Arthur had initially suspected he was just unlucky. Yet, as the number of crazed [Boss] and [Wild-Boss] monsters who seemed to go out of their way to attack him reached over 20 in just under an hour, he was all but forced to be sceptical of that notion and identify a clear pattern. And, sure enough, after the 21st boss monster’s death, and the subsequent checking of his status sheet, Arthur realised he was not just ordinarily unlucky but breaking into whole new realms of unlucky.
Title: Leviathan Slayer – Grade: [A] – While others shake with fear at the mere mention of these titans, you stand at the apex of all sentient beings, for you have single-handedly slain a mighty World-Boss and lived to tell the tale. – Effects: 1) You deal 250% more damage to monsters 50+ levels above you. 2) You gain 2x the rewards from all types of [Boss] monsters so long as you solo kill the monster. 3) Your aura is naturally that of an overbearing titan, frightening off weak monsters, whilst also inspiring true terror within strong monsters making them either flee as fast as they can or so desperate that they will do anything and everything to kill you.
Arthur dismissed the prompt with a frustrated sigh, before continuing his run northwards. When he’d initially calculated the time that it would take him to run back to the Imperium’s base, he had not included in his estimation the increasing amount of time he was spending killing [Boss] and [Wild-Boss] monsters.
Although the monsters attacking him posed no real threat to him with his new strength, and he earned great rewards from killing them, no amount of system coins and exp could make Arthur forget that there was an 8-year-old boy waiting for him back at the base. His grandson needed him, and because of a damn title he hadn’t even wanted, he kept on getting held up by suicidal charges by level 65 and above monsters. To say his pleasure at having defeated the hydra had worn off would be an understatement.
His feeling of irritation grew and grew until his fuse all but ran out upon seeing the 1 millionth random boss monster charge towards him, and so without stopping, putting all of his power and might into a single punch, he diverted course and collided his fist with the hideous bear monster’s skull. The impact of his fist was unbelievable, as the monster’s skull exploded, and the rest of the body was sent tumbling backwards at least a dozen metres.
Arthur looked at his fist, then at the bear’s remains, and he felt a shiver run down his spine. His strength impressed even him but the most powerful thing that it inspired within him was not pride, but fear. If he was this strong at his new level of 65, just how strong were the true monsters of the multiverse with thousands of years’ worth of training and experience?
The thought paralysed him for a moment before he broke out of it and shook his head. Thinking about such things would only slow him down, and he had already wasted enough time standing still today. So, with a frown, he lugged the bear’s corpse into his inventory, and began running again – his anger now somewhat diminished with the bear monster’s death.
However, as he ran, a blood-curdling scream made him screech to a halt and look in the general direction that it came from. He immediately turned and bolted in that direction, his decision to help whoever had made that scream had been made instantaneously. He had no idea where this sudden heroic instinct came from, but Arthur knew he couldn’t ignore the cry, even if he had wanted to. HIs moral code wouldn't allow it, and he was no coward. So, with his new strength, he should undoubtedly be able to defeat whatever monster he came upon – [Boss] or otherwise.
However, when he finally found who he presumed to be the screamer in an artificial clearing nearby, there were no beastly monsters in sight. Instead, surrounding a young man whose severed arm lay on the grass next to him, was a group of thuggish-looking men who were all lewdly eyeing up a terrified-looking girl who couldn’t have been more than 10 years old.
The leader of the group of about 20 men was the living embodiment of the concept of a bruiser. His muscles were big, his shoulders broad, and his face was covered in more scars than most trees had leaves. His skin was tanned and as tough-looking as bark yet at the same time was remarkably healthy looking. Probably a result of the system he guessed. Arthur doubted the man took great care of his skin, and Arthur knew first-hand the incredible beautification effects of the system's changes.
Next to the bulky leader stood a haughty man whose odd goatee and moustache made him almost like some kind of movie-esque supervillain. A look that would have almost worked with his diminutive stature, if his face didn't resemble that of a too keen rat's.
Arthur walked into the clearing, beyond unhappy with what he was seeing; everyone’s attention instantly turned to him. The leader of the group looked at Arthur quizzically for a moment, before the man noticed the rat man standing next to him begin to physically quake with fear, as if he were seeing the literal manifestation of death in front of him rather than Arthur.
The former butler calmly reached into his inventory and withdrew a healing pill, before walking over to the young man and administering it whilst pressing the severed arm back into its true place. In mere moments, healing energy soon stitched the arm back onto the boy’s body - good as new. The young man looked up at Arthur with a dazed-over expression. It was clear the boy was lost as to what was going on but that was fine. Arthur would hopefully talk to the lad after peacefully sending the thugs in front of him on their way.
He knew that the men essentially getting away with their heinous crimes was not an ethical outcome to the situation, but it was the best and most practical of exclusively unethical options. Arthur could drag all of them to the Imperium and hope their legal system was just and gave the men the punishment they deserved, but he didn’t know that for sure and the practicality of such an option was abysmal. Arthur was in a hurry after all and dragging what looked to be about 20 men would be impossible for him, especially as he didn't want to kill any of them. The murder of that murderer a few weeks ago still weighed heavy on his mind, and he didn't want to add any more bodies to his kill count.
The thug leader looked at Arthur with astonishment, before asking, “Who the hell are you?”
Arthur smiled, before replying, “I am Arthur Goodman. I hope you understand that so long as I am around, I cannot allow any more harm to come to these youngsters.”
The thug leader scoffed, which caused the thug next to him to pale. The mouse-like man tugged on the leader’s clothes, and stuttered out, “B…Bbb…Boss, this guy is not normal. I think we should leave.”
The group’s leader looked incredulously at the man before asking, “What are you talking about you idiot? What’s his level?”
The quickly diminishing man gulped before saying, “I ddd…don’t know. My perk only comes back with question marks for everything.” The man recoiled at the leader’s disbelieving glare before he began hysterically giggling, then he said in a high-pitched squeal, “I can’t even see his name.”
Only the leader seemed to maintain his composure, with the other thugs looking as though they were on the verge of running for their lives or crapping their pants. Arthur was pretty sure that the smaller man must have the evolved form of Analyse User, allowing him to see specific information about other people like their level etc. and not just a general danger rating. And, if the man’s perk failed to analyse Arthur, that meant the man in front of him was at least 25 levels lower than Arthur himself, or at least that was what the user manual Oliver had given him had said.
“Fine.” The thug leader said, heeding his advisor's hysterical warning. The group of about 20 or something men dispersed in different directions, leaving Arthur alone in the clearing with the two young people. Their presence complicated Arthur’s plans tremendously, but he knew that helping them was the right thing to do and that was what was important.
He turned, his eyes instantly meeting the frightened, tear-filled grey eyes of the little girl whose hands grasped the young man tightly. She was clearly happy that the boy’s arm was reattached, but she was also clearly distrustful of Arthur – especially as he had scared away a group of intimidating people without even really moving a muscle. This girl had been scarred by the apocalypse, that was clear to Arthur. Then again, who hadn't been?
Arthur’s eyes beamed with sympathy as he gestured at the two and asked, “Are you both alright?”
The girl nodded but her posture and expression changed naught. Arthur sighed sadly as he realised that he would now need to readjust his expectations for when he'd get back even more so. A realisation that embittered him somewhat to his own actions, before he quickly corrected himself emotionally speaking.
The young man seemed to snap out of his daze a few seconds later, and he looked at Arthur hesitantly and asked, "You're one of the rankers aren't you?"
Arthur raised an eyebrow at the question, before asking, "Ranker? What's that?"
The young man snorted until he realised that Arthur was being sincere and he broke out into a full-on laugh.
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"When was the last time you spoke to anyone old man?" the kid eventually asked sarcastically. His jovial mood came as a shock to Arthur.
"From Earth? Well just a few seconds ago, weren't you paying attention youngster." Arthur said, his joke not landing as well as he'd have hoped. With neither of them showing any sign of having found the joke the least bit amusing.
"Mysterious eh? Well, I am sorry to inform you, neither I nor my sister have any system coins or whatever to repay you with for the healing pill you gave me." The young man said, his voice bitter and sombre.
Arthur shook his head, and said, "I don't expect repayment in coins. However, as you are so insistent on repaying me, an answer to my question, as well as both of your names would be a nice start young man."
A puzzled look formed on the boy's face before he realised what Arthur meant and nodded as he did his best to get up from his knees and onto his feet. The kid couldn't be more than about 16 and yet his posture spoke of a mountainous burden on his shoulder, and the scars that littered his body spoke volumes about the boy's recent past.
"My name is Steven, this is my sister Annabelle. And a ranker is someone who ranks in the top 1000 native user's leaderboard in any category."
Arthur had no idea there was such a leaderboard but felt that he could ask about that stuff when they were all in a far more advantageous position. The former butler suspected that the thugs might try something stupid like an ambush, and while Arthur was confident he would survive any encounter with them quite easily, he was less confident that his two new wards would be able to do so considering the scene he'd walked in on.
"I see. I think it wise that we get moving or danger will come to us." Arthur said, his voice was stern and commanding.
Steven nodded in reluctant agreement and moved to follow Arthur, but his sister Annabelle froze still - refusing to move. She clutched at her brother's clothes tighter, having never let go, and she began sobbing uncontrollably.
"What about papa? He's back at the camp. We need to go back there and save him or else they will..." her voice trailed off into soft whimpers.
Steven visibly held back tears of his own as he held his sister close to him and said, "Papa wanted us to be free and now we have our chance. I know it's hard Annie, but Papa's probably already..." the young man gulped and took a deep breath before continuing, "Papa's probably already dead. Do you remember the promise we made to Papa before we made our run for it?"
The girl began wailing but her brother had her take deep breaths in and out so that she could answer his question. She eventually stuttered out, "Tt...that we'd keep running until we were safe. No No matter what."
Steven nodded, not saying a word more - simply allowing his sister the time she needed to accept what had happened and what they needed to do now. Neither one wanted to abandon their father to an unknown fate, but they had no other choice.
Arthur looked on with a growing respect for the boy building in his soul. The burden the young man carried was great, and yet, he did his best to be the best big brother he could be, for his sister's sake. Arthur dared not imagine what they'd just escaped and was not so crass as to question them about it or even to ask them to hurry up their hug.
Arthur's heart wanted for him to follow the two back to wherever it was and reunite them with their father, but he suspected the boy was right. It would be pointless and Arthur had seen enough death to last him a lifetime.
10 minutes later, the trio were walking in silence - the brother and sister following behind Arthur. Neither of them knew where he was taking them, or if he was even taking them anywhere, but all they needed to know was that he was strong and that meant staying with him would guarantee them some amount of safety - at least in the short term. And, in a world overrun by monsters, that was all either of them had the luxury to care about.
After a few hours, Steven eventually asked Arthur a question he'd had since the man intimidated away his pursuers.
"Who are you?"
"I apologise for not introducing myself more properly. My name is Arthur Goodman."
Steven shook his head, "I know your name, sir, but I mean who are you?"
Arthur bristled a bit at being called sir, not expecting it, but he quickly composed himself.
"I am someone who got caught up in this apocalypse just like you."
The boy's face turned a little frustrated at this answer before he calmed himself down. "If we're going to follow you, don't you think it behoves you to tell us something about yourself?"
Arthur stopped in his tracks, met the young man's eyes with his own, and sighed. "I apologise if my answers so far seem obtuse to you, however, to tell you the truth I don't know what I could say that would satisfy your curiosity."
"Which faction do you belong to?" Steven asked bluntly. "I know there are 4 main ones nearby and their names, but I've never heard of you."
Arthur's confused expression must have given Steven his answer as he immediately asked another question, "So you don't belong to a faction?" His voice remained calm, however, upon hearing himself he seemed to back away a little bit - his hand reaching for his sister's.
"Where are you taking us?" Steven finally asked.
Arthur had barely managed to formulate his response to the first question and already the boy was spiralling into paranoia.
"I'm taking you to the Imperium's base where my grandson is."
Now it was Steven's turn to look confused. Though not at the Imperium part.
"Grandson? But your face and..."
Arthur smiled as the boy's voice trailed off. "That's cultivation for you, does wonders for your skin," Arthur said, his penchant for jokes having returned now that his life wasn't really in near-constant danger any more.
"Cultivation? Is that a bit like magic?" The boy asked quizzically.
Arthur nodded tentatively. The user manual he'd received had been pretty bare bones when it came to details about magic, with apparently the high magic guilds not taking kindly to too much information being given to non-members about magic, so Arthur's understanding of mana and its functions was rather limited.
Annabelle mustered some courage and spoke to him directly for the first time, "Is cultivation what Qi is useful for?"
"Yes, that's right," Arthur replied, beaming a smile at the little girl.
The girl instinctively hid behind her brother, clearly a bit too soon to be too expressive around these two Arthur noted.
With the ice now broken, the two began asking question after question to Arthur about himself and the Imperium. In return, Arthur asked question after question to them about the extant human settlements in the area.
Their conversation was informative to both sides, though Arthur felt the news he had heard like a punch to the gut. Society had nearly totally fallen, and in its place, men and women alike had erected little hells for their fellow humans. One such hell the two youngsters escaped from, and though they were still too reserved to share any real details, by the end of the day, Arthur had heard enough for a horrific mental picture.
Slavery. Slaughter. Sacrifice. All of these things were apparently common in the group the two had escaped from and no one could witness all that and be sane afterwards, which made the sturdiness of both Steven and his sister rather remarkable. Arthur was impressed. However, the more he thought about humanity's present and its future, he couldn't help but think that the Imperium taking over had to be far superior ethically speaking to whatever "society" existed back at the thug's camp.
Such were the thoughts that gnawed away at his mind as he watched guard over the campsite - the two youngsters sleeping soundly nearby. It would take longer to get back to the Imperium, but Arthur now felt that it was his duty to protect these two and so he would. As though they were his own grandchildren.
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Maximus frowned as he read over the colonisation report from the Octuple-Cursed Planet of "Earth".
Major Theodora had made no effort to hide the fact she was only preparing enough supplies to evacuate Imperium troops under her command should the worst happen, her hatred towards the planet's natives running deeper than even Maximus had dared imagine. He knew her sworn sister had perished at the hands of the natives, but it seemed he'd underestimated just how deadset on seeing the planet's population annihilated the scorned Major was.
However, she would not get her way. Maximus had reported Earth's status to the Grand Imperium's central command and now how everything turned out was Maximus' responsibility, so even if he had to travel to Earth personally to ensure the evacuation of the natives, he would do so. Salvaging as much value as possible from the planet before that monster curled around the planet's core woke up was Maximus' highest priority as of now, with the recruitment of the world-boss slayers being a subsidiary part of that.
"Sir. Your wife is calling on the secure channel again." His assistant informed him shakily, interrupting the general's thoughts, "She doesn't sound happy."
Crap, He thought. She found out about the damn bet no doubt. She would be furious with him for losing so much money, all because he'd been an idiot and trusted a backwater oracle's prophecy.
"Tell her I am currently busy, you know dealing with 8 world bosses spawning on one planet and all," Maximus ordered his assistant, wanting to very much put off the conversation with his wife for another time.
His assistant paled, before saying, "But sir that's classified information and your wife doesn't have the prerequisi..."
"I just declassified the information for the next 10 minutes, is that clear? Now hurry up and go do as I say."
His assistant sighed, defeated. Before leaving the room for a short moment.
And, during those few short minutes of the information being declassified, a hundred different messages were sent across the multi-verse to dozens of different loved ones of various high-ranking officers from within the general's inner circle. With rumours of 8 world bosses spawning on one planet destined to become the talk of the whole multi-verse's chattering class.
However, as Maximus sat in his chair oblivious, his mind quickly returned to work mode. He had no idea if or when the huge snake thing would wake up, and what he'd do if it did. Not even the Grand Emperor himself would fare well against the monstrous entity threatening Earth, and yet the Imperium had no other choice but to fight it if it didn't want the monster gobbling up its new conquest. Furthermore, it posed an existential threat not only to Earth but to the Imperium itself.
However, there was a single redeeming fact. As of now, it was at least killable in theory. However, if the monster were allowed to eat too many planets, the creature would quickly become an unstoppable destroyer of universes far beyond the Imperium's ability to deal with. And after that, inevitably, it would become an entity far beyond the capabilities of even the most powerful ancient monsters of the multiverse to deal with.
Yet, just because it was killable in theory, did not mean it was going to be easy. World-eaters were titans among titans, with the highest level monster in all existence - probably the highest level entity in all of history - being the Primal World Eater Aphosis. Its level, according to the ramblings of the monster's insane cultists in the demonic sect, neared the 10s of thousands. Yet, even though this Jörmungandr creature was far weaker, the world eater bloodline provided an unimaginable menagerie of immunities and an almost endless source of power on which to draw.
Then, a crazy plan appeared in his mind and a smirk formed on his face. It was a moment later that his assistant walked back into his office.
"Boy, prepare my battleship, I'm heading to Earth."