by Matt Moss
“I can’t. I’m married.”
He nods and claps me on the shoulder. “Good. I was hoping you would say that. You’re a good man, John.”
I shake off the comment. “I wouldn’t say that.”
He points a finger at me. “Stay that way. The world needs more good people in it, believe me.”
The girls walk up to us. “So, do you guys want to come back to our room? We have a hotel on Patton Avenue.”
“Yeah, we could continue the party there,” the blonde says, touching my arm.
Jimmy pushes me aside. “John, unfortunately, won’t be able to make it.” The blonde frowns. “But I’m free for the night and would love to join you ladies.” He wraps both arms around the girls and gives me a wink.
“See ya around, John. And hey, you have my card now. Call me sometime, alright?”
“Will do. Have fun.” I wave goodbye and watch the three of them disappear somewhere into the night.
I call a cab and make my way back to the hotel.
I wish Nehemiah was sitting outside my room. Would be nice to talk to him and share a smoke. But I haven’t seen him since we first met.
I could really use someone to talk to.
Inside the room, and behind the locked door, the place is the same as I left it. I don’t know why, but I suspected someone to have stolen my NueView in my time away. The cleaners, maybe. But the room hasn’t changed. It’s the same as it was before.
A shit hole, waiting on me to return.
I hook back up.
From the bathroom of a roach motel, I’m about to change the world.
Alone.
16
HEAVY LIES THE CROWN
2 DAYS REMAINING
I thought I would have more time.
Such is the thought of every man when standing at death’s door.
Funny how time just flies by. Don’t blink, or you’ll miss it.
We meet behind the bank in the town of Eden the next morning.
“You guys ready to go?”
“Ready,” Deana replies.
“Good to go,” Gage says.
“Okay. I’m stocked on supplies and ready, too.” I hand them each a teleport. “Just in case.”
“Thanks. But we’re in this together, Ace. Win or lose, we’re with you,” Deana tells me and takes my hand.
I look down at our fingers intertwined, then back into her eyes. “Let’s go take control of the most powerful guild in Alterlife then.”
“For glory,” Gage muses and opens up a teleport to Condren.
One after another, we walk through.
Inside the bustling city of Condren, we make our way to the outskirts with haste. A hilltop in the distance provides us a good vantage point to see the guild depart.
Gage throws off the disguise and breathes deep, wiping sweat from his head. “Why’d I have to wear the orc suit? It’s hotter than hell inside that thing.”
“It fit you the best,” I tell him and remove my disguise—the mask of an old man and some ragged clothes.
Deana takes off her full-face helmet. “Quit crying about it. It got the job done, and nobody saw us.”
Gage glares at her. “I’m not crying. Just saying.”
“Could have fooled me,” Deana says in jest.
Gage sits on the ground and crosses his legs. “How long do you think they’ll be?” he asks.
I shield the sun from my eyes to get a better view. “Not long, I’d say,” I reply and point to the eastern wall of the city as the first of the raiding party emerges. “Here they come.”
Two minutes go by and the army still marches.
“What happened to a couple hundred?”
Deana shrugs. “Looks like they’ve been recruiting a bit. I guess they loosened their requirements upon entry and are allowing anyone to join now.”
Why, Professor? Why would you want so many in the guild?
“Gods. How many do they have? I’ve never seen a party that large,” Gage notes. “Anyone been keeping a head count?”
“No. But their numbers don’t matter. We’re only here for one man,” I reply.
“They’re up to something big,” Deana states. She leans forward slightly, and uses Eagle Eye. “There. In the front. The Guildmaster is leading the way.”
A quick check of my inventory, just to make sure I didn’t forget anything before leaving.
You’ve already triple checked everything. You’re ready.
Ready as I’ll ever be. My heart rate rises.
“Let’s keep our distance and stick to the plan. I’m sure they’ll have Rangers scouting in all directions,” I say.
We follow them back to the Daemon’s lair. The Guildmaster steps onto the bloody pentagram and looks around while the army of at least twenty thousand Black Knights stands behind him. That’s the number Gage counted.
The Professor stands there, waiting.
“Deana, what’s he doing?”
She blinks, her eyes changing again. “Nothing. He’s just… wait. He’s got a knife. What the…”
“What?”
“He just cut himself.”
“Why would he do that?”
She looks again. “The blood is flowing down his arm and pooling around his feet.”
“That doesn’t make sense. The game’s rating wouldn’t allow that,” I say.
“He’s summoning the Daemon,” Gage says.
Interesting. “He’s using the altar.”
“I think so,” Deana says.
A minute passes and nothing happens.
“Maybe it doesn't work?”
“Look,” Gage says and points to the massive door of the temple. A red glow lights the inside of the chamber and heat waves can be seen emerging from within, even from the distant hill that we lie perched upon.
“Here it comes.”
A moment later, the Daemon bursts from the doorway surrounded by flames. The red beast roars, its mouth like the inside of a furnace. With its two muscular legs, it charges towards the altar, towards the Guildmaster.
The Black Knights unleash their arsenal of arrows and spells, making it look like the grand finale in a fireworks show. But much better. Brilliant to behold. And it’s a devastating attack.
Before the Daemon can even reach the Professor, its health is reduced by half and still dropping fast.
“Well, not much for sport against the full might of the guild,” Gage says, then spits on the ground.
By the time it reaches the Professor in the middle of the altar, the beast is limping and barely able to stand, its health nearly gone.
The Professor holds his hand up, signaling to stop the attack. He circles the beast, but doesn’t finish it off. The Daemon tries to attack him, but its movements are too sluggish.
Professor D stands in front of the beast as if to taunt it, his arms waving slowly, his mouth speaking words.
“What’s he doing? Why doesn’t he kill it?”
The Daemon attempts an attack again, but the Professor dashes to the side to dodge it, and continues his mantra.
“What spell is he casting?” I ask Deana.
“He’s not casting a spell,” Deana replies, her face stark. “He’s attempting to tame the Daemon.”
“That’s impossible. Only a Grandmaster Tamer could do such a thing, and the probability of taming a Daemon would be less than one percent. It’s insane to even think of,” Gage states.
She turns to the Bloodhound. “I know all of that, Gage. But that’s what he’s doing. Look.”
We watch as the Guildmaster moves around the beast, circling it and keeping his distance. Within moments, he approaches the Daemon and lays his hand on it.
“He’s done it,” Deana gasps. “I can’t believe it. He’s actually tamed a Daemon.”
“And he’s healing it!” Gage says in awe. “Look. Its hit points are slowly going up.”
It’s now or never.
I take off at a dead run.
“Ace! What are y
ou doing?”
I’m already gone, down the backside of the hill, circling around to the rear of the temple. Without slowing, I run up the hillside and jump from the top of the doorway. Landing, some of the guild members are pointing at me, but it’s too late for them to do anything. Using my jump skill for maximum damage, I pull Thal’s sword in mid-air and deliver a ferocious attack from behind that slays the beast in one hit. The Daemon gives one quick, final shriek before dying. He turns gray and falls upon the altar.
Professor D’s eyes go wide with surprise and horror.
I regard the Daemon’s corpse. “Bad dog.”
“You fool! What have you done?” the Professor curses and pulls Thal’s Sword of Eternity.
I shrug. “Came back to life after being poisoned. Raised my stats as fast as I could so I would be strong enough to extract my revenge upon the one who killed me.” I glare at him and shoot a knowing grin. “And now that we’re both here, I’m going to need that sword back,” I tell him.
He turns to the Black Knights and arcs the sword at me. “Kill him!” he commands.
Thousands of arrows and spells hurl towards me at once.
Knowing that it won’t let me down, I pull out Thal’s Amulet and extend my arm towards my attackers, my grip tight around the glowing gem. A forcefield appears and blocks the projectiles, then provides a dome-like barrier of green transparent magic around the altar. The guild charges and attacks at the forcefield with weapons, but it doesn’t falter, it doesn’t let them in.
“Looks like it’s just you and me,” I tell the Professor.
“Where did you get that?” he growls, referring to my Amulet.
“The same place I got that sword,” I reply and point to the weapon in his hand.
“Impossible. It would have left your body when you died.”
“Yeah, well, it didn’t. Maybe it likes me. Speaking of that whole dying thing, you wouldn’t happen to know anything about who murdered me, would you?”
He snarls and I can tell he’s checking his inventory, probably for potions. He glares hate as he speaks. “No, I wouldn’t. But I can assure you that this time, I’ll be the one that does the deed.” He equips the cloak of invisibility.
Shit. For some reason, I thought he might not have brought it, secure with the guild’s numbers and not needing it. Stupid.
I hold my sword to defend, but can’t see where he’s coming from. I turn fast and move in a circle, looking for any sign of movement.
A heavy blow comes from my flank and my health drops to half.
Damn!
Thal’s sword really packs a punch, even with my increased strength and dexterity. Not to mention I’m wearing some of the best armor that money can buy, purchased from a Grandmaster Blacksmith.
I swing wildly in all directions and hit nothing but air.
Outside the arena, the guild roars and curses, banging on the green shield wall.
The Guildmaster laughs from somewhere. “When you die this time, I’ll make sure everyone hears about it. And how you tried to kill me in cold blood.”
He’s in front of me. I lunge and attack. Nothing.
From my side, another strike. My health drops to ten percent and red fills my HUD, indicating low health.
The Amulet begins to pulse. Brighter. Brighter.
There.
I see you.
“Argh!” the Guildmaster curses as he shields his eyes from the blinding light.
I unleash fury upon him, use the dash skill, and nearly kill him in a rapid flourish of strikes.
Drained of health and stamina, he pleads for his life. “No. Please, don’t,” he cries, kneeling on one knee.
Without hesitation, without a second thought, I raise the blade and slay him.
I stand over his corpse, and the Amulet grows dim. The forcefield dissipates.
Turning to face the guild, they stand and stare in stunned silence.
Deana and Gage come running up behind me and stand by my side.
Now open to the guild, I realize that I don’t stand a chance against them. My items won’t even save me from their sheer numbers.
Standing in the bloody altar, I take an assured step and speak to the Black Knights. “I was once one of you. You all remember me from before. You know me as Ace, the first to slay a Daemon. First to wield Thal’s legendary items.” I loot Professor D’s corpse and hold both swords up for them to see. “But I was murdered. Poisoned. Exiled from the guild. And when I came back to life, the Guildmaster had me locked up in a cell for the rest of my days.” I scan the lines, gauging their reaction. They’re responsive to my words. That’s good.
“But I escaped.”
The ghost of Professor D stands over its former body and listens as I speak.
“Now I don’t know who killed me, or have proof of who judged me of treason.” I point at the ghost. “All I know is that this son of a bitch took my sword, took my cloak, and spat on my freedom.”
“OooOo Ooo,” the ghost replies. It takes off running towards the guild, pleading for favor.
I threaten them. “Do not resurrect him. Let him walk all the way to town to find a healer of his own if he so chooses to rejoin us here in Alterlife.”
One of the members of the guild steps forward. A big man, Warrior class, probably a Master, judging by his boldness. “Oh, yeah? And who said you’re in charge?”
This guy is begging for you to make an example of him.
“I did. From now on, I am the Guildmaster of the Black Knights.”
“The hell you are,” the man says and begins to resurrect the ghost.
I leave the altar, walk to the man, and slay him on the spot with one swift blow.
The guild stares at me in shock, but no more move. None dare challenge.
That's what I thought.
I didn’t want to kill the man, but sometimes you have to make an example out of someone to command respect. If respect cannot be earned through good merit, it must be demanded by fear.
“Any others care to challenge my position?” Silence. “Good.” I step back to join my two friends at the altar. I extend my hand to each as I address them. “Deana and Gage will be the commanders of the guild, equally respected and second only to me. You will do as they say at all times.”
I bend down to take the rest of the loot from the old guild leader’s corpse. Bastard. Tried to take everything away.
Putting the cloak and Thal’s Sword of Eternity into my inventory, it’s a good feeling. Justice is sweet.
“OoOoo OO oOO,” the ghost says, running up to me.
“Oh, you want this back?” I tell it, holding the poison up for everyone to see. “Is there any good reason that this man should carry poison on him at all times?”
It was him. This asshole really did kill me.
The ghost unleashes a string of incomprehensible vowels, then runs away, bed sheet blowing in the wind.
Have fun, Casper. It’s at least an eight hour trip to the nearest town.
I speak to the guild once more. “Now, you will all see that I will be fair and will treat everyone as equals. I plan on making this guild the greatest that it can be, and the sum of all its parts is what will make it great. Each of you will receive greater portions from the raids, along with a weekly stipend of gold just for being part of the guild.”
That perks their ears, and they start to lighten up.
Everyone loves to get more. Consume it all.
“We will allow the weaker members of our guild to attack in the raids so that their skills may progress faster. No more bringing them along to act as mules to carry the loot. We are only as strong as our weakest links.”
I’m starting to get a few cheers from them now. Maybe they’ll like me after all?
“We will put together a committee to oversee any concerns of the guild, and all of you will have a say in what we vote upon. Every two weeks, we will convene to address all concerns to the best of our abilities. Together, we will build a democracy. F
rom this day on, everyone can have a say in what they want for the guild, and where they see it going moving forward.”
Now they’re all cheering. Like magic, they rally behind me.
Funny how loyalties can change at the drop of a dime.
You’ve done it. The Black Knights belong to you.
I turn to Deana and Gage. The two of them smile and clap their hands, adding to the praise of the guild. I raise the sword high to the sky in one final rallying cry to the guild. “To the Black Knights! May we rise to be legends!”
They roar in applause and begin chanting my name.
“Ace.”
“Ace.”
They space the words out.
“Ace the Great.”
“Ace the Great.”
It’s like music to my ears.
I’ve never felt like this before. Never felt so alive.
I don’t want it to ever end.
17
MEMENTO MORI
1 DAY REMAINING
Sitting inside the Guildmaster’s chamber at Faldron’s Keep for the first time, I take a moment to glance around the room. As I sit in the wooden chair and admire the room, the fact doesn’t escape me that I’m the most powerful man in Alterlife.
A powerful man that’s soon to be dead if he doesn’t do what’s necessary.
“You requested me, sire,” Cervial says as he walks into the room.
“Hello, Cervial. Please, leave the formalities off and count me as friend, as I do you. Ace will do just fine.” He nods and waits for me to give a reason to why I’ve summoned him. “I summoned you because I want this room changed. Since it is now mine, I want all the potions and everything that’s related to alchemy removed.”
He humbly bows. “At once.”
“And I want a long table put in the great hall. Somewhere that accommodates at least twenty chairs for seating. That will be where the hierarchy and elders convene to discuss the matters of the guild.”
“That’s very diplomatic of you. I’ll see to it at once.”
I lean back in the chair. “Thank you Cervial. Now, pardon my rash dismissal, but I must deliberate on what I’m going to do next in solace.”
