Chapter 2:
Chapter 2 Life on the range
My new life in a death game from another world.
Hainley and Emilia are currently walking on a hill in the middle of nowhere during a very cold rainy and windy day and they are following the directions of an old map Emilia has trying to locate a nearby town and when they visit the town the first thing they notice is how very run down and near decript it is and many people there are struggling and malnourished
Hainley: So today’s day 2 of us working together and well its best to get started on what we need to do next.
Emilia: We’ve been circling around here for a few hours now doubt this map is really that accurate.
Emilia: There should be a town nearby where we can resupply.
Hainley: I take it that must be the town.
Emilia: Only a few more footsteps to reach.
Hainley: Marvelous town we’re in.
Emilia: Its no stuffy little bourgeois place but it will have to do for now.
(Hainley observes his surroundings and he sees how rough people really have it. )
Hainley: Man talk about a lowlife. (After he gets a flashback of someone who just spent all day on his computer and is disheveled.)
Emilia: See the sights around here? Place certainly has seen better days huh?
Hainley: All around I see is just filth not just in on the ground but those who walk as well.
Emilia: These poor sods look like they’ve been living like this since the towns inception.
Hainley: Even the supplies sold here aren’t really that great and it looks like this is the last ones that were avaible as well.
(As they plan to leave town they see a big figure and people being pushed aside to the ground.)
(One person looks at him awkardly but runs away in fear rather quickly)
Emilia: I take it that must be the mayor.
Hainley: Pretty big fellow if you ask me. While everyone else is just scraping by with what scrap of bread they have left.
Emilia: Also, pretty funny if you ask me him flaunting all that “gold” so to speak while the common folk here are in rags upon rags as well. Also that hair of his can’t be real either.
Hainley: So he’s a typical politician figures as much not like we’ll get caught up in the local drama here, lets just pick up our supplies and head to the nearby tavern and go.
(As Emelia and Hainley head to the local tavern and as they enter the place looks dusty run down and they are the only customers in the building)
Bartender: Ah new customers come in come in! Plenty of seats to sit on and I've just got a fresh shipment of honey flavored milk coming in today. (He says as the bartender wipes his mug)
Emilia: We’re just only going to be here for the night and we’ll be off.
Bartender: Sure it will only be 500 gold.
Hainley: That excessive i don't expect it to be a rich people place but wouldn't you say thats pretty high for a typical inn?
Bartender: Well since the mayor has heavily taxed us we can only get by through so much.
Emilia: That doesn’t really sound so reasonable what would he really need to tax the populace so heavily for?
Bartender: Simple for his police force you see around here, he likes flaunting off his physical and countries state and he thinks by the way he’s handling this place the weaker people will fall from the state they are in while the strongest will survive.
Emilia: That’s really one twisted way to look at things.
Hainley: It’s a harsh reality of life and well as you can see sadly many innocents don’t really get the justice they deserve in this “life” so to speak we’re in.
Emilia: Even still you don’t have to force your life principals onto others who you don’t agree with.
Hainley: Such as the case for all politicians really.
Bartender: This one however he’s “different” then the common lot its almost like he’s like a demon so to speak as theres no way he could really be that human just a hunch.
Hainley: So he must be that big guy we saw a few moments ago.
Bartender: You can’t forget as well either that the mayor here has a very large appetite hence why he’s not so hard too miss.
Emilia: How long has this been going on for?
Bartender: Ever since he took over from the previous mayor after he was forced to “Step down” due to his age catching up to him.
Emilia: So they couldn’t have picked anyone less corrupt then?
Bartender: Maxmillian that big guy, he’s the strongest out of them all and no one could question him no matter how brave you are.
Hainley: So Maxmillian really relies on strength but nothing else is that it?
Bartender: That’s it and if you can tell by the populace, no one is willing to stand up to him and everyone as you can see are dressed in rags and tattered clothes and theres really nothing but people begging and really working harder than they really should be working all to make it by another day. Nothing is really going to change and at this point we’re now beyond repair to even return back to the normal quiet town we used to be.
Emilia: Well then wouldn’t you say there should be a “change of management” you’d say.
Hainley: I see where you’re going with but do you really think its that good of an idea with what you have in mind.
Bartender: Look if you guys wanna stop him be my guest but be careful no one has lived to tell the tale standing up to Maximillian.
Emilia: We’ll be sure to keep that in mind thanks for that.
Hainley: Since we’re here, we may as well ask information about where we are and what is this place really.
Emila: So what is this town called and what was it like before the mayor took over?
Bartender: This place used to be called Lakeheart but now its called Battlestown hence the contrast to what you see back then to today. Like I mentioned, it used to be a boring peaceful quiet little town where everyone got by and lived their lives with hope and happiness now, its just being on the edge and fear 24/7 no one is safe from Maxmillian’s wrath of any of his “punishments”.
Hainley: There’s also something else to ask as well, what is this place? Not the town but whats the place me and Emilia are in?
Bartender: The world here is called the Infinite dominion. Its called that for its vast never-ending world and for the amount of people and creatures of all kinds living here in this realm.
Aside from the usual rodents like Goblins,rats,bats and trolls. You have much more dangerous beasts like minotaurs,werewolves,Undead those ones are supposedly people who are brought back to dead by the local necromancers and those magic users always have the upper hand against those bandit creeps you keep seeing prey on merchants and travelers. Then there’s also gargoyles and chimera’s as well too be on the look out for nasty beasts those ones are.
Hainley: Yeah I can tell that this world isn’t exactly a place that’s really safe when I got here.
Bartender: You and your partner seem to be able to handle yourselves well so I doubt you’ll have much issue getting around.
Emilia: Is there any other towns aside from here?
Bartender: Sure there’s Godspeak,Nightfall,Fraiserton and Krester I'll mark them down on your map for you so you can know where they are.
Emilia: Much appreciated.
Hainley: So what is your name?
Bartender: Me I'm just a typical bartender that’s all there is to me and I don’t really have a name to go by so people just call me bartender.
Hainley: interesting you’re just another bartender I see?
Bartender: Yep that’s all and I hope I helped to the best of my abilities.
Emilia: I believe that’s all the questions we have to ask.
Bartender: The pleasure is all mine.
Maid: Sir the mayors coming to visit.
Bartender: Oh great you guys you stay put and I'll take care of this.
Hainley: Quick hide. Hainley and Emilia hide behind the walls and overhear the conversation between the mayor and the bartender over the taxes he owes to the mayor.
(The mayor and his men enter breaking down the door and have the place surrounded.)
Bartender: Hey Mr.Mayor how’s it going? I can assure you nothing illicit is going on in this establishment.
Maximillian: Much wonderful as today my tax collection fees are almost at its quota and your place is the last one on my list to visit. Oh sure I believe you as a hyena being a priest your place is the most honest in the infinite domain.
Bartender: So you’re here for the famous honey milk I see? I just got a new batch freshly made today.
Maximillian: I couldn’t care less at all about that swill you call a drink what I’m here for is your gold.
Bartender: Sure just give me a few moments. The bartender purposefully takes as long as possible trying to find the gold he owes and he gives the signal for Hainley and Emilia to escape through the window at the back.
Maximillian: Are you done dilly dallying?
Bartender: Sure here it is.
Maximillian: I see you are a few pieces short of how much you owe.
Bartender: The place just opened up and I could bring in that much customers in during this time of the day.
Maximillian: You dare defy your mayor? Bring him to the gallows and lets make an “Example of him”.
(The mayors men quickly grabs onto the bartender and brings him to the town square but the bartender remains quite calm despite his inevitable fate.)
Maximillian: Any last words you would like to share?
Bartender: Yeah here’s my last words for you. LONG LIVE LAKEHEART AND THE GOOD PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE!!!
Maximillian: Let me be the one to do this as to show the populace that the mayor isn’t afraid to get their hands dirty.
(The executioner throws him to the mayor and the mayor uses his magic just turn him into dust.)
(The bartender is given a swift but clean execution as he sacrifices his life for the heroes and also for the population as a whole for his generosity. )
Emilia and Hainley helplessly watch and Hainley gets another flashback but this one is a funeral proceeding.
Hainley: That pathetic rat.
Emilia: We’ve seen the way his town is being handled but now we’ve seen the way how he handles the towns people and there is no way he can really be seen as “human”.
Hainley: Since he’s shown to use “magic” I think its called he’s not going to go down easy combined with his strength.
Emilia: We’ll wait till nightfall to confront him and put a stop to his nightmare.
Hainley: Yeah that sounds reasonable and no one should really have to put up with his nonsense at all anymore and that goes for all people who live under corrupt politicians like him.
Emilia and Hainley wait until nightfall hiding in the same spot for hours nearby the mayors manor.
Maxmillian comes out of manor and goes out on a walk.
Emilia: There he is.
Hainley: Where is he even going?
Emila: We’ll shadow him until he stops at his destination.
Hainley and Emilia then tail him without him noticing.
Maxmillian stops outside of town at a nearby hill.
Maxmilian: I know you 2 rats are there.
Hainley and Emilia both step out from the shadows to confront Maximillian
Hainley: So Maximillian we meet at last. Hainley then pulls out his sword carefully in case Maximillian tries to attack him.
Maximillian: That sword. He immediately notices the type of sword being drawn out in a shocked tone.
Hainley: What about it?
Maxmillain: Xared is a sword only a hero that is chosen by god himself could only wield it but its not just any weak piece of cockroach that could wield such a weapon.
Hainley: I can handle it quite well I took down a lot of bandits and goblins with it with no form of trouble at all whatsoever.
Maximillian: Those are nothing.
Hainley: It can sure do something you’re the one who just attacks first without asking any questions later.
Maximillian: Better to strike where it hurts than to leave the enemy to make the next move that’s how I look at things.
Hainley: You know no mercy as well I can tell by the way you treated those people and how took out that bartender.
Maximillian: Those people there were really weak and the only purpose they had in life was just to merely waste it away on nothing.
Emilia: Those people you had were scared and they were doing everything they could to get by and that’s a good enough reason for them to live to me.
Maximillian: Arrogance as that shall be ones own downfall and one can tell its used a projection.
Hainley: Says you at least I can boast about my own abilities and I don’t start fights for fun like you would do.
Maximillian: Enough its time for you rats to die!!!
Maxmillian strikes at them but Hainley dodges pretty quickly and Emilia casts a lighting spell at him but it barely causes a scratch. Maximillian then casts a darkness spell back at Emilia but Emilia casts a barrier and it effectively blocks out the attack then Hainley appears to strike him from the back but Maximillian dodges the attack and he strikes back at Hainley leaving a heavy punch. Hainley gets hit badly but shakes it off in a few seconds and as Maximillian attacks repeatedly his weak core in his chest is exposed and is exhausted and Hainley takes this change to deliver the final blow swiftly and Maxmillian feels it heavily in his chest and he crutches to his wound and he falls down to the ground as he finally falls he breathes his final words.
Maxmillian: Judgement week barely just started and here I have finally fallen to two rats.
Hainley: What do you even mean by judgement week?
Maxmillian: You only 7 have 7 days and you’re already in day 2 of judgement week. Those who survive will meet the grand guardian of the game and will be judged whether or not they are worthy to live and return to the human realm.
Emilia: Do you mean we’re dead!!!?
Maxmillian: Correct, you and many mortals here have died and are either players as yourself or those who are created just to serve as a “class” for this world such as that nameless bartender. I’m the gatekeeper of this part of the infinite domain and we gatekeepers must be defeated in order for you to meet the grand guardian for judgement.
Hainley: Who is even this “grand guardian” you mention?
Maxmillian: He’s the one above all and you’ll know who he is once you’ll meet him. Very little have really succeeded the challenge of surviving a week in this realm.
Maximillian: I’m not the final obstacle in the game, there’s other gatekeepers like I am that are ready to come after you and won’t stop till you drop dead. (He then dissipates into dust )
Emilia: Judgement week so we’re only in day 2 now he said.
Hainley: And not to mention there must be more players in the realm only just joining on their first days like we have.
Emilia: We don’t even know how and we can assume the other players as well on how we reached the infinite domain.
Hainley: And I doubt everyone will really be that cooperative with us as well since survival comes first for them.
Emilia: That’s a good point so we’ll have to stick together more than ever now.
Hainley: Its going to get a lot worse now before it even gets better.
(Emilia and Hainley then set off for the next town)
????:So the mighty Maxmillian has fallen I see?
????: And all by 2 lost souls who found their way into the infinite domain.
????: Interestingly one of them wields the sword of Xarred a fine black weapon with a fitting skull and red diamonds encrusted in its eyes. Its like death itself is wielding it.
????: And he was also the bosses most loyal and the most brutal out of all of us.
????:The boss would rather spend whole day play with his “toys” then really carry out anything so it looks like its really us that’s running the game instead of him.
????:Not that there is any issue with it of course.
????:Quiet!!! You don’t want him to hear us gossip.
????:Here he comes!!!
???? (A mysterious cloaked figure surrounded by multiple women appears) Men
????:Sir! (All of the mysterious cloaked in black people stand up in respect in unison)
????: I would like to introduce you to our newest and up and coming gate keeper Xerces.
Xerces: Pleasure to make your acquaintance.
?????: The new member whats his story?
?????: He’s only just eliminated 1000 players in just one single day and he’s got a keen eye for stratgey and combat so he gets the full benefits of being a gatekeeper.
????: I'm a team player and i promise to do my best to help you guys out with duties.
????: We shall see how much he’s really worth. Right now we must prepare ourselves for the next coming days.
chapter 2 ends as all other gatekeepers are now keeping an eye on other people
You can resume reading from this paragraph.
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