It was almost instinctual. The guards and forms I had been practising throughout the morning with Serilla were still embedded in my short-term muscle memory. I raised my dagger up to create a defensive posture and the jets of quicksilver followed the arc of my blade.
Dozens of creatures of various sizes were charging towards me between the channels of quicksilver, but none of them were eager to make the first attack.
If I stood still, I would be an easy target and one of them would soon pluck up the nerve to strike. I was confident that in a one-on-one with any of them, I would easily defeat them, but against such a horde, I would soon be overwhelmed. I knew I had to keep moving, but I dare not turn my back on the beasts.
I retreated carefully, maintaining my balance while focusing on a steady stream of defensive forms with my blade. The jets of quicksilver were out of control, but they followed my dagger and provided an intense sprinkler of protection.
I swung and parried, looped into stance after stance, constantly swinging the blade from side-to-side and up-and-down. It was like duelling an invisible fencing master who was pushing me to my defensive limit and never allowing me to strike back. The effect was a formation of web-like quicksilver net trailing after me.
The chasing creatures ducked and dodged between the jets. The smaller beasts could avoid the streams easily, but they hesitated before attacking me and subsequently were forced to scramble aside as something bigger crashed past them.
The largest of foes had to choose between forcing their way through the hot streams of liquid metal or running around them. However, even this delay couldn’t hold them back forever. Eventually, I was surrounded.
My retreat had been cut off and the encirclement was tightening around me.
I continued to cross the jets of quicksilver and streak the blade in a mesh, but now I was forced to spin on the spot. I can’t keep this up much longer.
The ground was uneven. If I kept twisting in circles, soon I would stumble and they would pounce.
I planted my feet and raised my arms above my head. Spinning the dagger above my head to create a reverse sprinkler effect where streaks of quicksilver rushed towards instead of away from me.
I was surrounded. Running away was no longer an option. Come on, Null, think.
With one hand directing the streams of quicksilver into defensive arcs, I used my other hand to open my Pocket Book. I swapped out Basic Identify and selected Surge, somehow I figured I would need it.
I didn’t really want to fight these guys. Sure, I could grind some XP out of them and probably raise my Brutality… If I could somehow gain the advantage while severely outnumbered… but then what? I would be reaching level five with an abysmal stat array. The classes AIAI offers me will be dependent on my stats and accomplishments.
If I wanted a diverse selection of classes next level, I needed to improve my adaptability before levelling. Killing a bunch of low-level beasts using quicksilver and my dagger wasn’t going to net me much in the way of variety. It might create a fable for my new weapon, but call me a romantic, I want my first blood to be special.
However, what other options did I have? I could potentially pick a fight with one of the bigger targets and destroy them so viciously that the others turned and fled. But which one would I pick? The horned-toad, obviously. He started this.
That was true, but did he really deserve it? I’m capable of being vicious. I can hurt people who deserve it. I will enact vengeance on those who have betrayed me… But that toad was just following the course of nature. I’m the one interrupting a developing ecosystem here.
What other choice did I have? Between fight or flight, I had exhausted the flight option and fight wasn’t appealing…
I ducked as a chihuahua-sized bat swooped between jets of quicksilver and scratched at my face. It missed, but the damage was done. Once one of them had dared to strike, they all wanted in. They were confident now. My time was up.
My eyes follow the bat as it dodged back above, narrowly avoiding the branches of the tree line.
"You little shit."
I activated Surge and thrust out with my palm sending a shard of quicksilver flying at the bat. I like animals, but still… a tit for a tat, a shard for a bat.
The shard missed and splashed harmlessly against one of the many branches overhead.
I looked around at the army of beasts. Something was different. I could see them in much clearer detail now. The twitch of a whisker, the bulge of a muscle ready to pounce, the blink of an eye, I could see everything. It was like there had been something between us before and now— Oh, fuck. The jets of quicksilver are gone.
The dagger in my hand was no longer channelling quicksilver. It must be full.
I didn’t have time to look for changes in my weapon. I needed to act.
Surge was active. My dagger was full of quicksilver. Use the tools available to you.
I spurted quicksilver from my everywhere, including my dagger. It wasn’t a deliberate choice. On some level, I could feel the quicksilver stored inside it and I drew on it.
There was a lot, which wasn’t surprising. I just witnessed the damn thing try to swallow the entire spring.
I reformed the defensive arcs around myself, but even as I formed them, they dissipated and collapsed. Damnit. This worked so much better when they were being pulled towards my weapon. What was different?
A snake whipped its head at me and I deflected it with a squirt of quicksilver even as something small and furry dived for my leg.
I was just about able to dance out of the way, but I still felt a thin scratch of claws through my robe. Damn, my Rusty Longshanks would have protected me from that.
As I stumbled to the side, I struggled to the drag the defensive wall of quicksilver with me and actually it worked better than I had dared hope.
The motion! The quicksilver maintains its form in motion.
If I wanted to hold the form, I need to keep the streams of quicksilver moving, like a pouring liquid. I was an idiot for not realising sooner. I had even witnessed this technique before.
Sengamura had performed a quicksilver skill right before my eyes. He had created a sphere and blasted it at me. The trick was to keep rotating the metal. I had to treat it like a liquid. All of my attacks with this stuff had been poorly executed because I hadn’t noticed the most basic nature of the element.
I reformed the arcs, but this time, I didn’t try to solidify them in shape. I continued to spin them. It required more focus, but it worked. The quicksilver remained in the air around me, streaming like rivers through the air. And I had so much quicksilver to play with. I just kept pumping up the volume.
Soon, I was surrounded by a rotating wall of quicksilver.
Whenever I missed up and let some fall away, I saw snapping maws through the small gaps between the quicksilver, but I quickly reformed the leakages.
It was like I was inside a whirlpool, except I was the only thing that remained dry. The flying beasts were still above me, so I increased the height of the vortex.
Then, I started to walk.
And the vortex rolled along with me.
The choice was fight or flight. I choose flight, Chompi style.
Stat Increase: Magic +1
One cannot defy the essence of its nature.
My Magic Stat had almost reached 10. My Mana recovery was already impressive and I was really starting to gain some talent with the elements. My breakthrough with quicksilver was giving me some great ideas, but if anything that only increased my concerns about reaching level five. The class I had selected, Acolyte, had been geared towards elemental combat and magic recovery. The more I relied upon the attributes of my class, the more I was allowing myself to be boxed in. I needed to keep my options open.
Still, I had found a way out without carving my way through an army of innocent creatures. My blade remained unbloodied and I intended to keep it that way until I found someone deserving.
I maintained the vortex until I was a far enough away from the springs that I felt confident I was alone. Then, I dropped the quicksilver and scanned my surroundings for threats. All clear. I’d survived.
Then, my spine tingled with a familiar, creepy feeling. Did I just get Identified?
I wasn’t as alone as I’d thought.
----------
I took my time on the trail back to Morgon’s Tavern. Something was following me, I was certain of it.
There’s a feeling you get when you’re being watched. Like a dragging weight on your back or a constant urge to check behind you. Ever since I had been identified after my escape from the battle royale at the quicksilver springs, my senses were telling me to watch my back, but looking behind me would only let them know I was aware.
I didn’t want to lead whoever— or whatever— was following me back to the tavern, but I also didn’t want to risk getting lost in the wilderness. My tracker was happy to take their time. They hadn’t revealed their intentions. I didn’t even know if they knew I was aware of them.
I found excuses to look behind me. If an owl hooted, I would glance up at it and pretend to stare around in the trees for similar birds while secretly searching for my pursuer.
I had made a few attempts to shake them from my trail. I sped up during the winding sections of the path and doubled back from forks in the road, but I hadn’t given them the slip, I felt certain of that. They must suspect that I’m on to them. Or that I’m lost.
They hadn’t attacked though. If they wanted to hurt me, now was the perfect time. If their intentions were violent, it made sense for them to strike while I was alone. What else could their intentions be? Maybe they were waiting for me to rest, so they could steal from me. Not that I had much to steal… just a weapon, a robe, and the bottles of quicksilver juice.
I hated being tracked without being able to locate my pursuer. If I had the Basic Detect skill, I might be able to find them, but my Perception was lagging behind what it should be. I need to identify more things.
Last time round, I had unlocked Basic Detect fairly quickly, but now I was higher level the requirements to unlock were probably greater. It was definitely a useful skill to have, but once again, I wasn’t sure I wanted to commit to that kind of build. If I allowed Magic and Perception to be my primary stats, I would be locked into a ranged caster build, like wizard or sorcerer. Those were great classes, but they lacked survivability. I needed to level all my stats to a fairly equal balance before I levelled up. That meant, no fights to the death and no more playing with elements. The kill XP and Magic Stat increases will be the end of me.
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Improving my Perception would be wise, if I did so gradually. Discovering Basic Detect right now and using it to find my pursuer? That would almost certainly lead to a fight. I need to just get back to the tavern and hope that they leave me alone.
----------
I breathed a heavy sigh of relief as the tavern crested the horizon. I had made it. I was no longer sure whether I was still being followed. My pursuer might have dropped back to a safe distance or given up entirely. Either way, they didn’t pose much of a threat any longer.
I had made it through two potentially lethal situations and managed to keep my head. Now, if I could just keep cool and not provoke Serilla during our reunion everything would be golden. I was proud of myself. I wasn’t letting the game world dictate my progress. I am the master of my fate. I will not be led down the wrong path.
I pushed open the door to the tavern and stepped inside. The atmosphere was lively. The crowds had arrived to watch the pit fights. The arena was swarming with activity as groups cheered and jeered at the combatants.
I searched the densely packed tavern for Serilla, she was smaller than the average customer and easy to miss, but eventually I recognised her goofy laughter coming from a table at the far end of the bar.
I pushed my way through the crowds and spotted her leaning against the window with a mug of ale in her hand. She was red in the cheeks and laughing at the posturing of some strapping hunk at her table.
He wore a shiny bronze set of armour and seemed to delight in showing it off. He leaned left and right, shifting his weight as he stretched his arms this way and that, clenching his fists and curling his biceps.
“Oh, Null,” said Serilla as I approached the table. She was drunk. “How did your little expedition go?”
At the sound of my name, the man looked up and his expression turned from joyful to horrified in an instant.
Sitting beside him, a woman in paladin armour dropped her glass and drew a handful of stones from thin air.
Any chance of keeping a cool head went out the window. In a heartbeat, my blood was full of brimstone and copper-tasting fury. My hands trembled with the pounding of my urge-to-kill pulse. The air I inhaled felt cold compared to the spark of hellfire that just ignited inside of me. As the rage coursed through my body, hardening my focus, rippling through my muscles, coiling around my very bones, and sparking like lightning strikes in my mind, some part of me had to confess… I like the feeling. This feels right. This is who I am.
“Imber,” I said to the big, traitorous fuck. “You look well. Won’t you step outside so we can catch up privately?”
Imber’s face turned pale as a ghost and Vidari rose from her chair with a tired, hardness to her eyes.
“What?” asked Serilla. “You’ve already met my new friends?”
“Oh, we go way back,” I said. Despite the thick, blood-deep hatred boiling in my guts, I smiled. “Where did you get the new armour, Imber? You didn’t have to sell anyone out for it, I hope?”
Comprehension dawned on Serilla’s face as Imber looked down at his armour and back at me. He reached behind him and pulled out a steel bar.
“New weapon too,” I said. “We’re a match. I have a new weapon of my own, I’ve been dying to try it. What’s the matter, nothing to say to me?”
Vidari held up a placating hand, while her other continued to roll a stone around her palm, “We have no quarrel with you—”
“I’ve got fucking quarrel!” I slammed my hand on the table. I felt a strong impulse to claw at the wood like a feral beast, but I refrained. I forced the smile back onto my face and in falsely jovial tones as though teasing an old friend, I said, “I bring you quarrel, you rat-faced bitch.”
A hush crept through the tavern as people started to notice the energy around the table.
“Take it the pit or take it outside,” Morgon called from behind the bar. Then, he spotted me and started to walk over. “What’s the disturbance, kid?”
“No disturbance.” I pointed to Imber and Vidari. “These two are coming outside with me. We have business to settle.” I had tried to sound calm, but my teeth clattered with barely contained putrid loathing.
“We have business of our own,” said Morgon. “Or have you forgotten?”
“Why?” I asked. I was on the verge of snapping at Morgon too. My interest in fighting in his arena was waning in light of the return of these traitors. If I didn’t deal with them now, they might escape. “I thought that after all we went through with Serilla. Maybe, you would let that drop.”
“You threatened the city,” said Morgon. “I’m honour bound to determine whether that threat is real. If you are willing to retract and swear you intend no harm to Pentamorel, then I’ll let things slide.”
“I have no enmity with Pentamorel,” I said. “Just the people who live there.”
Morgon’s started to relax as I spoke, then a frown slipped onto his face and his eyebrow twitched. He seemed to be chewing on what I said. He looked at Serilla, considering. “You two are going to be travelling together?”
“We are,” said Serilla as she sidled up next to me. She swung a protective arm across my shoulder. I could smell the booze on her breath.
Morgon turned back towards the bar. “Our business is settled. If you want another chance to fight me, you’ll have to earn it in the arena. You stick to the rules like everyone else. If you fight on the tavern floor or if you kill anyone in the pit, you’ll be barred.”
A dwarf in a red gambeson came running up. “So you want to register for a match? Is it a one-on-one or will you be fighting in pairs?”
“In pairs,” said Serilla. She glared at Vidari.
“No,” I said. “We’re taking this outside. Serilla, stay here.”
“I’ll fight you in the arena,” said Imber. “But first, explain how you survived.”
“We heard you died,” said Vidari. “We tried to stop it from going down like that. It was never our inte—”
“I don’t need answers,” I said, with another friendly smile. The rage inside was bubbling up my throat. The world was painted in different colours now. Life was both clearer and murkier at the same time. Outlines were stark, the smallest movement drew my eye like a falling tree. And the vivid colours bled like battle. The reds were resplendent, but the lesser pigments faded. Every unnecessary detail paled into the background, while the certainties, my enemies, became so perfectly crisp and beautifully, visibly, near.
Vengeance is within my grasp.
“I completely understand. This is a difficult world. You did what you had to to survive. I don’t want to hear your excuses. I just want you to come outside and finish this.” I could hear the blood rushing through my ears almost louder than my controlled voice.
“We’ll settle it in the arena,” said Imber. “We’re both carrying XP and Gold. It will be worth it for you, if you win.”
“I’m not interested,” I said, stepping closer to him. “It’s outside or right here.”
“Null, just fight them in the arena,” said Serilla. “There’s no reason to fight outside. What difference does it make?”
“He can kill us outside without dealing with the boss,” said Vidari.
“Null wouldn’t do that,” said Serilla. She turned to me with a confused expression. “Null?”
I ignored her. This had nothing to do with Serilla.
“You’re both level six, right? And you have new armour, Imber. What do you have to fear? Vidari, did you receive a reward for betraying me too?”
“It’s not like that,” said Imber. “You think we had a choice. It didn’t go down the way you think.”
“You didn’t push me into that dungeon?” My voice was rising, the calm act was starting to turn my stomach. “You didn’t run to The Frontier and sell me out.”
“We were trying to help you,” said Imber.
I laughed. The tavern was almost silent now. Everyone was watching me, but I didn’t care.
“Thank you for your help, Imber. I really fucking appreciate it. Now, you’re both two levels higher than I am. You can come outside and fight me or I can wait for you to leave. Either way, I owe you a favour for all the help. A taste of your own help, as you call it.” I turned and walked towards the exit.
The crowds returned to their conversations. I was glad for it. I didn’t want an audience for what came next. I’d been hoping to blood my weapon and the perfect opportunity had arisen.
I stepped outside and heard footsteps behind me. I spun preparing to defend myself, but it was only Serilla.
“They think you want to kill them,” she slurred.
“They’ll respawn somewhere eventually.”
“They aren’t like me, Null,” said Serilla. “People don’t just get back up. I thought you knew that.”
“Everyone respawns here,” I said. “Some just don’t get to keep their memories. Some just start with nothing.”
“I didn’t know you had so much faith in the All-Mother. Even the most pious followers, aren’t so sure it really works like that.”
“Trust me,” I said. “It works like that.”
She looked suspicious for a moment, then her jaw set with a stubborn scowl. “For your own good, you can’t kill them. You can’t just go around killing people, Null. That’s not the kind of person you are.”
My heartbeat was hammering a war drum. I could barely hear her nonsensical blathering.
“You don’t know me and you don’t know them. They fucking deserve it, Serilla! They tried to kill me. More than once. They attacked me when we first met. I had nothing and they were still ready to kill me. I was a fool to forgive them before.
"I thought we were friends and they sold me out. Now, my real friend is trapped somewhere with the worst person to have ever existed and there’s nothing I can do about it. Sorry, Serilla, but you aren’t going to change my mind. These people have it coming. If I hadn’t seen them here, I would have found them eventually. If I let them go, they’ll just find someone else to prey upon. They’re liars. Traitors. Fucking scum.
“You don’t need to watch the fight, but I can’t turn away from this. Just like Morgon has to protect Pentamorel, I have to protect the next innocent person who would cross paths with them.” While I spoke, I watched them through the window. If they were planning on sneaking out the back, I had to be ready.
“You’re hurting.” She stepped close to me and tried to pull me into a hug.
I ducked under her arm before she could obstruct my view.
“Null, listen to me. You’re hurting and it’s blinding you. You’ve been through so much. You don’t need to bring more pain into this world.”
“You’re drunk,” I said.
“So what? I’m drunk because of you.” She stuck out her bottom lip. “Whatever they did... I believe you, they deserve to be punished. But whatever they did, it’s not worth tormenting yourself over. You’re the one who has to live with the choices you make. Just like they have to live with the actions they’ve taken. You’ve already been through so much. What you did for me, your deal with the bastard Lafarron, it’s more than anyone should...” She sniffled and I missed the last few words.
“It’s too much for one soul.” Serilla continued after wiping her eyes. “Don’t set yourself on another path you’ll regret. There are some things we can’t take back.”
I need to find a way to get her to safety.
“Thank you,” I said. “It means a lot that you care. But I have to do this.”
“No you don’t!” she grabbed me by the shoulder and spun me to face her. Her nose was red and she cried openly. “If you have to fight them, fight in the arena. They aren’t going to come out here anyway. You’re just going to stand here, tormenting yourself and worrying the people who really care about you. They’ll wait until you’re exhausted and sneak away. Or they’ll hire someone to distract you. The only choice you have is to live with this hate inside of you, or let it go.”
I pressed my forehead to hers. She has a point, they have options. But now she has to go.
“Thank you, Serilla.” I pulled her into a hug. Sorry about this Serilla. I never wanted to lie to you, but it’s time I started truly following Reginald’s advice. “Maybe, I lost my head back there. Let’s go inside and settle this in the arena.”
I felt her body shake with a sigh as she pressed her tear-tracked face into my shoulder.
Stat Increase: Charisma +1.
The best lie is the one they want to hear.
“Just let me fight them on my own alright? This is something I have to do alone.”
She nodded and led me back inside. “You don’t have to be alone anymore.”
I'm sorry, Serilla.
----------
I looked up at the crowds, they were hammering excitedly on the rails surrounding the pit. It didn’t take me long to spot Serilla. She was hovering nervously by the top of the stairs.
During the last hour or so, we had been forced to wait for a free spot in the duel roster. I had sunk deep into my own thoughts. It was a mistake. Now, Serilla suspected my true intentions weren’t to just let them off with a duel.
If what I was planning got me barred from the tavern and on Morgon and The Gladium's bad side, so be it. The Gladium was interesting and I wanted to fight my way up through the arena ranks, but... there might never be another chance to corner Vidari and Imber so easily. I have to do this.
Serilla was drunk and the pit was caged. That should be enough to keep her out of harm's way. I didn’t want any interference.
The squeak of the iron cage door alerted me to their approach. The rats entered the pit. They looked nervous. Cowards.
My instinct to charge for their throats immediately almost prevailed, but my mind was still in control. The fight will start soon. I should hide my intentions until it’s time.
Imber’s new armour was interesting. He had been a solid tank before. Now he had upgrades, including an iron cudgel. Once he hones that thing, it’s going to be deadly. Certainly deadlier than the club he was swinging when we met.
I was less worried about Vidari. Her skill was truly dangerous, but I had experienced it before. I knew what to expect. She would suffer in the pit with nowhere to hide and a limited space to evade me.
By the same logic though, I was going to struggle with Imber. I need to take the fight to him.
The cage door swung shut and the dwarf from earlier introduced the fight. I didn’t listen to what he said. I had eyes only for Imber and Vidari, and they had eyes only for me.
I rolled my wrist and twirled the black-bladed Soul Weapon in my hand. I had three skills selected: Basic Dodge, Vampiric Bite, and Surge. My Dancing Orbs were unfortunately still on hold, but my Form Quicksilver Buff was still active, as was my Crimson Regeneration which gave me a little health back every minute. I had Basic Parry passively available for when I perfectly timed a block and most importantly, I had zero fucks what happened to me.
I will tear their fucking hearts out.
The dwarf finished speaking and gave a final yell.
The crowd cheered expectantly.
Imber braced and run his fingers over the iron rod in his hand, honing it with his skill into a sinnister mace.
Vidari ducked behind him, hurling a stone at me in the hopes of catching me with the first tick of her irritating skill.
I smiled with my new fangs as the urge to kill pumped up from my heart, resonating sweetly with the hungry blade in my hand.
----------