Chapter 98 – Floor 9: Part 19

“We need to put an end to this.” Mathew muttered while he watched the destruction being waged in the distance. His hands were clenched into fists, and an air of violence was about him.

“We will, but not right now. This was the plan from the beginning; it's too late to change it.” Alivia responded. She had taken her deck of cards into her hands and was idly shuffling them in a show of nonchalance that was betrayed by her shaking fingers.

After the second mis-shuffle, she put the deck back into her inventory.

“I didn’t realize the plan would cause so many deaths. If I had, I would never have agreed to it. I should have known better.” Mathew replied.

“None of this is on you or any of us. Mercy and the others would have killed as many of the locals even if the fighting had never reached their domains. I assumed the conflict would be restricted to the Lords and Ladies going after the Lower Ranks.” Aster explained.

She was picking at her dress in an attempt to remove lint and dirt from the garment that didn’t exist, anything to keep her gaze from the battlefield.

The Upper Ranks had heard that a large group of Lords and Ladies of the Lineage were finally making their move against the Lower Ranks. An army consisting of tens of thousands, led by an alliance of the major figures amongst the local Lords were assaulting Mercy’s territory.

Aster had created portals to bring Mathew and the others to this hill a few miles away from the capital city of Mercy’s Domain, where it was under siege. The local forces ringed the walls of the city where mages hurled magic, and trebuchets flung pots of burning pitch and large rocks at the defenders.

Mathew could hear the sounds of fighting and the screams of the dying from where he stood, but he made no move to interfere. Neither did any of the others.

“I don’t know what they told those folks to get them on their side, but they don’t have any qualms about dying for Mercy.” Aleks observed. Taking a drag of his cigarette, he was the only one amongst their group who seemed completely unfazed by the fighting.

“The Adherents could be persuasive. I would imagine that Mercy retains some of the Blessings from her time with the Outer Deity.” Joseph suggested.

“Not just her. We’ve seen the effects that ‘Beguiler’ had on us. These locals would be completely unprepared to deal with it. Carlie could likely whip them up into a frenzy all by herself.” Marvin said, joining in the discussion.

He had been uncharacteristically quiet since they had arrived, this was the first time he had spoken since stepping through the portal.

“If she is even here. It could just be Mercy in that city.” Alivia replied.

“They are all here. It was agreed that they would have a ‘show of force.’” Kristen adjusted her hood to keep it low over her eyes from the sun overhead. The ‘Prophet’ had been the one to warn the group of this battle using her Blessings.

“If we know that, then we can assume the Lineages know it as well. Hopefully, they kill each other off, and we can get off this gods forsaken Floor as soon as possible.” Aster exclaimed.

“So what? We just stand here while they burn that city to the ground? What about all the people inside?” Mathew shouted, spinning around to look at the others desperately.

Yule watched him with pity. She had been with him for nearly a year and knew Mathew well enough to understand that he did not want to harm the innocent. He could be harsh and scary; Yule had seen it firsthand, but never to anyone who didn’t deserve it.

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“They are already dead. It doesn’t matter who wins this conflict. If Mercy and the others come out on top, they’ll just throw the locals into another battle or use them for ‘entertainment.’” Aster explained.

“And if the Lineages succeed, they will kill everyone that may be ‘tainted’ by the Demon Lord’s corruption. It will be the same in our territories.” Alivia added.

“This is why we are here, Mathew. This is what the gods sent us to accomplish. We are the fire that burns away the stagnation gripping this floor. We are the ‘evil’ that will unite the people against us. Once that is accomplished, we may leave.” Kristen explained.

“We can do that without destroying an entire city!” Mathew yelled, gesturing with his hand at the devastation the conflict was creating.

“We are. But they aren’t.” Joseph muttered.

“I didn’t expect the Upper Ranks to be content with gaining a reputation in dribs and drabs. After this, they will have more than enough to fulfill their objective.” Aster added.

“I don’t care. I’m putting an end to this.” Mathew said. His face was as hard as stone, and his blue eyes were like ice. Yule shivered as a violent swirl of mana surrounded him.

“And how are you going to do that? Take on the army of the Lineages? And what about after that? Are you going to go in and kill Mercy and the others as well?” Alivia scoffed and shook her head before continuing.

“Don’t be stupid. You’re the weakest one here, Mathew. You’re what? Level 25 or 26? I got ten Levels on you, and you can bet that Mercy has more than that. Unless you got something hidden up your sleeve, you’re not doing anything against that much strength.”

“30. I’m level 30.” Mathew muttered, not taking his eyes from the army below. There were probably over a dozen Lords and Ladies amongst them, all of them stronger than Algrond.

‘Could I take them?’ Mathew thought. It didn’t matter, he had to try. He wasn’t going to let all those innocent people die. The Lineages, along with Mercy and the Lower Ranks, needed to be removed. Everyone else would be spared.

“You’re crazy if you think you can do that! Stand back and I promise we’ll do something after things settle a bit.” Alivia said in an attempt to reason with him.

“She’s right. Now is no time to be-.” Aster was interrupted before she could finish her sentence.

“I’m with you.” Marvin expressed. He had taken a long rapier out of his inventory and was taking large, exaggerated swings with it to loosen up his shoulder. The blade was much longer than any Mathew had ever seen before, and it shone with a purplish light.

Alivia’s eyes widened as if she couldn’t believe the degree of stupidity on display.

“Screw it.” Aleks flicked his cigarette, and the butt landed on the ground in a spray of sparks. He adjusted his belt and checked his revolver in its holster.

“You’re all mad.” Alivia whispered in surprise.

“Pissed is more like it. I’m going as well. We’ll take out the Lineages first and then put that Adherent into the ground where she belongs.” Joseph said. His weapon was a cane, and he twirled it dramatically before pulling a blade out from the handle.

“Great, four of you will make such a difference. You’re all going to die.” Aster grumbled. She stood with her arms crossed as she watched the four men make their preparations. Mathew looked from one person to the next before nodding.

“I need more power.” Mathew whispered. He began to pull out cube after cube of Aether from his inventory and placed them on the ground at his feet. After the first three cubes made their appearance, his companions paused. After half a dozen, they watched him carefully.

Once the number reached twenty, they began to look at him like he was a madman.

Mathew made a small pyramid of all the cubes of Aether he had accumulated in his time on this floor. He had been hoarding them for this moment. With a shout, he stomped down on the pile with his foot, shattering the delicate cubes and releasing a torrent of Aether.

The ground was covered with a blue haze, and the air filled with the overwhelming spicy scent of Aether. Mathew screamed as his skin was flooded with energy. Aether soaked into his body, and the feeling it brought was akin to being held over hot coals.

It was all he could do for long moments to keep hold of his sanity. When the feeling finally faded, the blue haze dispersed, and the smell of spice retreated, it left Mathew panting from the exertion. But he wasn’t done yet.

Ignoring the horrified looks of those around him, Mathew opened his status screen and used his accumulated Aether to Level up.

A vortex of mana formed around Mathew, with him in its very center. The energy was so thick that his body was obscured from the others.

Again and again, it repeated. Level 31….32. It went on and on until, finally, it stopped.

Mathew felt stronger than he had ever felt before. When he checked his status, he was surprised by what he saw.

Level 40.

‘I just hope it's enough.’ Mathew thought as he closed the screen and began to run down the hill toward the waiting army of the Lineage.