One More Quest

Julius and Ricklebones walked through the town of Linia with ease, they had been tasked with defeating a small crime syndicate. The citizens of Wooxia always seemed to be willing to help them since they were from the organisation, and the organisation was sort of like an extra police force in Wooxia, but specifically Linia.

[Ricklebones Level 27 Blood Reaper]

'He's not so bad himself, but maybe Rose is just severely underlevelled.' Julius thought back to the red-haired girl, she had just barely hit level 20 the other day. Her complaints of there never being quests available were only true for the past few days, before that she just seemed to be too scared to take quests other than helping locals go shopping.

As Julius and Ricklebones walked under the golden sunlight, bathing in the afternoon's peace they found a clue to their mystery. A hint to where the crime syndicate might be located in this part of Linia.

Julius crouched beside a wooden post in the alley, eyeing the tattered note that had been nailed to it. The edges were burnt, and a strange symbol was scrawled at the bottom—a jagged, crimson crescent.

Ricklebones leaned in over his shoulder, grinning wide. "Oh-ho. That's definitely the mark of the Black Crescent Syndicate." He tapped the symbol with a gloved finger. "They love leaving these around to intimidate people. Pretty dumb if you ask me, makes 'em easy to track."

Julius ran his fingers over the ink, eyes narrowing. "It's fresh."

Ricklebones gave him a playful elbow nudge. "Well, aren't you the observant one?"

Julius ignored him and looked around. The alley was empty, but the faint sound of shuffling feet echoed from somewhere deeper within. He adjusted his grip on his Soul Blade. "We're close."

Ricklebones cracked his neck. "Good. I was getting bored."

Julius exhaled, his mind already running through scenarios. This was just a standard elimination mission—take out the syndicate members, report back, collect the rewards. Simple. But he knew better than anyone that no mission was ever truly simple.

Without another word, they moved.

The two of them followed the trail of clues, moving deeper into the city's underbelly, where the neatly cobbled streets gave way to damp, moss-covered stones and dimly lit corridors. The stench of rot clung to the air. This part of Linia wasn't on any official maps—it was where people disappeared.

And then, Julius saw it.

A small, rundown warehouse at the end of a secluded street. A single lantern flickered by the entrance, illuminating two armed guards standing at the door. Their armor was piecemeal, their weapons rusted but well-used.

Ricklebones grinned. "What's the plan? We go loud, or you wanna do your sneaky thing?"

Julius considered. Normally, he'd prefer to strike from the shadows, eliminate them quietly. But time was against him, and he didn't have the luxury of patience right now.

"Fast and efficient," he muttered. "I don't wany any noise from them."

Ricklebones chuckled. "My kinda plan. Although it would be better if we let them bleed out slowly-."

Without hesitation, Julius activated Blitz.

In an instant, his body surged forward with inhuman speed. The first guard barely had time to register movement before Julius' blade carved through his throat, a quick, clean kill.

The second guard shouted, stumbling back and reaching for his weapon—too slow.

Julius pivoted mid-stride, his cloak billowing as he drove his blade into the man's chest. Blood sprayed across the stone, and Julius twisted the weapon free just as the body collapsed.

Ricklebones let out a low whistle. "Damn. You really don't waste time, huh?"

Julius wiped his blade on the dead guard's tunic. "I don't know, it's a habit I guess. From doing all those quests in these past few weeks."

They pushed open the warehouse doors, stepping into the dimly lit interior. Crates lined the walls, and the scent of damp wood and old iron filled the air. Flickering torches illuminated a group of men gathered around a table, discussing something in hushed voices.

One of them looked up—and all hell broke loose.

Julius sprinted forward as Ricklebones cackled, raising his own crimson-stained blade. These criminals weren't going to have a good first time meeting with people from another world.

The moment Julius stepped into the warehouse, time seemed to slow.

Five men. Armed. But weak.

[Level 25 Thug] There were four level 25 Thugs and a leader who was level 29.

They barely had time to register his presence before he moved.

Blitz.

Julius vanished from their sight, reappearing in front of the nearest thug before his blade carved through flesh. A clean, effortless kill. The purple aura of his Soul Blade pulsed violently, empowering the strike.

The second man turned, swinging a rusted axe— Perfect Dodge.

Julius' body tilted just slightly, the axe whiffing past him like he wasn't even there. Another sword came from the left— Perfect Dodge. He ducked, slipping beneath the swing like a shadow.

Two more men lunged at him from different angles. Perfect Dodge. Perfect Dodge.

Julius moved through them like a phantom, not a single strike landing, his movements fluid and untouchable. The men panicked, realizing too late that their weapons were useless against him.

Ricklebones whistled from the doorway. "Oh-ho... Now this is interesting."

Julius didn't acknowledge him. He didn't need to.

With his Soul Blade pulsing in his grip, he raised it high—then slashed forward.

They came charging in, ready to face his blow.

Their naievity led them to their deaths, Julius had cut down the two men instantly. Their bodies crumpled, lifeless, and their breaths gone. The remaining two tried to run, fear overriding their will to fight, but Julius was already on them.

Another Blitz.

He was behind them in a flash, his blade moving faster than their minds could process. One fell with a silent gasp, his throat severed. The other collapsed, impaled through the chest.

All that remained was the leader. Julius could tell because he was the highest level.

[Leader of the Syndicate Level 29 Warrior]

The man trembled, stepping back. "W-Wait—"

Julius didn't.

Soul Break.

The Soul Blade erupted with power, a deep violet radiance engulfing it. Julius pointed out his blade, and the leader's body convulsed as it was consumed by a blast of fiery purple flames, his very soul felt like it was shattering under the weight of the attack. He staggered, eyes wide with horror—whilst Julius watched his slow demise take place.

The warehouse fell silent.

Ricklebones clapped slowly. "Well, well, well. That was... efficient. Has it even been a minute since we entered?"

Julius exhaled, his heart pounding—but not from exhaustion. His blood was on fire.

Ricklebones stepped onwards, strange spider-like legs began to crawl out of his back, except they were made of blood.

He activated Blood Reaper.

A deep crimson mist rose from the fallen bodies, swirling toward him. The blood of his enemies seeped into his skin, flooding his veins with raw, intoxicating energy. His breath hitched. His body tensed. A shiver ran through him—hot, thrilling, arousing.

Ricklebones raised an eyebrow. "Oh? That skill got me feeling good... Blame it on the side effects, huh?" Slowly, he exhaled, regaining control. "Sorry, just had to get that thrill, the flush of blood. You know what I mean?"

Julius could only sigh as Ricklebones did his thing.

His Soul Blade hummed in his grip, its power terrifiying as always.

Julius turned, stepping over the bodies without a second glance. "Let's go." Perhaps it was pride, perhaps it was ignorance, he did not really care for those dead. After all, they were mostly criminals and people who tried to kill him as well. Besides, Julius felt the point he was going to prove was far more important than the lives of scum.

Ricklebones grinned, following after him. "Heh. You really are something else, Julius Ferd."

And with that, they returned to the organisation, where the very next day the next assembly would take place.

The one that would announce the monthly rankings.