Luke let out a sigh of relief as the Major left. He hadn’t expected the situation to spiral so close to disaster. When he first caught wind of what was going down, he’d immediately called Hanze. Chad and Kevin, predictably, had bitten off more than they could chew, and when things escalated, they dragged Mr. Brindley into it. Luke had hoped Hanze could smooth things over with some legal maneuvering. Instead, it had nearly turned into a bloodbath. Well, another bloodbath. What Abaddon had done in the hallway could only be described as a bloodbath.
Tom was acting weird, though. The moment the Major turned his back to him, he just stood there, looking as smug as ever. And then he vanished. At the same moment, Tom, Duncan, and Alex walked out of thin air on the other side of the room.
“What the fuck?!” Luke yelped, stumbling back as his gaze darted between the spot where the illusion of Tom had disappeared and the space where the new Tom had appeared.
“What the hell just happened?” Luke asked, his face a mask of confusion.
“What happened,” Tom said with irritating calmness, “is that I put Brindley in his place without killing anyone.”
“You killed two idiots who attacked your fake,” Skippy pointed out flatly.
“Well, if they’d broken the illusion,” Tom griped, “I’d have had to knock them all out and implant fake memories of what I wanted them to think happened. Do you know how much effort that would’ve been?”
Duncan, already halfway out the door, waved dismissively. “Alright, I’m done. I’ve left my class for long enough. I'm dropping the spell now.”
The room shifted in an instant. The weapons, which had been ominously stuck to the ceiling, floated down like leaves in a breeze. The oppressive feeling Luke hadn’t even realized was Alex’s magic disappeared, leaving an unsettling void in its place. The room actually became more colourful, as apparently, he had somehow missed how dark it had become.
“I'm sorry. What the fuck is going on?” Luke asked as Duncan left the room.
“Isn't it obvious?” Tom cut in, raising an eyebrow as if Luke were slow to catch on. “None of that was real. It was just some good spellwork, illusions, and a little mind magic. I mean, it's not like I can actually do all that stuff on my own. Yet.”
"Why?" Luke asked.
“We had to make them back down with a show of force, and we couldn't go on a killing spree. So scaring the shit out of them was good enough.”
"Actually, I was asking why you were an illusion," Luke asked.
“Because none of us are bulletproof, Luke, duh,” Tom interrupted, his tone clipped. “Except Abaddon. Anyway, why would I stand in front of a man with a gun? Worse, we don't have time for petty feuds with idiots while we’re gearing up for a goblin invasion.”
Skippy snorted, his arms crossed as he leaned against the wall. “Sure, put it off. It’s not like that ever comes back to bite anyone.”
Tom shot him a glare. “You think I don’t know that? Of course, we're going to have to kill those assholes later. But we’ve got two days to take out the goblins. We don't have the time or the resources to flatten Brindley’s whole operation and take on the goblins. So I made a judgment call.”
“They’re not useful. They’re liabilities,” Alex muttered. “We should’ve just killed them all.”
“Yeah, and that would’ve gone over great. Real morale boost,” Tom shot back. “Not to mention. If we killed them all, their friends would come back with torches and pitchforks, and we can't afford that right now. Worse, the Major might have fucked off, and then we really would be screwed. Better to just keep a lid on this until after the goblins."
“And then what?” Skippy asked, his voice low and bitter.
Tom shrugged. “Then we deal with it.”
Skippy sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. “We're just putting off a problem." Skippy pointed out.
"Of course, I realized I'm just putting this shit off. But we have a million things to do, and there are six beta-testers in this building. We don’t have the luxury of fixing everything right this second. Worse, we still haven't heard anything from the rest of the guild. Who knows where they are? So unless you have a better idea for the goblins.”
Skippy looked at his feet, his shoulders slumping. “Weeelllll Jaime made contact today.”
Tom froze. “When the hell were you going to tell me that?”
“Well, I was going to tell you, but then an angry mob showed up for Abaddon!” Skippy protested, straightening under Tom’s glare.
Luke raised a hand, trying to diffuse the tension. “Who’s Jaime?”
"He is another member of our guild." Alex helpful added
"That's not really helpful," Luke pointed out.
"Jaime made contact. He's making his way towards us. He already found Botat, Sebby, Godric Mori, Black Midus, and Clover."
"Are they going to show up in time for the goblins?" Tom asked.
"No," Skippy admitted. "They have an entire caravan, including their families, following behind them, and they're having trouble getting past Langley. Jaime thinks it will take at least another five days to go around, maybe more.."
Tom pinched the bridge of his nose. “That’s too long. We’ll have to handle the goblins ourselves.”
“And what about mcfuck face, Brindley?” Skippy asked.
Tom waved a hand dismissively. “It's a risk. The best time for him to attack is when we're attacking the goblins. Chloe has Lucy, but beyond that, it might just be easier to let him conquer Hopkins and then take it back afterwards. And speaking of good ideas—great job bringing Hanze into this, by the way.”
“Actually,” Skippy said, his tone flat, “that was Luke’s idea.”
Tom turned to Luke, his expression unreadable. “Well... thanks for helping, Luke. I owe you one.”
The words sounded like they physically hurt to say.
"Anyone else want to add anything?" Tom asked.
"I found out that anything new gets the world's first title," Abaddon said.
Tom looked at him, confused.
"We already knew that."
But Abaddon shook his head.
"I got the title and upgraded it six times for making some really basic potions. I think anyone who created an item for the first time since the system showed up might get the world's first title." Abaddon said.
Tom looked at the massive Lizard in stunned silence.
"Ok, all of our crafters are going to start farming titles. Anything else?!" Tom asked a bit sarcastically.
"Hey, Tom, some kid stole some of our equipment and broke into the foundry to build some armour," Duncan announced as he walked back into the room.
"You asked for it," Alex giggled at him.
Tom just sulked.
"Do I need to deal with this immediately, or can it wait," Tom asked.
"You can wait. Luke, can you come with me?" Duncan asked.
"Um, sure," Luke agreed, walking away from Tom's group.
----------------------------------------
Tom looked at his friends. Abaddon and Alex were bickering about how to farm the world's first titles. But Skippy was sitting away from everyone else, just sulking. Tom signed. It would appear he finally had to deal with whatever the hell was bothering skippy.
"Hey, Alex," Tom said, getting her attention.
"Hmm, yeah?" Alex said.
"I think I need to go talk to skippy. Alone. You ok if I leave you here?" Tom asked.
"Yeah, sure," Alex said as she returned to her conversation with Abaddon.
Tom walked over to Skippy, sitting down with him.
"How are they doing, buddy?" Tom asked.
"Fine," Skippy admitted tersely.
"How are you handling all this?" Tom asked.
"Fine," Skippy said.
"How are you leveling?" Tom asked.
"It's fine, ok," Skippy said.
"What do you think of Abbadon's new ass?" Tom asked.
"It's fine …. Fuck you!" Skippy said as what he just said registered.
"Well, I'm glad to see you haven't turned into a robot while I've been playing City Builder," Tom said cheekily. Then his tone turned more serious.
"Ok, but really, what's wrong? You've been down ever since I walked in here. Scratch that you've been off since the system apocalypse started. No scratch that you've been fucking miserable and borderline depressed lately. Was it dying?"
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"What? no, fuck no, it's not that." Skippy admitted.
"Then what?" Tom asked. "My bloodline gives me access to all your information, so don't pretend everything is fine. I can literally see that you are miserable."
"Your bloodline lets you read minds?" Skippy asked.
"No, but the system is collecting tons of information about us, including our mental health. I'm just checking the system's notes, as it were."
"That's really fucking creepy."
"And you're changing the subject. What's wrong?"
Skippy let out a sign.
"This is a joke character," Skippy admitted.
"Oh … fuck." Tom muttered.
"Yeah, it's easy to be a squirrel kin with Ratatoskr's bloodline and go all in on the jokes when it's a game. But … I hate this. I hate missing the top three feet of my body. I hate everybody calling me cute. I hate everyone trying to pet me. I hate being a squirrel. I hate not having my old body. My dick doesn't even look right!!" Skippy raged.
Tom cringed a little at the last part as he tried to change the subject of the conversation.
"Have you tried talking to Abbadon? He's going through the same thing you are," Tom offered.
"I already tried that. 'Hector' likes being Abbadon. I guess going from five feet of fat nerd to nearly eight feet of reptilian perfection and having two dicks is a good thing for him."
"Wait a minute, Abbadon has what?" Tom asked.
"Yeah, I mean, I get it. If I had suddenly had two overgrown shlongs, I might want to brag about it. But still TMI."
"And you decided I needed to know about it?" Tom asked.
"Misery loves company," Skippy muttered. "Regardless, Hector doesn't seem to mind losing his humanity and being Abbadon for the rest of his life. But you know what's the worst thing? I don't even like the build I'm currently working on."
"What's wrong with your current build?" Tom asked.
"It's not me. It's the build. It's too upfront and personal, and it takes forever to kill anything. I feel like I'm chopping down a tree. I mean, getting some curses and poisons and shit will be helpful, but only for the end-game stuff. In the meantime, I feel fucking useless. The only time I was even half useful was for the demon lord. For the rest of the time, I've been dragging the group down. I thought it was because I didn't have [Legendary Agility], but I just got that, and this build still doesn't work properly. I mean, The fuck am I supposed to do about that?"
Tom carefully considered his response. Skippy's problem was he was trying to build a skirmisher, but that wasn't how skippy liked to play. Deep down, Skippy was a rouge. He enjoyed sneaking assassination, thievery, and skullduggery. His current build had no subtlety or stealth, and Tom could see it was aggravating his friend almost as much as his race was. He wanted to help his friend. He just couldn't think of how. Normally, he would just delete the character and start over. Unfortunately, that wasn't really feasible at the time. They couldn't just go back to character creation now, or could they?
"What about the [Re-roll scroll]?" Tom offered.
"I mean, I guess that would help with being a squirrel. But then I lose the bonus, and I need those for the class."
"Then sunder your classes!" Tom said.
"What?" Skippy asked, stunned.
"Change your race back to human and sunder your classes. Just get a clean start over." Tom said, dusting his hands off to emphasize his point.
"Can we really afford to do that?" Skippy asked. "I mean, it's kind of the end of the world."
"Well, to be perfectly blunt, and you said it yourself, you're not playing a vital role. You haven't even hit level 22 yet, and you're a pure combat build. With the bonus from sundering your class, you'll regain those levels in a day or two, even without any boss monsters." Tom said.
Despite his words, Skippy still looked skeptical.
"Look, Skippy, most of your complaints basically amount to buyer's remorse. You logged into the Legend of Noralon thinking you were only playing a game. Instead, it's real. If you change your race back to human, you won't feel strange. If you sunder your classes, you can find something that works for you in the apocalypse, and you won't feel like a loser."
"What about the bloodline?" Skippy asked. "Those things are nearly impossible to get rid of. I only got that for the whole squirrel thing I was going for."
"Yeah, fair point. You're going to be stuck with the bloodline of Rataskuire, a nearly unkillable raid boss whose insults cause people to drop dead. Poor you. Cut the crap skippy, even if it isn't the perfect bloodline. We both know you can make that shit work for you. Besides, even in some fake universe where you are completely incapable of working a legendary bloodline for all its worth, then we can look into getting rid of it." Tom said the last part softly.
Skippy looked at him like he was insane.
"Removing a bloodline means we need to get a system token, something we normally only get at special events. Those things are priceless." Skippy spluttered.
"Well, you're our friend, and if you really need it, we will get it for you," Tom said. "And hey, with my bloodline, we might not even need the system token."
"That's bullshit, and you know it," Skippy said with a happy sign.
"Does it matter? Are you complaining that you don't like your legendary bloodline? Boo hoo, you think I would have been the healer if I knew we were going into the apocalypse?" Tom shot back.
"It has been useful." Skippy pointed out.
"That's beside the point. If I had known all of this was coming, I would have come into this with a close-range high output [Spell Sword], or a heavy armour [General], or maybe even my original [Death Soverian] build. I made a choice, and I'm living with it best I can. What happened to the loser who spent three days with a bedpan under your desk for the winter event? You are one of the best PVP gamers I know, so stop sulking in a corner." Tom said, punching skippy in the arm.
Skippy blushed as he rubbed his arm.
"Um, there's one more thing," he muttered quietly.
"What?" Tom asked.
"Do you think girls will still like me as a human?" Skippy asked as he stared at his feet.
"Um …" Tom wasn't sure how to respond to that question. "I'm sorry. Are you saying you've been having furry girls coming up to ask you to take them to Pound Town?"
The total blush covering Skippy's face was answer enough.
"Dude!"
"Hey, at least I'm not a virgin anymore." Skippy shot back.
"I really didn't need to know that," Tom said. "Ugh, now I'm imagining squirrel-on-human action. Someone bleach my brain!!"
"You're just jealous." Skippy needled him.
"Please stop talking. I'm not Alex. I'm trying to wipe the last five minutes of memory from my brain. Fucking furry porn." Tom groaned.
"Well, it's not like I was getting any before." Skipppy pointed out.
Tom groaned again but then sighed.
"Look Skippy with a [Re-roll Scroll], you don't have to look like you used to. You can kiss the sad nerd behind and come out as a total jock with a thirty-inch penis in your pants."
Skippy lost his computer as he doubled over in laughter.
"Oh my god, that was terrible, you sounded like a commercial for penis supplements. But you're right. I'll think about it. Do you mind if I take some time for myself? I'm not empire-building or whatever; I just need some me time."
"Sure, buddy, take all the time you need," Tom said, rubbing his friend's back as he turned back to Duncan. It was time to find out who had broken into the foundry.
You may skip to the next chapter.
Name: Skippy
(Andrew Owens)
Race: Theirinthrope
Type: Humanoid / Beast
LVL: 21
SubRace: Squirrel
Age 18
Health: 840
Stamina: 1890
Mana: 840
Health Regen: 10.5 per min
Stamina Regen: 14.7 per min
Mana Regen: 8.4 per min
Titles: Beta-Tester, First, Awoken Myths
Immune
None
Resistances
Physical 14%, Elemental 14%, Magical 14%, Vitality 14%, Mind 14%, Soul 14%, Crit 28%, Poison 28%, Disease 28%, Insta-Death 28%
Weakness
None
Bane
Manslayer, Beastslayer
Classes: Swordsman MAX, Dancer MAX, Spectral Bandit 1
Total
STR: 168
AGIL: 323
DEX: 147
CON: 63
END: 42
PER: 168
INT: 42
WILL: 42
SPIRIT: 42
EGO: 42
CHA: 42
LCK: 210
Base
STR: 168
AGIL: 294 +10%
DEX: 147
CON: 63
END: 42
PER: 168
INT: 42
WILL: 42
SPIRIT: 42
EGO: 42
CHA: 42
LCK: 210
Personal: +4 AGIL +4 PER +3 DEX +3 LCK
Racial: +3 AGIL +2 DEX +2 PER +1 CON
Bloodline: +5 AGIL +5 LCK
Dancer Skills: +6 STR
Level Bonus: +2 to all Stats
Bloodline:
[Bloodline of Ratatoskr] - Legendary: The Blood of the Legendary Squirrel who runs up and down the length of the world tree carrying insults from the dragon Nidhogg at the roots to the great eagle at the top of the tree.
* [Ratatoskr's Tongue] - Level 6 >> Level 10
* [Ratatoskr Instincts] - Level 26 >> Level 30
* [Ratatoskr Vicious Mockery] - Level 24 >> Level 30
* [Nidhogg's Gift] - Level 11 >> Level 16
* [Ascending Yggdrasil] - Level 20 >> Level 26
* [Aura of the Divine Beast] - Level 16 >> Level 20
* [Defiant Regeneration] - Level 23 >> Level 25
* [Raid Boss Physiology] - Level 24 >> Level 28
* +5 to AGIL per level
* +5 to LCK per level
Skill Slots: 21/60: Skill Points: 3
Personal Skills
* [Stamina Burn] - Level 12
* [Rataskurs Pocket] - Level 20 >> Level 24
* [Mapping] - Level 20
* [System Wiki] - Level 10
* [Blades] - Level 30 >> Level 31
* [Sneak] - Level 13 >> Level 18
* [Assassination] - Level 5 >> Level 8
* [Meditation] - Level 1 >> Level 22
Swordsman 6/6
* [Perfect Strike] - Level 16 >> Level 20
* [Piercing Strike] - Level 27 >> Level 29
* [Soul Strike] - Level 19 >> Level 20
* [Far Strike] - Level 23 >> Level 25
* [Venom Strike] - Level 21 >> Level 22
* Capstone: [Manifold Strike] - Level 15 >> Level 17
Dancer 6/6
* [Swagger] - Level 27 >> Level 30
* [Mirage Step] - Level 24 >> Level 25
* [Gymnast Grace] - Level 18 >> Level 22
* [Feather Steps] - Level 14 >> Level 16
* [Focus] - Level 4 >> Level 9
* [Legendary Agility] - Level N/A
Spectral Bandit 01/6
* [Phantom Shift] - Level 1