Jim's PoV

Jim was looking down at the equipment he "borrowed" from 3D tech. It was only another couple days till the deadline for the project. He had risked a lot to get to this point, but the calculus changed a bit. When he had first stolen the equipment he had ideas of creating his game world and then playing around a bit. But that changed with the revelation of what he had truly created and doubly so when combined with his windfall of capital. It would only be a couple more days till the auditors came in and realized a couple things were missing.

Maybe he should play the long game? There was no doubt in his mind that he would eventually become a very wealthy man. He had gambled big so that he would not have to turn his goodies back in. If he just wiped all of the data from everything they would have no clue what he was working on. His secrets would be safe. He would still have access to the world he created and his plethora of items. But his options would dwindle from limitless possibilities to only hundreds of possibilities.

Jim complained a bit too much about lady luck, but truth be told he had done very well for himself. He was going to win the late game. Two decent strategies were unfolding that might help him win more in the early game, but it would be foolish for him to bank on winning that hard.

He patted the helmet that was now in his lap. The idea of losing the helmet even temporarily was akin to losing an arm or a leg. Actually it was worse, he could fix a missing arm or leg. As he was working the problem over in his mind he muttered "it's too bad Final Fantastic 3 doesn't have any duplication bugs."

Many games programmers accidentally left in ways for the player to duplicate items. It was one of the most sought after glitches by those that hunted those sorts of things. Looking at the helmet he muttered to him self "Duplication."

Duplication? As he looked at the helmet the light bulb slapped him in his face. Just because Final Fantastic 3 did not have duplication, did not mean that other games did not. Hell, he didn't even need to take it that far. All he needed to do was create a massive shopping world. Should he try to create another world? It would just be a tiny speck compared to his first one. He had two days. Obsession mode was coming on. Challenge accepted. He texted John the contact information for Charlotte, and then texted Charlotte that he wanted to play with the toys while he still could.

She would get the reference. Jim just had to be careful this time. No people, no animals. Just a massive shopping extravaganza!

Davis' PoV

Things were getting tense in town. The merchant circle had arrived to trade like normal, but they started asking a lot of questions about the now deceased potion maker. Due to Scarlet's story he knew what was going on, but he could tell the group was not happy. King's End was not a large town and the caravan that they brought had several guards.

Since there was no central authority banditry was a fact of life outside settlements. This meant that goods needed to be protected. The caravan from the merchant circle only came four times a year and it was normally a cause for celebration. But it was not business as usual.

Not only that but someone had seen a woman leave as the place was on fire. It didn't take long for the tale of the woman from the merchant circle who arrived a few days early began to circulate. It made the rest of the guard nervous. To them it looked like an outsider had attacked a local and had gotten away with it. The potion maker was not a popular figure by the common people, but he had a lot of influence.

And those people were starting to ask the merchant circle some very pointed questions. Those questions were only turned back on them when it was vehemently denied that she was apart of their group. After that Scarlet's room had been scrowered through and the seal of the merchant circle along with the invitation for a meeting with the potion maker were found in her room. It was very damning evidence.

So instead the lively trading as had been in the past the merchants huddled up in a defensive circle just outside the city gates. They were demanding to question the people that had seen the woman last, while the city council refused and demanded the same from them.

It was almost nightfall and Davis was patrolling behind the wall. Not the sturdiest of fortifications but they had done in the past. The wall was wooden and about the height of three men. King's End sat in a valley and this wall blocked the main road that lead north where Jacksburg was. As he was making the rounds he saw Maria run towards him with a familiar pup trailing after her.

Davis scolded her "It's almost dark girl. You should be at home with your mother."

Maria mumbled looking towards her feet saying "All she does is cry. I don't want to go home."

Davis sighed and bent down to pick up the girl. She was getting taller but she was still thin as a pole. He whispered in her ear "Maybe you should help her so she doesn't cry? Hmm?"

Maria nodded.

"She has been through a lot in these past few days. It was really hard on her."

Maria said angrily "I think I've been through worse. I cried but I didn't cry that much."

Rubbing her head he said "You are strong. A lot stronger than your mother. She needs your strength right now."

Maria mubbled noncommittally.

There was a creaking and Davis looked up. For some reason the gate was being opened. Then he saw the black garbed figures on top and bodies scattered below. Oh no.

Hissing he said "Go home now! Now girl! GO!"

Setting her down and giving her a push he yelled at the top of his lungs "ENEMY AT THE GATE!! TO ARMS!"

Maria's PoV

Maria only ran a couple feet away and then stopped. She could hear the cry of "To arms!" being chorused.

Uncle Davis was in trouble. When she was in trouble Jim was there to help her. She and Princess would be there to help him.

Putting a hand on Princesses' back a white glow enveloped the wolf. She whispered into the wolfs ear "Take the front. I will look after Uncle."

The wolf nodded. Before the wolf left she let out a piercing howl. Maria could hear the faint echo of her other friend in the distance.

Davis' PoV

He heard a curdling howl behind him but he paid it no mind. The enemy needed to be stopped at the gate, it needed to stay closed. Rushing up to the gate he cut down two men that were trying to pull the gate open. Putting his shoulder into the wall he pushed back and it started to close some.

Then figures that were on top of the wall started jumping down and rushing towards him. Davis stopped and readied himself for the attack but to his surprise a wolf lunged on the back of one man. The beast crushed his throat from behind in one bite. Princess? No time to think. Another attacker came.

As he finished another one of the invaders he could see that reinforcements were coming to help. Glancing back to the wolf he found another body below her and she was in the process of cornering a third. Davis ran over to give her some help. With the both of them attacking they made quick work of the man.

Davis was a little nervous as he looked at the wolf. It was the same dog that he had seen for this past week even if she had been getting bigger. But like Maria said, they were smart. Cautiously he asked "Ready for more?"

The wolf nodded and the pair found more attackers to take care of. Not long after that he was flanked by yet another wolf. Men rallied around him and they were able to close the gate. But to their horror he could hear screams from the next gate calling "To arms!"

Glancing at his wolf companions they both showed their teeth. There was more killing to do. As he was moving to the next position he saw a little girl hunched over a townsman that had taken a stab to the belly. Putting her hand to the wound a white glow appeared around her hands. The man coughed and then stood up looking in astonishment at his wound that was now gone."

What? Was that Maria? She was a healer? Stopping briefly he looked at the girl and she put her hands on him. His fatigue was washed away. Davis asked "Maria? You are a healer? Why didn't you say anything?"

Angry she said "It's useless. It does nothing to the disease. It only helps normal stuff."

Arching an eyebrow he said "Normal stuff like a sword to the belly?"

She blushed and said "You know what I mean uncle!"

Laughing he did indeed. The potion maker had sold healing drafts as well. They were still expensive, but not nearly as much as it costed for the one that cured that damned disease. The town even paid for most members of the guard to carry one or two. Davis had never used them before so he nearly forgot about them.

Finally he said "You should go home, it's not safe."

Maria shook her head and said "I can save them uncle."

She pointed down to a few townsman that were on the ground.

Maria said "Go ahead. I'll be fine."

He wanted to argue with her, but he had a job to do.

Jim's PoV

About a day later he had his shopping warehouse world ready. He checked it over for the fifth time and wondered if this was really a good idea. Shrugging he hit the instal button. This time it was a lot quicker, it only took around five minutes to install his warehouse.

Jim logged into his warehouse world and cheered! Another success! Isle one was helmet land. Jim started grabbing them and putting them into his FF3 world's inventory. He continued to do some shopping when a few minutes later he heard a loud metallic screech. Jim looked up in horror to find that the metal that was above him was twisting and turning. Oh no. He didn't reengineer the specs for the infrastructure but still made it taller. Why did he make everything 99 stories tall? Stupid. So stupid.

Jim could only watch in horror as the pile of metal fell down on him. There was pain, and then there was nothing.

Jim wolk up and felt weird. The last thing he remembered was talking to that John dude, and then nothing. Jim got out his phone and was confused when he saw that it was a day later than it had been. Why was he missing a day?