POV : FORT BONE
Mohammed leaned back in his chair, the glow of the flickering torches casting shadows across the rough-hewn walls of Fort Bone's main hall. His hands tapped lightly on the pouch of mana coins resting at his side. It was heavy—filled with the fruits of countless battles in the arena. Yet, the weight of his success felt somewhat hollow.
‘I’ve worked hard for these coins, but what do I have to show for it?‘ he thought. ‘No voice. No say in the leadership here. It’s time for something bigger.‘
Across from him sat Mrs. Harrington, her stern face illuminated by the faint light, making her features even more striking. As the CEO of a top-tier tech company, she was a woman used to power—used to having her voice heard. And yet, here in Fort Bone, she had none of it.
“I didn’t want to leave a thriving business empire on Earth, and I especially don’t want to fade away here,” she said coldly, her fingers drumming on the wooden table. Her eyes, sharp as a hawk’s, scanned the room before locking on Mohammed’s. “It’s time we take control.”
Victoria Langston, the always calm and composed Vice CEO of Global Horizons Inc., sipped on her drink quietly. Unlike Mrs. Harrington’s fiery nature, Victoria was calculated, her every move deliberate. But even she felt the frustration bubbling under her skin. She had spent years advising on wealth management, helping people find their ideal retirement paradises. Yet here, in Fort Bone, they werent important. Useless as tits on a bull.
“You’ve buiing up quite the fortune, Mohammed,” Victoria began, her voice smooth and thoughtful. “We could go anywhere with that kind of money. Fort Bone doesn’t appreciate what we bring to the table. But there are two other towns now…with the right investment, we could buy our way to leadership.” Initially hesitant to join Mohammed, her experience in Fort Bone and the wasteland quickly showed her that her previous business experience wouldn’t be worth much without the right partners.
Mohammed nodded slowly, the idea taking root in his mind. "I’ve made more in the arena than most of these people will see in a lifetime. We could open two new arenas, expand our influence. Fort Bone won’t know what hit them when they see us running things elsewhere."
Mrs. Harrington’s lips curled into a sly smile. “If we play this right, we won’t just be leaders of those towns. We’ll control everything from the economy to the decisions that affect everyone in the wasteland.”
Victoria placed her goblet down, the thud of it settling resonating through the dimly lit room. “We’ll need to scout them first—make sure the people there are as hungry for entertainment as they are here. Then, we make our move.”
Mohammed stood up, the scrape of his chair against the stone floor echoing behind him. His eyes gleamed with determination. He could already picture it—two new towns, two new arenas, and him, standing at the top, calling the shots.
“This is it, then,” Mohammed said, his voice firm. “Tomorrow, we leave for the first town. We’ll buy our way to the top.”
Mrs. Harrington and Victoria exchanged knowing looks, both rising to their feet in unison. They had spent years climbing corporate ladders, navigating the murky waters of business and politics. This was a new challenge—and one they were hungry for.
“Fort Bone can keep its council,” Mrs. Harrington muttered as she slung her jacket over her shoulders. “We’re going to build something better.”
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After breakfast the group of three used the outer teleportation zone to start their exploration.
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They reached the outskirts of the first town—America United. It was a far cry from the military/medieval atmosphere of Fort Bone. This town was alive with the sound of country music played on home made guitars spilling out from saloons, the clink of bottles in the bar, and the stomping of boots on wooden floors. Cowboys in wide-brimmed hats rode down dusty streets, spurs jangling as they passed by rows of honky-tonk bars and general stores. On Earth, Americans might be separated by the rhetoric and hyperbole of their two party voting system. Here it had truly been united.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Mrs. Harrington muttered, adjusting the brim of her hat to shield her eyes from the setting sun. “It’s like stepping into the Old West.”
Mohammed couldn’t help but smile as he took in the sight of the swinging saloon doors and the bustling life of the town. Unlike Fort Bone, America United had a different sort of vibrancy to it—rough around the edges, but lively. There were definitely no mini fairies stopping fist fights here.
“This place has potential,” Mohammed said, his eyes scanning the town square. “We’ll blend right in.”
They made their way to the largest saloon in town, a rickety building with a sign that read “The Silver Spur”. The sound of laughter and raucous conversation grew louder as they pushed through the swinging doors. Inside, cowboys leaned against the bar, downing shots of whiskey, while a group of gamblers played cards in the corner, their poker faces barely visible beneath the thick smoke swirling through the air. ‘Poker, whiskey and the wasteland…what a beautiful sight,‘ thought Victoria. She could already imagine writing a travel guide about this picturesque town. ‘Guess old habits die hard.‘
A bartender, a burly man with a bushy moustache and a cowboy hat tipped low over his eyes, gave them a once-over. “New in town, pardner?”
“Just passing through,” Mohammed replied, tossing a few mana coins onto the counter. “Looking to make some investments.”
The bartender’s eyes widened slightly at the sight of the coins before he nodded, sliding three shot glasses across the bar. “Investments, huh? Well, there’s always room for more players in this town. People here like something new, brings a little excitement.”
Victoria smiled knowingly as she took a seat. “Excitement’s exactly what we’re here to bring.”
As the trio sat at the bar, the hum of conversation around them, Mohammed knew that America United was the perfect place to start. The people here loved their games, their drinks, and their way of life. If they could tap into that—open an arena, offer something new—they could win this town over in no time.
The town might have seemed stuck in the past with its cowboy hats and saloon doors, but Mohammed, Mrs. Harrington, and Victoria were looking to the future.
And the future would belong to them.
‘‘‘
After their initial success in scouting America United, Mohammed, Mrs. Harrington, and Victoria gathered in a quiet corner of the town. Mrs. Harrington said, "Let’s go check out the second town the Red Fairy mentioned."
"Next stop—Celestial Empire," she smirked. "We can’t waste time traveling by foot for weeks. This will get us there in seconds."
Without hesitation, they headed to the teleportation zone. Joining the other eager tourists, a shimmering light enveloped the three of them.
BZZERP
They reappeared instantly in the teleportation zone of the Celestial Empire. The contrast was staggering. Gone was the dust and the honky-tonk charm of America United. In its place stood a city of elegance and grandeur, dominated by tall pagodas with sweeping roofs and stone dragons curling around pillars. Lanterns bathed the streets in a warm, golden glow as men in long robes strolled past, their hands folded calmly behind them.
Mohammed’s eyes widened at the sheer beauty of the place. The grand palace at the center gleamed like a jewel, and everywhere he looked, he saw jade-eyed beauties in flowing robes, their laughter like music as they entertained wealthy patrons in tea houses.
Mrs. Harrington raised an eyebrow, taking it all in. "I’ll admit, this place knows luxury," she said, her voice laced with approval. "But we’re not here to admire the scenery. We need to find the right people—the ones who can help us take control."
Victoria nodded, adjusting her robe to blend in better with the locals. "This town seems to run on tradition, but money talks here just as much as anywhere else. Let’s find a way to tap into that." Her mind, though, was still writing articles about the scenery of the place.
As they walked deeper into the Celestial Empire, the bustling market square opened up before them, filled with vendors selling silk, jade trinkets, and rare teas. The scent of incense filled the air, mixing with the hum of conversations in Mandarin. ‘It seems like the vending machines here are more region specific. And culturally oriented,‘ thought Victoria.
"We’ll start at the palace," Mohammed said confidently. "If we’re going to take over, we need to go straight to the top."