Chapter 177 – Floor 18: Part 2
Mathew’s euphoria was interrupted by a pair of men approaching him as he spun around in a paved driveway in front of a massive mansion. He didn’t sense much of a threat from the two bodyguards; they lacked mana, and the ‘Buzz’ didn’t activate, but it was something they had in their possession that drew his attention immediately.
“Guns! You have guns!” Mathew yelled in excitement. Firearms meant technology, and technology led to hot showers, warm meals and comfortable beds. If this Lily Bartlett was wealthy enough to live in an estate and be protected by bodyguards, he would have no problem freeloading off of her for a while!
The bodyguards paused for just a moment as they saw a wide grin on Mathew’s face. One even reached for his weapon, readying in case of trouble, when Mathew let out a loud guffaw of laughter that echoed against the walls of the mansion.
“Now, now, I’m here to help! Earthbind!” Mathew shouted for the Blessing, and his mana responded immediately. A long absent energy swelled up inside him, and strands of yellow mana streaked up from the ground and wrapped themselves around the bodyguards.
“Gods be damned, it’s good to have that back.” Mathew whispered gleefully as he savoured the feeling of power. It was like finally waking up after a long slumber, or walking after you had been forced to lie still.
The bodyguards struggled to free themselves, but it was useless. Mathew strutted past them toward the considerably rounder and wealthy-looking man behind them. As he passed, he patted one of the guards on the head.
“Good boy.” Mathew praised as if he were speaking to a dog.
“I..I am Roger Bartlett! I can give you money if that is what you are after.” Lily’s father stammered in fear as he saw his two large and well-trained bodyguards effortlessly ensnared by this barbarous-looking young man dressed in rags.
Mathew shook his head and didn’t stop walking.
“Not interested!” Mathew replied as he passed Roger and walked toward the closed doors of the estate. Not slowly down, he raised his hand and pointed at the wide, wooden doors that were reinforced with metal and worked in fancy designs.
“Word of Power: Break!” Mathew commanded, and the universe responded. Reality trembled, and with a loud crack, the doors shattered into pieces, and splinters of wood and metal fell to the ground and spilled across the stairs.
Mathew was giddy, nearly overwhelmed with the feeling of strength and power that had returned to him. He didn’t care that his leg didn’t function properly and he was left with a limp; he didn’t need it! The Words of Power and his other Blessings would be more than enough to handle every situation.
He couldn’t believe he had lived for years without it! From the corner of his eye, Mathew saw a few Celestials lazily floating through the air with their eyes fixed on him. They were more substantial than there were on the 17th Floor, like they were drawing strength from the use of the Words of Power.
‘Good.’ Mathew thought. His years of solitude had only been bearable because the Celestials accompanied him. He no longer feared the spirits; they were like old friends.
His boots, little more than hard soles wrapped and held in place by rags, crunched on the ground as he ascended the steps. The fearful Roger followed slowly, still stammering that he would offer whatever Mathew wanted.
After the display of destroying the front doors of his mansion, Roger was convinced this strange, wild man would kill everyone or take whatever he wanted. Roger needed to warn someone, anyone, of the danger they were in from this man!
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But he couldn’t leave his family in danger!
Mathew entered the mansion and paused for a moment. He took in the beautiful foyer and the wealth on display.
“Shower and food, here I come!” Mathew whispered with a grin. Ignoring Roger, Mathew made his way deeper into the estate.
“That’s far enough!” An older man shouted as he came around a corner. He wore a white shirt and black pants, and in his arms was a large shotgun, the two barrels pointed directly at Mathew’s chest. Roger heaved a sigh of relief at the sudden rescue.
Now that this stranger was halted, they could alert the authorities…
“Reduce.” Mathew commanded, not breaking his stride down the hallway. The shotgun in the old man’s hands shrunk in size, and the old man dropped the weapon in shock. By the time it hit the ground, it was no bigger than a pencil.
But the old man wasn’t done; looking around quickly, he raised a brass candleholder that was resting on a table and brandished it. He was about to charge when Mathew’s next words stopped him.
“Enlarge.” Mathew stated, his voice tinged with amusement as the candleholder doubled in size, then doubled again. In moments, the old man was holding a comically massive candleholder. Releasing it, the metal object crashed into the ground with enough weight to crack the tiles beneath and shake the walls.
“Nice attempt. Earthbind.” Familiar yellow energies wrapped around the old man’s legs and arms. Mathew sidestepped around him and continued down the hall.
“Lily Bartlett! Where are you!” Mathew called out, his tone playful as he peeked through one door and then another.
Page Break
Lily huddled next to her mother and siblings as shouts filled the mansion. There was a terribly loud crash, and she could feel the floorboards shake. The vibrations dislodged a vase and fell onto the ground, shattering into pieces. She started in fright at the sudden noise.
“It’s going to be alright. Your father will handle it.” Her mother assured them, while her eldest brother stood protectively in front of them, a small knife held in his hand.
“Lily Bartlett! Where are you!” A stranger's voice sounded out, slightly muffled by the closed doors of the breakfast parlour. Her mother turned to look at her, her eyes wide; when the doors opened with enough force, they slammed into the wall, the doorknob leaving a hole in it.
“Ahh! Finally! I knew I smelled something good!” The stranger said as he entered the room as if he owned it.
Dressed in multicoloured rags, his beard unkempt and hair hanging far down his back, he looked like some sailor who had been lost at sea and had found his way back to civilization after years stranded on an island.
Her father rushed in behind the man just as he picked up a plate and moved some of the lids off trays to reveal the food beneath.
“Bacon! Eggs! Gods, how I missed a good meal. I’ve been living off Shop rations for as long as I can remember. I hope you don’t mind if I help myself.” The strange man said, already scooping food onto his plate until it was piled high.
“Now, see here!” Her father shouted while her brother stepped forward in a fencer stance with his knife ready.
“There’s no need for all of that. You should sit down and enjoy this wonderful food.” The man said, his voice slightly muted by the mouthful of bacon he had just consumed. He gestured to the family to join him at the table and seemed irritated when the only response was her brother stepping closer with the knife raised.
The strange man slammed his plate onto the table with enough force to make the food jump, and some of the pile fell off onto the tabletop.
“Tch, see what you made me do? Wasteful.” He let out a sigh.
“Righteous Aura of Subjugation!” The man raised his voice and called out. An intense light surrounded him, and Lily could feel some weight settle down on her shoulders. It forced her to her knees, her head bowed as if in supplication to the stranger.
She was shocked to see that everyone else was doing the same, even her father and brother.
“There. That’s better. Now, which one of you is Lily Bartlett?” The man asked as he sat at the head of the table, picked up his fork and began to eat. He gestured to them impatiently to speak, his hand waving.
“I…I am Lily Bartlett.” Lily said as she worked up her courage. Surprisingly, the feeling of weight disappeared immediately. The man nodded at her.
“Good, stand up and take a seat at the table. Proper manners and all that. I’ve been eating alone for a long time; I’d like some company.” The man said but didn’t continue speaking until Lily sat at the end of the table across from him.
The man didn’t look at anyone else nor release any of her family from whatever power he held over them.
“Now, my name is Mathew, and the god of Sanctuary Retort has sent me. I’m your Champion!” Mathew said, smiling widely and throwing his arms wide. The fork in his right hand held a long piece of bacon that still had some egg on it, and it dropped onto the floor.