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PATIENCE
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The crowds of Aquilantis disgusted him, but the work had to be done. If Patience didn’t push Wrath to break his Seal soon, then there was always the chance he would die trying. People brushed their dirty tunics and dresses against his pristine robes, rubbing sweat and grime all other him. If his clothes weren't Enchanted against dirt and the like, he'd burn the criminals alive. He’d passed thousands of citizens, probably all illiterate, and not a single noteworthy person had crossed his path. Until one finally did. Long brown hair, in a bun that looks even better than mine…
He shadowed the man.
Covered in tattoos, I mean absolutely covered, head to toe—and no one bats an eye? Odd-colored kimono for a man to wear in Coralith.
Patience followed the man to a building in a seedy part of town. The target reached out to open a door, but hesitated. He slowly turned his head over a shoulder. Patience looked away and blended into the crowd as best he could. Charlotte bit a rib—he winced, but understood he must pursue the man, but when Patience looked back around, the stranger had disappeared. Patience walked up to the window of what looked like an art supply store. Inside, he saw him, his counterpart.
Wrath.
Patience scurried away before he could be spotted. That’s him, alright. We switched places all those years ago, when I looked in that bowl of water to see who I’d become. He’s matured, like I have, but that’s definitely him. Odd that he looks nothing like the images that idiot Zeke has put out…
But I’m absolutely certain of it. That fool. Wrath was under his nose for two years, and it only took The Spider two hours.
Patience smiled all the way back to the docks.
> [Master of Puppets — Quest Objective COMPLETED: Find Wrath in Aquilantis.]
>
> [Master of Puppets — Quest Objective ADDED: Capture Wrath.]
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JULES
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Rukia stood on her two hind legs. She pressed her nose to the window and fogged up the glass.
“Ah, yessss!" she shouted. "The weather has finally lifted. It’s gonna be a great day. I can’t wait for some real combat.”
“Yeah, yeah. Come on back, Ruke. We can’t fight until we pack and set sail.” Crazy little fox.
“Hey, I heard that.” Rukia gnawed on a tuft of fur. Jules and his Familiar reconvened with Cyrus, Katarina, and Whiskers after everyone had finished packing. Four faces were stern and resolute. Rukia panted with enthusiasm.
“You all ready?” Jules asked. Katarina looked at Cyrus.
“All clear,” Cyrus said with a nod.
“Then let’s head for Marina Veridia,” Rukia shouted.
“But first, the inn,” Katarina said softly.
“Right—and then Marina Veridia!”
They walked out into the blazing sunlight. The others had only left the shop a handful of times more than Jules and Rukia, and it took about a hundred feet for everyone to adjust to the bright light.
“Oh Jules, it’s so hot,” Rukia panted. She’d slowed down considerably. With ears pinned back, her tongue dragged along the pavement. Jules smiled despite that familiar feeling of being watched. The Painter’s watching us even now, after he’s left. Suppose I better get used to it.
The Party traveled through back alleyways toward the inn, still choosing to retain as much cover as possible and avoid crowds. Their heavy bags weighed them down, and their Inventories were all maxed out, mostly with crap Cyrus had insisted they'd need. Rukia paused. Her ears perked up; her tongue returned to her mouth. She growled and ridged her hackles up.
“Whiskers—”
“Yes. I just sensed it, too. We’re being followed.”
Jules’ chakra beads lit up from beneath his shirt. “Kaizen feels it, too. Is it not The Painter?” Jules looked around. Figures at each end of the alley, blocking us both ways. He tried to gauge the number of attackers. “At least three.”
“Shit, run!” Cyrus yelled.
“No—stick together,” Katarina ordered.
They formed a triangle with the two Familiars in the center, their backs to them. A massive shadow overtook them, and they all split up to avoid the giant boulder that crashed down where they stood.
“Rukia!” Jules shouted. He lost her, but had no time to search.
A towering man in a white robe and black belt stalked toward him. Time to fight. The man punched and kicked at Jules, who dodged all but one blow. Jules felt the raw power behind the kick that connected. Higher 2nd Rank, but probably not 3rd. A Monk? Not good, can’t fight in an alley.
Jules fled in search of a better battlefield. He looked around for the others, but they were already gone, scrambled. The assailant pursued him at a safe distance. Jules had the advantage of speed, though he wouldn’t last long weighed down by his pack. Once he got to an open area, he turned to fight again and unsheathed his cheap sword. Damn Painter wanted us to craft our own weapons, and this is what we get.
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Jules sliced and slashed at the assailant, who evaded each one. The Monk resumed his assault, and another punch connected to Jules' sternum. His attacks seem withdrawn now, like he’s avoiding contact with me. Beads are lighting up again, Kaizen trying to send another message? Jules invoked his Seal.
> « Strike »
>
> [₹8,900 // ₹10,000]
Jules feigned a sword attack, then kicked him hard. The Monk flew through the air and crashed into a market stand. Jules fled again, straight into a trap. His escape route dumped him into a square, where an entire platoon of Guards waited. They engaged him immediately. Two Guards from each side dove at him. Jules spun, grabbed one, and threw him into the other. Spears jabbed in at Jules' neck and chest. He parried one, then chopped another in two. Several crossbow bolts struck Jules in his legs. These guys certainly aren’t holding back.
Great. The Monk's back. From beneath his robes, the man pulled out two battle axes. Guessing you aren't a Monk after all. Shit’s about to get real. The Guards formed an arc around Jules and pinned him between them and the assailant. Two at a time, Guards stepped forward to pierce him with more spears.
“Dammit, why is it always spears!?” Jules asked one of them. No time to wait for a response, his sword clanged against one of the Monk’s axes. In between axe slashes, Jules parried spearheads and deflected crossbow bolts. The raw power from the Monk’s blows reverberated down to Jules’ bones. They ached, and they screamed. His eyes are glowing. Some type of Script. Dammit, I should have Inked myself before. Not that it'd do much good, Cy is still teaching—
“AGGHH!”
Jules' sword fell, and his left hand went with it, sliced clean off by an ax. Uncontrollable orange and yellow flames erupted from his eyes. Rage and adrenaline flooded his blood vessels. Even the Monk retreated with the Guards. At least that pushed them back for a moment. No chance they don’t know who I am.
Don’t lose control, Kaizen thought.
Now’d be a great time to Integrate. Jules received no response. The siege on Wrath continued while citizens ran far and away, screaming for their lives.
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CYRUS
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Cy sprinted through Aquilantis. Dammit, I lost them all. And this chick's not missing a beat. I need a new plan.
> « Conceal » « Tracks » [₹9,500 // ₹10,000]
>
>
>
> « Craft » « Tracks » [₹9,000 // ₹10,000]
Cy laid down fake tracks and hid his real ones, but his pursuer wasn't fooled as they zigzagged through alleyways. Let's see how she fights.
In an open area, he turned to face her. She jabbed a knife at him. He stepped backward and grabbed her wrist, then twisted it away. Using that momentum, she twisted and roundhouse kicked him, but he dropped down below it.
> « Earth » « Air » « Earth » [₹7,500 // ₹10,000]
The cobblestone rose around her legs and trapped her. Then a gust of wind knocked her head and body back, and more cobblestone rose up to trap her hands until she was struck in a bridge pose. Cy scaled a wall to flee.
CRACK!
He looked back. How'd she break free already? I never even heard the Script. Cy flipped down to her and whipped out his curved sword. Before he landed and could strike, there were six of her. After images? Or doppelgangers?
> « Smoke » [₹7,000 // ₹10,000]
Cy dropped a smokescreen and fled again to reassess. Illusion versus illusion. What would The Painter do, drop the act and fight? No, he’d lock her in a tight space where that wouldn't matter as much—There.
Cy spotted a bridge, the moving bridge that he always took to the casino. He sprinted toward the middle. Bingo. He leapt onto the bridge’s stone railing. As he jumped off the bridge, he looked back to his pursuer and saw Envy chased by another assailant onto the bridge where he’d just come from. Shit—Sorry Kat!
> « « Ryoku Shield » » [₹4,800 // ₹10,000]
The Scroll softened his fall, but he still crashed onto a shop’s awning below. He rolled onto the floating market’s wooden deck, and the makeshift boat rocked and swayed from his impact. The woman landed softly on her feet behind him. Graceful, this chick.
Cy slashed at her, but only hit thin wooden pillars, beams, and trusses. Rather than destroying her, he destroyed some poor soul’s livelihood. Sorry guys. Less competition for me, I guess, but I need to close the distance. This chick’s starting to piss me off.
Something wrapped tightly around one of his leg and immobilized him. The hell is this, twine? From the market? She drew a dagger and closed in on him. He dodged a swipe to his head and ducked beneath a second. He grabbed her weapon-arm and guided it down to cut the strangling rope. Then, using a move Envy had taught him—he twisted her arm into herself to stab her neck with her own blade, but he stopped just short.
“Lilac?"
Her purple eyes betrayed no emotion, not even fear, as she stared back. Cy wrenched the dagger from her hands, tossed it overboard, and yanked her close to him. He grabbed her face mask and pulled down. She placed an open palm on his navel, and Cy hesitated for a moment too long. A shockwave from her hand flung them into the water, in opposite directions. Cy crashed through the surface, unsure which way was up or down. Water filled his lungs as he regained his orientation and swam to the surface. Cy hacked and coughed for air, and threw up some salty water.
> « Ice » [₹3,900 // ₹10,000]
He froze the water’s surface around him and climbed out, soaked. He spotted Guards at the edge of the bridge and down at the side of the canal. Two arrows struck him with solid thuds.
> [₹2,900 // ₹10,000]
He twisted backward from the force, but he keep freezing water and an escape route. At the other edge of the canal, where no Guards were stationed, Cy jumped onto dry land again. Another arrow connected in his back, and he collapsed.
> [₹2,400 // ₹10,000]
No! I can’t die this soon. Arrows rained on him from afar, but each one missed, though Cy thought they shouldn’t have.
Cy—We have a plan.
Jules? Is that you!?
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BONUS CONTENT BELOW
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