I looked around the courtyard at everyone that had frozen. Some of those that were still in line and exiting the chain-length fence had looks of shock on their faces while others looked at the ground and wouldn’t make eye contact. The group of only demons and demons with the single wizard had open mouths from the initial shock. That lasted only a moment as they moved in unison to attack. I watched all the demons move toward me as the wizard withdrew slightly. I kept an eye on the wizard as I was more interested in the wizard and kept some of my attention on him as he started to cast a spell that I soon recognized.

The First group of demons reached me and started clawing and biting me. One even tried to use a spitting acid attack. I allowed the attacks to get through as my health regeneration and chaos negated their attacks if I wasn’t immune to them. The Wizard called,” Now!” and all the demons drew back as the wizard cast a Timestop spell centered on me. I froze. Not because the spell had worked, my immunity was soul-based, this pissant wasn’t going to be able to catch me with a Timestop spell. A Demi-God or God might but a recently dead mage, please.

As I froze the demons circled me outside of the Timestop bubble as the Wizard started walking toward me, “In the End all bow down before Anthrax,” The wizard said addressing the crowd. “Whether you serve him directly or through another that serves another servant of my master. Your lives are now his to do with as he pleases. This one,” he said pointing at me, “Thought that he was high and mighty. This one will now be cursed to die every time he comes to this courtyard until he is only level one. Then maybe we shall let him start crawling his way back up. Behold and witness this man’s demise!”

I had to admit, that would definitely get any doubters in line. Too bad such a speech was going to backfire on him in just about three seconds. The Wizard stepped into the bubble of time stop, completely immune to the effects of the caster, and drew a dagger with a black jewel on it. I used Analyze on the Dagger

Dagger of the Unliving

This dagger was created in the forges of Hades. Any creature struck by this dagger will die upon entering the Courtyard of Choice and be resurrected at the spawn point in Hades. This curse remains active until the cursed target reaches level 1. Additionally, all experience and divinity points lost in Hades upon death are doubled from 1% to 2%

Well damn, that sucked. Losing 2% of my experience over and over…it would take a very long time for me to reach level one. A really long time. For lower levels, 100 for instance, it would take roughly 856 days to be reduced to less than 1,000 XP which would be level 1. While I would still have 7.22E+13 XP that would continue to be reduced by 1%. I wouldn’t drop below 1,000 XP until day 3,803 days or roughly 10.4 years or 159 days back home. 3,803 Deaths! Yeah, that wasn’t in my future.

I had my chaos spread out at ground level and infiltrate the wizard as he came closer. I had complete control of his body when he stepped up to me, positioned the knife just below my throat as he said, “Now, you will die,” and froze.

“What the fuck man? I asked as I stepped back and walked around the wizard, “Are you plagiarizing all the good lines from Return of the Jedi or what?” He didn’t answer, I’d frozen his ability to control his body, but he could still see me when I passed in front of him and hear me. I stayed inside the time-stop bubble and took advantage of my captive audience and everyone else. I asked, “What did you all think of this Emporer of Palpatine’s level speech?”

Only one person answered from the top of the chain-link fence channel, “It was crap!” a fellow called out in a Scottish accent.

“I know, right?” I said which had the desired effect. Every demon around the Time Stop bubble jumped at me and froze as they came into contact with the bubble. “Too easy,” I said as I took the knife and stabbed each of the demons for exactly 1 point of damage. Each of the Demons popped as soon as they took damage. I guess that curse was no joke.

I addressed the crowd, now that the hunters for those that hadn’t pledged were all dead, “I’d get the line moving people. I don’t know how long it’ll be before someone else shows up to take their turn and after I deal with this guy, I will be heading out too. Places to go, People to see, and all that.”

The line started moving again as I moved over in front of the Wizard. I guess it’s your unlucky day. Maybe there’s a lesson here for you?” I asked rhetorically as I used Analyze on him

Jesper, Level 4697 level Wizard.

I looked at Jesper as his eyes focused on me. His eyes were the only thing he was controlling presently, “Jesper, is it? Well, Jesper, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that you probably won’t ever have to see me again, for a while at least. What’s the bad news? I knew you were going to ask that. The bad news is that you’ll probably be level one if we do,” I said as I used Dagger of the Unliving to prick his throat for exactly one point of damage and he popped just like the demons had. That was a nasty dagger. As Jesper popped the Time Stop bubble dropped I put the dagger in my personal storage for safekeeping. and I started walking towards the tunnel that led out of the Courtyard.

When I exited the tunnel with the others with me I looked around and found that we were all in a park of some kind. Around the entrance were clothes vendors selling t-shirts, sweats, simple dresses, and the like. I didn’t need clothes, but I was curious how they sold clothes to naked people just arriving naked, in most cases, with nothing on them.

“Sir, do you need something? Individuals that are clothed should make their way to the end of the park. A shifty-looking weasel of a man with greedy eyes said to me.

“I’m new to the place, how exactly do new people that need clothes, get clothes?”

“New, you say? Well, everything in the city runs on coin or experience. You see that building over there, “he said pointing to what looked like an old-fashioned bank with tellers. You can exchange experience for currency.”

“What’s the exchange rate?” I asked

“Depends on where you go and who you pledged yourself to. That building over there has an exchange rate of 10 XP for 1 dollar. As for my clothes. There are a few booths around here that give new pledges one set of clothes then they’re sent off to report in and start serving their master.”

“What happens to those that don’t buy clothes?” I asked.

“See for yourself,” he said motioning for me to come to look at a little screen he had running under his counter. They run the service on cable. Those that don’t buy clothes are rounded up and turned into sex slaves for whoever catches them first. Male, or female, doesn’t matter. Race either. The Catchers, as we call them go after anyone that doesn’t have clothes on. They’re also really careful not to kill them. “

“Why is that?”

“Cause if they die, they come back in day remembering, and this time they might pledge. Those that are not pledged are fair game, those that have pledged their loyalty are not,” he said.

“How do you tell if we’re pledged or not?” I asked.

“Most of us have a spell on us, either cast or granted by an item we’re wearing that lets us identify those that are pledged right away. I know you’re not pledged. I also know what you did to the hunting party inside because I happened to be watching that channel when it happened, just in case you’re wondering why I’m behind so nice to you. My reason is simple, pure self-interest. Figured if I’m nice to you, you might not pop me like a balloon.”

“No worries there, I only go after those that attack me?”

“Good to hear!” He said with a smile, “Now if you want to watch what happens to those that are picked up there are other channels that put out what happens to them.”

“How long does that go on for?” I asked.

“Well, you know where you are, what else are you going to do? Eventually, everyone figures out that they must play by the rules, or the rules will force them to start all over and play by them anyway. Just better to play by the rules from the start and retain some of your experience and powers from your mortal days, am I right?”

“That does make sense. Tell you what, do you take cash payment for information?

“Sure?” where are you going to get cash from?

“The bank teller of course,” I said.

“But their rates?”

“Are fine, be back in a minute,” I said as I walked over to the line for the bank teller.

There weren’t very many people in line. The man in front of me was grumbling enough to hear, “That’s the last time I play Russian Roulette with a damn gnomish gunslinger. I swear his guns knew it was him and wouldn’t fire when he pulled the trigger on himself. That set me back and now I have to spend more experience to buy some clothes. I definitely don’t want to get on Bubba’s list?”

I knew I shouldn’t, but I had to ask, “Sorry couldn’t help but overhear you. I’m new to the area, who or what is Bubba’s list?”

“Something you won’t have to worry about this time, being fully clothed and all but I’ll tell you what, you pull enough money out for me to get clothes, and a place to stay for the night, and I’ll tell you,” he said.

“Will a thousand be enough?” I asked.

“That’ll do friend, let’s switch places so you can get your money and I’ll let tell you what Bubba’s list is after you pay me.”

We switched places and I was called up to a window, “Arm Please,” the teller behind a pane of glass asked.

I held my Arm out wrist down, which she rotated until my wrist was facing up. She took out a circular pendant, pressed it to my skin and glyph took hold.

The Banking Glyph of Hades has been added to your inventory and is represented by a glyph that is visible on your right forearm. Should you ever leave Hades the Glyph will disappear. Upon your return to Hades, the glyph will reappear.

“That’s odd, “she said”

“What’s odd?”

“You didn’t have a glyph, but my system reads as if you are a platinum-level customer.”

“What does that mean?” I asked.

“That means that your account is effectively unlimited. How much would you like to withdraw for this area? Also, as a newly glyphed individual, I am supposed to explain that most establishments pull directly from your Banking Glyph. We recommend that you carry some loose change but shy away from carrying around huge sums of money that will make you a target.”

“I think I’ll be fine. Please pull out a $1,000 for my friend here and a million for myself.”

“Very well sir,” the teller said placing $1,000 on the counter and a wedge of money from a storage location of some kind.

I touched the wedge of money and transferred it to my storage location. My soul ability may be able to create the cash, but I figured it’d be better just to use their money and the Banking Glyph, “Thank you I said, as I picked up the thousand and handed it to the guy behind me, “Here you go,” I said.

“You weren’t kidding were you?”

“Nope”

“Okay then, for $1,000 I’m going to give you some info, free of charge. Well, it wasn’t free, but you know what I mean”

“I get it, and if you think there’s anything you think I should know seek me out, I’ll pay for information at whatever the going rate is, plus 10%”

“You’ve got a deal! My name is Timmy by the way!”

“Nice to meet you Timmy, no one around here likes to give out their names?” I asked

“Just the way it is around here If there’s no profit in the action why bother? I‘d be stupid not to take the offer you made, you’ve been friendly, and you kept your word, so you get my name. I’m still being selfish, but I don’t see it as a bad selfishness.

“I see your point. Now you were going to tell me about Bubba and something else.

“Bubba is a Male porn star from back on Earth. It all started when he went to jail and started raping men in the shower,”

“Are you telling me there is an actual Bubba based on all the jokes about ‘You’re going to go to jail and be Bubba’s best friend’” That bubba?”

“Yep, that Bubba. Anyway, he got such a taste for it in the real world that he and his crew go after any males that try to leave the park without clothes on. They have a warehouse somewhere where it’s just Bubba or one of his goons breaking in fresh meat. Eventually, the old ones drop away. Personally, I think he watches the ratings of his show and drops anyone that isn’t drawing any attention to his channel.”

“I take it there are channels concerning all forms of debauchery throughout the place.”

“This is New York, circa 2,000 before the towers fell. Hades is huge and there are many regions within Hades. This region is mirrored after Earth, the whole planet. Other regions exist as well as the outland areas where only the demons and fiends exist.”

“I was wondering why it wasn’t hot here. This is one of the lower planes after all?”

“There are places that are made up of Volcanos for as far as the eye can see but I’ve only ever been there once.”

“Anything else?” I asked.

“No one has permanent residence anywhere unless they’ve staked it out. You’ll need to find yourself a hotel or house that you can afford to rent while you’re here. Houses are more expensive and away from the city proper while Apartments will keep you close to the action.”

“Thanks for the info,” I said. I have one more question, if you have the information it’s worth another $1,000 to me. If you don’t that’s fine but after today any information you bring me regarding his subject will be worth ten times as much to me.

“What is it?”

“I’m looking for a bloke by the name of Apolyn?”

“Seriously?”

“You know the name?”

“Who doesn’t know that name? He has his own channel called Apolyn’s Parlor. It’s basically a 24/7 infomercial. Around the clock, this channel describes how anyone can become a wizard and that as a minor deity he is willing to grant divinity points for those that pledge themselves to him.”

“That sounds pretty standard,” I said.

“It is for the Minor Deities or Deities; they have enough pledged to them that they can award some of their energy to others so they can cast spells.”

“How expensive is it to use spells?”

“Compared to mana cost, not expensive at all. It takes one DP plus the normal mana cost to be able to cast any spell of any level.”

“Simple and effective,” I said

“What was that? Timmy asked.

“Nothing,” I said pulling out another $1,000 from the million I had in my storage. “Is Apolyn in this Region?”

“No, he’s a new lesser Deity. By Decree, all new Deities must find their own Regions”

“How do I get to his region?”

“One way would be to pledge yourself to him. Otherwise, you need to buy transport to the region either by teleport or by ship.

“What kind of ship?”

“Whichever kind the pilot you hire is using. Just a heads up, new deities that arrive have regions that are the farthest away from the center so it’s going to cost a lot of time and money to get there.”

“So why is Apolyn getting all of this attention?” I asked.

“First, he’s a lesser deity. Second, he offered up a tier system for anyone pledging to him. The first 100 received 1 DP a day for spell casting. The next 900 receive 1 DP a week and everyone else receives 1 DP a month. People were rushing to be in the first 1,000.” Timmy said.

“So why didn’t you pledge to him?” I asked.

“His first commercial aired right after I went to sleep. When I woke up, eight hours had already passed. There was no way I was getting into the first 100 which would have been a better situation than I’m in right now. Two tiers. I make enough money daily to purchase DP if I want to cast a spell.”

“Wait you can just go purchase DP?”

“Sure, Deities need money here too. Everyone pays here. I’ll admit I get a better exchange rate from Charlie; the Major Demon I’m pledged to here. Everyone else just tries to rob me.”

“Demons generate DP as well, I thought that was only divines?”

“Okay, big rule not to forget. Drop the word Divine and just use the word Demon. There are no Divines in Hades. Neophytes are referred to as Lesser Deities. Demi-Gods are referred to as Minor Deities and Anthrax who is a Demon God is also referred to as the Lord of Hades or The Deity of Hades, because there is only one. Deities in Hades generate Demon Points. Below Lesser Deities four other types of demons can generate Demon Points or convert their experience into Demon Points. There are two levels of Major Demon, Rank 1 and Rank 2. Next are Arch Demons. Finally, you have Demon Lords. None of them are even close to the power level of the Deity of Hades but they are far more powerful than mortals.”

“Do they have an equivalent power level to the transcendent of the mortal realms?” I asked.

“You know about the Transcendent?” Well sure. Major Demons of Rank 1 are equivalent to those with a soul of Transcendent power. Rank 2 would be Sage level. Arch demons are equivalent to Seers and Demon Lords are equal to Prophets. As far as I know, there are no demon ranks that are equal to Saints.”

I searched my memory, Apolyn would have a Rank Disparity of 1.0E+100 while Demon Lords would have a Rank Disparity of 1.0E+11. So, except for the Deities in this Layer, I shouldn’t have any problems. That was good to know. I looked at Timmy, pulled out another $10,000, and handed it to him as his eyes lit up, “That is for being proactive and giving me information that I needed and would have wasted a lot of time trying to find.” I said.

“No problem, glad to be of help. I’ve made more money talking to you than I lost before I died this last time. I’ll be able to get a nice place to sleep for a couple of weeks for sure now.”

“I think I’m about done here Timmy; I’m going to keep moving before the people that come to check out why so many non-pledges are making it out of the spawn tunnel”

“It’s called the Tunnel of Souls. That info is on the house. You’ll be able to find a taxi or walk if you want when you get to the edge of the part if you wish.

If this area was comparable to New York then I must be in the North Woods and Central Park North was only about 500 feet away. I looked back to the cave entrance and realized that the park was still behind the cave entrance, it had just been a portal entrance out of a cave near the northeast side o the Great Hill. I stepped back from Timmy walked over to the vendor and put $1,000 on his counter, “Thanks for answering my questions earlier,” I said.

“No problem, I always have time for big spenders,” the weaselly-looking man said.

I turned and started walking northeast towards the street. Trees were thicker and taller, but I soon came to the entrance that came out on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd into something I was not expecting.

This Region of Hades was a place of contrasts. Police-style meat wagons and crews of people and small demons were corralling all the naked people that were stepping out of the park.

As I came up to the crosswalk I heard one of the humans corralling the naked people into the meat wagons ask one of his buddies, “What the fuck is going on In there. I’ve counted 20 non-pledges so far. We’ve never had that many. We never have any because killing them before they get out is a sport a lot of people pay to take part in.”

I waited for the light then crossed the street and started heading southeast toward Park Avenue. I kept to myself and walked like I had a purpose. When I came up to the Northeast Corner of Central Park and crossed 5th Ave. I watched as people walked up to a turnstile, flashed their banking glyph, and continued Southeast towards Park Ave. I could smell food being cooked and heard the bustle, then was completely awed as a Nightmare, A black horse with flaming red eyes and smoke flowing from its nostrils flew 10 feet overhead being ridding by someone that looked to be in some type of police uniform. I turned to watch as they headed into Central Park.

Park Avenue was only two blocks from 5th Ave. If I’d been on Earth there would have been small businesses here. As it was it looked like this version had been set up with more utility in mind. There was a high-end dining facility with what looked like a huge high-end apartment building behind it. There were also subway entrances where people could be seen entering and exiting the restaurant and hotel. I could even see a raised train line exiting the 10th floor. A perfect mix of Industry and magic.

I flashed my Banking Glyph at the turnstile.

$100 has been deducted from your account, Welcome to Park Avenue. This is considered a Safe Area. You will be charged $100 to remain in this location each day at dawn.

That could get expensive for anyone that didn’t have the experience to sell or an ability like mine. I walked down the street to the restaurant. I might as well check out the local cuisine.