Dawn just broke over Storm-Wall. The city slled like zombie barbecue. The fires died down. And the Undead Legion was no more, they were reduced to ashes.
I stood nacingly in the center of the Royal Plaza. But I wasn’t alone.
King Varic, Lord Azure, Iron-Jaw, the entire surviving nobility, and all stood before . They looked like wet animals, muddy, bloody, and utterly terrified. Behind them, the Royal Guards kept their hands on their swords, their hands were shaking.
I sat on a pile of rubble. I was cleaning my fingernails with the Void Fang while I was at it. "So...," I said, breaking the public silence. I pointed the dagger at the sorrowful King.
King Varic stepped forward imdiately. He tried to look regal, but his crown was slightly crooked over.
"Young man," Varic began, using his ’Manly Voice’. "You have done a great service for the Kingdom! We will grant you the title of—"
"Stop," I interrupted the king. I tapped the air. A holographic contract appeared. The one they all signed under duress.
[Contract: The Salvation Contribution]
[Terms: 80% of Liquid Assets.]
[Status: Pending Paynt.]
"I don’t want titles, Varic. I can’t buy mana crystals with ’Honor’ alone. Open the Vaults."
Lord Azure stepped in. His face was purple with rage. "You extortionist! You took advantage of a crisis! This contract is void!"
"Is it?" I looked at the System.
[System Judgnt: Contract is Valid.]
[Penalty for Default: Soul Harvest.]
"If you don’t pay," I smiled, "you know what will happen, don’t you?."
Azure paled. He knew the System didn’t bluff. "Fine!" The King shouted while weeping.
[Transaction Initiated.]
It was beautiful. A stream of golden light shot from the Royal Treasury and the Guild Banks directly into my ring.
[ 5,000,000 Gold.]
[ 100,000 Mana Crystals.]
[ 500 Rare Material Crates.]
"Pleasure doing business," I said. I turned to leave.
"Wait!" A woman’s voice cut through the air. It wasn’t the King, but it was Seraphina.
The Saintess walked through the crowd. Her white robes were spotless (holy magic repels dirt, lucky her). She held her golden staff like a weapon.
The crowd parted.
Seraphina stopped five feet from . Her blue eyes bore into mine. "You killed him, right?" she said airily. She didn’t specify who but we both knew.
It was Arthur. The Hero. The guy that she was supposed to marry or save the world with.
"I did," I admitted sincerely. "He was in my way."
The Nobles gasped. "A murderer, we’ve got a murderer!" My eyes shot at them. They instantly shut up.
"Why?" Seraphina asked. She wasn’t pissed. She looked... interested. "You could have just let him fail. Why would you bother to stain your hands?"
"Efficiency," I said boldly. "Arthur was an obstacle, so I removed the obstacle." I stepped closer to her. "Are you going to smite , Saintess? Try it. I have high Magic Resistance."
Seraphina looked at my Red Hand (The Usurper). Then she looked at the mountain of loot I had just extorted earlier. She did sothing unforeseen. She kneeled over . "I pledge my staff to you," she said.
DEAD SILENCE.
The King dropped his scepter. Lord Azure choked on his own saliva.
"What?" I blinked. "Excuse ?"
"The Prophecy says I must follow the Strongest," Seraphina said, looking up with dead, enthusiastic eyes. "Arthur was weak. But you... you are the absolute opposite." She extended her hand. "Use . I can heal, buff and amplify your mana."
[System Alert]
[Character ’Saintess Seraphina’ requests to join your Party.]
[Potential Utility: SSS-Rank Support.]
I looked at her. She was beautiful and perfect. "Get up," I said coldly.
She stood.
"I don’t do ’parties’ nor do ’friends’." I said I leaned into her ear. "But I do hire Employees."
I opened a trade window. I tossed her a bag of 100 gold. "That’s your retainer. Your job is to shut up and buff when I tell you to. If you try to ’fix’ , ’save my soul’, or preach about the Light..."
My eyes flashed red. "I’ll loot your Talent and leave your body for the octopus."
Seraphina shivered voluntarily. A blush crept up from neck to face. "Understood... Master."
"Don’t call that. Call Boss."
I turned back to the masses. "Now. Step two." I looked at the Guild Leaders. Iron-Jaw. Vesper. Azure. They were staring at Seraphina like she had grown a second head. Their greatest asset just defected to .
"You’re all wondering what I’m going to do next," I announced. "I’m not joining the Azure Dragon nor Iron Blood." I raised my hand. The Ring of the Void Monarch flared. "I am declaring a Monopoly."
[System: Guild Creation Protocol.]
[Na: ______________]
I spoke the na clearly.
"[Avarice]."
[Guild Established: Avarice.]
[Guild Master: Cain Cross.]
[mber Count: 2.]
"From this mont on," I said, my voice amplified by magic. "If you want a Dungeon Clear? You pay Avarice. If you want a Boss Item? You buy from Avarice. If you want to survive the next Wave?" I smiled diabolically. "You better start saving up."
Lord Azure stepped forward but his knees were trembling.
"You think you can fight the entire world alone, boy? The Empire of Frost will invade. The Church will condemn you. The Interstellar Species (Gods) are watching!"
"Let them co," I said nacingly. I turned to Seraphina. "Buff ."
"Yes, Boss."
[Skill: Angelic Blessing.]
[Stats 50% All.]
I felt the power surge. I looked at the massive stone statue of the First King in the center of the plaza. It was 50 feet tall. Solid granite, very imposing. "This statue is grotesque," I noted. I drew the Void Fang. I didn’t walk to it, but I slashed the air.
[Skill: Infernal Guillotine (Max Output).]
A wave of purple fire and kinetic force tore through the plaza. It hit the statue.
CRUMBLE.
The statue didn’t just break. It disintegrated. The top half slid off and crashed into the palace gates. Dust cloud. The Nobles scread, ducked and terrified. When the dust settled, the statue was out of radar.
In its place, I had carved a single word into the base of the pedestal with the force of the blast. AVARICE. "Class dismissed."
————————————————————
I started walking toward the city gates.
Seraphina followed a step behind, clutching her gold coins like a treasure. "Where are we going, Boss?" she asked.
I checked the Dungeon Map I had scamd Azure with earlier. "Azure purchased the location of the ’Crypt of Whispers’," I said.
"Yes. They are mobilizing an expedition now."
"Good," I grinned. "We’re going to get there first."
"But... didn’t you sell it to them?"
"I sold them the map," I corrected her.
I pulled out a teleportation scroll from my inventory. It was stolen from the Head Mage’s pocket during the confusion. "I didn’t sell them the Loot Rights. We’re going to clear the dungeon, steal the final reward, and leave the empty chest for Lord Azure to find." I tore the scroll. Blue light engulfed us.
As we faded away, I saw Lord Azure screaming orders at his n, rallying them for a dungeon expedition.
[Teleportation Complete.]
[Location: The Screaming Woods.]
[Danger Level: High.]
We appeared in a dense, fog-covered forest. Bones littered the ground.
"Boss," Seraphina whispered. "Sothing is watching us."
"I know." I looked into the mist. A pair of glowing yellow eyes stared back.
[Target: Forest Guardian (Bear Variant)]
[Level: 30 Elite.]
It roared.
I cracked my knuckles. "Seraphina."
"Yes?"
"Don’t heal yet." I drew my dagger.
"I need to test my new damage numbers."
Reviews
All reviews (0)