Lurking Trouble

A week after Trent and Trevor's flashy contest Desmond and his group of friends have gotten a bit use to the feeling of war. Whether it was day or night neither side stopped attacking for even a moment. Corpse of powerful magical beasts covered the land for hundreds of miles in every direction. Their blood slowly died the ground red as their resentment and fear lingered on the battle field.

Just like the magical beasts the city guards saw casualties as well. The casualties were mostly from those who where apprentice grade or lower. They were the unlucky few who could not endure the constant shockwaves nearby or had an unfortunate encounter with a creature that they could not handle. Despite the incline of injured and dead soldiers the heads of Delmar City were not worried. They still had around 500,000 cultivators ready to fight and over 3 million apprentice rank or lower soldiers to assist.

In lighter news Roy was joyfully beaming over the fact that an actual full fledge cultivator is in love with his sister. This is quite significant news because it signifies a complete change in status if those two were to marry. In Theotera people always try all kinds of means to rope cultivators into their family because of the numerable benefits it can bring. A cultivator in the family can save a declining lineage, bring endless wealth, and a lot more. While Roy's friends were happy for him and hopes it all works out in the end . They also all had enough of Roy's clamoring about his 'bright future'. So they all decided to bail on Roy during times when Roy was drawing out plans for his life. During one of those times when everyone was not on shift Desmond and his group went their separate ways till their next shift.

Desmond was walking through the encampment alone. Innumerable gunshots and cannons fired off in the background. The sound of cold steel and roaring thunder didn't even register in Desmond's ears anymore. He walk calmly through the encampment below memorial wall towards the medical bay area. He did this not because he was injured or sick but because that's where the greatest smell in the world was located.

The medical bay had all kinds of staff and patience that where human, demi-human, or some kind of other freakish monster species running around treating patients or on beds injured. Occasionally a medical droid would also pop-up now and again. Though they were not too numerous on the scene yet because the amount of casualties were still in the scope of what the medical staff could handle. The medical droids were mostly taking care of minor repetitive tasks that doctors and nurses on scene didn't want to handle.

Near by in the midst of numerous doctors running around to treat their patients. Desmond was breathing in the air quite heavily with a look of glee on his face. The smell of disinfectant and blood was pushed to the back of Desmond's mind as he basked in the aroma.

Ever since Desmond unlocked the trait to detect emotions a deep and primal hunger has urged decimal to feed. But Desmond knew that he could not because even if he did try it was not the type of hunger that could ever be satisfied. Only constant training to overcome those urges would keep Desmond from coming a mindless beasts.

So that's why Desmond sought out a location with one of the highest concentrations of emotional fluctuations. The injured soldiers fears and medical staff in the midst of surgery produced a strong aroma that tempted Desmond dearly. It is their Desmond trying to master his new power. He may not be able to properly practice magic because of his damaged mind but he could still tamper his spirit.

In the midst of Desmond's training a familiar voice cut through the consistent clamoring all around him making Desmond curiously turn around. In Desmond's View he saw Mavericks figure standing right in front of him. Maverick was wearing his schools signature combat uniform a dark coat with strands of red on the inside, a black long-sleeve button up shirt, and dark combat boots. the clothes Maverick wore made him look quite nice but it was also a bit too flashing in Desmond's opinion.

Seeing Mavericks face here of all places made doesn't question life a bit. Ultimately Desmond got over it and directly questioned Maverick.

"What are you doing here?".

Desmond said as he scowled at Maverick. Maverick looked perplexed by Desmond's question.

"What do you mean why am I here? Did you perhaps not notice that there was a war going on? I like you am risking life and limb for the security of this city".

Desmond the bit peeved replied, " you know what I mean. Why did you come here to see me".

"What makes you think I came here for you I could just be passing through?".

"Do you really want to have a conversation about the probability me and you stumbling upon each other in a Battlefield that is over 800 miles wide or would you rather get to the point of your visit?".

Throwing up his hands in defeat Maverick replied, "All right you don't have to get all grumpy grandpa. it's not like I came here to silence you or anything. I still very much wish to work with you in the future and to prove that I came to give you some information free of charge of course".

Desmond had a suspicious look on his face while Maverick took out a file full of photos and some other documents of which he handed to Desmond.

"Now I know that it's none of my business but someone burning down the home of one of my potential partners does not sit right with me. so I took the liberty to find out who did it. Which was a lot more difficult than I care to admit. The guys name is Gresham Stokes. Now let me tell you this guys is a tricky bastard to find.

He almost avoided every camer perfectly in a 15 block radius which is a lot harder to do then it sounds. every piece of information on the guy is outdated and strange to the point I'm not even 100% sure Gresham Strokes is his real name".

Desmond calmly took in all the information Maverick was dumping on him though he was quite surprised by it especially since he didn't even know his apartment burnt down.

As Desmond looked over some of the info Maverick presented to him he could 100% confirm that the man in the picture is without a doubt Gresham Strokes. There's no way Desmond could ever forget the man that tried to sacrifice him and cage him up like a dog.

"You're information is correct i can guarantee you that but who are these other people in this file".

"Oh those guys since I couldn't get you an exact location on Gresham Strokes I decided to add in a few people you should be on the lookout for. They are all members of The Purifiers and all of them are apart of the reserve unit just like you".

"Their are over 300 people on this list". Desmond said with a bit of shock and worry in his voice.

"Yes they are and there are most certainly a lot more who are not including on that list that I given you. The Purifiers are quite a large group and you have a bouncy put on your head by them. it would be foolish of you to think no one would come to collect the reward. Especially now during such dangerous times where killing you and explaining your death afterwards would be as easy ad breathing".

Maverick had a devilish smile on his face as he explained to Desmond his situation.

"I do hope my information is of help to you and if you survive till the end of the war don't be afraid to give me a call. You can reach me through that device you bought for me earlier but until then good luck".

Maverick walked off what a bit of swagger have you left Desmond alone to contemplate the gravity of his situation. A bit of contemplating later Desmond asked the only person who can give him a viable solution.

"Zane you heard what that boy said those 300 names are just a small portion of the group targeting me. I need a better solution to defend myself then what you gave before right now".

Zane's will materialized next to Desmond and said in a confident voice.

"There's no need to worry that's much it's not like hundreds of them are going to swarm you all at once. they are restrained in this war just as you are. For them to strike they need a good opportunity and if you do not give them one then they can never do so".

"I'm not going to stake my life on that statement alone. I just got to this world and I am not leaving it this soon without a fighting. there has to be a faster way for me to use some form of magic to defend myself. The Scrolls I have on me may not be enough".

"There is I simply did not want to tell you because the basics of far more important for you to learn as of now".

"live tell me I would rather skip levels then wind up dead what nothing".

" fine then the way for you to weave magic around again despite you damage mind is quite easy but hard as well. Simply speak out the full length of the spell in Ancient Zedrick".

"Ancient Zedrick but I've spoken it before and since my mind is damage i can't achieve any affect or i end up almost blasting my self".

" did you not to pay attention to a single language lesson when I talk to you. back in the day almost all languages invoke the full power of the universes laws. Zedrick was created by stealing the languages of all the powerful races that existed such as elf, dragon, ...ect. Modern Zedrick of which almost everyone speaks today only contains 0.01% of the languages actual power. The so called ancient Zedrick that you speak when using certain spells is a run down version that only had 0.1% of the languages actual power. If you speak proper ancient Zedrick to you opponents you can kill them by using the energy around you instead of inside of yourself".

Desmond was about to say something before Zane's will interrupt them to stay.

"And before you even think about complaining about why I am only teaching how to invoke only .3% of the languages actual power it is because that is more then enough for you two level a three-story building just by yelling at it".

More then satisfied with Zane's will's recommendation couldn't be more excited to learn and blast away any opponent that dares try to claim the bounty on his head.