2927 Effective Strength MODIFIED by Rank II Wrath (Burst of Strength)

  You have successfully RUPTURED 2000 Strength-equivalent City Ward Infused by 1 Rank of Pristine Permanence!

  Congratulations! You have SUCCESSFULLY Breached a Silver-Tier Ward!

  Primal Locus: New York City acknowledges your worth as a Contender and has ACCEPTED your challenge!

  The huntress roared with laughter as a handful of spectators and traders fled the northern city gate with panicked cries and terrified screams.

  She had done it! She was finally here! She had correctly sensed the opportunity before her, the teasing, enticing challenge offered by a seemingly indestructible gate and MET that challenge in the most direct way imaginable, holding all her other cards close.

  Even who she truly was.

  She had passed the first gauntlet. She would claim this linchpin and all it stood for!

  What were now wild blue eyes blazing with Wrath and sweetest rapture gazed at the city before her.

  Before blinking in surprise, having expected wonders. Grand towers and stately buildings, magnificent works showcasing the promise of America’s industrial backbone and the heights of grandeur reached in its prime. The Empire State Building. The One World Trade Center. The Witney Museum. St. Paul’s Chapel. A glorious fusion of Colonial, Neogothic, Art Deco, and modern architectural wonders. A city filled with so many iconic treasures that had once been like a second home to her.

  Yet what she saw now with wide, disbelieving eyes, was nothing but ruin.

  Ramshackle homes and crumbling towers, along with the occasional pristinely restored building. Like shiny white teeth in a mouthful of decay. It broke her heart to see this ruined shell that was just a travesty of the once pristine city she had once loved with all her heart.

  She clenched her fists helplessly against time’s cruel jest, ignoring the desperate cries and hollers behind her back as dusk filled the poorly lit city streets with gloom. She glared at the ruin of what she had so desperately hoped would be a wonder.

  “Well shit, Bun, that’s a letdown,” she said to her resummoned familiar. “Guess there’s no point in holding back, after all!” She flashed a cold smile. “Let’s bring in the troops and clean this pathetic mess up once and for all, shall we?”

  But before the huntress could act, her interface lit up once more.

  Two Paths of Conquest lie before you, Contender!

  You may walk the Conqueror’s Path. The Ravager’s path! Summon forth your armies, SLAUGHTER all and sundry who refuse to surrender, and savor the scraps of lands already picked clean by those who came before you!

  NOTE! This ravished land’s consumption will earn you MINIMAL gains! (5 Point St/Vit Boon and 1 territory enhancement.) You will have secured this linchpin and may proceed with further territorial conquest’s normally.

  This earned a bitter smile. “Sounds fucking awesome. I should have known that between predatory gnolls, usurious profiteering goblins, and jaded off-worlders who care absolutely nothing for our people, culture, and land, that they would have already squeezed every last drop of potential that they could from it, draining it utterly dry of everything, save ruin and decay.”

  “Yeah, that does sound pretty shitty,” Bunbun agreed. “Ooh, look at all the red faced guards in their city uniforms racing for us as fast as their clumsy feet can take them!”

  The huntress smiled… before moving so fast that she was a blur to countless eyes as a second message washed over her.

  A challenge that filled the Contender who had transformed from exotic hunter to red-headed hellion in the time it took to dart through a trash-strewn alley with a sudden fierce jolt of hope.

  Alternatively… you may walk the Path of the Hero!

  Unlock hidden secrets.

  SAVE hundreds of thousands who will otherwise perish!

  Dare you take on the principalities and hidden realms of New York?

  Solve their mysteries! Discover hidden treasures and forgotten lore as you use diplomacy, negotiation, enticement, fear, or ruthless extermination to take on and take over each province and make them your own!

  Walking this path shall reveal hidden wonder, ancient lore, and open the way to 5 ripened Territories upon which to savor the nectar of sweetest victory, should Endless Bounty be the boon you continue to give!!

  NOTE! Should you successfully solve the Five-Fold riddle and consolidate your hold over the entire city, you will be eligible for ADDITIONAL BOONS that will effect ALL Contiguous territories that you claim!

  Eric took a shuddering breath as the distant sounds of shouting guardsmen and panicked citizens faded into the bustle of busy city streets just beyond the alleyway he now leaned against, back pressed against brownstone walls as his heart pounded with surprised awe, lips curved in a grimace of fierce joy as he locked gazes with the familiar dancing with excitement the equal of his own.

  “Bunz! Did you hear that? Did you get that one hundred percent tempting enticement!?”

  His familiar squealed with happiness, doing excited backflips on his shoulder. “Oh I DID, Fearless Leader! Five virgin territories at the peak of ripeness instead of one ruined shell! If we can puzzle out the riddles behind these hidden principalities and mysterious secrets, our return on New York will be Five-Fold that of a standard territory! Best of all, we don’t have to slaughter absolutely everyone like the fucked up Path of Conquest seems to be requiring for the first and only time I’ve ever seen.”

  Eric nodded. “Exactly. And let’s not forget that incredibly sweet grand bonus prize, assuming we can actually figure out what makes this city tick.”

  Bunbun’s eyes filled with wonder. “A boon that will affect ALL territories that have ever known our touch, so long as they’re connected.”

  Eric solemnly nodded. “And if my read is right, they don’t have to be touching… just… here. Here on this continent.”

  Bunbun blinked. “Shit, Eric, a boon like that?” She shook her head. “A boon that could effect hundreds of territories by the time you’re done? That’s beyond legendary. That’s some deep Silver-Tier world-altering shit right there! And considering how ripe and juicy Earth is turning out to be...”

  Eric chuckled. “Yeah… I think so too. And I’m not complaining.”

  Bunbun rubbed her palms excitedly. “Now, we just gotta figure out what exactly these so-called Principalities are. Are they metaphors, boroughs, or actual overlapping realms of regio? Who’s in charge, what makes them tick, and how we can maneuver the levers of urban power in our favor? Ooh… this is just like an urban fantasy thriller. It’s been too long since I read any good urban fantasies! Too bad the apocalypse had to take down Wattpod, Royal Roads, and every other place I could get my lit-fix from.”

  Eric cracked a smile, stroking his sighing bunny’s ears. “Don’t worry, Bunz. I’ll make a point of using some of our sweet lewt to sponsor a hundred of our favorite authors out there… hell, all of them if we can find them! We’ll set them up with nice pads in Freetown and sponsor a printing press revolution!”

  “Ooh I like it! We’ll call our publishing company Bunny and Blade!”

  Eric laughed. “It works for me!” He then stepped out of the alley, wearing a cloak over his armaments and doing his best to slip seamlessly into the surprisingly upbeat nightlife traffic, goatees and muttonchops the fashion favorite among men wearing top hats, jackets and waistcoats of coal black or burgundy, with just a dash of people wearing more modern attire who were grinning in bemusement as much as Eric was.

  Eric frowned, his delighted smile becoming just a bit strained.

  “Is it just my imagination, or is the city looking a hell of a lot better than it did on the other side of that alley?”

  Bunbun dipped her head. “Yup. Look at all the buildings, boss! All that brownstone. We’ve definitely gone back a century or so… and none of the edifices look like ruined shells at all. Everything looks lively! Heck, look, there are theaters! And over there, you can see that opera house… is this Broadway?” Bunbun whistled, blinking at the cobblestone street they found themselves walking along. “Shit, Eric, I think we really did port to the late 1800’s! Or maybe even earlier?”

  Eric blinked, filled with an odd sense of awe and wonder as he took in the elegant brownstone buildings and the grand theater halls with their arched doorways and stained glass windows, all of it lit up by gas lamps and the excitement and energy he sensed from the bustling crowd. What was most striking was just how fresh the air smelled, with the sharp crisp tang of autumn leaves, hot apple cider, and just the faintest trace of horse manure.

  “First time here?”

  Eric blinked, instincts flaring and settling before the first word had been uttered, instinctively clamping down on his aura and the intensity of his regard, keeping his movements low and languid as he turned to behold a beaming teenage boy and girl, both wearing what looked like their prom outfits, both clearly a couple, and both radiating the potency of classers somewhere around fifteenth to twentieth level he could sense without forcing an Identify skill check that would alert them and skew what could be a friendly conversation because he was feeling nosy.

  Instead, he nodded his head. “Yup! First time here and… wow. I feel like I just went back in time! Where did all the nice vintage threads come from?”

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  The boy with sandy brown hair chuckled and tapped his walking stick that Eric could tell was a sword cane radiating the faintest hint of magic, at least in terms of being crafted by a professional, which meant that it was probably a lot stronger than common steel. He shared a smile with the dimpled girl beside him, her own hair done up in a cascade of auburn ringlets draping her left shoulder, her gloved right hand held by his left… and the enchanted gladius Eric sensed sheathed to her thigh under her dress just a flinch and thrust from her relaxed left hand and the slit she had put through the ruffles of her dress.

  Eric couldn’t help but dip his head. Smart. They were enjoying the night but weren’t complete fools, with their blades at the ready and easily extracted, should muggers or worse come along.

  “Would you believe no one’s quite sure?” The girl said softly, with sympathetic smiles at the preoccupied theater and party goers. “But everyone in this quarter of the city is dressed like this, come nightfall.”

  Eric blinked. “Wait, are they even, well… real?”

  “As in are they actually alive?” The boy beamed. “As a matter of fact, yes they are. Alive and cogent with actual memories that blend past and the present, as if, well, both sets of memories are somehow real for them. Many of them work real jobs in the shops and factories in this version of New York, and a couple of our fellows have made, ahem, efforts to see for themselves just how ‘real’ they actually are.”

  The girl snorted. “The census is out on that. Personally, I think it’s crazy trying to hook up with a hundred year old ghost. But each to their own, I guess.”

  Eric chuckled, his roving eyes spotting a few other more plainly dressed folk in the press of theatergoers, frowning when he noticed a singular theme.

  “Everyone here in this quarter who isn’t wearing vintage threads…”

  The girl grinned. “Are classers like us.”

  Eric whistled. “How does that even work?”

  This earned a pair of shrugs. “No one knows! My names Nicole, by the way. And this is Daniel.”

  “Ernest,” Eric said in turn, earning a snort from the girl.

  “Careful,” Nicole warned, eyes twinkling. “That name’s gotten a bad rep as of late.”

  Eric blinked innocently. “Really. How come?”

  The boy shrugged. “Just some hotblooded idiot pissing off multiple factions. One of those Contender types? Anyway, I doubt you have to worry. There are thousands of Ernests out there, I’m sure. Just don’t go calling yourself ‘Slaughter’ and you should be fine.”

  “Noted,” Eric said with a smile as the pair began walking, easing into the crowd, Eric happy to join them. “So, what should a newblood keep in mind when visiting this quarter… or New York in general?”

  Nicole’s cheeks dimpled in a smile. “Apt choice of words.”

  The boy beside her nodded. “Newblood. Quite literally.”

  “I’m sorry?”

  The pair exchanged pointed looks before Nicole sidled next to him, husky breath caressing his ear. “Vampires.”

  Eric blinked. “Seriously?”

  She nodded solemnly. “So you best be careful. But so long as you’re not out too late and make sure to go to one of the better quality hotels… you should be fine.”

  Daniel nodded. “Yup. They control this version of the city. Best not to cross them. But on the other hand, they’re major patrons of the arts!” His eyes lit up as he gazed upon a grand domed theater. “And here we are. Going to see a play about the revolution. You wouldn’t believe the twists!”

  Nicole nodded. “We got such a whitewashed version in school that it’s great to see a version far closer to the truth, from a people who remembered those events a lot better than we do.”

  “And of course they change it up regularly, so it’s never boring!” Daniel assured. He gazed thoughtfully at Eric for a second, before making up his mind. “Say, if you’d like to join us… we’d be happy to treat you.”

  Eric blinked, not having expected the offer, but gave a warm nod, genuinely touched. And why the hell shouldn’t he spend a couple hours losing himself in an old school play, making a couple of new friends? His smile grew more certain. There was no reason not to take them up on the offer. “You know what? I’d love—” He blinked, flashing a wry smile.

  “I’m guessing should have read the sign first.”

  Nicole frowned. “What? Oh… shit. It’s sold out.” She turned back around, wincing apologetically. “Sorry about that.”

  Eric waved off the concern with a smile, determined to make the most of the opportunity suddenly before him. “It’s alright. I have a friend I’m supposed to meet up with, in any case. I don’t suppose you’d happen to be able to decipher their address?”

  He handed them a card a certain dragon had handed him, what now felt like days ago but had only been a handful of hours ago.

  Nicole furrowed her brow, before turning it over to her partner. “Dear?”

  He blinked, then smiled. “Oh, you’re in luck. I know this area. This is the right quarter and everything!” He pointed to the road at right angles to the busy theater boulevard presently occupied by so many.

  “Go up seven blocks to pine street, then turn west. At that point, its all about street numbers.”

  Nicole nodded, before giving Eric a concerned look. “The homes are beautiful in that area, all preserved by classers that have laid claim, but um… you might want to wait until first light before heading over there.”

  Eric sighed. “Really?”

  The boy nodded. “Pretty much, yeah. Especially if you’re a stranger here.”

  Nicole pointed to the imposing edifice to her left, a grand hotel done in the neo gothic style that screamed ‘Gotham’ to Eric, complete with stained glass windows, banistered balconies, gargoyles, and rooftop crenelations.

  “You could spend the night at the Grand, and meet up with your friend on the morrow. They’ll probably be glad you waited.”

  Eric slowly nodded. “You guys are probably right. Thank you for your help and advice. I hope you two enjoy the play!”

  Nicole flashed her dimpled smile once more. “Oh, we will. Keep safe, Ernest!”

  She and Daniel gave one final wave before flowing into the crowd before the busy theater.

  Eric sighed. “You know, for just a minute…”

  “I know. But time and world conquest waits for no man or bun, fearless leader.”

  “Actually, Bun, it’s been a supremely crazy day. I really could use a bite to eat. You think the Grand cooks a decent porterhouse?”

  “Only one way to find out!”

  And find out they did, Eric quickly ushered through a red carpeted foyer glittering with brass and crystal and fine chandeliers lit with actual candles as well-dressed men and women chatted animatedly about the latest parties and plays while exchanging only occasional gossip about the foreigners continuing to trickle into their city.

  “At least they pay in good silver, unlike those begging waifs at the docks,” huffed one particularly haughty women dressed in multiple layers of skirts and petticoats with actual peacock feathers in her bonnet, sparkling teardrop diamond earrings and a beak of a nose that could cut through steel.

  Eric hid his smirk as he politely followed the snappily dressed servitor with slicked back hair to a candle-lit dining table, whereupon an attentive-looking waitress raised her eyebrows only once as he gave his order.

  “Let me make sure I understand. That’s two porterhouse stakes, two pork chops with all the sides, a fizzle float, syllabub, and a chocolate cake?”

  Eric grinned and nodded. “And your finest red. If you serve milk here, that as well. And ice cream. You have ice cream, right? That would be great as well.”

  This earned a slow blink that became a wide smile with but a single tooth missing from an otherwise comely woman’s face when Eric’s hands flashed with silver eagles.

  She daintily took two. “Your order will be ready shortly, sir. I’ll be back with your change. I do hope you’re bringing friends, because all portions are grand, here at the Grand!”

  Eric and Bunbun exchanged a nod.

  “As it should be. Because I’m fucking starving for something besides grass!”

  Fortunately, despite the occasional huffed comment about parlor magicians and ventriloquists, the meal was just as delicious as they could have hoped for. Savory steak, succulent pork and indulgent confectioneries brought a smile to Eric’s strained countenance as he finally began to relax and let the screams in the back of his mind slowly fade away in a haze of sumptuous victuals and sugary deliciousness.

  “How are you feeling, Fearless Leader?” Bunbun gazed up at him from her steak with floppy ears and concerned eyes with just a touch of fiery crimson, much like his own.

  “I think this is the best fucking meal I’ve had in days,” Eric declared as he devoured the last of the double order of eclairs that, fortunately, this odd crush of glitzy decades had plenty to spare.

  This earned a snort. “That’s because it is. The only meal you’ve had in days.” Her gaze grew the slightest bit concerned as she tilted her head. “Eric… you’re not actually thinking of sleeping here, are you?”

  This earned a snort. “Are you kidding? With my Vitality? After our planned one hour fresh-faced reset became what amounted to a luxurious full-night’s sleep we enjoyed with Spiky watching out for us? I bet we could literally go for days without sleep with no problem at all. I’m just all about earning that well-rested experience buff, just like in Skydragon.”

  His familiar snorted. “It’s not like the System actually declared that, right?”

  Eric shrugged. “Only in the general sense. But seriously. Whatever keeps me sharp and focused and more likely to earn a key breakthrough and now Burst of Strength is also on the cusp of evolving! And after what I did to you know what…” he flashed a Cheshire grin, earning a chuckle from his familiar.

  “We certainly made an entrance, Fearless Leader. And now Burst of Strength, Phoenix Strike, and Spears are all so close to breakthroughs.” His bunny gave a firm nod. “I’m glad you got your full four hours. Even if um…” She paused in her nibbling, gazing at him with gentle concern.

  “You want to talk about it?”

  “Not a chance in hell!” Eric said with cheerful gusto. “Past is fucking dead, and all the nightmares can stay in their steel vaulted cages. There’s only the now and the sweet, sweet rush of getting so fucking powerful that no force on Earth can stop us. So let’s have ourselves a blast, unravel some mysteries, and complete a certain quest.” He flashed a too wide smile. “I’m almost certain that the sweet rush of claiming another territory will wipe the last of those bad dreams away.”

  Bunbun nodded. “And we can distract ourselves trying to solve the riddles of New York.”

  She looked around at the glorious collage of late eighteenth and nineteenth century splendor, the upper crust chatting amiably and finding nothing jarring at all about a century’s worth of differing attire, with everything from jackets, trousers, and tightly fitted single breasted waistcoats of the finest wool, complete with flaring tails and top hats to a selection of vests, tricorn hats, and frilled linen shirts along with knee breaches showing off well-turned calves, not to mention more than a few powdered wigs.

  All the hats were solemnly handed over to a hat master, as one man jokingly called him, who was apparently knowledgeable enough to need but a glance to assign man to head attire upon their departure and never once made a mistake, as far as a bemused Eric could tell.

  The women’s attire was similarly varied, though lace, frills and pastel colors were near uniform.

  It was only the comparatively plainly dressed handful of Classers, taking their ease and dining much as Eric was, that brought any snide comments from any of the guests.

  Eric didn’t even smirk at the pair that had taken to the local attire with gusto, better even than the theater-going couple had with their prom-wear. Because why not try to blend in with your environment? Even if it felt like an overlapping regio washing upon mundus’s borders with the light and wonder of magic and mystery.

  As much waking dream as real.

  But since Eric was all about infusing his territories with as much awe and wonder as possible, that was totally okay with him. He was all about losing himself in magic and wonder and countless distractions.

  Whatever kept the nightmares at bay.