The Systemic Lands

Chapter VIII – Day 248 – A Deadly Demand

I was given crystals to purchase new clothing for this meeting. I was meeting with Champion Michael for dinner. Perhaps he could get me out from under Ken’s control. Ken’s guards escorted me to the Gray Duck when it was time.

I noted they stayed outside the room and Ken was waiting for me inside. “Chase, good, you made it in time. The Champion wanted to speak with you, so I arranged this meeting. I hope it wasn’t too sudden.”

“Not at all. It will be nice to speak with Champion Michael,” I said. There was a bit of nervousness to be honest. This was the man who melted people and controlled the entire city. Still, I had hope he would help me out of my situation.

“Good. Good. Now he prefers bowing to any hand shaking. His assistant Clarissa is also with him.” I enjoyed seeing how nervous Ken was. A waiter rushed into the room.

“He is headed across the plaza now.”

“Good. Let’s sit and then stand when he enters,” Ken said. He was way too nervous. I noted he had sprinkled quite a bit of crystal powder into his drink he was sipping. A drug addict as well. Ken couldn’t be any more detestable. His brain was probably melting.

I sensed him before he entered. A blazing inferno of Energy. Far more than anyone I had ever felt. Like a bright light in a dark city. This man, this Champion, was no joke. I would need to keep my wits about me to keep the secret of crystal powder. No matter what I couldn’t give up my key advantage in this place.

The door opened and the man himself entered the room. He had a presence beyond my energy sense, like a barely chained tiger that was about to pounce with how he scanned everything. His gaze then locked on me. I felt a thrum of nervousness pass through me. I then remembered to bow. He returned it with a shallow bow.

“Ken, survived today it seems.”

“Yes, but it is good to sort all these issues out now. Michael, this is Chase the one responsible for creating the crystal powder.” I was not going to let go of this process no matter what. It was my only guarantee of safety in this mad house.

“Let me say congratulations on creating crystal powder. I have already heard how it is being used in potions.” He was clearly aiming to get it. I needed to stay strong and resolute.

“Thank you. It was quite the discovery figuring out how to process crystals into powder.”

“Ken tells me you have a PhD in Chemistry.”

“Not yet. I was working on my thesis. I was going to present in the spring when this happened.”

“Well, you have progressed the science of the Systemic Lands more than anyone else including me. How did you do it?” Of course, he wanted my discovery. I glanced at Ken who smiled at me. I was being cornered. Well, I wasn’t about to be walked all over.

“I am not going to disclose the process of crystal powder creation.” I noted Champion Michael frown slightly.

“I don’t plan on competing in the drug trade. So, you don’t need to worry about that. I only need the information to advance my knowledge of the Systemic Lands and see if there are other applications.” This was the worst thing possible. If he discovered summoning, then my other main advantage would disappear.

Crystal powder creation would lead to negative energy, which would lead to blood powder, and finally summoning. I couldn’t risk letting that chain of knowledge go no matter what. I had to make an unreasonable demand.

“One million points,” I blurted out. Champion Michael looked thoughtful at that. What! You are supposed to say no right away.

“Alright. We can draw up a contract against the city itself. Need a long repayment period so it doesn’t break the budget or cause other issues, but it shouldn’t be a problem. Don’t look so surprised Ken. People who are talented should be treasured. We can just take it out of your percentage of the city budget.”

The only comfort I had was that Ken probably felt as frustrated as I did. Having to give up all those points. But I didn’t want to give up my knowledge no matter what. What excuse could I come up with?

“What about after?” I asked. Hoping to hold off on revealing my discovery.

“A city research position with funding. You clearly have the head for it.” This was horrible. I would be trapped forever in a thankless job with Ken the drug addict as my boss. This was the worst possible outcome.

I would refuse regardless. What was the worst they could do to me? I would be escaping soon anyways. “No. I won’t reveal the process regarding crystal powder.”

“What other demands do you have?” Dammit! Stop being so reasonable. Don’t you see I don’t want to be under a drug lord’s thumb?

“I won’t share the process no matter what.”

“So that demand for one million points was a lie?”

“I changed my mind.” There was a long period of silence.

“Ken, I want that information. Get it. There is no use for someone like this.”

“What? But, you need me?”

“You had your chance, but you are clearly incapable of being part of research team and knowledge of the Almighty System is too valuable to leave to someone not vested into the success of Purgatory.”

“I won’t talk.” Champion Michael turned to stare at me.

“Everyone talks. Ken, can you handle this?”

“Yes. I will handle things right now.”

“This is against the law. You can’t do this to me! I have rights!” My voice began to increase. I was already maneuvering my monsters to come to my rescue.

“Laws? Rights? I am the law. I decide your rights. Knowledge of the Almighty System is as valuable or more valuable than fission. Think on that.” I wasn’t going to go quietly. I quickly stood up, my chair falling behind me.

The guards rushed in and grabbed me. I couldn’t resist them as their iron hands clamped down on me and forced me back into the chair. I trashed about trying to escape, but it was no use.

Think. I needed to think. I had to endure and plan out my escape at a later- “Ahhhhh!”

A guard leaned in and spoke loudly in my ear as I moaned. “Talk. There are nineteen more nails. After that your teeth. If you last that long that is when I get creative.” I had to endure. The secret of crystal powder was my life. Another nail was yanked out and I screamed.

The torture continued and the pain was mind bending. I tried to endure. I tried so hard. When the pliers gripped my fifth nail, I knew I couldn’t last any longer. “I- I- I’ll speak,” I gasped out.

Everyone was quiet as I gathered myself. The only thing I could think of was how bloody my nails were once they were pulled out of hand and set on the plate in front of me. “Speak.”

“Crystal in water. Touch the water. Think of it dissolving. Uses energy.” I broke down into tears. The humiliation. Still, I had held out. My monsters were still a secret. The crystal powder process was still a secret.

“A bowl of water and a crystal, also dispose of the trash.” What! They were going to kill me. I had to do something.

“Alright. I don’t want more of a mess in here. Take him back into the city and get rid of him,” Ken said. I hated all of them. My hatred blazed with the light of a thousand suns.

“Just strangle him, make sure he is dead.” I only had a moment to think before the guard wrapped his arm around my neck from behind and began to squeeze. I only had one chance.

I began to violently struggle and then went completely limp. The guard held on and then let go after a couple of seconds. I let my muscles completely relax as my head hit the table and collapse to the floor. The pain from my hand was distracting me, but I focused to keep my breathing as shallow as possible.

“It works?” Ken asked.

“More tests will be needed. But yes. The crystal dissolved into the water. Will probably need to let it evaporate. Perhaps an oven.” Rage continued to fill me, but I kept myself absolutely still. A guard lifted me up on his shoulder and I was carried out of the room.

We left out a back door and made our way into the outskirts. I was already ordering my monsters ahead of my position to ambush the guards. “What a mess,” the guard carrying me said.

“Yeah. Didn’t expect that. Did you see the Champion, ice for blood. Just stared the entire time,” the other guard spoke up. There were only two with me.

“That is why I listen to what is said and don’t talk. Make sure the rest know not to talk about this.”

“Yeah, yeah. The guy was a sicko anyways. Chopping up people for their blood. A sick fuck. Karma comes around you know.”

“You and karma. What karma did we do deserve this place?”

“Climate change.”

“Climate change?”

“Yeah, we were desecrating Mother Earth. She got sick of it and tossed us all into hell.”

“Well, I did throw a plastic bottle out the window of my car once.”

“You see, climate change. Hold up. I thought I saw something in one of the buildings.”

“Probably a dreg. Don’t worry about it.”

“Still, I don’t like it. Let’s just dump the body in a building here and leave. My nerves are getting to me.”

“Fine.” My body was thrown on the ground. “Freaky how things just vanish. Afraid that will happen to me one day.”

“Don’t remind me of the vanishing.” The guards continued to chat as they left. I took a deep breath and sat up breathing in the air. I was alive. What a bunch of morons. I wasn’t complaining, but they couldn’t even kill me properly. Well, that was the only chance they were ever going to get.

I was going to make them pay. You rip out my nails. I will rip out your eyes. I slowly stood up, cradling my left hand against my chest. My first move was to secure crystals and supplies. After that I would plan and see if mystery woman Ruth would be able to locate me.

I sensed someone closing in on me. I moved my monsters into position. It was a cloaked figure and kind of felt familiar. “Still alive I see.” Ruth said as she entered the building. That was fast.

“Yes. I didn’t think I would make it out alive, but I did. You showed up a bit late.” I noticed the hood of her cloak focusing on my injured left hand.

“Had to lose some people. Impressive you escaped Michael after he decided to have you killed. That is a very short list to be on.”

“You didn’t warn me.”

“Warn you? You wanted to stay and make preparations. How is that going?”

“Ruined. There is no way I can show my face again.” My entire body sagged as I had no clue on how I would get revenge and survive after that.

“Well, you clearly didn’t use your trump card.”

“How do you know?”

“Because you aren’t melted in a puddle of acid and your own guts. Also, half the city isn’t screaming right now and on fire.”

“How did you even find me?”

“It is easy enough to move around these stone cities if you aren’t an idiot. As for finding you, well I had people keeping an eye out for movement around your little research area. A couple crystals goes a long way with the vagrants out here. Well, we need to get you fixed up and get going.”

“No. Well, no to the second part. I am going to get revenge.” I was going to make them pay. Pay dearly for what had been done to me.

“Kid-“

“I am not a kid.”

“Well then Chase, let me explain something. When you plan revenge, you need to dig two graves. I may be many things, but I am not suicidal to confront Michael in any way. He will melt his way through us, like we are nothing.”

I gave the mental commands. “Don’t panic. But it is time I show you my trump card.” Ruth spun around and backed away from the entrance to the building. A brown wolf entered with a blue slime on its head. More and monsters came into the building.

“I see you weren’t joking Chase.” I could hear the nervous tenor of her voice. She worked for me now. No longer would anyone stand above me. I was more than her. I was more than all of them.

“No. Chase died. His body was dumped in this building.” I had died and now I was reborn. I was going to be more than Chase ever could be.

“Then what name are you going by?” She was right to sound afraid. My anger had been building up for so long, it was time everyone got a taste of it.

If this place was Purgatory, then I was a master of the occult about to bring hellfire and damnation down upon it. Calling forth monsters from the abyss to fight on behalf. Gazing at Ruth with multiple eyes, I knew exactly what name I would take up. “You can call me Ritualist.”

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