As Alora floated to the top of the sink-hole slowly, Eli spoke with her using telepathy. “Let me know what you see.”

  When she was back at ground level she replied, “it looks like they are all set up a few hundred feet away. A scout nearby saw me and ran back to where the rest of them were. If we leave now I bet we could outrun them.”

  “No, the safe zone to the south of here is too vulnerable, we have to face them. Any ideas?”

  “Well, there's about 20 of them, only 2 or 3 look like trouble, everyone else is probably weak enough to ignore if it came to a fight.” Alora did not sound sure of herself at all, she didn’t know how to judge strength but she wanted to give him as much information as possible.

  Alora landed on the edge of the sink-hole and recalled her staff, Eli and Bethany blinked to be right next to her. The scout had reached the group and they were headed towards Eli and his group.

  “What’s the plan?” Bethany asked.

  “We need to come up with a good way for you to address me,” he said looking at Bethany. “Lord and majesty just don’t have enough weight to it.” Bethany and Alora were looking at him funny. “What? Alora can just call me master when we are out in the world, but what should you call me?”

  “I could just call you master as well.” Bethany said.

  “I guess,” Eli said in a sigh. “We will need to come up with something though for things like this, I don’t want to be confused with just another lord though.”

  Both women had their head in their hands while Eli was looking up and tapping his chin in thought while the other group closed in on them. Eli was just in his ape underwear with his black pendant on and his mask, he wanted the reveal of his eyes to be dramatic. Umber was in her tattoo form covering almost all of the left side of his body since the sun was out. His latest upgrades had him even taller at 6 foot 8 or 9 and his muscles were larger and more pronounced than before. His look was moving away from Olympians and more towards comic book heroes. For someone who considers himself a showman to outsiders, he was pleased with his intimidating look.

  It took them a bit to reach Eli and his friends since they were moving as a unit, it was smart and they showed good teamwork. They had practiced this before for hunting high level monsters, staying far enough apart to avoid area of effect spells or abilities, but close enough to come to each other’s aid if they needed help. When they got closer Eli recognized Gwen and the other two guys from before, but he was a bit sad when he saw that James was with them. He let the emotion hit him and fall away, he was not going to spare the guy if this is the choice he made. They stopped about 40 yards from Eli and formed up in the middle with some spread out to either side.

  Gwen and the toughest looking of the three tough looking guys whispered to each other, then she walked forward and addressed Alora. “Stacy, if you come back to us, all is forgiven. We can be friends again.”

  Alora didn’t even hesitate, “No.”

  “What did he do to you? Is he holding you prisoner? Did he threaten you or curse you?” She asked that last one after looking at the markings on her face.

  Under Eli’s mask, he was smiling with realization, they were working the narrative. If they could paint him as a villain before they fight him, they come out heroes even if they lose. It sure did explain the audience, he thought, but two can play at this game.

  Eli spoke to Alora with telepathy, “They are trying to make me a villain, here is what I want you to say….”

  “I was taken by him at first, he told me he could feel the pain in my heart and he wanted to free me of it. He has vowed to protect me and has been a perfect gentleman. However, once I told him that I had been forced to sleep with your cousin to ‘trade’ for my protection, he swore vengeance on my behalf. So please Gwen, do not ask me to go back to that life now that I am free of it.” Alora had been an actress, a ‘B’ movie actress who showed her boobs and always died in the first act, and even she knew that her speech had been way too over-the-top. But she had been speaking as Eli was giving her the lines so she didn’t have time to alter them.

  Gwen looked completely puzzled, this was not going at all how they had planned it, so instead of saying anything she walked back to her group. She and her cousin started having a very animated and heated whisper argument and while this was going on Eli felt a pulse of familiar magic to his left. It wasn’t close yet, but it was rather someone who was terrible at stealth or someone who wanted him to know they were coming. Bethany yawned as the cartoonish argument kept going on, Alora was picking at her fingernails, but Eli was focused. He knew the person was sneaking up on them, but why would they advertise themselves like they were, and in a way only he could sense.

  The other thing he was focusing on was the magic inside Gwen’s cousin, he was over level 100, the realm magic in him was strong. Eli would guess that they are the same level, or at least close to the same level which made him not worry as much. In fact, he was certain that Bethany could take him in a one on one fight, from how things were going, Eli doubted this would be one on one. The three that were over level 100 and Gwen, who was still the same level as the last time he saw her, huddled up and began whispering and planning.

  Bethany got closer to Eli but spoke loudly, “Master, can I kill them if they fail to take a knee in your presence again?” This drew the gaze of everyone on the other side, including the four that were planning.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “Wait for my command, but if the disrespect continues, you will get the blood you seek.” Eli said, also talking loudly and dramatically. It took every single ounce of will that Alora possessed to not roll her eyes at the bad acting and even worse dialog coming from Eli. She had been in some bad movies before but he was terrible.

  The other side was becoming rigid and hesitant now, doubt seeping into their minds that could be seen clear as day on their faces. Eli started to ease his grip on his transcendence, letting it leak out just a bit, giving the air around him a shimmer like you would see on a desert highway. The group of four seemed to be done talking and Gwen walked out again, this time the Eli felt several pulses from the person sneaking up on them, almost like a warning. Before Alora or Gwen could speak, Eli further relaxed his grip on his power and reached his arm out. Purple lighting arced off his body onto the ground around him, he opened his hand as if he was holding a cup, then the lightning came down from nowhere, went through his opened hand and hit the ground. When it was gone, Ghost, the lord that had been kicked out of the southern safe zone, was dangling by the neck in Eli’s hand.

  “You sent an assassin to sneak up on me?” Eli’s voice sounded more curious than angry or upset. It had all happened in the span of about two seconds and the forces arrayed against them seemed to be utterly shocked into silence.

  “Lost your voice? Bethany, kill that one.” Eli said in a commanding tone, putting a little will speech into the last part. He was pointing to one of the three tough looking guys that wasn’t Gwen's cousin.

  Bethany bowed slightly to Eli, “Yes master.” Then she vanished, not using Blink, just her own speed amplified by magic provided by her connections to Eli. a moment after she vanished she appeared in front of the one he was pointing at with her spear, which she hadn’t been holding before, through the front of the man's neck and out the back just below his skull. She winked at Gwen’s cousin, who still had yet to make an introduction, then removed her spear from the man’s body as it fell. Despite the sudden and brutal display of violence, she casually and slowly walked back to Eli, passing many of them as she went. Just to rub it in, she blew a kiss to Gwen as she walked past her.

  “Well,” Alora said, clearing her throat, “As you can see, and as I have told you, I have found a new group now. Gwen I’m sorry but you will have to replace me in the party, I wish you the best.”

  Gwen took a deep breath and collected herself, Alora was expecting this part, she knew Gwen always had someone lined up to throw under the bus. “Alora, you must understand that your new friends have just signed their death warrant. Everyone in our city will be after them when they hear about this.”

  Alora brought her staff into her hands and pointed the ice orb at Gwen firing a blade of ice straight through Gwen's knees, severing her legs and knocking her down. “You will show my master respect!” She yelled.

  Gwen’s cousin was there in an instant, mirroring Bethany’s speed move and he swung down with a large two handed sword that he hadn’t been holding before aimed right at Alora’s shoulder. She stopped it with her staff just before it hit her, then when he brought it back for another swing her staff spun and the lightning orb made contact with his stomach. The shock knocked him back a step and stopped his swing but that was it. She just wasn’t strong enough to do enough damage with one hit to stop the fight, but it did give him pause. Instead of attacking again, he put his weapon back in his inventory and walked over to Gwen.

  “Gwen, pick up your legs, I’ll carry you back.” she was groaning in pain but did as he asked and he carried her back to the others then walked back out.

  “I am Lord Adrian, The Golden Lion, and I challenge you.” he said pointing to Eli.

  “Please kill him,” Ghost whispered while gasping for air. Eli was making it look real since he didn’t want them to know he knew Ghost so the choking and gasping was real, but it wasn’t so much that it would kill him.

  Eli made a stone teepee again and threw Ghost into it, then he called out Umber who was only the size of a horse during the daylight and motioned for her to go watch Ghost so he couldn’t escape. She rubbed her cheek on his hand then darted into the shadows on the teepee. There was the briefest moment where Adrian’s eyes widened in surprise, Eli noticed it but he was sure no one else did. This didn’t seem like someone willing to kill or die for his pride, it was probably just a show he was putting on to save face. Eli would play along long enough to get a feel for what was really going on since Adrian seemed to be playing more than one game at once.

  Eli stepped forward to face Adrian, stopping ten feet away. “I am Ash, I accept your challenge, but there must be stakes or it is all for show. When I win, I never want to see her again.” Eli said, pointing at Gwen.

  “Agreeable, and if I win, I want Stacy to join me.” Adrian said.

  “I refuse.”

  “Are you afraid to lose her, scared that I can win?”

  “Not at all, she is my apprentice, she will never be someone I could bargain with. Instead you can have me, if you win I will serve you for 50 years.” Eli stated. He was doing his best to act overly confident, the kind of over-confidence that men fake when they are scared.

  “You have a deal,” he said, then turned around to the people who were with him. “Do not interfere, no matter the result.” Then he started walking forward and Eli did the same. When they got within two feet of each other, they both stopped and Adrian spoke again. “There is no reason for death here, I don’t think either of us wants that.”

  Eli had to control himself cause his first instinct was to play this up like a cheesy movie or comic book. “I just want my apprentice to now be bothered by her past, if you leave first, we won’t fight you.”

  “I wish it were that easy, you clearly have magic I didn’t even know existed, but I cannot back down.” Adrian said with a heavy sigh, the kind of sigh when you know what you are about to do is going to hurt.

  “So be it,” Eli said. Then, without warning or windup or anything to give away the move, he conjured his bone mace and hit the guy in his left arm and left side while using a gravity smash. Surprisingly, Adrian managed to get his sword out and block with the flat of his blade, but it wasn’t enough. Adrian’s large sword broke and his left arm was crushed along with a few ribs. He was sent flying to the side and landed with a tumble over a hundred feet away. He didn’t want the hit to kill him, but he wanted the disparity in their level of strength to be obvious.

  Adrian stood, leaning heavily to the left, his left arm dangling and his arm holding his left ribs. He walked back to Eli and spoke through gritted teeth of pain and frustration, “You win, we will leave now.” Just as he started to make his way back, the third tough guy fired a black arrow made of magic at Alora.