“Hey, newbie, how long ya think we’re going to be here for? I’m bored hanging around doing nothing. Would rather go rip up some skeletons or drink some booze, ya feel me?” A feminine voice called from a figure in the middle of a push-up.

Bishop snorted, “Newbie? Didn’t you join just a few days before me? I’m stronger than you anyways, so what gives you the right to call me a newbie, water girl.”

Finished with her push-ups the bronze-skinned blue-haired girl moved into a handstand and began to walk around.

While showing off her figure she responded, “It’s Vasi, newbie. And the reason why you’re a newbie is obviously ‘cuz I killed that hunk of junk and saved your sorry ass. Honestly, did you have a death wish? You stage dived into that bonehead as it was going critical. If I didn’t sever the connection to the power core you would’ve been screwed.”

Rolling his eyes Bishop replied, “Thanks for the assist, but I had the fucker in my grasp. Just a few more seconds and I’d have broken through his mecha’s formations and easily could’ve finished him off afterward. Really, you should be my junior, little girl.”

“Humph! I’ll have you know that I'm a full-grown woman.”

Bishop's eyes traveled from Vesi's acceptable face to her empty chest, “You might have the looks of one, but your chest, however… Ha.”

Vesi stumbled at Bishop's remark and fell flat on her face. She jumped up with a shout, “Why you! Come over here and fight me to the death, old man!”

His smile faded as he looked out in the distance.

“You might get your wish soon… Agate… What did you do?” Bishop’s light-hearted voice lost its strength as he saw Urist, Ubel, Snorri and Uria storm across the horizon.

“Wha?”

“Whatever happens, it’s been a joy fighting with your flat chest.”

“You son of a bitch! I’ll really kill you!”

***

It wasn’t long before their group entered the camp. Ubel and Urist confronted Bishop directly, not wasting any time.

Urist spoke first, his face unreadable, “We need you two for a secret mission. Tell your people to return to base and not to speak of us coming here.”

The confused Vesi and grim Bishop nodded their heads and passed on his orders. Soon the camp was taken down and the people started to head back.

When their group was alone at last Ubel spoke up, “I’m sure you know why we’re here but to fill you in, take this memory crystal and use it.”,

“How do I know you won’t sneak attack me?”

“I promise no one here will attack you while you use and digest the information. You have my word.”

Seeing as nothing pinged off his truth formation and that no one was giving off killing intent, Bishop nodded his head and accepted the stone that was thrown at him.

A minute later a saddened Bishop awoke from the memory.

“That idiot, why did he act like that...” Was all he could say.

After briefly examining Bishop, Ubel continued, “Now that you know what happened, let’s sit by the fire and talk this out. Any movement to flee will force us to consider you as hostile. If that happens, we will do all we can to kill you.”

Bishop, feeling the truth of his words and the sudden killing intent coming from the group, quickly decided to not flee and heeded Ubel’s suggestion.

Ubel, Urist, Uria, and Snorri awkwardly sat across from Bishop.

Ubel took a drink from his water sack, using the time to gauge his opponent's expression. Ubel saw the sadness hanging on Bishop's eyes, the bitterness in his heart as he clenched and unclenched his fists, and the slouch of disappointment in his posture.

Time to see if I can score a powerhouse or need to kill him. What happens here will change the course of the war.

Ubel opened strongly, “The King has given me the authority to punish those who undermine his rule. And your brother, Agate, has most certainly broken the morals of the king and his people. As it stands, after he has fulfilled his use he will be executed for his actions against his fellow countrymen.”

Hearing his brother was going to be killed, Bishop snorted coldly.

“So you’ve decided to kill him after using him… I’m not surprised. So what about me? Are you planning to off me as well once you’re done with me?”

Bloodlust leaked off of Bishop, affecting everyone to varying degrees and causing most of the group to go on guard.

Ubel merely pressed his glasses up and kept his dead-eyed expression.

“Nice blood lust, but it's just a little barking dog when compared to my wives'. Since you’ve been so sincere in trying your best, I’d rather not kill you. So I’ll offer you a choice. We either duke it out here and kill you now, or you don’t do anything while we kill Agate after he accomplishes his mission.”

His voice was hoarse as Bishop replied, “You… you want me to stand there... as you kill my brother. Is that what you’re... suggesting?

Ubel noticed Bishop's trembling hands, but it didn't move him the slightest bit. “Judging by your demeanor and smell hanging around you when we first met, you’ve killed a lot of people with your brother. Perhaps a bandit, and very good bandits judging by your power. But you were the brains were you not? After all, those without a good brain can’t learn formations. So then how long did you live as a bandit? Judging by those scars, your tiny bit of bloodlust, those calloused hands and eyes of steel… Tens of years, am I correct?”

Bishop lashed out once Ubel hit the mark, “What does my past have to do with this? What, do you hate bandits? Is that it? Trying to find an excuse to get rid of me?”

Ubel chuckled, “Ha. No, some of my best men started off as bandits and were fine men under my command. They all had their own wants: riches, women, fame, and food were some examples. But they all had something in common that they wanted, and you crave it as well. They all wanted fr—”

“Freedom…” Bishop cut in, his body now shivering.

Ubel nodded, “Yes, freedom. Before joining under my banner they were hunted wherever they went. Every day they watched their backs, wary of the kingdom, the bounty hunters, and even their own men. They killed and ran then killed and ran some more until I happened upon them, found use for their talents, and offered them a job. Because of that, I got a lovely nickname: General Bandit. Later on they changed it to Demon General of the West, but that’s a story for another time.”

Ubel waited for a bit before continuing, allowing Bishop to digest the information.

“So, I’ll offer you what I offered those before you. Will you fight under the dwarven kingdom's banner and stop running away? To be able to finally have a place where you can rest and call home, or will you choose the path of destruction? If so there are only three things that can and will happen.

“The first way, you die here. Plain and simple, no more story there. Number two, you somehow escape, then you escape again after this event ends off into the wilds. Sure, as a bandit you learned some skills on staying alive in the wilds. But what then? As each day passes this world will get more dangerous.

“But sure, let’s say you survive against all odds. It’s when the demons descend that you will meet your end. And even if that’s not your end, you are going to be back on the run with your brother for the rest of your now miserable life.

“Is that true? The demons of myth.”

“Ask Urist.”

Urist replied with a nod, “It is true.”

Sensing no lie, Bishop's face contorted into doomed expression as he forced out a question.

“So… What's number three?”

“You kill everyone here and those loyal to Urist. Then, since Urist died, no more dwarfs will spawn and you would have doomed our race. Day by day wild animals will run wild and break down the walls, picking at you piece by piece until you fall. And if that doesn't finish you off, the demons will come in and finish the job. But I doubt we’ll fail to kill you as long as we have this.”

Without much fuss, Ubel pulled out a mecha core brimming with energy.

“You see, this core is unstable thanks to being stopped just before going critical. If I add just a tiny bit of mana to this it’ll cause a chain reaction, turning you and everything else within fifty meters into a crater. Since Urist, Uria, and Snorri can move at extreme speeds they would live, and the sisters here use water magic as well so together they’ll probably live. The only thing I’m really betting here is my life and I don’t mind doing so. But do you feel lucky, Bishop? Do you?”

Bishop stared at the stone, then at Ubel. and finally at Urist who stood stoically, his expression unreadable.

He then let his head fall, defeated, as tears silently trickled to the ground.

“Tell me Urist… Will my brother's death be quick?”

Urist replied calmly, “I’ll be truthful with you Bishop. Your brother is strong and I’m not sure we’ll be able to end it quickly. If our surprise attack fails it’ll be messy, so I cannot promise it would be quick.”

Clenching and unclenching his hands Bishop responded, ‘Then I’ll help you kill him when the time comes. Although he doesn’t consider me a brother anymore... I should’ve carried out what needed to be done a long time ago.”

“Are… are you sure? You don’t have to.” Urist assured.

Bishop suddenly looked up with tears staining his cheeks and his eyes determined, “If I’m going to stop running away then I need to put an end to my past. And I’ll be damned if I let another do it for me.”

With a sight smile Ubel held out his free hand, “Then we are in agreement.”

Bishop accepted the handshake, “Yes. I will, from this point on, faithfully serve under you and our king. To show my loyalty, you may imprison me until the time comes to take out the man that was once my brother. I will not hold it against you.”

Ubel let go of Bishop’s hand and waved the dwarf off, “That’ll make Agate suspect, but since one can never be too careful... I’ll have Aqua and Vesi follow under you as a reward for doing so well in the ‘secret mission,’ which we'll be carrying out after this."

Bishop gave Ubel a look, “I’m fine with the busty one, but do I really need the flat-chested one?”

“You fucker, fight me to the death if you dare!” Vesi, who was worried this whole time, yelled out violently while her sister was blushed furiously at the mention of her chest.

Small chuckles rang out from here and there within the group, instantly lightening the heavy mood.

But deep down everyone knew that they were plotting the murder of a monster living in a dwarven skin.

And nothing would change that.

This would be a dark stain in the history of the dwarven kingdom.