After contacting Pedecree to look around for any sign of Olivionion, he gave Bonifacius a clue as to where he could find him.
Pedecree: He said he was taking a few days off, I told him he can take as long as he needs off since I'm not his boss or anything, I haven't seen him since. he replied, currently he was taking part in a cooking contest on a different continent.
Bonifacius: Does thou have a clue as to where he might be? he asked, uncertain of what to do, Curstl was the obvious choice, but she was missing ever since the Alexander incident.
The two were talking at a distance, while Bonifacius was taking a stroll around the town, recently a blacksmith moved in as well as a few general shops.
While technically an NPC has no real obligation to do their assigned job upon gaining sentience, many choose to think of their abilities as talents, for example, a blacksmith can repair armour and weapons with nothing but a few coins, an innkeeper can produce drinks and basic meals for a fraction of the actual price offered in the game.
Then again, some are not so lucky, NCPs such as the high-level armour vendors are unable to keep themselves afloat, they can only create armour which is too weak for max-level players, but too high-level for low-level players, furthermore a regular blacksmith NPC could make you a better set of armour in no time, many of these NPCs chose to move into the town regardless of their abilities to make a living, purely because of the safety provided.
As Bonifacius turned a nearby corner he was met with one of the aforementioned NPCs.
Bracelet Vendor: Interest you in a bracelet? he asked in a salesman-like voice.
The NPC looked like a short-haired man in his twenties or thirties, brown tunic and trousers giving him a very basic look.
Bonifacius: Sorry! I must be on my way! he replied before making his way past the man, if what the demon at the inn said was true, they needed to hurry up and find ♕ at the ruins of the JGuardian base.
Bracelet Vendor: Come on bro! You look like you can afford it! the NPC whined as he followed Bonifacius, walking backwards ahead of him so as to maintain eye-contact.
He was still talking to Pedecree through the private messages.
Bonifacius: I must decline, perhaps another time!
Zazzyl: I'll get one! a robed figure announced from a nearby corner, a crest was clearly visible upon their breast, like a mix between an up and a down arrow, except the up arrow was made from metal and the down arrow was leather.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Bracelet Vendor: You will?! That's great! he replied as he made his way towards the player called Zazzyl before being stopped by an arm from behind.
Confused the NPC turned back and saw Bonifacius. Bracelet Vendor: What is it? You want a bracelet now?
Bonifacius: I barely noticed it, but look carefully at the walls! he commanded, the NPC did as instructed and saw the walls were splattered with blood, in the corner of the alley lay a bloodied corpse.
The NPC's eyes widened as he made out the features of the NPC.
Bracelet Vendor: The over-priced necklace vendor!? the NPC exclaimed in shock.
Bonifacius: The murder of NPCs on a guild's land is grounds for retaliation, are you aware of this? he demanded as he grabbed his massive blade and shied.
Zazzyl: Don't act like they're real! the robed figure laughed, their face and hands were completely obscured, soon they drew their blade revealing that it was enchanted with some sort of magic that emitted a crimson glow.
[https://i.imgur.com/W3guIXq.gif]
In almost an instant the figure lunged at Bonifacius pulling its blade back, without a moment of hesitation Bonifacius used his shield and blocked the damage, he quickly followed up with a shield bash as the cloaked figure was knocked back, the sword flew out of its hands and onto the floor as the now critically damaged player rolled on the ground in what looked like pain.
In one quick movement, the cloaked figure retrieved several throwing knives from under its coat and proceeded to throw them all Bonifacius' and the NPC's way.
Quickly, Bonifacius made his way to block the blades with his shield to protect the NPC, though what he didn't expect was for them to be magic.
The blades were a summoner or synthesiser class ability, they look like regular daggers or swords, but are magic projectiles with the ability to penetrate armour.
As the daggers flew through the shield and into Bonifacius' flesh he could have sworn he felt a tingling sensation in real life, like a vibrating buzz radiating from where he was stabbed in-game.
He summoned the orbiting shields since they were magic resistant, but it was only a matter of time before he'd run out of mana.
Bonifacius: What do you want here, mage? he demanded.
Zazzyl: I'm just finishing up my test mission before I can join SilverPeak, the guild. they replied.
Bonifacius: I've never heard of such a guild! It must be rather small! Bonifacius was watching his cooldowns and waiting for the right moment to strike.
Zazzyl: We get paid real money for killing NPCs, man! You should join, we could use a tank! the figure offered but was greeted with only silence.
Zazzyl: Though, that one's mine. he replied as he pointed to the NPC behind Bonifacius.
Quickly, Bonifacius moved in to shield the NPC from any attacks.
Zazzyl: Don't tell me you're one of the roleplayers who thinks the NPCs have a soul. the figure pinched the roof of their nose (though since they wore a hood nobody could be sure).
Bonifacius: Indeed, I am! he replied before casting shield bash on the NPC, launching him far away with less than half of his HP before turning to the cloaked figure.
Zazzyl: Oh, you son of a bi#*h! the cloaked figure started casting a spell, some sort of projectile, red in colour, but he was stopped by Bonifacius who was now closing the distance between them thanks to the charge spell.
The cultist fell down but seemingly melted away into a puddle of crimson liquid before re-appearing from another pool of red liquid on the wall.
Zazzyl: You'd entered my trap, roleplayer! he laughed as the two dozen or so red puddles began producing magic blades which all shot towards Bonifacius.
Quickly he cast a stomp spell which shook the surrounding doing little to no damage to the cloaked figure,
Taking on serious damage Bonifacius ran for towards the figure and used the punch ability, but before he could hit the cultist he faded away into the buddle before a crimson spear shot out from that very puddle impaling Bonifacius and killing him on the spot.
A group of ten or so guard NPCs and XxFoxlyxX appeared, the NPC launched by Bonifacius a minute ago was the one responsible for leading them to the alley, but nothing except the corpse of Bonifacius remained of the cloaked figure.