Chpt. 8) Evolution

Ford and the rest of the team sat around the fire pit in the catacombs for the last minute before Tanashi announced that the game had started. Ford looked at her stats to pass the time. Name: Ford; gender: Female; race: human; Grimoire: wood; class: Ruler; Level: three. Abilities: STR: twenty-one; PER: fifteen plus ten; END: eighteen; INT: twenty-four plus ten; AGI: twenty; CHR: twenty-one; LCK: twelve; WIS: twelve plus ten; SOL: ten.

Skills: natural: carry weight: hundred-five kg, quick-witted, resilient, strong-willed, cook. Skills: spear one/five, sword two/five, claymore one/five, knife combat one/five, comms one/five, crystal core five/five, weapon possession five/five, Void storage two/five, empowering music one/five, record one/five, long strike one/one, fatal slash one/five, hand-to-hand combat one/five, repair bones one/five, cure one/one, mend flesh one/five, absolute heal one/one.

HP: one-hundred ninety-eight; STM: one-thousand eight-hundred thirty-six; MN: twenty-nine-thousand one-hundred thirty-one; EXP: zero/one-thousand two-hundred ten. STM recharge: thirty-nine per second; MN recharge: fifty-eight per second; Grimoire progression: zero of one-hundred percent.

Ford was roused from her reading when Tanashi’s face came onto a screen that appeared over the fire. “HELLO, PEOPLE OF THE ATOM SYSTEM!! MY NAME IS TANASHI, AND I WILL BE YOUR HOST FOR THE GAME THAT WILL BE GOING ON FOR THE NEXT TWENTY-FIVE YEARS,” Tanashi then started to clap for himself and let the information sink in. Then he continued, “Anyways, you are all part of this game so take it seriously. We have barred resurrections for the game’s duration, so if you die, you’re dead. There is one way of reversing this, and that is to kill these people who we’ve chosen as our champions,” the screen changed and showed everyone’s face like a mug shot. It also included their height, weight, hair, eye color, and location, which just said Banzzap’el.

“Great,” Ford said, “I guess everyone will know who to kill.”

Then Tanashi continued, “Of course, you can choose not to believe me or do; it doesn’t matter. Either way, if these seven aren’t dead or complete the dungeons by the end of this twenty-five year, you’re all going to die. Bye,” then Tanashi disappeared.

Benet spoke up and said, “Do you think they will believe him?”

Before Ford responded, Tanashi reappeared, “Oh, and before I forget, I’m spawning in a monster swarm, and it will be right in the middle of cities and towns. You can expect the spawn in about five seconds.”

“Well,” Ford said, “if they don’t believe him. They will in about five seconds.”

“Wha’ should we do?” Lilly asked.

Ford thought for a moment and said, “We wait. If we go up there, then we’re fighting on two sides. One side against monsters, the other against humans. If we wait, people may die,” as if to emphasize this point a loud boom sounded from up above along with panicked screams, then she continued, “If we wait, people will most likely die, but there are high-level Grimoires up there, and they will take care of the people and the monsters. In contrast, the monsters weaken the high-level Grimoires allowing us to get through unnoticed. Probably.”

“Probably?” Morgan asked, raising an eyebrow.

“You never know what might happen,” Farah said, resting her head on her hand.

“How long should we wai’?” Lilly asked, her voice starting to quiver.

Ford walked over to her and wrapped her arm around her as she said, “We will wait until the screaming is over.” She nodded and leaned into Ford, flinching at every boom that echoed through the catacombs.

***

Hours passed before everything quieted down around seventeen thirty, which means it was five-thirty. Ford spent the time using possession on her Karambits and practicing controlling them. She also spent her last skill on a new CQB skill called energy pulse; if used with hand-to-hand combat, she can shoot one essence from her hand up to one meter away for one-hundred mana.

The first thought that passed through Ford’s head when everything became quiet was, ‘I hope Max and her family got out of the city before everything happened,’ she didn’t want her interactions with the family to harm them.

Ford stood up and turned to Ee, who was working on her fifteenth monster carving, and said, “So, Ee, do you think we can go now? Also, where do we go?”

Ee put the half-finished carving away in her cloak and let the knife she used vanish. Then she hopped off her hammock and started to take it off the pillars as she said, “As I said before, the first dungeon is in a nearby mountain to the east of here. We’ll head up to the street, work our way through to the wall, and go over it.”

“Question,” Benet said as he raised his hand and asked, “Can’t you make portals to different areas? So can’t you just teleport us outside the city walls?”

Ee finished stuffing her hammock into a little sack, then put the sack into her cloak before answering, “One, that ability has limits. Two, I am only allowed to help you so much. Which includes not fighting your fights for you. Three, I’m not too fond of any of you that much. So, I’m getting you up to the streets then leading you to the mountain. Okay? Okay.”

Ford looked at everyone else and said, “Well, our journey begins now. Last chance to leave?”

Everyone looked at one another, and Gimble spoke, “I will stay with you, Ford.”

‘His grammar got better because of the intelligence points. That’s impressive,’ Ford thought as everyone else stood and said similar sentiments. “Alright,” Ford said, “Lead the way.”

Ee rolled her eyes and started walking down the tunnel to the left. Lilly conjured a fireball into her hand as they walked to act as a torch, which was handy. After walking for another thirty minutes, they made it to a ladder that led up to the surface, and Ee pointed, “Alright, we go up here and make our way through.”

“Uh, hold that thought,” Ford said as Ee climbed the ladder.

“What is it now?” Ee said, a bit exasperated.

“I don’t think the big guy can fit in the small hole,” Ford said, gesturing to Gimble, who nodded in confirmation.

Ee rolled her eyes and sighed, “Fine. I’ll go up first and send down a portal for him. The rest of you come with me,” then she continued climbing.

Ford smiled and followed right behind Ee as she went up the ladder and removed a utility hole cover and into an enclosed back street. Ford came up next and saw that buildings had collapsed, and large fires were still lighting up the night sky, but that was all Ford could see from where she stood. The destruction was most likely much worse.

After a few minutes, everyone was up the ladder, and Ee opened a portal for Gimble to go through. Although he could barely fit in the back street standing sideways. Ee turned to Ford and said, “How do you want to go through the city, oh leader?”

Ford frowned, “Sarcasm isn’t your best quality, and let’s go through the streets that Gimble can fit in.”

“Please,” Gimble added as he struggled not to push against the buildings to either side of him.

“This way then,” Ee said, gesturing behind Ford and walking past her.

Ford nodded and spoke on comms, “This should go without saying, but keep all talking to a minimum and only on comms. Ee, can you hear me?”

“Do I have to?” Ee responded on comms as she walked onto the street.

Ford was close behind her and gasped at the carnage before her. There were bodies scattered all over the place; Humans, Elves, and Giants, some completely shredded, some were just blood splatters, and others were intact and unidentifiable. It was like a bomb came to life and attacked people at random.

“This is horrid,” Lilly said over comms as she covered her mouth to stop from screaming.

Morgan walked over to her, put a hand on her elbow, and said, “I am sorry to see your clans, people like this. Truly I am.”

Lilly nodded and said, “Thank you.”

Gimble shimmied his way out of the back street and looked at the fallen Giants and, for the first time, spoke over comms, “They died with honor. Yes?”

“Yeah, buddy,” Ford said, “they died with honor.”

“If you’re done talking,” Ee interrupted, “We should go before anybody finds us,” Ford took a deep breath and followed her leading the group through the carnage that was now Banzzap’el.

***

As they traversed the ravaged city, the carnage only got worse as they got closer to the city’s center. Some people were lying dead over small children or babies, trying to protect them from the monsters that attacked. There were four-legged spider-like monsters scattered here and there with a massive stinger underneath its belly.

“Spider wasps,” Lilly said as they walked past one of the massive four-meter tall bodies, “they shoot their stingers like a harpoon and use it to lay eggs in their victims. They’re na’ive to Pidre, home of the Gian’s.”

“I can see why,” Ford said, not wanting to continue the conversation.

Then as they got close to the center of Banzzap’el, a familiar radio voice called out to their right, “Ladies and gentlemen, please stay calm. I’m sure that miss Ford will come for this little lady. OH, FORD, WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO COME OUT NOW?!”

Ford stopped, recognizing the voice as Mr. Smith, and asked, “What’s going on?”

Ee stopped as well and looked in the direction of the voice, “Don’t know, let’s keep moving.”

“OH, FORD,” Mr. Smith called again, “WE HAVE YOUR FRIEND MAX HERE! ARE YOU GOING TO LEAVE HER ALL ALONE HERE?!”

Ford felt her heart stop at the mention of Max, and Lilly asked, “Did he just say, Max?” Ford nodded, and Lilly continued, “Wha’ do we do? We can’t leave her?”

“We can and we will,” Ee said, annoyance in her voice, “chances are all your loved ones are already dead, so there is no point in worrying over saving them. Now let’s go!”

“WE CAN’T LEAVE HER!” Lilly yelled over comms.

“Lilly,” Ford said, drawing her attention, “stop arguing and go.”

Lilly looked at her, not believing what Ford had just heard, then said, “Wha’ are ye sayin’?”

“I’m saying keep going. Gimble, if she resists, carry her,” Ford said as she looked down and away from Lilly, clenching her fists.

Lilly started to protest, but Gimble grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder as he continued following Ee. As they walked by, Ford grabbed Farah's wrist and waited for the rest of the group to keep walking until they were out of earshot. “Promise me, you will take care of them,” Ford said aloud.

Farah looked confused and said, “You can’t be seriously thinking of going?”

Ford locked eyes with Farah and said, “Promise me! That you will take care of them!”

Farah looked shocked by the conviction in Ford’s voice, then said, “I promise.”

Ford let go of her wrist and said, “Don’t worry about me. I’ll catch up,” then ran in the direction of the voice as Farah ran to catch up with the rest of the group. Once she did, she told the others where Ford was going. Ee and Lilly were the first to start talking over comms making an incoherent cacophony of words. “Easy, easy. One at a time,” Ford responded as she climbed onto a rooftop to get to the sound of Mr.Smith’s voice easier.

“Wha’ in the bloody hell do ye think ye’re doing!?” Lilly yelled.

“I think I’m going to save an innocent person,” Ford responded, “or die trying.”

“Most likely the dying part,” Ee responded.

“We could have helped you,” Lilly said.

“Or you could be killed,” Ford countered, “I don’t want any of you to die. So let me do this while you live.”

“Who will lead us then?” Morgan asked.

“I asked Farah to look after you all and take care of you. I trust her with that, and so can you.”

“But-” Benet started to say but was cut off as he hit the one-kilometer area limit.

Ford sighed as she ran across the rooftops and thought to herself, ‘I’m on my own now, and I know I’m not going to turn back. So, no point in asking myself that now.’

Ford reached the area Mr.Smith was yelling from and looked over the mob of forty or so people, composed of Humans, Elves, Giants, and Dwarves, standing in front of a raised platform with Mr.Smith holding a semiconscious Max by the bindings on her wrists. Anger welled up inside Ford as she dropped down behind the crowd and yelled, “I’M HERE!”

The people closest to her turned and passed the word along to the front where Mr.Smith responded, “Ah, Mrs.Ford, good to see you. Please disarm yourself and make your way up to the front, will you.” The crowd of people made a path for Ford, and she saw a few of them had swords and spears, others pitchforks and torches. Ford tossed her Karambits to either side and started walking forward. When she reached the front of the crowd, she drew her sword and slammed it into the ground, so it stood up, then tossed her Willful dagger aside.

“Let her go,” Ford demanded.

Mr.Smith chuckled and Grabbed Max by the hair, pulling her head back, revealing a black eye and bruises on her face, then drew a knife as he said, “I don’t think you understand who has the power here, Mrs.Ford. Now,” Mr.Smith put the blade flat on Max’s throat, “where are the rest of your friends?”

Panic started to set in as Ford answered, “I-I don’t know they were a little over a kilometer away from here last I checked. P-please just let Max go. She doesn’t have anything to do with this.”

“Now that’s where you’re wrong. She got you to me, and you can get me to everyone else so we can all get our loved ones back,” the crowd started to cheer at Mr.Smith’s words. When they settled down, he asked again, “Now, where are your friends?”

Ford dropped to her knees as she pleaded, “Over a kilometer away, that’s all I know, I swear.”

“Where are they going?”

“To a mountain. I don’t know which. Please let Max go,” Ford could feel tears run down her face.

Mr.Smith took the blade off of Max’s throat and knelt to get closer to Ford as he said, “You know what… I don’t believe you,” then he drew the blade back to stab it into Max’s throat.

“NOOOOO!!!” Ford yelled as darkness enveloped her vision, and she knew no more.

***

Parameters have been met. Error. Essence required. Testing. Error. No essence suitable for use found. Creating new essence. New essence failed. New essence failed. New essence failed. New essence succeeded. New essence created. Blood essence acquired. Parameters have been met. Error. Insufficient data. Acquiring data. Data acquisition will complete in twenty-nine minutes fifty-nine seconds. Fifty-eight, fifty-seven, fifty-six.

***

The gods sat on their thrones, watching as Ford ran toward the crowd of people that held the Human Max. Zee laughed and said, “Looks like your precious little champion will die soon, Tanashi.”

Tanashi shrugged, “All well. I wish the game could have gone on longer before losing my champion, but I can’t change fate. So long, Ford,” he said as he poured water from a flask as though giving respects.

“What will happen to her soul?” Drake asked as he watched Ford toss her Karambits away.

“I’ll send her to the afterlife where she originally belonged. Or I guess soon it will be, where he originally belonged. We never decided on if souls have a gender, did we?” Tanashi responded. Everyone shook their head no as they continued to watch.

“Should we discuss that?” Samael asked as Ford planted her sword in the ground.

“Let’s wait till after the game,” Finn said, “We all know that the argument will take centuries with no clear answer.”

“True,” Samael conceded.

Then the screen froze as the man holding the knife to Max’s throat pulled back to stab her. “What’s going on?” Shurma asked.

“Grimoire,” Guargen said as he pointed at Ford’s Grimoire; since it was the only thing that was still moving.

Tanashi looked and said, “You’re right. Her Grimoire is changing.”

Samael stood and pointed at Tanashi, “I knew it! She has the potential!”

“You got lucky,” Tanashi said as he rolled his eyes with a smile, “but what kind of class is she making?”

Zee zoomed in on her screen to examine the Grimoire, then said, “It’s getting a red color to it, probably a class that involves a lot of fire and fighting. So adding to the worrier class maybe.”

“No, that red is too dark,” Drake said as he too examined the Grimoire.

Shurma pulled up more screens around her and said, “Let me examine it,” after a moment, Shurmas Jaw dropped.

“What is it?” Tanashi asked.

“It’s a new essence. Blood essence,” Shurma said, astonished.

Tanashi started to clap vigorously, “Holy shit. Not only a new Grimoire but a new essence. That is impressive.”

“And improbable,” Samael said as she sat down, summoning a bowl of popcorn, which everyone copied, knowing what would happen next, “If my math is correct, the chances of me picking someone like that from a pool of sixty-five million souls is, what, one in sixty-five million against, right?”

“One in sixty-five million against sounds close to right, but I would have to run simulations,” Shurma confirmed.

“Quiet,” Finn scolded, “it’s starting,” then he put a hand full of popcorn into his mouth. He stopped chewing a second later as shock spread across his face forcing him to spit out the popcorn.

“What is happening?” Tanashi yelled.

“That isn’t physically possible,” Drake murmured in horror.

“NO, NO, NO, GIANTS DON’T BEND! GIANTS DON’T BEND!! AHHH!” Guargen screamed, covering his face.

“Not the beard! Not the beard! That is not what beards are for!” Shurma yelled.

“Pitchforks don’t fit up there!!” Finn yelled.

Zee gleefully ate popcorn as she said, “There are easier ways to kill a person with their own fist. Yeah, just like that. You got one hell of a champion, Tanashi.”

Tanashi didn’t respond as he stared horrified at the screen. Even his tattooed smile lost its red color as it frowned. Then he swiped his hand down, removing all the screens; Zee groaned in disappointment. “Okay,” Tanashi said, “let’s wait to see what the Grimoire becomes before deciding on anything.”

“Agreed,” the rest of the Gods confirmed as they made the popcorn disappear, except for Zee, who was happily munching on her popcorn.

***

Three, two, one, zero. Data acquired. Parameters met. Evolving. Evolution complete. New class: Sin; sub-class: Berserker. Berserkers are responsible for taking more damage than any other party member and killing enemies in any way possible. All skills lost. New skills acquired. New quest acquired. Re-awakening in three, two, one.

Ford opened her eyes and thought, ‘What was that message saying? Evolution complete? Berserker class? I’ll have to look into it later,’ then she looked around her to see a carnage around her. Ford looked at her hands to see they were covered in blood, same as the rest of her body, some of it hers coming from rapidly closing wounds and the rest from the bodies around her. Ford started to hyperventilate as she looked around.

‘How many people did I just kill? Did I kill these people?’ Ford asked herself.

“You did kill these people. Though it was technically me, but you wouldn’t know the difference. Also, I counted fifty-eight people. A few Dwarves were hiding near Giants. Then again, you can’t hear me anyway,” a voice that sounded just like Ford said from behind her.

Ford whorled around and saw herself sitting on the corps of a Gaint a few meters away, flipping the Willful dagger in her right hand. Ford reached for her Willful dagger and felt it in its sheath. Ford looked back to the copy of herself and asked, “Who are you?”

The copy perked up and looked around as she said, “Did I miss someone?”

“You on the dead Giant! Who are you?!” Ford started to get impatient.

The copy looked at Ford and hopped down from the corps, looking quizzically at Ford, then asked, “Wait, can you see me?”

“Yes, I can see you. Now, who are you?”

The copy froze, and an expression of pure glee spread across her face as she exclaimed, “Yes, finally! Oh, what a great day today is! I can talk to someone, and not only that, but they can see me.”

“You still haven’t answered my question.”

The copy stopped in her celebration for a moment and composed herself, “Sorry about that. Um, I am you, but I’m also not you if that makes sense.”

“It doesn’t.”

“Right, um, I’m a byproduct of the Grimoires evolution. It is constantly evolving, you see. It’s how makes classes and skills.”

“Okay, so you’re the Grimoire,” Ford said as she took a few steps closer to the copy.

“Well, yes and no. The Grimoire makes me, but I’m you. I’m made from the strongest emotion in your body during evolution. Which, in this case, was anger. Hey, that’s a good name. Call me Wrath.”

“So you're saying my wrath became sentient, and that’s you,” Ford took a few more steps forward and got a better look at Wrath. She was an exact copy of her except for one difference, Wrath’s irises were blood red and seemed to glow with evil intent.

“Yes. See, now you’re getting it. By the way, you might want to look at your new stat screen. Don’t worry. We got time, and I’ve already gathered all your weapons and put them away.”

Ford wanted to argue, but it would be useless to argue with herself; then, she opened her Yggdras system. Evolution complete; Name: Ford; gender: Female; race: human; Grimoire: wood; class: Ruler/Sin; Level: thirteen. Abilities: STR: twenty-one; PER: fifteen plus ten; END: eighteen; INT: twenty-four plus ten; AGI: twenty; CHR: twenty-one; LCK: twelve; WIS: twelve plus ten; SOL: ten.

Skills: natural: carry weight: hundred-five kg, quick-witted, resilient, strong-willed, cook. Skills: weapon mastery five/five, comms one/five, crystal heart five/five, blood controller two/five, crystal weapon storage five/five, void storage two/five, crystal battle music two/five, blood weapons four/five, regeneration two/five, embracing pain two/five.

HP: one-hundred ninety-eight; STM: one-thousand eight-hundred thirty-six; MN: twenty-nine-thousand one-hundred thirty-one; EXP: zero/three-thousand one-hundred thirty-nine. STM recharge: thirty-nine per second; MN recharge: fifty-eight per second; Grimoire progression: zero of one-hundred percent. There are sixty ability points available; sixty skill points available; new essence discovered, blood essence.

“What the fuck!!” Ford exclaimed after reading her new stat screen.

“I know, right, pretty awesome,” Wrath said with a big smile.

“What happened to all the skills that I had?” Ford asked.

“They evolved,” Wrath explained flatly, “Anyways, let’s get our girlfriend and go.”

“Not our girlfriend and not yours for sure. Also, we have to find the rest of her family.”

Wrath looked down and said, “They’re behind the stage. They were dead before we got here.”

Ford looked down and said, “Damn it.”

“But the good news is Max is still alive.” Wrath said, trying to put a positive spin on it.

“I don’t think she will see it that way,” Ford said as she climbed onto the platform and rolled Max onto her back. Gently picking her up and holding her close. She then jumped down and started to jog out of the area of carnage heading east.

***

An hour passed as Ford ran through the streets, reaching the wall by twenty-one thirty or nine-thirty at night. Ford saw a nearby portcullis and went for it. When she got close, she noticed that several guards were lying on the ground unconscious and just starting to stir. Ford ran through the portcullis and into the forest before they saw then continued walking toward the nearest mountain.

While she walked, Max started to wake up, and she looked at the bloodied Ford and screamed as though she was surprised. The scream made Ford jump, but she didn’t drop Max, “You scared the crap out of me,” Ford said as she walked through the forest.

“Ford? Is that you? What’s going on?” Max asked since she couldn’t see all that well in the dark, and there was no moon out.

“Yes. It’s me, and I don’t have enough time to explain. So I’ll just say we’re in danger for now.”

Max rubbed her head and said, “last thing I remember was our God Tanashi telling everyone to hunt you down and kill you. Then there were monsters everywhere killing people. Once they were all killed, Dad tried to get my brother and I out of the city. Then the guy from the festival stopped us and knocked us out. Wait, where are my Dad and brother?”

Ford slowed to a stop as she tried to come up with the words to answer. Then she said, “I’m so, so, sorry, Max,” tears started to roll down Ford's face.

Max shook her head and said, “No, no, you’re lying,” tears started to well up in her eyes as well, as she began to pound her fist against Ford's chest and yelled, “You’re lying! YOU’RE LYING!”

“I wish I were,” Ford whispered as Max continued to pound her fists against Ford, trying to make Ford drop her. Ford just held on tighter and let Max pound away and scream in grief as she continued to walk through the dark forest.

After what felt like forever, Max stopped screaming and settled down. Then she asked, “Did they suffer?”

Ford looked to her right, where Wrath was walking next to them, and she said, “Well, they had a quick slice through the throat and looked like they were beaten pretty severely beforehand. So, I’d say they suffered.”

Ford looked ahead and said, “No, they didn’t suffer.”

Max nodded and said, “Can you put me down now? I think I’m okay to walk.”

“Can you see where you’re going?”

“Not really. Can you?”

“Yeah, but that’s because of a high perception. So, I can see just not very well or very far.”

“Well, I’d still like to walk,” Max said. Ford nodded and set her down gently. Max staggered a little and leaned against Ford for support, and together they started to walk.

Ford tried talking through comms to her, “Can you hear me?” she asked.

Max made a squeak of surprise and spoke out loud, “How did your voice get in my head?”

Ford responded over comms, “It’s a skill I have. You can talk to me anywhere within a kilometer by thinking.”

Max thought and answered over comms, “That’s a valuable skill, isn’t it used in the warrior classes?”

“Yes, it is.”

“So that means you’re a warrior?”

“No, I’m not,” Ford said.

“More importantly, can you hear me, Max, when I use comms?” Wrath asked.

Max didn’t answer and said, “If you’re not a warrior class, then what class are you?”

“I’m a Ruler class. It means that I have access to every class and every existing skill.”

“She can’t hear me. This is so depressing. Now I’m stuck talking to myself forever.”

“You have access to every class?! How is that fair?” Max said with a groan.

“Well, I also have every living being in seven worlds after me, trying to kill me. So it evens out.”

Max gave a little chuckle at that, “True.”

“Can I take over your body again? I’d really like to talk to people. Not that you aren’t a great person to speak to, it’s just that you seem to be ignoring me, and it’s bothersome,” Wrath asked, and Ford looked at her and shook her head, no.

Then she asked, “What class did you get?”

“I got my creation class just like I wanted,” Max said. Then she looked down and started to sob. Ford stopped walking and was about to ask what was wrong when Max said, “Sorry, sorry. I just…I just need a moment.”

“You miss your family?” Ford said, stepping in front of Max.

She nodded and said, “I do miss them, and I know they aren’t coming back this time or any time.” Max began to cry even harder now.

Ford pulled her in close and hugged her letting her cry into Ford’s chest as she said, “I’m sorry. If I could do something to help, I would, but,” Ford lost the words.

“Actually, you can?” Wrath chimed in. Ford looked at her quizzically and waited for Wrath to elaborate. Wrath sighed and said, “Look at the end of the quest, you can wish for anything you want, yeah? Why not wish for all the people who died during the quest to be brought back.”

Ford perked up at this and said, “Yeah, I can do that?”

“Do what?” Max asked between sobs.

“I can bring back your family and everyone who has died during this quest.”

Max pushed away from Ford and whipped her eyes dry as she asked, “How will you do that?”

“I have a quest to complete seven dungeons on all seven worlds. I finish the dungeons I get one wish. I can wish for anything, including bringing back your family.”

Max’s eyes widened, “You can do that?”

“Yes, won't be any trouble at all.”

“But-”

“But nothing, it’s my wish, and I will spend it as I please.”

Max’s eyes started to water again as she sobbed, “Thank you. Thank you.”

Ford chuckled as she pulled Max in for another hug, “Now, now. You can stop crying. I’m getting all wet.”

Max pounded her fist against Ford's chest again and chuckled as she said, “Your clothes could use a wash anyways.”

“True,” Ford admitted.

After a moment, Wrath spoke up, “Great. You got the girl. Can we find our team now?”

“Right, we should keep moving,” Ford said and continued walking. All the while continuing to hold Max’s hand.

***

After about half an hour of walking, Ford spoke in chat again, “Is anyone out there? Hello?”

“WHERE IN THE BLOODY BLAZIN’ HELL HAVE YOU BEEN!?” Lilly yelled over comms making Ford and Max wince.

“Hey, Lilly,” Max said.

“MAX! Ye’re okay?!”

“I’m alive thanks to Ford, but not okay,” Max said.

“Where is everyone?” Ford asked.

“We’re in a clearing and setting up camp right now,” Ee said.

“Right, where is the clearing?”

“I don’t know. Within a kilometer of you,” Ee said, very annoyed.

“Oh, there you are,” one of the Twins said.

“I’m coming to get you,” said the other Twin.

“Okay, which one are you?”

“Mizu.”

Max spoke aloud, “Who’s Mizu?”

“Um, he’s a demon Imp.”

“He’s a demon?” Max asked, slight panic in her voice.

“Yeah, but they’re good guys.”

“Hey, Ford, who’s the hot chick next to you?” one of the Twins asked.

“I don’t know, but I’d bang her,” said the other Twin, which got a laugh from them.

“Which one of you said that?” Ford asked, then reconsidered, “know what, never mind. I’ll just kill you both.”

“I can kill them now if ye want,” Lilly stated.

“No killing your team,” Max interjected.

“She’s going to suck all the fun out of this quest, isn’t she?” Wrath asked as she sat down and waited for Mizu.