It was ti. I opened up the shutter and checked outside. No one was near my building. So, an ambush most likely. Well, I was full up on energy. I picked up my shield. “This is going to be a fight. Ready?”
“Ready,” Ruth said and had a sword and shield in her hands.
“Let’s do this.” I pushed the door open. No ambush. We both exited and I closed and locked the door behind . We then advanced towards the Guild building at the North side of the plaza. I noticed several people looking at both of us from the unclaid buildings.
I stopped in front of the building and a shutter opened at the top. “We can do what you did-“ I raised my hand and the person quickly ducked out of sight. I shook my head at that.
“One entrance and exit? No back exits?” I asked.
“Yes, for security. Not up to fire code, but they did it for security reasons,” Ruth said quite loudly. I suspected she was trying to place fear into them before we attacked, and I had no disagreent with her decision.
“Perfect. Acid Shot.” I targeted the door into their building. It began to quickly lt away. I went up and delivered a hard kick. The door swung open.
“Acid Shot.” The person behind the doorway was hit by the skill. She collapsed to the ground, screaming in pain as she lted. I stepped inside.
“DIE!” I blocked the sword trust with my shield.
“Acid Shot.” The man left their midsection open. They fell to the ground screaming. I was making a chorus of death cries.
“Five people behind!” Ruth called out to .
“Back outside then.” I quickly stepped back outside. “Acid Shot.” I took out the one person without a shield by aiming for his legs. He fell to the ground screaming out the last bits of his life. Three of them rushed , while one went after Ruth.
I blocked an attack, there was an opening. People weren’t used to taking in skills into account when fighting. “Acid Shot.” Another one down. That was when two people with swords ca out of the Guild building, and advanced on . That put at four to one. With only five attacks left.
“Acid Shot.” I targeted Ruth’s opponent in the back since he didn’t have a shield pointed in my direction. I didn’t wait to listen to his screams as I ran away. Ruth quickly joined my side breathing heavily. I stopped spun. My pursuers quickly brought up their shields.
“Acid Shot.” I targeted the leg of one of them. He fell to the ground screaming as his leg lted off. This skill was as bad or worse than burning to death. Regardless, I would not stop no matter how much they scread. The remaining three people quickly ran off. I noticed they didn’t go back to the Guild building.
I advanced on the building again. “You keep watch outside, shout if there is trouble?” I asked Ruth.
“Got it,” she replied. I carefully entered the building again. The bottom floor. There were three buildings the Guild owned connected together. There were two staircases to the upper floor.
“All clear?” I called out.
“No one,” Ruth called back. I carefully made my way up the stairs. I brought up my shield up to block an arrow.
“Acid Shot.” The archer fell to the ground screaming in her death throes. Three people stood behind her with large tower shields and swords. “You think those will help you?”
“Maybe, but I know you don’t forgive or forget bastard.”
“Perhaps. I have made many enemies.” My eyes searched for other people as the group advanced on . “Acid Shot.Acid Shot.” I used the skill twice in succession on person to my left and right. They blocked with their shields, quickly dropping them as the acid rapidly lted them.
I slowly backed up down the stairs, quickly checking to confirm there was no one behind . “Get him, he has to be out of energy!” The man who spoke before called out. The other two with him had thrown away their lting shields and rushed .
I leapt off the side of the stairs and onto the first floor. No guard rail made such a move incredibly easy. I retreated outside. “Trouble?” Ruth asked.
“Three of them. Don’t want to fight in a building they know,” I replied as I turned to face the door, I had originally lted to enter the building. The three n rushed out. I had my sword out in my right hand. I was out of energy for the mont.
We began to trade blows as I was slowly forced back across the plaza. I had to be careful not to be flanked. This forced my continual retreat. Ruth kept up a watch to make sure no one ca up behind .
“Everyone! Help ! Rush him, he has no energy left to use his skill!” That bastard appealing to the crowd I was sure that was watching.
“You think so? Well, then co get so!” I shouted back. I swung my right hand out to the side with my sword and then swung it back inwards, while letting go of my blade. It flew through the air and went into one of the n’s legs. He collapsed to the ground with a pained cry.
“Acid Shot.” I spun to the side while back peddling. I had gained enough energy during the entire confrontation for another use of the skill. The man that had been to my left fell screaming to the ground as he lted. That just left and the speaker, who still had a shield. It was the council mber who had run off before.
He rushed and I pivoted to circle around while blocking with my shield. He kept up the pressure, not giving a chance to pick up a weapon off of the ground like I had planned. My shield was slowly being hacked apart as I was forced to block over and over again. This was not looking good.
“Just die!” The man scread.
“Acid shot!” I swung my hand out and the man quickly brought his shield up and ducked behind it. I sprinted over to the man who I had thrown my sword into. I slamd into his back as he was trying to make his way to the pillars. He went sprawling on the plaza ground. I kicked his head, and he went still.
The speaker was right behind , and I was forced to block again before I could pick up a sword. Suddenly he stopped attacking. There was a sword sticking out of his chest. It was pulled free, and he fell to the ground dead, with Ruth standing behind him.
“Thank you,” I said, working to bring my breathing back under control.
“You’re welco,” Ruth replied. I looked around and no one else was around, but several people were watching from the edge of the plaza. My mind drifted to the fact Ruth had helped there at the end and if people would think that was weakness. It was too late to worry about that.
“That was him by the way. The Gasp.” She gestured at the person she had killed.
“So, it is over?” I asked. “Wait, that was a dumb question. Anyone else I need to kill, since it is never over.”
“Not unless you plan on depopulating the city,” Ruth replied.
“No. No.” I shook my head. I really didn’t want to do that. Too much work, and no reward. “They have any loot?” I asked.
“Nothing but swords that would be worthwhile.” I shook my head at that. “Over there.” I looked over where Ruth pointed. Underboss Roger and then minions were approaching ard and with a chest. They stopped a short distance away from both of us in the plaza.
“You finished?” Underboss Roger asked .
“Depends? That the paynt?” I asked.
“For previous services, yes.” He gestured and two of his n set the chest down in front of and retreated. “So…”
“Now what is the question.” I looked at him. “This can’t happen again.”
“We agree on that,” Roger said, and we stared at each other for about a minute.
“Stop comparing dick sizes,” Ruth said, and I looked over at her. “We won, but killing everyone is a pain. You want no taxes, correct?” Ruth looked at .
“Yes, and also for the city to invest in services and upgrades.”
“Alright, you want stability?” Ruth looked at Roger.
“That and not be subject to one person’s whims.” Roger looked at as he said the last bit. I stared right back.
“You are going to let this happen?” A man had co forward from the side. Ruth leaned into and explained who he was.
“The baker, Ken. He has a support of a lot of the non-aligned people.”
“He just wiped out the ownership of most of the buildings. Unless Carlos set sothing up?” There was silence at that. “I don’t even know why I am bringing this up, but aren’t you people supposed to stop stuff like this? Why do I pay my taxes otherwise?” He pointed at .
“Are you threatening ?” I asked loudly and slowly. All whispering and muttering ceased. It finally dawned on the baker Ken, that I was right there and had just killed a lot of people. He nervously glanced at the lted bodies around the plaza.
“Um, no, I didn’t an-“
“You ant what you said. But you are comfortable here in Purgatory, while I risk my life out there exploring. You have not earned the right to speak about in any way. Roger, I am prepared to extend the previous deal I had with Carlos to you. rcenary contract, no taxes.”
He took a deep breath and glanced at Ken. That man had that much power, interesting. Then Roger looked back at . He let out a long sigh. “People won’t accept making a unilateral decision like that.”
“So, you need this man’s permission?” I gestured at Ken.
“I speak for the people,” Ken said and glared at .
“If I decided to kill you, would the Red Dawn defend you?” I asked and looked at Roger.
“I won’t protect you from him, Ken.” The baker looked off to the side and clenched his hands into fists.
“Still, I am not unreasonable. Roger, does this man really have the support of the useless people in Purgatory?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Then get a table and six chairs. Let’s hamr sothing long term out. , you, and him. One advisor each. I am not doing this shit again. We co up with sothing that works or I really will depopulate this city and implent an unrelenting dictatorship.” An offer and a threat. I doubt they wanted to call on my threat after what I just did.
There was a long mont of silence before Roger spoke. “Alright, Ken?”
“Yes, let’s settle things without being barbarians.” I gestured at Ruth, and we brought the chest over to the pillars as the Red Dawn scurried about. I earned 20,000 points and spent 389 on a restoration, leaving with 20,625 points. I let Ruth claim the other 5,000 points for her efforts. It was a sha a restoration didn’t refill my energy.
I spent 4,400 more points on 10 upgrades which went to Regeneration, bringing it up to 90. Once we were finished, Ruth and I went over to the table that had been set up. The Red Dawn guards had cleared a large periter.
I took a seat along with Ruth. Roger and Tyrese sat down for Red Dawn. I glared at Tyrese, and he quickly looked off to the side to avoid my gaze. Ken and soone who I didn’t know sat down as well. There were three tables arranged in a triangle. I noted that the bodies were being cleaned up by Red Dawn as well.
“I propose a triumvirate. One vote held by the strongest person, one by the Boss of the guards, and one elected by the people,” I suggested to get things started.
“How would that work exactly, you aren’t in Purgatory that often,” Roger said.
“Major issues and decisions are held off until my return. There isn’t that much to decide. I would be more concerned about finding other people out there first,” I said.
“What’s to stop you going on a rampage?” Ken asked.
“Nothing except my word, which I have not broken. If all parties stick to the agreent we make here today, then I will abide by it. Carlos broke his word to first.”
“He has a point,” the man next to Ken spoke up.
“Perhaps, but we are all trying to survive here. Would you pay a tax as well?” Ken asked.
“No, for the simple reason, I am exploring unexplored areas. I represent the combat potential of this city. If another city is pouring everything into a single person, well it would be bad for us if we fought.”
“We haven’t seen anyone, have you?” Roger asked.
“No, but I haven’t been strong enough to explore beyond the next level of monsters. The difficulty scaling is no joke.”
“The higher difficulty monsters are quite dangerous,” Tyrese said. I gave him a look. “People encountered so past the sli forest, forced to retreat.” I nodded at that.
“Alright, no taxes for you. Then the rest of us?” Ken asked.
“I suggest 25% for pillar use, no tax on businesses directly,” Ruth said.
“With what we lost today, it will be hard to build back up,” Roger said.
“It will be, but it will make the situation more bearable and encourage people to startup businesses and get crystals,” Ruth countered.
“Two fifths will be reserved for the next upgrade. Two fifths to the Red Dawn and one fifth for charity helping new people,” I suggested.
“That is still too much. You bring in six to eight thousand crystals a day?” Ken asked.
“Will be more like two to four at that percentage,” Roger countered.
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