CHAPTER 12

The remaining group of Shadow Corps, which was now down to 70. Some of the members were still suffering from the hysteria debuff from the previous floor. The group had found themselves in an old warehouse. The building was dark. A bunch of the mages in the group cast light spells to see more. The building was full of crates and all sorts of stored materials. Many of the crates had a logo on it that said WACME INC.

The group leader who was unsure what they needed to do. Decided to check his status for the floor information. Unfortunately, there wasn’t anything to display for information. Only that a random trigger would cause the information to trigger.

One of the group members who was suffering from the hysteria debuff. Decided it would be a good idea to open the crates with a label with WACME INC. No one was paying attention to the fool as he soon spoke up. “Hey guys I found some candles.” As he spoke everyone turned to look at him. Everyone’s eyes grew big as saucers from what he had done. The man wasn’t aware of what he had done.

The crate he had opened was filled with dynamite. He had lit every fuse in the crate and was trying to bring sticks of dynamite to each party member. To make matters worse. The group realized that next to the crate of dynamite was even more explosives of other kinds.

Realizing the severity of the situation. The leader knew they only had seconds to escape. He ordered everyone to blow up a hole in the wall of the warehouse. When the hole was revealed, it led into a shallow harbor. Everyone then tried to run for the hole in a stampede to get out.

Mostly everyone made it out of the warehouse into the harbor. The building went up in an explosive blast. Everyone expected for the warehouse to blow to smithereens. Instead they all watched dumbfounded as it blasted off right into space.

Wasn't expecting that. The leader thought to himself with his mouth hanging wide open. It took a few minutes to get out of the shock. He climbed out of the harbor along with many others.

Everyone was totally confused about what had just occurred. The leader was given a report that five more of his men were missing. Supposedly launched into space if not blown up. He just sighed with frustration from the news

The leader decided he needed some alone time. He told the others in the party chat. He sighed with frustration as took in the site. He knew they were in a dockyard. There were ships and crates and boxes all about the mix of assorted warehouses. Trucks with WACME INC were parked along the area that looked from the 1920s.

Can things get any worse. He thought after taking in the sites. As on cue a truck could be heard pulling up to the docks.

You have alerted Mac and Jim. By sending Mac and Jim’s secret explosive stash into orbit. The gangsters are now on there way to investigate. Defeating them will let you advance to the next floor.

Who are Mac and Jim? thought the leader. His question was soon answered by two voices he could hear along the docks.

“Did you leave another lit cigar by the dynamite again Jim? Said a voice in deep gangster tone with a bit of anger.

“No boss, I left the cigar next to the fuel tank by the truck.” Replied the other voice in a stuttered skipping tone.

“You what?” Said the figure. As soon as he spoke another explosion could be heard far away.

“Jim you idiot that was our getaway truck. Now I gotta punish yahs.”

“I’m sorry boss.”

A cartoony noise of someone getting flattened could be heard across the docks.

“Now make sure there is still some dynamite left. The building lifted off into space. I hope there isn't any left. We need to get rid of the evidence. Also looks like we will have to steal a car since you blew up our truck.”

The lead guard of the shadow corps got a good look at the two gangsters before making his decision.

I’ll hit them fast and hard.

The leader informed the group what they needed to do. Everyone cleared out of where the warehouse had been to ambush Mac and Jim.

Mac and Jim soon arrived at the warehouse. "Looks like there is nothing left." Replied Mac with a sigh of relief.

As he spoke the leader gave the order for his highest damage dealers he had left to take out Mac and Jim. They quietly circled around them hidden in the shadows as they approached.

A few moments before they attacked. Jim tripped over his untied shoelace and fell on top of Mac. "Oopsy" Jim said as his face planted onto Mac.

"You big lug, get off of me" Yelled Mac.

The attacking members ended up missing both Mac and Jim. They ended up missing completely or hitting something else. Most ended up hitting other team mates or random things.

The leader cursed under his breath as now he had lost another 3 men on his party screen. Another 2 were wounded. To make matters worse or alerted both Mac and Jim.

"Looks like we got company Jim." Shall we give em the Mac surplus special.

“Was that really necessary boss?" Jim asked in confused tone.

Instead of answering. Mac suckerpunched Jim into one of the wounded Shadow Corps members. Jim flew full force into the man sending them both flying. He ended up flattening the member into a pancake from the force of the impact. Jim pulled himself off the wall and joined Mac.

"Glad you could join me Jim. We got unexpected guests.. It is time I called the boys." Mac said with a satanic tone. He had pulled a Tommy gun and was shooting at the Shadow Corps members. Mac managed to finish off the other wounded member.

The members of Shadow Corps were given a system message.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Mac is enraged. He has called for his top gangster pals.

New adjective has been updated to clear the floor. Defeat Mac's gangster buddies to proceed to the next floor.

This is bad. The Shadow Corps lead guard thought.

He barked out an order for everyone to fall back. Everyone managed to get into another warehouse. They barricaded the doors and armed themselves with weapons they found.

If we plan on winning, better to fight fire with fire. The lead guard was armed to the teeth with anything he could find. He was happy to just use a Tommy gun that he had found. The others took up what other weapons they could find from baseball bats, knuckles, etc.

Soon he received a message telling him the warehouse was surrounded by gangsters. They all just stood in the open. The leader got a good look at the five new arrivals. He was surprised to not see Mac and Jim.

"Mullet" Mikey. Threat level. SSS rank. Can kill with almost 100% accuracy rate. Usually can finish off targets in one hit.

"Eightball" Eddy. Threat level. SSS rank. A crazed maniac who specializes in melee attacks. When enraged he triggers berserk and all attacks are critical.

"Prettyboy" Peter. Threat level. SSS rank. Uses his charmed abilities to lead others into a false sense of security.

"Murderoua" Marve. Threat level. SSS rank. A temperamental gangster with an itchy trigger finger. Has infinite amounts of ammo and uses all gun types.

Tommy "Toughknuckles". Threat level. SSS rank. A gangster who specialized in martial arts and hand to hand combat. His braces knuckles can cause a stun effect with every hit.

Engaging with one of the gangster members will trigger a fight. Only the party leader can trigger the fight.

The lead guard had to plan how to deal with the newcomers. He was now down to 60 in the group. He quickly relayed the plan to everyone hoping no one would screw up. The first two targets they would focus on were Mitch and Peter. He had his long ranged attackers go for them. Mitch having a long ranged attack combined with a one hit kill made him the highest threat. Peter would debuff the group once they started.

The group would take out Marve third. Followed by either Eddy or Tommy. Since they were both melee based.

The lead guard had everyone get into position as he gave the count down to attack. The lead guard gripped his tommy gun and let loose. Everyone began to shoot after he fired. The gangsters then moved in for the kill.

Things definitely didn’t go to plan for the lead guard had hoped. Eddy and Tommy both ran for the building. While Peter strolled across slowly. Quickly ducking in and out of fire. He was being covered by Marve. He shot at anything that moved. While Mikey did cover fire taking out anyone dumb enough to leave the warehouse.

The fight was going bad as a few members had already been sniped by Mikey. Luckily their wounds were quickly healed by the healers. The healers had been concealed to hide from Mikey. A few others had been taken down by Marve as he blasted the warehouse with gun fire. The building was turning into swiss cheese from the continued barrage. The leader gave the order to fall further back into the warehouse.

Eddy and Tommy soon broke their way into the main door. “Where did Mac ever find you, Eddy? I swear you could kill me with just a fingernail.” Eddy looked at Tommy with a half toothy grin. HIs mind was elsewhere.

Both Tommy and Eddy entered the front of the warehouse. Who was later joined by Peter. “Marve and Mikey are gonna make sure no one escapes.” Replied Peter as he stepped in.

“Let me do the honors.” Peter said as he began to use his persuasive buff. “Hey fellas, Mac is willing to forgive yeahs. If you come here.” The buff took effect immediately.

Warning: 5 members of your party have been charmed.

Deep in the warehouse everyone was alerted of the debuff.

Five of Shadow Corps stepped out into the front of the warehouse were Peter began to talk to them casually. Peter took notice of the first man to reach him. “Since, you were first to come to me. I have a nice surprise for you.” Peter pulled out a cigar. The man took it and a lighter from Peter. The man stuffed it in his mouth and lit it. Not before it exploded. Blasting the man turning him into burnt charcoal. The man fell backwards and his HP hit zero.

The other four then soon approached Peter. “Tell you what fellas. Mac has been letting me look for two new assistants whoever comes out on top will be my new minions.” The four of them suddenly started fighting each other. Within a few minutes only two were left. Both men had lost half their health.

Peter then continued his talk. “Oh i forgot i can only have one minion.” He said with a disappointed tone. The two beat each other into submission. The last remaining one under his influence was hanging on to life by a thread.

Peter stood there smiling at the near fatally-wounded member of shadow corps. Unfortunately, for Peter his little display was his undoing. A powerful bolt of lighting hit Peter dead square in the chest. He was blown onto a platform that triggered a trap. He had landed on a pressure plate that triggered the trap.

Death by a thousand anvils has been triggered.

Peter realized his mistake. Before he was killed by a thousand falling anvils. He had the wounded man attack his own teammates. The man only got one step before he was finished by the other members.

Eddy and Tommy both watched as Peter was crushed by a thousand anvils. They were attacked next. Tommy pulled out his knuckles and got a few serious hits in before he was overwhelmed.

Eddy suffered worse but lasted longer. He triggered berserk and was able to finish a handful of members from the shadow corps before he was finally taken down. He managed to defeat 3 members lugging around an anvil. His arm ended up getting broken and had to find other weapons to use. He grabbed whatever he could. Including other members of the shadow corps. He though some out of the warehouse who were picked off by Marve or Mikey in return.

His rampage finally ended when he was cornered in an area of the warehouse. The area had household plumbing. He was throwing metal pipes around. Before someone blasted a crate above him that dropped a kitchen sink on him. Finally ending Eddy.

Meanwhile back outside, thirty minutes later. “Should we go and check on them?” Mikey asked Marve.

“Things seemed to be quiet after ten minutes. Hope Eddy hasn’t knocked out Peter and Tommy again.” Mikey spoke again.

“ill go check, if you cover me.” Mikey asked Marve.

“Sure.” Replied Mikey as Marve left in a sprint to the front of the building. He peeked around and saw no one inside. He gestured to Mikey to get closer as he was going in. Mikey positioned himself behind a bunch of WACME INC. crates on a dock. Marve went into the warehouse guns blazing.

Always has to going in a guns a blazing. Mikey thought as he rolled his eyes.

The gun fire only lasted for half a minute before a loud bang was heard. Then everything went silent. “Marve are you, okay?” Called.

“Yeah I am fine. Unfortunately, I am stuck under some crates. Can you come free me before they get out of the hole I trapped the others in?”

Mikey sighed.”Sure one second.”

Mikey walked into the warehouse. He was caught off guard as he was hit by a blast of air, He dropped his gun as he flew onto his back. He landed with a groan, He tried to look for his gun but his attention was lost with a noise. He looked up only to be crushed by a 10 ton safe…

KEVIN’S POV

Keivn sat watching the fight from the fifth floor. He had his status window up making his next move. He was waiting to fight the remaining Shadow Corps members as the final boss. I am very surprised Shadow Corps was able to trick the gangsters into the traps I set in the warehouse. Peter was crushed by a thousand anvils. Eddy was beaten by a kitchen sink. Poor Tommy didn’t even last a few minutes. Marve was taken out by a grand piano. It was really crafty for someone to use the ability “mimic” on him. They ended up tricking Mikey into the warehouse, only for him to get crushed by a safe…

At least I have them down to forty members. Eddy did a good job taking out a good chunk of their numbers. Some are in no fighting shape which is good. They are down to three healers. Now to set the stage for the wild west fight. I just wish Maria could help me…