looking at the blue-haired girl dead in the eyes. The girl remained quiet, hoping that Gray was just bluffing. "Perhaps this will change your mind," whispered Gray, removing the blood dagger he had placed in the chest slot of his black suit, licking it as he lifted it to the girl''s face. ''H-he''s bluffing, h-he wouldn-'' the girl''s thinking was interrupted by a jolt of stinging pain that came from her face, a deep red line carved across her eye as Gray stared at her with a sadistic gaze. The girl could no longer keep up the act, she knew that if she didn''t comply this guy would surely kill her. "W-what do you want?" stuttered the girl, pulling herself out of Gray''s grasp before covering her eye. "That''s more like it. If you spoke earlier I wouldn''t have ruined your pretty face, now I doubt anyone will want to pay for you," teased Gray, placing the knife back in his chest slot. "How well do you know the layout of this place?" "L-Like the back of my hand," exaggerated the blue-haired girl, trying to prove her worth so as not to be killed. "Good, good. Can you draw it out for me?" asked Gray, his smile still as sinister as ever. ''Ahh yes, this face, this hatred, this pain. I bet if I gave her the chance she would end me in an instant.'' thought Gray as the girl looked at him with defiant eyes. "H-how. There is no pape-" the girl''s sentence was cut short as Gray pointed to her blood on the ground. "Use that," said Gray flatly. After a few seconds the girl had drawn a very primitive outline of the building on the grey floor using her own blood. "So there are only two floors?" "Yes, the upper floor acts as the dollhouse. The lower floor is where they house us, and is also where the boss''s office is," said the girl, the last part of it coming out as a painful breath. "And do you know how many guards there are or what their powers are?" asked Gray as he studied the map intently, saving it to his memory. "N-no," answered the girl sadly. "I-I''m only a doll. I wouldn''t know all that," "Hmm very well. You''ve proved your worth, thank you," said Gray as he stood up straight. "T-thank you," said the girl, a wave of relief overcoming her. "Thank you? Why ever would you say that?" asked Gray, his crimson red eyes glimmering as he stared at the girl with a lustful gaze. "Y-you''re letting me go right? I-I told you everything I know. I did as you said." said the girl in confusion. "Not quite. I need something else, your blood, your soul. Give them to me," laughed Gray as he removed the katana from his cloak. An Unexpected Upgrade (2) "Your time''s up. If you want to stay longer you have to pay ex-" interrupted a guard, however his eyes opened wide once he saw what was happening. "Where did you get that we-" before the guard could finish what he wanted to say his head lobbed to the floor, blood splattering everywhere. The blue-haired girl took this as her chance to escape and bolted through the door. ''What was that?'' thought Gray in surprise. He had sliced that man''s head off so fast that not even he was able to process what had just happened. ''When did I get so fast?'' thought Gray as he stared at the headless corpse on the ground. ''Nice, your first soul. Only a few hundred more million to go,'' laughed the demon in Gray''s mind as his katana drained the blood from the man''s body, leaving it a shriveled-up skin bag. *** "Master, you have to see th-" "What have I told you about coming into the throne room unannounced?" asked the master as he looked over a few documents while sitting atop his throne, not even bothering to look at his out-of-breath subordinate. Two hands appeared out of the shadows in the room, a few centimeters away from strangling the unannounced subordinate. "It''s okay, he''s one of ours." said the Master to no one in particular as he looked up from his documents to the subordinate in front of him, the hands disappearing as fast as they came. "Forgive me Master... It''s just that" *gasp* the subordinate had to pause to catch his breath. "Look," said the subordinate, raising a picture towards the Master. One of the two attendants that seems to stay by his side perpetually walked to grab it and brought it closer to the Master so he could get a closer look. "A purple portal in a goblin-infested area. Though the color of the portal is unfamiliar, there are a number of portals in the goblin zones," replied the Master, dismissing the picture as if it were nothing important. "T-That''s the E-difficulty ruin that the Quincy Guild was raiding today," said the subordinate still out of breath. "So what? Goblins took over the area?" asked the Master, becoming more impatient with his subordinate. "It was reported that this was their tenth attempt... this week" continued the subordinate, trying his best to talk as fast as he could. "And? Spit it all out. I''m a busy man," said the Master, a tinge of anger now audible in his voice. "The goblins, they came out of the portal. Monsters can.... come into our world. And... and the Quincy Guild was wiped out. Last I saw of their captain, he was fighting a Goblin wearing a black suit... that could talk," said the subordinate finally, sweat dripping down his forehead. "They came out of the portal," repeated the Master "Wait, did you just say a goblin that can speak?" *** Tesse had been running for nearly 15 minutes straight, even with her healing and increased stamina she was becoming tired. Sweat dripped down her forehand as she ran in the dark, often bumping into tree buttress roots causing her to tumble over. Her hair stuck to her face, further reducing her vision as her sides began to ache, the weight of the sniper on her back finally becoming apparent. ''Then the beast we have to hunt, that means it''s hiding somewhere else,'' thought Tesse as she finally stopped running, surveying her surroundings before placing the pistol back on her waist. Just as she was about to sit down to catch her breath she heard a twig break. "Come out," ordered Tesse, whipping out her pistol and pointing it at the source of the sound in one swift movement. "Don''t shoot," begged a feminine voice in a scared tone. "Who are you?" asked Tesse as the silhouette of a frail woman appeared from behind a tree, raising its hands in the air. "My name is Clare, I-I''m with the government," said Clare in a feeble tone. "What do you want?" asked Tesse, still holding the gun pointed to Clare''s head. "I-I got separated from my group, and followed you here when I heard you running," replied Clare, her body shaking in fear. "Why did you choose to follow me?" continued Tesse, only becoming more suspicious of the girl in front of her by the second. ''Geez, careful much? I didn''t think she would ask so many questions,'' thought Clare as she slowly approached Tesse. "I-I thought maybe we could team up until I find my comrades again. It''s better than being alo-" "Stop. I don''t know what you''re playing at, but if you don''t tell me the truth right now I''ll blow a hole through your head," said Tesse flatly, moving a few steps back. "W-what do you mean?" asked Clare innocently, gripping at the knife hidden in her sleeve. "You followed me here in the dark? Unless you''re some kind of animal there''s no way you could accurately track me down," "W-what seriously? I-I just got lucky," insisted Clare, still keeping up her facade as she moved closer. "And why do you reek of blood? Unless I''m mistaken there are only supposed to be two enemies here. The hunter and the shadow runner. I didn''t hear any clear notification and if you faced the hunter you would''ve been dead by now" continued Tesse, gripping her gun even tighter. She had spent enough time with Gray to accurately smell the stench of blood, even from the distance they were at. "S-some of my comrades were killed in front of me and their blood ended up spilling all over my clothes," said Clare, moving even closer. *Taw* (Pistol SFX) The sound of the pistol being fired rang in Tesse''s ears as Clare''s silhouette fell to the ground. "You said that you were separated from your group, keep your story straight," said Tesse coldly, putting the pistol back on her waist. "Smart girl aren''t you," whispered Clare, her breathe tickling Tesse''s neck from behind. Tesse elbowed the air behind her, rolling forward to create some distance between them. However as she turned Clare was nowhere to be seen. "I just wanted to play a little. You didn''t have to shoot me," said Clare from behind Tesse. However as Tesse turned to see where she was, a cold stinging pain radiated from her stomach. "But turns out you weren''t so fun after all," laughed Clare as she fixed her spectacles. Looking down at Tesse as her body fell to the ground in pain. "Now if you don''t mind, I''m a little famished," said Clare, her tone and voice completely different from what it had been a few seconds ago. "Now how shall I chop you u-" Clare''s mumbling was interrupted by the sound of a pistol being cocked. "It seems one bullet wasn''t enough," said Tesse, firing several bullets towards Clare''s silhouette. *** Interim Note for Explanations and Announcements Hello readers, sorry to budge in like this, but it has come to my attention that there are a few issues that require an explanation to certain individuals. So this chapter is dedicated to explaining important events, or at least give light to certain things. You may skip this, by no means do I want to tell you how to think about certain things. However, if you want a better explanation of what is going on and perhaps what is to come, continue reading. 1. Gray''s Powers A lot of people keep asking me what the deal is with Gray''s powers. So I will give a brief explanation to sort out any confusion you may have. Gray''s original ability is called ''He who pleasures death'', an ability that allows him to steal the abilities of others if he witnesses them die. This leads us to the first power he stole, blood weapons. The power description is pretty vague, he can create weapons out of blood. However to date, it has proved to be his most powerful skill, it even allows him to imitate magical weapons, such as the Mighty Sword which we will be discussing next. 2. Mighty Sword The Mighty Sword is perhaps the most misunderstood concept of the novel. Let me start of with this, the Mighty Sword is not a normal blood weapon. It is a magical weapon, with a contract. See chapter 16 [Goblin Slayer (1)] for a refresh on its history. It''s abilities however have merged with the blood weapons skill allowing it to change form. The merging of the two have also caused the emergence of the Bloodlust mode, which originally never existed without the Mighty Sword skill. As a rule of thumb remember that normal blood weapons have no special abilities and are mere weapons. 3. Tesse''s healing factor Tesse perhaps has the strongest healing ability to date within the novel, allowing her to save someone from near death (as scene on multiple occasions when she saved Gray.). She does not require food or sleep due to this healing factor, so just keep this in mind. 4. Gray''s Mother I haven''t forgot about her. She plays a more prominent role in Volume 2. For now she remains a shadow of his past 5. Gemstones I had a reader ask me, why didn''t the goblin noble drop a gemstone? I smiled at that, short answer is, it will later be explained. 6. The Barrier The barrier has pretty much been explained. It prevents entry and exit to and from the town. Nothing apart from portal seem to be able to exist on it. 7. Why haven''t you further discussed on the elves that were seen? The elves live past the barrier. Volume 2 of this novel will discuss them in great detail, them and other beings. But for now we are stuck with humans, and a few special goblins and Orcs. :3 8. What exactly happened to Gray after the demon contract? He owes Amaymon a billion souls and has given his right arm. The right arms thing is pretty self-explanatory, however, the soul thing seems ambiguous. Gray has been cursed by specters that constantly gnaw at his mind if he doesn''t offer souls after a fixed period. Meaning he constantly has to kill something to prevent them from plaguing his mind. And NO, Amaymon did not give Gray any powers. Their relationship will perhaps be better discussed in Volume 3, but for now, we remain happy with what we know. 9. If you have any more questions you may ask me in the comments, and I will try my best to answer. I plan on getting to Volume 1 before the end of the week, so there might be a few mass releases to speed up the process. Happy Reading ! An Unexpected Upgrade (3) "We''ve got a doll on the loose," shouted one of the guards outside Gray''s room as he saw the blue-haired girl flee from it. Gray bolted out of the room, using the distraction created by the girl to his advantage. The sound of concrete being scraped filled the hallways as Gray sent waves of red energy towards the guards, severely cutting anyone foolish enough not to step out of its way. ''I don''t remember these being that powerful,'' thought Gray with a smile on his face as he threw the dagger he had placed in his chest slot right after, puncturing one of the guards who had fallen victim to his energy attack. [Goblin Noble blood has been used to upgrade the Mighty Sword. All features of the Mighty Sword have significantly increased in power and efficiency due to the high-quality blood,] resounded a female voice in Gray''s mind. The smile on Gray''s face only grew wider as everyone in the building looked around in confusion, wondering what was going on. Gray became a black blur of death to all those present, doll and guard alike. His speed far surpassed human boundaries, making everyone around him look as if they were moving in slow motion. ''Did the blood also increase my speed? Because this is insane,'' laughed Gray inwardly, slicing off the heads of all those too slow to react to him. Blood painted the once grey walls a carmine red as Gray went on his rampage. Leaving his victims nothing but shriveled up corpses as his blade quickly absorbed all the blood out of them. [Correction. Your speed and strength have been modified to be 1.5 times their base due to the Ranger suit you are currently wearing. All buffs will be forfeited once the suit is removed or severely damaged.] answered the voice in Grays''s head. ''No wonder that goblin was so hard to kill,'' thought Gray, his white hair stained crimson red as he thrust his katana into the neck of one of the guards. The remaining guards had finally regained their composure, sounding the alarm to alert everyone in the building of an intruder. A few guards seemed to have speed-increasing abilities, allowing them to keep up with Gray. However that was where it ended, even if they could see Gray approach them, he was much too strong for them. With a single kick, he sent a full-grown man flying into a concrete wall, the sound of his bones being crushed as his body was mangled into the wall made Gray''s blood rush even faster. A few of the guards began shooting projectiles of all kinds towards Gray, lighting up the room as fireballs, energy blasts and other elemental attacks approached Gray in a barrage. The impact sent Gray flying into a wall, however apart from the blunt force of the impact, he sustained no injuries. [The Ranger suit also provides protection from weak projectiles and blade edges. However, protection to the face is not provided.] said the voice in Gray''s head as if reading his mind. "What''s all this ruckus?" said a familiar elderly voice. "Old man Jenkins, y-you''re here," said one of the guards, trying to catch his breath as the smoke from all their attacks cleared. "We were just finishing up. There''s no way he survived th-" the guard''s words were cut short as he saw Gray''s crimson red eyes gleam through the smoke. His silhouette moved closer to them as if it were a zombie hungry for brains. "There''s no way. We gave him everything we had," said the guard in disbelief, his eyes showing that he had lost all hope. Jenkins stood tall, waiting for Gray to come out of the smoke. "Seriously, I don''t know why the boss hired people like you anyway," muttered Jenkins as he approached Gray''s figure. Jenkins and Gray stood face to face, the 2 meter tall Jenkins making Gray look like a mere child in front of him. "Do big guys count for two souls?" asked Gray, saliva dripping down his now elongated fangs as he spoked with a crazed smile on his face, looking at Jenkins as if he were food. "I take it back. There''s no way this kid is human," said Jenkins out loud before reaching out for Gray''s head. Gray jerked his head backward before sprinting forward with his blade behind him, ready to slice off Jenkin''s head as he jumped into the air. *Ting* The sound that reverberated throughout the hallway was as if two blades had just clashed. The impact of the slash was so powerful that it caused pain in Gray''s elbow joint. Gray fell back to the ground, his right arm limp from the impact. "You''re pretty strong, but you''re going to have to try better than that," laughed Jenkins as he rubbed the spot that Gray had just slashed as if it were nothing but a mosquito bite. ''Hardened skin, probably unrealistic strength too. He''s going to be a problem,'' thought Gray as he stared at Jenkins with a serious expression. "What happened to the look you had earlier? You seemed pretty confident in yourself," said Jenkins as he approached Gray, his hands outstretched ready to grab him. ''He''s slow,'' thought Gray before jumping back a few steps. ''My arm healed?'' wondered Gray once he realized he was able to move it freely. ''It isn''t your arm,'' replied the demon in Gray''s head. "How long are you going to keep running around?" taunted Jenkins as he ran towards Gray. ''I need Bloodlust mode,'' thought Gray as he looked to the other guards in the room with a lustful gleam in his eyes. Gray turned into a black blur, passing past Jenkins and rushing towards the unsuspecting guards. They had lowered their guard once Jenkins had arrived, however, they would soon regret their decision. Gray rushed past them like a bullet train, his blade stretched out perpendicularly to his side. A single line of blood sprayed onto the wall behind them as he passed by, slicing off their heads. In that instant ten guards fell to the ground lifeless, unaware that they had even died. Gray quickly absorbed their blood, turning them into skin bags. The remaining guards looked at Gray in both fear and confusion. All they had seen was a blur, and now the heads of ten of their comrades rolled across the concrete floor like bloody soccer balls. [Blood lust has reached critical level. Warning, excessive use of this mode exponentially increases the blood price toll. A sacrifice must be offered before the blood lust expires or the full toll will be paid by the user.] As the voice in Gray''s head said this, his eyes began glowing a deep red, and the mark on his arm became warm, as if something was welling up inside of it. Gray turned his katana into a great sword, swinging it at the remaining survivors. A large wave of deep red energy rushed towards them, sizzling the air as it sliced through it. The makings of a serial killer Some of the guards with defensive abilities began putting up barriers of different kinds, their translucent outline glimmering under the light in the hallway. Gray''s energy wave ate away at their barriers like a rapid dog, nearly shattering through every single one of them. The guards were saved, but just by a hair. In the next split second Gray was behind them, slashing at the remaining barriers to reach his prize. "Run all of you. Get the boss," shouted Jenkins as he slammed into the blood-hungry Gray. The guards looked at Jenkins like lost puppies, forgetting even about the firearms they wielded before running towards the exit. Jenkins turned around, waiting for the dust to clear before approaching Gray again, however to his surprise, Gray was nowhere to be seen. "Fuck. Get away from th-" before Jenkins could finish his sentence Gray was already upon them. His greatsword sent out an energy blast so huge that it cut through 3 guards in a single rush. The guards turned once they realized what was going on, firing their weapons towards Gray. Their bullets deflected off his suit like they were mere flies, barely even causing Gray to flinch. "Aim for the head you idiots. Can''t you see his suit is bullet proof," shouted Jenkins as he rushed at Gray with the grace of an elephant. ''Fuck,'' thought Gray as he turned to look at Jenkins. The guards began firing again, this time aiming for Gray''s head. Gray turned his greatsword into a Warhammer, smashing it into the ground. A cloud of dust spread into the air, cracks forming at the point of impact. He used this smokescreen to quickly finish off the guards, dodging their bullets under the cover of the dust. Once the dust settled the walls were completely red. The stench of blood and urine filled the air as Gray turned to look at Jenkins. His hair shining a faint white as he placed his long sword on his shoulder. "It''s just you left." said Gray finally, breaking the silence. "Are you going to stop running now?" asked Jenkins, a cold look on his face. Gray became a blur once again, rushing towards Jenkins with his greatsword behind him, ready to slice off Jenkin''s head. However Jenkins didn''t allow it. He predicted that Gray would try this and quickly raised his hand, bringing it down like a club. "Dumb brute," laughed Gray before stopping instantly, sending a wave of red energy towards Jenkin''s plumetting fist. Although the wave was strong enough to completely slice through normal human flesh, it was only able to leave a flesh wound on Jenkin''s arm. Jenkins looked at his own blood as if he were seeing a ghost, surprised by the stinging sensation he now felt radiating from his arm. "Never seen your own blood before?" asked Gray as he appeared behind Jenkins, his greatsword rushing towards Jenkin''s neck. Jenkins ducked instinctually, avoiding the blade by a hair. Gray slammed the greatsword into the ground, sending himself into the air. As he came down he changed it into a battleax, crashing it down towards the prone Jenkins. Jenkins acted fast, sweat dripping down his face as he reached for the plummeting battle-ax, catching it between his hands. Blood dripped to the floor as the two stood there in silence, looking at each other. "W-what, are you?" asked Jenkins, blood coming out of his mouth. "Apparently the lapdog of some demon," answered Gray with a smile on his face as he pulled out the short sword he had thrust in Jenkin''s chest. While Jenkins was focused on the battle-ax that was rushing towards him, Gray had pulled out the short sword he had placed in his waist slot earlier. And using all the strength he had gained from bloodlust mode, thrust it in Jenkin''s chest, managing to pierce through his skin. Jenkin''s body fell to the ground a shriveled up sack, both his blood and soul adding onto Gray''s offerings. Gray looked down the hallway towards the entrance, a pile of corpses drowned in blood filled the scene, with a partially opened door at the end. ''It seems she escaped,'' thought Gray as he turned back towards the other end of the hallway. ''Doesn''t matter, it''s just one soul anyway,'' *** "Did you hear that? Gunshots," whispered Ria as she turned to Suzzie. "You think it''s Clare? She didn''t have a gun you know," replied Suzzie as Ria looked at her in the dark. "The other groups could be engaging the enemy. We have to hurry," said Ria before walking towards the direction she heard the gunshots from, stumbling over a few tree roots on her way. ''I tried to look out for you like you asked. But you just had to go and make a ruckus,'' thought Suzzie as she followed Ria carrying her two dolls with her. *** "The Master really should consider some sort of formal training for the normal members. To think they were killed this easily," whispered Amos as he looked at the corpse of one of his former comrades. A chunk of flesh missing from it''s torso. "When I find that bitch I''m going to kill her," said Arena, anger audible in her voice. "Gunshots, perhaps you may get your chance sooner then you expected," laughed Amos as he heard the sound of gunshots in the distance. "Why are you laughing? This concerns you too," said Arena, turning to Amos in anger. "My only concern is completing this raid with the Information Guild having the highest contribution. Whether or not people die is of no concern to me," replied Amos in a laid back manner before turning in the opposite direction. "Where are you going? The gunshots are coming from that way," said Arena, confused by Amos''s behaviour. "Yeah, you go check that out. There''s something else I want to see," replied Amos before walking towards a patch of bushes. A Hunters Wrath (1) "Why won''t you die," asked Tesse flatly as she filled Clare''s body with yet another round of bullets. Yet once again she stood up, as if nothing had happened. "I could say the same to you," replied Clare, a sadistic gleam in her eyes as she licked Tesse''s blood off her knife. The sound of nearby bushes rustling brought their fighting to a halt. The silhouette of a woman appeared from between the bushes, holding something in her right hand "I found you," shouted Arena once she got a clear view of the two silhouettes in front of her. Before Clare could even react, Arena was on her, her blade nearly slicing Clare''s head off. "Let''s see if you can heal yourself without a head," said Arena, rushing after the retreating Clare. ''Fuck, she figured it out,'' thought Clare as she ran behind a tree. Before she even got the chance to catch her breath, Arena''s blade came swooping down towards her, missing her neck by a few inches as the blade buried itself in Clare''s collar. "Ahhhh," screamed Clare in pain, a smile across her face as her scream echoed throughout the forest. ''That should get that bitch Ria''s attention,'' thought Clare as she pulled the blade out of her collar, kicking Arena away. *** "That was Clare, we have to hurry up," said Ria, breaking out into a sprint. ''That actress,'' thought Suzzie as she struggled to keep up with Ria''s pace. *** ''I should get out of here. That sound most definitely alerted the Hunter of our location,'' thought Tesse before walking towards a few bushes. Right as she was about to walk past a group of trees, a bolt of lightning came rushing towards her. *Zap* The flash of light lit up a section of the forest, charring all the nearby trees. Tesse''s body lay there a charred mess, the smell of burnt flesh filled the air as the embers from the lightning strike died down. ''Now you''re done for,'' laughed Clare inwardly as she ran towards Ria, faining innocence. "Help me, they want to kill me," shouted Clare in a shaky voice, as if she were about to cry. "I knew we couldn''t trust you bastards," shouted Ria, as she tried to make out who was chasing Clare. "Stop doing that you idiot, you''ll call the Hun-" before Tesse could finish what she was saying a low guttural roar echoed from a few meters away. "Its too late," whispered Tesse quickly as she picked herself up and ran away, not bothering to explain what had happened. ''How did she survive that?'' thought Arena and Ria simultaneously. "Why are you attacking us?" asked Ria, jolts of sparks jumping between her fingers as she spoke. "You attacked us first," replied Arena as she approached the group, still seething with anger. "Stay bac-" before Ria could finish her sentence a large fist came crashing down towards her face. "Daddy doesn''t like people who show up uninvited," said Suzzie as another figure just as large as the first caught it''s fist, saving Ria. "It seems there are some with a little bit of strength, however this empty shell cannot hope to win against me in a test of strength," said the beast before ripping the other figure''s arm off. "Noo, daddy," cried Suzzie as the figure''s arm fell to the ground. Everyone else stood there in shock. Two massive figures had suddenly appeared out of no where, and one of them was able to talk. Clare on the other hand looked at the beast in front of her with a nervous smile on her face. ''That thing just ripped of her summon''s arm. There''s no way we can take on that thing if even her summon can''t do it,'' thought Clare hopelessly, for the first time genuine fear causing her to shiver. The beast didn''t stop there, it grabbed the summon''s other arm, ripping it off as well. The summon tried retaliating, heabutting the beast in the face, however that amounted to nothing. It was as if it were hitting a solid steel wall. The beast grabbed the summon by the head, headbutting into it, causing its head to explode. The summon fell to the floor lifeless, before turning back into a doll. "You''ll pay for hurting daddy," said Suzzie in between tears as she threw the other doll at the beast. ''T-that''s right. She still has the other one, he''s in for it now,'' thought Clare, a small glimmer of hope appearing in front of her. As the doll hit the beast, it transformed into a massive figure, this one even more massive than the beast itself. It stood at 4 meters tall, and had eight legs and a female head. It''s gleaming blue eyes matched those of Suzzie''s as it used one of its sharp tipped legs to slash at the beast. The others finally regained their composure, realizing what was going on. ''So this is Suzzie''s summon,'' thought Ria in awe as she looked at the two massive figures go at each other. Ria sent out a bolt of lightning, scortching the earth around the beast. The beast spasmed in reaction to the jolts of electricity that passed through its body, giving an opening to the arachnid summon to puncture it''s chest, causing its blood to spray everywhere. "D-Did we do it?" asked Clare in a shaky voice, breaking the silence that overcame the group. "I did not expect you all to put up such a fight. However I see now that it was my mistake," said the beast in its low guttural voice, its deep red eyes glowing in the dark. The beast picked itself up, the hole in its chest closing as it did. Everyone stood there in utter shock, incapable of processing what was going on. The arachnid summon raised one of its legs, sending it plummeting towards the beast''s head. However in one swift movement the beast removed the greatsword that was on its back and blocked the attack, sending the arachnid tumbling over. Ria sent out another bolt of lightning, hitting the beast spot on. However, apart from a minor spasm, the beast seemed ok, continuing its advance. "Run!" shouted Ria, before turning around and grabbing Suzzie. Arena had long since disappeared, leaving only the government squad to deal with the beast. "No wait, what about mommy," cried Suzzie, however Ria didn''t even bother to look back. The arachnid summon could barely hold back the beast in its enraged state. Three out of eight of the summon''s legs were already sliced off, and it couldn''t even keep up with the beast''s movements. Not even Ria''s lighting could stop it. Killing that thing seemed to be an impossible task. Hunters Wrath (2) Gray''s footsteps echoed through the hallway as he stalked down the dark empty corridors. ''It seems they knew I was coming,'' thought Gray as he stared at the locked steel door in front of him with his gleaming red eyes. *** "B-Boss, are you sure we''ll be okay? H-he even got Jenkins," stuttered one of the few remaining guards on the bottom floor as they stood in wait, ready to attack Gray if he somehow managed to get through the steel door that separated them. "So what if he got Jenkins? That thing just got lucky. If he does manage to get through, I''ll just have to kill him myself," thought the boss as he looked at Gray through the monitors linked to the cameras outside. The sound of Gray''s greatsword slamming into the metal door shook all those behind it. Fear visible across all their faces as dents began to appear on the door. "There''s no way he''ll get through right? It''s triple re-inforced steel, not even Jenkins could break it," said one of the guards, trying to convince himself that he would be okay. ''Kukk, he''s going to get through. He''s a monster,'' thought the boss as he looked at Gray slashing at the door through the monitor. For a split second Gray stopped his onslaught, turning to the camera with a toothy grin on his face before smashing it to pieces. The monitor went dark, causing the boss to punch it in anger. "Collect all the remaining dolls and drag them to the back room. This bastard will pay for messing up my business," ordered the boss before walking away from the monitors. *** Meanwhile Gray was growing impatient with the steel door, slashing at it relentlessly. After hitting it for nearly two minutes, the door tore open. Without a moment''s delay, Gray bolted through the opening, charging at anyone he could get his eyes on. However, to his surprise no one seemed to be there. ''What the? Did they escape through a backdoor?'' wondered Gray as he looked through all the empty cells. Nothing but piss and shit remained. Its smell attacked Gray''s nose, reminding him of a pigsty. "So I see you''re finally here," said a gruff voice as a short chubby man walked from the other end of the hallway. "I could''ve sworn I heard more voices. Don''t tell me it''s just you," repied Gray, disappointment audible in his words. "You sound disappointed," said the boss nonchalantly, as if his life weren''t in any danger. "There weren''t enough dolls, so I used the others as sacrifices as well," continued the boss, pointing to the darkness behind him. "Sacrifice? I''m not exactly in the mood for this. All that slaving just for one, or possibly, half a soul, what with you being so short and all," taunted Gray, stalking closer to the boss. "Oni Miyamoto," whispered the boss in anger, causing a flash of red light to appear behind him. A single figure standing 2.1 meters tall emerged from what looked like the corpses of the guards and dolls that had been with the boss till recently. "Let''s see how you fare against my friend," laughed the boss as a samurai-looking demon emerged from the darkness. Its face was completely covered by a red mask with the impression of an angry ogre on it. Two white horns protruded from its forehead, while two of its top canines extended way past its bottom lip. On its lower half, it wore a red traditional Kurata, worn by the samurai warriors of feudal Japan, however its chest lay bare, its deep red skin glistening under the light. Two gleaming black swords lay strapped to its waist, one long while the other short, like those carried by traditional samurai. However unlike the usual custom, a massive greatsword was strapped to its lower back, lying horizontally. Two gleaming red eyes shone from behind its mask, its white hair reaching down to its lower back, a disheveled mess. "A thrall of Amaymon, very well. The price has been paid, the deed will now be done," said the demon in an ancient tone before turning into a red blur, appearing behind Gray with both its swords drawn. *** Tesse didn''t stop running for even a second. She felt the taste of blood at the back of her throat, and her sides screamed at her to stop, however, the image of the beast kept her running. She vowed not to fall prey to it before completing the master''s mission. As she was running she heard a low rumble in the distance. It sounded akin to a tiger, however its sound triggered an innate fear within her. ''That isn''t the hunter,'' thought Tesse as she stopped to catch her breath. ''Perhaps it''s the beast we are here to hunt?'' she wondered as she began slowly approaching the source of the rumble, making sure not to make a sound. As she peered in between the bushes in front of her, she saw the silhouette of a massive cat-like creature, stalking around a hooded man. ''Is that Amos?'' she wondered as the man removed two blades from within his cloak. ''What''s going on here?'' she thought as the beast pounced on Amos, aiming to bite of his head. Amos dodged, turning into a cloud of smoke right as he was about to be killed. His form reappeared behind the beast, his blades ready to slash at it, however right as he was about to attack, it turned around, pouncing once again. Although it wasn''t as terrifying as the hunter, its speed was on par with it. Amos would''ve been hard-pressed to even face it if not for his ability. The beast never gave Amos the chance to reform his body, constantly keeping him a cloud of black mass. Tesse took this as her opening and began setting up her sniper, using the beast''s gleaming blue eyes as her target. The beast jerked its head once it heard the sound of the sniper being cocked, prompting it to run back into the cave from which it came. "Whose there?" asked Amos once they were alone. "It''s white," replied Tesse flatly, angry that she had let her quarry go. Miyamoto Musashi Sparks flew as the two blades met, Gray''s veins showing as he struggled to push the summon back. ''You''re in for it now,'' laughed the demon in Gray''s mind as sweat collected on his forehead. Gray kicked the samurai summon back, trying to create some distance, however, their blades remained locked. The summon didn''t budge, instead, it drove forward, pushing Gray back as if he weighed nothing. ''What the hell is up with this thing,'' thought Gray as he was being overpowered. His feet barely managing to find a good grip on the ground. Gray stopped trying to push back, realizing that he was bound to lose in a test of strength. In one swift movement, he created a crimson red pistol in his free hand while swinging his greatsword in the other. The summon seemed to read Gray''s movements, ignoring the greatsword while paying close attention to the pistol in his left hand. ''Fuck, it saw me,'' thought Gray as he unloaded a magazine of bullets on the summon. The summon stood up straight, its left hand behind its back as it used its right to swing its blade left and right in small circular arcs, cutting every single bullet in half. ''You''ve got to be kidding me,'' thought Gray inwardly as he realized that the summon was better than him at every aspect of battle. Gray didn''t stop his barrage of bullets, reloading the pistol with blood bullets every time his magazine clip was empty. However, while still in bloodlust mode the blood price was more expensive than before, after firing his weapon for a few rounds it began taking a toll on him. His vision became slightly blurry as he looked at the silent samurai in front of him. It was taking its time, as if telling him to try anything he wanted. Gray took on its challenge, swinging his greatsword like a mad man, sending waves of red energy towards the summon. The summon reacted immediately, dodging every energy wave as it came. It seemed as if everything Gray did was in slow motion to it, nothing seemed to work. Gray stood there quietly, sweat dripping down his now pale face as he tried to catch his breath. "There''s no way you can beat Miyamoto," laughed the boss as his summon approached Gray slowly. "I expected more from a thrall of Amaymon. It seems you were chosen on a fluke," said the summon in its ancient voice as it placed its long sword back in its scabbard, now holding only the short sword in its hand. "But as a warrior, I shall grant you an honorable death," said the summon as it swung its short sword with unparalleled speed. Gray barely managed to block it, however, the summon didn''t stop there. A flurry of strikes were sent out, some moving so fast that Gray could only block on instinct. Cuts began to litter his face as his suit protected him from any major wounds to the body. Slash, one of the strikes managed to slice Gray''s right hand off. His greatsword fell to the ground as blood sprayed all over the floor. "It''s over," said the boss as he gestured for his summon to finish Gray off. "I didn''t really want to fight it anyway. I just thought it would be fun," said Gray with a smile on his face as his hand grew back immediately. "What? What are you?" asked the boss in shock as he saw Gray''s hand back the way it was, as if nothing had happened. "It doesn''t matter, Miyamoto finish him now," shouted the boss. Before the summon could carry out its master''s orders Gray fired a stream of bullets towards the old, decrepit ceiling. Causing it to collapse. A cloud of dust filled the room, clouding everyone''s vision. In that split second Gray bolted for the boss, completely ignoring the summon. The summon realized what Gray was after, but it was a second too late. Gray held the boss at gunpoint, burying the still hot barrel of his pistol in the chubby man''s neck. "Do you know why necromancers and summoners always send their summons ahead of them? Why they are always in hiding during battles? Instead choosing to plan things out, rather than fight on the front lines along with their summons?" asked Gray as everyone in the room stood still, the dust slowly settling. "It''s because of this one simple rule. You kill the summoner, you kill the summon, regardless of how powerful it is," said Gray with a smile across his face. "M-Miyamoto, k" before the boss could finish his sentence Gray blew a hole in his foot, causing the man to scream out in pain. "If your summon so much as moves, I''ll send you to hell before me," warned Gray as he put the gun back to the man''s neck. "Now call it back," ordered Gray. "Y-you think I''m an idi-" before the boss could finish another hole was blown in foot, this time on the other leg. Another scream of pain echoed throughout the room, blood collecting beneath the two. "Call him back," ordered Gray once more. "M-Miyamoto, return," said the boss, prompting the summon to turn into a pile of human flesh. "That''s nasty," whispered Gray as he let the boss go. "W-what? You''re letting me go?" asked the boss in shock, as he stumbled to the ground. "Of course. However that''s only if you cooperate," said Gray, falling to the ground in exhaustion as well. [Bloodlust mode has been deactivated.] resounded the voice in Gray''s head as his eyes stopped gleaming red, and his hair stopped shining. A Reward (1) The boss took this as his chance to escape, however with a hole in both his feet he could barely stand, much less run. "I said if you cooperate," said Gray, firing another bullet in the boss''s leg. The boss''s face twisted in pain, a look of despair on his face as he realized he couldn''t escape. Gray struggled to stand, his vision blurry from using too much blood. "Now, where are all the Arcanian points you collected?" asked Gray, pointing the gun towards the boss''s head. "I-I don''t know what you are talking about," replied the boss, holding onto his leg to stop the bleeding. "Of course you don''t" whispered Gray as he rolled his eyes. Gray''s movements were sluggish, he walked as if he were drunk, but never for a second did he stop pointing the gun towards the boss. ''Fuck I don''t have much time left,'' thought Gray as his vision became darker. He turned the pistol in his hand into a dagger, before crouching down to look the boss in the face. "Give me the Arcanian points," ordered Gray once again, his voice weak. "I-I don''t kn-" before the boss could finish his sentence Gray interrupted him, playing with the dagger in his hand. "Do you know what the most painful place to get stabbed is?" asked Gray rhetorically, looking to his dagger as if it were a precious gem. "Some would say something like the eye, but actually it''s the gut. The gut has about a million nerve endin-" before Gray could finish the boss interrupted. "W-what are you planning?" asked the boss, his voice shaky. "Shhh, let me finish" replied Gray, his dagger on his lips in a gesture for the boss to keep quiet. "Like I was saying, the gut has more than a million nerve endings. And what''s more is, you don''t die instantly. You bleed out, slowly, savoring the pain," continued Gray, a faraway look in his eyes. "Now let me ask you again. Where are the Arcanian points you collected," "I-I don''t keep them here. S-Someone else does... I can show you," replied the boss quickly. "I was hoping you would say that," said Gray with a smile on his face. Turning the grip on his knife, Gray slit a hole in the boss''s gut before the boss could even realize what was going on. Blood slowly soaked his shirt as his innards began slipping out. The pain that radiated from his gut so gruesome that his mind went blank from strain. "The item shop has a healing elixir. If you give me the Arcanian points I''ll buy you one," said Gray as he wiped the blood off his dagger. The boss tried opening the item shop, remembering the elixir that Gray was talking about, but once Gray saw this he grabbed the man''s hand, stabbing him in the index finger. The jolt of pain caused the boss to blackout for a split second, sweat making his neck shine. "Now hurry, send them or you''ll bleed out. You''ll die experiencing this wonderful pain," said Gray, his voice weaker. ''Fuck, if he doesn''t give me those Arcanian points I''ll probably be out for a day,'' thought Gray as he dug his dagger deeper into the boss''s fingertip. "O-okay, o-okay," stuttered the boss, using his right hand to keep his innards inside. "If you buy an elixir I''ll open another hole in your stomach," warned Gray, his eyes heavy. [5000 Arcanian points transferred.] said an autonomous voice in Gray''s mind. As Gray opened the item shop, picking out two healing elixirs he looked to the man lying in front of him. "You mean to tell me you only have 5000 Arcanian points? After all that business?" asked Gray, chugging down one of the healing elixirs he had bought. "P-please," begged the sweat-covered man as he looked at Gray drinking his elixir. "Ther should be at least 10 000. Hand over everything you have or I''ll leave you here to die," said Gray, the color to his face returning. "P-Please," cried the man, his face red with pain. Gray held the elixir bottle in front of the boss, before slicing another hole in his stomach, keeping the blade inside to prevent his innards from falling out. "Hand them over," whispered Gray, pushing the dagger deeper in his gut. [7000 Arcanian points have been transferred.] said an autonomous voice in Gray''s mind. "That''s all I have, p-please," "Here you go," said Gray, tossing the elixir bottle the ground. The bottle smashed to the floor, the pink liquid spilling all over the dirty ground. The man wasted no time, slurping up its contents, cutting his lips in the process. "Ahh, so even if you''re beyond fucked it can heal you, huh," murmured Gray as he watched the man''s wounds heal. "Thanks for clarifying that," said Gray, before stabbing the man in the throat. Blood gurgled from the hole in his neck as he passed out, blood spreading all over the already blood-stained floor. "I''m a man of my word, however, I really need your summon you see. It was love at first sight," said Gray with a smile as he activated his ability. [Would you like to steal the skill ''Miyamoto Musashi Summon''?] asked the voice in Gray''s head. "Yes" replied Gray. [The exclusive skill ''Miyamoto Musashi Summon'' has been added to your skill tree.] [Miyamoto Musashi, once a great samurai summoned to hell by the high demon Belial. Broken free of his chains only to become a summon in the human plane. A sacrifice of human flesh is required to summon him and increase his level. His active time depends on his level and the amount of flesh sacrificed. Level 1 summon max time 5 minutes.] Reward (2) ''10 000 Arcanian points left huh?'' thought Gray as he opened the item shop and stared at his points. ''If the suit multiplies my speed and strength then I guess it''s worth increasing those stats,'' With a few clicks, Gray held 4 Agility, 4 Strength, 1 stamina, and 1 Ability increasing elixir in his hands. Without a moment''s delay he began downing the elixirs, tossing the empty bottles to the side. ''I wonder how I''d fare against Miyamoto right now,'' thought Gray as he crouched down to search the boss''s corpse, digging in all his pockets. "A phone huh?" whispered Gray as he held out the boss''s smartphone, turning it on with a single tap. "02:00, 19 August. Wait, the raid. Fuck," Gray had completely forgotten about the raid. His thirst for blood and souls had driven him to search for victims without even questioning Tesse''s absence. "She probably left to deal with it.," whispered Gray trying to comfort himself. "Anyway, I need some guinea pigs to test out my new powers. Perhaps an E-difficulty dungeon? Or maybe a D?" murmured Gray to himself as he walked towards the exit, tossing the boss''s phone away as he passed by a pile of shriveled-up corpses. "I wonder if the Information Guild is still open," whispered Gray to himself, kicking a dismembered head as he walked by. *** "Well? What do you see?" asked Judith as she hid behind a group of bushes with her party. "The orc seems to be fighting one of the government official''s summons. Two members from the Information Guild are engaging a cat-like beast. And the remnants of the Hephaestus Guild seem to have taken shelter behind a group of trees," reported one of the Riot Guild members as he held his fingers to his eyes as if they were binoculars. "Hmm, perhaps we''re not supposed to be hunting the orc, but rather the cat-like beast. That would make more sense. After all, I doubt this orc is called the shadow runner, and all it''s done since we got here is hunt us down." said Judith in a thoughtful tone. "Well done Fred, without your ability we''d be completely lost," continued Judith, patting the man on the back. "Riot Guild prepare. We''re moving in on the cat beast. This time we''ll be the ones to grab the win," said Judith with a determined look on her face. *** "White where are you going?" asked Amos as he watched Tesse walk up to the dark cave. "I have to complete this raid quickly. My master waits for me," replied Tesse quickly, continuing her advance. "So you plan on hunting it, without a plan? We can hardly see anything out here, what do you think you''ll be able to achieve in there?" asked Amos, prompting Tesse to stop and rethink. "So what do you propose?" asked Tesse, turning to look at Amos''s silhouette. "I say we wait. Fire a few rounds from your sniper to draw the other groups'' attention, and wait for them to charge in first," replied Amos, as if it were common sense. "And what if they kill it first?" "They can''t. From the files the Master gave us, the fastest person here is Judith, but she lacks the strength. The highest damage output comes from Ria, but she won''t be able to hit that thing with her lightning," replied Amos, confident in his answer as he crouched down to rest. "You have a point. However the kill is mine," said Tesse before pointing her sniper to the air. "Wait, what about the hunter?" asked Tesse, her finger ready to pull on the trigger. "We''ll just have to finish before it get''s here," replied Amos nonchalantly before Tesse fired three bullets into the air, the snapping sound from the sniper echoing throughout the forest. *** "Fuck, they''re already trying to kill it again. We have to hurry up," said Judith, activating her ability. Her eyes began glowing yellow, and a faint glow radiated from the rest of her body as the gap between her and her group widened. She became nothing but a yellow blur to those behind her, a stream of wind trailing behind her as she tried her level best not to trip over anything. ''I can''t go my full speed in this terrain,'' thought Judith as she stopped accelerating, keeping a constant speed as she rushed towards the sound of the gunshots. After running for a few minutes she finally reached the cave entrance, dust filling the air as she hit the brakes. ''Should I wait for them, or should I go in?'' pondered Judith as she peered into the dark cave. ''No, if I wait any longer they might kill it first.'' thought Judith as she ran in, determined to get the kill. "See," whispered Amos, a smirk on his face as he turned to look at Tesse hiding right next to him behind a few shrubs. *** "What was that?" asked Frederick as he heard the gunshots. "I don''t know, but perhaps we''ve rested enough. If we delay anymore the other groups might take the prize," replied Mackenzie as she stood up. The group seem to have recovered from their earlier skirmish thanks to the presence of several healers in their group. "However Clockwerk isn''t ready yet. So we''ll have to compromise," said Frederick, a thoughtful look in his eyes. *** "More gunshots? What is it this time?" asked Ria, barely able to get all her words without gasping for air. "I-I don''t know. Perhaps there''s a-another beast," replied Clare, her voice shaky as she ran beside Ria. "I want mommy back," cried Suzzie, still upset that they had left behind one of her summons. "I''m sorry Suzzie, but there''s no way we''re going back there," replied Ria, turning to look if they were being followed. "It doesn''t seem to be following us," said Ria finally after waiting for a few seconds. "P-Perhaps we should go check out the gunshots. The other groups might be thinking the same," said Clare, her smile hidden in the shadows of the trees surrounding them. "Y-yeah. You have a point," replied Ria, before putting Suzzie down. ''More victims,'' thought Clare, a sinister gleam in her eyes as the group began walking towards the area from which they heard the gunshots. Reward (3) "Why is it so dark in here," complained Judith as she stumbled over a few rocks. The cave seemed to go in deeper than she had initially thought. She had been walking for nearly a minute however there was still no end in sight. "What is that," whispered Judith as she saw four blue eyes float in the darkness in front of her. She could just barely make out the silhouette of the owner of the first pair of eyes. ''There are two beasts?'' wondered Judith as she removed a pair of gauntlets from the satchel on her back. [Guantlets of strength. Multiplies base strength by 1.3] said the voice in Judith''s head as she wore them. "A gift from the Ruin of the Legion," whispered Judith to herself with a smile. "Perhaps the others retreated once they saw you. However you won''t be so lucky this time," smiled Judith before turning into a yellow blur. *** "Shouldn''t we be going in?" whispered Tesse as the rest of the Riot Guild arrived in front of the cave. "Not yet. Judith is probably struggling right now. We need the beast to be considerably weakened. Trust me, that thing is far too fast to be taken down by a single group," replied Amos as he watched the Riot Guild members walk into the cave. ***(A few minutes later) "A cave?" wondered Ria as she reached the mouth of the cave. ''What the fuck? Where are my victims?'' thought Clare, an annoyed look on her face. "It seems we weren''t the only ones that heard the gunshots," said a familiar voice as a group of people emerged from behind a thicket of bushes. "The Hephaestus Guild," replied Ria once she recognized Fredericks''s voice. "P-Perhaps the gunshots came from inside," whispered Clare as if she were afraid of the new group in front of her. ''Something seems off about her,'' thought Frederick as he heard Clare speak. "Yes perhaps you''re right," replied Frederick, giving Clare a thoughtful look. "I know what I said earlier, however it seems the circumstances have changed. There is no way we can defeat that beast alone, our only hope is to band together," continued Frederick, a slightly embarrassed look on his face. "If you''re talking about the orc, we left it fighting with one of our summons," replied Ria "Then what were those gunshots?" asked Frederick, confused about what was going on. "We thought perhaps the other groups had found something, that''s why we''re here," "I guess we''ll find out once we go in," said Frederick, eying the footprints that were left in the mud in front of the cave. "Not yet," whispered Amos as the two groups entered the cave. *** "What the fuck is this thing," gasped Judith as blood dripped down her face. "And I can''t see a damned thing in here," she complained, tripping over a pile of stones. Her only source of light were the four gleaming eyes that stood in front of her. However, the beast moved with such speed that not even she could keep up with it. One set of eyes remained still the entire time, only blinking occasionally. However every time Judith tried to approach it, the other beast would pounce on her, stopping her advance. ''To think this thing is still able to keep up with me, even after I took 5 agility elixirs to increase my speed,'' thought Judith as she dodged the floating blue eyes that rushed towards her. "Vice-Captain, is that you?" echoed the voice of one of her comrades. "Attack the blue eyes. Hit it with everything you''ve got," shouted Judith, slamming her body into the beast. The beast jumped off the wall, dodging all the projectiles the Riot Guild members shot at it. The beast began rumbling in a low pitch, its eyes low as if it were stalking prey. The beast stood in front of the second set of blue eyes, as if protecting it. "Are there two of them?" asked one of the Riot Guild members, however before he could get an answer the beast slammed its paw into the ground, sending a shockwave towards all those that stood in front of it. The Riot Guild party fell to the ground, caught by surprise by the sudden attack. Without wasting any time, the beast pounced on the prone members. Biting off their heads before they had the chance to react. Although the beast was still considerably fast, Judith had tired it out a bit. Its speed was now within a manageable margin, however without vision, the Riot Guild members were like sitting ducks. *** "Do you feel that?" asked Mackenzie as she felt a shockwave pass through the ground beneath her. "Yeah, what could have done that?" replied one of the other members of the Hephaestus Guild. "I don''t know, but let''s hurry and find out. Something about all of this doesn''t feel right," replied Frederick, suspicion audible in his voice. *** "What are you two doing outside?" asked Arena as she appeared behind Tesse and Amos. "We were waiting. Now that you''re here we can go," replied Amos, standing up from where he had been hiding. ''How did she get behind us so quietly?'' wondered Tesse as she followed Arena and Amos into the cave. *** The beast had managed to kill half the Riot Guild members, it seemed to have the ability to see in the dark, giving it an advantage in this sort of environment. However, it wasn''t without injury. Judith had managed to crack its ribs once it had been too focused on killing one of her party members. There were simply too many enemies for it to deal with alone, and with it quickly running out of stamina, it could barely keep the remaining members at bay. "Not so tough now, are you," taunted Judith as she dodged another one of the beast''s lunges. "Is that the Riot Guild?" asked Frederick once he had made heard Judith''s voice. "Crap, their back. Kill it quickly before they steal our prize," shouted Judith, before rushing towards the beast, all her men behind her. "I knew something felt off about this. Hurry, attack the beast as well," ordered Frederick, however, none of his guild members responded. "What''s going on?" asked Mackenzie, holding onto Fredericks''s shirt to make sure she wouldn''t lose him in the darkness. "Where are all your men?" asked Ria, turning around to feel if her party members were with her. As she felt Clare''s face, a slick, cold liquid wet her hands. "Clare are you bleeding?" asked Ria, once she smelt that it was blood. A Cub to raise *Hwwrww* The beast''s growl caused everyone in the room to shiver in fear involuntarily. Those that had tried to charge it now cowered instead, too scared to even move. [Fear status, immobile for 3 seconds,] resounded the voice in everyone''s head. The beast''s eyes became blue streaks as in ran in the darkness of the cave, slashing off the heads of everyone it passed by. Right as it was about to reach Judith the fear effect wore off, allowing her to dodge, but just by a hair. A thin line of blood appeared on her neck where the tip of the beast''s claw''s had scratched her. "What the fuck. I never heard of a fear effect before," shouted Judith, out of breath as the thought that she had nearly lost her life overcame her. "Mackenzie move back. I knew there was something off about her," shouted Frederick as soon as the status effect wore off him. "W-what''s going on?" asked Mackenzie, surprised by Frederick''s sudden outburst. "It''s her. The one feigning fragility. Her shivering, her tone, her way of speaking, all of it. It''s all fake," shouted Frederick, checking the cooldown time for his summon. ''Fuck, 2 minutes,'' thought Frederick as he slowly backed away from Ria and her group. "W-what is he talking about?" asked Clare, her voice shakier as she slowly hid behind Ria, feigning genuine fear. ''Frederick Kruger. Our files say he acted as a psychologist before all this happened. The woman behind him is his younger sister, Mackenzie Kruger. Of all the Guild Captains he is probably the smartest and craftiest. However, I don''t get what he would gain by accusing one of my men,'' thought Ria, as she turned her head, shifting between the fight with the beast and the scene in front of her. ''Fuck, how did he figure me out,'' thought Clare as she pulled her blood-stained knife out of her sleeve. Ready to kill Ria if she began to suspect her. "I don''t know what you hope to gain, but accusing one of my people of your missing men will get you nowhere," replied Ria, sparks jumping off her fingertips. ''There''s no way Clare did it,'' she thought inwardly. The thought of Clare being a murderer just seemed so bizarre. Meanwhile, the beast was once again cornered. The status effect it had just used took a lot out of it. Its breathing sounded labored, and its blue eyes seemed dimmer. "It''s ov-" before Judith could finish her sentence the sound of a gun being fired echoed throughout the cave. [The Hunter speaks to you.] announced an autonomous voice as a blue portal appeared in front of the raid members. "Well done white huntress. I had faith that you would be the one to hunt the shadow runner," said a low guttural voice from behind everyone, two gleaming red eyes floating in the darkness. Everyone in the cave remained silent, fear causing even their hearts to beat more quietly as they turned to look at the orc behind them. "Fret not. Your task is done, and your rewards shall be given to you. Come back once you are powerful enough to hunt me. Release me from my prison," said the beast before disappearing into the darkness of the cave. [Rewards shall be handed out based on contribution.] said the autonomous voice as glowing items of different colors appeared in front of all those present. In front of Judith floated a greatsword, the same greatsword that the orc beast had wielded. "It seems that even if you stole my kill, the system knows who the highest contributor was," laughed Judith, taking pride in the fact that from all the items she could see, hers was by far the largest. Everyone in the room had gained something, regardless of how little they contributed to the raid, everyone except Tesse. No glowing object floated in front of Tesse, a sense of failure washed over her. The thought of failing her master made her fall to her knees, her sniper falling down beside her. "It seems the system''s anti-cheat is working," laughed the other members of the Riot Guild as they walked through the portal. Happy that their sacrifices were not in vain. "Stay away from us," warned Ria, her sparks now jumping to the ground, ready to strike. "I won''t forget this," said Frederick as he backed away into the portal slowly, making sure to keep an eye on Clare''s silhouette. ''Sucker,'' laughed Clare inwardly as she removed a piece of flesh from in between her teeth, the cover of the dark hiding her from everyone''s view. "Arena, no," whispered Amos, stopping Arena from charging at Ria''s group. "There''s no way we can take on Ria here. We don''t want to make an enemy of the government officials just yet," warned Amos as Ria and her group passed through the portal as well. "An explanation will be expected later on today. Assuming of course your contract isn''t already terminated," said Amos as he passed by Tesse, walking towards the portal. "Kukk," grunted Arena, too angry to even look at Tesse. Tesse was left alone in the darkness, her failure too overbearing for her to even pick herself up. "Huh? What is that?" whispered Tesse as she saw two blue eyes hover over the silhouette of the beast''s corpse. "That is your prize," replied a low guttural voice. "For killing its mother, it is now your burden to bare." said the voice before going silent once again. [Shadow Runner pup has been added to the list of companions,] said the voice in Tesse''s head as the two blue eyes looked to her. The two eyes began approaching her, moving up and down as it did. Its little footsteps but a faint sound as it approached her. "A pup?" whispered Tesse to herself as the cub began trying to climb on top of her. *Nii?* meowed the cub, as if asking who Tesse was. *** The Beginning of the End (1) "Captain I''ve returned," said Judith, carrying the greatsword she had just received on her shoulder. She was in a large room with red carpets. Three couches stood in the center of the room, on one of them sat a large man with jet black hair, while on the other sat a smaller man with brown hair. "You seem awfully happy for completing a mere E-difficulty ruin," snorted the smaller man, giving Judith a look of disdain. "Calm down Silas. Her work is just as important as ours," said the larger man calmly in a deep low voice. "And so? Show us the fruits of your labor," ordered the larger man, standing up to get a good look at Judith. He stood at 1.9 meters tall, and although he was large he wasn''t excessively so. He had a full black beard and black eyes to match with a stoic expression on his face. An air of authority seemed to follow him as he walked to meet Judith at the door. As he held out his hand, Judith could see his forearm muscles bulge within his shirt. Something about the man was commanding, even when he did simple gestures such as the one he was currently doing. "Indeed this is a nice blade. Perhaps we may be able to conquer the next tower floor," said the man admiring the red blade in his hands as the rest of the raiding party brought the equipment they had won. "C-Captain, has Olivia returned?" asked Judith, making sure to make it sound more like a plea than a question. "She has yet to come back. It seems that this new tower floor is especially difficult," replied the large man in front of her, placing the greatsword back in her hands. "Silas, come pick out a weapon. Or are you satisfied with the one you currently have?" asked the man, before walking back to the couch. "O-ofcourse Captain," replied Silas, before walking towards the raid members standing behind Judith and picking out a red spear. "I hope you don''t think he''s impressed," whispered Silas as he passed by Judith, making sure to brush past her shoulders. Right as Judith was about to retort, an out-of-breath man rushed to the door behind her. "C-Captain, Sophia has returned," blurted out the man, before falling to the ground in exhaustion. "Let us go meet her then. The rest of you may return to your quarters," ordered the large man before walking out the door. "Must be easy completing E-difficulty raids," taunted Silas as the three walked through the hallway. They seemed to be in a mansion of some sort. A large garden could be seen from outside the window, with a pristine white fountain at the center. The walls were decorated with victorian style tapestry, with a chandelier lighting the massive hallway that they walked through. "Silas, Ruins are not to be taken lightly. They are nearly on par with the tower," said the large man, without so much as turning around, his footsteps echoing with a certain finality. "S-Sorry Captain," The three continued walking in silence, passing a series of brown doors as they continued walking down the hallway, till eventually reaching a room with the number "8" written on top of it. "Sophia, why haven''t you reported to me yet?" asked the man after opening the door. He didn''t sound particularly angry, but something about the way he spoke made even Silas and Judith feel like they were the ones being questioned. "W-We can''t do it. We can''t complete the fourth floor." blurted the blonde-haired girl who sat with her arms around her legs on top of the queen-sized bed placed at a corner of the room. "You d-" before Silas could finish his sentence, the large man stopped him. "Sophia, what do you mean we can''t complete it? Do you mean we aren''t strong enough?" asked the man calmly. "I-its impossible. That monster is impossible," said the girl, her disheveled hair moving about as she shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "Do we need more weapons? More men? You''re the smartest person in the guild Sophia, I expect a reasonable answer from you especially," replied the Captain. "Perhaps if we had a monster of our own, maybe. But if we raid it now, perhaps Captain Andre might be able to stand against it for a few minutes. But in the end, we will all be dead," said the girl, a bit calmer than before. ''Something that Captain Andre can''t defeat?'' wondered Judith in shock. She had never heard Sophia utter such words. Of course there were a few times she would say that it was going to be difficult, but never once did she use the words impossible. "It''s a massive orc wearing a black suit. It commands an army of at least 40 other normal orcs, behind a large fort-like structure." "Getting in will already be a problem because of the projectile defenses they have put up the walls." "I was able to find a chink in the defenses, but when I got through, it, was waiting for me. A smile on its lips as it stared at me with its gleaming red eyes," continued the girl, a faraway look in its eyes. "It said that I was doomed. I-It said that we were doomed," she stuttered, turning to look at Andre. "The orc spoke?" asked Silas, shock visible on his face. Sophia shook her head in response, tears streaming down her face as she stared silently at Andre. "I tried running," she continued "It''s faster than Judith," she said finally "Pfft. As weak as she is, Judith is probably the fastes-" as he was about to finish his sentence he turned to Judith, to see the smirk on her face. However there was no smirk there, she seemed petrified. "Judith, spit it out. Why do you look like that?" asked Silas, prompting everyone in the room to look at her. "She''s right. Unless we have someone else as strong as the Captain is. There''s no way we can kill that beast," said Judith finally, remembering the horror she had endured in front of the orc beast in the Jungle raid. ============================== Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Author Note [The Plan for the future] Sorry for the constant author notes guys. I just thought I address you as there will be an important shift in the style of the novel. No, don''t worry. It will still be the Novel you all know and love, with the brutality and detail to match, however there are some additions that will be made in the next few chapters. As the last chapter implied, this is the beginning of the end of the first volume, which I''m calling the introduction volume. You''ll notice the pace pick up from here on out, and the addition of a game-type novel aspect being introduced. I''m sure you''ve all thought at least once, "why is it called Sadistic Player In A Fantasy Game World." Until this point, the Game World aspect seemed foreign to the novel. Well minor spoiler, uptil now the players have been going through a tutorial. You might be flaming me, asking me why I''m spoiling it like this. The answer is, that''s because I don''t want it to seem like a sudden out of nowhere shift. The plan was for it to always be this way, for it to be a sort of LitRPG, with game aspects. I hope you continue to support the novel as it moves forward. After all, the only difference will be the addition of stats and a proper physical system. Anyway, until the next author note, or perhaps the comment section, bye. Happy Reading. ============================== Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen The Beginning of the End (2) ''I should''ve figured that the Information Guild wouldn''t be open at mid night,'' thought Gray as he opened the door to his house. His hair was still stained red, and pieces of dried blood dropped to the floor as he walked into the kitchen. "Oh. you''re back," commented Gray as he saw Tesse standing in front of the door, holding herself in a saddened demeanor. "F-forgive me master," replied Tesse, kneeling in front of Gray as he approached her. "I don''t know what you''re going on about, but get some rest. We''re going raiding tomorrow. Perhaps we might even take on a tower floor," said Gray, the last part more a thoughtful murmur than actual words. "I-I failed you. I was unable to clear the ruin raid. Y-your contract might be terminated," continued Tesse, tears welling up on the rim of her eyelids. "Oh, so that''s it? Hmm, it seems you still aren''t strong enough to delegate tasks by yourself," said Gray, scratching his chin. "Perhaps you require more tr-" *Mii* Gray''s sentence was interrupted by the sound of a kitten meowing. "Did a cat slip into the house?" asked Gray, looking around the kitchen to see where the sound was coming from. "T-That''s your prize master. I-I was unable to get the highest contribution in the raid, however, I managed to gain that beast as a prize," explained Tesse as the cub tottered from behind the counter towards her. It''s blue eyes shone with intelligence as it walked past Gray in an arc, making sure not to come near him as if it were instinct. "Hmm? Explain to me what this raid was about again," ordered Gray, a serious expression on his face as he watched the jetblack beast jump onto the kneeling Tesse''s arms. Its scales glimmered under the dim light of the kitchen, and its long whiskers tickled Tesse''s skin as it played in her arms. Tesse explained what had happened in the raid. About the orc wearing a black suit, and how she had shot the beast but wasn''t able to get first place. "What makes you think that a greatsword is a better prize than the child of the beast you slayed?" ask Gray, tilting his head to the side as if Tesse''s thought processes were interesting to him. "I-I though you would see the weapon as a greater prize than this pest," replied Tesse, her self-dissapointment causing her eyes to stare at the ground. ''It seems her loyalty hasn''t waned,'' thought Gray as he stared at Tesse with an amused look. "I''m in a good mood today, so I won''t punish you," smiled Gray. ''If she thinks she didn''t do well, why correct that. She''ll only work harder from this anyway,'' laughed Gray inwardly as he turned to go to his room. "You''re to take care of it and feed it. I will train it. It might help us capture much needed so- I mean enemies," said Gray before closing the door to his room. "T-thank you master," smiled Tesse, looking at the cub in here arms. *** "Captain Ria, there''s someone who wants to speak to you," reported one of the government officials once Ria arrived at the station. "Tell them I''m busy," replied Ria, too tired to even look at her. "She says she''s your new supervisor. Apparently the government is under new leadership," continued the government official, her voice a bit shaky. ''What?'' thought Ria as she rushed to the communications center. "So you''re Agent Ria?" asked a commanding feminine voice as Ria walked into the communications center. A large burly woman with a scar on her face stood tall on the monitor. Everyone in the room seemed glued to the screen in fear, no one dared move in front of the woman, even though it was only a video call. "Yes, I am. And who might you be?" asked Ria, suspicion and confusion audible in her voice. "It seems that they didn''t teach you to respect military hierarchy in the academy. I am General Ortega, and I''ll be taking over from General Lemberhg," replied the woman, looking at Ria with a steely gaze. "Forgive me General," said Ria, standing in salute. "At ease soldier," replied the General before picking up a pile of papers on her desk. "A new mission has been sent out to all surviving government bases," continued the woman, reading of the documents in front of her. "You are to complete your tower within a week. New matters have arisen, and completing the tower takes the highest priority," said the woman, looking up to see if Ria understood. "E-excuse me general. But I don''t think that is pos-" "This isn''t up for debate soldier. Documents explaining the reasons for such an order have been sent out by President Roi," interrupted the General. "President Roi?" asked Ria confused by the unfamiliar name. "New times call for new leadership. President Roi stepped into power last night," replied Ortega. "I dislike soldiers that ask many questions. However President Roi insists we explain our reasons for doing this. I have sent the necessary documents." "The next time we speak, I want all of you out of Beniza and on your way to the designated rendevous. " as the woman finished talking the screen went black, silence filled the room. "Captain Ria, here''s the file," said the official working at the main computer, handing over a pile of documents to Ria. [On completion of the fourth tower floor, officers in the Rediver Region reported that the beings we now refer to as ''The Voice,'' addressed them once more. In this second addressing, the barriers were described to contain us in ''tutorial zones'' to ensure our survival while we get accustomed to ''New Vautis''.] read the document in front of Ria. Everyone in the room waited silently to hear what it was about, curiosity burned on all their faces. ============================== Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen The Beginning of the End (3) [Contact was lost with the Rediver base shortly after their first transmission. Five days later Enicta Region officials completed their fourth tower floor and reported the same occurrence. However just an hour after the barrier was lifted, a small army of unidentified creatures attacked their town. Soldiers reported that they had a likeness to elves from science fiction, up till this point such claims are yet to be confirmed. Three days later, Enicta forces were wiped out. Yesterday, new President Roi Stoll and General Ortega Armires defeated the Slendren Region Tower, releasing the barrier over their region. No elven army was reported, however on patrol, small settlements of semi-intelligent goblins have been discovered on the outskirts. It is unknown when the Enicta Region will be attacked, however all soldiers are to complete their towers and move towards the Enicta Region to add to the defense. All events of significant importance must be reported immediately.] read the last part of the file. Ria looked at the paper as if she could not believe the words written on it. ''Two Regions were wiped out in a mere five days?'' she thought, the absurdity of it all causing her eyes to widen in disbelief. *** "Sister Eleanor, Bishop Armin calls for you," said a clergyman wearing white robes to a short girl dressed in a sister''s habits. (The attire that roman catholic nun''s wear,) "What does that eyesore want this time," complained Eleanour as she marched towards the bishop''s quarters. As she marched down the compound hallways, people wearing white robes would stop to greet her. Others were kneeling in the grass at the center of the compound, giving devotions and prayer. The living standards within the church compound seemed to have maintained their standard, the walls looked clean and everyone looked fed. Despite all this Eleanour looked at everyone with disdain. ''Just you wait till they start sending you out to war,'' she thought with a crooked smile on her face. "Sister Eleanour," mused a skinny man wearing a bishop''s attire. "What do you want Armin?" asked Eleanour, clearly annoyed. Armin fixed his glasses, looking at Eleanour with a sort of lustful look, as if he would eat her at any second. ''This guy is seriously a creep,'' "We''ll be assisting the Riot Guild in completion of the fourth floor. It seems the fated time is nearly upon us," said Armin finally, after silence had filled the room for nearly a minute. "The Riot Guild? Why do we have to help those losers?" asked Elenour, her tone impatient. "I still wonder how someone as crude as you was chosen to be a sister." "The Oracle hs spoken, his clairvoyance hasn''t been wrong until this point," replied Armin, still looking at Eleanour with a lustful gaze. "Yeah whatever. What about HQ? What are their plans on transporting all of us to the new Vatican?" "All of us? Only a few chosen will actually get there. The others shall die as martyrs, sacrificing their life for the greater good," mused Armin. "You''re a wolf in sheep''s clothing," snorted Eleanour before walking towards the door to leave. "Oh, wait. The Oracle also said that two white-haired demons and a black beast will help us in this raid." "We are to kill them right after, they pose a serious threat to the security of the Vatican. Of course, the Oracle has always been an overly cautious old man, but it wouldn''t hurt to follow his orders," continued Armin, ''White-haired demons?'' thought Eleanour as she walked through the door. An image of Tesse appeared in her mind, however she couldn''t recall seeing any other white-haired people in Beniza. *** "The church just called," announced Silas as Judith, Sophia, and Andre sat on the couches beside the phone he was at. "They say they wish to help us clear the fourth floor," continued Silas. "Pfft, so they can steal our rewards? Tell them we decline," replied Judith quickly, a look of disdain on her face. Andre remained quiet, turning to Silas to see what his opinion on the matter was. "W-Well, however way you look at this. It''s kind of suspicious, Sophia tells us we can''t complete the fourth floor in our current state and the church suddenly calls to offer their help," said Silas, a thoughtful look on his eyes. "I think we should decline as well. Something is off," continued Silas, taking a seat next to Sophia. Sophia looked to be in a considerably better state than she was yesterday. She wore a blue dress, and her hair was tied in a neat tress behind her. She looked to be 15, however she sat with a sort of authority that could only be matched by Andre. "Brother I think we should accept their proposal. Based on what Judith reported last time, they have a considerably powerful summon that could help us in the raid," she said, an intelligent gleam in her eyes as she spoke. "Whether or not they''re scheming something isn''t a problem. The tower is in our area, we can set up a defense party to wait outside the tower in case things get dicey. Right now, we need as much help as we can get, and the church seems to be the closest thing, to a neutral party within the region," continued Sophia, looking to Andre for a final say. "Indeed you have a point. However will the church''s help be enough?" asked Andre, his expression stoic as he looked to his little sister for an answer. "N-No, even if the church had three of those summons that Judith described. It wouldn''t be enough," replied Sophia. "The Quincy Guild Captain has 2 more summons. Perhaps that will be enough?" added Judith. "The Quincy Guild Captain is currently injured. He''s said to have faced a particularly strong goblin," replied Sophia. "Pfft I think he''s just weak," snorted Silas in reply. "What of the first floor clearer? They say that his fighting capabilities were the highest back when the second floor was unchartered territory," added Sophia. "You actually believe that nonsense? They say he was the reason for clearing the first floor, yet he hasn''t shown up since. It was probably some lame attempt by the government to gain attention" replied Silas, passing it off as a mere rumor. ============================== Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Living ''You''re just a slave princess. He''ll ditch you the second he realizes just how useless you are,'' Rey''s voice haunted Tesse''s mind like an unrelenting specter, gnawing at her consciousness as she slept. ''You''re weak. I have no use for broken toys,'' echoed Gray''s voice this time. Tears rolled down Tesse''s sweat-covered face as she tossed and turned in her sheets, her hair sprawled all over her pillow. "P-please," cried Tesse, her arms outstretched as if trying to cling onto something. As Gray''s figure walked away, a horde of goblins appeared in front of her. Their eyes gleaming with lust. "N-no, don''t leave me," shouted Tesse, her body jerking as the goblins defiled her, she felt broken, lost once again. "Huh?" she gasped seemingly out of breath, something wet had moved across her face, waking her up from her nightmare. Two blue eyes stared at her with concern, the darkness of the room barely allowing her to make out the cub''s silhoutte. *Nii* Meowed the cub, tilting its head to the side as if asking what was wrong. "It was just a dream. It was just a dream," she repeated, as if trying to convince herself that she wasn''t really abandoned. "This is why I hate sleep," murmured Tesse before getting out of bed. She stalked her way towards Gray''s room, and slowly opened the door making sure not to make a sound. ''The master''s still here,'' she thought happily, before the cub poked its head through the door, causing it to creak. "Shhh," she picked up the cub, quickly closing its mouth. However, Gray was already holding a crimson pistol in his hand, pointing it at the door. "Oh, it''s you," murmured Gray still half asleep as he recognized Tesse''s figure. "Close the door," he said finally after looking at the time. ''Why is she awake at 2 O''clock in the morning,'' he though as he dozed back to sleep. Tesse slowly closed the door and tip-toed towards the kitchen, as far away from Gray''s room as possible. "You can''t be waking the master up. If you anger him he won''t hesitat-" as Tesse was scolding the beast it looked at her in confusion, unable to comprehend what she was so worked up about. "Nevermind," she sighed, realizing that scolding a baby was useless. After setting the cub down she went outside to train. This wasn''t the first time she would wake up to train before daylight. Everytime she had that dream, she''d train. She''d do anything to keep her mind of it. With a butcher knife in her right hand, she slit her left wrist, healing it right before the line of blood appeared. This sort of training seemed barbaric at first, however Tesse had a reason for this self inflicting harm. She had discovered that the speed, and efficiency of her healing increased the more she used it. After a while she also realized that her side effects were less pronounced than they were when she first got her ability. For the past week she had been doing this in order to become more useful for Gray, the memory of him leaving her in her dream still a fresh wound pushing her to try harder. The cub sat on the grass in front of the front porch, watching her as it licked its scales. After doing this for hours on end, the sun began to rise. Her face was covered in sweat, and her cheeks were tinged red, "Morning already? I''ll have to go prepare something for the master," whispered Tesse to herself before placing the blood-stained butcher knife in her pocket. *** ''Souls, souls, souls'' screamed the specters in Gray''s mind. Gnawing at his very being as they demanded for the souls owed to them. ''Shut the fuck up,'' Gray replied, his voice barely a whisper in the pool of lost specters. "Ugh," he murmured, holding his throbbing head as he woke up. The marks on his right arm were glowing, a certain warmth radiated from it as if something deep within were welling up. ''Do these things never shut up?'' asked Gray, his voice being drowned out by the specters that screamed in his mind. ''I can barely hear you,'' replied the demon, it seemed to be having a hard time as well. "Morning master," greeted Tesse once Gray stepped out of his room. Hot steam radiated from the plates of breakfast placed on the table. *Hixx* Hissed the cub beside Tesse, its fangs bared at Gray. "What? You want to be my first sacrifice," taunted Gray, staring at the cub with his gleaming red eyes. The cub tucked its tail in between its legs, hiding behind Tesse for protection. ''One soul won''t appease them anyway. And this is an investment, I can''t kill it now,'' thought Gray, as if trying to talk himself out of slaughtering it. "Let''s hurry up and eat. I want to complete a few dungeon raids before the end of the day," said Gray before munching down on the toast that Tesse had prepared. "Are you not going to eat?" asked Gray after realizing that Tesse had been staring at him for the past few minutes, her plate remaining untouched. "Oh, yes. Sor-" before Tesse could pick up the meat on her plate the cub jumped up and began devouring her breakfast. It had been siting on the floor waiting patiently for its share, however after Tesse failed to feed it for the past few minutes it decided to take matters into its own hands. "It seems that it was hungry as well," said Gray with an intrigued look on his face as the cub scoffed down all the food on Tesse''s plate. "Okay enough of that. Let''s go have some fun," laughed Gray as he stood up, a faraway look in his eyes as he thought of all the blood he would spill today. ============================== Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Afina "Where is it, where is it," whispered a blue-haired girl nervously as she walked down the aisles of what looked to be a chemical supplies warehouse. "Ahh, here it is, antimony pentafluoride," she whispered with a smile, taking a silver bottle off the shelf before carefully placing it in the shopping cart she was pushing. Inside the cart lay a few other mundane-looking bottles. One was labeled vinegar, another sodium hydroxide with the symbols ''NaOH'' written in bold letters at the top. At the very bottom were a few bottles of bleach solution, and right next to it were sachets labeled ''White phosphorous,''. ''I have to hurry up before someone comes in,'' she thought, hurrying to get the next item on her list. "Next is hydrogen fluoride," she whispered as she walked through another aisle. "Okay, this is i-" before she could finish her sentence she heard footsteps walk into the building. "Who''s there," shouted a masculine voice as several other footsteps could be heard behind him. ''Fuck,'' She quickly hid behind one of the shelves, sweat dripping down her face as she waited for them to leave. "Jim are you sure you heard something?" asked one of the men, clearly annoyed by his comrade. "I heard something squeaking, like wheels. Let''s just check the shop and if we don''t find anything we''ll head back," replied the first voice. ''Shit, I knew I''d be screwed sneaking into Riot Guild territory,'' thought the blue-haired girl as she stared at the insignia of a clenched fist spray-painted on the walls. ''Well, might as well use these now,'' she thought, before opening the silver bottle and placing it beside her. ''Thanks Mr. Martins, for teaching me the wonders of chemistry,'' she thought with a smile before taking a bottle of hydrogen fluoride and pouring it in the silver bottle. "Did you hear that?" whispered one of the men, before walking towards the shelf that the blue-haired girl was hiding behind. "Yeah, it''s called super acid," shouted the blue-haired girl before pouring the mixture on the man''s face. His skin tinged red before slowly peeling, patches of blood appearing on his face as he fell to the ground in pain. "What did you do?" "Get her," shouted one of the men as he looked at his comrade roll on the ground in pain. She threw the rest of the contents at the remaining men, burning off their clothes and parts of their skin before running off. One of the men was about to open fire before his comrade stopped him. "Are you crazy? Do you see all the chemicals around you?" asked the man, quickly removing his clothes to avoid being burned by the substance "Just use your powers. She wouldn''t be using such cheap tricks if she had a strong ability," continued the man before running after the girl. "Fuck, fuck, fuck," she cussed, as a bottle of bleach slipped out of her hands. She was currently holding 6 bottles in her arms, hampering her movement as she bolted for the door. "You aren''t going anywhere," smiled a man as he jumped right in front of her. ''Great, this guy has super jump,'' she thought to herself before throwing a bottle of ammonia at the man. The liquid got into his nose, causing him to retch, the smell of pure ammonia attacking his sense of smell. "Just leave me alone for fucks sake. I just borrowed a few chemicals. Not like you guys know how to use them anyway," she shouted. "Oh, and you do?" ''Yup, I''m screwed,'' thought the blue-haired girl as she stared at the skinny man in front of her. He held a red spear in his right hand and had a sinister look in his eyes. "V-Vice Captain Silas. We were jus-" as the men who were chasing her arrived they realized that Silas wasn''t alone. "C-Captain, forgive us for our carelessness. We will handle her right away," they corrected themselves, looking to the ground in sign of respect towards Andre. "What are you doing with all those chemicals?" asked a small blonde-haired girl from behind Andre. "Cat got your tongue?" asked Silas, poking the tip of his spear to the bottom of her chin. "We can''t waste any more time here. The church representatives are waiting for us," complained Judith from behind Sophia. "T-To get revenge," she stuttered, dropping the bottles to the floor in resignation. "How exactly would you do that?" asked Andre, clearly intrigued. "By mixing these gases I can make toxic chemicals. A-A simple trick, b-but I sweat I wasn''t going to use it on you guys. I-It was for the dollhouse," she stuttered in fear. "Toxic chemicals? And what about you? Or were you planning suicide?" asked the blonde-haired girl, clearly impressed. "N-no," "No what? I say we just kill her, why are we wasting time here anyway? We have a raid to complete," snorted Silas, pushing the tip of his spear deeper into her skin. "M-my ability. It allows me to resist all status effects. Including poison," she answered finally. "Did you say all status effects?" mused Sophia, a thoughtful look in her eyes as she stared at the blue-haired girl. "What is your name?" she asked. "A-Afina," "Perhaps we can use her for our plans. If she''s able to resist all status effects, perhaps she can withstand your ability," said Sophia, turning to her big brother for his reply. "Perhaps," replied Andre, crossing his arms as his eyes began gleaming blue. A strong pressure overcame all those present as if the gravity surrounding them had been increased 10 fold. Everyone got to their knees, their veins bulging and eyes red as they tried to withstand the pressure. "C-Captain, p-please stop," pleaded Silas, sweat dripping down his forehand as he used both his hands to prevent himself from falling face-first into the ground. "It seems you were right," said Andre finally, as he stared at Afina. ============================== Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Singularity (1) "Ah, here it is," whispered Gray as he crouched down to pick his sword up from a pile of already rotting corpses. He had forgotten that he left his silver sword behind and had come back to the dollhouse to collect it. *Mii* Meowed the cub as it got a whiff of the putrid smell that radiated from within. "You''ll soon grow used to that smell," said Gray as he walked past Tesse and the cub, wiping the blood off his blade with the sleeve of his suit, before placing it in the scabbard on his back. "Master are we going to report to the Information Guild?" asked Tesse as she followed Gray out of the dollhouse. "Perhaps later. Right now we don''t really need them, I still have the details they gave us on all the towers in town," replied Gray, before opening the satchel that Tesse was carrying on her back. "And what are these?" he asked, noticing the blue elixirs in Tesse''s satchel. "I-I completely forgot about them. They''re the elixirs you requested from the Information Guild" replied Tesse, biting her lip in self-disappointment. "The elixirs huh? Have you tested them yet?" asked Gray as he pulled out all four elixirs. "N-no. They were the master''s so I couldn''t drink them. H-however they said only to take two at a time," continued Tesse, gripping the cub tighter to her chest. "Here, have them. Give the other two to the beast," replied Gray, handing over the elixirs to Tesse before pulling out a pile of papers. "A-are yo-" "I thought we agreed. I command, and you listen, or have you already forgotten?" interrupted Gray, already preoccupied by the papers in front of him. "Very well master," replied Tesse before gulping down two elixirs, and feeding the other two to the beast. *Fiii* meowed the cub, it clearly liked the taste of the elixir. ''If they said you can only drink two at a time, that means they are side effects. I''m not willing to put myself at risk for an untested product that isn''t even as effective as the real thing,'' thought Gray as he watched the cub lick the inside of the empty elixir bottle, before going back to his papers. ''I can''t do the government one, that one seems to only spawn undead. And right now I need souls and fresh human blood,'' thought Gray carefully as he read the specifications of all the towers in town. ''I can''t go to the Hephaestus Guild tower either, that one only spawns mechanical golems,'' *Mii* The cub seemed to be growing impatient with the sudden stop, prompting Tesse to pick it up and cover its mouth. "We''ll be moving soon. Don''t interrupt the master," she said in a somewhat cute voice, trying to appease the cub. Gray paid no mind to what was going on around him. He could barely hear his own thoughts past the specters that constantly screamed in his mind, much less that of external nature. "How about this one, The Riot Guild Tower. It spawns variations of monsters on each floor, and the Riot Guild allows anyone to use it, so long as they pay a fee," murmured Gray to himself as he started walking towards the location shown on the document. As he was walking a black car passed by him, two figures in white looked out the window staring at him. However because he was focused on the papers, and Tesse on the cub, no one seemed to notice this. "That''s them," said Eleanour from the back seat of the car as they passed by Tesse and Gray. ''It''s just like I thought, it''s the girl from earlier. However I don''t think I''ve ever seen the guy she''s with, but something about him seems... familiar,'' she thought as the two became a dot in the distance. "Shall we wait for them?" asked Eleanour to the skinny man sitting beside her. "No need, The Oracle said they''d be there, so they''ll be there," replied the man, a sinister look on his face as he fixed his bishop''s attire. *** "What''s taking them so long?" complained Judith as she stood in front of the tower portal, waiting for the church representatives to arrive. A crowd stood in front of her, silently waiting for them to enter. No one dared register to go in at the same time Andre did, even though they were permitted to, it was an unspoken rule not to go tower raiding when the Riot Guild''s main raid force was raiding. "Finally," sighed Sophia as she saw a black sedan come into view. "What took you guys so long? You''d think church representatives would know how to use a watch," snorted Silas with an annoyed expression on his face as the two church representatives got out of the car. "What did yo-" "Two of our other representatives got sick and were unable to make it, we were just sorting out the replacements," interrupted Armin, before Eleanour had the chance to reply to Silas''s remark. "And these replacements, why didn''t you come with them?" asked Sophia, a bit skeptical of the circumstances. "They''ll be here shortly, please be patient," replied Armin calmly, a warm smile across his face. ''This guy gives me the creeps,'' thought Afina from behind the others. Although there were no chains binding her limbs, she felt like a prisoner. She had been dragged into this situation without much say, and was told to risk her life in what might be the most dangerous raid since Acclimatization. The man in front of her spoke very little, and when he did it was never more than necessary. Everyone seemed to look at him, without ever placing their eyes on him, like he was some sort of god. "Are those your representatives?" asked Judith as she saw two figures appear down the road. "Yes they are," smiled Armin, before walking towards the tower portal. "W-wait. Y-you can''t be serious. H-he works for the church?" stuttered Afina once she recognized Gray''s trademark black suit and white hair. "I know her. I thought she worked for the Information Guild," murmured Judith as she realized that the girl walking at the back was Tesse. As Gray and Tesse got closer to the tower, the crowd moved aside, creating a path for the two of them to walk to the front without hindrance. ''Somethings off,'' thought Gray with a nervous smile on his face. A group of 17 people stood in front of him right next to the tower portal, every single one of them gazing at him intently. "I''ve come to ask permission to enter the Tower," he said finally, looking at Afina with a thoughtful expression. ''She looks kind of familiar,'' thought Gray, his memories were all in a jumble due to the voices going rampant in his head. Although he was currently showing self-restraint, if he didn''t get a chance to slaughter something soon, he would go rampant on anyone unlucky enough to be in his sight. The only thing that stopped him from doing it right now was the large man who stood at the center of the group, something about him made Gray''s instincts shout at him not to try anything he might regret. "We''ve been waiting for you. Let''s go," said Andre before walking towards the tower portal. "Are you sure those guys are with you?" whispered Sophia as she walked behind Armin. "Yes, they are with us," replied Armin, entering the portal behind Andre. ============================== Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Singularity (2) "Calvin, hold on to these. They''re mine and Andre''s" ordered Sophia as she tossed two glowing white cubes to a middle-aged man behind her. "T-The Ressurection cubes," stuttered the man, his hands trembling as he held onto the two cubes tightly. "I''m sorry I couldn''t make any for you and Silas. My ability only allows two," continued Sophia, turning to Judith before walking through the portal. ''Ressurection cubes huh? So that''s why the Riot Guild was able to conquer three tower floors in under a week,'' thought Eleanour as she walked through the portal behind Sophia. "Master something feels o-" "I know, but I don''t have time to worry about that right now," struggled Gray, his voice taut with pain. The patterns on his right arm were now glowing visibly under his suit, their warmth becoming an insufferable heat that burned at him from within. The voices in his head, a choir of death that pushed his sanity to the limit. "After yo-" before Judith could finish, Gray brushed past her in a hurry, his hands tucked into the pockets of his suit. "That kitten, where have I seen it before?" whispered Judith to herself as Tesse passed by her holding a jet black kitten to her chest. Although it had been too dark to see the cat beast during the Jungle raid, the kitten''s outline was familiar to her. "Stop daydreaming," snorted Silas as he brushed past Judith holding his spear in his right hand, his mood apparently sour from waiting so long. [Tower of the Lapsus.] [Floors 4] [Difficulty E-B] [Maximum number of players allowed: 20], announced an autonomous voice as Judith walked through the portal. The scene in front of her was reminiscent of hell. The sand was red, and the ground arid with cracks forming as far as the eye could see. The sun seemed closer to the ground, its heat searing even the small shrubs that somehow managed to grow on the ruined land. "Hello challengers," boomed a low guttural voice, a single massive figure stood atop the fortress walls, holding a great sword to its shoulder. "Prepare for death," laughed the beast, before the fortress gates opened, releasing a horde of massive green orcs towards the raid party. "If we get into an arrowhead formation with Andre at the fr-" before Sophia could finish her plan, Gray ran off into the crowd, his silver sword gleaming under the hot sun. He became nothing but a black blur to all those behind him, his speed on par if not slightly faster than Judith''s. "Another speed ability user?" asked Sophia as she watched Gray''s figure rush towards the army of orcs. "It doesn''t matter. If he''s anything like Judith, he''s all speed and no strength. He won''t be able to do much against such massive enemies, what a waste," scowled Silas, gripping onto the shaft of his spear even tighter. "Finally," laughed Gray as the head of an orc rolled to the ground, its blood splattering all over him. Although warm, it still offered a cooling effect giving him a moment of respite from the sun. "T-That''s impossible," stuttered Sophia as the battle field slowly became painted red in blood. "So what? He can cut of an orc''s head," retorted Silas before running towards the horde himself. "These orc''s have high regenerative abiliti...," whispered Sophia as if questioning herself. ''Was I mistaken?'' she wondered as Gray''s figure zipped through the battle ground, wreaking havoc on the enemy ranks. "No, you weren''t," smiled Armin calmly, pointing to an already struggling Silas. Silas''s spear was stuck inside an Orc, its wound healing around the hole at a visible pace, trapping the spear inside its flesh. "What th-" before Silas could finish, the Orc punched him in the gut, sending him flying a few feet away. The Orc rushed towards the now prone Silas, a club in its hand ready to end his life. "I''ve warned you not to be so hasty," said a deep voice before the club could reach its target. Andre held back the club with a single hand, pushing the orc backward. The size gap between him and the Orc wasn''t so massive, he stood at 1.9 meters while the orc stood at 2 meters. Andre then removed the red greatsword on his back with a single hand, slashing the orc''s head off. "It seems that we will be unable to carry out any plans in this raid," commented Armin, stroking his beard as he slowly approached the horde. "Eleanour, please send out Michael. It seems the white-haired boy is starting to struggle," he continued, looking at the massive group of orcs that began to surround Gray. "Very well," replied Eleanour, before raising her hands to the sky. A brilliant light shone on the battlefield as a large figure descended to the ground. "A-A mecha?" asked Sophia, starring at the mechanical golem in awe. It seemed to radiate a holy aura, with symbols and crosses etched onto its outer shell, its great sword shining brightly under the blazing sun. ''These guys are monsters,'' thought Silas as he watched Andre, Gray and the mecha cut down the orc army''s numbers. The once barren land was now moist with blood, green heads littered the ground, adding color to the blood-red scene. "It''s just as I thought. You have to cut off their heads or they''ll heal. However, not that it matters," murmured Armin as he passed by the dumbstruck Silas. "Are you sure he''ll be okay?" asked Sophia as she watched Armin approach an Orc. "I wish that he wouldn''t," snorted Eleanour. *Aghah?* mumbled the Orc in confusion, questioning the prey that so easily approached it. As it was about to smash its club into Armin''s face, glowing yellow chains bound its hands, stopping it mid-air. "Crucify," smiled Armin as a wooden structure erupted from the ground, the glowing chains binding it to the cross as if it were being crucified. In the next second, a bright light radiated from the Orc, burning it alive. Its shrill cries of pain seemed foreign coming from such a large creature. "Yes yes, the lord forgives all," smiled Armin as a group of Orcs began charging towards him. However as they got closer, the same chains bound them as well. Several wooden crosses emerged from the ground at the same time, the chains crucifying them to the cross. "Your cries of praise have been heard. The lord is with you," saliva dripped from Armin''s mouth as the melody of screams rang in his ears. Once the radiating light died down, nothing was left of the orcs. Nothing. "U-unreal," stuttered Silas. For so long he had thought that he was second only to Andre, but today his eyes were opened. That he was but a mere human in a world of monsters. ============================== Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Of Monsters And Men (1) The carnage had gone on for another 15 minutes, the scene now too bloody to discern who was who. Several wooden crosses were spread out sporadically around the battlefield, the smell of burnt meat emanating from their framework. The once visible orc heads were now drowned in thick coagulated blood, leaving only small patches of green visible at the top. "It seems we''re going to need something powerful to blow up the walls. Even Eleanour''s Michael is unable to bring it down," mused Armin as he walked back to the group, a happy expression on his face. His bishop attire was now painted red, and several blotches of blood lay dried on his face, giving him an almost carnal look. "Michael, release," shouted Eleanour, prompting her mecha to disintegrate into glowing particles of dust that slowly spread out into the air. "It seems they covered up the hole you were talking about," announced Andre in a deep voice from behind Armin. His clothes were soaked red as well, the blood on his sword barely discernable from its crimson red color. "Aina, Cleo, use your powers and see if you can break through the wall. You guys are the only ones with projectile abilities here," ordered Sophia to two Riot Guild members behind her. "Yes ma''am," replied the girls, their eyes glowing white before two pillars of fire emerged from their hands. "It''s not enough. We need something... explosive," murmured Judith as she watched the flames lick at the redwood walls, their heat nothing compared to that of the sun. "M-master," stuttered Tesse as a blood-drenched figure approached the group, all of his features hidden under the cover of crimson red. Blood covered every single patch of Gray''s being, as if he had taken a bath in pure blood. ''What is this guy,'' is what everyone there was thinking. The only semblance of humanity they could see on Gray were his two gleaming red eyes, which shone redder than the blood that dripped down his body. "Blow up that wall," he grunted, looking tat Tesse with bloodlust in his eyes. "We''re trying, however noth-" before the Riot Guild member could finish her sentence, the blood covering Gray''s body began to move as if it had a mind of its own. "I call it the T-1, I designed the armor-piercing ammunition myself," continued Gray, ignoring the Riot Guild member as he held out a massive anti-tank rifle. ''He creates weapons,'' everyone seemed shocked by this revelation. It was proof of him either having two abilities or being abnormally fast, only adding to the notion of him being inhuman. ''I see why you said he''d be a problem, Oracle. If he''s allowed to grow, he might be able to lead a force powerful enough to threaten us,'' thought Armin, a serious expression replacing the smile he had on his face a minute ago. "It''s not balanced though. The recoil will most likely dislocate your shoulder joint, as I designed it for maximum power output," smiled Gray, grabbing the cub from her arms before shoving the anti-tank rifle at her. Everyone stood there dumbstruck, the anti-tank rifle was bigger than anything they''d ever seen. Calling it a mere rifle was an understatement, the thing was taller than Tesse in length, spanning 2.5 meters from barrel to stock. "I understand master," she said, holding the sniper in her hands. Even with her increased strength, she found it difficult to hold on to it. "You can''t really expect her to fire that thing, you''r-" before Sophia could finish her protest, Andre stopped her, looking at Tesse with an amused expression. As Tesse got into a prone position, Gray began to step back, holding his hands to his ears. Following his example, everyone did the same, moving even further behind than Gray himself. *Dowf*(Gun SFX) Blood poured from Tesse''s ears as smoke from the gunshot rose into the air. Her shoulder was at a weird angle, a bone seemed to be poking at her skin from the back. "No way," murmured Afina, looking at the trail Tesse''s body left in the sand due to being pushed back from the recoil. "It''s like she was bumped by a car," whispered Sophia, noticing the blood that came out of Tesse''s mouth. "It seems it wasn''t enough," commented Gray as he looked at the dent in the wall, the cub licking the blood off him as it shivered in fear. "Perhaps," he murmured to himself, walking towards Tesse with the cub in one hand and his silver sword in the other. "This''ll work," he murmured, as he inscribed the same runes that were etched on his sword, onto the side of the rifle, embedding his sword in its stock. ''If it''s wood then it should be able to decay,'' he thought to himself as he admired his handiwork. ''What? How does he know about runes,'' thought Armin, looking at Gray with an even more intrigued expression. ''He''s interesting indeed,'' thought Eleanour, a smile on her face as she recognized the corruption rune now engraved on the anti-tank rifle. As Gray stepped back from the gun, the cub tried to get free from his hold, meowing at Tesse with its paw stretched out. However, Gray''s grip was strong, holding the cub tightly under his arm. As Tesse fondled the trigger of the rifle, the runes began glowing black. A wave of lethargy washed over her as they increased in intensity, their light now visible to everyone watching. *Shchwa* The sound was akin to an animal screaming, the black blob that was the bullet buried itself deep within the fortress walls, decaying everything around it. Soon a massive gaping hole appeared at the front gate of the fortress, continuously increasing in size as the black matter continued to spread out, eating away at the wood. "I was waiting for you," smiled an Orc behind the hole, its red skin and black suit distinguishing it from the other orcs. "Shatter," it shouted, raising its greatsword into the air before slamming it down. The ground beneath the raid members split in half, devouring the blood of the orcs that had fallen earlier before taking the lives of several raid members. "Show me your strength warriors," it shouted in a guttural voice, before charging towards the surviving members. ''Fuck,'' ============================== Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Of Monsters and Men (2) "Of course, it just had to be a noble," mumbled Gray under his breath, a nervous smile across his face as he backed away. The group had been split in two, divided by the huge crevice that the Orc noble had created. Gray, Andre, Armin and Eleanour stood on one side, while the remaining survivors were huddled together on the other. A sense of dread filled the battlefield as the survivors looked at the damage caused by a single swing of the Orc noble''s sword. Their hands trembled in fear as they realized that their numbers had been cut in half before they even had the chance to put a scratch on it. "I-Its him," stuttered Sophia, remembering the horrors she had experienced the first time she came here. The Orc noble stood at 3.5 meters tall, dwarfing even the other orcs. Its figure was a red and black blur as it rushed towards the survivors, gapping the rest of the orcs by several meters. ''I-Its fast. I wonder if the captain will be able to-'' thought Silas, before the realization that his whole body was trembling in fear interrupted his thoughts. "Master, we have to retreat," shouted Tesse, already running in the opposite direction from the Orc noble. Her running was staggered, the anti-tank rifle she carried on her back greatly reducing her mobility. ''What''s going on? Why are they running?'' thought Armin as he watched Gray move to the back of the group, beads of sweat collecting at his forehead. "You guys deal with the other orcs, the leader is mine," grunted Andre, before rushing off towards the Orc noble with his greatsword in hand. "Afina, go!" shouted Judith, snapping Afina out of her daze. "Y-yes," ''Interesting, it seems the Riot Guild anticipated such an enemy. However, if that kid is moving back, perhaps it would be wise to follow,'' thought Armin with a thoughtful look on his face, before turning his back to the approaching Orc Noble. "Where are you going?" scowled Eleanour as Armin walked past her. "Something about this feels off. It''s best to watch and see how things unfold," replied Armin, without even stopping to look at her. "How many minutes until Michael is off cooldown?" asked Armin casually as he continued retreating. "5 minutes since he wasn''t destroyed in battle," replied Eleanour, following Armin as she realized she would be defenseless until then. "L-let''s go. We have to cover for the Captain," resolved Judith, putting on her enchanted gauntlets. "S-she''s right," added Silas, gripping his spear tightly. Judith''s eyes began glowing yellow, a faint glow emanating from the rest of her body as well. "I''ll see you there," she said, before turning into a blur rushing towards the oncoming army. "Pfft, as if," snorted Silas. "Thrust," as he said this, his spear went zipping towards the horde, embedding itself in the eye of one of the orcs. "Return," with this command it flew back to his hands as if it had a mind of its own. "Sophia, do we have enough poison for me to put on my spear? My abilities are useless without something to stop their healing," said Silas as he watched the orc''s eye regenerate at a fast rate. "N-no, the poison is only enough to use on the leader. If even a drop goes to waste, we might not be able to kill it," replied Sophia, her body still trembling in fear. "Kukk, then I''ll just try to slow these bastards down as long as I can," said Silas before gripping his spear again. "Thrust," this time the spear went zipping towards the Orc noble''s figure, its tip slicing through the air like a bullet. "Pathetic," snorted the Orc noble, before swatting it away like it was a fly. In the next second, Andre and the Orc noble clashed swords, sending Andre flying back several feet. A look of surprise covered his face, it had been the first time he was overpowered, by monsters, or men. "It seems I can''t get away without using it," he said as he stood up. "Dominate," he shouted, before an unknown pressure weighed down on the Orc noble. The pressure was so intense that cracks began to form below its feet, burying them a few centimeters into the ground. "Interesting human," smiled the Orc noble, it seemed to be enjoying itself. Andre wasted no time on chatter, he rushed towards the orc noble, his sword ready to slice its head off. The orc noble raised its sword to meet Andre''s, however its movements were sluggish due to the added gravity, allowing Andre to knick its neck. However that was as far as he went, even with Andre''s strength, he couldn''t pierce through its tough skin. "Congratulations. You were able to wound Gra''hack of Bla''hacko. Feel pride in being able to fight against an Orc Corporal," laughed the beast as its wound began healing. It grabbed onto Andre''s sword, holding it firmly as if it were a mere blunted blade. "This blade, it seems you stole it from one of my kin. I shall return it to my general, maybe then I shall be forgiven and allowed back home," continued the noble before raising its sword into the air. Whilst the two had been fighting Afina snuck behind them, her ability allowing her to withstand Andre''s domination. "Die," shouted Afina from behind, as she stabbed a knife coated in green fluid into the Orc''s closing neck wound. "I-I did it," she said with a smile, her hands still trembling. "What have yo-" before the Orc could finish its sentence, it fell to the ground, foam coming out of its mouth. "Did we win?" shouted Judith from where she was. Although she didn''t have the strength to chop off an orc''s head, her momentum allowed her to shatter their ribs, slowing them down greatly. ''Why hasn''t the clear notification sounded,'' wondered Sophia, as she stared at the Orc noble''s lifeless body lay on the ground. ''Now that I think about it, we haven''t been given any clear conditions yet,'' "Pfft, do they really think that''s enough to deal with a noble?" chuckled Gray from behind the group. ''I have to think of a plan or this is the end of the line,'' ============================== Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen It all falls apart [A strange power overwhelms you. Immobile for 4 seconds.] [Domination has overcome this strange power.] [Status resistance to strange power.] Andre and Afina stared in shock as the Orc noble''s body began glowing red, its bottom tusks growing longer than they had been before. A strange aura radiated from it as well, crippling their movement. However, due to their respective abilities, they were saved. The same couldn''t be said for the rest of them though, everyone else was frozen still in place, unable to move due to the strange aura. Judith had been running away from a group of orcs, however due to the status effect, her legs stiffened, causing her to tumble over. And at that speed, the ground hit hard, fracturing her arms. One of the orcs rushed towards her, taking advantage of the situation. *Argahahah* It laughed as it picked her off the ground, before pulling at her leg with all its strength, slowly ripping it off. Judith''s shrill cries of pain lay trapped in her throat, unable to escape due to the status effect. "Such underhanded tactics are typical of you human scum," snorted the Orc noble as its body rose into the air, the strange aura dimming away. Andre tried to slash at it as it was in the air, however, the Orc noble caught his sword like it was a toy, before using it to throw him away. As the status effect wore off, a piercing scream echoed throughout the battlefield. "S-stop, p-ple-" the cries were interrupted by a loud tearing sound. "Judith," whimpered Sophia, tears streaming down her face as she stared at Judith in disbelief. Blood sprayed from the stump that was now Judith''s leg, her eyes staring into nothingness as the pain broke her mind. More orcs joined in on the fray, each one tugging at one of her limbs. "Save her!" shouted Sophia, snapping Silas out of his shock. He tried throwing his spear, but this didn''t stop them. They continued to pull at her limbs, the sound of bones being dislocated following shortly after. Tears streamed down Judith''s face as the orcs laughed at her, before finally her limbs were ripped off. Her death wasn''t instant. As her limbless body lay discarded on the floor, she had time to savor the pain. Although her mind was broken, pain was a primal feeling. Even in the abyss of her mind, she could still feel it. Blood gushed to the floor as the orcs devoured her body parts, more orcs coming in to take a share of their prize. "No," cried Sophia as an orc tugged at her head. "Hel-" Judith was about to whisper, before her head was ripped off, a string of blood sticking to the bottom of it as the orc devoured it whole. "A fitting end," laughed the Orc noble as it stared at Afina. "N-no," before Afina could even turn to run, the Orc noble appeared in front of her. "You too shall find a similar end due to your cowardice," it grunted as it picked her off the ground by her neck. "Legion, leave not even their bones," it shouted, before throwing Afina towards the horde. Her body slammed into the ground, right next to what was left of Judith''s body. "H-help me," she cried, her spine had shattered, she was unable to feel anything from the waist down. As an orc''s hand reached out for her, an image of the first time she was raped flashed in her mind. The hand of her rapist, overlapping with that of the orc. "I-I can''t die like this, p-please help," she cried as the orc lifted her body off the ground. The surrounding orcs who hadn''t gotten a share of Judith''s body tugged at her limbs, their muscles bulging as they pulled with all their strength. Afina tried fighting, jerking her body left and right in order to get free. In response the orcs tightened their grip, snapping her arms and legs in half before continuing their pull. "Fuuuck," she screamed, her mind was lost. She was unable to discern reality from memory. As certain death approached, the image of her rapist''s friends holding her down played in her mind. She turned to look at the remaining survivors for help, hoping that at least one of them could do something. However everyone remained glued to her, horror freezing their faces in a look of pity and disbelief. Everyone except Gray, who wasn''t even looking at her. He seemed to be looking at the orcs, but not with anger, rather it was a mix between envy and bloodlust. ''You sick-'' before she could finish, a tearing sound interrupted. As her head approached the mouth of one of the orcs she got a look at her body. The rest of her limbs were being devoured as well. Then darkness engulfed her, death claimed its quarry. "Prepare for death," announced the Orc noble before rushing towards Andre. "Domination," he shouted, increasing the pressure around him once more. However this seemed to do nothing against the Orc noble, its speed remained constant. Andre stood up, swinging his sword towards the approaching Orc. The Orc turned into a blur, disappearing from his sight before reappearing behind him. Andre turned as fast as he could to meet it, however its greatsword was faster. It came crashing down, severing Andre''s right arm. "B-Brother," cried Sophia, before rushing towards the two. "N-no, Sophia come back," whispered Silas, however the horror he had just witnessed kept him frozen in place, the memories he shared with Judith making her death all the more gruesome. "Brother?" smiled the Orc noble, before turning into a blur once again. In a flash it was infront of Sophia, looking down at her with an amused expression on her face. "I''ve seen you before. How are you still alive?" asked the Orc, inspecting Sophia''s body as if she were a rare specimen. Perhaps this time I should take my time with you. "N-no!" shouted Andre, rushing towards the Orc noble with his greatsword in his remaining arm. ============================== Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen A Plan of action "Just stay still and watch," grunted the Orc noble, before appearing behind Andre, slicing his remaining arm off. Blood gushed from Andre''s wounds, his face twisted in pain. However he powered through it, getting back to his feet in an attempt to attack the Orc noble. "A warrior indeed. However you are leagues below me" said the Orc, dodging Andre''s kick before slicing his legs off. "Now sit and watch," it said, before walking back towards Sophia. "I-I''m sorry Silas. W-we can''t beat this, n-not with Andre like this," she cried, turning around to look at Silas. "You apologise while certain death stands in front of you? I shall punish you for such an insult," said the Orc, stretching its hand out to grab Sophia by the neck. "Brother, I''ll see you on the other side," she shouted, before pulling out a dagger from underneath her dress. "What ar-" before the Orc could finish, Sophia stabbed herself in the neck, her body falling limp to the ground as it bled out. "Truly cowardly beings," the Orc said in an annoyed tone, before walking back towards Andre. "At least you fought well. For this, I shall offer you an honorable death," it said in a low guttural voice, before slashing Andre''s head off. Silas stood still, now unable to breathe. Everything was falling apart, his entire team had been wiped out. "Hmm? What is this?" As the Orc noble was about to turn to face the remaining survivors, Andre and Sophia''s corpses began glowing white, before an orb rose from their chests. "T-The Ressurection cubes. T-that''s what she meant," murmured Silas under his breath. "S-She abandoned m-me," as the realization of what had just happened hit him, dread finally destroyed his mind. He fell to his knees, eyes wide in disbelief. "W-we''re going to die. W-we''re all dead," he mumbled like a crazy person. "It seems he broke," commented Armin from where he was, a smile on his face as if it were amusing. "Are you fucking insane? You dare smile in such a situation," shouted Eleanour, her body trembling in fear. "And why wouldn''t I? We still have those three," he replied, pointing to Gray, Tesse, and the cub. "R-Right, t-the oracle said they would help us," said Eleanour, a bit of relief visible on her face. ''There''s no way I can take on a noble in hand-to-hand combat. Even if I unleash bloodlust mode and match its speed, I''m sure it will still overpower me in both technique and strength,'' thought Gray as he watched the Orc noble stare at Andre''s corpse. ''Fuck fuck fuck. Why did it have to be a noble,'' ''Oi, do you think Amaymon will help me this time?'' asked Gray to the demon residing in his mind. ''Pfft, Amaymon helped you on a whim last time. Forget about him helping you this time,'' snorted the demon in response. ''And you? I mean if I die here, there will be no body left for you to use,'' continued Gray, trying every card he had in his deck. ''Although noble''s are strong, they have no means to destroy your spirit core. So long as that''s intact, I can always take over. So I''m rooting for your death buddy,'' laughed the demon, before going silent once again. ''Fucking demon,'' "Whatever. There are still more humans to prey on," said the Orc, finally losing interest in what had happened. "And this time I will make sure none of you commit suicide before I''m done with you," smiled the Orc, before turning into a black and red blur. ''Demons, that''s it,'' realized Gray. "Miyamoto Hisashi, I offer to you every human corpse on this battleground. Come to me," shouted Gray, before a red hexagon appeared in front of him, glowing a brilliant red. "I see you again, thrall of Amaymon. What will you have me do?" asked the samurai demon in front of him. ''A-A summon,'' thought both Armin and Eleanour in shock. "Kill that Orc," ordered Gray, pointing to the Orc noble. "Pfft, not even Michael can kill that thing," commented Eleanour as she fell back into a state of panic. ''If this is his plan, we''re completely fucked,'' "Very well," replied the samurai, before turning into a red blur. "What?" grunted the Orc in confusion. Its right arm had been sliced off, blood gushing from the wound. "A-A demon?" "Indeed, I hope this fight will be interesting," replied the samurai, before turning into a blur again. The Orc smiled as its arm grew back, before turning into a blur itself. The two zipped through the battlefield, their speed so devastatingly fast that only Gray could keep up with them, and even then just barely. As their swords clashed shockwaves shook the battle ground, it was like two gods had sprung up and decided to have a battle amongst men. "Now that that''s out of the way," smiled Gray before forming a crimson red katana in his right hand. "Stay here and give me cover, make sure not to blow me up," ordered Gray, before dropping the cub on the ground. The cub ran towards Tesse, licking her face as it hopped up and down in gesture to climb her. "Time for fun," laughed Gray as he became a black blur, rushing towards the orc army. "It seems that there is still hope. Perhaps I shall go have fun as well," said Armin, walking towards the Orc army as well. "I-I can''t believe it. His summon is stronger than Michael. Just how many abilities does that guy have?" wondered Eleanour as she stared at Gray''s figure running rampant on the orc horde. "Did you have fun ripping them apart?" asked Gray as he appeared in front of the Orc''s that had fed on Judith and Afina. "I could''ve stolen their powers you know. I could''ve taken their souls as well," continued Gray as the orcs looked at him in confusion. "Fucking answer me, did you enjoy ripping them apart?" asked Gray again, bloodlust making his words sound jagged. The orcs snapped out of their confusion, swinging their clubs at Gray. Gray turned into a blur, appearing behind an orc before slicing all its limbs off. "You guys were onto something. This does feel rather satisfying," smiled Gray, before slicing its head off. [Blood lust has reached critical level. Warning, excessive use of this mode exponentially increases the blood price toll. A sacrifice must be offered before the blood lust expires or the full toll will be paid by the user.] ============================== Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen An End(1) "Now. Let me hear you scream," laughed Gray, his eyes gleaming red as he stared at the army of orcs slowly surrounding him. *Slash* In the blink of an eye, three orc heads rolled to the ground. Gray was so fast that the orc''s eyes couldn''t even keep up with him, the blur of his figure no longer visible. "H-He''s matched their speed," stuttered Eleanour as she tried to keep track of Gray''s movements, but found all she could see were traces of white appear each time a head rolled to the ground. *Shchwa* An ear-piercing sound rang in Eleanour''s ears, nearly bursting her eardrums. In the same second three orcs fell to the ground, a big chunk missing from their torsos. "What the?" as she turned around she found Tesse sniping from a few meters behind. Her shoulder healing itself in preparation for the next shot. ''2 minutes until Michael is off cooldown... I feel so helpless,'' thought Eleanour as she watched the fight unfold, a mere spectator to the bloodfest that took place in front of her. "Yes, well done demon. It has been a long time since I was able to go all out like this," laughed the Orc noble, slamming its sword into the ground. "Likewise," replied Hisashi, dodging the attack before slashing at the Orc noble''s head. "Fast, however it seems that something is holding you back," grunted the Orc noble, meeting Hisashi''s blade with its own. "Indeed, however it is expected that a handicap be given to an opponent such as yourself," smiled Hisashi, before kicking off the ground, driving the Orc noble back several feet. The ground beneath them began to give way due to the shockwaves caused by their attacks. Several orcs were caught in between the crossfire, dying before they could even realize what was going on. ''Contractor, my time here is not long. The flesh you have offered me is not enough for me to partake in this fight much longer,'' sounded Hisashi''s voice in Gray''s mind. "Fuck," Gray''s attention was drawn to the fight between Hisashi and the Orc noble. Their fighting had created a crater at the center of the battlefield, both beasts exchanging blows in what seemed to be a slugfest. ''I have to end this now,'' realized Gray, before weaving through the enemy ranks, their attacks so slow that it seemed as if they were stuck in frame. "The Orc noble, aim for him," shouted Gray as he swung his blade towards the Orc noble''s head. "Very well master," replied Tesse before changing aim towards the Orc noble. The Orc noble was pushed back, dealing with two enemies and a sniper proved to be difficult, even for a beast such as itself. "Do not underestimate me you fleas," the Orc noble''s guttural roar shook the very ground, its size increasing nearly twofold as it began to glow a bright red. "Seriously, fuck nobles," sighed Gray as he jumped a few spaces back, creating some distance between him and the newly overpowered orc. ''My bloodlust mode isn''t going to last forever, and Hisashi will probably despawn in a few more minutes,'' thought Gray as he barely managed to dodge one of the Orc nobles swings. ''The T-1 anti-tank rifle will probably be enough to injure it, but the problem is its mobility. If we could only hold him down long enough for him to get hit then I''d be able to deal with him no problem,'' "Master!" "Huh?" before Gray realized what was happening, the tip of the Orc noble''s greatsword erupted from the ground beneath him, puncturing through his black suit right through his leg. The Orc noble wasted no time, charging towards Gray before his suit had the chance to fix itself. "You forget that this is not a one-on-one," interfered Hisashi, slashing at the Orc noble''s legs as it turned its focus towards Gray. "Annoying," grunted the Orc noble as Hisashi''s blade deflected off its suit, before plunging its greatsword into the ground once more. The tip of the blade came rushing out from the ground beneath Hisashi, nearly puncturing his legs as well. "It seems my time has come to an end," whispered Hisashi as his form began to flicker, signifying he was reaching his max summon time. "Hisashi, hold him down! Now!" ordered Gray, before sending a flurry of crimson red energy waves towards the beast. "A futile resistance," snorted the Orc noble before blocking every single blast with its sword. Meanwhile, the orc''s numbers were steadily decreasing, while the number of wooden cross structures gradually increased in number. "Indeed, the lord will be happy today. So many of his creations will know his pain," smiled Armin as another orc was crucified on a wooden structure, a white light engulfing it leaving nothing behind. "Do you think you will be able to hold me down in this form?" asked the Orc noble as Hisashi tried to hold it down. "No, but these might," shouted Gray, before throwing a dagger with chains attached to its hilt towards Hisashi. Hisashi caught them mid-air, wrapping them around the Orc noble''s neck. "Get off me," roared the Orc, elbowing Hisashi away. ''Until next time contractor,'' resounded Hisashi''s voice before disappearing into thin air. "Just die," shouted Gray as he pulled the other end of the chain, creating spikes on the surface of the chain wrapped around the Orc noble''s neck. "I''ll Ki-" before it could finish its sentence, two Mythril silver arms wrapped around its neck, suffocating it even more. "Michael, don''t let go," shouted Eleanour. "Now! Do it!" shouted Gray after, he could feel his bloodlust mode wearing off, and with it the strength it granted. "Yes master," replied Tesse, before firing at the Orc noble. The bullet hit it square in the face, gouging a massive hole in its flesh that continued to grow in size. "F-finally," sighed Gray, a tired look on his face as he held the wound on his leg. Right as Gray was about to limp away, Michael came crashing into the ground next to him. "N-no fucking way," smiled Gray, an amused look on his face as he watched the orc stand up, despite the massive hole in its face. "Enough, rest now." smile Armin from behind the beast. Before it had the chance to raise its fist, glowing yellow chains wrapped around its arms, holding it back. With its strength greatly reduced, it couldn''t get free, its thrashing and jerking unable to break the chain''s hold. "Crucify," The Orc''s body was chained to a wooden structure that had appeared behind it, before a white light engulfed it completely. As it was being disintegrated, it made no sound, no cries of pain, or sign of resistance. In fact, it seemed to smile towards the end, its facial expression showing signs of relief. [Congratulations on completing the Tower of the Lapsus.] [Your rewards shall be processed shortly.] [Item shop Level 2 has been opened.] [Proceed outside the tower for your final announcement.] announced the autonomous voice as a blue portal appeared in front of the remaining survivors. ============================== Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen An End (2) Gray''s laughter filled the void of silence that had overcome the battleground, his face twisted in a look of pure bliss as he limped towards the Orc noble''s corpse. "That was the most fun I''ve had in a while. I could almost taste death" laughed Gray as he stabbed his crimson red katana into the Orc noble''s neck, confirming its death. Its blood slowly seeped into the sword, leaving it an oversized skin bag. Its once bulging muscles now mere bones. [Blood of higher quality has been used to upgrade theMighty Sword Blood Replica] [Blood qualityuncommon, several new features have been unlocked.] [Bloodlust Modehas been upgraded. Blood price reduced and stat multiplier has been increased to 1.9] [New Mode unlockedBlood Demon Mode. Mode increases stat multiplier to 2.2, however, blood price is steep.] [Might drainskill unlocked. Mighty Sword now drains a portion of the stats of those it slays, effect lasts 60 seconds from the time of kill.] [Power has been stolen fromMighty Sword Original, its wielder seeks revenge.] This was the longest the voice in Gray''s head had ever spoken, and at the same time, the happiest its words had ever made him. "Master, watch out!" warned Tesse as Gray drooled over his new strength. *Ting* The sound of metal hitting metal rang throughout the battleground. Gray had just barely managed to blockMichael ''s attack, and with his injured leg, he was struggling to hold the mecha back. *Shchwa* Tesse shot at the Mecha, tearing a hole in its armor. However even as the corruption tried to spread, the runes on the mecha seemed to dissolve the black goo upon contact, destroying the corrupting effect before slowly closing the hole. "I must say, it''s a shame to kill such an interesting specimen. I was hoping we could play together a bit, however orders are orders," mused Armin as he approached Gray, his hands folded behind his back in a priestly way. Michael gave Gray no respite, constantly slashing its sword at him with incredible force. Gray felt nauseous, he had used quite a large amount of blood to pay the blood price forBloodlust Mode , and the wound the Orc noble had given him didn''t seem to be closing. In fact, the pain that exuded from it seemed to increase by the second. *ting* *ting* *ting* Sparks flew as their swords clashed, with every encounter Gray''s swings seemed to weaken, and Armin kept creeping closer, a lustful smile on his face. ''It seems these guys are really out to kill me. But why? I''ve never even met them before,'' pondered Gray as sweat dripped down his face, his vision slowly becoming blurry as he tried to focus on the enemy in front of him. ''Fuck, I have to get out of here. That guy is bad news,'' thought Gray as he eyed Armin approach him from behindMichael . *Shchwa* Another ball of thick black goo went hurling towardsMichael tearing yet another hole in its armor. ''There''s a 15-second interval between her shots, and it takes this thing approximately 7 seconds to heal itself. It seems to be immobile during the healing process,'' thought Gray as he used this chance to limp backward, creating some space between Armin and himself. ''That guy''s ability has to have an effective range, otherwise, he would have just killed me from where he stood,'' continued Gray, tightening the grip on his sword. ''If everything adds up, I only have to fight this thing for 8 seconds before she fires another shot and stalls it. However, this assumes that ammo is infinite. It seems I really can''t fight these guys,'' realized Gray as the mecha charged towards him once more, fully healed of its injuries. "Aim for the nun, kill the summoner, kill the summon," shouted Gray, prompting Tesse to change targets. "Fuck" exclaimed Eleanour, realizing that the battleground was a wide-open plain, with no places to hide. "Michael! To me!" ordered Eleanour, promptingMichael to run to her side. "Now, let''s have some fun," struggled Gray, his voice a hoarse whisper. "You can barely stand. At this point, you''re nothing more than a broken toy, it seems that all that strength you wielded earlier came at a price," smiled Armin, his pace constant as he made a beeline towards Gray. "I always hated priests," snorted Gray as he formed a crimson red dagger in his left hand before throwing it towards Armin. "A pathetic attempt," laughed Armin as glowing yellow chains emerged from the air behind him, blocking the attack. "The lord protects me," ''I have to get out of here, I can''t hold out much longer,'' strained Gray, the world around him now a complete blur. Tesse tried to approach him, but the second she stopped threatening Eleanour with her rifle,Michael would try charging at Gray. She was stuck in a checkmate, so Gray was left all alone, forced to deal with the enemy in front of him. "I-I survived. I-I can''t believe it!" cried Silas. Everybody had forgotten about his presence. He had broken down into tears right before the fight against the Orc noble and had only now just spoken. "Food," smiled Gray, changing the katana in his hand into a dagger and attaching a chain at its hilt before throwing it towards Silas. Silas was defenseless, his eyes wide in sheer confusion as the dagger approached him. *Schluck* The dagger punctured his throat, draining all the blood that gurgled out. His body fell limp to the ground, his eyes still open in bewilderment. [Might drainactivated, {+2 agility}, {+4 strength}, {+1stamina}, {+7 attack force}.] resounded the voice in Gray''s head. A faint red glow emanated from Gray''s body, stopping Armin in his tracks. "It seems you still have a few tricks up your sleeve," ''Eleanour''s summon is about to time out, and I''m not confident I can take on that sniper as well as this boy alone. Sigh, it seems that killing him will be more difficult than I thought,'' thought Armin as he kept his distance, trying to figure out what Gray was up to before recklessly charging in. ============================== Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Finale "C-Captain, you''re back," stuttered Clavin as Andre''s figure took form in place ofThe Ressurection Cube. Sophia stood a few feet away, tears still streaming down her face. "We los-" [Citizens of New Vautis, the gods greet you.] interrupted an autonomous voice. "It''s them again," murmured a few people in the crowd outside the tower, looking to the sky to see where the voice was coming from. [Congratulations on completing a tower, this is proof of your competence and will to survive.] continued the autonomous voice. "T-Then Captain must have completed the tower before dying," commented one of the Riot Guild members within the crowd. "As expected of the Captain," ''I-Impossible,'' thought Andre, his eyes wide in disbelief. [However, this is also proof that you no longer require system protections.] [By completing the tower, you have also completed your tutorial. As such, all tutorial restrictions shall now be removed.] [The gods have shown benevolence and protected you from outside threats, however, now you shall be left to fend for yourselves.] [Continue to survive, continue to climb the towers. There are divine rewards to be won and titles above mortal imagination to be had.] [The protective barrier will now be removed, venture out, seek glory and entertain the supreme ones,] with this the autonomous voice went quiet. A moment later, the light that had been illuminating from the top of the tower changed from blue to yellow. A translucent shell that seemed to cover the sky came undone, leaving the sky a brighter hue of blue. "Barrier?" "You didn''t know? Why do you think we stayed in this dump?" murmured a few people in the crowd once they realized that the barrier truly had been lifted. "Andre, w-what now?" asked Sophia, sniffling as she tried to suppress her sadness. *** ''Two more seconds. Her rifle should be up in two more seconds,'' thought Gray, his breathing now erratic as he used sheer willpower to stay conscious. "Eleanour perhap-" "Now!" interrupted Gray. As if capable of reading minds, Tesse fired her gun at Armin, prompting him to block them with his glowing chains. At the same time, Gray threw his dagger, aiming at the now defenseless Armin. *stab* "It seems I''ve underestimated you," laughed Armin, as blood dripped to the floor. In order to prevent a fatal injury, Armin blocked the incoming dagger with his right hand, allowing it to puncture through. ''If this goes on, we''ll fall before they do. It seems I''ll have to go with plan B, how troublesome,'' "Eleanour, we''ll be leaving," "B-Bu-" before Eleanour could refute, Armin started walking towards the open portal, pulling out the dagger from his hands before licking it. "I hope to see you soon," he said, smiling at Gray with drops of blood dripping down his mouth. "That was clos-," Gray fainted before he could finish his sentence. "Master," exclaimed Tesse as she ran towards Gray, the cub running clumsily behind her. Gray''s face looked pale, and the wound on his leg seemed to have some sort of earth-like substance preventing the suit from healing itself. Tesse hovered her hands above his body, a luminescence engulfing her body as she healed Gray. "Well done," commented Gray once he had gained consciousness. Tesse on the other hand fell to the ground, the surge of weakness that overcame her caused her body to give out on her. "Hmm, it seems my injuries were too much for you to handle," "Right now we need to collect the loot and get out of here. Perhaps a healing potion will hel-" as Gray looked through the item shop he noticed a few new items that weren''t there before. ''Item shop level 2 huh,'' thought Gray inwardly as he eyed a 10 000 Arcanian point item. ''New Vautis Visual System, why would a single item cost so many points?'' wondered Gray before looking at his balance. ''As a top contributor, it seems I''ve gained 15 000 Arcanian points. Killing the noble was well worth it,'' thought Gray as he pondered on whether or not to buy the item. "First things first, the health potion," a bottle containing a red liquid appeared in his hands, its crimson red color exciting him slightly. "T-Thank you master," blushed Tesse as Gray poured the liquid into her mouth, putting her head onto his lap. "Crush all their skulls and collect the gemstones. We might need them later," ordered Gray, standing up before walking towards the Orc noble''s corpse. "Yes master," replied Tesse, her face still flustered from lying on Gray''s lap. "Use this," said Gray as he formed a crimson red Warhammer in his left hand before tossing it to Tesse. "Understood," "Now, time to reap the fruits of my struggle," smiled Gray as he picked up the greatsword the Orc noble was carrying, carefully studying the runes etched along its length. "A brown gemstone, huh. Must be earth related," murmured Gray as he recalled the black gem embedded in the silver sword he got from the Goblin noble. Since he had grown accustomed to the structure of runes, he was able to memorize them after only a few minutes, saving them in his brain for later use. "I can''t be walking around with such a huge sword," decided Gray, before carving the brown gemstone out with a dagger and pocketing it. ''I should probably leave the silver sword as is. There might come a time when my powers will be unresponsive, and it would be a shame to be left without a weapon because of that,'' thought Gray as he retrieved his silver sword from the T-1 anti-tank rifle. "Master, I''ve collected all the gemstones," smiled Tesse, drops of blood covering her hair and face as she held a pile of green gemstones in her arms. "Very well," replied Gray, staring at the Orc noble''s black suit with eyes full of greed. *** "Look. What''s that?" shouted one of the Riot Guild members pointing to something in the sky. A single human-looking figure hovered in the air, its white robe flapping in the wind. "Hear my words, humans," announced the figure, its voice seemed amplified, like it was coming out of some high-end speakerphone. "You shall no longer intrude on Elven land. Submit now, or face our wrath" continued the figure, before a giant fireball the size of a football field appeared behind it, its heat causing ripples in the air. Finale ================================================================ [System Information.] The Ressurection Cube An item created by Sophia''s ability. It has the power to create a savepoint for any individuals saved in its data crystal, allowing them to respawn after death. However, all experience, gain in stats, and rewards will be forfeited. All stats and levels will revert back to that saved at the time of its creation. The material it is made of is currently unknown, however, experiments done by Sophia show that they can be broken and possibly tampered with. Making them very dangerous if not held and protected by friendly forces. ============================== Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Volume 2 coming soon… Volume 1 has come to an end. However, this is not the end of the road for the novel, actually far from it. This is just the beginning. I want to thank all those who have supported the novel until now. I''m grateful to have been blessed with such an active community. There have been very few chapters without comments, which has greatly helped me improve the novel. I''ve added a few features towards the end, as I''m sure many of you have noticed. For example, I''ve put important items, skill names, and other important names in these brackets. I''ve also added a [System Information] section at the end, which will appear in all chapters. This is to avoid information dumps, but at the same time give more information to those who are willing to read it. No, it does not eat off chapter length, the chapter lengths will be the same, this is just an addition on top of that. Let me know if these new additions are bothersome. I still have a few things to finalize for volume 2, hopefully, I get a proofreader and editor to help me out as I want to improve on the quality of my writing. Anyway, expect Volume 2 to be more diverse. We''re being flung into an open world now, so hopefully Gray gets into more bloody funfuckery, lol. Until then, see you guys. :3 ============================== Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Volume 2: Rise of the Blood King Do you bleed? Oh, how exciting... ============================== Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen System Introductions "Master, is something the matter?" asked Tesse, tilting her head to the side in a curious gesture. ''Buying this item while I have no idea of its function is a huge gamble. However, will I ever get a chance like this again?'' pondered Gray, ignoring Tesse''s question. ''Sure, buying elixirs seems like the safer option. However, I''m fairly certain I can gain a 1000 Arcanian points without too much effort. And this item might greatly increase my fighting power, which is something I''ll need if I''m ever to hunt a noble without outside help'' "Master?" "Then it''s settled," murmured Gray as he tapped on theNew Vautis Visual Systemoption within the item shop''s list. A stream of red light circled around him, engulfing him in a warm radiance before his vision went black for a split second. "Hmm, interesting," murmured Gray, looking at the many tabs that now floated within his vision. "Is something the matter?" asked Tesse, worry fraught on her face. "It''s just like a game," whispered Gray, raising his index finger in the air as if trying to tap on something. [Player stats] read the pop-up that came into Gray''s view after tapping a button with the same name. [Gray Verlice] [Level 1: 0/100] [Mana points: 100/100] [Safe Blood meter: 100%] ~Stats~ [Agility: 10 {15}] [Strength: 12 {18}] [Stamina: 8 {12] [Attack force: 3 {4.5}] [Karma: 0] ~Abilities~ [He who pleasures death lvl.1 {2/3}: 0/100] [Blood weapons lvl.1: 0/5] [Hisashi Miyamoto Summon lvl.3: 0/10] ~Race~ [Demon Thrall: Rank Servus] "It seems I''m no longer human. That explains the increased bloodlust," murmured Gray before tapping the pop-up out of view. "Go into your item shop and buy the New Vautis Visual System" ordered Gray. "Understood master," replied Tesse, dropping the pile of gemstones to the ground. A stream of yellow light circled around her, briefly covering her in a faint glow before dimming. "Tap on the Player stats option and read them out to me," [Tesse Alrein] [Level 1: 0/100] [Mana points: 0/100] ~Stats~ [Agility: 6] [Strength: 9] [Stamina: 5] [Attack force: 1] [Karma: 0] ~Abilities~ [God''s salvation: 0/100] ~Race~ [Human] "Your stats aren''t that far below mine without the effects of the suit," murmured Gray in a ponderous tone. "Take the suit off the Orc noble. I want to test something," ordered Gray, prompting Tesse to remove the suit off the noble''s shriveled-up body without a moment''s delay. "It''s just as I thought," commented Gray as the suit shrunk to Tesse''s size as she held it out in front of him. ''Although the Goblin noble and I were nearly the same size, I often pondered why the suit fit me so perfectly. So it really does resize itself to fit the weare-'' "Master," interrupted Tesse, a confused expression on her face. "What is it?" "It seems the suit''s specification popped up on my... on my screen?" replied Tesse, struggling to make out the last part. "And what does it say?" [Ranger Suit: Orc origin] [Rank: Corporal] [Adds x1.6 stat multiplier.] [Negates weak damage and tier 1 spells and below.] "So the stat multiplier is higher, huh. No wonder it felt harder to defeat even though its swordsmanship was subpar compared to the Goblin noble," commented Gray, before unzipping his suit. "M-Master," blushed Tesse, a small tinge of lust visible on her face. "Wear this," ordered Gray before grabbing the suit in Tesse''s hands. ''Master''s warmth,'' shivered Tesse in excitement as she felt Gray''s residue body heat from the Goblin noble''s suit. "This is good," whispered Gray, confirming that his stats had increased appropriately. "Based on the way they retreated, they''re probably waiting for us outside," "Using the T-1 anti-tank riflein close combat isn''t plausible. Take this instead," said Gray, handing her his silver sword. "I couldn''t possibly tak-" "Using a static weapon doesn''t really fit my fighting style," interrupted Gray, before unleashing the Mighty sword from his mark, grabbing it in his right hand. The mighty sword had strange runes etched along its length, with a circular depression at the crossguard. "Now the finishing touches," whispered Gray as he placed the brown gemstone in its slot. [Mighty Sword Blood Replica: Earth shatter Enchantment] read the pop-up that appeared into view. [Blood drain: drains the blood of foes it slays.] [Earth shatter: unleashes powerful shockwaves within the ground, causing it to rupture.] [Earth''s curse: Prevents automatic healing until it has been dispelled.] ''This will do well for AOE damage, however, I''ll use that enchantment as a last resort.'' ''Although I can claim the souls of those that fall to the rupture, I won''t be able to see their faces or bathe in their blood if they fall in,'' smiled Gray, his blood rushing at the thought of seeing their fear fraught faces. "Let''s head o- hmm where will I put these gemstones," hesitated Gray, after remembering the pile of gemstones that lay on the floor. "How convenient," smiled Gray as he noticed an inventory tab in his newly augmented vision. A new pop-up emerged into view after tapping on it. [StoreMighty Sword Blood Replica: Earth shatter Enchantment?] prompted the pop-up. Gray crouched over, placing his hand on the pile of gemstones. [Store x116 Orc soulstones?] prompted the pop-up. Once Gray tapped the accept option, all 116 gemstones disappeared leaving sparkles of blue dust behind. The appropriate amount showed up in his inventory, forming a smile on his face. "Let''s head out," ordered Gray, placing the crimson red long sword into the scabbard on his back. Tesse followed suit, placing the silver sword into the scabbard on her back as well, before picking the cub into her arms. [Tower clearer Title has been added to Title list.] announced the voice in Gray and Tesse''s mind as they walked through the portal. "What''s going on here?" asked Gray as he stared at the state of the town. The ground was scorched black, with several charred corpses littered about. Buildings had been reduced to rubble, and the once crowded portal was now left desolate. "I found survivors," shouted a slender-looking male. He wore a green tunic and had a bow on his back. His high cheekbones and long pointy ears made Gray aware of what he was at first glance. However, unlike the usual amiable nature they were depicted with in fantasy media, this one was covered in what looked to be blood, giving him a dangerous aura. ============================================= [System Information.] God''s salvation This is currently Tesse''s one and only ability. As of yet not much about it is known about it, however it has shown to have tremendous healing effects. Capable of saving a person mere inches away from death. Its side effects however increase in proportion to the damage healed, draining Tesse of mana points, and eating away at her life force if the mana points she currently has are insufficient. Tesse has grown accustomed to the side effects of her ability, allowing her to will through the nausea. ============================== Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Elven Slaughter "Over here!" Dozens of elven troops began approaching the two, their faces covered in blood, and eyes stone cold. "This is interesting," murmured Gray as a few elven troops began drawing their bows. "Atta-" *stab* Gray threw a crimson red throwing knife at the elf who was about to give the attack order, confusing the other elves as to what had just happened. The elf in question began spasming on the floor. Although the knife had punctured his throat, his death wasn''t instant. Unable to scream for help all he could do was let the blood bubble out of his throat as he held onto it tightly. "So they do bleed red," commented Gray, shattering the strange silence that had overcome the battlefield. "Don''t touch them, they''re all mine," smiled Gray, before drawing out his long sword and rushing towards the group of elves. "Attack," shouted another elf once he had realized that they were being attacked. The elven archers released a volley of arrows towards Tesse and Gray, while the other elves charged as well. ''A bit above the average meal, but still generally weak,'' thought Gray as he sliced an elf''s head off, dodging the falling arrows as if they were moving in slow motion. Although his initial speed was something the elves could keep up with, his ability to change weapons on the fly became a dangerous variable when engaging in combat with him. Soon the elven casualties began to take a steep rise as Gray increased in speed and strength. HisMight Drainskill now temporarily gave him +10 additional points in agility, strength, and stamina, and +3 points in attack force. "W-We can''t fight this, he''s at least silver rank" stuttered one of the elves as he watched his comrades get torn to shreds, by what now looked to be a black blur of death. "R-Retreat! Get the mages, this isn''t something we can hand-" "As if I''d let you," smiled Gray as he stood over that elf''s now headless body. "Mages would be a bit... tricky," commented Gray casually as he drained the elf''s blood, leaving it a pale shriveled up corpse. "I''m done with my experiments. Apart from your increased speed, it doesn''t seem as if there''s anything particularly different about you," said Gray as he turned the long sword in his hand into a pistol, before shooting at the remaining troops. "Crush their skulls, look for soulstones," ordered Gray as he turned the pistol back into a longsword before placing it into its scabbard. ''Might Drainis a really good skill when I''m facing multiple weak opponents, though I guess it wouldn''t be much help if I was facing one overwhelming opponent,'' thought Gray as he felt his gained stats slowly disappear. "Master, they don''t seem to have soulstones," shouted Tesse from where she was, a cracked open skull rested underneath her heel, and pink pieces of brain matter sprayed onto her face. "I expected as much. The nobles didn''t have them either. It would seem intelligent beings don''t have such stones," replied Gray, more to himself than towards Tesse. ''As much as it saddens me to leave behind prey, I''m not sure how strong these mages they spoke of are. And if they were the ones responsible for this carnage-'' thought Gray as he looked at the scorched earth around him. ''-then it would be best to avoid fighting an unknown number of them,'' "Search them for any valuables and we''ll be on our way," "Yes master," After a few minutes Tesse came back, dried blood glued to the arms of her suit as if she had been picking through a pool of blood. "I''ve found several keepsakes such as pictures and jewelry, as well as pouches filled with gold coins," reported Tesse, holding out the items for Gray to see. "Throw away the pictures and store the rest in your inventory," replied Gray, his attention drawn to the black cub. ''I guess it''s common for big cats to eat meat,'' thought Gray as he watched the cub tear away at one of the fallen elves'' shriveled up corpses. "Let''s head out before their reinforcements arrive here," As Gray and Tesse snuck through town -making sure to hide in the shadows of massive buildings, and behind large structures- they realized that the entire city had been overrun. A few humans had been chained up and walked in a single file, accompanied by guards on every side as if they were prisoners. Among them were the Hephaestus members, including their captain. Their faces looked clean, and not a spot of blood could be seen on their clothes. ''They had probably begged for mercy,'' snorted Gray as he ran past them, his black suit making him look like a shadow as he bolted past several buildings in a few breaths. "Stop," whispered Gray once they had reached the outskirts of the town. Now all that lay in front of them was the forest. However blocking their path was a large company of elves, and at the very back was a black-haired elf wearing a long white robe. "Hmm, this probably won''t work but it''s worth a try," whispered Gray as he formed a crimson red M107 Semi-Automatic Long Range Sniper Rifle and looked through its scope. *Shtau* "Just like I thought,'' sighed Gray. The mage had instinctively cast some sort of spell, causing multiple blue hexagrams to appear out of thin air, deflecting the bullet. "Stay here and try sniping while I distract them. If I fall come in and drag me out," ordered Gray, before pulling the silver sword from Tesse''s scabbard and holding it in one hand, while pulling the crimson red one in his and holding it in the other. ''Time to test out my upgrades,'' smiled Gray, his eyes a red stream as he dashed towards the elven forces. ============================================== [System Information] Shadowrunner A cat-like magical beast that is naturally found in magical forests. They may consume flesh, however, prefer soulstones above all. Soulstones increase their potential allowing them to evolve into other forms later on in their development. However, since many of the hunter demi-humans -such as orcs- hunt them for sport, their numbers have greatly reduced. Futhermore, forming bonds with them is highly difficult, as such they are not widely viewed as familiar beasts. Check Beastly records for more information. ============================== Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Blade of Cimmerian Shade (1) "It seems there''s an intruder to the northwest," commented the white-robed mage to a dark elf woman standing behind him. "He seems quite confident in his strength as well, that or he''s merely an imbecile," replied the elven woman coldly. She had a slender frame, with high cheekbones, and ears longer than that of a regular elf. Unlike the other elves, she wore a black tunic and had an equally black sword strapped to her waist, its scabbard decorated with multiple runes. One of her long slender arms reached down for the obsidian sword, her hands gently caressing its hilt as she pondered on whether or not to go. "Magus Sirfene, we request your help in taking down the enemy," reported an elven soldier, sweat dripping down his face as he tried to catch his breath. "Is he really so powerful that you request the help of a Magus? After all, if I act merely because one person is attacking, then the other factions will take it as a sign of weakness among her majesty''s troops," replied Sirfene with a bored expression on his face. "He seems to be a magical swordsman of some sort. Both his blades are enchanted, and his speed increases by the minute. At this rate, the whole western column will fall if we don''t act now," continued the guard, trying his best not to sound imposing. "To think our elven troops only amount to this much," sighed Sirfene. "He''s merely human and you say you are unable to take him on?" he continued in a tired tone. "A-About that. It seems he''s a vampire, all his victims have been robbed of their blood, which may explain why he''s becoming more powerful as time goes by," replied the soldier. As he gave his report, the black blur of death seemed to be moving closer. The moist ground now had a thin layer of blood flowing atop it, like the beginnings of a mighty stream. "I''ll go," interrupted the dark elf flatly. "Artemis, although her majesty allowed you to take part in this quest, need I remind you that you are still a child birthed by the late queen. If anything were to happen to your other sisters, you would have to ascend to the throne. As such I cannot allow you to battle an unknown enemy, especially one being suspected of being a vampire at t-" Before the mage could finish his lecture, the dark elf disappeared from his side, turning into a black blur herself. "Hmm? What''s this?" smiled Gray as he noticed that one elf seemed to be moving faster than the others. *Ting* Sparks flew as their two blades met, the smaller dark elf being pushed back by the force of the collision. "Strong," whispered the dark elf under her breath, before unleashing the blade from its scabbard. "Oh, was your blade not drawn?" asked Gray excitedly as he chopped off the head of an oncoming elf, without so much as looking at him. ''Yes, this ought to be fun. She looks like a proud one, I wonder what face she''ll make once I defeat her. Oh, to see her blood on my hands as she begs for mercy,'' thought Gray, his blood rushing even faster as Artemis looked at him with defiant eyes. However Gray''s nonchalant attitude changed once her blade was fully unleashed. An inky black cloud oozed from the blade, completely covering the elven woman''s figure, making her hard to see even though it was mid-afternoon. The scabbard which had been containing the sword turned into the same inky black substance, floating beside her as if it were a tentacle. However, this sudden change wasn''t what gained Gray''s attention. What caused Gray''s distress was the sudden flare of screams that echoed in his head. It was as if the sleeping specters had been woken from their slumber. The blade in front of him seemed to anger them, causing them to lash out at Gray''s consciousness. ''What the fuck! I fed them their souls, why are they angry?'' asked Gray, looking to the demon for answers. ''It seems you have no luck lap dog. That''s theCimmerian Shade, the 9th blade that seals Amaymon,'' replied the demon, audibly struggling to hold the specters at bay as well. ''You''d do well to flee. Although she doesn''t seem to be a thrall, her blade still ranks higher than yours. If you fight against her now, there will be nothing left for me to take over,'' warned the demon. "F-Fuck" struggled Gray, the specters were weighing down on his ability to think, making it hard for him to even move. "You don''t seem to be a vampire," commented Artemis casually, her black cloud forming several tentacle-like limbs. "However, for attacking our troops, you will have to pay in blood," After saying this, eight black limbs rushed towards him, each one having razor-sharp tips. "S-Shatter!" shouted Gray as he stabbed his crimson sword into the ground. "Get back!" warned the elven troops who were closing in on Gray as the ground beneath them opened wide, swallowing several soldiers. Artemis seemed to predict what would happen and had already moved a suitable distance away. However even as she moved, her black limbs continued their advance on Gray, cutting and slicing away at his flesh, even through the black suit. ''M-Make them stop!'' shouted Gray inwardly, fighting against her already seemed tricky enough as it was, however with the specters screaming in his head, it felt like an impossible task. ''Kuk, if I had a way of doing that don''t you think it would''ve done it already?'' asked the demon sarcastically, trying to shoulder its share of the burden. "How boring," sighed Artemis. Her earlier attacks were merely cantrips meant to probe Gray''s abilities, however now she felt fairly certain that Gray was just a mindless brute who happened to stumble upon some power. With that in mind, she was ready to finish him off with the next move. "Get rid of him," she ordered, and the black tentacles around her merged into one massive limb, its sharpened end pointing towards Gray''s head like a missile ready to fire. ============================== [System Information] Cimmerian Shade On the brink of near extinction, The Arcanian King- Leonidas XVI- called for ten blades to be forged. Using ancient- and long forgotten- forging techniques, the blades were crafted with demonic materials, some say that even human souls were incorporated as well. These blades were used to seal the catastrophe that breathed down the neck of his kingdom, the high demon Amaymon. Of these ten blades, Cimmerian Shadeis the 9th. It has the ability to control a black corrosive mist, changing it to any form desired by the wielder. In terms of power it ranks 9th, it is said that the black mist is the very blood of the demon it seals. ============================== Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Blade of Cimmerian Shade (2) "F-Fuck," Gray just barely managed to get his blades up in time, but even then, he still suffered substantial damage. A gaping hole bled at the side of his ribs, sending out searing jolts of pain as the warm afternoon wind blew past it. Although the rupture he had created with his sword temporarily prevented elven soldiers from surrounding him, it was only a matter before they found another way around it. "Master!" shouted Tesse as a bullet went hurling towards Artemis. "It seems you have a friend," whispered Artemis, her black tentacle effortlessly blocking the bullet. ''I h-have to m- Fu#$#@$%'' Gray''s thoughts became unintelligent screams. The burden of containing so many souls finally overcame him, his sanity lost in the pool of specters. As Tesse ran towards Gray, ignoring the look Artemis was giving her, she noticed something was off. Gray had stopped moving, he simply stood there, blood dripping down his side at a dangerous rate. [S-Sytem error.] Read a pop-up that came into Gray''s view, glitching as if a virus had infected it. [Gray Verlice{Possesed}] [Level 1: 0/100] [Mana points: 100/100] [Safe Blood meter: 0%] ~Stats~ [Agility: 20 {32}] [Strength: 24 {38.4}] [Stamina: 16 {25.6] [Attack force: 6 {9.6}] [Karma: -25] ~Abilities~ [He who pleasures death lvl.1 {2/3}: 0/100] [Blood weapons lvl.1: 0/5] [Hisashi Miyamoto Summon lvl.3: 0/10] ~Race~ [Demon Specter] Right as Tesse was about to touch Gray, a blood-curling shriek made her shudder away. The shriek in question came from none other than Gray himself, his white hair masking his face, "M-Mas-" before Tesse could finish her sentence, a silver blade came crashing towards her, severing her left arm before she even knew what happened. "Souls," The voice that came out didn''t sound human, it sounded like the chorus of a million hungry animals howling in unison. "To think you''d attack your o-" Artemis''s words were brought to a halt when she saw Gray disappear right in front of her eyes. "Where did h- Run! Run away now!" she shouted. However it was too late, several elf heads lobbed to the ground simultaneously, their bloodless bodies falling to the floor with a thud. "Souls," howled Gray once more as he stared at the rest of the elven soldiers with pitch-black eyes. "D-D-Demon," stuttered an elf, before being relieved of his head. "Hold him down!" ordered Artemis, sending out her black tendril. *Stab* Gray took on the full brunt of her attack, blood gushing from the hole it had punctured on his back. However, even with the black tentacle still impaled in his body, he continued his onslaught. His fighting style had become erratic, without form or care for self-protection. Although his speed now reached a level that those around him could not fathom, he didn''t seem to care about dodging attacks. As he decapitated as many elves as his blades would allow him, he received an equal number of hits, however, due to the black suit, the damage he received was minimal. "Retreat, get away from him," ordered Artemis, the number of bodies that now littered the ground was nearing a hundred. *Crack* As the elves tried to retreat, Gray stabbed his crimson sword into the ground, opening a gaping hole within the earth that swallowed the retreating elves. Artemis withdrew her tentacle, before dividing it into eight parts and sending them all towards Gray. "Argha" shrieked Gray, sending out crimson-black waves of energy that corrupted their way through the black tentacles. "A corruption rune," murmured Artemis under her breath as she glanced at the shimmering black rune attached to the silver sword. "Shryah hash kesh," screamed Gray, before releasing the same crimson wave of energy in circular pulses, killing all the elves in close vicinity. "Enough of this," boomed a powerful voice. "Magus Sirfene," cried some of the elven soldiers in relief as a white-robed elf floated on top of the battlefield. However Gray did not stop his rampage, the number of casualties continued to rise, his speed faster than ever before. "I said stop," shouted Sirfene once again, before a blue pentagram appeared on the ground below Gray, releasing several chains that wrapped around his arms and legs, holding him down. ''If I use AOE spells our troops will definitely get caught in the blast. Anyway, I didn''t expect such an interesting person to be hiding amongst the humans'' thought Sirfene as he descended a few meters away from Gray, right next to Artemis. As he lashed and jerked to get free of his restraints, the chains that bound him only tightened their grip, until he didn''t even have enough space to move a muscle. *Stab* All eight of Artemis''s tentacles stabbed into Gray''s body, puncturing him from all sides. Blood gushed from all his wounds, before finally, his lashing stopped. "Well done princess. However I''ll still be reporting your insubordination to her majesty," commented Sirfene tiredly, before turning around. "Gather the wounded, we''ll be retreating for today," ordered Artemis. "Watch out there princess," warned Sirfene as a blue pentagram appeared at the side of Artemis''s head, blocking the bullet that nearly ended her life. "Death, death to all of you," screamed Tesse wildly, the sight of Gray being impaled driving her past the point of insanity. "Kukk," muttered Artemis before sending her tentacles towards Tesse. "Huh, what''s going on," whispered a few soldiers, staring at Gray''s lifeless body with confused expressions. Red mist evaporated from his body, covering the battlefield in the smell of blood. ''Now that I think of it, it''s kind of odd. There are so many dead bodies but not a single drop of blood,'' thought Sirfene, before turning around quickly. "Princess get back!" [Bloodlust Mode activated. Blood lust has reached critical level. Warning, excessive use of this mode exponentially increases the blood price toll. A sacrifice must be offered before the blood lust expires or the full toll will be paid by the user.] ====================================== [System Information] [Specters] Specters are the formless residents of the underworld. They are the products of chaos and destruction, not even the 9 high demons have control over them. Souls are required in order to return them to the [Great Cycle], however being the selfish beings they are, the 9 high demons tasked their thralls with this job. Specters will eat away at their host''s consciousness, before being let out into the conscious world, destroying any living thing in its sights. They are a form of corruption, that eventually being an end to the world. See more information in the Book of The Non-Living... ============================== Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen 『Mist of the Legion』 "Sikesh," shrieked Gray, before a black goo emerged from the black gem embedded in his silver sword. "How isn''t he dead?" wondered Artemis, constantly stabbing at Gray with her tentacles, however despite his gruesome injuries, he continued struggling. After several seconds, the blue chains that held Gray down had completely dissolved under the influence of the black goo. At this point, the red mist that propagated from his skin now shrouded the battlefield in near darkness. "Princess, get out of the mist," shouted Sirfene, for the first time showing signs of panic. ''I don''t know any wind spells. If this mist is what I think it is, then we''ve already lost this battle,'' thought Sirfene as he ascended into the air. "Hahaha," laughed Gray, although the primary voice sounded like the echo of a collective of beings, amongst the different voices, one could clearly hear Gray''s own laugh. "W-What''s going on?" coughed Artemis, the mist made it harder for her to breath, and a searing pain began radiating from her lungs. "H-Hel-" the muffled screams of elven troops began filling the air, playing a symphony of suffering and despair to the rest of their comrades. "Souls," echoed Gray''s voice, it sounded as if he were everywhere at once, steadily approaching. ''I have to get out of here,'' thought Artemis as she began making a break for it. She couldn''t afford to aimlessly send out her tentacles for fear of killing her own men. "P-Please, s-sp-" another elf''s voice ended in what sounded like the gurgling of blood. The mist became thicker with every kill, what started of as a mere red fog, was now a crimson red blanket that hampered vision so much that Artemis could barely see her own hands. The screams of dying elves soon died down, now not a single sound could be heard within the cloud of red. Only Artemis remained. "Souls," although Gray''s voice sounded like a collection of beings, this sound actually sounded like it came from more than one source. Something about it made Artemis''s skin crawl. "Souls," shouted the voices once more, before a horde of dried-up, headless elves lunged towards Artemis. "What the-", although they were a large number, due to their dried up muscles they didn''t quite pack a punch, merely causing a few scratches on Artemis''s face. "A necromancer?" whispered Artemis as she used her tentacles to move the moving corpses out of her way. "Souls!" right as Gray was about to stab through Artemis''s body, Sirfene came flying down, grabbing Artemis out of the way just in the nick of time. "T-Thank you Sirfene," stuttered Artemis as she looked to the ground. "What spell is this? It''s like a sea of blood," muttered Artemis in awe. The crimson blanket that covered the ground was so dense that it seemed fluid, almost as if a red sea had suddenly flooded the ground. "I don''t know princess, but whatever those things are, they aren''t undead," replied Sirfene with a grim look on his face. "What do you mean?" "Those things, they''re destroying the mana in the air. I have a hunch on what they are, however, there''s no way it could be what I''m thinking about," "Anyway, we''ll have to retreat for now. This wasn''t a complete failure at least. We can still report this to her majesty, something dangerous is brewing, and we ought to prepare for it," continued Sirfene as he flew through the sky, deeper into the forest. ''What is this?'' thought Tesse as she tried making out what was going on. *Miii* cried the cub at her feet, it seemed disturbed by the red mist. "We have to find the master," said Tesse, picking the cub into her arms before running through the mist. Her breathing had become labored, however, due to her healing ability, she could withstand the effects for a prolonged period of time. "Souls," shouted a dried-up elven corpse as it lunged towards her. "Huh," exclaimed Tesse, kicking the rather weak corpse away. "What''s going on here? Do they have the power to raise the dead?" wondered Tesse as she examined the corpse. "Souls!" screamed a dozen other dried-up corpses, all running towards Tesse. "You fucking scum, what have you done the master!" shouted Tesse, anger straining her voice to a near howl. She dropped the cub and lunged at the group of walking corpses, scratching and punching at them non-stop. However, even with her increased strength and healing, it seemed as if her life force was being dragged out of her. ''What the? Why isn''t my healing working?'' thought Tesse as she realized that her injuries weren''t healing as fast as they should''ve. After scuffling for a few moments, she finally dismembered and/or disabled every corpse in the vicinity. "I have to find the master quick," whispered Tesse, before picking up the cub and continuing her blinded search. "Souls," whispered another voice. This one had a distinct sound from the others, however, it sounded weaker, as if it were a flickering flame on the verge of being extinguished. "Master?" Two glowing black eyes pierced through the mist in front of her, before a familiar hand grabbed onto her shoulder. "W-What have they done to you," stuttered Tesse, both anger and sadness audible in her voice as tears began collecting at the rim of her eyes. "Souls," replied Gray weakly, a black network of veins expressing themselves on one half of his face. It seemed as if he had aged rapidly over this short period of time, where he should''ve looked like a healthy 17-year-old boy, he now looked 60, a certain ghastly paleness plaguing his skin. His touch seemed to suck the energy out of Tesse, even through her suit. "I-I''ll heal you, please wait master," said Tesse, fighting through the feeling of lethargy that came with his touch. As she raised her hands to Gray''s face, a bright light engulfed his body, healing him. "Souls! Souls! Souls! Souls!" as Tesse healed him, images of more than a million black specters filled her mind. Eating away at her consciousness. "M-Master," cried Tesse, tears now streaming down her face as she fought the urge to pass out. The specters screams flooded her mind, making her feel as if she were losing her own identity in a pool of lost apparitions. "Y-You''re safe," whispered Tesse before passing out. Both her and Gray fell to the ground, the mist around them slowly thinning out, and the moving corpses becoming inanimate under the bare sun. *Nii* cried the cub, poking its paw at Tesse''s unconscious body. ============================== [System Information] Mist of the Legion Due to an interaction between Bloodlust Modeand the Specters that possessed Gray''s body, a new skill was created. Only usable in his specter possession form, the specters that flood his mind are freed from his body under the effects of the mist, giving them a medium to move in the conscious world and possess the bodies of the fallen. The mist itself is created by expelling his blood, using it as both a medium for the specters to move in, and as a medium to absorb the lifeforce of those trapped within it. The fighting strength of a specter-possessed corpse is negligible, without the corpse retaining their strength, speed, skills, or magic they are of very low threat. However, their numbers are not to be underestimated. Within the low visibly and effects of theMist of the Legion, they can become exponentially dangerous. ============================== Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen The forest "Fuck, my head hurts," muttered Gray as he opened his eyes. Every fiber of his being hurt, it was as if someone had stuck a needle through every inch of his skin. ''Ahh, I remember now. Those specters took over,'' recalled Gray as he stood up, dusting the sand off his suit. ''But still, it looks like I had some fun.'' Nearly a hundred dead elves lay sprawled across the ground, their skin pale and dry due to loss of blood. "Wake up," said Gray, kicking at the unconscious Tesse''s body. "M-Master," she replied, her voice weak as she opened her eyes. After confirming that it was indeed her master she shot up, hugging Gray with all her strength. "Your excitement is quite troublesome," commented Gray coldly, before pushing her back. "F-Forgive me, master," she said, kneeling down. "And I''m guessing you were too busy stuffing your face to care about us, weren''t you," commented Gray, turning his attention to the black cub that ate away at one of the elven corpse''s flesh. "Anyway, let''s get going before they come back. I''m not certain I can fight against that girl if she shows up again," said Gray, the last part more to himself than anyone else. "I-I see," replied Tesse. It was kind of odd hearing her master admit such a thing. "Master, what about the loot?" asked Tesse, as she plucked the cub off the elven corpse. "Leave it. There''s no time," replied Gray, before turning towards the woods. The three of them began their march through the forest. Geographically speaking, this forest shouldn''t have been here, so it was unfamiliar territory to both Gray and Tesse. "Perhaps this way," murmured Gray under his breath. Without a map, the only thing guiding him were signs of disturbance in the forest. Surely a large company of elves moving through the forest was bound to leave behind some evidence of their trail. ''There are no broken branches this way, so we should be safe,'' thought Gray as he decided on which path to follow. The two of them walked for hours on end, their sides aching from going so long without resting. "Master, aren''t you hungry?" asked Tesse, her breathing labored as sweat dripped down her face. "There''s no time to stop and worry about that right now. Who knows what kind of beasts roam these woods at night," he replied. Artemis had taught Gray something important during their fight, that sometimes fighting wasn''t fun. He had grown more cautious from their encounter, promising himself to always think first before jumping into fights. After walking for a few more hours in silence, night came, and with it, strange howling sounds in the distance. "Look," whispered Tesse, trails of smoke visible under the moonlight just a few miles from where they were. "We''ll approach it silently. Hold on to this and walk a few meters behind me, make sure you''re not seen," ordered Gray as he created a crimson redBarret M82sniper rifle before handing it to Tesse. Tesse nodded in affirmation before taking a few steps back, blending into the darkness. The two snuck their way through the forest until eventually, a small town came into view. "What the?" whispered Gray, the scene in front of him was truly shocking. Although it was big enough to be recognized as a small town, it seemed to have been transported right out of a medieval film. Instead of roads, the pathways were made of cobblestone and the houses had a peculiar design, similar to cottages. But what was most shocking about it, were the people that roamed the streets. It was a mixture of elves, beastmen, and humans. However, humans seemed to be the minority at quick glance. "I''ll head in, stay hidden in the trees," whispered Gray before walking towards the street. Although it was nighttime, a lot of people were still wandering about, most of them drunk. "Hey darling, do you want''a good time?" asked a fox girl in a coquettish manner. ''I guess even other worlds have prostitutes,'' thought Gray to himself as he continued looking around. ''That bitch, what did she just say to the master?'' struggled Tesse, holding back the urge to kill the fox girl where she stood. ''No, the master isn''t mine. I shouldn''t be so selfish,'' she thought, calming herself down. Gray made sure to only explore within Tesse''s field of vision. Opting not to feel too secure until he was certain that his being here wasn''t weird. "Oi look. A vampire," said a drunk elf as she stumbled her way towards Gray. "What''s a cutie like you doing in Glistern?" she asked, hiccuping as she leaned against Gray''s shoulder. She had ginger red hair, with high cheekbones, and long pointy ears common amongst elves. However, what was uncommon about her was her build. Where elves were usually slender and slim, she had quite a bit of meat on her body. Particularly in her bust area- which she was now pressing against Gray- and her ass. Although she wasn''t a dark elf, her skin was slightly tanned- perhaps a sign that one of her parents was indeed a dark elf. ''Another one. It''s like everyone in this fucking town is in heat,'' thought Tesse, her breathing labored as she tried her best to not pull the trigger. However, with such a girl pressing her bust against Gray, she was very close to losing it. "Is it strange for a vampire to be here?" asked Gray, ignoring the sexual hints that the elven woman was throwing at him. "No, it''s just that this is such a backwater town that I never expected someone from such a proud race to be here," she replied, hiccuping in between words. "Is that so," replied Gray in a thoughtful tone. "So how about it big boy. Don''t you wanna have fun?" she asked, her posture all over the place. ''She''s clearly drunk,'' ================================== [System Information] Town of Glistern A small town to the southeast of the city of elves. Although small, it is still one of the major towns within the southern elven district, having an adventurers guild of its own. The new elven queen deemed it as one of the towns allowed to have multiple races as its citizens. For more information read the Elven Kingdom Atlas. ============================== Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen First times **Warning SMUT ahead -R18** Sure. The smile on Grays face was enticing and the ginger elf couldnt help but get a little excited at the prospect of sleeping with him, especially when he glared at her with his crimson red eyes. Little did she know that behind those eyes, Gray only saw food or puppets, and tonight she could end up being either one of the two. I have a room at the Neren Inn, shall we go to my place or yours? My room is currently a mess, lets go to yours. With that, the elf wrapped her arms around Grays right arm, her hard nipples digging into his muscles. My names Layla, hiccuped the elf girl as she walked beside Gray. Amaymon, replied Gray with a smile. Are vampires often named after demons? Perhaps your ancestor was a demon? asked Layla, visibly surprised. Perhaps. After walking for a few minutes and passing by several taverns, they finally made it to a rather rowdy one. The tenants seemed to be throwing a party by the jovial shouts and laughs that emanated from the building. This is my place, my rooms upstairs. The only place I could afford Im ashamed, smiled Layla before pulling him into the tavern. The sudden brightness temporarily blinded Gray, but after a few seconds, his vision focused. The tavern was filled to the brim with all sorts of people. A group of dwarves were having an arm-wrestling contest at the corner of the tavern, spilling beer as they cheered their comrades on. On the other side was a party of masked demi-humans, based on their pointy ears and skin color it was clear that they were dark elves, however, one of them didnt seem to share the same features. Instead, this one had red eyes, and white hair, the only visible part of their skin was their pale hand which was gripped around the crimson red hilt of their sword. The group of dark elves and their comrade stared at Gray and Layla as they walked in, but Gray didnt have enough time to figure out whether they were actually interested in him or just looked at him because he had just entered. Here it is, smiled Layla as she opened one of the wooden doors lined along the hallway on the second floor. The room was rather plain, with a few clothes scattered about, it seems that Layla had very few possessions. It seems my room was in a bit of a mess as well, whispered Layla, biting her lip as she closed the door behind her. Her vulnerable look made Grays blood rush, although he was still a virgin he knew what was going to happen. He was never really interested in this sort of thing because he always found pain and blood to be more fascinating, but now that he saw Layla in front of him, he couldnt help but let his mind wander. Her perky nipples pointed out of her white blouse, creating two little tents at her chest area. Although her face was already flushed due to her being a little drunk, it became even redder, her eyes seemed glued to Grays in a rather bashful way, her once eager demeanor shrouded behind shyness. She inched closer to Gray, running her hands under the top of his suit. Her hands were warm, he felt as if he would melt at any second. First they traced their way up to his chest, pushing him towards the bed, then they traced down to his pants, undoing the buckle that held them up. Thank you for the meal, she smiled, licking her lips before going on her knees. She pulled down Grays underwear and wrapped her hands around his member. Gray had never felt anything like it before, her hands felt warm around him, and a split second later a wet warm slimy feeling consumed him. Something danced along his tip, edging him closer to letting his primal instincts take a hold of him. At times he would go so deep within her mouth that she choked a little, but even though her eyes would go red and tears would come out, she never pulled him out, instead, she would sometimes suck him even deeper in, causing even more saliva to come out. It was at times like these where Gray would grab her head and shove it deeper within her. She seemed to like it, she would moan whenever Gray grabbed her hair and thrust himself inside her throat. However, soon Gray grew tired of playing around. If her mouth felt this good, he wondered how she felt down there. He pulled himself out, saliva trailing along with his member, Layla looked a little disappointed and tried putting it back inside her mouth. But before she could do that he grabbed her by the hair and got her to her feet, pushing her to the bed behind him. Her face was a slobbering mess, saliva drooled down her plump red lips, and her breathing was jagged. The room had become hotter over the last minute, leaving her sweaty. Gray ripped off her blouse, exposing her ebony brown nipples. The beads of sweat that percolated on her body rolled down her glistening tanned skin, her voluptuous figure looked like a work of art. He grabbed one of her breasts, tugging at her nipples before devouring it, his tongue lashing against its aroused tip. Layla let out a soft moan before using her hips to rub against Grays cock. Her private area was soaked, sticking to Gray''s already slimy member as well. Gray pulled down her skirt, showing that she wasnt wearing any underwear beneath it. A slimy clear fluid ran down her privates, wetting the bed. Please, she said, letting out another moan as Gray gently nibbled on her hard nipples. He was in a hurry as well, however hearing her moan made him even more excited, so he decided to tease her a bit more, tugging at her breasts with a bit of power. Another moan cried out. She rubbed her wet clit against him, it felt good, making Gray shudder ever so slightly. His member felt like it would melt into a euphoric paste due to the warmth that radiated from her. At this point it was instinct, he thrust himself inside her, pushing all of it in at once. The cry she let out was a mix of pain and pleasure, her hips shuddered a bit, she wasnt ready to take it all in so suddenly. But that was short-lived, her hips began to move of their own accord, begging Gray to move, to thrust himself inside her over and over again. And Gray obliged, he pulled himself out before thrusting inside her again, once again her hips shuddered, this time her eyes rolled back in pleasure and a soft moan escaped from her lips. It felt as if her walls were grabbing onto him, giving some resistance whenever he tried removing it. Layla gasped for air as her fluids quickly soaked the bed, lubricating her entrance even more than before. Grays stamina and speed were way above average, making Laylas privates feel like they were being melted. She became intoxicated by Gray, wrapping her legs around his waist as if begging him never to stop. This pushed Gray even more, making him move even faster than before. Something was rushing out within him, and it wasnt just blood lust, it was a new feeling, a primal feeling of euphoria. Bite me, moaned Layla, her eyes rolling up and down as Gray thrust inside her. Bite me, she moaned again, this time her eyes turning black. Huh? Grays head felt dizzy, and his vision slowly went black. The last thing he saw was Laylas mouth twisted into an inky black smile. ============================================================ [System Information] Amaymon The one true prince of hell, first son to the Grand demon Arshahet and ruler of the eighth circle of hell. He is the youngest amongst the Eight high demons of the underworld and is known as the eternal king of blood due to his powers. Angry that his father banished him to the eighth and smallest circle of hell and stripped him of his inheritance, he plans to kill his father and take over all his domain. He has a cunning personality and a sharp mind, and is sometimes even referred to as the father of abominable discovery. Gray is one of his latest test subjects in forbidden research, research so forbidden that even the Grand King of hell has ordered a kill order on all those who practice it. Read more in the Book of The High Demons ============================================================= Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/m3PPYEXp2F The Elven Queen and The Damned King Tell me Sirfene, how is it possible that a company containing nearly a hundred men, a magus, and a demon sword holder was defeated? You bring back not a single man, dead or alive." "I am grateful that my sister has at least come back alive, but look at the state she is in. Youd better have a good explanation or Ill have you sleeping with the Kagua tonight. A hue of gold and green shone brightly on the white-haired elf who sat atop the golden throne, her floating golden crown giving her an almighty ambiance. It was uncertain what would be worth more, the beauty who sat atop the throne, or the magnificent throne room itself. It had jade floors with the insignia of a dragon flying around a massive tree etched at the center, outlined by streaks of golden glowing tiles. Several jade pillars stretched all the way to its domed roof -which itself had several pictations depicting elves riding atop dragons- and beside every pillar stood a 7-meter tall knight dressed in radiating forest green armor. A black mist constantly emanated from their helmets, and gleaming green eyes could be seen from their visor. Sirfene was kneeling in front of the queen, his staff right down beside him, while Artemis was being carried of by handmaidens. The room was deafly still, and although the queen looked composed, her icy death-stare made shivers run across Sirfenes spine. T-The damned one has come my queen. The enemy of all life, the damned king of prophecy and he carries a demon sword as he spreads his plague, stuttered Sirfene, unsure of how best to phrase it. The enemy of all life? Are you saying a mere lich did that to my troops? Although they were all new recruits, there is no way a lich could escape you, werent you trained in the bane of the undead class? How were you bested by a slightly less weak undead and dare call him the damned king, in front of me no less. The queen raised her voice, if Sirfene didnt clear things up quickly he would cease to exist, the glowing green light in the queens eyes seemed to promise this. Not an undead my queen. Although the undead hate life, they themselves harbor some life as well. I speak of someone that hates even the undead, someone whose plague seeks to eat everything, including those that have already departed. I speak of the king of specters, the prophecy was right my queen and he has finally come to reclaim all his lands. His lands? The lands that my -our- people have owned for centuries. You dare say this in front of me? Knights, have Sirfene executed on a charge of treason, he has been brainwashed by the enemy. With a wave of her hand, the seven-meter tall knights all turned towards Sirfene, their green eyes turning red. Im sorry my queen, I cant let our lands fall because you were blinded by your arrogance. Sirfene quickly picked up his staff before swinging it around his head, sending out a gust of wind so powerful that it pushed back all the knights a few meters. Despite the strength of the gust, the queen seemed unphased with not so much as whiplash from the pressure. Ive always wondered why you were called a sage while you are merely a first-order mage. Its been a while since Ive had some fun, with a smile the queen waved her hand once again. The knights walked back to their previous stations and the queen stood from her throne. She was pale white, almost as pale as the white robe she was wearing. She stood at 2 meters tall and was very slender, her ears were longer than that of a normal elf, and her cheekbones higher. Paired with the green streaks at the sides of her eyes that extended past her temples, it was clear that she was a high elf. Mage Sirfene, for the crime of wielding a weapon in the royal throne room, I sentence you to death by fire, a blinding light radiated from the tip of the queens finger, burning Sirfene out of existence. Bastard, with a sour look on her face the queen slumped back onto her throne, covering her face with her hands as if she were exhausted. Does something displease you my queen? asked one of the knights in a ghastly voice, as if it were an apparition speaking instead of a living being. The scoundrel sent a clone here, search the capital for him. Make sure no word of this, damned king, spreads. Im already struggling to hold on to my throne as is, news like this will just make things even harder for me. I bet Sigrin set him up to this, that conniving brother of mine. Yes, my queen. One of the knights kneeled before her before turning to walk out the door. But just in case, one of you search for this damned king. If he was able to destroy a company of trained men and injure my sister to that extent, he might be a thorn by my side later on. Yes, my queen. Whom of us shall hunt him down? asked another one of the knights. Sending in knights is overkill already, number 12 go. Turn back into your true form and search for him in the shadows, dont let anyone know that one of the twelve knights is missing. Yes, my queen. One of the knights began glowing green, before turning into a slender 1.4-meter tall girl. Your will shall be done, with a smile on her face the girl vanished from the throne room. I do not mean to question your judgment, my queen, but are you sure it was okay for Persephone to go out? She is volatile. And expendable. With that, the queen created a mirror image of the knight that had just left and placed it where Persephone had just been standing. **** ============================================================ [System Information] The 12 Knights Born through the inhumane experimentation of the mad King, the 12 knights are now a central figure within elven royalty. Standing at 7-meters tall, they are giants among their people with power only second to a handful within their kingdom. Charged with protecting the elven monarchy, they carry out tasks that would be failed by a lesser elf. Although they are known throughout the kingdom, very few actually know their origin. Most people think them to be golems of some sort, for if their true origins were to be discovered there would be an uprising amongst certain groups within the kingdom. Read more in the Extinction of the Drows ============================================================= Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/m3PPYEXp2F A shady Vampire W-Whats going on? Grays voice came out as an echo, his vision clouded by an inky black veil. A choir of whispers flooded his ears before quickly going silent, for the first time in a while his mind was truly quiet and he no longer felt the burden of the specters that were constantly eating away at him. But that was short-lived, the specters came rushing back, pushing his thoughts back to a corner of his mind. When his vision finally cleared up, Laylas body was gone and the faint taste of blood remained in his mouth. Feeling confused he quickly dressed before creating a blood katana in his right hand. {Whats going on here? What did that girl do to me?} wondered Gray as he walked towards the door. His instincts were on high alert, feeling somewhat stupid for letting himself get into such a situation. {Did she cast a spell? But I dont feel anything off with my body.} As Gray thought this he clenched his fists. {Ahh, my status window.} Gray opened up his New Vautis Visual System menu before selecting the [Player stats] tab. [Gray Verlice] [Level 5: 0/500] [Mana points: 140/140] [Safe Blood meter: 100%] [????? ???/???] ~Stats~ [Agility: 10 {15}] [Strength: 12 {18}] [Stamina: 8 {12] [Attack force: 3 {4.5}] [Karma: 0] -8 unspent stat points- ~Abilities~ [He who pleasures death lvl.1 {2/3}: 0/100] [Blood weapons lvl.1: 0/5] [Hisashi Miyamoto Summon lvl.3: 0/10] [ [ ~Race~ [ [Demon Thrall: Rank Servus] {What?} The question marks seemed to be glitches in the system as they were constantly changing values even as he looked at them. Of course, Gray could discern that one of the unnamed abilities mustve been the mist he let out during his fight with the Cimmerian Shade but he couldnt recall any other skill that would show up as a glitch. {Demon, do you know anything?} After carefully thinking about it for a moment, he turned to the only person who he thought would know something, but no one answered. Actually, it was as if Gray couldnt feel the demons presence in his mind anymore, all that was there were the specters writhing about. {The vermin is gone.} Gray quickly turned around, his eyes doing a quick sweep of the room to check where the voice was coming from, but he quickly realized that the voice sounded familiar. Layla? asked Gray, however he didnt let his guard down, if anything he was almost certain that he had been pulled into some scheme. {Not Layla,} it replied, using Laylas voice once again. Magic? How are you doing this? Gray kept turning around the room, as if checking to see from which corner the voice was coming from. {The door.} With that single phrase Gray turned to look at the door. The word DANGER was written across it in what looked to be black messy-ink. Gray took a few steps away from the door before blinking his eyes as if in disbelief. After standing there silently for several more seconds the door barged open, and a white-haired figure wearing a white mask and a white cloak appeared. Behind her were several dark elves wearing purple cloaks, Gray recognized them as the group that had been eyeing him when he first entered the tavern. I knew it, we were too late, said the white-haired figure before disappearing. Where did you hide her body? asked the figure from behind Gray, already searching the room. {F-Fast.} Cold sweat ran down Grays back, without a doubt those were the only words he could use to describe what had just happened. He didnt even register that the figure was behind him before it said anything. Answer me, ordered the figure before stopping its search. The dark elves walked into the room and closed the door behind them. They seemed larger than the usual, standing at least 2 meters tall, all of them towering over him. They reminded him of the amazonian woman he had seen in the online game he would usually play. Gray tightened the grip on his sword before relaxing. {Theres no way Ill win here,} he decided. All he knew was that the white figure was faster than he could ever hope to reach even in his Bloodlust Mode, and for all he knew it might still be the weakest among them. I dont understand your question, replied Gray, trying to find out what exactly was going on. I saw you walk in with an el- never mind, where are your travel documents? Does the vampire council know you are here? asked the figure before removing their mask. Behind it was a beautiful pale face, but besides her beauty what really captured Grays attention were her crimson red eyes. Vampire? Yes, speak quickly. The woman put her porcelain white mask on the table before walking towards Gray. She was perhaps 1.6 meters tall, fairly shorter than him, but he couldnt help but feel that she had the same towering presence as the elves surrounding him. Just like I thought, a stray vampire. And it seems youve been pulling this trick for a while now since you absolutely reek of blood, said the woman before sniffing Grays suit, her eyes shone a brilliant red before she bore her fangs. And that blade, a blood weapon? How did you get that? Blood manipulation? A noble? Too many things dont add up, and why are you wearing an Orc ranger suit? The questions came like rapid-fire, Gray couldnt even hope to answer them since they came with almost no context. {Stray vampire? Noble?} There seems to be a misunderstanding here, replied Gray, taking a few steps away from the hungry-looking vampire. The vampire seemed to pick this up and hid her fangs before turning to one of the elves. Were taking him to headquarters, if the capital finds out that there is a vampire slaughtering elven citizens we could be looking at a few minor scuffles between Elden and Tikal, with those words the vampire swung her arm, aiming to strike Gray in the neck. Gray tried blocking but the attack was just too fast, an electrifying pain traveled from his neck all the way down to his feet. Although he was still standing, it was just barely. Hes still standing? asked the vampire as if truly curious before turning around to face the window behind her. A split second later a bullet came whizzing through it, heading right for her head, however, as if it were moving in slow motion, she caught it. She disappeared from the room, before reappearing with an unconscious Tesse in her right arm, while the black cub was in her left. Friends of yours? with those words the vampire appeared in front of Gray and hit him in the neck again. {Sleep, these enemies are too powerful for us now,} said the voice in Grays head as his vision went dark. ================================================================= [System Information] Drow Elves Once a minority of the elven tribes, they are now thought to be extinct. Due to their natural shapeshifting abilities as well as their attunement to the dark aspects of nature, they were seen as demons by the rest of the elven community and as valuable lab subjects to the rest of Merrum. The last remaining remnants of the dying tribe reside deep within the [Great Forest] using their relationship with nature to protect themselves from the outside world. A few rumors have been circulating around Elden that the 12 knights are indeed from this race, however, such rumors are quickly snuffed and those who voice them disappear along with them. For more information read Index of the lost Tribes ============================================================= Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/m3PPYEXp2F On friendly Terms? How was I supposed to know? He looks like a vampire, smells like a vampire, and he even had blood manipulation. Well, he clearly isnt. What if he was sent by a major demon? Do you have any idea what youve just done? The voices trickled into Grays ears as he regained consciousness. Although he could hear the people in the room, it seemed as if he was blindfolded as everything around him was dark, and when he tried to move he discovered that he had been bound as well. What about the other one? Isnt she his thrall? I mean look at her. Again, youre wrong. That one isnt even a demon, shes just a human. And the Silentwalker cub? Theres no way humans couldve made their way so deep into the forest without being slaughtered by an Orc. Perhaps its his, I mean hes wearing an Orc ranger suit. Sigh, for all the strength you have Regina, I feel like some of your brain cells were sacrificed. After the second voice said that, the blindfold was ripped off Grays face, and a pale man in a black a victorian suit looked down on him from a kneeling position. I am Alucard, and no, not the prince of vampires. People always assume I am when I introduce myself. Anyway, forgive my subordinate, it seems she may have mistaken you for something else, said the vampire as he began to untie Gray. However you have to understand, if you continued going on your blood spree, people wouldve mistaken it for the work of a vampire. So as much as I hate to interrupt the work of a demon, I cant just let you do as you please in my turf you see, continued the vampire as he finished untying him. So if you could just explain to your leader that it was all a misunderstanding, I will let you be on your way, smiled the vampire. {Sigh, seems like there''s been a misunderstanding. Well, luckily. I don''t suppose this eccentric vampire would''ve kept me alive otherwise.} Gray took a quick glance around the room, they seemed to be in a lavish palace of some sort. The color scheme was primarily red and black, as expected from a den of vampires. However, instead of dark undertones, it had quite a light ambiance, making it feel like the palace of some eccentric king instead of that of a blood-thirsty vampire. Excuse, but where am I? Since it seemed like the vampires were somewhat frightened of his non-existent master, he figured that he could at least ask that much. Youre at the embassy of the Vampire nation of Kalin to the Elven state of Elden. And Im the ambassador, welcome. I-I see. {There are a lot of powerful enemies nearby, this place is not safe.} Laylas voice whispered in his ears, it felt as if she were right beside him. If you dont mind, can you please refrain from all telepathic means of communication without permission. I understand that your boss must be worried about you, but there are rules to be followed in diplomatic areas, said Alucard as he stared at Gray, a sort of confused look on his face. S-Sorry, {I will talk to you later.} Anyway, you must be hungry. Regina, tell the maids to prepare him something to eat, ordered Alucard, sending Regina away with the clap of his hands. And where is the girl? asked Gray, as he stood up. His suit was still on his body, but all his weapons were gone. And my weapons. The girl is fine, her and the cub are being kept in another room. As for your weapons, enchanted weapons are not allowed on the premises sadly, so you will get them on your way out. Understandable, replied Gray before trying to create a small dagger in his left hand. The blood stone at the center of the building prevents you from using your blood powers, so sadly you cant create your own weapons either. Speaking of which, there is much we have to discuss about your ability, said Alucard as he began walking towards the large black door at the end of the room. Are you coming? As the two of them walked down the lavishly decorated hallways, they passed by multiple women dressed in maid uniforms, each and every one of them bowing as they passed by Alucard. {He has quite the taste in women,} thought Gray as he noticed that every maid they passed had quite the bust. The funny thing was that Gray could feel a smothering presence radiating from each and every one of them, more so than even Alucard himself who seemed to have little to no presence at all. Which in itself made Gray all the more wary of him. You dont have to be so tense, Im not going to harm you. If I wanted to youd already be dead, said Alucard as he took a sharp turn before coming face to face with a massive black door. The door seemed to react in response to his appearance as it opened right in front of him. {Can he read minds?} wondered Gray as he followed Alucard through the door. The room they entered was quite spacious, with a king-sized bed at the center, and satin crimson sheets covering the exterior. On top of it lay an unconscious Tesse, and lying on top of her was the black cub sleeping soundly. Unlike Gray, none of them had been bound. Sleep magic, we couldnt use it on you since you are a demon. With a snap of his fingers the two of them woke up, and Tesse went into full combat mode in that instant. She reached for the handgun that was usually strapped at her waist and aimed the non-existent gun at Alucard. After pulling the trigger a few times, she realized that there was no gun in her hands. Master? Its okay, they are friendly, explained Gray, saying the last part as if he couldnt believe it himself. The cub began growling at Alucard, taking a few steps back as it snarled at him, showing its toothless mouth. Calm it down, we dont want it upsetting our hosts, ordered Gray. The last thing he needed was his investment getting put down because it couldnt control itself. Sir, the food is ready, announced Regina as she appeared out of thin air in front of Alucard. Tesse immediately ran for her, aiming to punch her in the head. But just as fast as she appeared, Regina disappeared, causing Tesse to swing at the air. Like I said, they are friendly, Grays tone made Tesse know that she had messed up. Her head hung as she picked the cub up and walked behind Gray, whispering a soft Im sorry as she passed by him. ==================================== [System Information] The Nation of Kalin A vampire nation to the East of Elden, one of the four major nations of Old Merrum. Not much information about the internal workings of the nation is known to outsiders as all living beings who have seen it have never lived to tell the tale, though recently they have allowed select individuals from "friendly" nations to visit as ambassadors. All that is known for certain is that they are ruled by Zhdan Alangard, the first daughter of the late Vladimir, a powerhouse on par with the elven queen. For more information read A brief history on Kalin ===================================== Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/V64Xmqr2gh Not Human Alucard led the way to the dining room, where a massive crimson red table stood at the very center. Around it were ostentatious-looking chairs, that looked to be made of silver bones, with skulls acting as the arms rests. One of the maids pulled a chair at the head of the table, before Alucard took a seat on it, gesturing for Tesse and Gray to join him. Please take a seat, he smiled before snapping his fingers at one of the maids. Gray carefully took a seat directly opposite his host, with Tesse taking the seat directly next to him. The cub remained on the floor, putting its head on its paws as it rested underneath Tesses chair. A few moments later the maids came back with two women dressed in white garments and two platters covered with silver bowls. The maid presented one of the platters to Tesse, before removing the silver bowl. It looked to be some sort of vegetable meal, with green and orange cuttings sprinkled elegantly atop a purple lettucey-mass. The other platter was presented to the cub. The maid removed the silver bowl revealing chunks of flesh neatly placed on the platter. The blood was still warm from whatever creature it had been dismembered from, and the aroma it exuded seemed to excite Gray quite a bit. Once he smelled the blood, Gray realized that he was indeed actually hungry, however, he saw no other platter of food. Did they perhaps forget about him he wondered, before one of the women dressed in white garments began approaching him. She was a young elf, perhaps in her later adolescent stage. Her skin was fair -not a mark on her- and her garments were see-through, hanging loosely on her curves. {Whats going on?} wondered Gray and the girl sat on his lap. If not for the fact that the other woman had done the same with Alucard, Gray wouldve pushed her right off. I wasnt sure what kind of demon you were exactly, and Im not so rude to ask you when we just met. But since it seemed like the smell of blood was quite thick around you, I guessed that you might enjoy some blood, said Alucard, playing with the hair of the woman who sat on his lap. The royal family gave them to me as a present. They are imbued with regeneration artifacts, so drink to your heart''s content, he said, before puncturing his fangs into the womans neck. The woman let out a soft moan as her blood spilled, but remained still as Alucard fed on her. {Blood?} Gray was accustomed to spilling blood, in fact, he found the warmth it gave him as he slaughtered those on his path quite comforting. But to drink blood directly was something he had never thought of doing, had he been asked to do it at the start of all this perhaps he would have immediately rejected the offer. However ever since he made the deal with Amaymon, he could feel his being slowly changing. Normal food didnt taste as good, and on the rare occasions that blood from his victims found its way into his mouth, he found himself savoring its salty taste. After a bit of thought, Gray used his own fangs to puncture two holes into the young elf''s neck. Perhaps he had done it a little too roughly as he could feel the girl tense up, however, he couldnt have cared less. The second his fangs bit into her jugular it felt as if the blood was being fed directly into him. It felt akin to his first murder, the rush was exhilarating. His blood pumped faster, and his eyes shone a crimson color. It felt as if all along he had been suffocating, and only now was he truly breathing. He gripped onto her tighter, digging his teeth deeper into her neck. With every ounce of blood that rushed into him, he could feel himself slowly slipping, his urge to kill spilling out bit by bit. He was using too much strength, he could feel himself slowly crushing the girl, but her soft cries excited him even more. [Bloodlust Mode activated. Blood lust has reached critical level. Warning, excessive use of this mode exponentially increases the blood price toll. A sacrifice must be offered before the blood lust expires or the full toll will be paid by the user.] Perhaps you should slow down, lest you go into a frenzy, warned Alucard, interrupting Grays meal. At this point all the maids had weapons in their hands, pointing them directly at Gray -though they still kept their distance. Tesse was looking at him with confused eyes, though by the way she was holding her fork it was clear she was ready to defend him. You see, my maids are easily frightened. And turning into that form of yours might make them do something I didnt order them to. Although Alucard was annoyed by the way his maids were pointing their weapons at Gray, it was clear that he still felt somewhat threatened. {What?} Gray looked at his reflection off the silver bowl that had been used to cover Tesses food, and for the first time, he saw himself in his bloodlust mode. One of his eyes was glowing crimson red, while the other had a pitch-black gleam that made his pupil look like an abyssal pit. His hair was glowing white, and his fangs were longer than before. As blood dripped from his mouth onto the young elfs garments, Gray let go of her. She tumbled to the ground in a weakened state, before stumbling toward Alucard. Her skin had begun to dry out, and her once young-looking face now seemed ancient. {Do not reply to me, or he will be able to tell we are communicating. It seems you are now aware that your humanity is completely gone, even though you required a little nudge,} whispered a voice that sounded exactly like Laylas, but now that he listened to it properly something about it seemed off. {Now progenitor, you have to regain that vampires trust. It is essential for our plans,} it continued. Gray had no idea what the voice was talking about, but he held in the urge to reply. {Now, first things first, return to your normal form. Calm down, forget about the blood, forget about slaughter. We will pay the toll this time,} it instructed. After a few moments he returned to normal, and the maids reluctantly put their weapons away. Alucard gestured for the maid closest to him to take the elven girls away, before staring at Gray. I apologize f- Gray tried saying, before Alucard interrupted. I dont blame you. I too wouldve lost myself if I hadnt had a meal in a long time. After a bit of rest, shell be back to normal. But now that all the pleasantries are out of the way, I think its time we talked. Tell me, who do you serve? Although I dont hold any power within Elden, I think as an ambassador to this nation I cant simply overlook a demon running rampant on their territory, said Alucard. {Tell him the truth.} Gray wanted so much to slaughter whoever was talking to him. The demon had been annoying enough, but this voice was beginning to become a little too talkative. However, Gray didnt intend to lie to the vampire in front of him anyway. As long as his blood ability was sealed, and his weapons taken away, he would be at his host''s mercy. If youre asking which demon Im under, its Amaymon, replied Gray. Alucards face tensed up for a split second before returning to normal. Amaymon, huh. And what business does he hav- never mind. Asking what business an Archdemon has here would be overstepping my bounds. Very well then, I won''t question you further on that front. However, theres something else I want to know. How come you can manipulate blood? From what Ive deduced, you dont have a trace of vampire royalty in you. As Alucard asked this his eyes shone crimson, and try as he may, he couldnt hide the scowl he had on his face. ====================================== [System Information] [Artifacts] Artifacts are powerful items found within towers, ruins, and dungeons that grant their users special abilities. They are quite rare and can only be found in higher difficulty areas. Based on current information they are 5 rarities. Rare Ultra Rare Unique Mythical Immortal There is a countless number of different types of artifacts. To see more information on the different types, see Scroll of Artifacts ============================== Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen A Quest of Innocence Excuse me? The hostility emanating from Alucard was palpable, of all things, Gray hadnt thought that it would be his ability that would get him killed. Alucards sudden change in demeanor was confusing, to say the least, so Gray had to deal with this very carefully as it seemed that the fact he was under Amaymon wouldnt help him escape Alucards wrath. Im asking, how is it possible that you have blood magic, magic reserved only for the higher echelon of vampire royalty? Tell me, has Amaymon been experimenting on my kind? Is he the one responsible for princess Natalias disappearance? A black mist had started to exude from Alucards suit ever since he started questioning Gray on his abilities. They seemed to be a side effect of his anger, though Gray couldnt be certain whether he was activating an ability or not. [Warning, close proximity hostility.] The notification came up at the bottom right corner of Grays vision. After taking a quick glance at it and looking back at Alucard, he could see a name tag floating above his head in red text. [Alucard lvl.???] W-Wait. It seems youre mistaken. My abilities have nothing to do with Amaymon, in fact, I despise the demon myself. {You idiot!} shouted the voice in his head, however, Gray quickly shut it down, before doubling down on his explanation. The fiend tricked me into accepting an impossible contract, and now Im stuck slaughtering in his name. My abilities came from elsewhere, I had them even before I met the demon, perhaps that was why he wanted to make a deal with me, explained Gray. He had run over all the possible excuses he could think of but found that the partial truth was the best route. Though he was slaughtering more for his own fun than in the name of Amaymon, it wouldnt help his case if Alucard found out that he was a senseless murderer. And though his task was impossible, he wasnt tricked into it either. Is that so? asked Alucard, his mist returning back to his suit. T-Thats it? Just like that? blurted out Gray. All that hostility had been recalled in a second, and even though Gray wasnt one to question a good thing, he simply couldnt believe that he had been excused from all suspicions just like that. You arent lying, though had you tried to I wouldve severed your head in an instant. Someone involved in the disappearance of princess Natalia cannot be forgiven, especially if they are acquainted with Amaymon. However, I cannot completely dismiss the fact that Amaymon may be involved, you see I have reason to suspect that he is the one responsible, and as his subordinate, I have enough reason to suspect you as well." It seems I will require some sort of proof that you are truly only slaughtering for Amaymon as you say, and are not involved in his other more discreet activites, mused Alucard as he strolled towards Gray. So how about this. As proof that you are indeed not on his side, and therefore not at all involved in the disappearance of Princess Natalia, I want you to slaughter the followers of Amaymon that have been running amok on the eastern border. Theyve been a thorn on both Eldens and Kalins side and I''ve been ordered to prepare a task force on behalf of the nation of Kalin for their extermination. However, you see, I''m reluctant to send out Regina or any of my maids on such a task, so... As Alucard continued his dialogue, a notification appeared in Grays view. [New Quest] [Eliminate the followers of Amaymon on the border between Kalin and Elden. They have been sacrificing both elves, and lower-level vampires to the demon of abominable discovery, and as such demonic creatures have sprouted up and began terrorizing civilians.] [Quest difficulty: B-] [Quest Rewards: +10 Affinity with Alucard +100 renown within the nation of Kalin and the Kingdom of Elden -100 Affinity with Amaymon Hidden rewards [Accept] [Decline] The same text appeared in front of Tesses screen, prompting her to turn to Gray as if asking what to do. {This bastard. He just plans to make me do his dirty work,} thought Gray, though he kept a calm and collected demeanor. He thought it over, was he really prepared to go against Amaymon, and the answer was quite simple. If he had a way to hurt the person who slapped this unreasonable curse on him, to hurt the person who clouded his mind with the voices of hungry void-beings, then he would take it with both hands. The thought of slaying a demon had once crossed his mind, though at the time he thought it impossible, though if he could get more information of Amyamon from his followers, then perhaps bathing in the blood of a high demon wouldn''t be impossible. {That it right progenitor. The demon is our enemy, he holds no power against you apart from your contract, so you may disobey him as you will,} whispered the voice in his head. "Very well then, if that''s what it will take to prove my innocence," replied Gray, accepting the quest that was given out to him. "Excellent choice, I shall prepare your transport and you can leave as soon as possible," said Alucard, gesturing to one of the maids standing behind him to get the task done. "You will report to Ailre Daexalim once you reach the border town of Axiel where the creatures have been terrorizing the citizens. Tell him you are there on behalf of the Nation of Kalin, and though you seem nothing like a vampire in my eyes, I''m sure no one there will be able to discern you from the real thing." "But let me tell you this, Deserter of Amaymon, if you think of double-crossing me, I myself shall hunt you to the very ends of this continent, and torture you until you give away the location of Natalia, or go mad from the pain of it all. Either way, it would be worth my while," warned Alucard as Gray stood up from his seat. {Hmm, that doesn''t sound like a bad way to deal with a vampire. Going mad from torture, I''m sure I''ll enjoy doing that to you,} thought Gray, already thinking of different ways to get back at Alucard for using him. ====================================== [System Information] [Followers of Amaymon] Though Amaymon is among the more despised Arch-demons, he does have a few supporters. From those looking to explore the unknown depths of demonic research to those who merely seek out the end of all life on this plane, there are people who give sacrifices in Amaymon''s name. Recently a small cult appeared in the town of Axiel, a border town between the Nation of Kalin and the Kingdom of Elden, that have been slaughtering civilians en-masse in order to bring about more destruction in the name of vengeance against their ''weak'' governments. ============================== Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Quest of Innocence (2) Ill be needing some supplies though, said Gray before stopping at the front of the door. It had just occurred to him that traveling across the kingdom would be dangerous, what with him having just fought a small army a few days ago. Go on. Ill need two hooded garments to cover our faces, I dont want everyone knowing who I am. And I also need a map of the Kingdom, Id like to take the less populated routes. Hmm, very well. Anabeth, prepare what he asked for, instructed Alucard, before the maid set off. And any weapons youre willing to give. Im not going to be using my blood abilities when I get there, added Gray before the maid had the chance to leave. Sure, he could mask his face, but if he were to use his blood abilities then he might as well be revealing his identity anyway. Quite the careful man, admirable. Anabeth, prepare two sets of weapons as well, nothing too powerful though, instructed Alucard. After retrieving his silver long sword and the other items he had requested, he and Tesse got on the horses that had been prepared for them. Although Gray thought of them as horses, they werent exactly the same type as the ones he had often seen on television. These horses were massive, perhaps even bigger than specially bred warhorses, and had glowing red eyes and sharp canines. [Vampiric Horse lvl.2] Gray read the name tag that floated on top of his horses head. Ever since Alucard gave it to him, he was able to see all the horses stats and abilities. It would seem the horses were some sort of vampire variation, as they had a drain ability that allowed them to replenish their health by drinking blood, and had increased speed and strength stats under the moonlight. As impressive as they seemed, Gray couldve guessed that there were better horses at Alucards disposal, as the horses were low leveled to begin with anyway. Before they left, Gray took a look at all the items that Alucards maid had prepared for them. There was a single greatsword with a crimson red gemstone at the center of its hilt, and an obsidian black blade that was sharp on one side and jagged on the other. The other blade was an obsidian claymore, though it was a two-handed sword it was smaller than the first. [Vampiric Greatsword: Blood-stone Enchanted] [Rank: Common] [Vampiric heal: Drains the blood of enemies and heals for a small portion] Hmm, well this might lower the toll of my bloodlust a little, but it being two-handed will limit the number of weapons I can use in combat. Perhaps in my bloodlust mode I can use it as a one-handed sword,} thought Gray as he read the sword''s stats, before placing it on his back, its scabbard at a diagonal with that of his silver sword forming an x shape on his back. [Vampiric Claymore] [Rank: Common] Gray handed the other weapon to Tesse, who placed it on her back as well. Lastly, Gray opened the map, though the second he touched it, the scroll in his hand disappeared, and a notification came into view. [Map of Elden acquired] After gesturing to click on it, a holographic model of the map opened into view, allowing him to zoom in and out of different areas with but a thought. {This New Vautis system is quite handy,} he thought to himself before charting out his course. On the map the town of Axiel had already been marked by a small glowing dot, perhaps the map also marked all his quest areas he thought subconsciously as he took note of all the major towns on the way. {Its a one day ride if we cut through an uninhabited section of the fores-} {We need at least a single stop, my brothers will not be happy if you do not feed them their souls for so long,} interrupted the voice in Grays head. {You again. Who are you? I''m fully aware you arent that elf girl from earlier. Where did you come from and what are you doing in my head?} asked Gray, his anger audible in the way he addressed the strange voice. Master? Gray had been quiet for quite some time, and Tesse was beginning to worry. Ahh, lets go, replied Gray, before repeating what the maid had shown him with the reins. Gray had never ridden a horse, and though Tesse had ridden one once as a child, she had long since forgotten. The maid had made it clear to them that the horses were well trained and only required simple instructions, such as pulling on the reins for it to stop, making a whipping motion for it to go, and making even more whipping motions for it to go faster. {I am the first, the first out of the void,} replied the voice as Gray struggled to keep his balance atop the galloping horse. {Speak clearly, youre annoying as it is. And you didnt answer all my questions,} complained Gray, holding onto the reins as tight as he could. {I am a specter, as you call it. One of the millions that were imprisoned within your soul by the demon Amaymon. As for why I am in your head, it is because I cannot exist outside of the void. It seems I did a mistake when trying to take over the body and destroyed it, now I am trapped with the progenitor.} The voice was making less and less sense as it spoke. Though Gray could roughly determine what was going on. It seemed the specters had the ability to come into the outside world, confirming the suspicions he had ever since they had taken over his body. {It seems you are still confused. We are the legion, you are the legion. We have a common goal, the destruction of life, and though Amaymon forced us into you on a whim, we have accepted you as the progenitor.} {What?} ==================================== [System Information] [Vampiric Horses] Specially bred warhorses from the Nation of Kalin. They are a mix between the common horse and vampiric hounds and were created to be used as a staple horse for the order of Vampire Knights, though their use has become more prevalent in the human and elven nations. For more information read A brief history on Kalin ===================================== Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/V64Xmqr2gh Quest of Innocence (3) {We use you as a bridge between our plane and yours, you are our doorway,} explained the voice. Great, now his body was being used as a doorway for anti-life demons. What started off as a quest for fun, was now becoming more and more complicated. Gray couldnt help but feel that he was slowly becoming involved in things bigger than he couldve ever imagined. {So what do you want from me?} asked Gray as the wind rushed past his face. Though they were still in forest terrain, there was a path that cut through the trees, allowing the horses to gallop as fast as they wanted without the risk of bumping into anything. {We want what you want. To soak in the blood of the livin-} {Dont give me that bullshit. Tell me the truth, I dont need your help to soak in blood, Ive done it well enough alone thus far,} interrupted Gray, not buying that the voice merely wanted the same things as him. {I see, it seems you are not as simple as I thought. However, what I said before wasn''t entirely false. We seek what you seek, though we have other, more complex goals in mind as well.} {Speak clearly, if you waste any more of my time I''ll shut you off. I''ve had practice shutting out the screams of your kind,} snapped Gray, the confusion of this all angering him even more. {Very well then, to be frank, what we seek is a world of our own. A world where all my brethren can live, without fear of being extinguished from existence on a demons whim.} {What do you mean a demons whim?} If there was something Gray was lacking right now, it was information. And even though he had no plans of helping this voice, he still wanted to know as much as he could about this world. {Amaymon did not create us intentionally. He was researching the content of souls, and stripped the soul of its substance, leaving a hollow and creating the first specter. After performing countless experiments on us, he deemed us abominations to the inhabitants of this plane, and sent us to the deepest depths of his kingdom to rot and be forgotten in darkness. Though it seems he hadnt counted on the fact that we fed on souls, hence multiplying. For centuries he was unable to find a place to store us, though now it seems he finally found a way you. I am uncertain how it is possible that your soul has not collapsed, but here we are.} {Interesting story you have there, though that has nothing to do with me. If youre so upset about it, take it up with Amaymon yourself. You said something about taking over a body, why dont you just try it again?} replied Gray, opening the map as his horse galloped in front of Tesses. {For me to try that again, I require someone who has submitted their soul to you, I need a being who has given themselves up to you entirely,} explained the voice. That explained why the specter had only appeared after he had done the deed with Layla. Perhaps at that moment, she had given herself up to Gray, and right then the specter had made its move. {Well, guess youre trapped here. No offense, but this sounds like too much work. World domination never turns out well, trust me, Ive watched enough to know,} replied Gray as he recharted his course, opting to pass by a small village on his way. He wasnt going to give those specters the chance to scream in his head again, and besides, he was getting a little bored. {You seek revenge against Amaymon, do you not? But you lack the power to do so. Just think about it, we are an army, willing to work under you and all you need to do is make others submit. World domination does not need to be an immediate goal, we can spread pain, and paint the world crimson before we do that, either way, our will shall be done, your will shall be done. With us, you will become a deity, a god incarnate. Not even Amaymon will be able to stand in front of our army,} whispered the voice and sweet whispers they were. Images of an immortal army slaughtering masses played within his mind, the scene aroused him, and try as he may, he couldnt suppress the excitement that coursed within his veins. Above all, the prospect of seeing Amaymon''s corpse lying bloody and lifeless beneath his feet struck a chord that resonated with his very being. To terrorize the terror, a concept so twisted, that Gray couldn''t help but partake. {It seems you understand. So, how shall we begin?} *** Gray spoke with the voice for several more hours before stopping at a small village a few hours away from Axiel. They planned to make the people of this village submit or perish as a test run for how they would deal with those followers of Amaymon willing to serve a new lord. They had left the forest area and were now in the grasslands. The village houses were made primarily of wood, and had thatch rooves. They were arranged in a sort of circle all facing the center of the village where a well had been built. The land directly after the village houses had been cultivated, it would seem the villagers were farmers. Who are they? whispered a few of the villagers as Gray and Tesse stopped their horses next to the well. Greetings good people of Elden. I bring to you a wonderous offer, submit to me, or die a beautiful red death, smiled Gray from underneath his hood, holding his arms out like some sort of preacher. I offer to you power beyond your comprehension if you offer yourself to me, or a bath in the blood of those you hold dear, either choice is will end in joy, he continued, his excitement audible as he tried his best to sound like some sort of heretic. {This is fun,} he thought to himself as he watched the faces of the villagers twist in confusion and horror. {Progenitor, perhaps you are coming off a little too-} I-I-Its a demon cultist. R-Run! Before the specter could finish warning Gray, the villagers began scattering. {You should be more subtle,} the voice tried warning, though Gray knew very well that this plan wouldnt have worked in the first place. To begin with, only a certain type of person would give themselves over to another being, and those types of people could not be found in a village full of farmers. {Well, just means more for me to hunt,} smiled Gray, before whipping the reins of his horse, and commanding it to run towards a small group of villagers who were running away. The villagers didnt stand a chance against the horse''s speed, as its enormous hooves trampled upon them, the crackling of their spines breaking played a sweet tune to Grays ears. Those who had survived the initial trampling had their heads chopped off by a swing of Gray''s longsword. Make sure none of them escape. Cut off their legs if you have to, ordered Gray with a hysterical smile on his face. Tesse nodded in response before putting the cub on the ground, and chasing after those villagers who had run outside the confines of the village. Its been so long since Ive felt this warmth, whispered Gray as he planted his fist in the corpse of one of the villagers that had been trampled and absorbed all the blood out of its body, leaving it a shriveled up bag of skin and bone. Run! Run! Run! laughed Gray, before licking the blood off his blade. He had acquired a new taste for blood, an unquenchable desire. ==================================== [System Information] [Elden Agriculture] Elden''s main agricultural export is a special type of barely known as Garza, used in the creation of elven beer. It is especially popular in dwarven-controlled states, though they are smuggled in large quantities to human-controlled areas as well. Garza can only grow in certain areas at close proximities to the forest, so farmers have built their settlements close to these areas. Recently, beastmen tribes have been raiding these villages, and harvesting all their Garza for sale on the human black market. ===================================== Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/V64Xmqr2gh Changing Genetics It was as if the living carnation of terror itself had descended upon the village. Like a black blur of death, Gray sliced and slashed through the villagers, rupturing their innards before draining them dry leaving only sludges of human waste and mutilated corpse paste behind. None were spared, not the women nor the children, Gray slaughtered them all in cold blood, all the while he hid a smile under his hood. {Enough, if you continue youll go into a blood frenzy,} warned the specter, though Gray was too concentrated on the carnage to pay it any mind. With every fallen victim his blood meter would get closer to reaching critical level, and he could feel his mind slowly slipping, but at the same time, he felt a rush unlike any he had ever had before. A few of the villagers began begging him to spare them, realizing that worshipping a heretic was better than death, but at that point, Gray was already shrouded in the insanity of mindless butchery. One of the villagers bowed before him with teary eyes, asking that their child be spared. Though the words that came out of his mouth were lost to Grays ears. To him, it was as if the whole world were silent, as if he were about to ascend, ascend to what exactly he had no idea. But Gray liked the feeling, with every kill he told himself just a little bit more. So how could he? How could he spare one of his precious kills? Gray sliced the mans lower jaw off before thrusting his blade into the mans stomach, activating his sword''s [Earth shatter] ability. The mans insides ruptured out of his body, sending intestines and viscera into the air. A chunk of the mans guts splattered onto Grays face, its warmth like a warm towel to his skin. [Bloodlust Mode activated. Blood lust has reached critical level. Warning, excessive use of this mode exponentially increases the blood price toll. A sacrifice must be offered before the blood lust expires or the full toll will be paid by the user.] After hearing the notification, everything became jumbled. His memories became incoherent chunks of death and pleasure, the only thing he could still clearly differentiate was the voice at the very back of his mind that kept whispering just a little more. However, in the end, he never ascended, it seemed that there were merely not enough villagers for him to reach whatever climax he was hoping to. After realizing that there were no more victims left, Gray passed out. The toll of his Bloodlust Modefinally taking an effect on him. Tesse healed him a few moments after he passed out, before being knocked unconscious by the feedback from her healing. When Gray awoke he felt a strong craving for more violence, if it wasnt for the specter pulling him out of his zombie-like daze he wouldve marched on in search for more. {Stop. If you go off in this state youll be found out and slaughtered. This is why I warned you against killing them all. You cant control your urges yet, you should avoid going into that bloodlust mode,} warned the specter. {What? What was that? Why am I- whats going on. What have you done to me?} Though Gray had always been in love with the idea of inflicting pain, it had always been a sort of voluntary interest rather than a need. But now it felt like it was something hardwired to his brain, it felt like if he didnt run rampant and cause wide-scale annihilation he would perish. {I havent done anything to you. Your mind is merely adjusting to the changes made to your body. A human turned demon, a demon halved specter. There is a lot going on within you, and the billions of our brethren tethered to your soul arent helping your psyche either. Its already an anomaly that you are still sane, though that is the reason we chose you.} {Fuck this, I cant think straight.} Though Gray tried to clear up his mind, it still felt foggy. A vast contrast from how clear it had been a while ago when he was on his rampage, he was sure that a few more cries from his tormented victims would help him, but the specter was right. If he stayed around too long, he would eventually be found out. After all, he had just wiped out an entire settlement. {I can worry about this later, I have to get to Axiel first,} decided Gray, before picking Tesse up and strapping her unconscious body to his horse. Where is tha- He was about to say before he spotted the cub eating villager''s remains a few yards away. When it noticed that Gray was staring at it, it tried pulling the corpse that it was feeding on behind one of the houses. Get over here, he ordered, before appearing beside it. *Neow* It meowed in protest as Gray tried pulling it off the corpse. Fuck around- as he said this he thrust his sword into the corpses chest cavity Cand get fucked, he finished off before activating [Earth shatter] and blasting the corpse to mince. The cub stood still, and obediently let go of its treat, shivering slightly as Gray picked it up. No more detours, he mumbled to himself before placing the cub on Tesses lap. After tying Tesses horse to his, he went on his way. As Gray rushed through the forest he couldnt help but feel that something was watching him, though the presence was faint, it felt like he was being followed. Though after taking a few detours and trying to fake out his assailer, he realized that it was probably just a side effect of his healing psyche. Great, now Im paranoid, he mumbled under his breath, before relaxing a bit more and continuing his journey. ================================================================ [System Information] [Affinity] The affinity stat determines how certain individuals or factions will interact with the user. Just like on earth, individuals tend to behave more favorably to those they like as compared to those they dislike. Some factions require a minimum amount of affinity before joining their ranks. Affinity can be the difference between gaining a precious skill and dying a painful death. ============================== Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen The Cult Of Amaymon Part 1 Whats this? wondered Gray as he opened his system vision. At first, he thought that the low buzz that had been bothering him would go away after a while, but after two hours of travel, he realized that it was just a system notification. The notification seemed to be coming from the [Player Stats] tab. After opening it with a thoughts command, he came to see what the notification was about. ??? [Gray Verlice] [Level 5: 20/100] ! [Mana points: 500/500] ! [Safe Blood meter: 100%] [10 Unused points]! [Agility: 10 {16}] [Strength: 12 {19.2}] [Stamina: 8 {12.8] [Attack force: 3 {4.8}] [Karma: -100]! [1 Unused point]! [He who pleasures death lvl.1 {2/3}: 0/100] [Blood weapons lvl.1: 0/5] [Hisashi Miyamoto Summon lvl.3: 0/10] [Demon Specter Hybrid] [Demon Rank: Servus] [Specter Rank: Progenitor] ??? {Seems I leveled up. Those villagers probably dropped some form of experience,} thought Gray as he looked over his stats. Though he was now level 5 there was no change to his player stats, instead, he had gained points which he had to allocate himself. Though he much preferred this system to stats randomly being assigned, the allocated points for each level were a little underwhelming. {So it''s 2 points per level huh?} thought Gray after doing the quick maths. Compared to taking potions, leveling seemed far inferior, in fact, the leveling system seemed entirely redundant. {No, no, I should calm down. I havent even breached level 10 yet, maybe things will change,} he thought to himself, before noticing the unused ability point he had gained. {Wait, dont I still have-} after opening the system shop he realized he was right. He did in fact still have a few Arcanian points left over from completing the [Tower of Laplus]. ??? New Vautis Visual System- Owned Minor Mana Elixir - 500 Minor Stamina Elixir - 500 Minor Health Elixir - 500 Recovery Elixir Level 2- 3000 Stamina Increasing Elixir- 1000 Strength Increasing Elixir- 1000 Agility Increasing Elixir- 1000 Ability Increasing Elixir- 1000 ? ? 5000 Arcanian points Remaining ? ? ??? {Hmm, should I invest all my points into stats or upgrade one of my abilities. I havent seen any humans since I got here, so upgrading [Hisashi Miyamoto] would be useless, besides I dont have enough points anyway, even if I used all my Arcanian points to buy extra. As for [He who pleasures death], I still have an open slot that I havent used, Ill upgrade it after I find a suitable skill. Perhaps something with a bit of utility this time, my combat abilities right now are being held back by my lack of skill, not my ability pool.} After pondering for a bit more, Gray ended up buying 2 xStrength Increasing Elixir, 1 x Agility Increasing Elixir, and 2 x Stamina Increasing Elixir. After drinking all the elixirs, he assigned all 10 of his unused stat points into his attack force stat and the unused ability point into his [Blood weapons] ability. ??? [Gray Verlice] [Level 5: 20/100] [Mana points: 500/500] [Safe Blood meter: 100%] [Agility: 15 {24}] [Strength: 22 {35.2}] [Stamina: 18 {27] [Attack force: 4 {6.4}] [Karma: -100] [He who pleasures death lvl.1 {2/3}: 0/100] [Blood weapons lvl.1: 1/5] [Hisashi Miyamoto Summon lvl.3: 0/10] [Demon Specter Hybrid] [Demon Rank: Servus] [Specter Rank: Progenitor] ??? Perfect, he mumbled to himself before refocusing his attention on the path ahead. {That''s odd, it''s been 2 hours and she hasnt woken up yet. Was the backlash from my ability that bad?} he wondered to himself as Tesses head lay on his chest. Though if he had been able to see her from a different angle, he would have noticed her bright red cheeks and the smile on her face. After 2 more hours of travel, they finally made it to the gates of Axial. It seemed to be a reasonably large town, larger than Grays town anyway. As he got to the front of the gates the guards stationed there they gave him hostile looks, before one of them stepped in front of his horse. Identification documents, grunted the guard, staring daggers at Gray. Heh? Who do you thin- {Concentrate. If you kill anyone here youll fail the mission, and the last thing you need is a vampire hunting you down,} warned the specter before Grays anger got the best of him. {Shut up, I know that already.} Im here on behalf of the Kalin Nation. Ive been instructed to talk to Ailre Daexalim, youd do well to take me to him, replied Gray, with a somewhat unnecessarily threatening tone. Hmmph. Where is the rest of your squadron? asked another one of the other guards. Squadron? We were the only ones sent. What? I knew the vampires were behind this whole thing. Look at what they sent, complained one of the guards, though his comrade quickly calmed him down. Follow me, Ill direct you to his quarters, said the first guard, before opening the town gates. Though Gray was expecting a somewhat medieval setting, he was surprised to find that the town looked rather modernized. Well, as modernized as a magic-driven world could get. The houses seemed to have been made centering their own type of architecture which consisted of flat circular rooves and cloverleaf arch-ways doors. The houses seemed to be made out of a strong enough material, and the paths were reinforced with a rock-like material. {It seems theres a bit of friction between the humans and the vampires,} inferred Gray after seeing all the glances everyone gave him as he followed the guard atop his horse. ============================================== [System Information] Ailre Daexalim Ailre was once considered one of the strongest lower-level generals in the Kingdom of Elden. Though after the former king died and his daughter ascended the throne, he was stripped of his first-order general title on the pretense that he was too weak and replaced by one of the new Queen''s strawmen. He was reassigned to the border patrol division and currently holds the title of Head Captain. He hopes to gain public favor by ridding the kingdom of the terror which is the Cult of Amaymon. Alignment: Elden Kingdom Interests: Serving the people of Elden Hostile towards: The Cult of Amaymon and all enemies of the state ================================================ Check out the Patreon for more chapters: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/V64Xmqr2gh The Cult of Amaymon Part 2 Gray was led towards a massive complex with several soldiers stationed outside the gates. The area seemed to be even more protected than the city gates, prompting Gray to wonder what exactly was beyond them. Hes here to see Captain Ailre, said the guard to one of the soldiers stationed at the gate before reporting back to his post. The soldiers in question were dressed in the same green tunics as the troops that Gray had decimated a few days ago. It was likely that the higher-ups had been alerted of that incident, though they probably kept it hush hush to prevent unrest. After all, a demon killing an entire company of soldiers wasnt something that any nation would want blasted around. Take the hood off, ordered one of the soldiers, the hostility that was oozing from his voice palpable. Gray could feel Tesses back muscles tighten up, she was probably thinking of reaching for her blade to behead the soldier for his presumptuous demeanor towards her master. {Great, now shes awake,} complained Gray inwardly. Fearing that she might do something rash like she always seemed to do in such situations, Gray quickly thought up an excuse. Im a vampire, the sun and I arent exactly on friendly terms, he joked with an air of superiority as if he were explaining the obvious to a child. The guard seemed dazed for a moment, before quickly collecting himself. And why exactly does a vampire want to talk to the captain? The guard said the word vampire with so much contempt that it almost seemed as if he would spit on Gray at any moment. Ive been sent my Alucard to assist in the apprehension of the Cult of Amaymon, explained Gray, his eyes making a quick sweep of all the soldiers present. After fighting almost every day for the last month and a half, Gray had developed the habit of sizing up anything that could hold a sword in front of him. He quickly inferred that if need be, he could slaughter the men here and run away. His mind seemed to cling to the idea, oh how easy it would be, how good it would feel, though he quickly regained his composure, bringing his attention back to current matters. Ill need some form of identification. Im a vampire riding a vampiric horse. The robes I wear have the Kalin nations insignia printed on them, what other form of identification were you hoping for? Though Gray was unsure whether the symbol depicted a flying bat with two swords crossed across it was the insignia of the nation of Kalin, it was as good a guess as any. Besides, regardless of what he had brought, whether it had been a letter or some sort of item, it would prove to be the same worth as him wearing the robes. Anything could be forged, so if they werent going to let him in with this, they werent going to let him in any way. Hmm, get off the horse and hand over all your weapons. We''ll lead you in. Acceptable, Ill co- but before Gray could finish his sentence Tesse had already drawn her blade. The soldiers all pulled theirs out in response, already pointing them at her. Calm down gentlemen, she was just going to hand over her weapon, werent you Tesse? V-very well, master, she said reluctantly, anger still audible in her voice. After getting of the horse, they both handed over their weapons. And that? asked the soldier as he was about to lead them in, referring to the cub. What? You arent going to allow her pet inside? asked Gray, getting a little fed up with all this. If it tries anything funny well kill it without a second thought, scowled the soldier before opening the gates. {And Ill gut you and hang you on your intestines.} The complex seemed to be a military base of some sort, based off the fact that scores of soldiers walked to and fro severally odd-shaped buildings. Just within Grays field of vision, he could see soldiers practicing in what looked to be a training ground of some sort, further proving his hypothesis to be true. After passing several security checks, and the personnel making sure he wasn''t carrying any weapons more times than hed care to count, he was finally led to Ailres office. Tesse and her cub were instructed to wait outside for security reasons, though Gray thought it absurd he still complied. The sooner he got this over with, the sooner he could get back to doing what he loved. Captain Ailre, he says he was sent here by Alucard on behalf of the Kalin nation, announced Ailres secretary, before he gestured for her to leave. So they sent you huh? You dont seem like much, though I could use all the help I can get at this point, commented Ailre with an exhausted expression. The man seemed to be in his late 50s, though Gray was uncertain how exactly elf ages worked. He was a built old man, certainly the body of a honed warrior. He had deep blue eyes and a full beard with streaks of white here and there. The man wore a green Baretta along with a green officer''s uniform different from that worn by everyone else in the base. Looks can be deceiving. Now lets just skip the pleasantries and get on to business, replied Gray, taking a seat on the open chair opposite Ailres office table. Gray noted the piles of documents stacked on his table, not really what he was expecting but perhaps it just drew a better picture of their current situation. Ailre noticed this before letting out a sigh. Theyre missing reports, as well as reports of all the casualties we sustained. As you can see- at this Ailre paused, inspecting Grays uniform for a symbol of military rank or something of the sort. You can call me Gray. As you can see Gray the situation isnt looking too good. Hmm, give me a quick rundown on what''s been going on. Start from the beginning. =============================================== [System Information] Elden Military System A large chunk of what people consider to be Eldish soldiers are actually low-ranking officers. These officers are deployed all across the kingdom to maintain order while at the same time are being tested in order to verify whether they are skilled enough to join the actual military. Actual Eldish soldiers are kept within the capital and are only released during times of unrest. It is estimated that one Eldish soldier is worth 5 officers. ================================================ Check out the Patreon for more chapters: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/V64Xmqr2gh The Cult of Amaymon Part 3 Well, it started off as just a few kidnappings. A weird occurrence, but nothing too out of the blue. Once in a while, a few scumbags try to run a trafficking ring. We usually catch the bastards before it becomes anything too major. But after we started getting reports of demon attacks on the outskirts of town I knew something was wrong. During their first attack there were just a few of them, skinless beast type critters, chew your head off if you werent too careful. I dealt with them myself, they werent much of a problem. I thought that after killing them that would be the end of it, but I was mistaken. The night after they attacked again, and this time they were double in number, it was like a plague. Every night me and a few of my men would take them out, and the night after even more of them would come back. We soon realized that the number of residents that would go missing correlated with the number of beasts that would appear. It wasnt hard to put two and two together after that, said Ailre, before pinching the bridge of his nose. Sure, I can see why you assumed a demonic group had something to do with it. But what exactly led you to believe it was the Cult of Amaymon? The bastards wrote his name in blood on the city gates after their fifth attack, replied Ailre tidying up the documents on his desk before standing up to look out the window. The people of this town rely on me you know. Almost a quarter of the residents have gone missing, I cant afford to let this continue any longer so I don''t really have time to fool around. If you feel you cant help us, lets save both your time and mine and end this here. {Fine by me.} Is what Gray wouldve loved to say, had the specter not reminded him that finishing this mission was a requirement to prevent Alucard from hunting them down. You can lay your worries to rest, captain. Im a specialist when it comes to demons, so if anyone can solve this, it''s me, lied Gray. Is that so? Then perhaps my sleepless nights may soon come to an end, replied Ailre almost longingly. So what exactly have you done thus far? Im not trying to question your hard work captain, I merely want to know what you''ve already tried so as to avoid re-inventing the wheel. Re-inventing the wheel? The prase seemed to be lost on the old elf. Weve tried just about everything we could. At first, we had the citizens report anyone they thought was suspicious, but that soon turned into a witch hunt after citizens started false reports based solely on petty disagreements. Then we tried having a town-wide search for anyone in possession of suspicious materials, but that proved useless as the culprits could just hide their things in already searched households, explained Ailre exhaustion audible in his voice. And what about the demonic beasts? Do you perhaps have any of them locked up somewhere? We might be able to find a clue on one of them. Locked up? I killed them on sight, I hadnt even thought of finding clues on one of them. Gods, maybe the queen was right. Maybe I should retire and let someone else take this post. {If this old man mopes any more than he already has, I swear Ill-} Well see where we go after we capture one of them. But putting all that aside, what do you suppose their goal is? Why are they spawning demonic creatures in this town? Pfft, isnt it obvious? They want to summon their god, Amaymon. And theyll be able to do it too if they get enough sacrifices. They wont stop here, after they completely take over this town, they''ll spread to the rest of Elden, said Ailre, as if it were blatantly obvious. Then if it''s so serious why hasnt the queen sent in more help? Excuse me for saying this, but Im sure there are people more qualified to hunt down cult members than you. I dont know either, replied Ailre, his eyes slightly downcast as he said this. Gray could tell something was up, and he didn''t plan on getting himself killed just because Ailre decided to withhold some information. Look, Im not going to help if you plan on hiding things. If you want us to solve this as fast as possible, I need to know everything you know. Gray, have you ever wanted to protect something with your entire being, though it seemed as if there were always forces acting against you? Gray couldnt tell exactly what the old man was getting at. Though he could tell that Ailre hadnt slept in a while and was perhaps mumbling on due to sleep deprivation, so he decided to entertain the man. Yea. I was once tasked with protecting a high-ranking official, though because Im from what they call indecent blood the official refused my protection, which led to her death, replied Gray, stealing the whole story from a web novel he had once read. Im sorry to hear, said Ailre sympathizing with Gray. I have a similar story, though for me its the entire kingdom. After that, there was a slight pause, as if Ailre was thinking about whether or not to go on with what he had to say. What I am about to say is blasphemy towards the queen, though I am prepared to die if that means Elden will be safe. The only reason I am saying this to you is because I need someone inside Kalin to alert the higher-ups in case all hell breaks loose, said Ailre, visibly preparing himself for what he was about to say. I believe the queen is working with the demons. W-what? My suspicions began the day the former king died. He and I were close, though I was weak when compared to the strongest warriors within the kingdom, he still chose me as one of his generals. The night before he died he told me that bad times were coming and that he had already failed us. Back then I didnt understand, but after he was declared dead the following day I began to suspect. His eldest daughter, the current queen, ascended the throne on the same day. She restructured the entire cabinet, stripping the kings men of their titles and replacing them with her own strawmen. Soon after rumors that the queen had ordered the continuation of a few forbidden experiments began spreading. I cant tell you exactly why I believe she is working for the demons, but I have strong reason to suspect so. {Damn you Alucard. Why am I being involved in all this? This was supposed to be an elimination mission, I was just supposed to kill a few people. Why is this old man telling me his whole life story? The queen could be fucking Amaymonn for all I care, why does this have to be so complicated.} thought Gray though he kept an outwardly composed demeanor. You dont seem surprised. Oh no, Im shocked. Im just trying to take all this in. {Shocked at my luck that is.} =============================================== [System Information] Mordesh The Queen of demonic nature and magic arts, youngest daughter to the Grand demon Arshahet and ruler of the seventh circle of hell. She is the second youngest amongst the Eight High demons of the underworld, older than only her younger brother Amaymon. She is also known as the elf progenitor, though records of elf descendence have long been lost, and such claim is in dispute between her and the tree of life Yggdrasil. She is seen as the most benevolent of the demon gods, in fact, a tribe of elves known as the drows used to worship her, and in turn, she gave them power. Though during the reign of the mad king, most of them died due to forbidden experimentation. It is uncertain why she allowed them to be wiped out, though her goals have always been uncertain. Like her younger brother she too has a zest for information and is sometimes referred to as the mother of demonic experimentation. She is known to be charismatic and cruel, and will sometimes expose her sadistic tendencies. ================================================ Check out the Patreon for more chapters: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/V64Xmqr2gh The Cult of Amaymon Part 4 Im already a failure as a leader for telling you all this, but it had to be done. Now if you will excuse me, Id like some time alone to think over a few things, and Im guessing you need some time to get your thoughts in order as well. Well continue our discussions tomorrow, said Ailre, before dismissing Gray. Gray met up with Tesse in the corridor before one of the soldiers led them to their new resting quarters. They were to reside within the barracks for the duration of their stay. The rooms were quite cramped, just big enough to fit a small single bed and a sink, though Gray expected as much from military housing. This is boring, it would be nice if they allowed me to kill a few residents based on suspicion, commented Gray as he looked out the window of his room. {But then there would be no residents left, now would there,} responded the specter. Pfft. But still, I cant just sit still until the old man decides he has recovered from his treason, there has to be something worthwhile around here. Ahh perhaps Gray got Tesse from her room leaving the barracks. Hey, you. Where are the training grounds? asked Gray to a group of soldiers who were about to enter the barracks. Outsiders arent allowed on the training grounds. Much less vam- a soldier was about to reply but before he could finish, one of his comrades stopped him. You want to go to the training grounds huh? Sure, I was just heading there myself, he said. Monty why are yo- the other soldiers tried whispering, though Monty quickly waved away their objections with a smile on his face. I wanna see what they got. As the soldiers led them to the training grounds, a crowd of troops began following behind them. By the time they actually reached the training grounds, the place was flooded with soldiers all staring at Gray and Tesse expectantly. All this just for us? commented Gray a bit humorously. The training grounds were about the size of a ranch, taking up a big portion of the actual military base. The soldiers who had been training stopped what they were doing once they saw the crowd and joined in to see what all the commotion was about. I thought wed have a sort of little competition. You know, just friendly rivalry, though any accidents are just accidents, started Monty with a smirk on his face. This will hardly be a competition. Why compete with someone naturally your predator? asked Gray, earning him a few angry glares from the soldiers. You seem mistaken, elves arent inferior to vampires in any way. There are those of us who surpass your kind in both speed and strength, not to forget that our creations far surpass yours. In fact, some would say that youre the prey and we are the hunters, countered Monty. {Pfft, this ought to be interesting,} thought Gray, though no matter how hard he tried he couldnt feel any sort of rivalry between them. To him, it was as if he were staring at blood bags that existed only to feed him. {Thats natural, youre of a superior race to them,} commented the specter. So what do you propose we do? asked Gray, accepting the competition to quench his boredom. Archery and sword fighting. You dont have enough troops for a mock battle, and it wouldnt be much of a fight if we pitted our best against you, replied Monty before whispering something to the soldier standing to his left. A smile appeared on the soldiers face before he marched off in a hurry. Well start with archery before going on to the main event. It will be like a basic archery tourney, the first one to miss loses. Very well then. Im quite out of practice when it comes to marksmanship, so Tesse you can handle this, said Gray. {From what I know from video games, elves are quite the archers. I wonder if that theory holds true,} he thought to himself. A human? You dare pit your blood bag against us? commented one of the soldiers, disbelief audible in his voice. {Look whos calling who a blood bag,} laughed Gray. Then I take it you are afraid to lose to a blood bag then? To this, the soldiers kept quiet, a determined gleam in their eyes. After a few minutes, the targets were set up, and Tesses opponent came to the front. It was an elven man with a lanky body structure and long Nephilim arms, he stood at 1.98meters tall, towering over most of the soldiers present. In his hands he held a bow made from glowing wood, its surface was covered in encryptions and at the center of its grip was a green stone. An enchanted bow? Isnt that cheating? asked Gray, though he wasnt surprised. He expected them to pull something like this, besides he wasnt planning on letting Tesse compete without an advantage either. {Though that bow looks pretty nice.} How about this, why dont we make this quick and start with the furthest distance youve ever hit? said Gray with a smirk on his face. I always knew vampires were prideful, but I never heard anything about them being stupid, commented Monty before instructing a few of the soldiers to move the targets further. "It''s okay Tesse, let them," commented Gray, feeling the anger that exuded from Tesse at that moment. 1000 meters. Thats within range of her vision is it not? asked Monty. Very well. Just give me a moment to fetch her weapon. Gray wasn''t about to use his blood abilities in front of them. If word of his rampage had indeed spread, then he would place under even more suspicion if he did. After heading into a dark corner, and making sure no one was around, he created the T-1 anti-tank rifle and placed the black enchantment rune on it. What is that? whispered some of the soldiers. The T-1 tank rifle was that massive, it was unlike any weapon the elves had ever seen. Even as he handed it over to Tesse, it was slightly taller than her, which would make anyone doubt that she could even fire such a weapon. Doesnt matter. Nothing they bring can beat the [Bow of Elynois]. Why dont we begin? announced Monty. =============================================== [System Information] [Bow of Elynois] A unique rated weapon with the [wind of the lost forest] enchantment. It is said to have been created by Arlen.G Elynois, a legendary elven weaponsmith. Although the weapon is considered one of his failed projects, it is still a powerful weapon. List of abilities: [Wind shot]: shoots arrows blessed by the wind, increasing both their power and speed. {Consumes 10 mana} [Wind''s eye]: shoots arrows guided by the wind, increasing the accuracy of the user by 50%. {Consumes 10 mana} [Elynois''s wrath]: infused with Arlen''s anger at its imperfection, the bow shoots a powerful gust of wind at the target. {Consumes all remaining mana and 10 percent of the user''s health.} ================================================ Check out the Patreon for more chapters: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/V64Xmqr2gh The Cult of Amaymon Part 5 The elven archer was going to go first. The crowd went dead silent as he stared at the target before holding his bow out in front of him, pulling out an arrow from his quiver and notching it with a practiced hand. He took in a deep breath before drawing his bow, holding it in. The light emanating from the bow intensified, followed by a small gust of wind that circulated at the nock of the arrow. In one swift movement, he let go of the string, sending out a powerful gust of wind that rocketed the arrow straight towards the center of the target, blowing it to smithereens. {I have to get that bow,} thought Gray greedily. Though he had expected to come across magic items more frequently in this new world, he was still surprised by their power. Based on the force that was let out of that shot, it was probably a few levels more powerful than the anti-tank rifle. For a moment, this made him wonder what kinds of weapons were out there, perhaps the nuclear weapons that humans were so fond of would be nothing but a slightly impressive sight when compared to some of them. Impressive, was all that Gray said, keeping an outwardly composed demeanor. Though that was enough for the soldiers to look at him with smug expressions. Tesse seemed eager to go next, preparing her shot even before the other archer had fully moved out of the way. The crowd stopped their snide comments and focused their attention on her, though from the look on their faces they werent expecting much. She took a prone position on the floor, using the ground as a platform for the [T1 anti-tank rifle]s tripod. After placing the butt of the gun on her shoulder, she put her eyes on the scope, adjusting the gun until she had the target in her sights. You do not get to look down on my master, she growled, before pulling the trigger, completely dislocating her shoulder as the bullet rocketed out of the barrel. Though the force from the shot was substantially less than that of the bow, the sound that emanated from it was ghastly. A few of the soldiers reflexively pulled out their weapons afraid that a demon was attacking. The shot hit the target dead center, eating away at it in an instant. The soldiers looked at the weapon with a sort of fear in their eyes. Though it lacked the power of their bow, they knew that the bullets it shot out didnt require power to kill you. If that thing so much as scraped you, youd probably be sludge within the next minute. A-A decay rune. A-are those legal in the vampire nation? asked a few of the soldiers. Shall we proceed? said Gray, as Tesse healed her shoulder. The target was moved to 1500 meters away, once again the elven archer went first. Like before he looked at the target first before notching his arrow. As he drew the string of his bow, an extra glow emanated from it, and this time a gust of wind circulated at the tip of the arrow as well. The instant he released the string, the arrow traveled with explosive force, twisting and slithering through the air almost as if it were a snake before hitting the target dead center. {Tracking?} wondered Gray, as the archer moved from the shooting stand. Though her shoulders still hurt a little from earlier, Tesse prepared herself like before. Letting out an ear-piercing shot once she had placed the target within her sights. The bullet hit the target slightly off the bullseye, eating away at it a split second later. The soldiers who seemed to have been holding in their breaths finally exhaled, some of them shouting and patting each other on the back as if they themselves had been competing in the competition. Tesse looked at where the target had been standing a second ago in disbelief. She had failed, even after her master had trusted her with his pride. After taking that in for a few seconds, she stood up, her head downcast as she shuffled her feet towards her master. F-Forg- Dont ask for forgiveness, just make sure it never happens again. I dont have use for things that dont work the way I want them to, said Gray, though not a hint of anger lingered within those words. {T-The master isnt angry, h-hes just disappointed. He really did place all his trust in me. I-Ill have to practice harder, Ill ask him if I could hold onto the rifle to get more practice with it. I won''t let him throw me away,} thought Tesse, her eyes blazing with determination. *Neow?* Moewed the cub, sensing his mothers fevor. {Besides, I didnt expect you to win. You only just started using snipers, that archer has probably undergone years of training. This was just for educational purposes,} thought Gray. Next will be the sword battle. I take it this time youll be the one competing? asked Monty, the soldiers behind him still making noise over their win. Indeed, however, my weapons were confiscated at the gates, replied Gray. Dont worry well provide the weapons, said Monty. Gray gave him a bored look as he motioned for some of the soldiers to prepare the weapons. Don''t worry, neither side will have enchantments. This will be a fair match based purely off skill, well of course as fair as fair can be, said Monty, a sort of laugh hidden in his words. Did the old man agree? shouted Monty, looking around the crowd for someone. He said he would come after he was done with his meditation, replied one of the soldiers. Very well then, I hope you dont mind waiting, said Monty as a soldier came back holding two steel swords. Dont worry they arent silver, he commented, earning a few chuckles from the other soldiers. {You know, Ill have to make sure this Monty guy goes missing before I leave. Ill take my time with him too,} thought Gray, taking a few practice swings with the sword. {I havent tested out my upgraded stats yet, this should prove somewhat useful at least.} =============================================== [System Information] Elden Military Ranking System - Rank Commodore The third rank achievable by soldiers within the official Elden Army and their strength is the equivalent of 100 Elvish soldiers. They usually specialise within a specific field, earning themselves the title ''Sword Commodore'' or ''Mage Commodore'' depending on their specialization. Due to their rank, they are usually granted an epic-rated weapon or something of equivalent power. For more information of Elden Military hierarchy read [Book of EldenMilitary and Military hierarchy] ================================================ Check out the Patreon for more chapters: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/V64Xmqr2gh The Cult of Amaymon Part 6 After a few minutes of waiting his opponent finally arrived, the soldiers making a path for him as he walked to the front. I hope you have a good reason for calling me here, announced the man, though he seemed irritated his voice was calm. G-Gazef. Ive found a worthy training partner for you, he says h- but before Monty could finish his sentence the old man interrupted. Worthy? Pfft, look at the way he holds his sword. He hasnt used one for more than a few months at most, and you say worthy? scoffed Gazef as he inspected Gray. Gray did the same and was not impressed, but to be fair what stood in front of him looked to be a feeble old man. Though Gray was aware that the older warriors were the ones he had to be most wary of. He wasnt so arrogant as to think that the old man was still in the military by luck. So shall we get on with this, or do you still have more comments to make? asked Gray, impatient with the old mans judgemental gaze. The old man scoffed in response, walking towards the sparring arena ahead of him. Once they got in, one of the soldiers began explaining the rules of the competition. Projectile abilities are not allowed, that means anything that does not require you to be within striking range to deal damage is restricted. The match will go on until one side concedes or is unable to continue. Apart from that, all forms of combat are allowed, announced the soldier, before stepping out of the arena. This wont even be educational. To make it more interesting, I will only fight you with one arm and I will not move from this spot, said the old man, drawing an x on the ground with his sword. Do what you want old man, Im not going to stop you. Though I have to say, I will be disappointed if you won''t be able to act as even a testing dummy because of your stupid pride, commented Gray, before their match began. Gray began by walking around Gazef in a circle, trying to look for any openings. Gazef turned as Gray walked around him, keeping his hind foot on the x that he had marked out. Hmmph, scoffed Gray, thinking the old man dumb for taking this fight lightly. In what seemed like an instant to the other officers, Gray appeared behind Gazef, his sword already swinging towards his head. Without so much as turning to look, Gazef parried the attack effortlessly, sending sparks flying into the air. Gray didnt relent, not giving Gazef even a moment of respite. He let out a fury of attacks, slicing, slashing, and thrusting his sword at the old mans head, yet without so much as looking at the attacks, Gazef blocked them all. Though Gray hadnt been putting his full force behind those attacks, he was still surprised by how outmatched he was. Never for one second was he under the delusion that he was at all skilled at swordsmanship, but the thought of the old man keeping up with him at this speed even with such a handy cap angered him. Enough playing around boy. All your probing wont reveal anything if it isnt threatening enough, said Gazef coldly, as he turned to face Gray. You talk too much. With that Gray turned into a black blur, pushing himself to the absolute limits of his body. This time he appeared at Gazefs side, his sword mere inches away from the old mans face. Gazef put up his sword, though the blade was mere millimeters away from slicing his face in two. In fact, Grays blade had managed C just barely so- to cut Gazefs cheek, drawing a thin line of blood. Look whos of his little x, laughed Gray, enjoying the surprised look on the Gazefs face. The old man wasnt alone, most of the officers were still confused about what was going on, as to them it seemed as if Gray were teleporting. It seems it was my mistake for not treating you as a threat. Though you have no skill in the sword, your speed and strength are at least at the starting line, said the old man, wiping the blood off his cheek. There you go again, spouting all that high and mighty bull shit, growled Gray, before taking another swing with his sword. The two blades slammed into each other, sending out an ear-piercing sound. Perhaps I should show you why I can spout all that'' high and mighty bull shit, smiled the Gazef, before thrusting his sword at Gray. The attack wasnt at all fast, in fact, it was just slow enough for all the officers to follow it. But what made the attack dangerous wasnt its speed, it was the way it moved. Gray tried moving his blade to parry it, but as his blade came to block it slithered past his defense, almost as if the steel had a mind of its own. In fact, even as Gray looked at it approach his neck, he couldnt believe that the blade was really a straight piece of metal. Using what little time he had left, Gray moved back at the last second avoiding the attack by mere inches. Do you see now, the gap between us? asked Gazef, before -and this time it seemed even more unbelievable- his sword arm disappeared along with his sword. For three seconds, it seemed as if Gazef had lost his arm to thin air. By the time Gazefs arm returned, Gray realized what had happened. I concede, scoffed Gray, the multiple pinpoint stab wounds on his face making him painfully aware that had that been a real battle, he would''ve been dead before he even knew it. What happened? asked a few of the officers. Though they were happy for the win, none of them could figure out what exactly had happened. To them, Gray had merely forfeited after staring at Gazef for a few seconds. Master, are you okay? asked Tesse, running towards Gray as he walked out of the arena. Heal, was all that Gray said, pissed off at his own weakness. After being healed and handing over the steel sword, a few soldiers confronted Gray about the [T-1 anti-tank rifle] and how exactly he snuck it into the base. Though they had kept quiet during the competition, it was a security threat that they couldnt ignore. Gray wasnt in the mood for dealing with their bullshit, so after shouting out a stream of curse words at them he told Tesse she could keep it. If you have a problem with it, speak to Ailre, he said, before withdrawing to his quarters, leaving Tesse behind to practice. {Ive never wanted to gut an old man any more than I do right now,} thought Gray, before slumping on his bed. {If I want to fully enjoy myself in this world, I have to become stronger. And that means learning how to fight properly too.} [System Information] Gazef Daexalim Older brother to Ailre Daexalim and former First Order Admiral within the Elvish Military, Gazef is considered one of the higher authorities when it comes to swordsmanship within the Elden Kingdom. Unlike his younger brother, Gazef is not concerned with ideologies such as righteousness or concepts as trifle as good and evil. All his life all he ever sought was a good battle. Having found a deep love for swordsmanship at a young age, Gazef wandered the land in search of anyone that could push him to test the limits of his mettle. This resulted in him starting fights with friends and foes alike, this caused him many problems within the military. Due to his thirst for battle, and unpredictable nature, the queen ordered that he be stripped of his titles. Alignment: Self-interest Interests: Finding the limits to his power Hostile towards: Anyone he deems fit ================================================ Check out the Patreon for more chapters: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/V64Xmqr2gh The Cult of Amaymon Part 7 Gray invested himself in trying to think of different ways for him to gain actual combat skills without wasting too much time. Though the idea of merely gaining combat experience through continuous battle seemed like the most obvious answer, it was also the most likely to get him killed. If there ever came a day where he would have to fight someone on Gazefs level, he wouldnt live to enjoy the experience he had gained from such a battle. He had gotten luckty in the past, but if he continued he was certain that he would one day meet his end. After pondering on the subject for a few hours he fell asleep. *Knock* *Knock* Gray woke up with a start, reflexively creating a blood pistol in his right hand. Who the fuck is knocking on my door at this hour? complained Gray as it was already dusk. He quickly dismissed the blood pistol before going to open the door. The demons are attacking the western gates. Captain Ailre has requested that you lead a squad on a capture mission during this battle. You are to capture one demonic beast intact and bring it back to the base. Your men are waiting downstairs, announced the officer, not even giving Gray enough time to fully open the door. My weapons, is all he said, before walking passed the officer towards Tesses room. By the time he got downstairs, both he and Tesses weapons and horses had been prepared. A small group of troops were waiting for him, the squad consisted of five men and two women. Based on the irritated look on their faces as Gray approached them, it was clear they were bothered by the thought of being led by a vampire, though Gray couldnt care any less. Ill only give you one order tonight, and thats to not get in my way, announced Gray as he placed his swords over his back, before getting on his horse. {Now time to blow off some steam,} he thought excitedly, as he was led towards the western gates. By the time they got to there, they found that the area was completely infested with demonic beasts. Though the elves outnumbered them 5 to 1, they still seemed to be struggling quite a bit as the ground was littered with dozens more elves than demonic beast remains. The beasts had a feline type body structure, only they were three times bigger than a tiger, and were devoid of fur. Their flesh hung out exposed, putting to display their powerful muscles while at the same time making them look even more terrifying than they would''ve otherwise. So whats the plan? asked one of the men in Grays squad as the sound of battle rung all around them. The plan? murmured Gray, his focus drawn to the battle around them. Yes, the plan. I was told that you were an expert on demons. That means you should know of some way to capture them right? Yea, it''s really simple. Just beat them up until they cant move anymore, replied Gray, once again most of his attention else where. Seeing as Gray was going to be of no help, the elves decided to go off on their own, mumbling out a string of insults as they rode their horses past his. Master shouldnt we get going as well? asked Tesse, though the way she was looking at the group of elves, it was a wonder whether she would be going after them or the demonic beasts. No, were going to stay here and watch. We can learn a lot from just watching, replied Gray. His earlier loss had taught him not to be too hasty, besides demonic beasts were a new enemy to him, he was unsure how they fought or behaved and therefore needed some intel before engaging them. {This is going to be tricky,} thought Gray as he noticed that the demonic beasts had a very strong healing factor. It seemed that the only way to kill them was to behead them, but that was easier said than done as the demonic creatures had cat-like maneuverability, allowing them to dodge most attacks that came their way. You brought the [T-1 anti-tank rifle] right? asked Gray. Y-Yes master, replied Tesse, though she was a bit hesitant. She was uncertain about her ability to hit such a fast moving target. I dont expect you to shoot any of them. Even a trained marksmen would find it a near impossible task to hit such a fast target under such dim lighting, commented Gray, though to him everything was clear as day. Ever since he had become a demon, his eyes narually adjusted at night, but lately his night vision had gotten even better than before. Hand it over, ordered Gray, gesturing for her to hand over the gun. After unstrapping the rifle from the right side of her horse, she handed it over to Gray. Gray quickly replaced the [corruption rune] with the [earth shatter enchantment rune] before giving it back to Tesse. You see that spot over there, the one with the dead body? asked Gray, pointing towards an open spot on the battlefield with a single dead elf. Ill lure one of them there and youll blow a hole in the ground. The earth shatter enchantment should be able to create substantial damage to the ground, especially when combined with the anti-tank rifle. Also, dont worry about hitting me, Ill be expecting your shot, said Gray, before jumping off his horse. Start setting up, Ill give you a few minutes to prepare yourself before I get the beast in place {but first, I need a few sacrifices.} Gray spotted a group of troops fighting a particularly large demonic beast. It seemed that a considerable number of elven troops had died trying to fell the creature, as a large number of corpses were piled all around the beast. =========================================== [System Information] Demonic Beasts Beasts of the underworld that have taken mortal form. Using sacrifices as both a means to summon the spirit of these beasts and provide a flesh vessel, demon worshippers call upon them to do their bidding. Also known as the puppies of hell, these creatures were originally created by Ashahet as a gift to Amaymon. Though after centuries of experimentation and some help from his older sister, he found a way to summon them to the moral plane. They have a very high regeneration rate, and can only be killed by either completely destroying their body, or separating their control core (which is located in their head) from the rest of their body. Many times in ancient texts have these beasts caused the fall of advanced civilization as their reproductive rates are the highest of any demonic monster. If left alone for too long, they could outnumber a native population of animals within mere months. ================================================ Check out the Patreon for more chapters: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/V64Xmqr2gh The Cult of Amaymon Part 8 The group fighting it wasnt fairing much better either. Four of them could barely stand, and had gaping wounds all around their bodies. And those of them that could still fight were trying to hold the beast at bay, however, at this point the beast was just toying with them, slamming one of them into the ground like a rag doll. Gray drew his silver long sword before rushing toward the beast. Seeing that Gray was coming to help, the group felt a bit relieved, already planning on retreating once he took their place. However, things rarely ended well where Gray was involved. In a flash, all their heads lobbed to the ground, their corpses robbed of blood in an instant. Thank you for the meal, whispered Gray. The reason he had chosen this particular group was because they were so far from everyone else. Elves didnt have night vision, so he was fairly certain that no one couldve seen the little snack he took before fighting the demonic beast. Gray didnt waste any time, using both his speed and strength to their absolute limits in order to pressure the beast. Though even at his top speed, the beast was still slightly faster than him. Each time he would swing his blade, he would just hit air, though at least the beast was wary of his attacks. With every swing, he led the beast one step closer to the appointed location. After a few minutes of relentlessly swinging his blade, not giving the beast even a second to counter, he finally got it on top of the spot that he had told Tesse about. A split second later, an ear-piercing sound rang on the battlefield, before the ground beneath the demonic beast tore open, swallowing it into a hole. Gray acted quickly, dropping his silver sword in order to pull out his [Vampiric Greatsword]. Using all his weight, he pile drove it into the demonic beast''s paw, till the blade had completely disappeared into the ground. The demonic beast cried out in pain, and in a blind fury snapped at Gray. Gray was a second too slow to dodge and paid the price, his entire left arm had been chomped off, and blood splattered from his wound at an alarming rate. Gray looked at the stump where his arm used to be, and then at the beast, his eyes glowing red with anger. You fucking Grays fangs and nails grew longer and sharper, reacting to his rage, and in an instant, he ripped the demonic beasts throat out. The beast wailed in pain, however, it was already healing. {How did it rip through the orc suit?} wondered Gray, though he would have to find his answer later on. Right now he had to find a way to pin it down. If I dont do this quickly, Im going to die from blood loss, realized Gray, clutching at his injury with his free hand to try to slow down the bleeding. As he did that the markings on his right hand were exposed, giving him a risky idea. {Its now or never,} he thought to himself before calling outMighty Sword Blood Replica. The markings on his right arm began glowing a bright red color, briefly attracting the attention of a few others on the battlefield, however since it originated from beneath the ground, they quickly dismissed it as they had their own battles to focus on. Blood began ebbing from the glowing markings, before flowing to his hand and forming a crimson red sword. Gray turned the sword into sickle with chains before wrapping it around the beast. The beast snapped at him furiously as he ran around it, however, the [Vampiric Greatsword] constantly ate away at its health and kept it in place, making its attacks considerably less dangerous if Gray kept his distance. After wrapping it a few times, Gray changed the sickle into a long sword, before stabbing it straight into the beasts stomach. The beast cried out in pain, twisting and turning as it tried to get it self free. Gray then drew blood from the beast in order to pay the blood toll for changing the structure of the weapon, before ripping it out and driving it into the ground. He hammered on it with the heel of his foot afterward in order to get it deeper into the ground, anchoring the chains. Though the beast had healed most of its injuries, it couldnt escape the trap due to the vampiric effect of the greatsword. By this time Tesse had reached the hole to assist Gray. The moment she saw Gray clutching at his wound she nearly burst into tears. Due to the protection of his suit he had never been in such a state, though it was too dark to see, he was deathly pale from losing so much blood, and if it were not for his anger at the beast he probably wouldve already passed out. Tesse quickly healed him using her skill, completely regrowing his arm. Though the pain that hit her caused her to collapse in mind numbing agony. Your skill has improved. I remember when I first got you, something like this wouldve knocked you out for hours, commented Gray, before walking towards the restrained beast. Tesse could feel her heart pumping faster, for a second she had forgotten the pain that afflicted her body. Even though Gray had meant it in a more matter of factly way, Tesse took it ass a compliment. To her, her master had acknowledged all her night of practice, and it had all been worth it just to hear him say that. Though her thoughts were quickly interrupted by the beast''s screams. The beast lashed against the chains as Gray mercilessly ripped its throat out, over and over again. Each time it would heal, he would stick his claw-like nails into the beast''s throat, ans slowly rip its throat out. He lost himself in the euphoria of hearing its screams, his anger had been quenched long ago, now he was doing it just for the fun of it. A few hours passed, though Gray had hardly noticed, all the while he had been tormenting the beast, making it wish that it hadnt had its healing factor at all. =============================================== [System Information] Shanty Districts of Axiel Due to the high cost of land within town, some residents are forced to make their houses outside the city gates, left vulnerable to bandits and monsters without the protection of the town guards. These residents were the first to go missing at the beginning of the demonic attacks and go to sleep knowing that that night might be their last. ================================================ Check out the Patreon for more chapters: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/V64Xmqr2gh The Cult of Amaymon Part 9 The sound of battle slowly subsided as day came and the beasts retreated. Gray was about to climb out of the hole -using Tesses sword to latch onto the edges- when a ray of sunlight fell on the beast. The beasts flesh began sizzling causing it to scream out in pain, its pink flesh burning to charred coal as even more sunlight fell on it. Dont let it die! ordered Gray as a few of the officers came to see what all the noise was about. Is that a demon? They captured one. Tesse began healing the beast on Grays orders, however every time she healed it the sun would undo any progress she had made. And though the wounds seemed to do minimal damage at first, the higher the sun rose, the more exposed the beast became, meaning that she would have to exert herself even more during the healing process. In a matter of minutes, she would pass out if Gray didnt think of something. The corpses! exclaimed Gray, noticing a body lying nearby. At first, he was just going to remove its clothing and use that to craft a makeshift tarp, however, there simply wasnt enough time. Instead, he threw the entire corpse into the hole, covering a portion of the beast. You snake! What in Seldarine''s name do you think you are doing?! Those are our comrades, you will not disgrace their bodies by using them as a shield for that that thing! shouted one of the soldiers, voicing what so many of them were conveying with hatred-filled glares. Gray let out a soft chuckle as he dragged yet another corpse towards the hole. For some reason, he couldn''t help but find the statement funny. Perhaps after killing people as frequently as he did, he lost any sense of worth that the dead might have apart from as a source of power. Your friends are gone, and all thats left are useless skin bags that will soon rot either way. Now help me cover it up before it dies, Im not letting Tesse pass out because you were all too weak to do your jobs. The officers remained silent at that, watching Gray as he dragged even more of their fallen comrades into the pit. Soldiers of Elden? I wonder how a nation survives with an army of cowards who wont even do this much to complete their mission, laughed Gray. Though he didnt have to say anything more, he quite liked the look that they had on their faces. Their conflicted expressions were enough to tingle something within him. {The frailty of the moral mind,} he commented inwardly before carrying on. Though after a while, a few officers began to help him, and a few minutes after that even more joined in, before he knew it, most of the officers present were tossing their own comrades into the pit as well. Gray was a bit annoyed that they had caved in, he was hoping to see them in that state for a little longer, though work had to be done so his playtime could wait. After the officers completely covered the beast, a few of them returned to base to get transport for the creature. As Gray and the remaining officers waited, he noticed a group of buildings much further ahead right next to the western walls. Why are there houses outside the city? The shanty districts, the poor can''t afford the land inside so they build their houses here, replied one of the officers. Away from the protection of the city guards? How are the buildings still standing? Kind of suspicious if you ask me. Has anyone investigated them yet? asked Gray, a ponderous look on his face as he stared at the district. Above our pay grade sir. Hmm. And the areas where the demonic beasts attack, are they always the same? There are several spots around town, but they are always the same areas yes, replied the officer. Theyve arrived, announced another officer as the sound of horses approached the group. The officers who had gone to get transport had come back with a tarp, a carriage, and chains. After carefully placing the tarp over the pit, a few officers jumped down to remove the dead bodies from the top of the beast, before letting the tarp fall directly on it. After chaining the beast up, they linked the chains to several horses and used them to pull it out of the pit. Loading it up took a similar effort, but after an hour or so, the company was back on its way to home base. When they returned to base a group of officers come to help unload the beast. Though it was chained up, due to the fact that Gray had removed the [Vampiric Greatsword], it was back to full strength and would require at least 20 men to hold down. Gray couldve simply impaled the beast with his sword once again, however, he wanted to study the rune inscriptions on the blade, and he doubted that they would let him keep it if they found out that it had such an effect on the beast. *** *Knock* *Knock* Gray let out a low groan as the sound interrupted him from his study. He quickly hid the [Vampiric Greatsword] under his bed before answering the door. Captain Ailre wishes to speak with you, reported the officer at the door, before gesturing for him to follow. Gray was led to an underground section of the base, it seemed to be a dungeon or prison of sorts as there were jail cells lined along the sides of the corridors. At the end of the corridor, Ailre and Gazef were standing looking into one of the cells. Captain Ailre, Ive called him, announced the officer before retreating back to the higher sections of the base. Congratulations on capturing this this specimen, said Ailre breaking the silence as he admired the beast''s humongous stature. Ive slain bigger, commented Gazef, looking into the jail cell with a bored expression. The beast was tightly chained to the floors of the jail cell, in fact, its head was on the ground along with the rest of its body. It was a wonder how it didnt suffocate, but perhaps it didnt need to breathe anyways. =============================================== [System Information] Seldarine An elven deity worshipped by much of the major elf tribes and the patron god of Elden. She symbolizes the spirit of prosperity and is said to be one of the eldest children of the world tree [Yggdrasil]. For more information read [Elven gods and their origins]. ================================================ Check out the Patreon for more chapters: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/V64Xmqr2gh The Cult of Amaymon Part 10 Yes yes, but why have you called me? asked Gray, still annoyed that he had been disturbed from his research. Ehem, none of our men can make heads or tails of this thing. Weve taken samples for study, but the only labs that can process them are in the city of Alegar, and it will take weeks for the lab results to be processed and sent back, replied Ailre, scratching his beard as he said this. So you want me to do an inspection to see if I can find anything? Seems you understand. Before I go in, Ill need a team, maybe three or four men, and poison. Poison? asked Ailre, giving Gray a questioning look. Its just to ensure my safety, I dont want the beast attacking me while Im unarmed and distracted. Besides, the beast has a high regeneration factor, I doubt that it will die from it, replied Gray before walking towards the cell to get a better look at the beast. After a few minutes, Ailre returned with four men and a vial of poison. Gray asked one of the men to tip an arrow with the poison and shoot it at the beast. And after waiting for the poison to take effect, they went into the cell. {What now?} asked the specter, aware that Gray in fact knew nothing about demonic beasts. Gray began by walking around the beast, looking for anything peculiar about it, but to be fair, the whole thing was a peculiarity on its own. It was hard enough to look at its exposed flesh, and how it seemed to slither on its own. {Youre from the underworld arent you? What do you know about them?} asked Gray as he moved closer to the beast, feigning a more thorough inspection of it. The officers seemed convinced that he was indeed an expert on the matter as they moved back to give him more space to work. {Apart from seeing the things a few times, I dont know much about them. Only that their mindless creatures who require orders to do anything.} Gray poked the beasts neck before nodding to himself and mumbling something. Ailre moved a bit closer to try and hear what Gray was mumbling on about, however, he still couldnt make it out. But in his defense, Gray was mumbling absolute bull shit. {Wait, you mean like dogs? Then what about a leash? How do the demons put them on a leash?} asked Gray, however the concept of leashes was lost on the specter. {How do demons prevent them from misbehaving? What failsafe do they have in case one of them steps out of line?} {Ahh... they usually have a sealing pact. Something like a marking that ties them to their master,} replied the specter, seeing where Gray was heading at. Have any of you seen a marking on its body? asked Gray, breaking the silence that had washed over the jail cell. Marking? No, replied one of the officers, before the entire group began searching for one. After several minutes of searching, one of the officers noticed something odd on one of the beast''s hind legs. I think I found something. What is it? asked one of the other officers. It was a black mark on its ankle, or at least what seemed like its ankle. It looked like some kind of branding stylized with the symbol of a tree with roots that dug as deep as its branches had spread out. That cant be, whispered Ailre as he took a look at the mark. A few of the other officers gave off the same vibe, making Gray wonder what exactly was going on. All of you can go back to your stations. What you saw here is to be treated as classified until we report it to the capital, ordered Ailre, dismissing all the officers, leaving only him, Gray, and Gazef behind. Can someone tell me what the hell is going on? Why are all of you getting so worked up over a symbol? It isnt just a symbol, its the symbol of Yggdrasil, our mother tree, replied Ailre, an exhausted look on his face. Why would Amaymon use the symbol of your mother tree? He isnt. Theres only one demon associated with Yggdrasil, answered Gazef. Funny enough Gazefs expression seemed to lighten up a little, one would almost think he was smiling a little. Well, as good a smile as his perpetually scowling face could have. Mordesh, added Ailre. Whos Mordesh? {Bad news,} replied the specter in Grays mind. I cant believe it, shes actually working with her. That explains all the forbidden experiments, but why would she sacrifice the border town? Why would she go through all this trouble when she could easily keep everything under wraps, mumbled Ailre, ignoring Gray completely. I dont have time for this. If this really is Mordesh''s doing then I better get training. Perhaps I was born in the right age after all, if I get to fight a demon god as powerful as Mordesh, announced Gazef, before leaving the cell. Ailre, I need answers. Who the fuck is Mordesh, and why is that lunatic calling her a demon god? Oh, youre still here. The tale is long very lon- I have time, interrupted Gray. He wanted to know more about this world anyway, and this talk of demon god got him excited for some reason. Hmm, where do I begin? =============================================== [System Information] [Daerythblade] An immortal rated blade forged using Dravock and the blood of Mordesh using ancient demon forging techniques. Though it is officially a demon blade, it is commonly referred to as one of the deity blades of Arakros, the elven god of war. It is said to have been one of the three artifacts used by the first king of Elden to wage war against Mordesh and chase her off elven grounds. Though in recent years it has gone missing and its whereabouts are still unknown. For more information read [Elven artifacts]. ================================================ Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/V64Xmqr2gh Back to the drawing board "Different religions have different definitions of what the transcended beings represent, but one thing remains the same across all of Merrum. The history of the archdemons," whispered Ailre, a far away look in his eyes. "In the beginning, there was only Arshahet, in all his chaotic might. Feeling lonely in the vast darkness of the void, he created his first son, Merciel. Merciel is accepted as the highest among the transcended deities, second only to his father. Together with his father''s help, they began creating Merrum. Back then there was only one continent, with no living beings apart from them," he continued, tightening his fists before going on. "Merciel grew bored of the empty world, and asked his father if he could create children of his own. Arshahet gave him permission and offered him power, thus the minor deities were born. For a righteous god, he was rather uncreative, for all his children were human," as Ailre said this he nearly spat in disgust. "Merciel''s children praised him as the supreme god, and though this angered Arshahet, he allowed it to be so. Though things changed when Merciel began spending more time with his children, leaving Arshahet lonely once again. Feeling frustrated, he created kids of his own, he thought they would praise him and stay with him forever. However these children were created with malcontent, and so they turned out differently from Merciel. They represented all seven of Arshahets chaotic fac-" "I can tell this will all be interesting, family feuds always are. But can you skip to the part about this... Morkesh, and why exactly she''s so scary," interrupted Gray, growing bored of the long-winded creation story. "Mordesh. She is the ruler of the seventh circle of hell, Amaymon''s older sister. Amongst the archdemons, she is probably the most powerful when it comes to knowledge of magic. That''s to say she is a world-level threat, and if I''m right and the queen is conspiring with her, then there will be no stopping her. We will need the royal family''s artifacts to seal her avatar, and with two out of three of them being in the queen''s possession, that will be impossible." "So from what I understand, this isn''t the cult of Amaymon, it''s the cult of Morkesh?" "Mordesh. But yes," replied Ailre. "Look Ailre,-" as Gray said this he patted Ailre on the back, "-this seems very political. And as righteous a person I am, I''m not willing to involve myself in these matters. So if this isn''t the cult of Amaymon, I''ll be on my way. This whole Morkesh business, or whatever her name is, count me out," he said before walking out the cell. "Gray, please. If you won''t do this for us then do it for your kingdom. Once she''s done with us, she''ll move on to yours. If we let her get an avatar..." "Ailre, let me ask you this. Do you think I''m strong enough to fight against the strongest warrior in your kingdom? Do you think that with my help, we''ll be able to beat the queen?" In that moment Ailre seemed to see things from Gray''s point of view. He was a soldier from a foreign country, sent on a mission that was now completely out of his depth. To ask him to fight against the monarch of another kingdom was unreasonable, almost as unreasonable as asking him to report it to his country. Even if they did believe him, what could they do? Wage war? "Look, I''ll report this to the higher-ups that I trust. They might send back up, or they might just watch your kingdom burn. Either way, this is goodbye," he finished before walking back to the barracks. [Quest updated] [Eliminate the current queen of Elden and prevent Mordesh from acquiring a physical vessel.] [Quest difficulty: S-] [Quest Rewards: Max Affinity with Alucard Max renown within the Kingdom of Elden +1000 Affinity with Amaymon Key to the underworld Title: Monarch Slayer {+200 to all stats} True demon Promotion Hidden rewards [Accept] [Decline] ~The quest rose in difficulty huh? Not that I care anyway~ thought Gray as get walked to Tesse''s room. "Clean up, we''re leaving," said Gray as he opened Tesse''s room. She had just finished showering and was butt-naked. For a moment there was silence, realizing that this was going on for too long, Gray closed the door. "Master..." whispered Tesse, staring at the door longingly. *** The two of them left the barracks a few minutes later and after collecting all their belongings from the front desk, they left the city. ~So are you really okay with leaving the elven lands to Mordesh? This will prove to be an issue for us later on, it will hinder our plans for world domination~ warned the specter. ~And who said we are going to do that?~ replied Gray as he came to a crossroads. One path had a sign that pointed towards the capital city, the other was the path they had used to come here, the path that led back to Glistern and all the way back to Gray''s hometown. ~The actors at play here are too powerful for us right now. I couldn''t even defeat that old fart, Gazef. I need to head back to human lands, I need to gather more abilities, I need to build an army.~ As Gray said this he steered his horse towards the path that led to Glistern. ~Why the sudden interest, you weren''t so keen on world domination when we first met,~ replied the specter. ~The fucking demons are making their move. If I don''t do anything, they''ll kill all my food before I get the chance to. Rather I rule the elven lands than let some demon whore do it.~ ====================================== [System Information] [Merciel] The divine deity of Merrum, known as the avatar of righteousness. The different races of Merrum all have different names for him and what he represents, however, they all accept him as the second most powerful being in existence. Prophecy states that he shall one day wage war against his father, and end all suffering in the mortal plane. ============================== Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/w9exHW6FBw Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lordofkaizen Scarred Honour (1) "Morning, Gazef." "Good day Gazef." "How''s your morning Gazef?" Gazef nodded in response to all the officers'' greetings, walking at a brisque pace towards his quarters. Though he kept a somewhat expressionless face on, he loathed all the officers around him- the weaklings that constantly reminded him of his failure. After making a beeline for his room past the courtyard, he stopped to inspect his door. "Aperta," he chanted silently, and after waiting for a moment he heard the sound of lock bolts moving before the door opened on its own. He walked in, making sure to lock the door behind him. His room was simplistic, the mirror image of a straightforward man, or so he wanted to make himself believe. The few trinkets nailed to the walls in decoration were all past achievements, ones he was proud of at least. They ranged from old swords to simple jewelry, all spoils of war from state enemies. {Where did I put it?} he thought to himself as he scoured through his closet. "Ahh, there it is," he whispered, fishing out a purple gem just big enough to fit in his palms. "Vocatus," he chanted, and the stone hummed to life, exuding a brilliant purple light. "Gazef, I hope you have good reason for contacting me," echoed a voice from within the stone. "My queen," Gazef responded, holding back the scorn that threatened to infect his voice. He took a moment to collect himself, speaking with this dreadful bitch always put a sour taste in his mouth. "Speak, I haven''t much time on my hands to entertain your petty pleasantries," said the Queen. {Hmmf,} "It seems that evidence about... the operations you have been running on the border have been discovered," he replied. Though no immediate response was given, Gazef could feel the Queen''s anger even through his communications amulet. "And how is that possible? I thought it was your duty to make sure that didn''t happen, or was I mistaken in giving you a second chance, Gazef?" the Queen replied, her voice so tense that even the air around him felt tight. "The vampires sent a representative to help with investigations, a demon expert from what I heard. I hadn''t accounted for him arriving, much less for him figuring out anyt-" "Insolent!" interrupted the Queen. "Hadn''t accounted for? Don''t act like that old brain of yours has any ability to think..." A slight pause followed her outburst. "Even if he concluded that it was in fact not a cult of Amaymon but one of Mordesh, that doesn''t explain how they linked it back to me," she continued, this time in a more composed tone. {Anyone with even the slightest bit of common sense would be able to tie it back to you," he wanted to say, however, he chose to remain silent. If he told her that his brother had always suspected her she would have him executed. "No answer? Useless," she said after waiting for a moment. "It was probably the vampires, they must''ve suspected something all along," she reasoned, before going silent. "What would you have me do my queen?" Gazef asked, trying hard to keep his tone devoid of anger or irritation. "Kill the vampire, don''t let him report back to his seniors-" "Very well my queen," Gazef responded before moving to place the stone in his pocket. "And get rid of Ailre, he''s been a pest on my side for long enough," she continued. Gazef held his breath, hoping that he had heard wrongly. Had she just asked him to kill his own blood? "My queen, what about your brother? Ailre is an important part of his faction, will he not be suspicious?" Gazef asked. "He has his hands full trying to find Sirfene, the mage is wanted for treason, and lest he want to lose his standing he will deal with it," the queen mused, apparently happy with the current state of events. "My queen, wouldn''t it be suspicious still?" "Have it seem like he died fighting one of those... demons. He''s old, my brother is bound to believe it, and even if he won''t he has no choice if you leave no evidence," she replied, her tone showing irritation with Gazef''s constant questioning. "Ailre was once a general of the kingdom, to have him-" Gazef had to try hard to contain his anger "- to have it seem like he died to some "Gazef, you would do well to remember that you live only because I will it so. And unless you no longer desire [Aegenfall] you will continue to question me. If it is so unbelievable that an old captain died by the claws of a demon, make up something more believable," she said with a certain finality only capable of coming from those in absolute power. "I expect an update before the sun retires," she finished off before cutting the connection. Gazef sat on his bed, and for an entire minute he did not move a muscle, wondering whether it was worth it. Whether it was worth living if he had to kill his last remaining kin. {The weak get ordered by the powerful. My sin was weakness, and my brother''s was being even weaker,} he thought to himself. {If I don''t kill him, someone else will,} and with that, he came to accept that the queen''s will was an unstoppable force. Less a thing of ''can it happen'' and more a thing of ''when and how''. "Ahgh," he grunted, tossing his bed across the room and smacking all his trophies off the walls. ============================================== [System Information] [Aegenfall] Weapon Rating: Mythical Origin: Ancient Drow Type: Aerfe ~Odachi~ An ancient weapon once used by the kings of the Drow tribes. Imbued with the spirit of the Night Lord, it is one of the strongest artifacts within the royal vault. List of Abilities: [Night Shade]: gives the user complete invisibility, removing the entirety of the user''s presence and for a short duration completely undetectable. {Consumes 5000 mana} [Dark forest''s wrath]: imbues the user in a layer of shade, giving the user 100% evasion and for a short duration makes the user untouchable. {Consumes 7500 mana} [Night Lord]: Summons the spirit of the Night Lord for a short duration. The Night Lord bows to no one. {Consumes 20 000 mana} ================================================ Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/V64Xmqr2gh Scarred Honour (2) After grabbing his sword and fastening it tightly around his waist he left towards Gray''s room. {I''ll lure him out and execute him close to the border. I''m sure the demons will find his corpse and take care of it,} he thought to himself as he entered the officers'' barracks. "Where''s the vampire''s room?" he asked one of the officers that were on cleaning duty. "You''re looking for the vampire? He and his thrall left after speaking to the captain," replied the officer before carrying on with his duty. {This will prove problematic,} he thought to himself as he sped of towards Ailre''s office. *Knock* *Knock* "I''m busy, come back later," replied Ailre, his voice sounding hazy, as if he were moving around at a fast pace. "Aperta." Gazef chanted, and within a few moments Ailre''s door opened. "Magic? You know tha- ah Gazef, it''s you," Ailre said, only looking at him for a brief moment before carrying on with what he was doing. "Ailre, what are you- are you traveling somewhere?" he asked, noticing the bag that Ailre was dumping items into. "I''m going to the capital," Ailre replied quickly, currently dumping a stack of documents into his travel sack. "But why?" Gazef asked, moving closer to inspect what was in the bag. Most of it were documents pertaining to the demon attacks, some of them were written in Ailre''s own handwriting, and it was one of those that Gazef fished out of the bag. "Ailre..." he whispered in shock. It was a written document describing how the queen had sold off their kingdom. It was... treason. "Ailre, they''ll have your head for this. What do you think you''re doing," Gazef said, walking to stand in between Ailre and his bag. The difference in their statures was remarkable. One was a tall man, built like an ox, the other was aged, with his skin so thin you could see every fiber of his muscles. "I''m reporting this to the prince before the queen finds out what we know," he replied quickly, before moving past Gazef. "You won''t make it to the prince... you might not even make it to the capital. Forget this nonsense, go into hiding, one of the unregulated villages will do. Stay there unti-" "Gazef, what are you talking about?" Ailre''s voice was serious, and for the first time since Gazef entered the room, he stopped to inspect him properly. "Why are you carrying your sword around? Are you going out?" he asked, noticing the black blade that Gazef had at his waist. "Ahem... I was going to train... but forget that now. What do you plan on doing if you "I''ll show him the demon. I plan on taking it with me," Ailre replied, stuffing the last of his things into his traveling sack before picking it up. "So what? Mordesh''s Yggdrasil is branded on the demon beasts. What''s to link that to the queen?" Gazef asked, walking after Ailre as he stormed out of the room. "Then I''ll warn him about Mordesh, if he won''t believe me about the queen then that''s okay. He''ll find that out on his own after I report this," Ailre replied, walking with large strides towards the gates. "Damnit Ailre, stop being an ox. Use your head, you''ll be killed whether or not he believes you." Ailre didn''t respond, silence befell the two until they reached the gates where a horse and a carriage with a tarp covering its contents were waiting for Ailre. "I''m going too, get me a horse," he said to one of the officers. "Stay behind Gazef, someone needs to take care of the camp while I''m gone," Ailre said as he fixed his traveling sack onto his horse. "Someone needs to make sure you don''t get yourself killed," Gazef shot back before gripping his blade in thought. "Thank you... brother," Ailre replied mounting his horse. The officer arrived a few moments later with a black horse, handing over the reins to Gazef. {What am I gonna do about the vampire? He might reach his higher-ups before I''m done with this," he thought to himself. "Gazef?" "Where did the vampire go?" Gazef replied, mounting the horse as he waited for a response. "I saw him take the path towards Glistern, so perhaps he''s going to the embassy?" replied one of the officers on duty at the gates. {The embassy? That was in Glistern, wasn''t it? Why didn''t he just cross the border and go to his country?} Gazef wondered, however, he wasn''t one to spit on a gift. It would be easier to hunt him down in an elven town than trying to chase him across the border. "Gazef? Let''s get going. I want to make it to Amstel before sundown," Ailre said before gesturing for his horse to gallop forward. "Yes, yes," he replied, before doing the same. The two of them soon reached the crossroads. One road lead to the capital, while the other led to Glistern. Gazef stopped there for a moment, staring down the road that led to Glistern, before staring at his brother. "Gazef? Is something the matter? You don''t have to follow me if you don''t want to. I don''t plan on dying anyway. I was once a general, or have you forgotten? Only a handful of people in this kingdom can kill me," Ailre said proudly, turning his horse around to look at his brother. {A handful? Brother, you''ve truly been kept in the dark,} Gazef thought to himself before moving his horse down the path towards his brother. "I was just thinking about the road ahead... the treacherous path we''ll have to walk... the path I''ll have to walk," he said, whispering the last few lines so that Ailre couldn''t hear him. "Night lord grant me thee power, divide my talents, create a mirror to do my bidding," Gazef chanted as he let Ailre create a bit of space in between them. A shadow trailed from Gazef''s body and zipped its way towards the path to Glistern like a snake in the grass. ============================================== [System Information] [Gray Verlice Player Stats] ??? ?? Player Details??? [Gray Verlice] [Level 5: 90/100] [Mana points: 500/500] [Safe Blood meter: 100%] ?? Stats ??? [Agility: 15 {24}] [Strength: 22 {35.2}] [Stamina: 18 {27] [Attack force: 4 {6.4}] [Karma: -100] ?? Abilities??? [He who pleasures death lvl.1 {2/3}: 0/100] [Blood weapons lvl.1: 1/5] [Hisashi Miyamoto Summon lvl.3: 0/10] ?? Race??? [Demon Specter Hybrid] [Demon Rank: Servus] [Specter Rank: Progenitor] ??? ================================================ Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/V64Xmqr2gh Half a master/Half a demon (1) The journey back to Glistern was a silent one, Gray had a lot of things on his mind and Tesse wasn''t one to talk unless asked to. Apart from the occasional purr of boredom from the cub, there wasn''t much sound within the forest either. Whatever wildlife existed here seemed to have been chased away by the elven settlers. {I''m getting hungry,} Gray thought to himself, feeling wheezy from blood withdrawal. He accessed the map in his inventory, looking over the trail to check whether they were any settlements close by. {Hmm, the closest settlement is a bit off the path, it''ll add another day to our journey if we make the detour,} he realized, seeing that it would take half a day to ride there, and another half to get back on route. Though he didn''t want to spend a minute more than he had to in the elven forest, he knew that if he continued this way he might not make it back to Glistern with his mind still intact. {Wise choice, my brethren grow restless. And perhaps we can use this chance to try and obtain a few subordinates... provided you don''t chop off anyone''s head before we''ve had the chance,} added the specter as Gray put the map away. {Yes, yes, don''t worry. I''m sure I can spare a single a bag of blood for the cause,} he replied, the mention of chopping heads getting him a little excited. {Perhaps let the female speak this time, I doubt anyone would give subservience to you if you made a face like that,} the specter replied, referring to the wide toothy grin of euphoria that Gray had slapped on his face. "Agh," grunted Gray, a tingling sensation emanating from the back of his neck. "Master?" Tesse asked as Gray brought his horse to a halt. "Is something wrong?" "Nothing," he responded, turning his horse in the direction of the settlement. "We''ll be taking a detour, I''m hungry," he continued, before gesturing for his horse to move forward. *Grrr, grww* growled the cub, looking back in the direction they had just come from. "Shh, if you make too much noise, the master will devour you," Tesse whispered in its ear, and though it didn''t fully understand what she had said, hearing the word ''master'' come from her lips was enough to shut it up. Though she could still feel it growling as it sat on her, something was clearly irritating it. *** The forest seemed to grow denser the closer they got to the settlement, which was quite different from the norm. Usually, the forest thinned out as they approached towns from what they had seen on the journey to Axiel and Glistern, however, Gray didn''t think much of it and allowed the horses the maneuver their way past the densely packed trees. {We''re nearly there,} thought Gray, looking at the map once again before correcting the direction they were moving on. {But what the fuck is this, why does my neck hurt so much?} he complained, gripping the back of his neck tightly. It felt as if a dagger were being slowly impaled into him, and it didn''t help that the cub had been growling softly for the past 4 hours. "Can you shut that thing u-" Gray''s words were brought to an abrupt halt, he felt pressed, he couldn''t explain why but his body screamed at him to move. And move he did, but it was too already late. Blood sprayed from his left arm, his hand- sliced clean off- lay on the ground right next to his horse. Tesse hadn''t even processed what had just happened before it struck again, this time severing the horse''s head. Gray jumped off it before it fell to the ground, quickly summoning the Mighty sword instinctively. "What''s going o-" but before Tesse could even finish her sentence, she felt a sharp pain explode from her chest; she looked down and found a black blade sticking through her ribcage. "Gazef," Gray whispered, staring at the figure that was squatting atop Tesse''s horse, both hands gripped around the blade that impaled her. Gray changed the mighty sword into a blood pistol, firing three quick shots towards the figure; two of them hit their mark, and one hit Tesse in the shoulder causing her to cry out in pain. "Hold him down!" Gray ordered as Gazef was about to pull his sword out, Tesse complied, holding onto the sharp blade with both her hands. The blade cut deep into her palms, but she held on, fighting against Gazef''s pull -though this was a losing battle. Gray shot another five shots, this time all five hit their mark; goring five holes at Gazef''s torso. He would''ve aimed for his head, however, he feared that he might hit Tesse as well, and he doubted that her powers would work if he turned her into a vegetable. With a single strong tug, Gazef pulled the sword out of Tesse, slicing deep into her palms as the blade withdrew. Before Gray could fire another round, Gazef turned into what seemed to be a black strip- akin to a snake; before retreating into the forest. "Heal me, then heal yourself," Gray said without missing a beat, getting atop of the horse as he said this. He used his free hand to hold onto the reins before gesturing for the horse to move forward, whipping at the reins multiple times to force the horse to move faster. Tesse healed Gray, regenerating his left hand, before healing herself. She felt her body go numb for a moment, nearly falling off the horse. "Hey! Hey! Stay awake," Gray ordered, feeling her body sway behind him. "Grab on around me, he''ll be back," he shouted, pushing the horse to run even faster. {What the fuck does this bastard want?} he thought to himself, the wind moving past him so fast that it was becoming hard to keep his eyes open. ============================================== [System Information] [Tesse Alrein Player Stats] ??? ?? Player Details??? [Tesse Alrein] [Level 2: 40/100] [Mana points: 200/200] [Karma: -5] ?? Stats ??? [2 Unused points]! [Agility: 6]{9} [Strength: 9]{13.5} [Stamina: 5]{7.5} [Attack force: 1]{1.5} ?? Abilities??? [God''s Salvation] [76/100] ?? Race??? [Human] ??? ================================================ Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/V64Xmqr2gh Half a master/Half a demon (2) "Here, take this," Gray grunted, using one hand to hold onto the reins while using the other to create a blood weapon. Blood ebbed from his hand, forming a crimson red pistol with an extended magazine. At its side, an obsidian black gem glimmered and a series of undecipherable encryptions ran all along its body. {This is what I get for only adding snipers to my arsenal,} he thought to himself. Tesse was better off trying to fire a pistol than a massive sniper rifle on a moving horse, and besides, it wasn''t as if they were facing some massive enemy, the extra firepower wasn''t needed. "You see anything move behind us, shoot it," he ordered, passing the weapon over to Tesse. Only four minutes passed before the black strip came into view, Tesse unloaded the bullets towards the entity, throwing it off their trail temporarily. "Fuck," whispered Gray under his breath, creating another blood pistol, this one with a crimson red gem at its center. He understood that he was outmatched in close combat, if he let Gazef anywhere near him he would be dead before he even knew what had happened. Tesse continued firing, though he knew she would soon run out of bullets, and he wasn''t so keen on the idea of continuously creating ammo using his own blood. It was a battle of time, he had to reach the settlement if he had any hope of surviving this. *Click* *Click* Tesse pulled the trigger, but an empty click was the only response she got. Without even a moment passing by, the black entity zipped in front of their horse, slicing its head clean off, before attempting to decapitate Gray as well. As the blood sprayed from the horse''s head, Gray shot frantically in front of him, rushing forward as the horse''s inertia was transferred to him. He tumbled, rolled once, and shot to his feet running, shooting blindly behind him as he rushed forward. "Run!" he shouted, though Tesse was still recovering from the sudden fall. The cub got to its feet quicker and tugged at Tesse''s pants, willing her to move. Gazef was a black blur as he rushed towards her, his blade slicing through the air as he swung for her neck. *Pap* *Pap* Gray fired two rounds at the figure, before it turned into a black strip once again, avoiding the shots. "Move!" he shouted, and Tesse broke out into a sprint. As they ran, trying their best to avoid the tree roots and other obstructions that lay on the path, Gray tossed his pistol towards Tesse and gestured for her to do the same. He filled the magazine with another set of rounds, feeling the blood drain from his body. The two of them shot behind them aimlessly, hoping to catch Gazef in their barrage. Gazef rushed after them, once again transforming into a shadowy figure; zipping left and right as he avoided the bullets. The settlement was still several hours away, and that was on horseback, running there while being chased like this wasn''t an option. Gray''s gears turned at breakneck speeds, a solution had to be found, preferably before he ran out of blood reloading these pistols. "Oi, get ready to snipe," he shouted as the wind blew past him. He turned the pistol in his hand back into blood, before exuding even more blood and creating the T-1 Anti-tank rifle, a black gem fastened at its side. The extra weight made him misstep, nearly causing him to tumble over. "Run ahead and prepare to heal me, I''m going to try something," he ordered, before tossing the sniper at her. He stopped abruptly and in one fluid moment, he swung around creating a crimson red greatsword with the Earth shatter enchantment runeat its hilt. Gazef took advantage of this abrupt stop, closing in on Gray with his blade. Gray took a deep breath, preparing himself before letting out a smirk. "Earth Shatter," he whispered, driving his greatsword into the ground. In that instant silence washed over the battlefield, what followed was a low rumble; the ground shook, creating a small-scale tremor that ate at the ground, turning it to dust before letting out an explosive boom. Hearing this, Tesse stopped to turn back, but fought off the urge to run to Gray''s side. He had handed her the sniper for a reason, she was certain that he wouldn''t just blow himself up without a plan. She quickly put her pistol to her waist before setting the rifle up, positioning herself in a prone posture to counteract the rifle''s recoil. As the dust settled, both Gray and Gazef''s bodies came into view. Tesse''s blood boiled in anger as she looked at Gray''s body -bloody and bruised- through the scope. Gazef on the other hand -though unconscious- had a layer of yellow light covering his body, it seemed to be a shield of some sort as he only had minor scratches. "Die!" Tesse screamed, lining Gazef''s head with the center dot of her scope before firing. The recoil wreaked havoc on her shoulder, though she fought through the pain, biting down on her tongue before reloading and firing once again. After every shot she would heal her shoulder, but the pain stacked, the fatigue stacked, and her bullets were limited, though that was not a problem. Though Gazef had collected himself after the second direct hit, the corruption gem was already at work, its black goo spreading throughout his body. Tesse didn''t waste a breath, charging at Gazef once the black goo had spread to half his body. *Left hook* She planted her fist right into his face, not caring whether the goo touched her or not; she unloaded a flurry of punches, snapping his head back and causing him to tumble to the ground. Gazef tried to fight back, holding his hands in front of his face, though the goo ate away at his muscle fibers, making it nigh impossible for him to effectively defend himself. She mounted him, holding him in place with her thighs before pulling out the crimson red pistol at her waist. Every bullet gored a bloody orifice into his face, and with every shot she felt a bit of her vitality return, though she didn''t care. Once she ran out of bullets she pressed the pistol''s barrel -still burning hot- at the side of his temple. By now the goo had engulfed his entire body and he ceased to move. For a moment Tesse just stared at his lifeless corpse, breathing deeply as she tried to catch her breath. [+300 Exp] ============================================== [System Information] [Ability-Doppelganger] An illusionary technique that divides one''s strength and creates a double. The double is weaker than the original by a great margin and is incapable of intelligent thought past the original''s battle instincts. Various creeds have some sort of technique that imitates this ability, and depending on the creed the doppelganger may have different characteristics. ================================================ Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/V64Xmqr2gh Daexalim A few hours earlier... "I think you should reconsider," said Gazef, breaking the hour-long silence that had descended upon the two since the journey had started. "This again? You know, you''ve been acting odd since we started the journey, I''ve never known you to be a coward," Ailre replied, gesturing for his horse to ride faster. The insult seared Gazef''s heart, but he kept his anger contained, he knew that if he wanted to reason with his younger brother he ought to make it seem like it was the more righteous thing to do. "Think about it, if you expose the queen now, the kingdom will be left devasted. Not to mention that her being exposed might cause her to attack the people, and then who is going to stop her?" Gazef asked, catching up to Ailre''s pace. "She''s powerful, but if all the kingdom''s heroes come together she can be taken down," Ailre responded, refusing to look at Gazef as they spoke. "And what of Mordesh?" "We''ll defeat the queen before Mordesh is unleashed," he replied. "And have you forgotten about the 12 knights?" "We''ll find a way to neutralize them." "How can we be sure of who to trust? What if the prince is in on it?" "We have to have faith," Ailre responded. "Faith!? Truly you can''t be serious. What if our faith fails us, like it has in the past?" "We''ll find a way, like we always do," Ailre shot back. "Ailre! Open your eyes to reality! This is dumb and you know it, now stop this foolishness, and let''s find a place to hide you," Gazef shouted, growing tired of his brother''s stupidity. "And what if I don''t? Who will stop me? You?" Ailre asked, his anger on par with that of Gazef. "Even if I have to chain you in a box and hide you in some village," Gazef replied, drawing his blade. Ailre was caught off guard, he hadn''t expected his brother to pull a weapon on him over a mere squabble, but he reacted in kind with the speed of a honed warrior, pulling out the greatsword tied to his back. Steel met steel and sparks flew, the force from their blows was enough to make the very air between them explode in heat. They both rode the shockwave, using it to jump of their horses and create some sort of distance between each other. Gazef bounced off the ground as soon as he landed, rushing towards Ailre with the scabbard of his sword in hand. Ailre stood in place like a great statue, using the blunt side of his massive greatsword to block Gazef''s attack. "What are you doing?" Ailre asked, his entire body coated in a blue aura. "If you won''t listen to reason then I''ll have to use force," Gazef replied, coating his own body in a layer of yellow luminescence. There was a moment of silence, a calm before the storm, where the two of them stood there, staring at each other. "How long?" Ailre asked, swinging his greatsword over to his shoulder. Silence. "How long have you been a snake, lying in the grass? How long have you been working under her?" Ailre asked, staring at the symbol engraved on Gazef''s scabbard. It was the Yggdrasil, in its most obscured form, it was a demon blade, a blade of Mordesh. "Answer me, traitor!" Ailre shouted, swinging his greatsword on top of Gazef with the force of an erupting volcano, once again causing the air to explode from the raw speed and strength imbued within the attack. Gazef turned into a strip of black, easily evading the attack before reforming right beside Ailre. "Since Logren, since Filerin , since I realized the limits to normal power," Gazef whispered, gripping his blade tightly. "Don''t give me that. You sully the names of our sisters!" Ailre shouted once again, swinging his greatsword once more, this time even faster than before. Once again Gazef turned into a black strip, this time reforming a few meters away from Ailre. It was just before midday, but the sun hid behind dark clouds. The air was cool, and the wind blew beautiful waves across the grassy meadows. The two stood in an open area, the road to the capital did not cut through the forest. "What now? You''d kill your brother for a mere trinket?" Ailre asked, so much disgust audible in his voice that it seemed as if he would spit on Gazef at any moment. "She offers me [Aegenfall]," Gazef replied calmly. "That is enough to sell your own kingdom?" "She offers prosperity to her people, only our enemies need fear Mordesh''s wrath," Gazef replied once again. "And you believe a demon''s word? The word of one of the monsters that slew our sister?" "If I don''t accept it, someone else will. It is the flow of things." "What happened to wanting to fight Mordesh? Of wanting to find a worthy adversary?" Ailre asked, pulling his greatsword out of the ground. "Have you grown mellow? Has the burning fire within you cooled with age?" "A fight is barely worth it if you have no chance at winning. With [Aegenfall] there is a chance. Trust me, brother, if it comes to it, I''ll take on Mordesh myself, but as it is, I''m still too weak. We''re still too weak." "Kuk... I won''t allow it. You''ll have to kill me, I won''t hide, I''m going to expose her." "Don''t do th-" "Shut up and come get me, you disgrace the Daexalim name. From this moment on I disown you, I shed all ties with the traitor who stands in front of me." The air around Ailre began to crackle and streams of electric sparks jumped from his body to the ground. The dark clouds overhead began to circle, and flashes of light began to fall to the ground like snowflakes in winter. "Ailre Daexalim, the stormborne general. It is an honor a fight against you brother," Gazef whispered, allowing himself to be engulfed by a cloud of black smoke. "But I doubt your little sparks will be enough to protect you," he continued, his body morphing into something sinister. ============================================================ [System Information] [Demon blades] Blades forged with demon blood using ancient forbidden techniques. Originally designed as a way to seal off powerful demons, they were soon discovered to be a source of great strength. In exchange for power, the user gives a bit of their own mortality, each time phasing closer and closer to a true demonic form. In the end, the user is left without a trace of their previous mortal self, and is hunted down by those they had sacrificed to protect. Upon death, the wielder''s soul is trapped within the blade, forever adding on to its power, adding on to the torment of the blade''s next victim. ============================================================= Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/m3PPYEXp2F