Michael tripped, waved his hands around, and hit his knee.
Amanda gave a fierce chuckle. John gave an excited smirk.
Michael yelped and grabbed his necklace.
Amanda grabbed Michael and picked him up, clasping his cheeks.
John grabbed a potion from Oliver from whom Amanda had grabbed a potion. He handed it to Michael, and Michael drank it.
Michael grinned. “Yummy.”
Amanda grabbed the empty potion and returned it to Oliver, smiling at the potion.
John nodded toward the healing of Michael’s wound, reading “Carter” on the potion.
“Carter, eh, he’s so hairy unlike me, who’s so thin and frail.” He touched above his mouth. His tone carried hints of jealousy.
Amanda gave him a confused look.
Her look became irritated as John chuckled.
John stared as his probing expression became annoyed. “I’m just joking.” His tone sounded half sincere.
Amanda’s irritation extended to her hand on John’s shoulder, and she pressed down.
John yelped, imitating Michael’s yelp.
The adventurers and the older man’s group maintained the distance and spoke in hushed tones.
The older man frowned. “The bright lights. That’s the lich breaking the barrier. He’s declared his position here. Can we get Sick to bring him away from the city somehow? I haven’t heard of Sick’s abilities, but couldn’t he use that throw thing he used on the wraith dragon?”
“He’s using it right now.”
The lich flew and landed beside the older man.
The older man cursed.
A horde of ghouls emerged in the distance, following the lich.
Sick ran and emerged, fighting the ghouls. “Kill him. He’s down.” His voice emerged and sounded behind the older man.
The lich screeched. “Chains of Ice.” His voice was deep and illusory as if it vibrated inside the ear.
Sick cursed and shouted. “No!” His voice emerged from his mouth this time.
The older man dashed and dodged as a bunch of chains of ice emerged from the lich’s body. A ghost emerged and grew bigger as it waved the chains up and down.
The chains struck the older man and created disgusting skin lesions where they hit.
The older man escaped. He drank a potion and gained a portion of his healthy skin back. However, much of the skin lesions persisted.
John and Amanda dodged the chains, recovered, and ran up to the older man alongside James, the apron soldier, and the younger soldier.
They pulled the older man out of the beating of the chains.
The older man’s expression was full of pain.
John and Amanda pointed away. “Back off!” they repeated.
“What!” James and younger soldier’s expressions wrinkled in frustration. “Why!”
“For now only!” John pointed toward Amanda’s glowing hands.
Amanda stretched her hands and shook them back and forth. Her clothes and skin gained a white, ghostly glow. She compressed her lips and took a deep breath. “The Four Seasons!” Four human-sized tornadoes of orange, yellow, blue, and red emerged, sprinting sidelong at the lich.
The lich pressed his hands down, and a door emerged from him, chasing the tornadoes.
The tornadoes dodged the door and hit the lich.
The lich screamed in pain.
The adventurers avoided the chains and struck him.
The lich struggled to turn around since it had become weak.
Amanda raised her hand and gestured the tornadoes back to her.
The tornadoes disappeared, turned into four paintings depicting summer, winter, spring, and fall, and appeared in front of Amanda.
Amanda touched them one by one, and her hands glowed again. She ran up to the lich alongside John.
They struck the lich on the first vertebra at the back of the neck with one-knuckle punches using the middle finger.
The lich fell to the ground backwards and became vulnerable to the adventurers and the small army’s projectiles.
James and the young soldier dashed and landed the last blow on the lich. The lich exploded. Sick emerged behind them and clapped. Sick opened his mouth, and his voice emerged and sounded in many homes in Enterprise Town. He smiled.
Many townspeople dressed in the same clothes ran up to them, greeted Sick, and cleaned up the dead bodies.
One of the townspeople grinned toward another. “With 500 ghouls, I’ll be rich!”
“Purgatory.” The lich emerged from the ground. “I’m so tired, so annoyed with these imbeciles. How could they...” White tears dripped down his face. “My pride, my home, everything... Sick bastards! Let me show what being a villain is like!”
The townspeople turned to dust.
Sick vomitted and fell to his knees, the blood on his body becoming lesions.
The lesions on the old man’s body turned into parasites that ate his body up.
Chains flew everywhere and hit everyone.
James, the younger soldier, the apron soldier, the adventurers, the small army, John, Amanda, and Michael panicked and retreated.
“I knew he had some secret power!” Peter whom John had given the cold stare emerged from a corner.
James opened his mouth.
A group of the younger goblins and the 11 goblin families whom John had met emerged with expressions of guilt, glancing at the human piles of dust of the ground. They held handcrafted stakes.
Peter stretched his legs and leapt, striking the lich.
The lich screamed as he clasped his head. “Why...” He grabbed Peter’s neck, but the goblins attacked all at once and broke his arm off.
The lich cried and retreated with its large cape.
The goblins placed a stake one by one.
The lich stopped and tripped, hitting his face.
The goblins collected and purged the lich through weak but collective magic.
The lich’s ghost departed.
Amanda’s expression turned to rage.
John stared at her and remembered Sick’s words. “No.” His voice was weak. He fell to the ground.
Amanda grabbed the ghost and disintegrated it with her glowing hands. She leapt, tossing her tornadoes toward the goblins.
The younger goblins let out devilish and piercing screams and pointed toward numerous piles of felled trees.
All the goblins ran.
The tornadoes swallowed them, as her body glowed. Her magic grew in power as she picked each goblin off.
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John cried softly. “Not again.”
James along with the older man, the younger soldier, the apron soldier, the adventurers, and the small army fled and hid behind Amanda.
Amanda nodded toward them.
Peter thrusted at her tornadoes and stabbed them away. He cursed at Amanda, dodging her tornadoes until one of his legs touched. He screamed as the tornadoes swallowed him up along with his spear
Amanda closed her eyes and crouched, sitting down.
John massaged her leg, and Amanda lay down.
The adventurers surrounded them and took care of them.
The ghouls’ bodies reeked.
James, the younger soldier, the apron soldier, the adventurers, and the small army cast some of their magic to destroy the wealth of ghoul bodies.
When the sun rose, John had woken up and apologized to everyone involved with a expression of extreme disappointment.
“3 months?” Oliver and Jacob covered their mouths.
John nodded beside sleeping Amanda, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. “I’ll handle the rest. The town was a little over a mining community. We’re a fast-growing people. Sick is glad Amanda grew in power. Charter wants the potions we used to study them. I will be taking care of the rest.”
Oliver frowned. “Goblins? Sick came from the goblins.”
John smiled. “No, no, the goblins are fine.”
Jacob sighed, and Oliver rubbed his hair. “Why?” they repeated.
John rubbed his chin and straightened his posture, looking outside through a window. “Oh, I thought it was obvious. The Amber goblins struck a deal. Don’t worry. This is small. These goblins and families were part of the Elijah goblins anyway.”
Oliver sat down and massaged and shook his leg. “Oh... oh right, the goblins are in an armed conflict... that’s crazy.” He stressed “armed conflict” as if it was some foreign word.
Jacob showed them Jared’s book. “Read this. The goblins and the truths behind them. If you open your mind, you’ll find out.”
John gave him a disappointed look.
Jacob winced out of surprise. He stood up and walked away, his expression hurt.
Oliver watched him. “I’m guessing... Anyways, seriously, I’ll be outside if you’re ready. I’m going to scout the dungeons and check if the dungeons are being occupied by the goblin scouts again...” His voice became anxious as he spoke.
John stared and nodded, pushing himself and sitting up.
Oliver left, mouthing to himself about a plan.
John left through the window. “Alright.”
Michael stared at him outside. “W-what are you doing?” He held his necklace and put it through a portal he created. He looked nervous.
John pointed toward him and almost tripped. “I’m coming. Wear the necklace, too. We’re outside. Oh, people are watching. Either way, good job on your debut Michael. Oh, right, your Mom will be out for three months.”
Michael looked at the ground with a confused stare.
John jumped off a low roof and climbed down. “Why did I do that?” He ran up to Michael and shook his head. “You can do it! I believe in you!” He hugged Michael and pretended to cry.
Michael glanced at John’s back of the head and created a portal.
John disappeared.
Michael created another portal and pulled him out. “I practiced.”
John frowned, gulping. “This is dangerous.” He tapped Michael and ran off alongside him.
Hundreds of bystanders watched them as they ran.
Michael’s necklace fell and hit the ground.
John bought a chocolate candy from a stall. “Here, it should calm your magic.”
Michael nodded and ate it happily.
A group of mourning-dressed people in purple and yellow emerged behind John and Michael. “Your wife? Is she holding up?” One of them struck Michael on the back of the head.
Michael yelped and cried.
The rest of the mourning-dressed people reached out toward John.
A couple of teenage girls whom John had met pointed at them. “Guards! Help! They’re attacking John, the friend of Imperial Secretary Sick!”
A 50-teenager group whom John had tied up emerged beside the girls and ran up to the mourning-dressed people.
The mourning-dressed people fought back and threw a lavender purple orb which John had touched.
A building exploded as hundreds of papers reading “Enterprise Town is occupied by goblin soldiers!” flew.
John dashed and struck them one by one.
He stopped the mourning-dressed people from throwing more lavender purple orbs.
The 50-teenager group greeted John and arrested the mourning-dressed people.
John walked up to them. “Are you busy?”
Some of the teenagers laughed. “Of course!”
“Do you want some mushroom soup sometime? Here’s a card.” He handed them a business card that read “John Lee”.
John joked around Michael as they returned home. Michael’s confused, depressed expression lightened up.
Amanda’s friend waved at them, waiting for them.
John gestured as he spoke. “Amanda, as you know, is not well.” He opened his mouth, but he covered it and entered his home.
Amanda’s friend nodded and followed him and Michael inside.
John turned around. “Since Amanda is gone, I’ll be staying at home most of the time. Please only use the bathroom to the left.” His demeanor was polite, but his voice sounded stressed.
Sick’s voice emerged and sounded in John’s home. “I got the lich’s reason for coming here. The goblins struck a deal with him. There’s something about it having to do with the 500-year-old death cart underground.”
When the sun fell and rose, he and Michael had left toward Amanda.
They passed by posters for political candidates and ads or banners congratulating people on passing certain professional exams or degrees. One of the banners showed Adrian whom John had met.
John smiled, but he frowned. He ran to a prison and greeted Adrian there. “Adrian, how are you?” His voice was hurried.
Adrian raised his hand overhead and rubbed the back of his head. “I can fight him.”
John raised his brows. “Say that again?”
Adrian looked at John in the eyes. “I can fight that man Peter.”
John showed a expression of realization and smiled. “You will.” His smiled disappeared. “Oh no... he’s dead.”
Adrian compressed his lips. “That works too.” He smiled
John and Adrian stared at one another as Adrian’s expression grew confused.
John broke into laughter. “I cannot believe you’re a nice guy.”
Adrian frowned. “Isn’t that a bad thing?”
John raised a brow. “What? 'Nice guy’?”
Adrian adopted a thinking pose. “It means you’re soft, right?”
John looked for a seat and sat down. “No, no, not at all. Well, you got to be a little soft sometimes, or else the people you like will go nuts.” He rubbed his chin. “Oh, wait, maybe not. It’s different for everyone.” He returned his eyes to Adrian and stuttered. “Either way, it’s your journey.”
Adrian nodded.
John opened his cell. “As long as you’re with me though, we’re going places literally.”
Adrian shook John and Michael’s hand and greeted Michael.
Michael chuckled with the same tone John had. “I know someone like you.”
Adrian raised his brow. “Who? Who?”
Michael glanced at John, who gave him a cherishing smirk. “It’s a girl.”
John looked confused and turned around, walking backwards. “Julie?”
Michael looked surprised and nodded. “How did you know?”
John adjusted his clothes. “She’s the only girl you’ve met.”
Michael opened his mouth. “Really?”
John gave him an unsure shake of the head, but he soon raised his brows confidently. “Yeah.”
Adrian stared at the ground as he walked.
John, Michael, and Adrian left and entered Amanda’s room.
James and the younger soldier greeted them.
James’ voice was solemn. “He’s with me because we’re here to say that he’s dead.”
Michael tripped and hit his knee. He yelped, but his knee was fine.
John squatted down and pointed toward a chair. “You can sit down there, both of you.”
Michael and Adrian sat down.
James’ voice became sad. “We have to blame you for this. I hope you can pay us enough gold hopefully to stop Jared from getting out of prison. Imperial Secretary Sick is very lenient, but his ubiquitous voice doesn’t stop ensuring citizens to stay awake and work hard. Petty crimes are plenty, but felonies are nowhere to be found. You can’t have that with Jared. I hope you help Lord Mark achieve it.”
John’s expression became disappointed as James spoke. “I trust Jared to do what he needs to do.”
The younger soldier with James looked scared.
John touched his lips. “Lord Richard, yes. I’m a traitor. It was me all along. I’m John the traitor, and I’m going to traitor all over you!”
The younger soldier named “Richard” with James cringed. “Was that a joke?”
John’s voice was awkward. “Yeah.”
Okay, enough with that.” Richard grabbed John andtripped slightly.
John’s expression became tense, and John remembered Richard beating him up.
“Ah, my joints.” Richard handed him a lavender purple orb with a frustrated look, massaging the back of his legs. “Get Lord Charter to stop ‘dropping’ lavender purple orbs around. We can have you take that ‘traitor’ role of yours.” He took a deep breath and gave him a derisive stare. “You’re not funny.”
James shrugged with a kind, handsome face and a shoulder-length, messy hairstyle.
John’s shock turned into frustration as James and Richard left.
John took deep breaths and calmed himself down. “I’m the bigger person here apparently.” His voice carried bitterness.
He sighed again and again as he, Michael, and Adrian returned homeward.
James waved at Adrian. “Adrian, I’ll call you tomorrow. I’m tired right now.”
A thunderstorm emerged, and John watched it from inside Amanda’s room. “Amanda, do you have an orb?” He took out a cup which he had received from Amanda from Amanda’s pouch. “It was here all along. Anyways, I can use this.” He kissed her and saluted as a goodbye.
John and Michael left and entered their home.
Sick’s voice emerged in John’s home. “I spoke with James and Lord Mark’s son. Don’t worry. I’ll handle it. John, be careful with those cups. You killed a whole town of captives already.”
Amanda’s friend smiled and greeted John.
A group of five bandits whom John had seen with the dead Ryan emerged and greeted John. “Please, help us. We’ve stomped our pride, and we want to join you John somehow. Please, let us help you. That’ll be a great help to our pride as warriors.”
“Dog Bandits. I remember trying to get the lich to replace your place. Now that the lich and the Dog bandits have disbanded, a few others who are a lot messier occupy the underground economy.”
One of the bandits covered his mouth. “The Dog Bandits are not dead. We only need you to convince Sick to make a deal with us against the new gang named after former Grand Commandant Andrew.”
John rubbed his sweaty forehead. “That’s stupid. What are you on? By the way, take a seat or something. I don’t like staying here. It’s colder inside.”
The bandits agreed and sat down. “If you don’t help us, there’s no chance that Ryan will be able to do anything about—”
John raised his hand. “Ryan’s dead.”
The bandits glanced at one another. “He made a deal with the lich.”
John looked at the ceiling. “Charter, tell Sick about this.”
A drop of wine fell and hit the ground as a gesture from Charter.
John nodded and turned his head as the bandits raised their weapons toward him.
The bandits’ expressions were scared. “Was that...?”
John stood up. “I told Sick about your deal.”
The bandits sat down. “Okay, okay, that’s good. Hopefully, Sick agrees to fight Andrew’s new gang.”
John raised a brow. “Andrew is in prison.”
The bandits looked surprised. “Lord Charter broke him out.”
John gave them a polite smile. “Okay. Good night.” He gestured them outside and closed the door.
He returned to his seat, rubbed his head, and made a long, depressed sigh. “Amanda, help me right now. Why you have to be in a coma?” He sounded frivolous.
Sick’s voice emerged. “I can help you with that. Just tell Julie to join hands with you because I’m giving you an opportunity to join the War God Game. Michael, too, if he can contain his ‘portal excitement.’” He giggled sneakily like a little child. “I coined that, okay?”
John broke into laughter, and he cursed and touched his chest. “I needed that.” He smiled. However, as Amanda’s friend and Michael’s voices continued behind him, his expression turned angry, tears dripping. He was quiet, suppressing all noise. “Amanda,” he mouthed. “I will become you if I have to.”
Michael created a large portal that swallowed a chair and guffawed alongside Amanda’s friend named “Julie.”
John wiped his tears and laughed. “No, no, no. That’s a big portal! You’ll swallow our entire house if you let that loose!”
Michael covered his mouth elegantly the same way Julie did. “Really?”