Chapter 122

Orc Encampment, Merder Stadium, Atlanta - 5:23 PM

“We should be rushing in there!“ Lucy screamed as she walked back and forth in front of the Chieftain’s tent. Her body had grown well beyond human proportions, and she had to be at least nine feet tall now. The gear she wore and wielded changed size to fit, which was an ability of the Raging Hulk, though it was strained and now covered in blood and viscera.

“Not until everything’s ready, Luce,“ Noah said as he patted her arm each time she passed by. Every time he did, he siphoned some of her anger, and her body slowly shrunk inch by inch.

From what I understood, Lucy was nearing the point of no return. For most Barbarian classes where this was possible, that meant they would fly into such a blind fury that it didn’t matter if you were friend or foe: if you were in the way, you got hit. That was what made Noah’s Rage Eater class such an amazing compliment. I could see in the way he fought that his stats had grown much higher than when we started the event.

While I wanted to pace, I stood by and watched the rest of the group. We had taken care of the Orcs with almost embarrassing ease once the Adrenaline Junkies and I finished with our bosses. The Jugglernauts were holding their own, especially with Daniel’s Light of Guidance, but they were overrun. Sustainability hadn’t been the problem, but defending a moving target was.

At some point, Bill’s glass cannon had been destroyed before I arrived to help take care of the mobs. My faith in the Jugglernauts and Team Trouser Snake had gone down a few notches, though I didn’t vocalize it. Not that I would, since I was still adhering to the restrictions despite them being lifted. Checking my health again, I hadn’t hit half so I was still winning by my standards.

Now, most of us sat in a circle around Bill as he recreated his weapon via a summoning circle. It had appeared when he used his ability to reconstruct it, but aside from a few minute wait time there wasn’t anything to do. He stood around, looking awkward outside of the circle, and didn’t make eye contact with anyone. Isabella and Jack were waiting around, as were Daniel and James the Blasphemous Priest. James the Savage Defender was watching Lucy, but was similarly silent.

“Done!“ Bill yelled as his summoning was complete. The circle flashed with a blinding light and, once finished, his glass cannon was sitting in the middle. It was already pointed at the entrance to the Chieftain’s tent, primed and ready to fire.

“It’s about time!“ Lucy yelled.

“Okay, just so everyone remembers-“ Daniel started saying.

“Wait for the cannon to fire and then go in guns blazing,“ Jack interrupted with an exasperated roll of his eyes. “Yes, we know. It’s not the most complicated of plans, is it?“

“Be nice, Jack,“ Isabella said sternly, smacking him across the chest.

“Hey, it’s not our fault that-“

“This is pointless,“ Noah said loudly, grabbing everyone’s attention. “We’re opening the door in ten seconds, you all better be ready for what’s to come.“

Everyone else gave him a smattering of mumbled affirmatives, though when he looked at me I simply gave him a thumbs up.

The group stood up as Noah and his teammate James stood on either side of the tent doors. Daniel’s body glowed briefly before a ring of light pulsed outwards. This was his Light of Guidance, and I could only see it because he decided to include me in the buff. As long as I didn’t stray too far from him, it would stick.

[[Notice]]

Buff

You are under the effect of an ally’s Light of Guidance. Offense has been chosen. Strength and Willpower will have their base stats increased by 18.

As one of the rare buffs that specified it interacted with the base stat instead of just a stat, it combined well with the Golden Glazed Ham. It increased my Strength by 36 instead of just 18, taking it up to an absurd 108. I felt my clothes become tighter as the base stat grew, though everything I wore was magic now so they didn't tear.

“Go!“ Noah yelled as he flung open the door.

I didn’t get a chance to see what was inside because the moment Bill had a target, he fired. The other teams rushed in after that. I held back, instead picking up the bundle of spears I had collected from the dead Orcs.

Even as the sound of battle reached my ears, I didn’t rush. The spears were fragile now that my Strength was heightened. I gathered them one by one, feeding the Cable Conglomerate around their bulk until I was holding a bundle of tied up sticks. That’s when I entered the tent.

Just like the Orc Shaman’s dwelling, this one was bare asides from a weapon’s rack on the far side. It held an incredibly nice looking metal spear, a heavy hammer made of polished marble, and a bow made from thick horns. I could have used any of those, but I didn't want to use an actual weapon just to spite the administrators. Using a bundle of spears would stunt the Uuska's growth by giving it something impractical to copy.

In the center of the room was the boss, already surrounded by my allies.

The Chieftain was far too big to be just an Orc, and I always guessed he was a Half-Ogre. He stood at around 12 feet tall and was made of solid muscle. His mottled green and gray skin showed his injuries, but aside from a blackened arm, it appeared as though he had only taken superficial cuts and bruises in the short fight so far.

Even considering other Orcs, he was insanely durable. He showed this by wearing the bare minimum of armor around his hips and midsection, and even that was mostly cloth with wooden plates sewn in throughout. The lack of armor wasn’t an issue for him. He was the toughest out of all of them, which was why he was the boss and leader of this encampment.

At his feet laid a blackened and misshapen shield. It was obvious that Bill’s blast had destroyed it and messed with his arm to boot. The Chieftain would probably be on death’s door if he had taken it head on. Instead, he was fighting with a hand and a half sword sized for him. Lucy may have been able to wield it now that she was huge, but it would have had to be two handed.

The two James were complete opposites in this fight. The Blasphemous Priest was practically hugging the tent walls as he stayed in the back and healed those who needed it with quick spells. In contrast, the Savage Defender was standing between the Chieftain and Lucy, who was swinging her sword over the tank’s head while he protected her.

Behind the Chieftain was Noah and Daniel. They were going to town on the boss with their weapons, the Rage Eater wielding his spiked baseball bat while the Guiding Light was pure sword and board. Flanking with Lucy and James was nice, but it seemed like they were having trouble dealing any serious damage due to their opponent’s toughness.

The Jugglernauts were on either side, throwing knives between themselves. Every time they did, the weapon would slide against the Chieftain’s skin, slicing through before bouncing off and getting caught by the other Jugglernaut. Their damage output was consistent, though they were still only dealing as much damage as Noah and Daniel.

Taking a breath, I tried to watch and enjoy myself. Normally a fight like this would have really gotten my blood boiling. However, with the Wheels of Chaos so blatantly favoring me, it just felt empty.

I hefted my bundle of spears and coiled what remained of my Cable Conglomerate around it tightly. With the hard packed dirt, I had no problems with Divine Messenger, either, so I started zooming around the tent.

“The hell are you doing!?“ the Blasphemous Priest asked the second time I passed him. The Jugglernauts were giving me strange looks as well, but everyone else was too busy for the Chieftain.

The Orc, to his credit, regarded me curiously as I spun. He could not keep his eyes on me for very long as he had an enraged, screaming Lucy swinging at him savagely and getting the best hits out of everyone here, but he tried. I was biding my time.

For a moment the boss stopped attacking, raising his sword and yelling out just as ferociously as the Raging Hulk. When he brought it down, eight mirror images of the blade appeared around him in every direction and did the same.

The hand and a half sword cut through Lucy’s shoulder towards her heart, making her disappear completely before it continued downwards and pushed through James’ defensive abilities, though the tank survived.

Noah and Jack did not. They disappeared in a flash, though Isabella had managed to jump away and Daniel blocked most of his damage with his shield. It had been pushed away, showing his nearly severed arm, but he was still alive.

This had been the moment I was waiting for, and I abruptly switched course once I was near where Noah had been. I started running, moving too fast but needing the leverage for my attack. As the Chieftain began to spin, arm outstretched to sweep the room with his sword, I knew it was too late for him.

I Pushed the two ropes keeping the bundle of spears together as I jammed it into him. Some of the spears broke from the impact, but they were too tightly packed to come undone. Blood splattered and poured as I pushed it through the Chieftain’s side, directly into his heart, and lifted him off of the ground. Between my 108 Strength and the doubled application of 64 Willpower, there was no stopping me.

The Chieftain hung there, arm dangling over my shoulder, before I tossed him away. Almost all twenty spears pierced deep into his body, somewhere around a foot and a half to two feet deep. The giant tumbled down to the ground. His eyes were lifeless from the multiple critical hits I just dealt.

[[Notice]]

You have contributed to the defeat of the Dungeon Boss [Orc Chieftain].

Points will be tallied at the end of the event.

[[Notice]]

The Dungeon Boss has been defeated. The event will be ending shortly.

“Holy shit,“ the Blasphemous Priest whispered in awe.

I pulled the remaining Cable Conglomerate back into my Vambrace of Wires and started walking out of the tent. No one followed after me, though I could see Lucy, Noah, and Jack running back from the entrance. The crowd was going crazy, but I didn’t acknowledge them. I crossed my arms and waited.

[[Quest Complete!]]

Congratulations, your team is the second to finish the third round of the Chaos Cup! Here are your accolades and rewards!

You have defeated x12 Orcs; +120 points.

You have contributed in defeating x23 Orcs; +92 (230) points.

You have defeated the Dungeon Mid Boss [Orc Shaman]; +600 points.

You have contributed in defeating the Dungeon Mid Boss [Orc Beast Master]; +140 (600) points.

You have contributed in defeating the Dungeon Boss [Orc Chieftain]; +800 (1200) points.

Team Lives Left (2): +400 points.

No Deaths: +500 points.

Unfilled Team Bonus: x1.6 points.

Wheel of Chaos Bonus: x1.5 points.

Reward: 6,364 points.

I nodded to myself as I looked over the rewards. This had been my most lucrative event to date. I had lost the Solo Bonus, but nearly made up for it by having 3 members shy of a full 16. Three of our lives had disappeared thanks to the Orc Chieftain’s big move, but there was nothing we could do about that. Even if I had warned them verbally, it was likely to have still killed the ones who died.

Snapping the menu closed, I suddenly found myself standing beside a long table covered in large plates of food. Steak, ribs, turkey, sushi, salads, corn on the cob, and more. A quick glance confirmed that my clothes were all in one piece and cleaned, which was normal when being summoned to an administrator’s meeting.

The room had a marble floor and a high ceiling with three chandeliers hanging over the long table. On either side of the room were lit fireplaces, leaving everything cozy and bright. Both the table and chairs were made of lacquered red wood. The seats looked comfortable with black plush cushions, but my gaze didn’t linger. I was busy trying to find the source of our sudden teleport.

“Wait, I was watching the game!“ Howard exclaimed from beside me. He had been summoned seconds after me.

“Calm down, man,“ I told him.

“Yes, please, calm down,“ said the voice I was dreading. We turned around to see Frastina walking towards us. There wasn’t any door, just white wall, but that didn’t mean anything to an administrator. “Please, take a seat.“

When the chairs pulled away from the table on their own, Howard flinched back but gingerly sat down. I did the same, though it took me a few more seconds to calm myself.

“We had an incredible series of spins on the Wheel of Chaos today,“ I remarked casually.

“Yes, you did,“ Frastina agreed as she walked around the table, her heels clacking loudly against the marble.

“It looks like we’re going to get our points worth out of that one, huh, Warmonger?“ Howard elbowed me, but seemed unable to take his eyes off of the administrator. Her dress had a low back, and he wasn't known for his self-discipline. “That double bet is going to come in hot.“

“It sure is, Howard,“ I said, reaching up and turning my manager’s head so that he wasn’t so shamelessly ogling Frastina as she walked away from us. “Almost too good to be true, considering the spins from the first two events.“

“And yet, you don’t seem happy with it,“ Frastina stated. She glanced over at us and smirked. “Oh, let the poor boy look. He can’t help himself, and he shouldn’t. That’s what the system is for, after all. Those who become powerful can do what they want.“

“Do not stare,“ I muttered at Howard, hitting him with a portion of my Tyrant’s Will to make sure my point got across. His eyes widened and he began nodding vigorously, but I kept it up.

Frastina clapped her hands and the skill disappeared as if I hadn’t just used it. “No scaring your manager, Warmonger,“ she chastised as she sat down across from us. “I mean what I say, and you are being a rude guest.“

“It’s okay, ma’am,“ Howard said as he tore his eyes away from me. “I’m used to the Warmonger’s antics by now. He’s kind of pushy, but he’s been nothing but a friend the whole time we’ve been working together.“

“Is that so?“ Frastina leaned forward, placing an elbow on the table and her chin in her palm. Howard stared brazenly at her chest, and I looked away from both of them to scan the table. “I imagine you’ll disregard the food so long as you wear your mask. Disheartening, but I’ve survived rude guests before. Why don’t you seem happy with your spins?“

I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from saying anything brash. After a few moments, I looked back towards her. The look on her face feigned concern, but the cold steel in her eyes betrayed that. To her, I was nothing more than a pawn. A player could only be a player, after all, and we only existed for their benefit. I swallowed this feeling down as I answered.

“Didn’t seem chaotic enough,“ I lied. “Last two rounds I had both good and bad alterations, but this round I had nothing but good. Not like having to watch my step or sealing my abilities. Too good to be true.“

“I see. You like it when the game is hard, then?“ she asked.

Her voice sounded innocent, but I saw the change in her gaze. That was exactly what she wanted from me. I had thought she wanted to increase my physical capabilities to get more data for the Uuska, but could she have wanted me to get frustrated instead? To think that there would be no more challenge to be had?

“I’m more partial to challenges that push me, yes,“ I said cautiously.

Frastina grinned, and I felt a shiver down my spine. “Then, little Warmonger, I have an offer just for you,“ she purred. “You’re a busy man, as you’ve made plainly clear to me during our first meeting, so I will cut right to the chase.“

“But it’s okay if you take your time. You have a beautiful voice,“ Howard said.

I wanted to slap him on the arm, but refrained. If Frastina didn’t want me to use Tyrant’s Will, a harmless ability, then she would probably look down even further on me for using physical violence.

“Thank you for saying so, Player Howard Cooper,“ the administrator said with a laugh. “I suppose this is an offer for you just as much as your player. Not to jump into the arena, of course, but as his manager you have the final say in the matter.“

“Well, I will have to confer with my charge, but I’m sure we can reach an-“

“What’s the offer?“ I asked, cutting him off.

Frastina’s gaze shifted from Howard to me, and she sat back so that she was straight in her chair. I heard my manager mutter something under his breath, but ignored it.

“Little Warmonger,“ she said slowly. “This event is beneath you. It’s obvious to everyone that you’re going to win, so why not shorten the whole thing? Provide you with the challenge you crave so much.“

“I still have no idea what you’re suggesting,“ I said. My eyes didn’t pull away from hers, but my blood was starting to run cold.

“This is what I’m suggesting,“ Frastina started before grabbing a stemmed wine glass and pulling it to her mouth. It filled with a dark red liquid before she parted her lips and drank it down in a few gulps. Setting it back down, she gave me an excited smile, and all it looked to me like blood was dripping from her mouth before she patted off her chin with a napkin. “Little Warmonger, how would you like to become a raid boss in the next and, now, final round of the Chaos Cup?“