(14,814) Steps 7-9 (Patreon)

When my vision returns to me, I immediately spot an overturned carriage and a couple handfuls of men fighting, some trying to bar the path to the carriage and other trying to break through them.

The knightly attire of the guardians and look of the aggressors tells me what's going on straight away.

[The Seventh Step: Save the Princess]

And that just confirms it for me.

I pull Nadir from my back, happy to see that she's still there, and rush forward, slamming her into the nearest bandit.

His flesh gives way, and Nadir bursts soundlessly through his stomach, scrambling his insides and taking him out of the fight on the spot. I pull her loose, wincing at how dirty she'd already gotten.

I don't have much time to worry about it though, not with the shortsword lunging towards me.

I sidestep the blade and my return strike stabs into the bandit's side. Not a fatal cut, but probably enough to incapacitate him.

Stepping over the bodies that had already accumulated at my feet, I examine the battlegrounds, looking for my next target. I don't need to look for long, since it seems I'm not the only one looking for something to fight.

An arrow cuts into my brigandine, completely halted by the metal plates concealed within.

I look in the direction it came from, only to find another missile whizzing by my head. I charge at the archer, and an arrow skids off my leather helmet, but he's otherwise unable to get any more shots off.

He pulls out a dagger, but my reach is long enough to slice open his neck before he gets the chance to use it.

Once more, I examine the scene, realizing only now that my objective isn't to kill the bandits, it’s to save the princess. One might accomplish the other, but the more surefire way would be to directly guard her. With that in mind, I make my way towards the carriage, only to be stopped by a guard, clearly mistaking me for one of the bandits.

“I’m with you! I’m here to guard the princess!”

His face flushes red with anger, but then he glances off to the side for a moment. His eyes lock back onto me, and he nods, letting me pass. Weird.

I jump up and hop into the sideways carriage, finding a single little girl sobbing. She couldn’t have been older than seven, yet she'd been thrust in such a terrifying situation.

To be fair though, I probably shouldn't be here either.

“Hey there kid, don't worry, we'll get you out of there in a minute, we're just going to make sure everything's safe first, okay?”

She looks up at me through her tears and nods. “Is Charlie okay, mister?”

I look around the battlefield. “Could you describe what Charlie looks like for me?”

“I told Papa that he looked too much like the other knights, so they made his armor golden!”

My eyes flick to the guard whose armor bears golden filigree. His armor is dented in multiple spots, and his current opponent's sword strikes seem to bite into his armor easily.

He's not holding up well, but I can't just tell a kid something like that. “Charlie’s gonna be just fine. I've gotta go check on something, alright? I'll be right back.” I hop off the carriage and rush forward.

Just as the bastard-sword-wielding bandit manages to get around the golden knight, I slam the pointy bit of Nadir between his eyes. He drops to the floor, dead.

“Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to back off for now. Go protect the princess. We've got this.” Charlie turns to look at me, then lifts his visor to reveal the face of an older man with graying hair, far past his prime.

He lifts a clear vial to his lips and swallows the liquid inside with a single gulp. A moment passes, but the pain on his face abates, and his sharp brown eyes lock in on me.

“I think that's a good idea, young man, though I can't help but wonder how you got past our defensive line,” he says, suspicion clear in his face as he grips his longsword.

“Don't worry about that now. The princess needs you. Don't fail her now.” My words seem to strike a chord in his heart, as his eyes unfocus and turn misty.

“Alright, I'll go, but you'd better not let anything through, understood?” He demands. I give him a somber nod, and he trudges past me.

I grip Nadir tight with both hands, readying her for the next attack.

We don't have to wait long.

An unarmored man steps through the battlefield. One of the soldiers moves to attack him, but his strike is deflected by the strange man's staff, and the soldier’s head turns violently, snapping unnaturally.

It was a wizard.

I dashed forward while he's distracted, trusting in my abilities to aid me.

He notices me at the last second, and a bubble like the one Fitz had used in the last Step appeared. Nadir cuts through it with ease, and the wizard’s eyes widen beneath his hood.

The man steps out of the way, but I manage to leave a gash on his right shoulder.

He raises his staff at me, and a strange language spews from his mouth. Not intending to show him to finish, I smack his staff to the side and swipe at his chest.

Just as I'm about to score a hit, he discorporates, turning to black smoke.

I'm not stupid, so I start running towards where I’d left Charlie and the princess, spotting Charlie already engaged with the wizard a short distance away.

The knight's eyes widen when he sees me, and the wizard spins around, already forming a defensive bubble, but by then it's too late. My glaive cuts right into the base of his neck.

Blood burbles out of his injury, and the wizard’s hand clutches at his wound even as he gasps for air.

Charlie raises his sword to execute the man, but just before does so, the wizard shoots a chilling glare at me.

“Sah’akan!”

My neck turns violently,  and everything goes black for a moment. A wet laugh reaches my ears, the jerk clearly thinking he'd gotten his revenge.

I reach up and snap my head back into place. The look of utter shock on the mage’s face is priceless. Especially since it's the one that's stuck on him when his head goes flying off his shoulders.

Charlie gives me a curious look. “Are you some sort of undead? That was… strange.”

I just chuckle. “Nope, I just got lucky with my Powers, I guess.”

He nods in understanding. “Your abilities often determine your fate. Still, they don’t have to. My first Skill was Farming, and look where I am now!”

“I’m pretty happy with what I’ve got. Look, my neck’s completely fine now!” I poke myself in the side of the neck, [Self-Healing] having already restored me to perfect condition.

Charlie looks out at the battlefield. “Well, it looks like we’ve won. Good job, kid. What’s your name?”

[Quest Complete!]

Honor is critically important to the life of a warrior.

Please choose a reward:

1. Trait: [Noble Favor]
2. Power: [Power Strike]
3. Skill: [Intimidation]

[Noble Favor]: Are you the male protagonist of a romance novel where a poor commoner boy pines after a spoiled rich girl? Influences the perspective of others to make you appear more noble, attractive, and trustworthy. Has increased effectiveness on those of high class or royal blood.

[Power Strike]: To help supplement your clear lack of muscle. Spend Magic to imbue your weapon and body with power, increasing the velocity, sharpness, and durability of your weapon for a single attack.

[Intimidation]: Less golden retriever, more alpha wolf, please. Teaches you to position your body to maximize environmental effects, as well as to alter your posture and expression to appear more powerful, solid, and temperamental.

I don't feel particularly in need of social Skills, so I pick up [Power Strike].

[Transporting User: Xan Kim to The Eighth Step.]

Name: Xan Kim

Title: [Successor of 14,814 Steps (8)] (Upgradeable)

Level: 7 (/8)

Class: N/A

Might: 8 +

Mobility: 8 (9) +

Mind: 7 +

Magic: 8 +

Matrix Points: 14

Traits: [Inheritance], [Succession], [Silent]

Powers: [Unkillable] Level 5, [Self-Healing] Level 3, [Power Strike] Level 1

Skills: [Improvised Fighting] Level 5, [Glaive Mastery] Level 3, [Tracking] Level 1

I hold onto my consciousness even as the darkness engulfs me, focusing hard on my status sheet. Some maintenance is required.

First of all, I spend some Matrix Points to get all of my stats up to ten.

Might: 8 (10) +

Mobility: 8 (10) +

Mind: 8 (10) +

Magic: 8 (10) +

Matrix Points: 6

The next step– no pun intended– is to look over the Skills and Traits that I don’t know the effects of yet.

[Inheritance]: So, nepotism, huh? Fine, you spoiled brat. Certain objects and structures have been left for you to claim. Any defenses they have will not target you.

[Succession]: Wow, you really couldn’t just stop at nepotism? You have to copy everything about them?? You are in the process of following your predecessor’s path. Certain quests will appear, and their rewards will have been carefully selected by the individual you are succeeding.

[Improvised Fighting]: You have no idea what you’re doing, do you? Your mind will move faster in battle and you will find using the environment to your advantage much easier than a traditional fighter.

[Glaive Mastery]: How the… That wasn’t supposed to be there!! Boss, come look at this! What do you mean he can keep it, that’s– oh, right, whoops. You didn’t see anything, puny mortal! You know how to handle a glaive, and can learn glaive-related attacks, moves, and styles more quickly.

Is it just me or are these snarky comments totally being sent by an actual person and not just a program? What is that last message even supposed to mean? Did he forget to mute himself or something? Whatever, it doesn’t matter.

[Inheritance] and [Succession] are both from my Title, [Successor of 14,814 Steps (8)]. I don’t really know who my “predecessor” is supposed to be, but if I was following his path across these places, he must’ve been pretty strong.

[Improvised Fighting] and [Glaive Mastery] are also lumped together in my head as my “fighting Skills.” [Improvised Fighting] is like the style– chaotic and random– and [Glaive Mastery] relates to the weapon I use.

Suddenly, I can see again.

[The Eight Step: Prevent the Assassination]

I’m in a dark hallway, the only light coming from a room just behind me. I brandish Nadir– who I’d forgotten to wipe down after our last fight– and held her out in front of myself.

A figure slowly lopes into my view, holding a sword that seems to be made of a solid purple light. The individual fully enters the dim light, and I’m able to see that their entire body is covered in black cloth.

The rogue rushes me, batting Nadir aside with ease and moving to stab me in the chest. I manage to interpose my forearm, but they cut right through it, even managing to break the bone.

I hiss in pain, but the pain fades a moment later and I punch the jerk in the face with the very arm they'd stabbed.

My punch lands squarely on the assassin's nose, smashing them into the wall. They fell to their knees, clutching at their head.

Hehe. That never would've worked unless they'd expected that arm to be completely disabled.

Y'know, I'm starting to see the resemblance to an undead.

The assassin was stunned briefly from the concussion I'd probably given them, but would get back up soon unless I do something about it. So I do something about it.

I tear the assassin's hood off and grip them by the hair, briefly surprised by its length.

Apparently, this professional killer is a girl. I'm not gonna let that stop me though. Equal rights, equal fights and all that.

I pressed my glaive against her throat, knelt down, and muttered quietly into her ear, “Last chance to run away. I'll know if you plan to come back, and I will hunt you to the ends of the Earth. I am [Unkillable], and will stop at nothing to accomplish my goals. If I decide to kill you, then you will die. Understood?”

She nodded shakily, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. I don't allow myself to feel bad for her, though. In choosing to kill someone else, one forfeits all rights regarding their own life and death.

I grab her shoulder and yank her to her feet. My improved stats make the movement as easy as apple pie killing a doctor.

I shove her, and she stumbled against the wall briefly, then starts moving on her own. I watch until she's completely vanished from my sight.

See? I can be plenty intimidating without a Skill telling me what to do. I hadn't even gotten to try out my new Power, had I?

[Quest Complete!]

The blade obscured by shadow is duller than the one that glimmers with radiant light.

Please choose a reward:

1. Trait: [Bodyguard]
2. Power: [Target Lock]
3. Skill: [Vigilance]

I check on what the options could do for me.

[Bodyguard]: Are you seriously just a masochist? Weapons and missiles that would land attacks within 5 feet of yourself are instead magnetically attracted to you, potentially allowing you to take hits meant for your companions.

[Target Lock]: I have a particular set of Skills, acquired over a large number of Steps. You can reserve a small amount of your total Magic capacity to place a marker on any creature or object you touch. You know the exact distance to and direction of this marker at all times. This marker can be unravelled at any time. If the marker is ever more than 5,000 feet away from you, it dissipates.

[Vigilance]: A Skill relating to patience and observation, things you are in dire need of. You begin to learn how to read people, watch out for danger, and stay watchful for long periods of time.

[Bodyguard] would lean into the tank angle, [Target Lock] would make me even better at [Tracking] and sneaking up on prey [Silent]ly, but the description of [Vigilance] was probably right. I have yet to really get snuck up on, but I get the feeling that it’s just a matter of time before something like that happens.

I take a moment to clean off Nadir before accepting the Skill.

[Transporting User: Xan Kim to The Ninth Step.]

Name: Xan Kim

Title: [Successor of 14,814 Steps (9)] (Upgradeable)

Level: 7 (/9)

Class: N/A

Might: 9 +

Mobility: 9 +

Mind: 9 +

Magic: 9 +

Matrix Points: 6

Traits: [Inheritance], [Succession], [Silent]

Powers: [Unkillable] Level 6, [Self-Healing] Level 3

Skills: [Improvised Fighting] Level 6, [Glaive Mastery] Level 3, [Tracking] Level 1, [Vigilance] Level 1

[The Ninth Step: Catch Your Breath]

The first thing I notice is the sound of waves. Then, the endless blue stretching out infinitely ahead of me.

I'm on a beach.

Catch your breath? What sort of quest is that? How do I even…

I take a deep breath in, then release it slowly. I rise from my seated position and unbuckle my gear and pack, setting Nadir down next to me in the sand.

My clothing is getting pretty bloody and torn up at this point. I'll need to replace it soon anyways, so…

I strip down to my boxers. Slow, steady steps bring me closer and closer to the waves until I'm waist-deep in water.

I force myself to breathe slowly and stay calm, just… decompressing.

My mind flashes back to all that's happened over the past… what? Day? Longer? All the things that I've done…

Is there something wrong with me? I'd killed… well, the Doctor, and that one guy in the alley with a knife had probably ended up dying, too. I dunno if goblins count on the murder tally, but they were at least a little intelligent. There had also been four bandits and a mage.

That comes out to 6 people, if I include the Doctor.

I'd never considered myself a fighter. I'd never had any desire to join the armed services. Even then, it hadn't taken much for me to start outright killing people. Sure, they were all bad people, in theory, but even then…

I shake my head rapidly, taking another deep breath to clear my mind.

There was no way for me to make up for the things I'd done, not was there really a way for me to not do it the future. I would be forced into more situations like this. I could stop completing the quests, these Steps, but what then? I'd be stuck in another world, aimless.

Fitz had told me to complete the Steps. I wasn't clear on what exactly that meant, but there wasn't really another path for me, was there?

But… Fourteen thousand eight hundred and fourteen Steps? I hadn't even finished the first fourteen, and at least a full day must have passed me by.

What was going on back on Earth? Were my clubmates all dead?

I stepped out of the water after washing the dried blood off my skin and out of my hair.

Allowing myself to dry before putting my clothes back on, I just sit and breathe for a little while, not thinking of anything in particular. The rest proves effective, and my mind calms significantly in a short period of time.

Eventually, I rise to my feet, dressing myself and spending some time figuring out the straps and buckles of my gambeson and brigandine. I strap on the extra piece Kelsh gave me for Nadir, but rest her on top of my stomach.

With as tired as I am, it doesn't take long for sleep to claim me.