Long-term Promises to kick butts

Outside the Drinking Banshee, a pair of Death Bringers smoked while watching the latest Miss Cosmica stream from last night. They nodded in unison and giggled as the idol danced and shook her hips.

"Although she only sings girly stuff, she sure is hot."

"Tell me about it! You know, sometimes, when I'm in the mood, I just get comfy, enlarge the video screen, freaking mute her songs, and just--"

They heard a sonic boom, followed by an explosion that made the ground shake a 100-feet away in front of them. Squinting, the two strolled towards the newly formed crater, ignoring someone behind them, asking what had happened.

From the smoke stepped out a blonde girl, wearing a blue-colored battle suit, who glared at them. They snickered once they recognized her. It was one of the most famous faces in all The Novus.

"Look what we have here, the Golden Comet. Or was it 'The Golden Bitch'? Like her ex-guilders call her."

"Are you lost, miss? This is a private party."

"Death Bringers," Astrid said after glancing at the emblems in their armors. "So it was true that some cockroaches were crawling in my territory. You're the ones that lose their way home, fellas. Fleurella is far away from here."

The two guards armed themselves with lances that appeared in their hands out of thin air.

"Are you sure you want to do this? We may be on the edge of this city, but this is still considered a Safe Zone."

"In this place, we're equally matched." The other smirked.

"'We're equally matched', says the dead man," Astrid mumbled, strolling towards him.

The guy grunted. "What did you--?"

Astrid punched him in the gut so hard that he bent his body forward. If the Safe Zone's restrictions had not lowered all of Astrid's stats, that hit alone could have killed him easily. So, I'll have to hit him again…

An instant later, Astrid performed a roundhouse kick to the guy's head, knocking him out for good. The second guilder thrust his spear forward, trying to pierce her in the back, but she moved aside at the last moment, grabbed the spear so he could not use it again, and punched him in the face, breaking his nose.

The Death Bringer fell backward, covering his bloodied face, whimpering. "YOU BITCH!"

"I bet you hadn't felt pain like that in a while," Astrid said, throwing the spear away. "The 'Pain Endurance' Passive Skill also gets nerfed inside your beloved Safe Zone, moron. Remember that pain well."

People quickly gathered at the building's entrance, among them, some ex-Shooting Stars.

"What are you doing here?!" Karen Svensson cried, red-faced. "We're finally free of the damn mess you call a guild, and you dare to come here?!"

"Don't do it, Karen," William whispered to her, holding her by the shoulders, but she brushed him off. "Oh, dear…" he sighed, watching her stroll forward.

Another winged feline landed gracefully behind Astrid, but its rider dismounted in a rush.

"Guild Master!"

"Have you verified it, Tam?" Astrid asked.

Tamara glanced nervously at the building and the growing crowd gathering at the entrance before replying. "Yes. No doubt about it. He was the last one to have access."

"We've got a sidequest, then," Astrid said, sighing before leaning in to whisper in Tamara's ear. "Slip in through the back door when you get the chance."

"Yes, Guild Master."

Astrid then exhaled and yelled, "Where is Jason Foreman?!"

Karen replied to Astrid, spitting at every word: "I don't have to answer that! Hell, I don't have to listen to you ever again!"

From one of the establishment's windows, Faiza Khalil chuckled and turned to Jason. "She's looking for youuu! And she looks mad! What the hell did you do?"

Jason Foreman did not dare to peek outside. "Shut up, shut up!" he cried, covering his head while crouching.

Outside, Karen manifested magic circles above her head, channeling. "Why the hell are you here?! Come to lecture us, hmm? Are you that upset because we left your stupid guild?"

Astrid met Karen's glare with a confused expression. "Huh? What are you talking about? If you all quit, by all means, enjoy this second-best option. I couldn't care less! I don't have room in my guild—or the patience to deal with ungrateful bastards like you!" She paused, locking eyes with every familiar face, finding a collective scowl. A realization struck her, sending a sharp pain through her chest. "So it's true, what Tamara said..." she whispered, staring at her right palm. "I really have neglected the guild these past months." Astrid then bit her lower lip, letting her vulnerability show—just for an instant—before clenching her fists and fixing her gaze on Karen. "If this is what you've all decided, fine by me. Good luck in your next endeavors! But don't expect me to be clement with you ever again!"

"See?! This is the best part about not being under your command anymore!" Karen shouted. "We won't have to hear your fucking charades ever again! Multi-Elemental--!"

"Karen!" William warned her once more, but the magic circles around her increased in number.

"This will be my last lesson for all of you!" Astrid said before shortening the distance between them in a second. "Never interrupt an enemy when they're making a mistake."

Karen instinctively rushed her spell, being able to launch a third of the magic attacks, but it was too late. The bolts of lightning, ice lances, and orbs of fire were thrown randomly through all of the Drinking Banshee's courtyard, while Astrid grabbed Karen by the face and threw her to the ground. A cracking sound came out of Karen's neck and column. 

"Safe Zones suck especially for mages," Astrid said. "It turns them into glorified slugs…"

"F-fuck y-you…" Karen hissed, immobilized, while tears ran down her cheeks.

Astrid then turned her attention towards the crowd, from where William stepped forward.

"Are you going to be in my way too, Stoic?" she asked.

"Come on, Comet, give me a break," William responded, folding his arms. "There are at least fifty people here."

"EXACTLY!" Astrid suddenly giggled. Her blue eyes glowed like a pair of aquamarine gemstones. "Isn't it sad that you all have to attack me at once to take me down?"

William gritted her teeth. "Are you saying I'm we--?!"

"What's the matter, sweetheart? Is someone bothering you?" a girl said behind William, tapping his back. He moved aside to let Kathleen Maher take center stage. "Oh, I see! Someone must have lost their hound. It's running freely like a wild beast." Kathleen's smile faded for a second to whisper in William's ear: "Help your friend quickly. This is going to get ugly…"

Astrid exhaled. "Hi, 'Whoreleen.' I see you've bought another establishment. A pub, this time? What's with the sudden change in demographic? Got tired of brothels and your usual clientele? You know, forty-year-olds?"

"Oh, Assford! It's so sad to see that you're still running that potty mouth of yours. But this time I can let it go. After all, I'd also feel upset if a third of my guild suddenly quit." Kathleen paused so that their allies could snicker. "It's a good thing that I'd never let that happen to me. Tee-hee."

Astrid remained unfazed and just sighed. "You're talking as if you had earned a great victory over me. But is it truly a win if you pick up someone else's trash?"

"Watch your mouth, Assford…" Kathleen hissed, stepping forward, and the ground beneath her started to freeze. "Your stupidity caused a diamond to fall off your hands."

"Weird! I can't recall having something that valuable before." Astrid sneered, advancing too, and her every step left burned footprints. "And even if I had, it surely lost its value so much that it escapes me! But whatever it is, I'm glad that you found it. After all, we've already established that you like second-hand stuff, right?"

Both stared at each other, maintaining a 10-feet distance. One more word, from any of them, would open the gates from hell.