I'll deal with the formatting when I get home from work. Sorry for this being late.... I had a long Sunday.
EDIT: Proofreading and formatting is done. Now to work on Chapter 15...
*
“Alright, this guy here, that’s our target.” Puppy pointed his sword at the picture pasted up on the board.
“Dead or dead for erm… showing disrespect to a figure of authority….”
“No, Puppy, it should be ‘showing disrespect to a member of the law enforcement forces’. And what the heck did you mean by ‘Dead or Dead’?’” Thomas put in, while polishing his sword.
“Either way, there’s no point in getting that many people just to deal with one guy right?” Richard asked, polishing his armor. The commander set much store by shiny equipment, and would go down hard on even a lapse in quality.
“He did knock all of us out in a single hit though…” Puppy said, grimacing as he recalled the event.
“No, that’s because we were preoccupied with fighting one another….” Richard said consolingly.
“More like arguing…” Thomas interjected without mercy.
“Guh!!” Thomas’s sharp words pierced into Richard’s fragile but prideful heart.
“That’s why we need so many people anyways.” Puppy said, swinging his sword about with self satisfaction. “He is clearly a dangerous individual and should be captured and put in prison where he will not inflict so much harm on our good selves.
“All that’s happening ‘cause you suck at fighting...” Thomas muttered to himself in an undertone…
“I heard that. You are pretty horrible yourself, right?” Puppy retorted.
“What was that?”
“You say that again?”
Puppy and Thomas put their faces against each other like dogs picking a fight, their teeth gritted
while they both took a belligerent expression.
“Guys, guys… now’s not the time to start another of your squabbles… Harold, help me break them up.” Richard said briskly while trying to pull them apart.
Harold didn’t move, but looked up, and said without emotion:
“… He’s here.”
“Is he now? Quick, guys, take your positions. Richard, you got that sack ready? Thomas, get that large metal stick handy, we are dealing with a rather large man….” Puppy suddenly responded, his hands moving about animatedly as he pointed out the features of their plan.
“… I was joking.”
“And Harold, you will come in next and take a whack at him as well… What was that, Harold?” Puppy continued speaking, but paused at a nudge on his shoulders.
“… I was joking.”
“Dang it, Harold, watch what you say!! If that guy comes too early while we are still preparing…” Puppy bellowed angrily at Harold. Behind Puppy’s back, Richard gave Harold a thumbs up sign, saying “Nice job!!” in an undertone.
“Sigh… alright, guys, false alarm. Now where was I? Dang it, Thomas, you made me lose my train of thought.”
“You were justifying the need for overcrowding this post?” Richard put in a helpful reply.
“Silly Richard, I wouldn’t put it as such. We are attempting the arrest of a wanted fugitive after all. Anyways, as I was saying…”
“Oh look, it’s Tom, Dick and Harry. How has it been? And who’s the new guy?” came a new voice, causing the guards to look up in surprise. A young and well-muscled man was standing there grinning, with a sack of items slung around his back.
“Oh hey, Alf. Puppy here’s just talking about arresting you… Wait, hang on… guys, get into your positions!!” The latter part was said in an undertone as he dived to his designated post. The other two also quickly moved into their spots.
“Damn you, you asshole!! How can you forget me after our first two meetings!! I was the first guy you met!!” Puppy shouted at the young man, who was unfazed by the comments.
“Why should I? Aren’t you an NPC? I heard some talk from my students that guards are normally as such.”
“I’m a player character!! A player character!! I took on this post because I have to!!”
“It doesn’t matter that much to me. Now can I get through this gate?”
“Hell no, you are clearly a dangerous individual and are a threat to our beautiful city. Now come with us quietly and stay inside for your 1st 4 weeks quietly.”
“I refuse.”
“I don’t think you have that right.” Puppy raised his arm, a signal to initiate his plan. Richard should be coming in with the sack now, he thought. We have him!!
Unfortunately, Alf, having anticipated this, ducked under the sack and elbowed Richard in the chest.
“Are you an idiot? Did you think I wouldn’t suspect that amateurish plan?” he asked with a quote that would have most certainly suited a despotic evil overlord better as Richard clutched his chest, wheezing as he desperately took in deep breaths.
“It’s only the beginning…” Puppy responded with a smug look on his face. He brought his raised hand down (which was another planned signal) and shouted, “Now!!”
And Thomas and Harold leapt out of the shadows, swinging iron rods at his head…
And by his, I meant Puppy’s as the two blows landed heavily on the back of his head. At the same time, Alf’s fist came crashing into Puppy’s face with a solid straight. I’m surprised that didn’t kill him.
Puppy fell over like a puppet with its strings cut. Alf shook his head at the sight.
“Are you guys idiots?” he admonished his two “accomplices”.
Harold looked sheepish.
“I didn’t like him anyways.” Thomas said defensively. “Well, that’s that, you are free to go; it was all Puppy’s convoluted idea in the first place anyway. Lousy sense of positioning he had, yes sir.”
“… He had a hard head though.” Harold added slowly.
Alf nodded sagely, having witnessed Puppy’s “phenomenal” skill himself. He turned to leave…
“Wait. Before you go, could you do us a favor?” Richard spoke up, having recovered from the earlier attack.
“What is it?” Alf turned back quickly, eyebrow raised in question
“Could you knock us out? I want it to seem… a little less suspicious, you know? What with the commander being all about team solidarity and all that?”
Alf smiled. This guy will go a long way in life… All the way to the cliff, and pushed off.
“Of course.” Alf willingly complied with Richard’s request.
**
“So, you are some form of Spear Spirit?” I asked, finally getting a good close-up look at him. The shadow had a slim but surprisingly well-built figure, and despite the close proximity, he managed to keep himself hidden, so I couldn’t make out his features.. Of course, having a cloak draped around him helped.
YUP. WELL, TO PUT IT TECHNICALLY, I’M MORE LIKE THE SPIRIT OF THIS SPEAR SHAFT .THE SPEAR HEAD ISN’T MINE; I’M CURRENTLY ENTERTAINING A… ERM, TENANT. OI, COME OUT.
The mysterious shadow, now known as a Spirit of the Spear Shaft, knocked hopefully on the spear head. There was no response.
AH, YOU HAVE TO EXCUSE HER, SHE IS A BIT SHY. OI, COME OUT…
The Spear Shaft Spirit knocked a little more on the spear head, his tempo increasing as he grew a bit more impatient. Oi, oi, she clearly doesn’t want to be disturbed right?
“Sigh… what is it that you want?”
The Shaft Spirit’s incessant efforts finally bore fruit, and another shadow appeared.
OI, BEING IN THE SHADOWS IS MY THING. COME OUT SO THAT MY FRIEND HERE CAN GET A BETTER LOOK AT YOU, the Shaft Spirit said, pushing the shadow out where I could get a better view.
The closer proximity threw most of her features into relief, revealing a fresh young girl clad in ornate armor. She had flaming red hair and warm eyes the colour of cinnamon. If I didn’t know better, I would have thought that I had met a younger Tante (sans her luscious golden locks). Did I mention how much I love girls in armor?
Oddly though, isn’t she a bit on the short side?
“I’m not short!! Shaft, who the heck is that punk?!”
Gosh, pushy, isn’t she? The Shaft Spirit tried to appease her anyways.
THAT’S OUR… LANDLORD, SO TO SPEAK. BE POLITE. I BROUGHT HIM HERE FOR A REASON.
“A reason?” I never heard anything of the sort.
OF COURSE. WHY ELSE DID I BRING YOU HERE? I FIGURED, SINCE YOU ARE HERE, I MAY AS WELL LET YOU LEARN THE FINER POINTS OF THE KING OF WEAPONS. LASS, WE’LL COME BACK TO YOU LATER, GO HELP OUT THE LANDLORD’S EARTHLY SHELL NOW.
“Do I have to?” the girl pouted, crossing her arms in a cute manner.
HE WILL RETURN THE FAVOR. I’LL CALL YOU BACK IN A BIT.
“If you say so.” the girl dissipated into red smoke and flowed back into the lance’s spear head, which began to glow red.
The Shaft Spirit turned back to me with a sheepish look on his face.
EH, YOUR EARTHLY SHELL CAN PROBABLY HANDLE THIS, WITH THE LASSIE HELPING OUT. HE’S ONE HECK OF A FIGHTER… EVEN IF HE IS PROBABLY BEATING UP ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING HE CAN GET HIS HANDS ON.
“Hang on, does that mean that I’m causing trouble out on the field now? We are in the middle of a battle, dammit!!” the Shaft Spirit clearly had a terrible sense of timing.
EH, IT WAS THE ONLY TIME I COULD GET YOU THOUGH. IT SEEMS THAT YOU CAN ENTER THIS WORLD WHILE YOU ARE UNDER THE EFFECTS OF THAT SKILL. CAN’T BE HELPED, YOU CAN DEAL WITH IT ONCE I’M DONE WITH YOU.
“Damn you…” It seemed understandable though. The only time I would let myself get hurt to this degree was due to fights like these, and those are pretty rare cases.
YOU NEED THE HELP ANYWAY.
“That’s rather kind of you.” What a nice guy, but is he some sort of Ossan whose wish was for his owner to become stronger? No wait… wrong anime, as the next statement will prove.
SINCE YOU ARE A WEAKLING ANYWAY.
“You bastard…” What an asshole. Yup, he is definitely an asshole.
ANYWAYS, THE SHAFT SPIRITS – YES, THERE’S OTHERS LIKE ME – ARE SUPPOSED TO BRIEF YOU IN GREATER DETAIL ABOUT THE SPEARMAN’S… LITTLE PILGRIMAGE OF SORTS. ON YOUR OWN YOU HAVE ALREADY PICKED UP AND LEARNT A STANCE OR TWO, YES?
“Yeah, I have learnt the first stance and the fourth stance.” I replied.
THAT IS VERY GOOD CONSIDERING THAT YOU DIDN’T HAVE MUCH HELP. HAVE YOU DISCOVERED THAT THESE STANCES CAN CHANGE?
“Yeah, that was weird though.”
THAT PROCESS IS PERFECTLY NORMAL. THOSE STANCES ARE PRESCRIBED METHODS; THERE IS NOTHING CONCRETE ABOUT THEM.
“Then all this talk about a manual is just…”
ALL SOUND AND FURY, SIGNIFYING NOTHING.
Did he just rubbish the entire teachings of the Order with just that one sentence?
THAT’S NOT QUITE THE POINT. DID NOT AVALOKITESVARA FAMOUSLY STATE IN THE HEART SUTRA THAT “FORM IS EMPTINESS AND EMPTINESS IS FORM”?
Yes, but… what does that have to do with anything?
NOTHING, IT JUST SOUNDS COOL.
Apologize to all the Buddhists in the world right now!!
I WAS JOKING… ANYWAYS.WE DO FOLLOW THIS SAYING, BUT PERHAPS IN A DIFFERENT FORM OF INTERPRETATION. EMPTINESS IS FORM, AND IN EACH FORM LIES SOMETHING EMPTY, A VOID WHICH MUST BE FILLED. TAKE UP YOUR STANCE, SPEARMAN.
I hurriedly took up my spear shaft and took the first stance, hands giving equal priority for both sides of the shaft while standing in the horse stance.
***
The young spearman regarded the incoming attack with nothing but a blank expression on his face. Subtly switching stances, he stepped into the attack, catching the hammer with the lance and deflecting it. Having deflected the attack, the lance sliced in at his throat.
“Oh? This is the first time you were willing to take my attack. You are indeed, what I have been waiting for a long time. Even the instructor didn’t fight as well as this!!”
Laughing gleefully, Gordon punched aside the lance by the shaft, and brought in his hammer for another attack. The young spearman didn’t reply, seeming deep in concentration as he deflected the next attack, and the next, each time failing to find a definite opening to attack with his new weapon.
****
FIRST STANCE, YOU CALLED THE BALANCER. DEVOTING EFFORT TO EQUAL SIDES, AND YET ONE CAN NOT ALWAYS TAKE EQUAL SIDES. YOU ARE CONFLICTED; MANY THOUGHTS CURRENTLY RUN THROUGH YOUR MIND. IT CANNOT BE TRULY CALLED THE BALANCER WITH SUCH A BURDEN BEARING DOWN UPON IT. SWITCH TO THE FOURTH STANCE.
“There’s too much strain on that stance. You put too much on your plate, loosen up a little!!” the girl added, the spear head she was in glowing red as the lance built up energy. Just what was going on in the real world now?
Ears stinging from the criticism of my first form, I switched to the Fourth Stance, letting the spear shaft relax as I supported it on my shoulder.
*****
“Another stance? Very nice, let’s see what it can do!!”
Gordon was forced on the defensive as the lance flew at his head. By letting the lance deflect off Gordon’s guard and riding on the initial momentum, the young spearman initiated a second slash with greater speed and power, which was batted downwards by Gordon’s hammer. The lance was deflected again and the spearman spun with the deflection, bringing the lance around to a powerful vertical slash.
“Good grief, boy, are you a pendulum or something?” Gordon asked cheerfully as he sidestepped the slash and swatted the spearman away with a backhand. The spearman was pushed back, skidding back several feet. He braced his feet against the ground and came dashing forward, the lance pointed for his chest.
Gordon grinned savagely and thrust his chest forward, letting the thrust glance off without leaving a visible mark. He jabbed a gauntleted thumb at his chestplate.
“This plate of armor here has been blessed by the High Priest of Freya himself!! It would take explosives to even hope to scratch it slightly!! Try again, but don’t die in the attempt, okay?”
The spearman didn’t reply, but swung his lance around for another horizontal slash, the Lance glowing with a red light that glowed brighter with every swing.
******
FOURTH STANCE, IT IS UNNAMED. YOU ARE FREE AS A BIRD, BUT THERE IS A HEAVY BURDEN UPON YOUR PERSON. COMPLETE FREEDOM DOES NOT COME WITHOUT THE FREEDOM TO ACCEPT THE CONSEQUENCES, AFTER ALL. IN FACT, FREEDOM IS A VAGUE CONCEPT; IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO COMPREHEND.
The Shaft Spirit shook his head sadly. The young girl reappeared in a crimson flash.
“He is new; it is amazing enough that he managed to get this far on his own. By the way, I left enough of my own imprint on the spear head, so he could take it from here on his own. I wish he wouldn’t treat his weapon in such a cavalier manner, though."
GOOD JOB. I THINK WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE SECOND MATTER RIGHT NOW. The Shaft Spirit frowned as he considered the next issue on hand. Now that I can see him up close, the Shaft Spirit did not indeed have a beard to stroke.
“Wait, you could do that?” I asked. Who has ever heard of the ability to manifest a spear head before!! This isn’t Star Trek right?
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“Occasionally, a Spear Spirit may choose to aid a promising spearman in battle, manifesting itself as a spear head.” The girl said proudly, puffing out her non-existent chest. “However, in your Earthly Shell’s current state, it cannot channel my power. In that case then, I offer a bit of my aid, helping it to manifest an image. It is an excellent copy, but a copy nonetheless, and will break quickly.”
That is… pretty deep. Surprisingly so. Are you sure that I’m speaking with a young girl?
A VOID IS STILL A POWERFUL FORCE USED AS A WEAPON THOUGH. KEEP THAT IN MIND AS YOU CARVE YOUR PATH, YOUNG SPEARMAN. BUT FOR NOW, the Shaft Spirit continued, dropping his sagely voice, ENOUGH ABOUT YOU. WHAT I NEED HELP WITH IS WITH THE YOUNG LADY OVER HERE. SHE SUDDENLY APPEARED HERE ONE DAY, WITH A TERRIBLE CASE OF AMNESIA.
“Amnesia? Do Spear Spirits suffer from this?”
“I most certainly do not have amnesia!! Well… I do forget things from time to time…” the young girl spoke angrily, but blushed halfway through and finished in a whisper.
I SUSPECT THAT SHE’S NOT REALLY A PROPER SPEAR SPIRIT, TO BE HONEST, the Shaft Spirit continued, frowning as he spoke. SHE HAS THE FORM OF A PROPER SPEAR HEAD, BUT IT IS NOT A FORM I HAD SEEN BEFORE…
So remind me why he insisted that it was a lance again?
DO NOT QUESTION MY JUDGEMENT!! The Shaft Spirit waved his hand. My arms suddenly moved on its own volition.
*THUNK*
I was struck on the head with my own Spear Shaft. Why does this remind me eerily of a certain Disney Movie?
EITHER WAY, SHE RECALLS VERY LITTLE ABOUT HER PAST LIFE. YOUR NEXT PATH,
THEREFORE, LIES TO THE WEST.
“Do I have t-“
GETTING A MONK, A MONKEY, A PIG AND A SAND DEMON IS OPTIONAL, BUT IT WILL BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL, the Shaft Spirit added helpfully.
No, that was not what I meant…
T-tring!!
And suddenly the quest bell rang, interrupting my planned retort before I could form the words in my mouth. I haven’t heard that for a long time…
Journey to the West.
The mysterious young spear spirit!! Strong and prideful, the spirit of the lance is a powerful force to be reckoned with, but her past is but a mystery, the spirit not recalling it herself. Nevertheless, the spirit is resilient, and cannot be broken.
Your Journey takes you to the West, in order to seek memories of a broken spirit. Getting a monkey god, pig and sand demon to follow you is optional. This quest must be completed in 60 days. This quest cannot be denied.
Reward: Unknown, but the rewarding part is in the Journey, is it not?
Restriction: Spearman only. Quest cannot be denied. Must be completed in 60 days. The quest will be failed immediately if the Lance Spearhead breaks.
[Quest Accepted.]
“Do I get any hint regarding this?” I asked, frowning at the prospect of what looked to be a rather long-winded and tiring quest. Looks like I will have to extend that free one-month trial run after all…
“There is nothing that I can offer you that would aid you in the journey.” The Lance Spirit paused as she considered that thought, and amended her statement: “On the other hand, since we are to be companions on this journey, this form will perhaps be the only thing that I can offer that might provide a clue.”
“What do you mean by form?” I asked.
“Perhaps you might know it better as a secret technique. Take your stance, Spearman, and take up my Lance.”
I picked up the Lance that stood proudly on the ground. It felt heavy, but it was a good sort of heavy, to put it roughly. The weight felt reassuring, an anchor in a sea of troubles. The Lance Spirit nodded approvingly as she observed.
“Good, now that’s the proper way to wield a lance. Now… focus your energy into the point of the spear…” the Lance Spirit gave clear instructions in a clear manner as she slowly corrected my form.
“Now… slowly repeat the spell words after me. The Lance, forged to tear scale from skin, sharpened to part flesh from bone…”
*******
“… bravely tempering itself in the flames of dragon fire, to pierce deep into the heart…” the young spearman finally spoke, uttering words of power under his breath. The broad tipped spearhead glowed a bright orange as it gathered energy.
“Is that a secret technique? Is there any more that you are hiding up your sleeves?” Gordon laughed heartily at the sight, like a child expecting the magician to reveal his trick. He tapped his chest again. “Come on then, this brother here will take whatever worries you want to throw at me!!”
The Paladin stood tall and proud, his posture imposing, his hammer swinging around his head in wide arcs as he anticipated the strongest attack that he would sustain in this battle.
And the Spearman did not disappoint. As the Lance gathered energy, it gave out an threatening aura that poured out in droves, accumulating at the point and edges of the blade, sharpening and strengthening the lance to a keen edge.
“Eeeeh, what’s taking you so long? If you are not coming at me, I’ll come to you instead!! On your guard, Spearman!!” shouting a frightening oath to the heavens, Gordon, finally getting impatient, rushed at the spearman with his hammer, screaming for blood.
“Folded Seven-Fold, blades shatter upon thee. Polished to a mirror’s edge, your opponents scatter before your wake. Before my charge, all will fall, Salamander Hunt!!” At the same time, the spearman finished his preparation, and the gathered energy exploded behind it and propelled him forward, the spear head incandescent with a warm orange glow, as though coming from the hearth.
The immense wind pressure exploded outwards as the hammer was simply blown aside and the Lance cut into the prided chest plate as easily as a heated knife into butter, plunging deep inside Gordon’s chest.
[You have dealt a critical blow.] (Author’s note: Please note the lack of “fatal”.)
The spearman kept the blank expression that was quickly becoming his trademark, and pushed the lance deeper into Gordon’s body before trying to withdraw the weapon, bracing his feet against the ground to pull the lance out.
A gauntleted hand grabbed the shaft. Gordon’s grin got even wider as he tugged at the lance.
“Heh heh heh. That was me and my big mouth, eh? That was a good strike here. My hammer was blown away like a twig, and by what looks to be…” Gordon paused as he appraised the spearman before him: “a complete and utter novice!! Is this world so huge that this sort of thing is a possibility? I fear that I won’t be able to get enough of this thing, AHAHAHAHAHA!!!”
Gordon laughed out loud as he pulled against the Lance that was supposed to be a fatal blow, an attack that was supposed to bite deeply inside the body and pierce the vital organs. Despite this, he did not seem to be bothered too greatly by the attack.
“If I have one thing I would like to complain about, it’s the difference in levels. Give yourself at least another 20 or so levels, upgrade your armor and weapon a little bit, and that powerful skill would have been a killing blow, a sure one-hit-KO. But (‘at this time, at this place’ or ‘right now’)…”
Gordon considered his HP bar.
“I would consider the attack to have taken about 75% or so. Maybe even less, I have several defensive buffs on and the chest plate is of the highest grade that I can find at my level. Not that that piece of crud helped out that much. Still, it’s not realistic right?”
Gordon pulled the Lance out of his chest as easily as you would pick a flower, handing back the weapon. The spearman didn’t quite speak, but silently accepted the weapon. Gordon grinned sheepishly.
“Eh… normally, that attack would have killed me, so my life sort of flashed through my eyes… Well, this is awkward. It’s like committing suicide, and then being cock-blocked at the last minute, you know? Ah, what shall we do, what shall we do…”
Gordon paced back and forth as he considered his options, and suddenly thought of an idea.
“Well, let’s treat it as my loss. So…” Gordon paused, and fell over in a most unrealistic fashion.
“And then, a cry from the defeated… Oh noes, you have defeated me in combat. My life is now forfeit, yada, yada, blah, blah, blah, and then you come in with the Finishing blow. Do that same attack from earlier, I guess.”
The young spearman simply looked on at the ludicrous scene. Meanwhile, the other fighters from the Vanguard thought to themselves, what a lousy actor our commander is….
The spearman suddenly blinked twice, and asked the question: “What the hell is going on here?”
********
“What the hell is going on here?” I asked, as the effect of Berserk Impulse finally wore off, bringing me back into reality. Errr, Virtual Reality anyways (Good grief, why am I suddenly reminded of a certain movie regarding a dream within a dream within a dream by many stages?).
The immediate view before me was one resembling a coliseum, a ring within a wall of defenders. The
Commander was just lying there in a silly manner. Are we having a skit or something?
I looked at the spear in my hand. Still the same as before, except…
At the tip, a broad-tipped spearhead comprised entirely of steel could be observed. It was doubled edged, and a intricate design could be seen running down the blade… Errrr… by intricate designs, it seems like it was more like cracks. The spear head had been heavily damaged in some strange manner.
And before my eyes, the broad spearhead broke and fell apart before my eyes.
HOOOOLYYYYYYYYY CRAAAAAAAAAAAAP!!! DOESN’T THIS MEAN THAT I FAIL THAT NEW QUEST INSTANTLY?! AND I ONLY JUST STARTED IT TOO!!
“Don’t worry about it. As I have said before, that was merely a facsimile.”
"Oh."
"More importantly, I think you should start running right about now."
"How come?"
"Let's just say that your earthly shell... Got a little overexcited, shall we?"
WENT ABSOLUTELY BANANAS, HE DID. YES SIR.
"Wait, then..." I stared at Commander Gordon still lying on the floor in a strange manner. "I was the one that beat him?"
"Hahaha, whatever gave you that idea? He's just playing dead because you didn't quite kill him with my technique."
DON'T GET AHEAD OF YOURSELF, SON.
"But I wasn't the one that put him in that state!!" I wailed as I looked all around me. People were giving me funny looks, as though calculating and sizing up something. Wait... What are you guys thinking?!
"He beat the commander..."
"If we beat him, would we get something good in exchange?"
"No harm trying, I suppose. Just ripe for the picking, he is."
Holy crap, I better get out of here before I get seriously lynched. But I'm surrounded, there seems to be no way out... Maybe if I use the Shaft as a pole vault.
DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT, PUNK.
What's with that phrase that a yakuza mobster would say?! Okay, that plan is out... Erm, I guess I can use the Lance to break through?
"Yawn, I'm sleepy. I'm heading back to sleep. Let me know when you escape, okay?"
"Wait, don't go!!" Ah, that one wouldn't work either. I massaged my temples as I shuffled through ideas, most of which involve either Shaft or Lance, or both.
Before I could think any further though, the undead and orcs, which had been watching the fight as though spellbound, broke out of their revelry and started swarming the punitive force, which diminished severely.
"I thought we called for a ceasefire!!"
"Defend, defend!!"
"Hold on a sec- ARRRRRGHHH!!"
All around me, the undead and Orcs attacked without mercy and with a whole lot of vindictiveness, seeming to seek redress for the wrongs that we had inflicted on them.
And in the rumpus brought anew, I managed to see an opening, cleared away by the enemy forces as they finally breached the defensive line.
"Chance!!" With that one word, I dashed for the opening with everything I got, and woe betide (???) anyone who got in my way.
"Wait, aren't you going to finish me?" Commander Gordon called out plaintively. No time for you, good sir, the time has come for me to GTFO. (excuse my French.)
Soon, I left behind the punitive force that I was once in, which was slowly being overwhelmed by the green and white tide and fading slowly to grey.
[Punitive Force Raid Failed.]
The notice flashed across my eyes as I left.
*********
"Hah, hah... Finally made it out of here." I said to myself breathlessly as I staggered to a halt, a really long way from the battlefield.
It took me quite some time, but I had managed to gain a little distance from all who meant me harm. Now that I'm safe, I can probably start making plans. I can go as I please, finally free from any burden... Perhaps I can even start playing the game like it was supposed to be played.
Speaking of Burden though... I seemed to have forgotten something, something really important.
"Howard..." I could hear a sultry voice creeping up on me, putting me on edge. Why do I suddenly feel a sense of foreboding?!
I turned my head around slowly, and there was Tante, giving me her brightest megawatt smile. Her armor was heavily battered, and she was covered from head to toe in the bloody crimson of orc blood. Far from detracting her looks, it enhanced them instead; swathing her like the most glamorous makeup.Did I mention that I really love girls in armor?
At the same time though, a really frightening aura was pouring out all around her!! Why is it that I can see the visage of Asura behind her?!
"You better have a good explanation for what you did.... On second thought, I don't want to hear it. Even if I hear what you have to say, I will not forgive you. Though, I'll still treat you most gently, fufufufu...."
That's.... really scary!! It's too scary!! But I had nowhere to run; Tante's spirit soldiers had quickly surrounded and tied me up, leaving me trussed like a turkey. I looked up to see Tante, eyes cold as ice as she raised her spear.
"Any final words, Howard??"
"Wait, wait, at least let me explain mysel- Ahhhhh!!"
And my hit points plummeted, way past the threshold set by Berserk Impulse and all the way to 0.
And for the first out of what would be carried out many times over the course of my journey, I, Howard, died, and was forcibly logged out of the game.
***********
Hope you enjoyed it. What do you think I can improve on? Let me know below, I'll try my best to change...