It’s a new day at the guardhouse. Inmates are being sorted through. With the sheer volume of people in the cells, a lot of them are questioned and let off with a fine. Some others were more talkative and had the opportunity to strike a deal for much lighter sentences and fines. Today, the cells aren’t as crowded as they were 2 days ago. On this day, Ren and Mona had taken in two captives the day prior. While it was rude of them to try and kidnap Ren on their day off, they didn’t mind. They were about to head down to a cellar that leads underground.
“Hey, Mona!” Ren said. “What’s that toolbox for?”
“It’s just some torture implements.” Mona said. “Well, they’re just regular tools. Generally speaking, anything can be a torture implement if you’re creative enough.”
“Okay! Good luck!” Ren said as plainly as ever wishing a friend luck as she tortures her would-be kidnappers.
Mona closes the door to the cellar and Ren waits patiently. Apherward looks over Ren’s Status again.
Ren
Level 6 Mage
Strength: 9
Magic: 20
Agility: 7
Vitality: 6
Magic Capacity: Low
Titles: None
Skills:
Swordsmanship Level 1
Housekeeping Level 1
Spells:
Ice Bolt Level 1
Fireball Level 1
Haste Level 1
Raise Zombie Level 1
Stone Wall Level 1
Water Arrow Level 1
Blind Level 1
Locate Location Level 1
Project Mind Level 1
Magic Soft Fall Level 1
Chain Lightning Level 1
Status: Injured
Left Leg Gunshot Severity 3 Bandaged
Now Apherward had a few issues to sort through. Firstly, this gunshot wound. This is a new form of injury for the tome that’s been living under a building composed of rocks for an unknown number of years. As it was explained, these guns function a lot like crossbows. It is now occurring to the supreme intellect that it has not imparted any defensive measure onto Ren.
Ren learned Basic Barrier Level 1.
The tome inspects the message from the system. It didn’t say that this was Ren’s current capacity for the level of this spell. The book really didn’t think too hard about seeing what spells can be leveled up after Ren leveled up 3 days ago. Normally, someone would need to work hard and put in effort to level up a spell. But Apherward is a supreme intellect and awe inspiring magic tome. It can just level them all up as it pleases.
Spell Level Up
Basic Barrier Level 1 -> Level 2
Spell Level Up
Ice Bolt Level 1 -> Level 2
Spell Level Up
Water Arrow Level 1 -> Level 2
Spell Level Up
Stone Wall 1 -> Level 2
Spell Level Up
Blind Level 1 -> Level 2
Spell Level Up
Magic Soft Fall Level 1 -> Level 2
That was all the spells that Apherward could level up now that Ren was level 6. With this, the spells have become more potent and harmful. That should do nicely. The book believes that this had done all it can to prepare Ren for the future.
Ren
Level 6 Mage
Strength: 9
Magic: 20
Agility: 7
Vitality: 6
Magic Capacity: Low
Titles: None
Skills:
Swordsmanship Level 1
Housekeeping Level 1
Spells:
Ice Bolt Level 2
Fireball Level 1
Haste Level 1
Raise Zombie Level 1
Stone Wall Level 2
Water Arrow Level 2
Blind Level 2
Locate Location Level 1
Project Mind Level 1
Magic Soft Fall Level 2
Chain Lightning Level 1
Basic Barrier Level 2
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Status: Injured
Left Leg Gunshot Severity 3 Bandaged
After a few minutes, Mona comes out of the cellar. She is covered in blood.
“You’re covered in blood.” Ren said flatly.
“Don’t worry.” Mona said. “Not one drop of this blood is my own.”
“Ok okay.” Ren said.
“Anyway, I found out where Lenard is.” Mona said.
“Lenard?” Ren tilted her head and asked.
“Lenard. Yeah. The boss.” Mona said.
“Wait, who’s Lenard?” Ren asked.
“Th- the boss of the Blood Hoof gang.” Mona said. “The guy who probably ordered your kidnapping. The guy backing up every crook and thug in town with organization and intelligence.”
“Oh.” Ren said.
“Anyway, he’s in an underground cellar beneath a brewery.” Mona said.
“Great! We can head there now!”
Ren began to head off, but Mona grabbed her by the collar of the mage robes she was wearing and hoisted her up to the point that Ren’s feet didn't touch the ground.
“We’re going to wait for backup.” Mona said. “You have a bullet wound in your leg already. You’re slower moving until that’s healed.”
“Okay.” Ren said.
“And so, they come for you now.” a low masculine voice said.
“You’re joking.” the only person in the room said.
In an underground room, a tall, muscular blond man speaks to a mirror. He has a beard trimmed into the 5 o’clock shadow style. He is holding a chalice with demon iconography decorating the sides. In the chalice appears to be blood.
“I’m sorry Lenard, but it’s the truth. To dissuade the guards now would be, how should I put it, risky.” the low voice says. This voice is coming from the mirror. “The best I can do is delay them until tonight. I suggest you use that time to prepare as best you can.”
“Sod it all. You had me here doing all this.” Lenard says, shaking his head. “Then we blink at the same time and now they’re at my door. Unless of course, you let this happen to me.”
“I did nothing of the sort.” the voice in the mirror said. “I did not think that a single mage could unravel everything. I let it slide, and I genuinely did not see that this single girl would muck everything up.”
“Tch!” Lenard scowled.
Lenard began to down the blood in his chalice in large gulps. As he did, his muscles flexed and a faint aura surrounded him. He began grabbing a breast plate and loosened the straps so he could don it. He spoke as he prepared to receive uninvited guests.
“If I go down, I’m taking you with me.” Lenard said.
“Why would you do that?” the voice in the mirror asked.
“So you know that it is in your best interest to help me. If I go down, I’m going to give them every damn confession and collaborator they want. If I fail here, I will be the first domino that falls to bring everything we’ve worked towards down. So you help me. If you have to get off your high horse, then so be it.”
“Hah!” the voice in the mirror laughed. “You would snitch? Is that what I heard just now?”
“I’m not a normal thug anymore.” Lenard spat back. “You said it yourself. We’re more. It’s not a matter of being above snitching. It’s a matter of growing to be more. Because we both know that they will find our secret. Once they do, it’s not going to be life imprisonment or banishment. Once they know, they will do everything in their power to put me and you in the ground. Maybe it’s the gallows in the morning, or they’ll burn us at the stake.”
“There is a truth to your words, but to be so petty as to bring your fellows down with you.” the voice in the mirror said. “Know this. I will help you, but do not think that this betrayal will go unpunished. Even the threat of it is a betrayal. And do not dare give me the ‘can’t betray someone who’s not on your side’ spiel. You have received my gift. Drank it’s boons and benefits. Your betrayal cuts deep. Should you survive this, we will have a long talk about the benefits I have so graciously provided.”
“If I make it out of here, you can hand out whatever punishment you want. Until then, you lead my ass to a fire and now you can pull it out.”
“Fine. Fine. Make your preparations.” the voice in the mirror comes to a silence.
Town guards prepare to make an arrest. Lenard is wanted for killing a man long ago and was thought to have fled the country. They now know that he is still in Blue Pine town. He is a dangerous man, at least according to Captain Releon of the town guard.
“Everyone take one of these!” the Captain sets down a box with bottles inside. “They’re potions of strength. Drink one, just in case.”
“Woah! Woah! Woah!” a guard said. “Potions? Aren’t those, like, super expensive?”
“Yes, but if there was a time to use what we have, it’s now.” the Captain said as he slapped the box. “Now take a drink of one. It doesn’t taste great, but it works fine.”
Some of the gathered guards shrug their shoulders and take a bottle. When they uncork and drink it, they all visibly wince.
“Augh! Kauh! That is awful!” one of the guards said.
“Come on, take your medicine.” another guard jokingly said.
A few guards roll their eyes as they drink and make other preparations. Ren quietly sits as the guards make hustle and bustle. She just sits quietly without a thought in her mind. The book in her pack is practically bouncing with excitement. Mona manages to find Ren and begins to approach her.
“Do mages have any need for potions of strength? If not, do you need it for any reason?” Mona said.
“Not really, no.” Ren said.
Mona shrugged her shoulders and drank from a bottle. Captain Releon approached the two.
“You’ve both been a great help to us.” he said. “I know you’re both injured, but can I count on the two of you for one final push?”
“Yup!” Ren said.
“I-...” Mona stopped mid sentence. “Of course. As long as I get back to the temple before long.”
“If everything goes well, we’ll be done in minutes.” he chuckles. “But I am sorry you had to wait so long. We were held back by a few issues. It’s already dark out.”
“It’s fine. It’s not as though Lenard knows we’re coming.” Mona said.
“That’s right. And while he’s brooding in front of a chimney fire, or whatever dastards like him do, we rush in and put him in chains in the time it takes for his heart to beat once.” the captain said.
“We can only hope it’s that easy.” Mona said.
“Then how about you say a prayer for us? I wouldn’t turn down the blessing of a nun or the divine themselves.” the captain chuckled.
“Oh… uhm…” Mona was very hesitant to continue the conversation.
“I’m joking! I’m joking!” Captain Releon laughed.
Nearly an hour later, every guard in town had gathered outside a brewery. It wasn’t unique or stood out in any way. In fact, it was a very bland and ordinary looking building built for function rather than attracting customers. It didn’t even have a sign outside it’s door or entrance. Tonight, this building was being surrounded.
Inside, a number of thugs and crooks were lying in wait. Their boss, Lenard, got a tip that the guards were going to try and capture him tonight. They didn’t barricade the place like some might try. Rather, they trapped every entrance. They also had guns trained on the two doors to the building. Due to the location of the brewery, they could not just rush off into the night dodging the town guards. They didn’t have a means of climbing over or digging under the town’s wall at the ready. So if Lenard wanted to escape, they would have to go through one of the town’s gates. There was no sewer system to trudge through or elaborate smuggling operation. Lenard and a handful of others would need to open the town gate and then leave. Lenard’s plan is to cripple the guard’s ability to pursue him and then escape through one of the gates.
The guards had very loosely prepared a plan. They had used their funds and connections to procure potions of strength that would benefit them in battle. Their plan was to put everyone in chains and then drag them off. And do it quick. They also think that they have the element of surprise. They were all shown a sketch of Lenard’s face. Their expectation is that they will have this done rightly and quickly.
Both sides were careful to keep their lanterns and torches unlit until the last minute where light would reveal them. This light would spark the conflict between them all. Captain Releon is the first to light his torch. In mere moments, all the other guards light their torches and lanterns. They rush to the doors and they are kicked down. Both the front and back door of this building come down to the force of men and their boots. The first guards shine their torches into the interior. What they find are several men with muskets trained on the doors. A number of loud bangs erupt in the room. The neighborhood hears a strange assortment of thunderclaps, but everyone here watches as the first to breach this building fall to gunfire.
“They have guns!” a guard shouted. He was nowhere near as loud as the guns everyone heard.
“Oh! Wait.” Mona stopped for a moment. She looked to Ren and asked. “Did we tell the others that they had guns?”
“I didn’t.” Ren said flatly.
“And neither did I so…” Mona hesitated to continue. “Whoops.”
They watched from a distance as the guards try to push forward and chaos erupts. They knew that they had to move before the muskets could be reloaded. They rushed to capture or kill the thugs. The thugs responded to their charge by shoving barricades into their path. The thugs then rushed out the building’s windows. As the thugs gave ground, the guards happily gained that same ground. Then in a flash they saw him. Captain Releon and the others who barged through the front door saw Lenard. He too was rushing out a window with other rogues. In a brief moment, the guards knew what to do. They charged at him. However, Lenard had no intention of fighting them here. In his hands, Lenard had a stick of dynamite and torch. As the torch’s light shined on the dynamite, the guards went wide eyed.
“Shit!” almost all of the guards said at once.
Lenard put the fuse to the torch and tossed it. For most, this is the first time they’ve encountered a stick of dynamite. However, they recognize the red stick and fuse. As fast as they came in, the guards began to rush out. The explosion was unlike anything the guards had seen before. The building was also a brewery. Once barrels of alcoholic drink became damaged and began spilling, torch fires and the explosion began to burn. The scene was pure chaos, and the guards were given a choice. Chase Lenard as he ran away or put out this fire.
Throughout this whole ordeal, Ren was standing outside a window. As thugs leapt out the window, Ren shot at them with the Ice Bolt spell. It was probably the cheapest spell she had in terms of spells that it doesn’t fill as much of her magic capacity leading to an overload. She was effectively camping a choke point as thugs leapt out a window. When Lenard himself leapt out, he was also shot by such a spell. The bolt of ice clanged against his armor. Lenard looked back at his would-be shooter. There stood a girl in mage robes. He stood tall and looked down on the little girl. As the explosion rocked the brewery and the fires began to bellow out, Lenard figures that this is a good chance for him to squash a bug right quick. Ren blankly stares at him. Apherward was looking the man over and checks his status.
Lenard Bloodyawn Lesk
Level 41 Brute Battler
Strength: 90
Magic: 58
Agility: 62
Vitality: 109
Titles: Lenard the Trampler, Fledgling
Skills:
Swordsmanship Level 17
War Cry of Strength Level 5
Unknown skills are hidden due to level disparity
Status: Normal
