~~~Stanley~~~

It was both pleasant and tense to watch Caffeine making the rounds of the restaurant. He wanted to be best friends with every single person. Or at least those with food, which looked to be about everyone.

There were a few jumpy people that didn't appreciate him appearing next to them and begging for snacks, but most seemed to enjoy feeding the pug. The food was allegedly free, so why not share it?

Food which turned out to be quite special when Bill brought out the still steaming plates piled high with mystery meat and what looked like normal potatoes. He grinned like a madman while gesturing for them to eat.

Buff Gained: [Bill's Special]

+1 All Base Attributes(59:59)

It appeared after the first bite went down his throat, and Stanley wasn't the only one who flinched. He'd thought it was a debuff for a moment...

Jerry had the strongest reaction when he gasped out, "How!?" then jumped to his feet. "Can you teach me?"

Bill laughed. "I thought I spied a fellow chef, and I would be happy to share my knowledge. Though I should warn you, it is my class at work." His words did nothing to deter Jerry, and the man practically dragged Bill back to the kitchen.

The food was good. Stanley had to admit it. It wasn't better than Jerry's. Unless you counted the potatoes and bonus attributes... which kept going up. They also counted as base attributes on his status, which meant each point of willpower acted like five after his bonuses.

Buff Upgraded: [Bill's Special]

+10 All Base Attributes(7:45:51)

It made sense now how the guy was surviving here. A buff that lasted long enough for people to go hunt. One good enough that they'd keep coming back, and probably bring more monster meat back when they did. Also good enough that people probably volunteered to fight when the place got attacked.

Arthur migrated away after the meal and started playing his music, which was a major hit with the crowd.

Stanley half listened while he watched people coming and going constantly, though the departures were trending downwards as night settled in outside. Mostly, though, he watched Caffeine. Trying to enjoy the pug's exuberance while simultaneously wanting to kill anyone who moved too quickly around him.

He also snuck a few looks at Samantha when she sang along with the music. She was terrible, or maybe just sounded that way compared to Arthur, but she didn't seem to care. She smiled and laughed, holding nothing back. So carefree and innocent... as if not trapped in hell. Stanley even wondered if she might have some brain damage from when he hit her... though she had acted stupid like this before that.

She caught him watching a few times, and Stanley refused to look away. He wasn't the weird one. She was.

Samantha only smiled at him.

Then she somehow convinced a mob of people to clear some tables and they started dancing. She only tried once to drag him out there. Stanley didn't budge, but she flew back into the crowd.

He didn't throw her... just moved her away. Gently. The other dancers loved it.

Stanley kept his back to the wall and his mind spread as far as he could reach. So he knew about the group that showed up well after dark before they walked in.

They entered with a flashy but ultimately harmless burst of fire. It ended the party, and Stanley saw a lot of scared faces as people hurried away. This must be the generous type Bill was talking about. The ones who actually fought the monsters and brought something back.

Most of the people inside were lacking a certain something that this group had.

"Bill!" the leader of the group and the source of the fire yelled. "I'm home!" He waved and the six men coming in behind him all tromped across the room carrying massive corpses that barely fit through the double doorway. Meanwhile, their leader approached a table, which was hurriedly vacated before he arrived, and plopped into a chair. "Bill, I'm hungry!"

"Jesus, Tony. You always gotta make a scene, don't you?" Bill emerged loaded down with so many plates that Stanley had to wonder if he had a skill for it. "You're earlier than usual."

"More monsters out there every day," Tony drawled. "Means less time for more kills."

Caffeine made a beeline for the cook, of course, and followed behind him across the room. Tony turned sideways from the table and threw his feet up as he rocked back in the chair, gaze roaming around while Bill dropped off the food.

Caffeine ended up nearly behind him, standing on his hind legs with his face and front paws just over the tabletop as he licked his lips and wagged his tail.

Tony opened his mouth to say something, "Bill..." Caffeine whined and Tony flinched, almost falling over as he scrambled away. "Holy... what the fuck is..." Caffeine whined again, licking his lips as he stared at the feast on the table.

Fire was in Tony's hand, and terror was on his face. It was the look of someone who had been out there fighting the monsters. Stanley knew it well. That was the only reason he hadn't killed the man. That was why he gave him a few seconds to calm down first. He'd just got back into this supposed haven. It was natural that he'd still be a little on edge. That was the only way anyone would survive out there.

"A dog..." His terror shifted into embarrassment at the overreaction. Stanley saw his darting eyes take in the few quickly hidden chuckles, and embarrassment shifted into anger.

Don't do it, Stanley thought. You'll die.

The flame in Tony's hand brightened. Time slowed. It slowed just enough that Stanley noticed Samantha running toward the man. "So sorry! It's my fault!"

Tony hesitated, and Stanley didn't rip his head off. He also kept pumping energy into Accelerated Thoughts. He'd let it lapse... this place was too soft... As for Samantha, was this more of her diplomacy shit?

"Don't worry," Samantha gushed as she scooped Caffeine into her arms. "He's a teddy bear and wouldn't hurt a fly. He just really loves food! You know how pugs are..."

It looked like her diplomacy worked, or Tony realized that attacking a pug was a terrible look because the fire vanished. "Just keep him away from me."

"Of course. Sorry again for that!" Samantha said, carrying Caffeine while he whined at her. "Come on, Caff. I'll find you something else to eat, okay?" That earned her a face lick before Caffeine squirmed out of her arms. He still followed her as she headed for the kitchen.

"Music man," Tony said. "Why'd you stop? You know how hard it is to get music these days? Play more!"

"S... sure." Arthur started playing again, something much softer and much more mellow this time.

Tony threw a core at him. "Not that downer shit! Play something fun!" Arthur complied, though he looked upset. He'd just gotten a free core. What was there to complain about?

Stanley was mostly busy tracking Caffeine in the kitchen with his mental touch, and he saw Tony's friends climbing out of the cellar before they rejoined him at the table. There was plenty of laughing and boisterous talking, but there was a clear line between Tony and the rest. They... feared him. That was it.

He must have a good class. Stanley was curious, but not enough to ask. He already knew it had something to do with fire. Obviously, he was one of those bullshit magic users.

Caffeine didn't stay away too long. He liked to check in. Stanley appreciated that. Samantha came with him. That was less pleasant.

"See?" she said, dropping into her seat. "You didn't have to resort to violence." It was slightly less annoying because her voice came out slurred from Stanley's skill. That was amusing. Like she was drunk... which was impossible. Stanley had tried once. Never even got a debuff... though that might have been his trait. Was she drunk?

"Are you drunk?" It did, however, feel strange to speak himself with the effect ongoing. It felt like his body was moving slower rather than his mind going faster. "Does Bill have some magic booze?" Maybe it even gave buffs.

"I... don't think that would be a good idea," Samantha said slowly. "Not when everyone has super powers..."

Bah. She was no fun.

Tony appeared in the chair next to Samantha with a burst of fire. It wasn't quite teleportation; Stanley felt him move through the intervening space. Which meant he knew where the man was going and didn't have to do... anything. He was young, with pale skin and freckles, and some patchy stubble on his chin the same color as his hair; a brilliant fire engine red. Stanley wondered if it had something to do with his class... the same red light glowing in his eyes made it likely.

He really hoped his own hair wouldn't turn purple...

Tony touched Samantha, and in another flash, was back at his table with her along for the ride. Stanley clearly noted his companions all abandoning the area...

"Hi again," Tony said, flashing a wide smile. "Sorry about earlier. I was rude, and you are far too beautiful to have to put up with that kind of behavior. I'm Tony. What can I call you?"

"Thank you," Samantha said. She'd handled the unexpected abduction rather well. "I'm Samantha. I understand how stressful it gets out there, and I'm sure everyone here appreciates what you do."

"Finally! Someone who understands all the hard work I put in around here!" His smile had a creepy edge to it as he leaned closer. "Haven't seen you before, pretty lady. When'd you get in?"

"Just this evening, actually. The food here is something else, isn't it?"

"Oh, you're very welcome," Tony said, grasping her hand between his. "If I'd known you were coming, I'd have brought even more."

Samantha pulled her hand from his, still smiling. "Are you like a hero around here? People must look up to you!"

Stanley could see... something in Tony's expression as she pulled away. Anger? Rejection? Whatever it was, it cooled at her words... and then shifted into something worse. "They should treat me that way... but they don't. You see it though, don't you?" He grabbed her hand again. "I deserve respect! But every woman here only spits on me, no matter how nice I am!"

She was clearly uncomfortable, but trying to hide it as she attempted to pull her hand free. "I'm so sorry that happened. Maybe it was just a..."

"I deserve respect! But no matter what I do, everyone treats me like a freak! Like a disgusting untouchable!"

"You're not..."

"So maybe it's time I stop trying and just take what I want..." Fire was blooming around him by now, licking hungrily at everything, including Samantha.

She pulled away with a yelp of pain.

"Even you..." Tony growled. "I'm nice, and you smile and act all friendly... but it's all an act... you think I'm a loser, too."

"No. You're clearly upset, but that's no reason to..."

"Shut up, bitch!" Tony screamed at her, his body nearly hidden behind the halo of flames now. "I'm so sick of being treated this way!"

Stanley was... amused, and content to let Samantha play her games. She thought violence wasn't the answer, so she could talk her way out of this, too. Let her see what monsters humans really were.

Unfortunately, Caffeine was not content to watch. Not anymore. He moved faster than Stanley could stop him, practically teleporting as he appeared beside Samantha and growled at Tony.

"Even your stupid little dog doesn't respect me!" He raised a hand, fire flaring brighter... and Stanley got angry.

"Don't do it, Stanley!" Samantha's shout made Tony hesitate, and Stanley didn't kill him. Barely.

Tony looked around the room after her shout. No doubt trying to figure out who she was talking about. Instead, he finally noticed all the scared and frozen people staring back at him, most of whom looked away quickly when his gaze landed on them. Their reactions failed to have any chilling effect. Rather, the opposite.

"I fight, and I'm strong, and I do everything I can to protect you... but you all act like I'm the bad guy! Like I'm the loser! Meanwhile, you hide in here like cowards and turn your noses up at me!"

Stanley agreed with that last bit. Lots of people in here looked like they hadn't fought a single monster.

Bill finally emerged from the kitchen at the tail end of Tony's rant, and he didn't look all that surprised. "Damn it, Tony! You can't do this every time a girl rejects..."

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

"Shut up, you fat fuck!" Tony yelled. "I'm sick of you talking down to me while you hide in here with your happy little family!"

The cook was unperturbed, as if this was a regular occurrence, which it sounded like it was. "If you don't calm down, then I'm afraid..."

"You should be afraid!" Tony screamed, fire flaring brighter around him. "All of you should be! You're all too safe. You all think you can turn up your noses at me because you can hide in your little hole. I think it's time you see what the world is really like..." The surrounding flames all abruptly swirled into a single point between his cupped hands and flared into an eye-searing intensity that only grew brighter every second.

"You're talking crazy, boy!" A knife appeared in Bill's hand, and his stance shifted lower. Other people finally started moving away from the confrontation, all of them deeper into the building...

"You don't think I can burn your precious lair, do you?" Tony yelled over the growing sounds of a panicked mob. "Well, I'm stronger than you think!"

Stanley was actually curious to see if Tony could burn down a lair, but Caffeine wasn't willing to wait for the show. The pug advanced on Tony, both his growl and his size growing with each step.

Tony whirled on the pug, blazing eyes widening. "Harmless. Hah... that's just like a woman!" he spat. "Hiding your intentions so you can stab me in the back!"

He lifted his hands and released the raging firestorm.

"Nooo!" Samantha screamed.

Stanley was plenty angry when he caught the spell... as well as everyone and everything his mind was touching. Then he squeezed.

Silence fell throughout the room. All the screams and shouts cut off. All the stomping feet froze in place. And even Caffeine stopped growling, head swiveling toward Stanley.

"That's enough," Stanley said, his own voice coming out in a growl as he strained against the little psycho's spell. It was indeed powerful, but it wasn't strong enough to burn a lair. He knew from experience.

The magic roiled and sizzled against his mind, like a hot coal nestling into his brain. Stanley let the pain fuel his anger. Let it push him all the way up into a nice, healthy rage.

Everything got easier to hold as he advanced slowly through the air. The pain stopped mattering as much, and Stanley forced the entire room down in a single resounding crash of bodies and furniture meeting the floor.

Caffeine, of course, remained standing, and he whined at Stanley.

"Good boy." The sight of the still unblemished and uninjured Caffeine helped him resist the urge to twist Tony's head around a few times. Then the pug whined again and bent to lick Samantha's upturned and pleading face.

It was enraging that she still pleaded. Still begged for the monsters! Stanley ground his teeth in rage as he stared at those eyes boring into him. He turned on Tony, pulling him upright and face to face with his roiling spell.

"Are you fireproof, you little shit?" Stanley asked, while pushing his face closer to the spell.

He wasn't, if his increasingly frantic and wide-eyed struggles to turn away were any sign.

"You tried to burn Caffeine," Stanley murmured. "He did nothing to you... and you wanted to burn him. Do you know what it feels like when your skin burns to char and flakes off? Do you, Tony? Because I know. I know exactly what it feels like. It HURTS!"

Tony flailed violently, which meant he only twitched while his eyes rolled around. His mouth opened and closed, but he had no air left in his lungs to speak.

"Don't worry, Tony. I'll show you what it feels like. That way, the next time you want to light someone on fire, you'll know exactly what they are feeling. Would you like that? Doesn't it sound fun?"

"N... no..." Samantha's voice was only a faint whisper, but the silent room allowed it to carry.

Stanley's rage only intensified. "You see that, Tony? This bitch doesn't want me to set you on fire. But she's weak. So it doesn't matter what she wants, right!? I saved her life, so she should just do whatever I tell her, right?" He eased up his grip on Tony so the man could draw a gasping breath. Then he shook him. "Answer me!"

Tony only started sobbing and craning his neck away from the fire.

It was... disappointing. The sobbing took all the fun out of it. This little moron wasn't a monster. Not yet. He was working his way up to it, and right at the threshold now, but he was just a weak little bitch kid lashing out because no one loved him... Of course, if he lived, then he would probably become a real monster in time.

"P... please..." Samantha begged.

Stanley stared at her, then Caffeine with his little sad face that he was so good at making... and his anger cooled. Slightly. Mercy. Fine, he could do mercy.

"Good news, Tony. You get to live!"

The moron finally stopped sobbing, hope growing in his eyes. Stanley fixed that.

"You just have to put your hand in the fire."

Terror replaced hope in his expression. "Please!"

"I want you to feel it, Tony. You tried to burn Caffeine, so if you want to live, then you will burn, too."

Stanley held eye contact with the terrified kid and stuck his own hand into the searing ball of fire. He felt his flesh immediately begin to boil and burn. The pain was... just pain. But it fed into his cooling anger and helped stoke it back up. It was getting harder to hold everything down... "Like this, Tony," Stanley said through gritted teeth. "Do it or I will skin you alive and throw you out for the monsters!"

Tony sobbed in horror as he stared at Stanley's rapidly roasting flesh, but one look in Stanley's eyes and he lifted his own hand.

He tried to flinch away at the first touch, but Stanley had mercy on him and forced his hand to remain. He watched Tony scream and wail while his flesh went from red to white and then to black.

Stanley let him go. He let everyone go and then screamed himself as his mind crushed what remained of the spell into sizzling sparks that flashed and vanished before reaching the floor.

Tony stopped screaming when he hit the floor, but only because he didn't have the breath for it. Instead, he just rolled back and forth while clutching his wrist and gasping for air between sobs.

Everyone else in the room immediately started wailing... "Shut the fuck up!" Stanley's shout put an end to that. Mostly. A few sniffles and scrambling feet echoed as they fled.

Samantha ran to Tony, staring at him helplessly and then glaring at Stanley.

Caffeine whined and gingerly licked the back of Stanley's burnt hand. It was already healing and would be fine soon enough. Tony would heal, too. It would just take longer. Samantha knew that first hand… Stanley clenched his burnt hand into a fist. This wasn’t the same.

Bill didn't flee. He and some others remained in the room. All of them staring at Stanley and a few at Caffeine.

"What? If any of you have a problem with me, then step forward. But you better be strong enough to back it up."

No one moved. Not until a woman came sprinting down the stairs and froze for a moment before rushing to Bill.

"Emily! You shouldn't be..." Bill said.

"We heard screaming and felt something," Emily cut him off, her gaze jumping around the room as she clutched his arm. "What happened?"

"The boys!" Bill gasped, his eyes going hard as they locked onto Stanley, and his free hand tightening on the blade.

"Shut up," Stanley said to him. "I didn't touch your brats. They're sneaking down the stairs right now." He might be a monster, but he wasn't a sadist. He'd left the kids upstairs alone.

Tony didn't count. That wasn't sadism. It was justice. Hell, it was mercy. The guy was still alive after his little stunt. That was more than most got for threatening Caffeine.

Emily flinched at his words and looked back in time to see the small heads peeking through the banister near the ceiling.

Stanley flinched, too, when he finally laid eyes on them.

They were identical twin boys...

He studied them for long seconds as their wide eyes took in the scene. Then their mother dragged them back upstairs. Stanley remained staring after them, his heart aching. Lee...

Caffeine licked his hand again, and Stanley pulled the pug into his lap. He stroked the soft fur and let the last lingering anger dwindle away.

Samantha babbling nonsense at Tony didn't help. "You don't know who you are yet, which means no one else does either."

Stanley hovered closer to Bill, who was eyeing his floating form. "I want more food. Or are you going to kick me out for fighting?" The idea was laughable, but he was curious if maybe the lair offered something to help in that regard. If it did, Bill hadn't used it yet.

"No." Bill slumped, and the knife went back onto his belt. "I'd rather thank you instead." He glanced at Tony and shook his head. "I knew there was something wrong with the boy, but he is the strongest one here. We need him..."

"You're all weak," Stanley said, loudly enough that all the cowering people would hear him. "I could kill everyone here without breaking a sweat and I'm not even close to the strongest thing out there. Every day you hide away and don't grow is another day for the monsters to get stronger. It's only a matter of time until something comes here that you're too weak to fight and then you all die."

"You are more than welcome to stay..."

Stanley laughed. "Oh, I'll probably be back for that food. It's just gonna be disappointing when I come back and you're all dead."

"We ain't all powerful hotshots..."

"See her," Stanley pointed at Samantha. "Her class is worthless, but she can still stab monsters with a spear." He pointed at the anxiously humming Arthur. "That guys a damn musician, but he can still kill stuff. Jerry fights and he's a cook. How often do you go hunting? Doesn't feel like your attributes are much past F-grade."

"I must protect the lair... my family..."

"You know a lot of monsters like to hold a grudge and will chase you across the city... you should have an army at your gates for every minute they are open. Such a perfect setup here and you're just wasting it." Stanley shook his head. It really would be a great farming opportunity if they could pull it off. Especially if they had someone like Tony to create some breathing room when they needed it. Instead, they were all just hiding away and waiting to die...

"I'll get that food, and... I'll think about what you said." Bill vanished back into the kitchen, and Stanley heard his voice again. "Jerry, you're still here?"

"It was just Stanley throwing another tantrum. He does that a lot. I didn't even hear the dog barking, so it obviously wasn't a big deal."

Stanley shoved Jerry, making him drop the pan he was holding. "Is that for Stanley?" Jerry asked. "Let me spit in it real quick."

Bill gasped, and Stanley rolled his eyes as he went back to his seat.

His gaze landed on Samantha when he heard his name mentioned. She was hugging Tony as he cried on her shoulder. "Stanley saved my life more than once, and I love him for it but I'm not in love. He's a friend. Do you understand?"

Ah, the friend zone. Stanley was… actually happy with that. It was supposed to be a bad thing… but honestly, he didn't know what having a friend even meant, much less romantic love. He had Lee and Caffeine. They were family. He knew family was more important than friends, but that was about all.

"I love my friends," Samantha said. "I would give my life to protect them. Do you have any friends like that?"

Stanley thought her definition of friend could use some work. He absolutely would not die for her.

Tony nodded into her shoulder and lifted his head to look behind... then froze when he met Stanley's gaze.

Samantha turned his head back with a hand on his cheek, meeting his eyes. "Don't worry about him."

Tony kept shaking despite her words. Good! He should be scared.

She kept babbling to him about love, emotions, and dealing with rejection in a healthy way. Stanley waited for his food and listened.

It was nice to know Samantha wasn't trying to seduce him... assuming she wasn't lying. Maybe she was just really touchy feely? She sure kept hugging Tony a lot.

They eventually got up and Tony's 'friends' rejoined him at Samantha's urging. She talked to all of them about the same things... like she was teaching a dating class to a bunch of teenagers.

Which she was… they really were just kids...

Stanley refused to feel bad about what he'd done. It didn't matter how young they were if they were going to throw around deadly magic. Better he learned his lesson now, when Samantha was around to beg for his life. As for whether the lesson would stick... maybe Stanley should threaten him again. He didn't want to find this place burned down the next time Tony got rejected by a girl.

~~~Somewhere~~~

Steven stood silent and waiting as he watched his new gods deliberating over what he had returned with today.

Nefraxis stared at the glowing core in their hands. One that should not be according to Lord Morgrath.

Monster Core Shard(E-grade)

May be used to empower rituals or enchantments up to E-grade.

It was too soon. E-grades did not appear this soon after Saturation. Not according to Morgrath.

"Where did you find this?" Lord Nefraxis asked Lord Calderon.

"A Lair," they replied. "It is not the only anomaly. Many Lairs grow unchecked as we cull the Sapients. They will become a threat if we do not act."

"It is too early. We are not ready."

"We must... adapt," Morgrath said, smiling. "Perhaps they are the anomaly? The humans?"

"They grow the slowest," Calderon said. "Though we have seen signs of divergence among them; humans that grow too strong, too fast. We suspect the humans' trait has led them to lost or unknown paths of power."

Lord Ruish spoke, "It is not the humans. I believe it comes from the sea. The monsters in the depths grow beyond any of our predictions. It is already too late to claim them to the March."

"Don't be a fool," Nefraxis chided. "All join the March. It is inevitable."

"There is only one explanation for such rapid growth," Calderon said. "There is no..."

Steven did not get to hear Lord Calderon's words because they were interrupted.

"That is impossible," Nefraxis snapped. "Dull they may be, but Sapient life is here."

"The only other option is that someone took it. Perhaps the High-Lords wished to accelerate..."

"Do not speak those words. Do not even think such heresy. We March onward and do not question the High-Lords. Nor do we speculate on their matters. It is not our place."

Steven couldn’t imagine what powers might instill such caution in these beings, but he desperately wanted that power for himself. In time, he told himself. I too will become a god.

"We will... adapt the plan," Nefraxis ordered. "Unleash Gravus. Begin the Ritual. The March will take its first step."

"What of the anomalous humans?" Calderon said.

"Enlighten me."

"Most pressing is the warrior. A nearby human with an uncanny ability to sniff out our agents. The gathering of humans it protects has remained beyond our reach."

"Is that all? Morgrath will deal with it."

"There is also an unknown entity wiping out swaths of the dungeon. The few questionable reports I've received claim it to be a... ball. Metal or dirt. They can never agree. But the results of its passing are undeniable."

"Human?"

"I believe so, but cannot be certain. We had planned a trap, but the unexpected... acceleration of the dungeon disrupted it."

"Wait on that one. The ritual may solve the issue for us."

"And the traces of divine magic? We've yet to track its origin."

"Are you sure it is not simply the bird hiding in that tower?"

"Yes. This is something else. Well hidden."

"The ritual will reveal it or it will die. Until then, focus on the other groups we can infiltrate. Morgrath, remove the clever human. Calderon, find more recruits. We need to move quickly before the humans find the E-grades and advance."

"The tower?" Lord Ruish asked.

"Leave it for now. The assault would prove too costly at the moment owing to that human's power. Yet it also cannot leave to threaten us and its minions are too weak to fuel its growth. Finish the other recruitments. The influx will provide ample numbers to deal with them when the time is right."

Steven trailed behind Lord Morgrath as they left. He was the only recruit allowed into the Lord's meetings, and he intended to learn everything he could from them. It was the only way to survive.

Not only that, it was his only path to the power these immortal beings held.