Authors Note: Ok so trying to create a cliffhanger with the MC will not work hehe. I thought it would be fun to try tho :)

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Chapter 26 His name was Scott

“Equip Advanded Marine Rail Rifle.” I call forth. I flick the switch on.

“Equip all advanced Marines Grenade HIGH explosive”

“Equip all Advanced Marine Grenade Phosphorous”

Going all out now, no holding back. “If I am going down I am going out with a bang”

“Equip Advanced Marine Armor Gas Mask”

“Equip 4 Advanced Marine Canister Tear gas”

I am now facing the 8 plus with another 6 following, 8 ft angry Owlbears.

I am grateful they are slow, and prepare the tear gas. I pull the pin and toss the first canisters, followed by the other 3 in quick succession, covering the entire area with a thick cloud of tear and gagging inducing gas. It takes the Owlbears by surprise as they all roar and are disoriented.

I take the first high explosive grenade and toss it into the middle of the Owlbears and crouch.low. The Grenade goes off leaving an enormous crater, the blast wave throws me back 20 meters, bits of Owlbears go flying in all directions, those further away lose some of their limbs. Ok so the radius is larger than I thought, I thought I had figured it out when I used it last time at the School. I toss another High Explosive grenade to finish them off, but my distance is further away. 14 Owlbears are now dead. I figured out the radius of the grenades now.

I take another healing potion to restore my health and begin to jog back to the School. My jog would be about 30mph to the normal person. Along the way I spot a group of Owlbears about 150 meters away, taking the Rail Rifle I take aim at the lead and fire.

I am surprised as the Owlbear is lifted off its feet and sent flying back 30 meters to smash thru the wall of a building. Damn these things are tough. Its feet are sticking out from the hole in the wall unmoving.

As I start to take aim, I notice the sound of the Rail Rifle drew the attention of more and are gathering, I am now facing over 20 of the creatures.

“Equip 4 Adanced Marine Canister Tear gas”

I toss them at the on coming Owlbears, and once again as before they are hit by the gas with satisfying results. I toss 2 more grenades into their midst and 20 more Owlbears are dead.

As I am running then a thought hits me. I slow down to a walk. When it hits me

“What the Fuck is going on?”, I ask. It hit me like lightning. “THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING” I yell up at the sky.

I read thru the Barony title one more time and there, as plain as day, it says no more creatures will spawn in my Jurisdiction!

I then notice the dreaded unread messages.

With reluctance I open them and the first thing I see:

BARONY NOTICE!Due to lack of funds, your Barony has been downgraded

to a 1KM radius until the needed funds can be secured to

reestablish your Jurisdiction.

If the funds are not secured by the end of the month, the Barony will be dissolved.

Days until Funds are due: 14

Funds Due Now: 292g

What is this? Funds already? God damn it you have got be to shitting me, is this some kind of scam?

I look at the date on my watch, it is Thursday April 16th.

I let out a long and exaggerated sigh. I sit down resigned and begin to laugh. At first it is a small laugh, then got more hearty as it went on, then I go into full hysterics of laughter, which soon turns into crying. I stare at the sky, tears rolling down my face. No thoughts comes to mind.

Out of the corner of my eye I see an Owlbear rumbling my way. I lift the Rail rifle with my right arm only pointing it and fire hitting it square in the chest, lifting it off its feet sending it several meters away dead. I toss the Rail Rifle away.

My rage is growing fast. I am beyond pissed now. I see more of the Owlbears in the distance

I tear the Gas mask off my head. Helmet and gas mask go flying. I grab both daggers, one in each hand and slowly walk towards the group. “You want to fuck with me? You really want to fuck with me? Well come and get me you bastards!”, I yell at anyone who will listen. But I am direction my rage at the Owlbears. I allow the darkness to take me, my rage taking over, I welcome it.

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“Scott? Scott? Scott Can you hear me” a voice calls to me. I hear it but I do not want to listen.

“SCOTT SNAP OUT OF IT ALREADY!!” a voice yells to me, and something slaps me. I recognize the voice, it is familiar to me, someone I hold dear to me I think.

I let out a roar at the sky,” FUCK YOU! I WILL NOT BE BEATEN!!!”

Then someone embraces me tightly, I struggle lightly but the smell is familiar and soothes me. A voice says in a soft and loving tone, “Tiger it will be ok, I am here.”

Another voice comes to me, It too, is familiar, “Sweetheart please come back to us, I love you so much, please come back.” Then I feel a second set of arms wrap me from behind and then feel warmth of a body against my back. Another smell I remember, it too brings fond feelings, love? I feel my consciousness slowly returning to me, the darkness is receding. My body begins to go limp and I am supported by the two people holding me up, and they slowly let me sit down on the ground, gently.

“It is ok tiger, we are here for you” the voice says, Cindy I think was her name. Yeah that was it.Then the other has to be Julie? I think to myself as slowly the cobwebs are going away.

“Sweetheart I love you, it is ok, lean on us for once and let us help you.” Says the Julie voice.

“I..I.. Have..to protect...them” I whisper hesitating with each word.

“We are protecting you now Tiger, We love you , so let us protect you too!” and her grip tightens as she begins to cry.

“My eyes clear up. I can see clearly again, no haze or darkness in my mind. I look down and see Cindy snuggled in my chest holding me tightly crying. I feel Julie behind me, she too, griping me tightly.

I look around and see the Sheriff and all of the Elite guards with him, Mackers, Charles and Torrez in heavy bandages are there too. Everyone is looking at me in awe and fright. I look around me more closely. Blood is everywhere. Pools of it cover the ground. I look at myself more closely, and my chest is bare, I can see my knees and feet are also bare. I am naked? I have cuts all over me, but they look to be closing.

“Cindy? Julie?” I ask quietly

Cindy looks up tears coming from her eyes, “Scott?”

“Yeah I am back.” I say finally

“Oh god Scott, we watched you, we wanted to help, but you were too far gone, we could only watch” she cries sobbing.

Julie,then speaks” Scott why? What happened?”

I wanted to speak, but no words came out, I sat there in silence, being hugged by both girls tightly. I really did not know what to say right now.

The Sheriff and the others start to head back to their vehicles, no one says a word leaving the 3 of us alone.

"Should we be sitting here, more of those creatures will come. It is not safe here.” I say looking around and see the others begin to leave, my truck is here.

“No Scott, you took care of that problem. There are no more creatures around.” Julie says in a soft voice” You protected everyone.”

“Scott do you even remember anything?” Cindy asks quietly.

“No not really” I confess.

“Lets go home Scott.” Julie then says.

I could only nod and say “ok”

I get up with the assistance of the 2 girls, then look down and see I am naked. I then say “Equip Preset 1”

NOTICE!No such armor exists in your inventory to fulfill that request

I sigh not caring and we head to the Truck, me being led by the two girls.