Ander awoke to the sound of voices coming closer. Already closer than he would have liked, they sounded furtive. He had chosen a cavern close enough to the main sinkhole that he should be able to tell if it was daylight or not. And it most certainly was not. Ander stayed still, hoping that these people would pass him by, but he had no such luck. Worst part was how unprofessional they were. There were three of them and they would not stop whispering.
“Yeah, he is right over here.”
“Are you sure, this is the third cave entrance we’ve explored so far.”
“Guys shut up. What if he hears?”
Indeed. What IF he hears. Ander sighed and shook his head. They had just come in range of his wind sense. For some reason they had a chair with them. No rope so they didn’t intend to tie him down. No, he expected that they wanted to give him a stern talking to about the importance of the factions. Not that Ander gave a crap. As they started to climb slowly into the pitch black room, Ander silently summoned a wooden desk and an executive style chair out of his inventory. He then sat himself down and started to arrange a number of items on the desk such as pens, some paper, as well as a well preserved human skull he had been lucky to find.
He could tell the men were making preparations of their own, and so he waited. When they were finally about to light the lamp they had brought, Ander produced a light orb instead. He had pried every one he could find out of the ceiling of the Aetherworks Foundry, and now he set one on the desk before the startled men. One was sitting in the chair they had brought, with the other two standing behind him fiddling with the lamp. They would have been intimidating had it not been for the lamp.
“What can I do for you gentlemen?” The three were stunned frozen for a minute before the one in the chair, looking more the supplicant than the powerful figure he meant to portray, decided to talk.
“We have come to speak to you about your choice to stay independent.” It really was a valiant effort, but lacked any of the force it was supposed to have.
“Oh, in the middle of the night? With two bruisers?” Ander put his feet up on the desk and started to fiddle with the skull. “One might be forgiven for getting the wrong impression.”
“It is obvious that we made this decision due to your considerable power. It would have been unwise to risk our safety with one as perceptive and mighty as you.” The flattery was obvious, but the man kept his cool in a way that Ander had not expected. The two bodyguards were flustered, but the man in the middle seemed unphased. “My name is Norich, and I am a recruiter for the Crimson Stars Faction.”
“Is everything here so cliche? Do you have books down here?” Ander asked. Crimson Stars, really? Sounded like it came from a bad anime.
“What? No, books are rather rare down here. Besides, only scribes have a use for books. Real men have no need.”
“Real men?” Ander scoffed. “Have you ever picked up a book in your life?”
“Real men need only their blade.” The man narrowed his eyes. “You aren’t planning on taking the Path are you?”
“I am now. Besides, how is that any of your business?”
“The Crimson Stars are the largest faction in the Pit. All of the most powerful people claim membership with us, and what we offer them is unparalleled by the other factions. We are willing to offer you a most favorable position within the faction. Even a leadership position should you join.
“So what you are saying is that it hurts your reputation to have someone skilled not under your thumb.” The man looked offended, which was rather the point. Ander wanted to completely ignore the guy, but he did at least consider their offer. If he joined he would at least have some allies, but he had no desire to fulfill any responsibilities that they might impose.
“What are the benefits and responsibilities of this position?” Ander asked with a sigh. The man seemed to immediately brighten up.
“You will be given a Junior Officer’s position. We saw your little performance using some sort of pseudo flight power to fall away from the group yesterday, and we can help you develop that skill. We are always looking for people with inborn talents like yours. Anyway, you will get a group to take you into the ruins and make sure you don’t die before you become a powerhouse. You will control what this group does and where it goes, except for the fact that one trusted individual will have veto power to make sure you don’t get into too much trouble. As for responsibilities, you are expected to help guard the perimeter, do a few errands from time to time, and to pay a 30% tax on everything you bring in to keep the faction up and running.” The man looked pleased. “I am only authorized to give you such a good deal because you show so much promise. Not everyone gets an offer like this.”
Ander clicked the jaw shut on the skull he was holding. It had been carefully wired into place to be able to articulate fully. He sat in thought for a moment, and then hit the three with an identify.
Crimson Stars Guard
Level 10
Crimson Stars Guard
Level 10
Crimson Stars Recruiter
Level 15
“What level do you think I am?” Ander asked. The man raised an eyebrow.
“I thought you were level 1 just like all the others dumped into the lake, but from the sound of your voice I am mistaken. You already kill something? What level are you? 2, 3? That is quite impressive if that is the case. I might be able to swing an even better deal for you should you choose to join.” Ander understood the situation now. These three were so far above a new level one that the level one would be forced to join. They didn’t expect a level 23 that could wipe them out with no difficulty.
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“One last question. What is the highest level amongst your members?”
“Our fearless leader, Cormal, is level 34. He has an epic inborn spear skill after which the faction is named. He is the most powerful person in the pit, save the instructors. He gives even them a hard time though. It is hard to deal with an inborn skill like that.” Ander smiled. He highly doubted that he could face Cormal the way he was now, but if his past leveling speed was anything to go by, he would blast past this Cormal guy in a blink.
“One last question, and this really is the last. What if I say no?” The three stared at Ander’s shark-like grin. The man in the chair sighed.
“We would have to show you why that isn’t an option. And you would have to tell us where you got such nice loot when everything close to the surface was looted decades ago.” he indicated the desk, chair, and light orb. “It might get messy, and you wouldn’t like that.” Ander stood from his desk.
“You see, I agree it will get messy. But I promise It will be you having a bad time.” The man stood in turn as Ander rounded his desk.
“Boys, give this kid a little lesson, but don’t… urggh!” He fell back against the right guard from the punch Ander had landed in his face. His nose was streaming blood, and an ivory tooth had fallen to the ground at his feet. He glared at Ander in rage. “Beat him within an inch of his life! Break every rib, just nothing that will stop him from walking or holding a sword.” Ander cocked his head. Sure ribs didn’t hold up either your body or your sword, but they were pretty crucial to making sure the muscles worked properly.
The two men pulled out small billy clubs and approached Ander. The left one got to him first and swung out at his head. A gust of wind pushed his arm up as Ander ducked. He then used his crouch to deliver a devastating punch to the man’s sternum. The man fell back winded as the other guard swung at Ander’s shoulder A gust of wind assisted Ander as he swayed back, allowing the club to pass a hair's breadth in front of him. Ander reached out with both hands, grabbing the man’s arm with his right and striking out with his left, causing his forearm to shatter. The man fell back screaming in pain next to the other guard who was gasping and unable to pull in a breath.
Ander and the bloody recruiter stared at each other across the broken bodies of the two guards before they both jumped forward. The recruiter whipped a saber from his belt aiming to cleave Ander’s head off in one go, but Ander had other ideas. In an instant the Spear of Wind’s Sovereign was in his left hand blocking the saber, and the Sword of Wind’s Sovereign was buried in the man’s heart. Ander stepped back, allowing the thrill of battle to ebb out of him.
This had gone too far. The recruiter was dead and bleeding out on the cave floor. The one with the broken arm was staring at him in horror, with the other guard twitching next to him. Ander turned to the man with the broken arm, who desperately started scooting back while keeping his eyes on Ander. Much was allowed in the pit. Competition, fighting, even beatdowns. But this? Ander’s vision started to narrow at the man trying to flee, darkening at the edges until that terrified man was all he could see. Ander raised the spear. He couldn’t let this man get away. He had seen too much.
What the hell am I doing? Ander stumbled back against the desk as he started shaking. What had he done? Two men lay dead at his feet, and he was about to kill a third because he had seen too much? What was he? Sure he had killed people before. Those people were evil and deserved everything they got. Mostly. But when had he resorted to killing those far weaker than him? He felt like dark tendrils were constricting around his soul.
Ander forced himself under control. The man was gone, having run screaming at the top of his lungs. It wouldn’t be long before someone came investigating. Ander stored the desk and chair, and after some consideration, stored the bodies as well. He would have to dump them soon or they would rot. He then looked at the pool of blood on the ground. This was evidence enough of foul play. Gingerly he touched the surface. The blood disappeared.
Blood Vial (Exodar Commoner level 15) x 45
Vials of blood had been added to his inventory. Why vials and not buckets or pools he didn’t know, and he wasn’t thinking straight enough to figure it out. He checked his person and found himself to be clean if a bit rumpled. The cave was clean too. Ander stored the lantern the three men had brought, plunging the cave into darkness. He then laid down and pretended that nothing had happened at all.
The mob came quickly. Three older men surrounded by a group of younger men wearing red cloaks burst into Ander’s cave. Immediately Ander was hauled off his bed of leaves to the sound of the man with the broken arm screaming. Ander did his best to look confused as he was pushed against a wall. A dozen angry faces were staring at him, and Ander was starting to believe that he had made the wrong choice staying here.
“So. Where are the bodies?” To Ander’s surprise the question was not directed at him, but rather at the man with the broken arm.
“Right here, they were right here!” The man babbled. “He came around the desk and killed them!” Everyone stopped and stared at the hysterical man. Ander did too, feigning shock and confusion even though he knew exactly what the man was talking about.
“I don’t see a desk. Or bodies.” One of the older men said. “What exactly did you say happened again?” Ander legitimately felt bad. This man didn’t deserve this, nor did his friends deserve to die. Still, Ander had been defending himself, and wasn’t willing to bear the consequences of a fight he hadn’t sought out. The man was looking around wildly, trying to find support from the people around him.
“We were talking, and suddenly he comes around the desk and punches Iskaa in the face! When we tried to defend him like was our job, he punched Serti in the stomach so hard he couldn’t breathe and then stabbed Iskaa with his sword!” The man looked around again, but people physically backed away from him. “I’m telling the truth! He broke my arm after punching Serti!”
“A sword now too. Cormal, do you have anything to add?” The older man turned to one of the younger men, one with an air of command and arrogance.
“Sir Argvald, I sent three men out to attempt to recruit this individual. Their names were indeed Iskaa, Serti, and this man, Arten. They had already been late by over an hour when Arten returned with his arm broken.”
“In the middle of the night?”
“Sir Argvald, We use the methods that produce only the best results. That is why we are the most powerful faction in the pit.” Cormal’s words were even, confident. He stared Sir Argvald in the eye even though Sir Argvald was more than ten levels higher than him.
Sir Argvald
Pit Trainer
Level 46
Cormal
King of the Crimson Stars
Level 33
“And you. What is your name?” Sir Argvald turned to Ander, who was being pressed against the walls by two Crimson Stars members.
“ Am Ander.”
“How long have you been in the pit?”
“Not even a day sir.” Sir Argvald looked at Cormal questioningly, who begrudgingly nodded.
“And what happened?”
“Nothing sir. I was woken up by your group. I thought I heard some screaming not too long ago, but I can't tell if I was dreaming or not.” Sir Argvald stared at Ander.
“I think you are lying to me. But if you are, where are the bodies? Where is the sword and the desk? I think you know more than you are willing to let on.” Sir Argvald stared at Ander.