Battle Admin System 20

20 - Go all in and Gamble

“Am I really that honorable? Some would say I’m spirited and delusional.” Lord Oxford chuckled. “Moonstrider, oh, Moonstrider. The epics speak of your clan well. Moon Giants are already special. Moonstriders are the elite among them.”

Lillea snorted contemptuously. “Maybe you’ve had too much to drink, my lord.”

The old human carried on. “When I learned of your clan, I wanted to meet one. And when I did, he exceeded expectations. Noble. Just. Powerful. Like a giant knight of old. This was before we met. So when I saw you as hurt and lost as you were, it was a terrible wound to my heart.”

“I’ve suffered. Then I’ve gone astray,” Lillea muttered. “The real ones are all dead. And they’ve left me.”

“Is that so? I don’t believe you are a fake Moonstrider, just a different one.”

Lillea glared at him.

The old human smiled. Then he lost his humor and carefully said, “Please, forgive me for my next words. And please listen.”

Lillea took a deep breath, knowing he would anger her. She thought about kicking him but saw he was burdened.

“Speak, Cold Tooth Lord.”

“I contracted an oracle.”

“The woman slipping through the servant’s entrance?” Lillea asked.

“She knew you would pick up on that. That was on purpose.”

Lillea frowned. Her mood was souring fast.

“I had to know, Lillea. I needed to know what it was.” He waited, knowing she would realize his crime against her.

Lillea set the mug aside. She slipped out of her chair and crouched over the old lord. She lowered her hand until her fingers were posed to crush him into paste. Not the left hand. The fleshy right hand.

She kept her hand open. But she imagined his grisly death for a few seconds until her anger dissipated. Then she felt tired all of a sudden. She channeled mana to feel different shades of darkness and moonlight. The elements comforted her.

She sat back on her chair and drank more ale.

“I forgive you,” she muttered.

“Is it true that you’re–”

“No.”

“So it’s not true or you’re unwilling to answer?”

Lillea glared.

The old man sighed. “Well, my knowledge came with some more hefty costs. The oracle wasn’t cheap for starters. And the Miracle Hammer Clan found out somehow. I had to pay reparations to keep them from leaving Cold Tooth. How crazy is it to pay dwarves to stay instead of replacing them with fellow humans? But they wouldn’t be the Miracle Hammer Clan without worldwide backing. They also told me to tell you it’ll be done in six weeks.”

“For certain?” Lillea asked quietly.

“Yes.”

She had less than eight weeks in her predictions. Six weeks was a doable wait. Plenty of time to reach Level 300 and push all of her skills above the 200s. Maybe close to Level 300. She was adjusting the projection to her new level-climbing speed.

She was still a giant with a leveling speed that was slower compared to other races. But her legendary rank and demonic channels could make the difference in the long run.

The higher her skills before claiming the last piece to her build, the greater her role evolution would come out. She might or might not avoid the dogmatic church by the time she was fully prepared. Depending on if Alden succeeded and Lord Oxford failed.

“Additionally, the oracle had something for you,” Lord Oxford said. “You will have a decision between meeting the Sword-Tailed Wolves first or going elsewhere that is beyond her understanding. But if you go to the Sword-Tailed Wolves first, you may learn something gravely important. And it might put Cold Tooth in danger in the process.”

“I must meet with the Sword-Tailed Wolves to return a favor,” Lillea said.

“If you do or don’t, I’m not one to fight against fate anymore. I’ve tried and survived. Others have tried and haven’t survived. All I ask is to let me know the extent of the danger.”

Lillea looked doubtful.

The old lord continued. “Fate is screwy. It’ll wound up hurting you even when you think you’ve circumvented the problem. The truth is to face fate and figure out the parts not mentioned.”

Moonstrider Learning V leveled up from 287 to 289!

Lillea nodded to the old human’s counsel. She knew the oracle had meant the other option as the Hall of Admins. That place must be so great even oracles couldn’t observe it. It made Lillea’s hunger for the power inside even stronger. I would stop at nothing to have it.

But the issue with the Sword-Tailed Wolves concerned her even more now. Wouldn’t it be better to go to the Hall of Admins first? Perhaps not. I might need to see what’s wrong with the wolves and what could threaten Cold Tooth. Then take the information where it needs to go.

“I will let you know what I find out,” Lillea said. “What more do you have for me?”

Lord Oxford lowered his head. “So, I’ve already dug up a secret that deserves your anger and crossed boundaries on our relationship. Do not think my attempts to get ahead of the demon issue is going to settle the score. That’s something I would’ve done once I was sure you’re still you in there, anyway. So, what I’ll need to pay up is more considerable. But let me deepen my debt to you first. I will need a favor in the future.”

“What favor?”

“I will describe it in one word: redress.”

“Okay. I will help with this favor.”

Lord Oxford nearly fell out of his chair in shock.

Lillea softened her expression and set aside her mug. She shook her head at the silly old man.

“It was wrong of you to insert yourself in my privacy. But I will not turn down a request like that. You know me, Lord Oxford. In fact, you’ve probably wanted this favor for a long time. How can I say no?”

“You truly are a Moonstrider. Now it’s time for me to pay up.” Lord Oxford took a deep breath. “Experience Pills for the apprentice. System Stones, for you or her. Tomes on her speciality. There is a set called the ‘Mystical Wonders and Applied Skills of the Paper Wizard.’ Works well with wood mana, too. Books on shadow magic for yourself. Books on dark magic. And books on demonic practices that might fill in some gaps. This is not the last of my repayment and support, but let’s end this first serving with the recorded Moonstrider epics I’ve tracked down all my life. Written from centuries ago. It has an explanation on why Moonstriders stopped bonding with demons plus other nuggets.”

Lillea pushed past her amazement and asked, “Why did they stop bonding with demons?”

“It corrupted them just like everyone else. They lasted longer. Long enough to question if it would affect them. But in the end, they had to be put down.” Lord Oxford pointed at Lillea’s metal arm. “But your prosthetic must’ve fixed that issue. I don’t know if it’s because of the demon not touching flesh. Or the metal used by the Okawadu People. Could be Ogun and Olomere’s magic for all I know. You are different compared to all the epics and verified accounts of Moonstriders in action, after all.”

“I told you the metal arm would be good,” Solo chimed in. “See! I’m amazing. I don’t even corrupt you. Everyone should praise me.”

“Yes, you are amazing, Lady Solo,” Lord Oxford said.

“For this, I will think of you with pride and fondness. Lucky you, old human.” Solo laughed metallically.

Lillea couldn’t find the voice to speak just yet. It was shocking there was information about her heritage she lacked while known by another. A human, at that.

How many secrets had her kin taken to their graves and didn’t pass down to the next generations? I was never told about the Hall of Admins, for example.

Moonstrider Learning V leveled up from 289 to 292!

“The Experience Pills alone are a massive fortune. But System Stones? You can’t, my lord,” Lillea said shakily.

She looked away. Her whole body was shaking. This amount of fortune was large for humans. Almost worth half of Cold Tooth. Maybe more. Curiosity gripped her.

“What rank are they?” she asked.

“The pills are noble. The stones are in the adventure rank.”

Lillea hissed. “Very massive, the worth of these resources. That can sink half a dozen great houses. That can ruin you if you aren’t able to sell them during a time of need. My lord… you can’t.”

Lord Oxford chuckled darkly. “I am certain of what you are, Lillea Solo Moonstrider. You have everyone fooled. You even had me fooled. But I know the truth. If the dwarven commission is all I can go off of, you are a force of reckoning that will cut evil down to the last. Maybe there’s more I haven’t learned yet.”

Lillea pressed her lips thin.

Lord Oxford nodded slowly. “It’s in my best interest to give what I can to those I believe in. I’m not long for this world, anyway. I need to right a wrong before I pass on, too. So, this is it for me. I’m going all in.”

“What if I’m the wrong choice? The wrong Moonstrider? What if your gamble is for naught?”

“You’re the last of your clan in all of Kolossi. If the ship sinks with you, then damn it all, I’ll go down with it.” Lord Oxford’s eyes glistened. “I still remember those tales from when I was a mere boy. I know the Moonstriders weren’t perfect. But I still have belief. Your people fought monsters that would’ve destroyed the world. Your people made sacrifices to protect the weak. How can I not take this chance with you?”

Lillea stared through him before looking over at Fiona. She was sleeping on the grass with a blanket covering her. Two servants waited beside her to ensure she was okay.

“Stories, huh? Tales of gallant adventurers. Epics of the Moonstriders. They aren’t as pretty as the reality,” Lillea muttered. “You are too old for those stories. You should know better.”

“Damn it all, Lillea. Let an old man dream. The reality may not be pretty, but the stories are all we have when the end comes.” He tossed his mug aside and knelt in front of her. The servants and Lillea felt equally uncomfortable. “Please, Lillea. Let me believe in you.”

She sighed deeply, feeling weary. It had been easier out in the wilderness, fighting for her life while unconcerned for nothing but herself. But she couldn’t lie to herself either.

She was invested in Cold Tooth. It was her home. People like Lord Oxford, Grimmer, Madame Lucia, Hina, Ogun were her people. Imperfect people. But they were hers. That also meant they would attach themselves to her. And sacrifice for her when they should be more selfish.

Lillea reached down and gently lifted the old lord to his feet. Then she knelt in front of him with a rigid back and a serious attitude. The air thickened around them with a hint of old magic.

“I accept your tributes under the authority of Moonwatcher,” Lillea said. “Let your offerings be under peace and honest intentions. Let the light of the moon deepen your wisdom and shed your fear of loss. Under the dark of night, you will be watched and welcomed, Oscord Oxford, Human Lord of Redress and Belief.”

Lord Oxford sighed in relief, getting his rare treat of cultural acceptance by a legendary Moonstrider. The last of her honorable warrior clan. Protector of the hidden Moon Giants. Hunter of Moonkiller. Fighter of apocalyptic threats. A monstrous darkness guarding the innocent light.

***

Fiona tumbled through the bushes and barely scrambled out of the way of a giant foot crashing behind her. It was the wrong foot, so she didn’t need to turn and look. She glanced up and saw thick black strands swooping down on her. Her stomach was hurting. Her lungs burned. Tears were in her eyes.

But she dug deep and pushed harder and launched herself over another row of shrubs. The dark strands smacked down inches from her back. Forceful wind pushed her harder across the air. She hit the ground with a roll, which took her three days of torment to figure out how to do.

She didn’t have time to look. She had to guess if another dark strand was falling on her or another foot. She guessed a dark strand and sprinted hard to her right. A blur of large movement caught the edge of her vision. The other foot. And right around the ankle was rope with a yellow flag clipped to the outside.

She wasn’t prepared, so the toes rammed into her legs. Fiona rolled over the top, tried to grab the flag anyway, but realized she was too far. Her body flattened against the ankle and shin during the ascent before the leg suddenly stopped.

Fiona went airborne.

In the Level 100s, most humans could survive fairly high falls if they rolled with the momentum. Fifty to sixty feet was manageable.

Fiona sailed eighty feet above the ground before plummeting toward a tree-heavy area. If she landed wrong, she would break her bones. She would fail and disappoint her sponsor.

Fiona clenched her jaw and spread wide. She smashed through branches to slow her fall before tucking and rolling.

She’d grown up in the slums in the shadow of the empire’s capital. She hadn’t always played with the other kids because she focused on digging up scraps of old and tossed away books and finding slum dwellers who could read and teach her. But sometimes the other kids forced her to play.

The slums were still in Fiona even if people didn’t know it.

She survived the fall. She avoided broken bones. Pain was a constant part of existence. She had to ignore the hobble in her ankle. Worse yet, the shadow of her pursuer was on her again. Every Fiona ended up in the monster’s shadow, it felt like death had come for her. It felt like she should give up and accept defeat.

“Give up, little morsel.” The monster’s voice struck down like thunder. Loud, domineering, forceful. “No matter where you run. No matter where you hide. I will catch you. Your meat will be stripped from your body. The bones turned to dust. Gone and forgotten!”

Most people would’ve quit.

“No,” Fiona said, refusing defeat.