Raze ~ 12!

~ Twelve ~

“Everyone!” The voice boomed over the area, and Joe recognized it as Aten’s ‘serious’ voice. “I need you all to listen closely. If you can open your browser right now, I need you to do so. Look at the news. We will be having a meeting soon to discuss our next course of action.”

Joe sat up and followed instructions, opening the first news channel he could find and pressing play on the current stream. He blanched as he recognized San Francisco, specifically when he saw that the city was under attack and burning. Things were coming out of the ocean, and Joe winced as he saw a massive tentacle lift out of the sea and wrap around the golden gate bridge. In moments, the bridge was whisked away with a sound of tearing metal.

The newscaster, pale and disheveled, replaced the view and held a paper in shaking hands. “Attacks like this are happening world-wide, with the coastal areas taking the most initial damage. The military is… not taking action, as they and their families have all apparently vanished in the same manner as President Musk. Government officials are just… they’re gone. No one is out there to help or give instructions, and… I’m going too, as soon as I finish here. Reports are coming in now.”

He gulped from a glass that was on the desk next to him, and the color suggested that it wasn't water. “These… monsters aren’t moving all that quickly, and it is recommended that you move inland as fast as possible, running whenever the option presents itself. Just like Musk said, even with the slow pace, at this rate there will be monsters everywhere within a month. Personally, I recommend that you take this Core, slap it to your head, and flee to safety!”

The anchorman vanished as soon as he had followed his own instructions, and the stream cut off with a ‘Technical Difficulties’ message. Joe stared at the screen, mortified by what he had seen. How many people would think that this was still a hoax? Would ignore the warnings? Probably too many. Even still… what was the population of Ardania? A few million? What would happen if even ten percent of people made it into the game? The population would jump to nearly a billion people, all starting their journey in Ardania. He hopped out of bed and started jogging toward the guild meeting, knowing that he would need to hear what was said.

Joe didn't have to wait long after he arrived. Aten walked out with Mike and a few other officers, and started shouting over the noise to get their attention. “Listen up! This changes very little for us! We need to continue fortifying our location, secure resources, and prepare to fend of raiders. Let’s be realistic, people. We are in an enviable position right now, and there are going to be hungry people in the not-too-distant future. We are going to do everything that we can to help as many people as possible, but we all know that won’t be enough for some of them. There will be people that want to take what you have, by force. Be prepared, do your duty. Who comes for the Wanderers?”

“The strongest! The Best! We kill all the rest!” The crowd called back to him, some more enthusiastically than the others. It was easy to be highly motivated when you were only doing this for fun, less so when it was your life, and you could see your civilization getting destroyed.

“As a side note, we are halting all guild invitations or requests to join.” Aten’s words were met with silence. “We need to be very careful who we take on from now on, to ensure that we have the infrastructure to support them. Good luck with everything you are all doing, guys.”

Joe looked at the time, and decided that it wasn't worth the effort of trying to go back to bed. He walked to the coffee shop and added his name to the growing list of people that were requesting the fragrant drink, then took his seat and pulled out his puzzle cube. Might as well get a jump on the day. He decided where he wanted to start, waited for his coffee, then downed it and got to puzzling. People around him came and went, but he didn’t notice, too enthralled by the cube in front of him. An hour and forty-five minutes later, the sun was in the sky and he was finished for the day.

Characteristic point training completed! +1 to intelligence, wisdom, perception, and dexterity! These stats cannot be increased further by any means other than system rewards, study, or practice for twenty-four hours game time.

Name: Joe ‘Tatum’s Chosen Legend’ Class: Mage (Actual: Rituarchitect)

Profession: Tenured Scholar (Actual: Arcanologist)

Character Level: 15 Exp: 125,993 Exp to next level: 10,007

Rituarchitect Level: 2 Exp: 2,190 Exp to next level: 810

Hit Points: 230/230

Mana: 860.25/860.25

Mana regen: 23.65/sec (Base 20.57/sec increased by gear)

Stamina: 200

Characteristic: Raw score (Modifier)

Strength: 22 (1.22)

Dexterity: 33 (1.33)

Constitution: 28 (1.28)

Intelligence: 74 (2.24)

Wisdom: 68 (2.18)

Charisma: 26 (1.26)

Perception: 53 (2.03)

Luck: 30 (1.30)

Karmic Luck: +3

Joe took a deep breath and let out a satisfied sigh. That was good stuff. “Here I go!” 

He stood up and brushed off his new robe, then pulled his Mystic Theurge staff out of his ring and used it like a walking stick as he walked over to find his group. They needed to get a move on, daylight was burning! He found them in the usual places, training, crafting, and in Jaxon’s case a small stall that was offering buffs to passerby. Joe shook his head at the hand-painted sign, which featured sad-faced people crawling in, then walking out with smiles. They all joined together, and Joe laid out his plan.

“Here is what I found, guys. It isn't much, but it’ll give us a starting point.” Joe pulled out the only map he had been able to purchase, a sketchy drawing that he was pretty sure was of this continent. “Take a look at this. Here we are, about thirty miles north of Ardania. Here is Ardania, here is the edge of the continent. If we continue north for about a hundred miles, we get to the northern edge. If we go south of Ardania, we have about two hundred miles until the edge.”

“Now, as you get closer to the edges, the monsters get stronger.” Joe waffled his hand back and forth. “At least that is what the guy who sold me this thinks. The point is: I found mention that there used to be people that could encourage plants to grow in any season. They could have been druids or the like, but from the book, I think they were Elves. We know for a fact that there are no Elves here anymore, but if there was going to be a place with a greenhouse or similar technology, I think that is the spot to look, right… here. South and west of Ardania by about one hundred and thirty miles. It’ll be fun!”

“One question.” Alexis offered as soon as he finished speaking. 

“Shoot.”

“When did you do this research? Yesterday?” She stared him down and Joe began to sweat. “You didn't just buy the first gear you found and then go galivanting off to the library, right? That would be irresponsible.”

“I got the best gear that I could from the most trustworthy source I know.” Joe coughed into his hand and looked at anyone but Alexis. “Any other questions?”

“Are you Joe, the Chosen of Tatum?” A new voice asked him, Joe started to turn to answer the person asking, and felt an impact on his Exquisite Shell. “Divine Shell, huh?”

Joe shouted an inarticulate cry that alerted his team, and the man that had just tried to assassinate him glowered. “Oh, I think not. I challenge you to a Duel of the Chosen!”

Duel of the Chosen instance initiated! You have been challenged by the chosen of ??? There is no way to refuse this duel, and no outside source can help or hinder either of you! Good luck, and fight well for your deity! Success: 100 favor points from your deity, 1000 divine energy for your deity! Failure: loss of 100 favor points from your deity, 1000 divine energy lost by your deity!

“What in the…?” Joe looked around, seeing that he was still in the same spot, but that there were no other people present. Except, probably, the person that had challenged him to a duel. Joe was in a bad position; he had no anti-personnel rituals, no spell scrolls that would be useful here, and he had no idea what this other fighter would be capable of doing.

*Ting*. Joe felt an impact on his back, and turned to find a wetly glistening dagger scraping against his shell and slowly sinking closer to him. He jumped back a few feet, crossing the distance like he was teleporting; thanks to his Master Jump skill. He couldn't let himself get pinned down, slow moving weapons sinking into his flesh would kill him just as much as fast moving weapons. 

“You are slow, and weak!” The mocking voice reached Joe’s ears. “You serve a weak, pathetic deity, and I'm going to hunt you until he vanishes from the world!”

“Woo, you sure are driving the bus to crazy town, buddy.” Joe called back, looking at the man that was still standing casually in front of him. “You realize that isn't a thing, right? That you’re in a new world, sure, but also a game world?”

“Just die and let me collect my favor.” The response was annoyed, no longer as if a role-player was getting his kicks. The man dashed forward, throwing knives at Joe’s face to try and distract him. Joe ignored the blades, fully focused on the shadows he had been wrapping around the unknown man’s ankles. Just one… more… second.

“Solidified Shadows!” Joe focused the mana through his Mystic Theurge staff and let the manacles he had created become tangible. The other guy tripped instantly, slamming to the ground and letting out an *oof* as the wind was knocked out of him. He rolled forward and sprang up, a mace in his hand that he whacked Joe across the face with before smashing the shadows around his legs. Joe reeled, the force of the blow forcing him to take a few steps backward. “How did you even know where to come after me?”

“You have a bounty!” The man informed him. “You keep showing up at the main temple and going toward the evil side of the place, before vanishing for a few seconds and turning around. I’m only the first of the people that are going to try collecting! That I can grind some favor is only a fringe benefit!” 

A bottle was tossed at Joe, and in an instant he was surrounded by blazing light that he couldn’t see through. Was it a flashbang of some kind with an extra-long flash? Just before he was sent flying, Joe heard the words, “Holy Smite!”

He landed on the ground and bounced, his shield at a critical level. Joe got up, ready to end this guy. Enough was enough! “Acid Spray!”

Once more, power ran through his staff and changed forms, this time to a potent acid. He had caught the man running at him full in the face, and Joe decided to channel this spell! He could only cast a single spell at a time while using the staff, so it stood to reason that he kept hosing this creep down!

“My robe!” The man sputtered as his outer layer of clothing fell apart. “You dick! For Ra-torian! Holy Smite!”

Joe was rocked back, tumbling across the ground again. This time, his shell shattered and he took some damage.

Holy Smite deals 300 light damage! 262 damage absorbed by Exquisite Shell! Hp -38 !

Joe popped back to his feet and whipped his staff around. This guy wanted to play with light? Fine! Joe started grabbing the shadows and spinning them into a whirling concertina wire. He started at the other man, who had fallen to his knees and was just now struggling to his feet. Joe almost felt bad for the guy, the acid had done a number on his… everything. That was fine though, and Joe had needed a solid ten seconds to get the wire how he wanted it anyway.

He sent the darkness after his opponent, only at the last second activating Solidified Shadows and shredding the man. Joe coughed and looked down, finding three daggers embedded in his chest. When…?

Duel of the Chosen complete! You have defeated your opponent! Success! You gain 100 favor points from your deity and 1000 divine energy for your deity!

You have died! Calculating… PvP, Chosen Duel, no experience lost. You will be respawned at your bind point in one hour!