Bob watched Mathew and his crew leave his zone. The one place he worked hard for the most. Yet that man seemed to want to take it from him.

“How did that man live? I sent one of my strongest creations to kill him before he became a problem! I’m just thankful he was attacked before that contract. Otherwise, I would have been ruined. I suppose fate still smiles down at me.”

Not allowing himself to think about it more, he waited. As soon as the group was out of sight from his position on top of the mall, he quickly went to one of his more trusted people to inform them he was going to blow off steam and kill more undead and ensure there wasn’t another horde hidding nearby.

This wasn’t an uncommon lie for him to tell them. As always, voiced wishes of him bringing help were spoken. Bob ignored them all.

He left through one of the smaller, lesser known ways out of his zone. It cuts through the security guard section of the mall. He quickly ran through the grindlike city, and soon ended up at the twelve story shelter. The same first earthly structure he saw when he walked out of his dungeon.

He walked straight through the horde that guarded the entrance. Undead continued to wander in and out of the Dungeon. He has been very very fortunate. After the first few humans entered his Dungeon, he was ecstatic to learn their deaths counted as a win for him.

Leaving it to him not buying the protection package is actually a blessing for him. Worries that this planet had some form of fighters and casters before The System claimed it almost made him not come.

However, threats of execution for his crimes back on his home planet were obviously much worse. So much so, he spent every UC he had to buy a ticket to this new planet. At first, he simply was going to leave his Dungeon, and try to blend in. Start life over. Now?

Now, he was on the path to become a powerful cultivator! He never could have imagined the number of undead under his control that he has now. Before, he could only risk a few to protect him, or carry out manual labor. After coming here, he can have as many as he wants.

He made his way deeper into his labyrinth of a Dungeon. The entire place was mapped to his liking. After the dozen failed attempts to fight him off fueled his upgrades. The System was not belevenent. Either a single person or a whole team, it didn’t matter. The rewards were the same each time.

If the groups that tried to fight him now entered when he first appeared, then he wouldn’t stand a chance. Now he was easily on par with a Beginner tiered Dungeon. Maybe even an Apprentice one. Not a well established one, one of the simplest and cheapest ones.

He made it to the end of the maze where the Dungeon Core sat. He harvested the growing Mana Cores and carried them to his work table and sat them down. “I need a new monster, one to take both Mathew and Leo out. I can kill Tyrone easily enough. Leave it to my luck that someone with divine powers found my Dungeon. It was to be expected when people fight my undead, but one of his caliber isn’t what I expected.”

He opened the menu and pursued his options as he walked to where he kept a few of his possessions. “Not to mention that blasted lawyer. The Council shouldn’t even have any reach here! It’s an unclaimed planet with no representatives! Then suddenly a Summoner appears, who is a HC owner, on top of everything else who can make sanctioned contracts. It’s not fair!”

Grabbing one of his precious books from his old teacher, he flipped through the pages looking for what he needed. “If he wants to try and limit my powers, he has another thing coming. I don’t buy his act. He is up to something, and I need to end him sooner than later, but how? I sent my second strongest meathead at him. A mage who won against my sole anti mage brute! He must have that wolf up to at least Apprentice rank. His Familiar shouldn’t be that strong, they rarely are stronger than the Summoner. Even if he was lucky with The System giving him an Infernal type. Infernal is something I can work against, not whatever Leo has.”

Bob paced back and forth in his workshop. “What to make…”

He thought back to Leo and his weapon. A fusion of both civilized weapons and the technical kind. He loathed the guns and cybernetics in his zone. Yet, it was to ensure divine or holy users occur less often. He needs to reach Level 20, acquire the last spell he needs, then he can stop the charades. “I’m almost there. Gathering ambient experience through my undead is tedious, but safe. One more horde with a few deaths can do it for me. Can I even risk it?”

As if The System heard him, an all too familiar blue screen appeared in front of him.

Area/Personal Quest: King of the City

A new Earth group has shown up and threatens your Dungeon. This is the final quest, one side will walk away as the victor. Conquer all others and ensure your place on this planet. Lead your undead army to victory. Conquer the other Safe Zone, and push out Blue Oaks’ people.

New Watago Hearth Crystal Claimed: 0/1

Blue Oaks’ Representatives Eliminated: 0/3

Rewards:

External Dungeon Privileges

Crime Record Expunged

60,000 UC

Title: Death Knight

“So it seems fate is tired of waiting.” Bob paused on a page in his book. “Something they both seem to have in common is they focus on the body and mind. What if…” His train of thought turned to a silent debate to himself. Almost afraid of speaking it aloud, as if The System would punish him for even considering it.

It was unorthodox to attempt his plan. The rewards were high, but the risks were higher. Yet, with the rewards looming over him, he could do it. He would have attempted it just to finally have peace and quiet to finish gaining the last few levels he needed to rank up. Now, with a new title on the line? Nothing would stop him.

Bob sat the book down at the table and started to get to work. Even if he cripled himself now, he could easily fix it before the damage was too much. It’s not like he had anything else to do. This was the end of the line for him. Do or die. And as a Necromancer, he knew a thing or two about death.

Mathew sipped his tea as he looked over the quest he was given. It was another quest that essentially gave him all benefits for things he was going to do anyways. Granted, the extent of which he had to go was not what he had in mind.

Area/Personal Quest: Diplomatic Choices

As a third party in an ever growing conflict, you have no stake in this quest. However, if you outshine all involved parties, you will potentially gain all potential rewards either side would gain. Rewards are based on performance. This quest is unique to you as a Hearth Crystal owner. All others will have a generalized version.

Resolve the growing tensions, and take what should be yours.

Undead Dungeon Defeated: 0/1

-

New Watago Allianced: 0/1

Or

Fuck The System Allianced: 0/1

-

Rewards for aiding either zone:

25,000 UC

Papriko’s Charm

Potential Bonus Rewards:

125,000 UC

An Upgraded Class upon ranking up

Quiq Spear

A unique building added to Blue Oaks

“Tomorrow is when we strike.” Mathew said to Leo, who was deep into his second cup of coffee. Apparently higher stats made you less susceptible to a drug like caffeine. Then again, Mathew knew higher tiered materials existed thanks to the Dungeon Rewards from both the Dino one and the Infernal one.

“I’m game. What’s the plan? I know why a day early, but you are going to need to explain it to Henderson.” Leo asked.

“This evening backup arrives from Blue Oaks. We knock on the doors to both zones. Either they help, or we nullify the contracts and hang them out to dry. We easily over power both zones. We could also use the slaves and undead in New Watago as propaganda for both zones. For ‘Fuck the System’, we use that to rally them on our side and take over New Watago, or liberate them from a leadership that uses such poor resources.”

“I’m still going to kill that Tyrone guy, even if he helps. Slavery is a no go Mathew. Don’t let me catch you using slaves.”

“We already talked that out earlier. Indentured servitude is not off the table still. Since people can just lie about the UC they own, it’s hard to force monetary payments. It also will be hard to enforce laws. Using my contracts to ensure people don’t step out of line is to aid in preventing such tasteless punishments. Then again, if they are too strong to keep in line, we just kill them probably. Imagine someone of your power, but using it for evil. Could you ensure they stayed in a jail cell? Shit, even I bent the steel bars, and that was several levels ago for me.”

Leo huffed heavily, agitated by the topic. “We can burn that bridge when we cross it. Right now, I can finally do what I wanted since this shit show started.”

Mathew was curious about Leo. Ever since the quest popped up, his old partner has seemed…excited? Mathew knew that wasn’t the right emotion. It was closer to a mix of surprise and pleasure. As if whatever The System promised was more than what Leo ever could have expected.

There was also Leo’s god Mathew needed to consider. He knew Leo swore eternal service to his god, but not what that entails. He hoped Leo knew what he was doing. Mathew barely trusted Gaia. That was only because he trusted The Council to keep The System in line. Gaia issued a quest through The System. Until proven otherwise, Mathew saw no reason to not trust that Gaia would hold up her side of the deal.

“So we go in, kick ass, train for the World Quest, then kick more ass? I can’t complain. Who are we all bringing?”

Mathew reread the quest, giving it more consideration of what he needed to do. “Essentially everyone. A small team will remain outside the portal to prevent anyone coming in from behind, either undead or unsavory people. Then we go in, clear the place out, you will kill whatever is in charge of the place, and reap the rewards. Our main goal is to have both zones under the Blue Oaks banner, and claim the Dungeon Core. How we do it, I don’t care.”

Leo nodded, “Let’s go tell the others while we wait.”

Once alone, Mathew activated his [Share Sense] ability. He rarely uses it, yet this was the tenth time today he has. He’s been keeping track of Agnox for the past day. Finally his familiar had returned back, and was ontop of his roof.

Mathew went to the roof using a ladder on the outside of the building and saw Agnox lying on the edge of the building looking out. “So, plan on telling me where you’ve been the past day? I half thought you ran away.”

“Scouting, exploring, maybe doing a little fighting on my own.” Agnox said nonchalantly. “I thought you had that ability to see what I see, or did you forget?”

Mathew rolled his eyes. “Did you at least get anything out of it?”

“Nothing important for myself. However, there was a certain figure I saw running around on his own. A bald man with a wooden staff.” Agnox said with a sly grin.

Mathew smiled back, “Do tell…”

It was several hours later before the trucks all came rolling in front of Mathew’s old place of business. Henderson stepped out of the lead truck and looked up at the building. “Huh, I think I knew someone who came here actually. I never put two and two together that this was your business.”

“What did you expect?” Mathew asked curiously.

“Your face on a large billboard, bright flashing lights, maybe a secretary with large boobs.”

Mathew coughed lightly into his fist. He did have an attractive secretary at one point. However he never gave her a second thought since that first night. Either she was dead, or doing great. Her well being wasn’t his responsibility, even more so now.

“Right, I have some class, Henderson. Get a rotation established and meet me in my office. It will be cramped with the main crew, but that’s where we will go over the plan.”

There wasn’t enough room for everyone in Mathew’s building. Some people set up tents or sleeping bags in other neighboring buildings. A small rotation of guards was set up, and morning came too fast for some people.

Mathew dressed himself out ready for war. His leather armor was donned under his robes. All of his summons were out, and his soul bonded rod was in his hand. Mathew wanted to experiment with his newest skill upgrade, but didn’t have time to. It was a long night of discussion.

The teams would split up. Leo would lead a force to Bob’s people. There he would share the information Agnox found out about the slaves, and publicly force Bob to join them, or stand against them. From there, he would march everyone to New Watago. Either by then Mathew had their people on his side, or he was still standing outside their gates.

If another sizable army showed up, then New Watago would be pressured to surrender. Mathew honestly doubted Tyrone would surrender his smidge of power. He would force everyone to attack him more than likely.

A very small part of him hoped Tyrone would attack him, invoking the contract’s clause. After all, attacking Blue Oak’s leader unprovoked would just hand him ownership of the zone right then and there. Then again, he would rather not be attacked at all.

The small army that walked behind Mathew gave him a new emotion. These were his people. They might not literally die for him, but they at least trusted him enough to not lead them astray. There was a feeling of pride that he’s never felt before. Mathew was not their king, but he imagined this was how it felt like to be one.

Once they reached the bridge a familiar voice shouted from behind a car. “Mathew, you said you were trading items, not bringing an army here.”

“My friend Q! We are coming with both the carrot and the stick for Tyrone. I hope he can see me today, you saw the Area Quest right?”

“That I did. Are you all here to help us?” Q asked, seeming hopeful.

“I am here to end the undead plague. With everyone working together, it will be over. Just two days ago I killed a lieutenant of the dungeon. An undead hulking giant. They are on their backfoot, and now is the time to strike them.”

Q let out a whistle, “If that’s true, then you are right. I’ll walk with you back to the town. I suggest leaving the big guns behind though, the guards might be a bit jumpy.”

Mathew nodded in agreement. “Of course. Also can you send a runner to gather everyone and Tyrone? We are in a rush obviously.

Q looked at another scout, said something, and the man ran off across the bridge.

The man walked out and shook Mathhew’s hand “I didn’t know you had another little flying critter. He new?”

“Something like that. Now, tell me, how's Tyrone been the past few days?”

“All normal until yesterday with the quest. We’ve been gearing up to defend our place in case the other guys attacked. What version do you have? Is it the same as ours?”

Mathew raised an eyebrow, “What does yours say?”

“Two part quest. Killing as many undead and removing the Dungeon core, and to help Tyrone attack the other group. Doesn’t mention Blue Oaks or you at all.”

“Mine’s similar, same thing with the undead, but nothing about attacking another zone.” He half lied.

Q let out a sigh of relief. “That’s good news. With all those people behind ya, I was afraid for the worst.”

Once the gate to New Watago was in sight, Mathew saw a few extra guards, including Tyrone. He was standing with his spear out and ready.

“Mathew, I hope you are not here to attack us.” Tyrone shouted out.

Mathew cupped his hands to shout back, “The opposite actually! I am here to recruit, and help you finish off the undead problem. I told you it would be a week, sorry it’s a little earlier than expected.”

He took steps closer to not having to shout, “Why don't we go inside? I have a few trucks full of food, supplies, and people who wish to do business with your shop. Paying the tax rates of course.”

Tyrone narrowed his eyes. “What are you really after? Here to steal my Hearth Crystal or something? Similar quest that I have for that Bob fellow?”

“Actually, I am here to work with you!” Mathew blatantly lied. “The other group refuses to use magic, and when I talked to them, their leader was against fighting the undead. He is a coward, and afraid of you. He actually asked me to ‘take care of you’ as if you were some rabid dog.”

“No shit, he said that? Fuck that, I’ll kill him myself.” Tyrone’s grip around his spear tightened up. “Alrighty Mathew, get your guys in here. I am rallying my people up now actually. If you have any advice or want to share weapons, now is the time. If you help me come out on top, I might consider joining as a full ally. So long as I remain in charge of this place that is.”

Mathew smiled. “I actually want to share that one of the Dungeon’s second in command was killed a few days ago by myself and my team.”

“Wait, there are more than normal undead?”

Mathew nodded, “Exactly. Most Dungeons simply have a boss and common normal monsters inside. However, the stronger ones can have generals or second in command. A giant frankenstein type beast attacked me just a day after talking to you.”

Tyrone stuck out a hand to shake and Mathew did exactly that. He leaned close and whispered in the man's ear. “Now, on the down low, I want to speak to your people as well as mine. Rile them up, get that motivation going. With us working together, your security as leader is solid. No need to worry about your position, it’s safe so long as we work together. I realized you are vauled more to me as you are now, than an underling.”

Nodding back, “I appreciate you understanding. Maybe I was a bit harsh on you at first. Is your leader of Blue Oaks coming as well?”

“He will not worry. You can meet him face to face very soon.” Mathew looked back to everyone as they started to file in. Mathew noted a small select few had seemed to break from the group. Agnox included in that.

“Perfect. Hopefully Q didn’t notice the few missing people. I just need to stall.”