Path of the Slayer B3 10. Rejoice & Prepare

“I need three-fifty,” Thumper said as all of us piled into one of the larger and more secured meeting hall rooms.

There was a long table at the center that could seat a hundred folks. The floor was covered in expensive and luxurious carpeting that was deep maroon. Along the walls were artifacts and wares that probably cost hundreds of billions.

It was all worth very little compared to what I had.

“Three-fifty what? Three dollars and fifty scents?” Merlin asked after extracting Syleth’s tongue out from his throat.

His entire head and neck were red, his eyes dazed, his lower face covered in half-naga drool. Legendary Path Energy popped and snapped around him in undisciplined excitement.

Partially coiled around him, Syleth laughed giddily.

Me and Thumper both paused to absorb the display. The half-giant was calculating something. I was still trying to get my hammering heart under control.

At this point, my warrior nomad skill couldn’t help me.

Yet, I had to focus even harder while my juniors roared, shouted, and screeched, giving themselves over to wild jubilee. That was okay for them to do, but not for me.

I needed to lead the way still.

I breathed.

In.

Out.

I focused.

I breathed.

In.

Out.

My erratic emotions settled down. My mind sharpened with clarity and Path Energy.

There was a lot to do in a short amount of time. But there were plenty of reasons to celebrate – even if only a few of us could.

I activated Golden Hound Fortune multiple times as I sought for the best course. Then I went full steam ahead.

“Three trillion and fifty billion?” I asked Thumper.

The Perfect Rogue nodded. “Three trillion for a bribe the Auction House itself couldn’t turn down. I’ll change the antiviolence parameters with that.”

Thumper stuck a thumb at our nomad Ranker, Turak. The half-orc was in a fuzzy, teary-eyed state. “The fifty billion is for him, since I’m guessing you’re done with him, right? I can get us some Legendaries who’ll risk life and limb to take this guy wherever he needs to go with fifty billion.”

“That’s too much. Ten billion would be more than enough,” I said.

“Whatever. I was trying to meme a little to work off the nerves, but yeah, ten billion then. I’ll have everything set up in an hour, so be ready then.”

I strode past cheering squamates and seized Turak by the arms. “It’s time for us to part ways, brother. I can’t do any more for you. You must wander on your own from here and let the ancestors guide you. If you die, trust the roots you’ll go where we all belong when it’s our time to rest.”

Turak nodded his head rapidly. “Yes, brother. Thank you.”

“I can see if they can grant you a bank card pre-charged with credits.” I looked over at Thumper, and the Perfect Rogue nodded.

I nodded in return. “Yes, that should help. Go with Thumper and let him hand you off to the Auctioneers. Other than that, I pray the ancestors be with you.”

“The same to you, Sir Arden the Nomad, my brother. And once again, thank you.”

Thumper held out a bank orb. I took out the one I’d gotten when Zez registered me for an account. I inputted the runic codes and my breath halted in my lungs when I saw the ludicrous amount.

A flash of dizziness and irregular heartbeats struck me before I shook my head to clear my delirium.

I bumped my bank orb with Thumper’s orb and transferred him three trillion and fifty billion credits.

“The extra is just in case,” I said.

“You’re the greatest, Arden.” Thumper nodded at me before grabbing Turak by the arm and turning toward the door.

“We’re going with you, nya!” Noodles sprung into the half-giant’s way with Velira and Weaver in tow. The neko Tormentor sported a smug smile. “You’re up to something bad. Something murderous. We’re the rogue team, and you’re supposed to teach us your ways while we’re together. Let us help!”

“Okay. Just don’t slow me down too much.” Thumper brushed around them with Turak getting yanked along.

Noodles opened and closed her mouth. The loaded argument on the tip of her tongue had nowhere to go. With a merry cry, she ran out the door with the Ranger and the Spider, slamming the door shut behind them.

“Merlin, take out your bank orb.” I turned to him and his team with whip-crack authority in my voice.

It had to be this way. The wizard was as dumb and blind as he could get. He didn’t resist me at all as I touched my bank orb with his orb, transferring four trillion.

There were so many credits dropping into his account suddenly it didn’t matter if the debt parameter garnished a piece.

“Syleth, listen to me, and listen hard,” I said with even more authority. “You have ten minutes to escort Merlin to a bank and have him clear his debt. You get five minutes to find a bed and go at it with him if he’s willing. For the next forty-five minutes, or however long it takes, I need you to have Merlin purchase everything on this list.”

I gave her a folded scrap of parchment.

The half-naga’s hand trembled as she grasped it. “Your will is my command, sir.”

“Go easy on Merlin.” I clapped the dwelf wizard on the shoulder. “And make sure he’s somewhat functionable by the time the hour is up. We might have to take the Dragon Gunship to get out of here quickly. Just don’t run off or betray us, or Thumper will personally hunt you down.”

“Understood! Yes. I will ensure everything goes smoothly for Merlin’s comfort and our escape. Thank you for this honor to serve you, my elders!” Syleth said, the folded list held dearly to her chest.

I waved her off. “One last thing, whatever leftover credits remain are for anything you want to spend on the squad. Now get going. The clock’s running. And Kroker will be there to make sure you stay on schedule. Don’t give our Cleric a hard time.”

The Charmer let out an excited shrill. Then she waved her hands over her face and assumed a more serious expression.

She grabbed Merlin by the hand and yanked him along. Kroker followed with quick steps, the half-kobold matching the half-naga’s pace.

Before my friend disappeared out of the door, the shock in his green eyes cleared as he mouthed “Thank you” at me. Then the door shut again, leaving only five – me and my warrior team.

Extending my hand, I dropped a dozen weapons in a pile on the floor. As Doomie’s weight of fear ebbed out, I slowly panned my gaze over my juniors.

“We have fifty-seven minutes to iron out as many kinks as we can. Let’s get to it.”

***

Fifty-two minutes later, I was on the verge of telling my team to wait here until Thumper and I got back.

They weren’t exactly incompetent. They weren’t necessarily bad. They weren’t without some talent. In fact, they all held the potential to grow into bigger threats.

The problem was me.

I was rushing them.

Everything I knew couldn’t be learned so quickly. Even Epic Pathwalkers needed time to ingrain the advanced tactics I’d drilled the past half year, especially tight energy efficiency and advanced weapon mastery.

Marnarka bellowed softly and slammed her bare foot down with all her weight. She hunkered into a low stance while holding two large round shields, one in each hand, and swung the edge of one at me.

The moment I stepped aside and pushed the flat side of my dulled greatsword against the Bulwark’s shield, Brug came around and swung his battleaxe for my shoulder.

He was still too slow, giving me ample time to maneuver my greatsword into an upward parry, deflecting the Raider’s weapon above my head.

Redfang scrambled low with steel combat claws. She raked at the back of my legs.

She was fast, but too obvious, and suffered a thrusting knee to her chin and an overhead pommel strike to her shoulder. Still, with our bodies collided, I had to waste time extracting myself from Redfang while avoiding her claws.

Brug swung his battleaxe again and forced my attention to guard high. Marnarka shifted around and rammed a shield at my back, pushing me toward Brug. Redfang was scrambling back to her feet to go after my legs again.

With a little more energy, I flipped the scenario on them again.

I kicked Redfang into Brug before pivoting my body around Marnarka’s shields, taking her flank. I swung the flat of my greatsword at her calf for a stinging hit that would’ve probably cost her a foot in a true battle.

Only then did Grimmy spring her surprise attack: a quick thrust with her shortsword aimed at my ribs.

To my surprise, she came at me faster this time, fiercer, and forced me to abort the attack on Marnarka to sweep into a low guard, fending her off.

I expected her to back away and choose for a new opportunity like a faux-rogue. Instead, she readjusted, planted her little feet in front of me, and swung her shortsword at my groin.

She forced me to retreat for space – my steps quick, easy, fast – but she sacrificed more energy to move even faster.

I swept my greatsword for her head, and she tilted to the side and raised her little sword. She parried my strike just enough that it missed her ear by a scant inch. Then she darted at me with a thrust at my groin.

I retreated at an angle to my side, pivoted, and swept my greatsword even lower than before. She smartly waited a beat for it to pass her before moving in the direction my sword went, pushing against the blade with her own weapon.

Just like that, she fouled my reset and slowed my momentum. Then she easily turned her next move into a thrust at my armpit.

“Excellent!” I shouted, feeling thrilled by her sudden burst of tactical awareness.

Something had clicked in the Little Fighter’s brain. I saw it in her yellow eyes – an intense focus was beaming through as she stayed on me like green on grass.

The others were standing back, letting us exchange swordplay, which I appreciated. I couldn’t help but focus on Grimmy in return as she kept pushing the pace.

She was on the verge of growing deadlier, as if she was going to gain a new Great Skill.

Maybe I was projecting, but I didn’t care.

The Slayer in me was sharpening a new weapon.

“Be more efficient with your energy! You’re wasting too much!” I demanded as we crossed blades with more fervor, bright sparks shooting out on contact between my larger piece of steel and her smaller piece of steel.

She readjusted, slowing down only for a moment, before pushing the pace with more efficiency. Our every clash clamored even more with the song of violence and battle.

My greatsword came down for her head with power and technique. I used very little energy beyond what was required, yet such an attack had split Rank 4s from crown to groin.

Grimmy overcompensated by burning more energy than she should, but she was tighter about it than prior.

She stepped aside with a blurring shuffle and pushed her shortsword on my greatsword to bind it briefly. Darting right after, she went for another stab at my groin – which turned out to be a feint!

With an even quicker step, she scurried into my flank for a slash at my armpit.

Moving fast, I blocked with my crossguard and crashed down on top of her. I forced even more pressure on her head while kicking my foot into her little legs to screw up her stance and pace.

By this point, she should get flustered and make a mistake. Once she did, I would punish her while abusing my size and reach.

The Slayer in me blared with a warning that had my spine shivering.

Path Energy and Slayer Intent flared with a mini eruption inside my body, almost like a combustion engine. I retreated faster than before with a small burst of intentful energy.

Grimmy ended up off balance, the half-goblin sprawling onto her belly with a crying chitter.

The others stood and watched with wide-eyed wonder while I tried to figure out what had me worried.

The simplest answer was probably the right one: Grimmy was on the Path of the Little Fighter. The moment I tried to abuse my size, I sensed a regrettable conclusion could’ve befallen me.

Amazing.

It was exciting to find such talent.

The girl was truly brilliant. Like finding a massive diamond in the rough. She merely needed more polishing, more attention and care, to become the monster she was destined to be. 

Although we were out of time, Thumper and his rogue team hadn’t arrived yet. I could still instruct, and that made me happy, gloriously so.

“Your Path and your powers aren’t exactly aligned, Grimmy.” I rested my greatsword with the tip down in front of me, hands on the hilt. “Your powers suggest you are a warrior of the sword, but your Path of the Little Fighter is scrappier and more variable.”

The half-gob stood and nodded. “Yeah, yeah. I wanted to be a badass sword-gob. I still do even with this Path.”

That gave me pause. Her powers were already chosen, but they seemed limiting compared to her Path.

Was the incongruence a problem for her growth?

Or was she a special case with how her variable Path and strict powers could combine?

I couldn’t do much about the former, but I could certainly work on improving the latter.

Turning to the others, I thought about my next words before coming out with them. “If you follow me into this next fight, you three need to be more careful. Or you have to place your lives in Grimmy’s hands, because I’ll most likely be occupied during the most critical moments.”

“I don’t do careful very well, sir,” Brug said plainly. “I’ll put it all out there and make sure Grimmy doesn’t get hurt because of me.”

“I’ll support Grimmy with my everything!” Redfang cheered. 

Marnarka took her time as she looked down at the half-gob. A smile crossed the half-minotaur’s face. “I’ll try my best to support you, Grimmy. If you are our greatest gift to the elders, then I’ll protect you with my life.”

“But guys, I’m not that special. We’re all special!” Grimmy whined, her ears lowering. “We’re gonna be a badass team together!”

I remained standing firm even as I inwardly winced.

Moments like these were uncomfortable. If not treated with care, those ignorant of their monstrous talent could become tyrannical, lording their power over others to an abusive degree.

Grimmy was still ignorant, which was its own problem, and we didn’t have enough time to break it down for her.

The door swung open, and Thumper was on the other side. Nothing about him changed physically, but he had the air of death wafting off him like a haunting revenant.

“It’s time,” he said darkly.

“So be it. Everyone, drink up an elixir and give me your weapons to be stored for now.” I reached above my shoulder and patted Doomie on her ghostly and shady face.

Then I ordered her to withdraw into me and to compress around my soul. The crushing pressure was even more horrible than before, but I was okay with suffering the consequences. The payoff would be worth it as I weaved cursed energy from Hooker into Doomie.