“You are powerful, but weak willed. To sacrifice so much just to protect your warriors from death? How foolish.” The golden armored Emperitor said as John guessed he received the notification. “Fine then. You have paid for it, and if I can avoid the minor cost of my Generals' lives to my family, I will. Your offer is accepted, General.” He said John’s title like it was a filthy thing.

“Good, so how does—” John was interrupted as another notification appeared in his vision.

Select Your Champions!

Magic Champion!:

Suggested Options

Lieutenant Brown, Level 28. Class: None selected. Standard Gear: Sidearm, Bodyarmor, Defense Bracelet, Staff of Stalwart Defense, Wand of Chain Lightning. 137 Spells Known. Very Large Mana Pool.

Lieutenant Young, Level 25. Class: Mage. Standard Gear: Sidearm, Bodyarmor, Defense Bracelet, Staff of Instant Fortress, Wand of Firebolt, Wand of Frost Bolt. 127 Spells Known. Large Mana Pool.

Lieutenant Corriea, Level 13. Class: None available. Standard Gear: Sidearm, Bodyarmor, Defense Bracelet, Staff of Bulwark, Wand of Magic Missile, Wand of Illusion Crafting, Wand of Dispel. 15 Spells Known. Medium Mana Pool.

Looking over the options he had available, John realized there really was only one option. The fact that he had removed perma-death as an option made him feel far better. He selected Lieutenant Brown, and then another list of options appeared in front of him.

Warrior Champion!:

Sergeant Stone, Level 25. Class: Marine Close Combat Specialist. Standard Gear: Rifle, Sidearm, Combat Knife, Bodyarmor, FOF Tag, Additional Ammo, Bayonet, Marine Intrenching Tool, Defense Bracelet.

Sergeant Reginald, Level 26. Class: Police Officer. Titles: Dan-Dan the Night Stick Man. Standard Gear: Nightstick of Sleep, Sidearm, Combat Knife, Bodyarmor, FOF Tag, Additional Ammo, Defense Bracelet.

Warning: Sergeant Reginald is a non field-combat class that specializes in finding and detaining law breakers. Some bonuses he receives normally will be disabled during direct combat.

Sergeant Grandwell, Level 22. Class: None Available. Titles: You feeling lucky, punk? Standard Gear: Rifle, Sidearm, Combat Knife, Bodyarmor, FOF Tag, Additional Ammo, Bayonet, Intrenching Tool, Defense Bracelet.

There really wasn’t much of an option here either. Sure, he could go with Dan Reginald, John knew the man. He was a massive hulk of a person and his appearance was enough to scare most people into behaving all on its own. But, John knew he was also a sweet kind hearted fellow. Leader of the civilian SWAT team stationed at the fortress for rapid deployment to any of the civilian towns when needed, he also served as leader of riot control inside the fortress. Not that there was ever much need for that function.

Dan was excellent at his job, but his job was dealing with criminals, not duals to the death. Stone however, was a killer born and raised. A phrase John’s sergeant used to tell him about the armed forces came to John then. “There are only two branches of the military, son. The Army, and the Navy. The Air Force is a corporation, and the Marines are a cult.” Of course that had been long before the creation of the Space Force, or the newly minted Magic Corp. But still, John felt it applied.

Who better to send against a bunch of fanatics, then our own? John chuckled to himself as he selected Stone.

Team Fighting Unit!:

Lieutenant Caldwell, Level 23. Class: None available. Standard Gear: Rifle, sidearm, combat knife, bodyarmor, FOF Tag, Additional Ammo, Bayonet, Intrenching Tool. Titles: Ranger Leader. Forward Deployment Specialist. Ranger Reaper. Team: Reinforced Ranger Platoon consisting of 3 fire teams with standard gear. 6 corporals, 3 sergeants, and 9 PFC’s. Attached Magic Corp Element available. Average level: 19.

Lieutenant Draumond, Level 16. Class: None available. Standard Gear: Rifle, sidearm, combat knife, bodyarmor, FOF Tag, Additional Ammo, Bayonet, Intrenching Tool. Titles: Ranger Leader. Death from Above. Ranger Reaper. Team: Reinforced Ranger Platoon consisting of 3 fire teams with standard gear. 6 corporals, 3 sergeants, and 9 PFC’s. Attached Magic Corp Element available. Average level: 17.

Isaka Smith, Level 13. Standard Gear: Elephant Hunting Rifle. Titles and Traits: Community Investor 5. Giant Slayer 3. Team: Civilian team of hunters and specialists with non-standard gear.

John laughed out loud and it startled the three people standing opposite him. Ms. Smith had somehow earned her way onto the Team Fighting list. He didn’t really know why that amused him so much, maybe it was the fact that in a fortress filled to the brim with deadly fighting men and women, the system had decided in all its wisdom to include a high leveled civilian team in its suggested options to him.

Not sure if that speaks ill of the system, or well of Isaka. Maybe I need to pay that woman’s installation a visit. John selected Caldwell, the man was experienced, as high leveled as he could get, and had a decently leveled team. Draumond was just as experienced if John remembered correctly, maybe he had seen a bit more action in the past. John didn’t know exactly how important levels would be in the contest however. Best to have them, and not need them, then to need them and not have them he supposed.

He made his selection, and the world seemed to buzz with energy.