The naturally formed room was close to twenty paces across, with the rocky ceiling about half that. To the eye, it looked to have near-perfect dimensions for a wonderfully placed explosive blast from my new fireball spell. Having seen it in action a bit too close for comfort, this time I would need to be mindful of where I wanted to spell to detonate to not recreate that embarrassing event. With the low ceiling, there was a chance the explosive force could blast the spell power back downwards since the thousand tons of rock and stone overhead would never budge to such a low-level spell. I would need to be mindful in the event that happened. With a plan firmly planted in mind, it was time to begin.
The gnolls were conversing among themselves by means of high-pitched yips and throaty growls, not to mention an occasional snap of the teeth at another, but not a single one had looked back towards where we were hiding. Narrowing my eyes in concentration, I began casting, my voice low. The arcane words of the spell reminded me of the slow, yet unrelenting, rumble of crawling lava fields. I had first considered dual casting the spell, but that would likely push the explosive force to well beyond the confines of the room, so had instead opted for the simple version. The gnolls wouldn’t be finding it so simple, I suspected. These beasts really should have been worried that one day their actions would bring about a true Hunter; that they would become prey.
Surprise was a wonderful tool to have in a battle, especially when you found yourself outnumbered six to one. As the final arcane word escaped my lips, sounding like a guttural gust of wind, I pushed forward with all my might, my eyes eyeing a foot in front of the closest enemy. The ball of liquid plasma shot away with incredible speed, bathing the room in vibrant burning colors. Red and orange hues flared, following the fireball as it flew true. A pair of the gnolls started to turn at sudden addition to the only light in the room, but could do little more as the spell impacted behind them. With a thunderous BOOM, the spell detonated, turning the room into a fiery inferno.
Mimicking the birth of a small star, fire blasted in all directions and, as I had predicted, the cave ceiling rebounded the explosive force back downwards. Thankfully, we were well outside the expanded hellscape that had momentarily been summoned. In an instant, the conflagration winked out of existence, leaving behind a sweltering heat that smelled of ash and sulfur. Feelings of damage notifications reached my subconscious, having been minimized based on my earlier system settings. Stella had earlier said the spell would cause just over a hundred points of damage to anything caught in the blast. Seeing the carnage before us, it was significant.
Every single gnoll has been blasted back towards the far end of the room, many thrown heavily against the stone walls. I was intuitively aware that three of the gnolls had been impacted by the spell's secondary effect and, even as I watched, were taking burning damage. Most of the furniture had caught on fire and the boar, blissfully cooking earlier, was nowhere to be seen. Before my enemies could even think about standing up, I was already deep into my next spell casting having begun right as the fireball detonated in their midst. After the one-second cast time, Lesser Boil Blood completed and a sizzling haze soared from an outstretched hand to thud soundlessly into the nearest gnoll.
That creature’s health was low, so I intoned a dual cast minor firebolt, hoping it would finish the creature off. My plan was to rely on lesser blood boil’s specialization to help finish the battle quickly. Completing the spell, the firebolt rocketed at the same target, slamming painfully into the lower back. The creature howled out in pain, both its vicious clawed hands reaching backward
“That gnoll has a quarter health remaining,” Stella shouted at my side. “One tick of boil blood will finish it.”
Targeting another nearby gnoll, another boil blood flashed out as many of the fiends were finally reaching their feet with bloodshot eyes ablaze in pain and outrage. As that spell completed, I immediately followed it with another dual cast firebolt, bringing that one’s health close to redlining. If my timing and plan worked out as intended, each and every gnoll was about to have its life snuffed out in spectacular fashion.
In a perfect world, only three seconds would have passed since my initial blood boil, but this wasn’t a game. Here, every small nuance, each subtle movement took away from a perfect sequence of spell casting. Making eye contact with an enemy, its gnashing yellowed teeth bared dangerously, its hot breath promising retribution, all of that is enough to quicken your pulse to racing. A sudden spike of fear and anxiety swarming your stomach… everything screaming that this is not a game and that every moment of hesitation can bring ruin down on you.
If I die, I am gone, forever. There is no respawn. There is no reset. I do not get to start over. With six rabid gnolls moments away from pouncing and tearing me to ribbons, at that moment, I could only hope I had been quick enough. The promise of death was reflected in each pair of the outraged gnolls, each promising a brutal end to my journey.
There was a moment of stillness as the dying light of the burning embers of the once mighty fire started winking out. Timbers of burning wood had been blasted backward, the same as the gnolls, with most actually being burnt to ash from the extreme heat of my spell. Long shadows cast by the towering gnolls stretched greedily back at us, growing wider by the moment as darkness descended. The first gnoll’s health points reached zero as lesser boil blood took its last vestiges of life.
Unfortunately for the gnoll, it didn’t simply drop to the floor. Instead, a scream tore out of the beast’s lungs at such a volume its vocal cords must surely have burst under the strain. The gnoll threw out its powerfully muscles arms wide, its canine muzzle thrown back from its powerful bellow. Then, like a geyser, the monster’s veins blasted outwards, tearing through whatever tattered armor remained. Thick, blistering blood lanced out like living missiles, the searing liquid burning as if a caustic acid. The cry of pain had stolen the attention of the surviving gnolls, each turning a questioning eye toward their dying comrade. Like a fire hose had been turned loose, the sweltering blood showered each bewildered gnoll in utter sanguine horror.
The effect of ‘Blistering Surge’ was abrupt and devastating. As if showered in a torrent of boiling acid, each remaining gnoll recoiled in sheer agony as the liquid burned into their faces, their chests, and every exposed part of their bodies.
Then, the second gnoll affected by lesser boiling blood died.
Another blast of scorching blood erupted towards the remaining enemies. Even before the first coat of blistering destruction could begin to cool, another torrent of demon blood washed over them. I remember once reading that having boiling water spilled on an already scorched skin caused the pain to be amplified beyond reckoning. In the last moments of their pitiful lives, these gnolls suffered that agony. Only a moment after this final surge crashed over them, each toppled over dead.
For a brief moment, looking down upon the lifeless bodies of the gnolls, regret flooded through me after witnessing what our foes had suffered. Stella, seeing a look of shock on my face, floated between me and the deceased gnolls. Blocking my view, Stella pulled my eyes up to meet hers. “Xaz, I urge you to not feel pity or remorse for these vile creatures.” Her tone held a certainty to it, her eyes mirrored that resolve as she continued, “Do not forget that those creatures have no doubt taken many lives, causing untold suffering in their raids upon the nearby town and its villagers.”
My gaze wanted to turn away from her stoic face, to deny her words and to look upon the absolute horror my power had wrought. These were certainly enemies, who wouldn’t have hesitated a moment had the tables been turned. Still, doubt remained. The panic, the fear, and the pain I had witnessed was… horrifying. I wanted them to die. My breathing quickened as a question hammered from deep within my mind. A question that needed to be answered before I could take another step further.
“Are these,” I choked up as uncertainty tightened my chest. “Are these things just like I was? Were they stolen from their homes and brought to play the role in this damn Game? Am I killing people just like I had been? Just like my parents, my friends… my loved ones?”
There it was, spoken aloud as my enemy’s bodies lay ruined before us, skin blistered and blackened. Stella didn’t immediately answer, seeing my internal struggle play out. “When I killed those goblins in town, I felt… righteous. I was relieved and excited at our victory over those evil creatures. I revenged the deaths of my family and the families of people I had known my… this whole life. With these gnolls… there is only a system message telling me they were evil. It’s not the same. It doesn’t feel the same.”
I was reminded of what Stella had told me earlier that day, that all NPCs in this world were a lot like me, stolen from their homes to play the role of a helpless person at the mercy of any Hunter that came around. But, what about these monsters? In taking their lives now. My eyes had drifted to the floor as all light had vanished as the remaining embers expired, “Am I no better than Duke?”
“No,” Stella said in such a definitive tone that my eyes shot back up. Her voice brokered no argument. “These creatures are similar to you; in that they were brought from their past lives to play a role within this world and this Game. That’s where your similarities end. Unlike you, your family and friends, these despicable beasts were not stolen away from their homes.” Stella was shaking her head now as she spoke. “They were not stolen away in the night to live out their lives in an unknowing stupor, to be at the mercy of any passing monster or decrepit Hunter.”
“No,” she continued, her tone softening as if imploring me to heed her words. “You must know, for your own sake, that you should feel absolutely no pity for any monster we will face.” She sighed. Her rigid posture relaxed. “I wasn’t sure how to broach this. You are not like the typical Hunter. Most Hunters wouldn’t even give a damn or spare a moment’s thought about those that they slay as they travel across this world seeking ‘fame and glory.’ You are so much different from other Hunters.”
“While friendly NPCs are… were like you, mobs are entirely different.” Stella came closer, and had she been bigger it felt like she would have placed both paws on my shoulders to stress the importance of her next words. Instead, she held out a paw, her tiny pads showing as if reaching out to me. “Becoming a monster in the Game is a choice. They don’t have to pay any fee; they don’t get whisked away unknowingly. They choose to become a monster, in all literal sense of the word. I mean this when I say, that only a monster can become a monster.”
Stella paused to let that sink in. Confusion passed across my features as she continued. “Only the very worst of the galaxy, across any civilization, can become a monster here. Across the thousands of galaxies, only those individuals on death row for truly unspeakable crimes are even given the opportunity to escape their crimes. These inmates, instead of facing their eminent fate, are given a small chance at freedom. Instead of being vaporized, or blown into the void of space, or whatever sentence was levied against them, many instead volunteer to become a monster in the Game.”
Stella paused once more and looked down before finally bringing her eyes back to mine. “Like NPCs, their memories are replaced. But, while they remember nothing of their past lives, they instead get to live out their deepest fantasy. The life of a monster allows them to carry out their desire for violence and brutality. No normal monster is allowed to remember who they were, where they came from, or what they had done. For these cruel, twisted individuals, they begin a new life here. You should know that they are always – always – more criminals than available monsters. But, once they’ve chosen the option to become a mob, it’s only a matter of time. They wait and eventually get transferred to one of the Game worlds. Instead of receiving the punishment ruled by their own civilization, they get to play out the fantasy here.”
Stella held my gaze firm in her eyes. “So, I tell you once more, do not feel an inkling of remorse, or pity, for what you’ve done here. For what I hope we will continue to do together. These criminals deserve to have their final judgment carried out, by us.”
We waited in silence for a brief moment, her words sinking in. Stella looked hesitant for a moment, before letting out another long sigh. “I would be remiss to say one more thing. You should know that bosses and elites are a small exception to no memory rule. Only the very worst, the most abhorrent, heinous, and atrocious criminals can become one of these special monsters. Those ones, the true predators among their species, are the ones placed inside the most dangerous mobs in the Game.”
Stella took a deep breath and finally finished, “Unlike regular mobs, those monsters are allowed to retain a portion of their former selves. That portion, though, is the worst part. It’s the aspect that had already made them a monster among their own people. They carry that raw savagery from the moment they are spawned. While they don’t know who they are, they understand at some level this is all a game. That’s why their brutality can be so staggering.”
Stella seemed overwhelmed with everything she had shared, as if a burden had been carried on her soft shoulders knowing the truth behind every mob that she has witnessed Stouter, and now me destroy. Stella turned in the air, facing the gnolls that had been slain. Her shoulders rose and fell with her breaths. A thought dawned on me. Was I the only one to consider the foes that I had vanquished? “Did Stouter ever ask you…” I trailed off, unable to finish the question. I felt nothing but appreciation towards her friend and didn’t want to tarnish his memory.
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“Only you,” Stella replied. Her head tilted to the side as she looked down upon our shared enemy’s bodies. “I said before that you are so unlike any that I have seen or even heard of. Stouter and you shared a common pursuit in ridding this world of its demented Hunters, but only you thought enough to ask about these beasts lying before us. For a Hunter, slaying monsters is part of the game and not given a second thought.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to become so emotional,” Stella continued as her gaze reached the floor. “I know so much about this world, about the Game, and it’s a heavy burden. You and I are so alike. It seems like I’m in a dream about to wake and then be reminded about the truth of what happens here, what happens all over the galaxy. I, unlike you, have no ability to bring about a change. I can only be a guide regardless of how much I want to bring about that change. Stouter was an amazing man, an amazing friend. But…,” she paused. “Until I met you there seemed to be a horizon that he and I would never have been able to reach together. We were limited in what we could accomplish. I can’t quite describe it right, but with you, I see no horizon. I see that, together, we can do so much good in this world. And then hopefully the worlds beyond.”
Stella turned around and gazed into my eyes, as if searching for something. At that moment, it felt like we were indistinguishable from each other. We were one, alike in mind and spirit. Nodding at her, I spoke what I felt deep in my chest, “We will. Together.” We held each other’s gaze, seeing a resonance cross the distance between us. We knew what needed to be done and we would see it carried out. “Thank you, Stella.”
System Notification: You have been granted a new title, ‘The Just.’
Through your deepening connection with your Accelerator, and most importantly of yourself, you’ve come to a tipping point in your life that will affect all of your future decisions. You have come to understand the depth of the evil that is before you; the vilest creatures any galaxy has known. You have vowed to yourself that you would be the arm of justice against such unlawful beings. You are now, Xazorus the Just.
‘The Just’ - Title benefits: Permanently increases your reputation gains with Lawful aligned individuals and settlements by plus 10%.
When I now looked down at the disfigured corpses, I didn’t see victims. I saw them for what they truly were; monsters. Knowing what mobs truly were, I now had another objective; to destroy any monsters that I could. I would let justice be done upon them.
Seeing a blinking icon, I mentally clicked on it and notifications lit up my vision.
Quest Update: 6 of (unknown) gnolls defeated.
Experience Gained: Twitching Gnoll x6 (level ranges 6 to 9) – 2,550 experience
Skill: Stealth has increased to level 3.
Spell: Minor Fireball has increased to level 2.
Spell: Lesser Boil Blood has increased to level 3.
Spell: Minor Firebolt has increased to level 3.
It had been several minutes since the battle ended and thankfully nothing had come to investigate the commotion. The thick wooden door remained unmoving though some of the fire had blackened the edges. Feeling better now from our conversation, I was ready to continue on our quest. Walking over, we looted each gnoll in turn. As I moved through the pack’s gear, most of the equipment worn had suffered extensive damage and had little value. Though a few pieces were undamaged which meant they likely had higher durability, perhaps even magical.
Among the rubble and within a few weather coin purses, we walked away 18 silver and 74 copper pieces richer. Additionally, we found several interesting items, though I could only equip one as the other piece of equipment had a strength requirement I did not meet. Still, the dark cloak I was presently admiring, felt secure as I placed it over my shoulders. Power coursed through my body with the slight increase of attributes the cloak brought with it.
{Royal Cloak of the Roving Magi}. Quality: Well-crafted. Rarity: Rare. Type: Cloth. Slot: Back. Durability: 987/1000 Armor: 8. Effect(s): Wearing this cloak will increase Dexterity by plus 2, Intelligence by plus 1, and grant plus 10% resistance to magic.
{Plate Pauldrons of the Adventurer}. Quality: Above Average. Rarity: Uncommon. Type: Plate. Slot: Back. Durability: 478/500. Armor: 23Requirements: Strength 20(unmet). Effect(s): Wearing these pauldrons will increase Strength plus 1, Constitution by plus 2, but will lower movement speed by minus 5%.
Gnoll Brew of Adrenaline. Quality: Poor. Rarity: Rare. Type: Potion. Properties(s): Imbibing this potion will cause a temporary increase in Strength (plus 5) and Constitution (plus 5) for 5 minutes. Additionally, the drinker is immune to all mind-altering effects for the duration. Note - these effects are doubled for gnoll races.
Buried in a broken box of clothing, mixed in with other tattered garments was a deep blue, velvet cloak outlined with silver runes along the trim. It weighed far less than I expected, though the magically reinforced fabric felt as if it could stop a knife point. The pauldrons were made out of layered steel with additional protection stacked over the top of the shoulder, creating a flat pyramid shape. It looked to be able to protect the neck from swiping attacks quite well, though the strength requirement prevented me from using it right now. The gnoll brew was disgusting, to say the least. It smelled of copper and a wet dog. While the buff was incredible, I feared that attempting to ingest the brackish fluid would immediately trigger my gag reflex even if only a single drop touched my tongue.
I equipped the cloak, then stored the unusual potion and plate armor in my inventory. Equipping the cloak triggers a self-adjust feature, bringing the smooth fabric a few inches off of the ground. Taking out my battle axe, I gave it a few test swings, finding it didn’t impede my movement in the slightest.
Satisfied, we continued to peer about the rest of the fragmented room. Again, most of the boxes and furniture had been tarnished by the flames, not to mention the explosion, meaning most were little more than charred husks. An undamaged chest we had not yet rummaged through stood against a far corner, so I worked my way over to that, lightly stepping over the dead gnolls. Suddenly hearing barks and yapping coming from behind the door, it appeared several more of the vile dogs were making their way to us. However, because of the lack of agitation or rush in the rudimentary language, it didn’t sound as if they were in any rush.
The sound was growing louder by the moment, so we had precious few seconds to prepare. Dropping into sneak once more, I positioned myself to the right of the doorway while summoning my axe to my hand. Eyeing the hinges on the massive door, I knew that it opened into the room towards where I hid, so I would be granted a small amount of cover before engaging our newest opponents. With only seconds remaining, I settled on a plan to close the door behind the mobs so that none could flee when combat started. I didn’t want one running back down and bringing more reinforcements. By the sound of their conversation, there were at least two, perhaps three, gnolls about to open the door, but there was no way to be certain. I would need to make due. I could only hope it wasn’t another group of six otherwise I would need to make a hasty retreat. With barks right behind the door, the realization that my poor position would hinder my ability to run back up the tunnel if it came to that.
Damn it, I thought. We should have talked about what we would do if something had come up here. Nothing for it now, but to wait and hope my luck held against these new foes. With how close I would be to whatever came, melee combat would be unavoidable so I summoned my powerful axe to my hand as my breathing quickened. Guttural laughs and barks sounded like beating drums in my ears, trying to warn my primal side to flee while I could, but I held my position. Right before the door began to swing inwards, I remembered seeing my mana bar was low from the last engagement, so I quickly summoned and chugged down a mana potion downed it. It tasted like cinnamon.
The door started opening inward, but debris slowed its movement. With a grunt of effort, the door was forcefully pushed fully inward, nearly slamming into me, and briefly blocking my view. Two quick yips of surprise rebounded through the room as three gnolls charged in, one each quickly moving to their fallen brethren. Not waiting another moment, my adrenaline jolting my body awake as if trying to match the jerking movements the gnolls displayed while seeking any signs of life from the still corpses, I acted.
In as low of voice as I could muster, I began casting lesser blood boil on the nearest gnoll. The yips of outrage masked the sound of my spell casting, granting me that precious second to complete the necessary gestures and arcane words. As the spell completed, not even waiting to see the spell reached the target, I was already onto my next spell. Knowing boil blood had a one-second cooldown, I opted for the weaker version. A different surprised yelp sounded, signaling my spell had taken hold as heat blood finished.
A palpable wave of heat flew to the middle gnoll, causing it to bolt straight up, its ears twitching violently. Panic threatened to overwhelm me as all three gnolls turned to face me, my stealth now surely broken. Each lowered into an aggressive stance, arms and wicked claws pressing outwards towards me, as my final spell completed. One final lesser heat blood lanced towards the furthest target as all four combatants moved.
As the gnolls leaped, not one showing any hint of pain, I rammed into the towering door with all my strength. It slammed shut, sealing me with furious canines. My plan had been successful, none would be able to escape or call for aid, but that also meant I had no path to escape. With my back to the door, the three rampaging beasts created an impenetrable defense I would be unable to cross. My now seeming ill-conceived plan had effectively trapped me, moments away from being torn to ribbons. The body of the fallen gnolls and odd-shaped detritus between us all had given me enough time to complete my final spell casting of the battle. Even seeing the bloodthirsty monsters barreling towards me, I had enough wits to cast minor regen on myself.
You have been healed for 0 health (78 overheal) as you begin to regenerate.
The first gnoll came in hard and fast, claws racking the air in front of my face. After completing my spell, I had shifted, trying to get near to the same corner I had hidden earlier hoping that, at most, only two gnolls would be able to fight me at once. I never got that chance.
As the first gnoll came, its claws extended like obsidian talons, I had to set my feet to parry the attack. Even as I defended, the strength of the blow staggering me, the creature’s other hand came crashing down upon my shoulder. You have suffered 21 damage! The gnoll shot its head forward at frightening speed, its teeth reaching for my face. Juking my head to the side, I had barely time to instant cast my deflection spell, causing the gnoll’s head to miss wide. The gnoll’s movement, in combination with my spell, took the beast off balance. There was barely enough room to bring my axe across to slash into the gnoll’s exposed throat.
As the first gnoll reacted to the vicious wound, pulling away and trying to staunch the deep wound, another of its comrades lunged forward with both clawed hands outstretched. The mob intended to pierce both of my shoulders simultaneously, thereby denying me any mobility or ability to counterattack with my powerful axe once more. Thankfully for me, right as the fiend was about to plunge those dark punch-daggers home, lesser blood boil’s stunning effect triggered. Instead of driving talons into my chest, the beast spasmed in pain before crashing to the ground as if hit by a stun gun. Target stunned! Duration: 2 seconds remaining!
The third gnoll approached from the right, this one coming in teeth first, and by all appearances to bury me beneath its bulky body. The stunned gnoll had given me enough room to maneuver, so I was able to jump clear even as my axe slammed into the side of the first gnoll, who was futilely trying to steam the foaming blood escaping the wound in its neck. I was able to move far enough that the gnoll’s snapping teeth slammed closed within a whisker of the mark, catching only air.
The third gnoll was faster than I had expected, however. Even as the beast’s jaws slammed closed near me, I had not anticipated the creature’s claws that racked painfully across my stomach and chest. In two lightning-fast attacks, five rows of talons landed against my armor, before breaking through to bite deeply in my unprotected flesh. You RESISTED unknown disease!
“Stun wearing off in one second,” yelled Stella. “The first gnoll’s health is redlining!”
The gnolls that had pierced my torso, dug its nails in deeper while simultaneously chomping down on my shoulder as if he was biting down on a man-sized chew toy. The pain was excruciating and panic threatened to overwhelm me. Before I blacked out, Stella’s comment registered and I acted out of desperation.
With teeth still clamped down on my shoulder and claws trying to dig deeper into my side, I lunged with my axe, swinging a diagonal attack left to right. The blow landed hard on the first gnoll who had, at that point, dropped to a knee. Though, the move cost me. I stumbled as the gnoll latched to my side and attempted to bury me beneath its weight. It succeeded and I fell backward onto the unyielding stone, the weight of the heavy gnoll slamming atop me. My body exploded in pain as we hit the ground.
My vision erupted in showers of bright sparks, the unrelenting agony threatening to steal my vision entirely. It felt like the gnoll was trying to rip my sides apart. The stench of the gnoll’s breath was hot on my neck, it was all that I could do to stay awake. I was in so much pain that I missed a notification trying vainly to tell me the first gnoll had succumbed to its wounds. My eyes popped back open as the gnoll's crushing weight vanished. It took me a moment to realize it had jumped away and with such force that I took minor slashing damage as its claws jerked out of my flesh.
I opened my eyes to see the first gnoll bursting at the seams, blood still gushing towards my other enemies. The gnoll that had tackled me was reeling back in pain, its hands covering its melting face. In the corner of my vision, I likewise saw the other gnoll falling backward as it clawed at its own face as he futilely tried to dislodge the foul liquid. Then, it too died, bringing forth yet another burst of blood. Though, this shower only had a single target remaining. Blistering lifeblood flew to cover the still howling creature, covering him completely. In moments, he too finally succumbed and died, landing with a heavy thud off to my side.
Relief flooded through me my regeneration spell continued to combat the piercing wounds that seared painfully across my body. I could barely breathe, though I would be hard-pressed to say if it was from the crushing weight of the gnoll, the painful ache of my wounds, or the anxiety I felt after realizing how close I had been to death. My healing spell worked on the worst of my wounds as I lay there, staring up at the blank ceiling. When the healing was completed, I waited the necessary cooldown time before casting it once more. Blissfully cool magic coursed through my body, speeding along my recovery as my wounds continued to knit themselves back together.
Stella gently floated close, her eyes taking in my blood-soaked clothes. “Are you OK, Xaz? That looked really painful.”
“Yup,” I replied, amazed that I was able to still draw breath. That had been far too close. Instead of saying the obvious, I tilted my head enough to see Stell at the fringe of my vision, “That really, really, sucked.”