The area of the city where one could find temples to most deities was one I avoided like the plague for very obvious reasons. No more. The two knights escorting us soon became six as they rejoined the rest of their merry band of mother-killer worshippers. With the Baron and me boxed in, we went on our way to meet the High Hierophant.
The other four knights got contract hanging on their metaphysical necks as well. If everything went well, I'd level up today.
The townsfolk walking the urban maze, addled fools shook from their daze, cheered, and shouted praise as the entourage disturbed their laze. After a scare of such magnitude with demons thirty meters in altitude turning the slums into a smear, their moods craved such cheer.
At the temple, we met the Hierophant in the main chapel. A place full of pillars and statues, the most prominent of Bundeus holding the Sun in one hand and the world in another. Bronze age and they already knew the world was a sphere. How wonderful. Everything was white marble, silver, and gold. Despite the lighting, one with the right fur color and a good combination of perks would find it easy to hide from sight in that place.
The knights removed their helmets as a sign of respect. They kept their weapons but everyone but me was armed. Two templars stayed outside, two by the door inside and two escorted us from close behind.
We stopped before a man in his sixties and impressive twenty levels more than years under his belt, brimming with strength and holy energy. He cast his gaze upon us and asked, "Where's the {Hero}? And what about the core?"
The Baron knelt. I stood my ground and offered only a slight nod as my olive branch. With a dash of spirit, the ecclesiastic too got an appointment with the reaper.
"This lass here is the {Hero} chosen by Bundeus," The Baron said as he stood up.
"Where is the core? The core is the only proof of her claim we'll accept," The old priest's greed was tangible. He didn't care about a {Hero} at all.
If I had to guess, Bundeus was too eager in putting his divine mitts on the core to suck up all that sweet energy to replenish what he spent on the quest. With interest. Even Wyxnos confessed he was tempted to get it for himself. If only getting rid of yours truly wasn't higher up in his priority list.
"Last night, my sister and I offered the core to Wyxnos," I said, now that I've decided to throw the scheming God of Logic under the bus. "The core is no more."
Both senior figures gasped in horror. I said no lies and it was up to Wyxnos to explain himself now. No love lost on him.
The hierophant looked to me as some mob boss or a loan shark that decided if my money was no good, then he'd take his due from my flesh and blood. But he couldn't just kill a {Hero}. The Baron would be witness and things could get politically complicated. I knew they rushed to come here so they could get a shot at obtaining the core before anyone else.
I was afraid this run was almost over. Apricot would not get her vengeance against the general, or get wind of Almond's fate.
"You were there with the ritualists, weren't you, girl?" As if to confirm my suspicions, I was already demoted from {Hero} to "Girl".
"Yes, sir. While I couldn't see the faces of the diabolists, there was an item in that room the moment the sacrifice was made. I couldn't help the poor little child, but I did kill the diabolists and took their possessions."
The priest smiled. "And what item was it that you found in that room?"
"I did not find it, your eminence. As I said, the item was in the room and I looted the diabolists. This signet was in possession of the one that spilled blood on the ritual circle."
I handed him the Baron's fourth son's signet. The Hierophant examined the ring and turned it around to read inside. Once he did that, the Baron went pale.
"That's my son Pavel's signet! Why do you have it?"
The temple knights closed in near the Baron.
"Seal the doors. Unless I order it, nobody is to enter!" The priest shouted.
The knights by the door quickly closed it with them outside. Blood was about to be spilled.
"Tell us, girl. Why do you have this ring? Is the Baron's claim correct? That this is his son's signet ring?"
"Yes, your eminence. I hereby state that what I am about to disclose is the truth. This signet belonged to Pavel Hendra. On the day of the demon summoning that destroyed most of the city, I killed Pavel Hendra for he had committed the most heinous and unforgivable crime imaginable. I took the signet from his wicked, perverted, and dead hand. When the demon crossed into our world to defile it, that signet was inside the same chamber where that act of heresy took place."
Not a single lie or half-truth.
"That doesn't mean he--" The Baron started to protest.
But the priest cut him off with a mighty spell. "I BRAND BARON HENDRA A HERETIC! KILL HIM!"
Baron Hendra wasn't slow on his feet. He jumped out of reach and drew his bronze sword. The two temple knights that stayed with us jumped into the fray.
That would protect her from most attacks and divine magic.
The fight was ugly and the odds were stacked against the Baron. He was losing badly and only his mobility kept him from dying faster. The Hierophant was casting spells at him while the templars chased after the nobleman.
"Shield of Faith! Divine Armor! Holy Smite!" The priest changed with practiced moves and in quick succession.
The poor little dumb waif, me, without a weapon to her name and no Level on display was ignored. Unarmed and unarmored, what danger could she be? Had I a table, I'd do the Gendo Ikari pose.
Until I grew silver fur, fangs, and claws, they were right. When I jumped on the priest's back, crossing his shields and dispelling his protections like they were wet toilet paper, no longer.
A bite to the neck from surprise, that's all it took. The priest's head flew like his chosen deity's morals. Lifeless.
> Assassination successful. Contract Fulfilled.
>
> You killed level 83 High Hierophant. You gained 428,816,800 Exp (68,890 base x10,000 perk x0,0001 curse x3.05 perk x7,57 contract x10 Class Rank x8 Rank x3.37 Favored Enemy).
Hell, yes. Oops. I Bet Bundeus will be mad. My suspicion was confirmed. People that rise in level are those that have good Exp multiplier perks.
> You reached Silver Slayer level 14.
>
> You reached High Human level 13.
>
> You reached High Chemist level 11.
>
> You reached High Surgeon level 11.
A quick dip in the human shop for one thing Anjou showed me I dearly needed.
> You purchased the Resist Social Influence (rare) SKill. Add the Skill rank to Charisma to resist social influence Skills and Perks.
I quickly triggered my Skills to hide and stalked the trio engaged in merry bloodshed, discarding my clothes along the way. Up a column to hang from the ceiling, waiting for an opportunity.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
I took cover behind a pillar. With
The Baron was on his last leg. Not literally, he wasn't on the ground yet. The priest's death did not go unnoticed for too long.
"The Hierophant is dead!" One of them shouted.
That distraction cost him. The Baron stabbed his thigh, forcing the templar to fall on a knee. On the chapel roof, I dropped on the other.
> Assassination successful. Contract Fulfilled.
>
> You killed level 51 Anointed Temple Knight. You gained 4,047,585 Exp (26,010 base x 10,000 perk x 0,0001 curse x 3.05 perk x 7,57 contract x 2 Class Rank x3.37 Favored Enemy).
The priest was worth a hundred knights. Such unfairness. And I needed ten dozen such knights to level up again. Five hundred million and change.
"Ah! Help me!" The branded Baron screamed. He fled toward the door.
"Therianthrope!" The kneeling knight gasped and discarded his bronze sword in favor of a silver dagger.
I jumped heedless of his weapon. Nenandil showered him with ice shards but they bounced harmlessly on a golden shield that sprung to life around him. The shield disappeared when I touched it. He slashed my chest and nicked my breast but I was one with silver. I took no extra damage from his strike.
> Temple Knight attacked with a silver dagger. You lost 462 HP ( Base 14 x1.57 Strength x3.5 Skill x3 Perk x2 Spell). You are bleeding.
'Tis just a flesh wound.
I clawed his thighs just above the knees and the right arm, biting the elbow of his left one. I didn't sever it but the stacks of bleed triggered {Stunning Bleed}. His divine magic vanished and the energy sent to Loki.
He seemed to deflate underneath me. I bit his throat and ripped his windpipe off. The second bite tore tendon and artery, claiming his life.
> Contract Fulfilled.
>
> You killed level 49 Temple Knight. You gained 1,868,176 Exp (24,010 base x 10,000 perk x 0,0001 curse x 3.05 perk x 7,57 contract x3.37 Favored Enemy).
I roared and chased the Baron, following the scent of his acrid shame. The nobleman was pounding on the door.
> Contract Fulfilled.
>
> You killed level 47 Aristocrat Lord. You gained 3,437,568 Exp (22,090 base x 10,000 perk x 0,0001 curse x 3.05 perk x 7,57 contract x2 Class Rank x3.37 Favored Enemy).
"Nenandil, clean me," I said as I crouched next to the headless Baron to get his jewelry.
"DESECRATION!" A mighty and familiar voice rang all around the temple. To me, it seemed to come from the statue.
I quickly looted the baron and moved to the hierophant, leaving the knights alone. I doubted these zealots had anything to their name. The priest's body, however, had enough bling to fully deck a couple of rappers. I added it all to my bag and started to put on my dress without shifting.
The statue holding the sun and the world moved. The marble cracked and fell in crumbles, revealing it was but a shell around the majestic, divine, and completely assholish Bundeus. Or he transformed the statue into his avatar and walked out of the marble for dramatic effect. I didn't ask.
The whole conversation with the gods transpired in English. To the others outside, my words came out as ear-splitting, screeching gibberish.
He pointed at me. "You, Anomaly! You dare murder my servants in my very temple?"
"Hey, Bundeus. Thanks for the Quest!" I grinned with my feral fangs.
"Heretic wench, today is the day of your doom!" He threw a ray of sunlight on me. Or a yellow laser. Not clear on which one was which. But it didn't hurt. The light shone and vanished on my fur as if it were nothing.
I growled and Nenandil hid inside my soul. Once the fairy was secure, I charged on all fours with a guttural roar.
"STOP!" By my side, the God in maille armor from before, Queltphion, God of Soldiers, Death, and Balance, if I'm not mistaken. "Please, war maiden, halt your offensive."
I shifted to my human form as some other gods appeared.
"Gentlemen, Ladies. So we meet again," I bowed theatrically.
Bundeus was glowering at me. I ignored him. Wyxnos appeared behind some other gods, frowning. I winked at him.
"This woman killed my servants in my own temple!" Bundeus hollered at Queltphion.
"That's why we are all assembled, Bundeus my brother," Galbarar, god of Truth and Justice dressed in his tunic and breeches with leather sandals rested a hand on Bundeus' shoulder.
I pointed an accusing finger at the Sun god, "If he claims retribution, I too have a bone to settle with Bundeus. By his order, an innocent woman was murdered. Rosalinda was her name and her legacy was slandered and tarnished for all eternity!"
"That was but a mortal," Bundeus chortled. "She is not worth enough to punish a God."
"These were but mortals. Why is a god getting involved in secular matters? What greater right do you have to come down here to meddle in my affairs? That man was a priest, he did priestly deeds. I'm an [Assassin] I do assassinations. This is but a dimple in the great scheme of things. Yet the great Bundeus wastes his energy to walk the Earth after a little kitten."
"You are a blight upon this world!" Bundeus retorted. "You do not belong here."
I shrugged, "Tell that to the System. I did not ask to be here. Besides, only a guy whose name means 'God of Butts' [1] in one of Earth's languages would be such an ass to come here for a trivial matter."
Galbarar approached. "Lass, we understand and honor your grief. I ask you to not engage Bundeus here today. You fighting him would be catastrophic for the world. Your touch is poison to us."
"Honored Galbarar, greetings," I bowed. "I am an uninvited and unwitting guest to your world. Despite that, your kin keeps meddling in my life."
"We should get rid of her, no matter the cost!" Bundeus said.
"Oh, really?" I turned to face him and prepared my poker face for the bluff of a lifetime. "Go ahead. Destroy the world, murder your children. Rebuild everything from the ground up. Lose eons upon eons of time and energy to get back to this place. And do you know what will happen, Bundeus, God of Butts? I'll still be around. Yes, you cannot purge me from the System.
"I am well aware you cannot see my full Status. I still keep a few surprises for you. Resetting the System will do nothing to get rid of me. I'll come back, eventually. And cooperation is not out of reach. Mother Yznera and I worked well together in my last life."
I opened my arms. "So here we stand, at the crossroads of fate. We can work together or we can drench the world in blood as we try in vain to kill each other. I don't mind being a troubleshooter for you when you need an agent on the world for the right price. The Gods know I'm sold for a perk or two of the right rarity. Make your choices, pick a side. Know that my memory is long and I'll hold grudges that you won't believe."
Queltphion, God of Soldiers, Death, and Balance said, "An offer has been made. Brothers and sisters, we stand at a crossroads."
Yznera, Goddess of Nature said, "I say let her live her life. She was respectful to me and mine during her last life."
Wyxnos, God of Logic said, "What she said might as well be true. We are bound to the System. If destroying the world and beginning anew is not a choice, we gain nothing and lose a lot by wasting effort going after her."
Galbarar, god of Truth, and Justice said, "The matters of Lily's dead mother are not yet to be disclosed. The world needs enlightenment. I shall offer you this, spirit of Lily. When the time is right, you shall come upon the statue of your deceased mother. Call upon me then, and I shall set matters right."
I blinked a tear. "She can't come back to life?"
Queltphion said, "This is by design. Souls do not reincarnate in this world. They are born, live, and die to feed the eternal cycle. The woman Rosalinda no longer exists. That's why you are the 'Anomaly'."
A shady character, a man clad in black leathers with raven black hair tied in a ponytail and plethora of knives came forward. Rabhorktaar, god of Thieves and Assassins.
"If I may speak, my brother adjudicator," He said with a smile. "The maiden is one of mine. As she is a {Hero} and was spurned by her patron, I shall take her upon my wing as my champion."
"I claimed her first!" Bundeus bellowed.
"Shut up, butt god," I snarked and earned a glower from Wyxnos, Galbarar, and Queltphion.
"SILENCE!" Queltphion shouted and not a single sound could be heard. "The time for presenting your arguments is over. Brothers and Sisters, cast your votes. Should we enter a covenant with the Anomaly, or should we keep spending our resources to destroy her."
One by one, the gods cast their votes. Some abstained. Yznera, was one, for example. She stated she was biased in that vote. Wyxnos also abstained. It ended in a tie. Their votes, as it seems, didn't depend on the domain. Only Queltphion didn't vote.
I looked at him. I knew what it meant. The mediator, the arbiter, held the vote attributed to the Greek Goddess of Wisdom in Olympus. Our eyes met and he nodded.
"Maiden, I did not cast my vote yet. Since my brothers and sisters did not decide for me, I'll be the one to tip the scales, for a decision is required today. Do you wish to say anything before I cast my vote?"
"In any dispute, there are three possible outcomes," I told Queltphion. "Either one side wins or the other. But there is a third. A tie, they call it in games. A King once suggested splitting a baby between two mothers and was hailed for his wisdom for the real mother chose her heart. We can fight, we can cooperate. Or we can ignore each other. True, my existence drains resources from the System but doesn't it also harvest said resources?
"You are basically farming people for power. Those that I kill are the ones that stand as a blight upon this world, preying on the weak and stopping them from growing to their full potential. Not to mention I've chosen freely a Class and Perks that will help me kill the Demons that invade your domain. You have far worse matters to devote your divine attention than me. I'm quantifiable, predictable. Ask Wyxnos if I'm lying.
"Even when I was granted a perk of my choosing, I chose to fight for what's right. Me, an [Assassin]. I showed that I am willing to cooperate even with Bundeus despite my grudge for the greater good. Now, God of Balance, cast your vote."
Queltphion smiled. "She's a {Hero}. The first we got. She killed one of the thirteen Demon Lords before he grew into his full power. She spoke the truth. It is the decision of this pantheon that no hostility shall exist between us. Cooperation can be arranged on an individual basis. Bundeus, you are not allowed to take action against her."
"Or mine," I added. "But only a coward would hurt one's family just because he can't touch his target."
"Then it is settled," Bundeus said. "I'll leave secular problems to be solved with secular solutions."
"Yeah. I demand safe conduct out of this meeting. To bring about your temple knights to strike me after we reach an agreement, that's treachery. Or are you the God of Butts and Treason? I can spend a few lifetimes as a [Bard] spreading that belief. I wonder if it will change you."
Galbarar said, "Yes, child. Your request is valid. Bundeus or his clergy will not take hostile action for what happened here. Or he'll face our wrath."
The gods vanished. A prompt took their place.
> For negotiating a peace treaty with a pantheon,
>
> You gained the Divine Negotiator (unique) perk. Add your Mind to Charisma when negotiating a deal. If your offer is one you consider truly reasonable and not harmful for the other party, decrease their resistance by 50%. This perk works on deities.
You know what they say. "That which does not kill me..."
Maybe, in my case, it is "Even what kills me..."
----------------------------------------
[1]: In portuguese: Bunda = butt + Deus = god.
MDW: That was completely unintentional, I used an online name generator for the gods. But I won't spurn what I was given.