Chapter Sixty-One

“I want to come with you,” Darren said to Ambrose, arms crossed.

Ambrose scratched his beard.

“I won't stop you, but are you sure that's what you want?”

Before Darren could respond little Jenny pulled at his pants leg. She widened her eyes, biting her lower lip.

“You can't, Daddy. Mr. Ambrose is going to fight monsters, and if you do, you could get hurt or…” She looked away, her face falling, tiny body shaking.

Darren knelt down, placing his huge hands on the little girls shoulders. His voice grew soft.

“Hey there, listen to me sweetheart.”

Jenny turned her gaze up to her father, eyes watery.

“It's possible I may die. We all die sometime sweetie. But I'll make you some promises, okay?”

“What promises?” Jenny's voice was very small.

“I promise that I will always fight with every part of me to come home to you. If I do die, Andrea has promised to look after you, and Thom too. You'll be protected.”

A sob escaped Jenny's lips, her body jerking.

“But I won't have you.”

Ambrose turned his head away then. His jaw clenched, and he bit the side of his tongue.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Darren place a hand against the little girl's heart. His voice grew rough, his throat tightened and untightened a few times.

“You will, honey. I'll be here. No matter what happens you'll always have a piece of me with you.”

Jenny fell into his arms then, giving him a fierce hug.

Then she turned, running back towards the town. Darren stood up, looking at Ambrose, dark eyes ablaze.

“I need to get stronger. So she never has to be without me.”

Ambrose took in a small breath.

“You know, I would-”

Darren held up a hand, shaking his head.

“Don't.”

Ambrose blinked, and Darren went on.

“I don't want your promises to look after her, Ambrose. You won't keep it.”

Ambrose crossed his arms, bringing his brows together.

“You sound so sure.”

Darren’s shoulders rose and fell, and he twitched the left side of his mouth upward and down again.

“I am. The bottom line is that you have your own goal. You've been honest about that, but it's clear to anyone that you'll sacrifice whatever you have to for that goal. Jenny would never be a priority for you, and she deserves someone to prioritize her.”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Ambrose averted his gaze, a pit forming in his stomach. He's right, and you know it. Ambrose swallowed, trying to clear his tight throat.

Darren nodded.

“It's okay. Whatever that goal is, I can see that it isn’t something you can lay down. I'm not asking you to. But I am asking you to help me. Help me level so I can protect my daughter.”

Ambrose looked up, the suns light moved through the big blue sky as clouds drifted on a lazy wind. A moment later he said one of the most powerful words a person can say to another.

“Yes.”

********

Ambrose cheated when trying to level his Knights of Avalon. After taking the boat to the mainland, it wasn't hard to find a group of monsters. The upright lizard men looked like alligators that had learned to walk on two legs and wield spears.

The highest level lizard man was twenty-five which was pretty significant for the level one group. Ambrose used [Infernal Sanctuary] to chain them down and let the men kill the monsters with the makeshift weapons they had brought.

Some wielded carved spears, or wooden sticks like swords and clubs. Others had homemade bows and arrows.

That's also when Ambrose discovered that the System awarded less experience when you helped in the way he was. You couldn't game it completely, but it was enough.

Men started leveling. It wasn't long before the first few reached level ten and could pick a class. Darren was one of them and during a break in the fighting, he consulted Ambrose

“I can pick soldier, warrior, spearman, or barbarian.”

“What does barbarian give you?”

Darren’s eyes glazed over for a moment, and Ambrose saw him chew on his inner cheek.

“Plus three attribute points per level.”

Ambrose blinked, grunting.

“Huh. More than I got at the start, how many points does your profession give?”

“Plus two,” Darren replied.

“The other choices also give plus three?”

Darren shook his head.

Ambrose rubbed the bridge of his nose, sucking his cheek in.

“Any limitations?”

Darren sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Yes. I can't wear armor.”

Ambrose gave him a wry smile,

“There it is. Knew that was a little too good. I still say you pick it.”

Darren’s eyes gained a concerned light,

“I feel like not being able to wear armor is a big deal.”

“Yeah, but you're looking at plus three points per level for your class, and any extra points you get with your profession That's monstrous at the early levels. I have no doubt you'll get a defensive skill as you progress. Unless you face some truly powerful enemie without me, you'll be good.”

Darren still looked unsure, but he sighed and gave a weary nod a moment later.

As he assigned his points, Ambrose felt a tingle go up his spine. He whirled around as the ocean bubbled, and a truly massive dinosaur like lizard man burst from the depths, it's roar shaking the ground around them, water spraying in a mini tide that crashed into the shore.

Ambrose hefted his axe,

“Scatter! Get away from it unless you want to die! Now!”

His warning saved some lives. But some didn't run fast enough. The gigantic lizard man lashed out with claws, skewering several men, blood and guts bursting from their bodies as the lizard man tossed them into it's mouth.

Crunching sounds, and the screams of dying men became a cacophony of horrific death. The scent of copper, iron, and salt filled Ambrose’s nostrils as he began to engage the beast.

He had been too late for those men. But maybe he could save the others. Darren’s eyes widened, and he took several steps with Ambrose towards the creature.

“No! It's beyond you, you'll just die.”

“But-”

Ambrose growled, shoving him away as he used [Insight] on the monster.

[Lizard Lord-Level 115]: Mutated from an alligator by the System's integration, the Lizard Lord now resides in the oceans depths. It comes on land in search of prey.]

It's level wasn't that much higher than Ambrose’s. He had a chance. The others would die, and die fast if they tried to fight this thing.

“It's so far beyond your level, you wouldn't have a snowballs chance in hell. Get clear.”

It was at that exact moment that another group of lizard men, these ones smaller than their lord, came into view.

They were headed straight for the group. Ambrose cursed. Luckily, he had an idea.

I just hope no one else dies in the meantime.

He activated [Infernal Smite], flinging his axe towards the group of lizard men just as the lizard lord descended upon him, fangs and claws flashing.