Chapter 50: A Bad Feeling (Patreon)

As we raced to catch up with Martin before he made it back to town, we were forced to stop multiple times by Damian. We would then have to maneuver around traps he’d set that. Even with my perception as high as it was, I couldn’t detect any of them. He claimed that they would take too long to disable and that he’d just have to come back for them later.

I thought it wise to party up to use the chat feature to avoid talking out loud once we get closer.

[Lucas Hudson has invited Damian Sutter to join the party]

[Party leader is Lucas Hudson, Class: Blood Reaver, level: 14]

[Party member, Hugo, Class: Psychopomp, level: 11, has joined]

[Party member, Damian Sutter, Class: Stygian Assassin, level: 14, has joined]

Huh, when I’d last joined a party with Damian, he was two levels ahead of me. He must have gained a level or two when we were clearing floor 97 and then spent the rest of the time looking for his wife. He was calmer than I expected for someone who lost his wife to be, but I suppose he could just be compartmentalizing.

When we reached a clearing in the forest, he had us stop. Martin and his large goblin dog had stopped and were looking down at the ground at something.

[Hugo: What are they doing?]

[Lucas Hudson: Maybe they’re tracking a creature? I can’t imagine Martin has kept himself at a low level. He would have to hunt frequently to keep progressing.]

He frowned. 

[Damian Sutter: Perhaps. I don’t see any creature though. Regardless, this is as a good a chance as any. Hugo, get the Corvus Commandos ready to attack as the first wave and then follow it up with Archer and Norris once I give the word.]

[Hugo: Roger that.]

[Lucas Hudson: Something doesn’t feel right. He should’ve moved on by now.]

[Damian Sutter: Maybe there’s something wrong with his dog or maybe he’s meeting someone else. Either way, we shouldn’t wait around to find out. Now are you with me or not?]

[Lucas Hudson: I’m with you.]

Hugo commanded his birds to get into position, while Archer and Norris got ready to run. I drew my sword and goblin steel knife since I can’t use the Viper Fang without poisoning Martin. Damian readied his crossbow.

[Damian Sutter: When I fire, attack.]

I didn’t like the thought of charging across an open field, but if he could disable the goblin dog first, it’d be doable.

Damian fired his crossbow bolt, and the Hugo’s crows shot out of the trees. The goblin dog sniffed the air and shifted just as the bolt hit. It let out a keening cry as it went down with the bolt sticking out of its chest. Damian had missed the heart, but it was too late to back out now. I silently sprinted across the field, with Damian running a few feet behind me.

Martin went from confusion to shock and then to anger. He drew his pistol just as the first crow attacked. Martin fired wildly into the air as the crows clawed at him with beaks and talons. They left shallow cuts, but it was an effective distraction for Norris, who was allowed to reach Martin first. He had his own knife out, ready to strike when the goblin dog shot to its feet. The dog’s jaws opened wide and snapped the spirit summons head clean off. There was no blood. Norris simply turned to mist and then faded away.

As Archer was drawing an arrow to fire, two spinning hatchets flew out of the woods and went through her body and she too dissolved into mist.

There was no time to deviate from our course. I reached Martin next from behind and savagely kicked him in the side of his leg. He fell to his knees, and I put my sword to his throat. The goblin dog growled and showed its teeth.

Martin raised his hand. “It’s okay,” he said, calming the dog.

Damian reached me a second later.

[Lucas Hudson: There are others out there. Can you see them?]

Damian scanned the area and shook his head.

“Anyone makes a move, and he dies!” I shouted into the forest.

[Lucas Hudson: Hugo, how many crows do you have left?]

[Hugo: He shot half of them, so three.]

[Lucas Hudson: Send them. Find out how many people Martin’s got in the woods.]

“So you’re the black swordsman,” said Martin. “I had a feeling when Anders said he was wielding a katana but I wasn’t sure.”

I sheathed my knife and used my free hand to grab the back of his head and yank it back.

“Tell me where this man’s wife is and we’ll let you go,” I said.

“That’s not going to happen,” said Anders.

He, his sister, and ten others came out from behind the trees. The twins carried their axes while the rest carried swords, bows, and wands. All of them were wearing armor.

[Damian Sutter: The one’s behind the twins could be a bluff.]

[Lucas Hudson: One second.]

I made a thin cut along Martin’s throat, just enough to produce a drop of blood. Now that the System realized I meant him harm, we both learned where the other stood.

*Player identified* [Martin Weiss, Class: Beastmaster, Level: 20]

I fought to keep my reaction under control.

[Lucas Hudson: It’s not a bluff. Martin has gained enough of a lead that he now feels comfortable training some of his people. I doubt any of them are above level ten except for Anders and Carina, but it’s still too many for us to take on.]

[Damian Sutter: What do you suggest?]

I looked to my right and saw smoke over the trees. It was coming from the chimneys in town. We were close, but we’d have to go through Martin’s men to get there.

[Lucas Hudson: The town isn’t far. We fall back with Martin and then make a run for it once we reach the safe zone.]

[Damian Sutter: What about my wife?]

[Lucas Hudson: Look at the men out there. Would your wife really want you to make this your last stand?]

He clenched his jaw and then nodded.

[Damian Sutter: Okay. We’ll go with your plan.]

[Lucas Hudson: Hugo, stay out of sight. I don’t want anyone thinking you’re a Corvus Commando and taking a shot at you.]

Hugo agreed, and I lifted Martin back up onto his feet while keeping the blade close to his throat. Anders and Carina walked towards us while the rest of their group stayed back. They’d probably never fought other people before, only mindless beasts. It can be a different experience killing a human. Anders was likely holding them back in case any of them became squeamish.

“Okay, here’s what’s going to happen,” I said. “We’re going to walk with Martin back to town and then let him go. You keep your men back and nobody has to get hurt.”

“Why are you doing this?” asked Carina, looking confused.

“Well, for Damian, it’s personal, since Martin here is holding his wife. For me, it’s because he tried to kill me on that first day and then tried to put out a hit on me about half an hour ago. So I guess it’s personal for both of us.”

“That doesn’t sound like Martin,” she said.

“She’s right. You must have me mixed up with somebody else,” said Martin, who sounded petrified.

I’d seen his scared teenager act before and saw right through it this time, but it looked like Carina was buying it.

“Please, just let him go,” she begged.

“We’ll do that once we reach the town. I promise,” I replied.

I pushed Martin to walk forward, but he refused. His eyes widened as he pretended to panic. “No, they’ll kill me as soon as they get close to the border and then run inside to safety. They’re crazy. I heard them planning it,” he lied.

More of his group heard this and felt motivated to come a little closer. All of them were angry on behalf of their leader.

“Stay back!” I warned.

“Please, we can talk about this,” said Carina. “Just let him go.”

[Damian Sutter: I’m sorry for getting you into this mess. I can take out a couple of them and give you and Hugo a chance to make a run for it.]

[Lucas Hudson: No, we’re getting out of this together. They’ll move if we show them we’re serious.]

I took out my goblin knife and stabbed Martin in the leg. He screeched in pain and Anders and Carina both stepped closer while looking ready to tear my head off.

“Back away or he dies!” I shouted before pressing Martin forward. “Walk!” I roared.

Martin obliged by taking a few steps. Anders and Carina backed up.

“Move everyone to my left,” I told Anders, who then gave the order.

The group reluctantly complied. Good, it was working. I felt a wave of relief. A few minutes from now, we’ll be at the town, and Damian and I can get to the silver elevator. It’ll reveal me or Damian as a cardholder, but it's our best bet for getting away clean.

Martin stumbled and moaned, “my leg.”

“You can get a health potion in town. Now move it,” I said.

He fell to the ground, and I had to move my sword out of the way or take his head then and there. Martin wailed in pain. I moved closer to try and lift him up. That was when he stopped crying and threw several small rocks into the air. The rocks grew and turned into four giant bats.

*Beasts identified* [Junior Vampire Bats (uncommon)] Level 14 – Man, you really stepped in it this time. These blood suckers prefer to hunt at night, but that doesn’t mean they can’t during the day. Remember that whole ‘blind as a bat’ saying? Well, it was a myth before and it’s a myth now. They are highly mobile, highly aggressive, and can regenerate by feeding on blood much like a certain someone.

I had just enough time to read the notification before all of them flew towards me with their fangs bared.