The Exterminators ground their teeth in response to his proposal. Vaile could easily tell how utterly pissed that they were, and he supposed that they had a legitimate reason to be. They had now found themselves in a rather nasty situation, with no way backwards or forwards without there being the potential for significant losses to their side. If they tried to fight without accepting the wager, they would be torn to ribbons in no time, but if they accepted then they would essentially be putting their lives in the hands of a hated foe.

They had no idea as to how many challengers would be in their way, and for all they knew they would have to fight each member of the mob one by one, slowly draining their stamina until a lucky cultist was able to put them down. And, if their looks toward himself were anything to go by, they deeply feared that he himself would be one of the challengers. If his hunch was correct, then they knew how poorly a one-on-one fight against him would be, and this was likely one of the reasons why it was taking them so damn long to provide an answer.

So he threw them a bone.

“Oh, don’t worry,” Vaile said in a somewhat mocking tone. “I won’t be getting fully involved. You won’t be fighting me unless you reject my proposal, which will, of course, result in you being beaten to hell and back and left to the whims of the Spiders. However, if you accept and participate as you are supposed to, then you’ll be allowed to die without facing the wrath of the spiders.”

Vaile looked around at the cultists and over beyond the Exterminators to the spiders behind them. He cocked his head a bit and then shrugged as he added some final mockery to the situation.

“Of course, you could say ‘no’, but we both know that such a thing would not be in what you think would be your best interest. Death behind, death in front, death to the sides, death for courage, and death for resistance. Not much but death awaits you, but would you, being the assholes that you are, not want to die without contributing to the new way that things will be as a final act of meaningless defiance?”

The faces of the Exterminators scrunched up, partially out of indignation and partially due to Vaile’s special attribute that made him such a stud to certain groups but also a living pile of pure, unadulterated ‘essence of ugly’ to others.

“Fine. We accept.”

As soon as the leader (or the assumed leader) of the Exterminators said those words, Vaile knew he had all but assured that his scheme would end in nothing but success.

“Well, present your first fighter into the ring. Jacob? You’re up.”

…

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Jacob had been fortunate to have been born where he had been when he had been. He had never truly thanked his parents or the elders of the community for putting him in the position that he found himself in, even though they certainly did not approve. He did have to give them some credit; were it not for their stubborn refusal to appreciate change, then he might not have been led to the enlightenment that he had received.

But that was the only thing that he thanked them for, for they had tried to convince him to leave his new family multiple times. Each time he had refused them, each time they came back harder. That was until they pushed too far. They had tried to force him to stay away from his new community, and he had shown them the power that they were attempting to deny him. The power that the Goddess gave him was too much for them, and they fell before his righteous might. Normally he would have been in deep trouble, maybe even forced to run away, but the Faith had spread into every facet of the town and this ensured his safety.

Those whom he had shown the power of the Goddess to in such a brutal manner were quietly removed, their taint cleansed from where they had laid upon the cold, hard ground. He had been chosen, and now it was time for many, faithful and unconvinced alike, to witness the blessings that the Goddess had bestowed upon him. She had granted him traits of her children, and with that came the understanding of his place in the world.

He would show everyone the glory of Mother, and even those who did not believe would either come to their senses or would make fine offerings to sate Mother and Her children. So, as he entered the ring made by the bodies of the faithful and faithless alike, he shed the robes that he had worn for weeks, exposing the gifts that Mother had given unto his wretched body.

His muscles bulged, his hands ended in claws, his eyes were not two, but instead two that were each four at the same time. His human skin bore the occasional place where hard carapace replaced it, and his teeth were now needle-sharp and laced with venom. He was no longer a weak, frail, pathetic human, he was more than any mere member of the Races could ever be on their own! With these gifts, his Level rose to new heights. These measly so-called ‘Exterminators’ were nothing without their fancy toys, and he would show those who were still fearful of them that they could bleed and die just as any other member of the Races could.

He had been tall for a teen, but now he towered over the fully grown adult who stood opposed to him. Previously he would have just been a few centimeters shorter, but now he was the one looking down on the wretched being before him. He sneered towards the ones who sought to deny enlightenment to so many others, and as Lord Vaile moved out from between him and his foe, he lunged forward, and with a single swipe of his claws, he ripped the enemy in half.

That was too easy; much too easy. Was this some sort of trick, or were his new family’s enemies simply that weak without their tools? He watched as the upper half tried to pull itself away, but he would not let that creature have a chance at escape. Trick or not, he would show his Goddess-given power to ALL! A swift stomp to the head shattered the skull like it was caught in a dangerously fast industrial press, sending bits of bone, blood, and gray matter flying out as his foot smashed down.

He felt the rush of Experience Points flood him, and the thrill was incredible but underpinned with his disappointment in his foe’s weakness. He scoffed and took his place again, feeling waves of pleasure as he sensed more people join the flock of their own volition. His new family was expanding, and soon the whole nation would either accept the Goddess as their master or would face a similar fate to those who denied her.