Chapter 8 : Third Noon

The guards brought the woman out, kept at a spear's length. A few of them thought something looked a bit different about her. Had she smeared herself in mud and filth? The wretch must be deranged.

The disheveled criminal limped barefoot in the snow all the way to the city town square where the execution platform had been hastily erected. A lot of people had gathered, despite the short notice. The fall-blade was a relatively new invention garnering much interest. It consisted of a three meter tall and 60 centimetre wide wooden frame. At the top, locked by a trigger mechanism, rested a massive, thick rectangular iron blade, likely as heavy as a man.

The device could easily kill a level 30 criminal, assuming he was kept bound. No restraints seemed necessary in this case though. No one dared approach the filthy woman – besides, she was about to lay down willingly. Murmurs arose as she twisted around to instead lay on her back, facing the blade suspended far above her neck. The guards shrugged and just kept their spears loosely pointed at her.

Ten meters off to the side of the platform stood a line of small throne-like chairs, all occupied by two city lords and a few nobles. Ready to speak, the city lord rose, hand hoisting up a parchment which unrolled.

"We have gath- gathered here... to-"

At the moment he glanced at the woman, she twisted her head and peered madly back into his eyes, causing him to stutter.

"...to..."

"I. Challenge. You.", she interrupted, still remaining frozen in place.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

There was a moment of silence.

"Well then.", the city lord replied, slowly rolling his parchment back up.

"Your position seems a bit... disadvantageous. Why don't we give you something sharp to fight with?"

He then nodded at a man standing ready on the platform holding a rope. The audience leaned forward as the man gave it a small tug.

With a clack, the massive blade fell.

The woman's gaze never left the city lord as she quickly raised an arm 90 degrees straight up, catching the blade's edge in her palm with a thud.

"Thanks."

Then she tore the blade out of the frame in a shower of splintered wood, spun into a standing position and hurled the massive thing at the city lord in one smooth motion. It was not a clean edge-on hit so he simply disappeared with a loud *DONG* having turned into a cascade of giblets and red mist.

Zhoey got a message.

You have defeated Mavruc Moor, City Lord of Breccon, Level 31. 173 experience points awarded. System quest 1/4.

Commoners, nobles and guards alike scattered in a chaotic panic. Zhoey meanwhile snapped into focus. There were at least one other target here she couldn't let get away. Stepping forward, she dropped off the front of the platform and onto the town square cobblestone, then crouched and tore a fist sized stone out of the ground. Hefting it, she noticed her target cowering behind a wooden throne. The stone went right through it.

You have defeated Tondor Seck, City Lord of Hask, Level 26. 110 experience points awarded. System quest 2/4.

Her system HUD really helped with making sense of the chaos. No pottery workers in dumb green hats were in the vicinity though.

The highest level she had seen around was a level 25 adventurer, and an old lady who was level 24. Many were about level 10 and under. Zhoey hadn't had much time to look at her own stats and abilities yet.

Soon the town square had emptied and she stood alone with the corpses, feeling somewhat cathartic.