It was a chaotic nightmare. Darius could only recall bits and pieces of the battle, though Pax did helpfully offer to replay the fight later for him to watch if he liked. But at that moment, debris flew all around as the building was gradually demolished. The crack of gunfire was accompanied by the ring of metal on metal, or even stone on metal, as everyone did their absolute best to kill one another. At one point, Darius felt like he had to exert all of his considerable strength to just move when one of the assholes managed to cast some kind of slowing effect on him. It was like trying to throw punches under water, even with his enhanced strength, he couldn't move fast enough to pin the bastard down. It wasn't until Hiroshi managed to shove his preternaturally sharp Kamas through a weak point in the man's armor that he was able to be dealt with.

Once three of them had fallen, the fight changed tones. At every opportunity, the remaining two men tried to disengage. They did everything in their power to attempt to run away, but Darius wasn't having it. None of them were. Those men were kidnappers, rapists, and all-around assholes the world was better without.

Once they tried to run away instead of trying to fight off Darius and his people, the fight grew simpler. Without having to worry about avoiding getting cut in half by a giant sword, or shot full of holes by the other man with a gun, Darius was able to go full out, along with William, Liam and the others. By the time the last of them had fallen, Darius could hear the mansion groaning in protest.

Farida, Aisha, and Ethan had managed to evacuate the building in short order. Billy had originally been on crowd control, but Darius was thankful the boy had changed his mind. He'd found out a bit later, but Billy had only just managed to enter the house when he saw the Rogue appear as if from nowhere and stab Darius in the back.

"Grab the bodies," Darius said between panting breaths. "we can loot them outside. I don't trust this house with the sounds it's making." Everyone agreed, and those who had higher strength dragged a Power Armored corpse out, while the others had to work together in order to help move them. Each one had to have weighed several hundred pounds. Darius managed to drag two out at once, and dropped them in the middle of the street.

Darius saw Farida and Aisha talking to the victims, and the rest of the teams were catching their breaths, so Darius felt it was a good time to call for Carlos. Darius made the call and had Pax send over a data packet for the van's basic navigation system. It showed their relative location and provided a helpful map for Carlos to follow. When he was sure their transport was on its way, Darius leaned against one of the intact walls to just breathe. As he tried to decompress, he suddenly remembered something important. "Shit! The City Core!" he popped back to his feet and looked back at the mansion.

Moving quickly, though he felt a twinge of pain from his side, he made his way over to the rescued victims. "hey, have any of you seen a grapefruit size crystal ball anywhere? it was probably sitting on top of a marble like pillar?"

They each cringed away in a near panic at his sudden arrival and loud questions. It took Farida several long minutes to calm them down, but eventually one young woman in a bad French maid costume answered.

"I- I saw something like that. It was in Damian's bedroom. He wouldn't let anyone touch it. If we even got near it, he would beat us. He brought it back with him the other day, when they brought in the latest batch of people."

"Quick, which room was his? It's important."

"T-top o-of the st-st-stairs, first door on the l-left…"

Darius cringed a bit at making the young woman stutter and tremble in fear, but he didn't have time to waste. He was afraid the building would collapse at a minute, and he really didn't want to have to dig through a mansion worth of rubble to find the small orb. Thanking the girl, Darius took off and flew back into the house, literally. He quickly made his way to the indicated room and knocked down the locked door. Inside, he saw what he was looking for, and a whole lot of what he wasn't. all around the room was what looked like sixty shades of grey worth of torture and sex devices. Blocking them from his mind, he laid his hand on the City Core.

Headman Damian Newman has been slain

No heir designated

Processing…

Processing…

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

The Hamlet “Newmanton” is unclaimed

All previous restrictions set up by the Headman are lifted

By right of Conquest, you have the first claim on this Settlement. You have 24 hours to claim the City Core. If the City Core remains unclaimed for longer than 24 hours, you forfeit your claim, and the next sapient that touches it can then claim the City Core.

Hamlet: Newmanton

Owner: Unclaimed

Upkeep per day: 34

Essence Generated per day: 85

Essence available: 1,340

Amenities:

Water: 5 Essence/day

Waste Removal: 5 Essence/day

Lights, 9 rooms: 9 Essence/day

Cooking Elements: 5 Essence/day

Market Interface: 10 Essence/day

Would you like to:

Remove City Core

Access System Marketplace

It took Darius a minute to process the several prompts that appeared in front of them, but once he was sure he understood them, he clicked on Remove City Core.

Congratulations Darius the Conqueror

You have conquered your first settlement and claimed the City Core.

Title Achieved: Conqueror 1

You have received a 1-time award of c5,000

Congratulations Sapient, you have gained a new Title

Conqueror 1: when this title is equipped, you will receive +10% more system Credits from fallen foes when invading another settlement. This bonus will only be awarded once the new settlement is under your control. Conquer more settlements to improve this Title.

Title: Conqueror 1 has been automatically equipped. You may only have one title equipped at a time. You cannot un-equip a title until you have a second title to replace it.

"Son of a bitch!" Darius swore. He was fully prepared to continue on a full rant, but the groaning of the mansion intensified and the roof began to crack over his head. As bits of plaster and dust fell, Darius took off and flew out of the balcony doors, right through the glass. Once he was free of the building, he turned and hovered in place. He watched as the massive roof sagged in different places, then it all seemed to implode on itself as the entire building came crashing down. Dust and debris blew out in all directions and covered the entire neighborhood in moments. "Damn it, I should have at least grabbed all that furniture first." he glanced round at the other mentions around him and shrugged. "Probably plenty in them, anyway." His musings over sleeping in an actual bed in what felt like forever was interrupted by another series of prompts.

Quest Complete: Warlord 1

Congratulations, Headman! You have successfully completed the conquest of Newmanton Hamlet.

Through your leadership and strategic acumen, Zuri has achieved a total conquest over Newmanton. The city core has been removed, and Newmanton Hamlet is now under your control.

Rewards:

5,000 Essence

2,000 Credits for each citizen

1,000 War Points

1,000 XP

For the Citizens:

Path of Power:

Path of Ki: 1 Meridian Cleansing Pill

Path of Faith: 2 Divine Favor Points

Path of Mana: 1,000 XP each

Your victory has solidified your position and expanded Zuri’s influence. Continue to lead with wisdom and strength, Headman. The future of Zuri shines brightly under your command.

War Quest: Warlord 2

Following your decisive victory in Warlord 1, your ambitions have grown. The next phase of your conquest begins now.

Quest Details:

Having conquered Newmanton Hamlet, your new objective is to expand Zuri’s territory further by conquering or subjugating three additional settlements. This quest will test your strategic prowess, military strength, and leadership abilities. Rally your forces, plan your campaigns, and ensure Zuri's dominance in the region.

Objectives:

Scout and Identify Three Target Settlements:

Utilize scouts to gather intelligence on potential targets.

Evaluate the strength and resources of each settlement.

Conquer or Subjugate the Three Settlements:

Plan and execute military campaigns to either capture the City Core or force the settlements into subjugation.

Employ diplomacy, espionage, and military might as needed.

Secure and Defend Your New Territories:

Establish defenses and governance in the newly conquered settlements.

Ensure the loyalty and stability of these regions under Zuri’s rule.

Rewards:

10,000 Essence

5,000 Credits for each citizen

5,000 War Points

2,500 XP

For the Citizens:

Path of Power:

Path of Ki: 2 Meridian Cleansing Pills

Path of Faith: 4 Divine Favor Points

Path of Mana: 2,000 XP each

Penalty for Failure:

Disgrace and Setback: Failing to achieve your conquest will result in a loss of morale and resources. Your reputation as a leader will be tarnished, and rebuilding your forces will take time and effort.

Headman, the future of Zuri lies in your hands. Continue to lead with strength and wisdom.

May your conquests be swift and your reign unchallenged.

Reading the new quest he'd just received; all he could say was a mournful "Mother fucker."