After butchering the town’s largest gang at the Midnight Star, Jules Gailen had found it increasingly hard to slake his bloodlust. He had killed ten more times in the twenty-four hours since then, and he hadn’t leveled once, or felt much of a rush of vitality at all. He had the Watch on a manhunt, putting every man they had on patrol and investigation, trying to catch him.

He decided, after about three minutes of thinking, that he would hunt down and slaughter every member of the Lakeside Watch. Surely then he’d feel the rush again!

His first target was a pair of younger guardsman, fresh faces, who were out on patrol for the night shift in a shadier neighbourhood. The two were commiserating as he approached.

“Hello, sirs. Nice night, isn’t it?”

“Uh, sir, there’s a curfew, what with the murderer about. We need you to head back home before you get yourself into trouble.”

“Alright, alright.” In a flash, Gailen had sprinted forward and slammed his knife through the first guard’s throat, then twisted, grabbed the secon guard, and snapped his neck. The rush, faint, coursed through him. “Thanks for the snack.” Gailen said, smiling from ear to ear. He withdrew the knife, and heard that wonderful sound.

Level 17!

Talent — gained!

Talent — gained!

So it takes twelve kills now. Just two levels ago, a sixth of the effort had been required. It seemed that it was getting substantially more difficult for him to level. So he got to work.

Over the next two days, he butchered every Watch guard he could find. He had done some recon; the was over one hundred and fifty members strong. After he’d slaughtered three more pairs of guards, they started patrolling in groups of four. That just gave him a more enjoyable challenge.

Level 18!

Level 19!

By the end of the third day of hunting the Watch, he’d cut their numbers in half. They were out by the dozen with torches and blades the next night, hunting for him with an almost manic fervor. He was destabilizing everything; causing rampant death and pain. He needed to be stopped, town criers hollered from their stands. They were right. He was a menace, a monster, a blight upon the streets.

And he so very much enjoyed that.

Talent Advancement unlocked!

🠊

On the fourth day, he decided just what he’d do to Advance his Class: kill the of the entire town.