The sun had just set, as I made my way to the wealthy district. A good section of the city rings was devoted to the massive mansions that towered over shops and dojos. It would still be months before I could get my hands on any gear. Ruth had asked him to come over and learn quick draw swordsmanship. If it was worth my time, I would learn it.

A ghoul opened the gate, as I arrived. The mansion was built with an imperial Japanese style. It said a lot about the woman. She was more than vain enough to desire a mansion, and she valued her ancestry enough to have a Japanese style mansion built.

The doors to the place opened and I walked through. A red carpet led to a simple sitting room. “Our master will see you shortly.” A ghoul said. An hour later Ruth walked in. She wiped blood from her face with a silk handkerchief.

She sat across from me in a richly adorned seat. “I’m sorry to keep you waiting. My breakfast had more fight in him than I thought. I do love white mages, they cast heal and regenerate on themselves. It ensures my meals are plentiful. Though, they lack quality at times.” This was her way of altering my impression of her. She wore a long flowing robe over armor and a sword rested at her side. She moved with eloquence and dignity. It was unlike the earlier impression.

“When you had me at your mercy, you let me live. I acted unlike myself, I want to change that. You came to learn from me quick draw swordsmanship. If you would like, we can adjourn to my dojo.” I frowned at the display and followed behind her.

We walked down a long hallway and entered practice area. Wooden swords stood on stands and a set of steel swords were set in the front. I looked around and picked a wooden sword from the racks.

“I would like to see if I can learn from you. Show me your quick draw skills.” I dashed forward with mana burst. My wooden blade shouldn’t kill her. With that in mind, I tried for a real blow.

Her blade was out of its sheath and she slashed once, twice, three times, and she put it back in the sheath. I could see her moves perfectly. Every muscle, every twitch, her stance, and the way she held her blade. My own wooden sword fell apart.

“Is that what you wanted to see?” Ruth asked. I frowned, how could she do that. I saw her movements but couldn’t react in time. I’m certain that I’m faster than her. Is this a difference of experience? When the first test failed, a different one is in order.

“No, you’re faster than me for now. I want to see if you can keep it up.” I said. The vampire gnashed her teeth the returned to calm.

“As you wish, let me show you my skill.” She moved her hips and her stance changed. I pulled a sword from my inventory and dashed forward. Mana burst and thrust combined for a deadly stab. Once again, she was able to pull her blade from the sheath. This time she threw herself to the side and cut my steel sword. Just before she struck my arm I changed direction and drove my elbow into her sternum. Her armor took the blow and deflected some of the force. If it hadn’t, her upper torso would have exploded.

Blood pulled from her mouth and she coughed up a glob of blood. “How was that, do you want to continue observing my skills? That sword in your hand is worthless now. I won this exchange again.” Ruth said. I nodded, she had won the exchange. Perhaps, I was acting childish.

“You did win, I will learn from you.”

New Skill

Crimson Iaido lv1

A quick draw method devised by Ruth Yamamoto. This skill targets vital areas for quick bloody victories.

+0.1Agl.

“Good, I have a quest for you.”

Quest

Crimson Iado training part 1

requirements

100,000 swings first stance

100,000 swings second stance

Rewards

+10lvs crimson Iaido

Third stance

Crimson Iaido practice sword

I nodded and took a wooden sword from the wrack. I faced one of the training mannequins and began my training. Broken wooden swords were chucked in a pile beside me. I completed the quest and received a sheathed steel katana.

Ruth was back with her hair in a long braid. She was wearing a blood red robe this time. She poured two glasses of chilled blood and handed me one. I raised an eyebrow.

“It’s not human blood.” With a shrug, I took a sip of the irony drink.

“I heard you and Marris hit it off. That naga once swallowed minotaur. I saw it, his name was Steve. She isn’t someone to get intimate with trust me.” I blinked and let the words pass over me.

“She seemed nice enough, just used to getting her way.” She raised an eyebrow. “That’s a lie. She tried to eat me on my first night. Once she figured out I’m stronger and impervious to her bight, well she kowtowed to me.” Ruth chuckled and took a sip of blood.

“Yea, that sounds like most predators. We are so used to being at the top of the food chain, when we finally meet something above us, we do what we can to not get eaten. You made a mistake with her. That naga will go straight to the golems and have you arrested for raping her.” I raised an eyebrow.

“She was trying to eat me.” Ruth nodded. “She has successfully eaten many men who entered the place.” Ruth nodded again. “She crawled into my room and joined me in the bath.” Ruth smiled and nodded again. “She is still going to get her way, isn’t she?” A final time Ruth nodded.

“Golems are only lv150, so long as I destroy them quickly, they shouldn’t be an issue.” I said. Ruth smiled showing fang.

“They are definitely an issue. Yes, they are only lv150 but there are thousands in the city. They are tireless, and they will not play fair. You don’t even have gear, you should pay the fine and go on with your life.” I took a deep breath.

“What powers the golems?” I asked. Ruth took another sip of blood.

“I can’t trust a man with that information. Its against the law in Amazonia, to give men such knowledge.” I stood up and walked out the door. “Where are you going?” She asked. I looked at her with my god like perception. Resting for two days had made me lazy.

“Thank you for the lessons Ruth. I will put them to good use. See you around.” I said.

“Just like that, because I wouldn’t tell you top secret information?” I shook my head. It was time to cause some trouble.

“I will see you tomorrow night. I just have some errands to run before morning.” I pecked her on the cheek, when she drew in to kiss me with her blood covered lips. There was a hunger in her eyes that were unmistakable. She was a man eater just like Marris. If I let her in too close without the upper hand, she will chew me up and spit me out.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

As I walked the dark streets a group of golems blocked my path. “Citizen John Union of the white Dragons guild, you are under arrest for charges of rape and sedition of the state. Pay a fine of 1,500 gold bars or face execution.” The lead golem said. I held out a hand and launched a massive crimson black fireball. It exploded catching two of the golems. I used mana burst to get close to the nearest golems and used the third stance. It was a simple draw, horizontal slash, and sheath. Machinery split revealing the golem’s innards. Deca fire aura storm barrier locked us all together.

I released to barrier and ran out of it. A single golem wasn’t in my prediction. Sally, a named Golem wasn’t affected by my flames. It ran at me with break neck speed. It held a massive war hammer. It leapt upon me and struck out a mighty blow. I used the second stance to get to the Sally’s side and sliced through the weapon. Tiny seeds flew from my mouth ready to implant themselves on Sally. Sparks flew as I struck a thunder mana core. Lightning exploded knocking us apart.

Her human skin was burned in places revealing machinery. I sheathed my blade and drew upon my mana reserves. The only way to beat this thing was a concentrated attack. Anything less than that would be worthless.

“Rapists, instigators, woman beaters, and murderers you are all the same. When we confront you, and demand you pay for your crimes you run and hide or fight. What do you think will happen? Do you think you will get out of this, will you run? We will find you, we always do.” Above my palm was a triangular pyramid connected by five deca fireballs. Deca fire barrier held in a mass of heat that I continued to pour mana into. The concentrated power within the structure could destroy this city easily.

Small vines grew out of Sally’s body. When we clashed before, I covered her in tiny seeds. They were slowing her down giving me time to charge up my attack. A shape like a pyramid could hold far

more mana than a fireball. It was a bomb. The pyramid in my hand vanished appearing around the golem. I watched the pyramid wink out of existence carrying the golem with it to detonate in my mindscape. It only cost 500m mana.

New Skill

Deca Fire Pyramid lv1

A skill of immense power designed to destroy your foes. Those with high enough magic defense will not be transported. The pyramid will instead detonate in the physical world.

Cost 500m

Mag Dam x10

+10Int

The attack took 16 seconds to charge. That amount of time was ridiculous for any battle. If I hadn’t had her bound, then I wouldn’t have been able to use it.

I ran for it, with a mighty leap, I cleared several rings. My face altered slightly before I landed. Before me stood a library. It was forbidden for men to enter it. Within it contained history, art, spells, and the secrets to golem craft. I walked up to the nearest golem and ripped the power core out of it. Every kill I examined, taught me a little more about the creatures. They had runes that deflected skills like inspect making it more difficult to learn about them.

I waited the 16 seconds created a small decal fire pyramid and transported the remained of the golem to my mindscape to explode. When I entered the library, my eyes quickly absorbed the information from books without the need to open them. A hidden perk of the perception stat.

As I walked through the stacks, I stopped at history. Twin star city was founded by a man named Jeffery Ronald. He was a magician and a former scientist. It was his dream to create a utopia. He wanted to craft robots to work for men and women. It was his dream of a society free of wants able to put all their concerns to science and understanding. He died, and his wife Milly Ronald took his research and built the first Golem. The mayor at the time was still an elected official. Mrs. Ronald used her husband’s money to hire scientists and mages to further the golem research. A decade later the mayor died of a complicated surgery. He did not trust white mages and chose to use a skilled surgeon.

After the mayor died, doctors were ostracized, and white mages quickly took their place. Golems continued to advance. Twin star city left the patriarch territory and joined Amazonia where it quickly supplied golems to the country. I climbed the stairs higher through the library.

Engineering told me nothing about golems. The section was rarely used. Spells had plenty of long chanting spells with little in the way of reward, but few useful skills. Though chanting was something, I could get into. It might help with concentration.

There was a secret part of the library. It was hidden behind runes. “Hello, sir what brings you to the library. You don’t seem to be interested in art or literature. You deserted spells and history. What brings you here sir?” It was the librarian. She had a massive witches hat on her head and a staff in hand. “Where are you going?” I took a step and my foot flew back. A rune appeared, where I was walking.

“I’m going to tell on you.” The woman said.

“Go ahead, I will be long gone before you return.” I side stepped the runed and touched the barrier keeping me from the libraries secrets.

“What are you looking for I might be able to help. I’m Maryjane, what’s your name.” I pushed against the barrier and watched it crack. I felt my aura rise and combat the barrier.

“You certainly are strong Mr.” The woman said. She waved her staff and reversed my momentum. “Sorry, I can’t let you go through there. Men aren’t aloud in the library. So, you really can’t be allowed in the room of secrets.” I reared my hand back. “I wouldn’t do that. If you haven’t figured it out yet, any force you use will come right back at you.” Maryjane said.

My fist smashed into the barrier. As my momentum was reverse, I used more. It was like pushing against a wall that pushed back. I slowly used more strength until the wall exploded. The woman had a look of horror on her face. Before she could impede me further, I stabbed my sword through her gut.

I brought my sword back and sheathed it. Down these stairs were the answers I sought. I lite the room revealing walls filled with scrolls. Bones littered the floor and runes covered the floor. These runes, I have never seen before. They were quickly stained into memory. I took the scrolls and shoved them into my inventory for later perusal.

I took the old golems and used inspect. They didn’t have the protections their later models had. There were quite a few weaknesses and they were covered in runes. I leapt up shattered the floor above as my leap carried me through solid stone. Parts of the library crumbled, and I created a colossal deca fireball and dropped it on the library. Some knowledge I saved, the rest I burned.

Congratulations, now both men and women wouldn’t have a library to use. Isn’t equality fun? I returned my features to normal and dropped in a dark alley. Golems ran by me unable to recognize me. I made my way back to Gwendy’s inn. There was information that needed time to pour over. I wanted to know how golems were formed, so I could break them.