Gerald shook his head, “Wow, I didn’t think people were this unimaginative. Shall we make all haste that way to straighten her out?”
“Sounds about right,” Alburet said, pulling out his Mindstone to let Ironhand know they would be along. He put it away and they took off at a jog.
They had to pause to dispatch two small groups of zombies as they moved across the hills. As they crested the next hill, a small town spread before them, nestled in among the rolling hills. The buildings were in horrible disrepair. Many of them were missing roofs, and Alburet couldn’t see a single intact door or window anywhere. They could see two groups moving around the town, almost looking as if they were playing tag. Both groups stayed well away from the bell tower in the middle of the town.
“Straight in?” Gerald asked.
“Yup,” Alburet agreed as they started down the hill. Karen and Marysue were panting a little from all the jogging. Fluff and Gerald barely seemed effected and Alburet had barely started to break a sweat. The effect from his boots had provided a powerful boost, allowing him to move faster with his minions out.
As they made it to the edge of the small town, they had to fight off a ghostly apparition that took reduced damage from physical attacks. Luckily, Marysue was able to really put a hurting on it with her Light-based magic. As it died, Ironhand and his group came running out of the town one building away from them. They were all wounded and breathing heavily as they stumbled out of the town.
Marysue invoked healing on them, catching Ironhand’s attention. He waved the rest of his group over. “You made it,” Ironhand panted. “She’s trying to kill us now.”
“Come over here,” Gerald told them, beckoning them over.
As the two groups came together, Bloodmoon and her group came running out of the town. “Stop running! We just want to play with you,” she was saying. She skidded to a stop when she saw Alburet and his group there, healing Ironhand’s group. “Well, fuck,” Bloodmoon spat. “Ran off to the dictator and his harem.”
Alburet raised a brow, “I did tell you earlier about antagonizing other groups.”
“What the fuck ever, it’s not like they’re gonna die for real. We were just looking to have a little fun is all. Maybe you and me should go a round,” Bloodmoon sneered. “I’ll let you kiss my boots and tell me how good I am after I stomp you. If you win, ha, I’ll join your little sluts there and be another of your cadre.”
Gerald took a step forward, “Did you just call Marysue a slut?” His voice could have frozen water at fifty feet.
DrBone stepped away from Bloodmoon, “Told you this was a bad idea. Alburet, I tried to stop her. She just doesn’t listen to anyone.”
The lion maned Lunari stepped aside with DrBone, “I did heal them, I mean, that’s what I do. But I didn’t do anything to harm the others.”
Alburet stepped up next to Gerald, “Two on two sounds fair to me. What do you say Bloodmoon?”
She sneered at him, “You’re higher level than us. Three on two sounds about right. Just keep your sluts out of it.”
Gerald growled as he stepped forward again, “I’ve had enough from you.”
“Deal,” Alburet told her. “Either way, you’re done, but if you win at least you’ll have something to crow about.”
Alburet dismissed the second Bob and Copied Stacia, “Oh, by the way, I’m never a single threat.” Tiny, Bob and both Stacias lined beside him, “Ready?”
Bloonmoon snorted, “Hiding behind your minions. How very brave, oh all-powerful guild leader.”
Alburet shook his head, “I’ll go one on one if you would rather, no help and no minions. But no weapons or abilities, either.”
Bloodmoon frowned a she eyed him, looking for the loophole. Gerald spun on him, “I object to this plan. There is no way a Summoner can take a Berserker in hand to hand combat.”
Laughing, Bloodmoon stepped forward, “I accept.”
Gerald tried one more time to talk Alburet out of it, “This is wrong.” His back was to Bloodmoon’s group, so they couldn’t see him roll his eyes. “I’m going to side with her after she wins, and we’ll take this guild from you.”
Alburet shrugged, “Meh.” He stepped past Gerald, directing his attention to Bloodmoon, “You ready?”
Bloodmoon leapt at him without preamble. Alburet had been ready for such a tactic and dove away from her, coming back to his feet and dropping his axe on the ground to give himself better movement. “So that’s a yes, then?”
Bloodmoon snorted, “I’m fully decked in strength gear. There is no way you can win this fight.”
Alburet shrugged, “I haven’t put a single point into strength or agility, so come on already.” He waited for her as she charged at him, as she closed he shifted his weight slightly. As her hands closed on his chest piece, he snagged her arms and rolled backwards. She went up and over him, but he went along with the roll, coming down on top of her with his knee in her diaphragm. It did almost no damage, but it did wind her.
As she lay there gasping, he calmly spun her over and put his arms around her neck. After a couple of seconds, he watched the icon appear declaring her unconscious from lack of oxygen. Instead of letting her go, he looked up at her two friends and held the choke. Her life bar started dropping. “Do you understand that it is never about brute strength, but applied pressure?”
The Defender of Bloodmoon’s group, Waller, yelled and charged at Alburet. The stun Waller used on Alburet caused him to lose his hold on Bloodmoon. Gerald intercepted the Defender with his own stun, rushing over to intercept the attacker. He was stopped a few feet short by the Elemantalist of her group, Icestorm, who froze Gerald’s feet in place. Icestorm was casting again when Karen’s blades sank into his back. “It was a one on one fight until you interfered,” she told him simply as his life started ticking away, due to the poison she had applied to her blades.
Icestorm encased Karen in a shell of ice, turning to help Waller again. He felt his thoughts go hazy and muddled and swayed in place, all thoughts of joining the fight forgotten. Stacia kept singing softly while Gerald was freed from the ice by Bob tossing perfectly placed Fire Blasts. Gerald got to Waller just as his stun was wearing off, his sword slicing across Waller’s neck. Fluff arrived as Waller swung his mace at Gerald. She snagged his arm, her skin flushing red as her Rage was triggered which allowed her to overpower the Defender.
Alburet shook his head as his own stun wore off. He looked toward Ironhand’s group, then to DrBone and the Lunari standing next to him. “You can stay out of it or join in. This is justice for their ways.” Alburet rolled Bloodmoon over and sat down next to her as his allies killed Waller and Icestorm.
Ironhand walked over to Bloodmoon, looking down at her with a frown, “It doesn’t seem right to attack her while she’s out.”
Alburet shrugged, “Rabid dogs need to be put down. Stacia, this one is for you. Bob, Tiny, you can get a piece as well.” His minions descended on Bloodmoon and killed her in short order. While they did, he went into the guild tab and removed the three offenders from the guild. “They’re kicked. They’ll probably still try to come after you guys, though. I would suggest jumping continents for a few days.”
Greenbeard nodded, “Good idea. I’m in favor of the Dwarf lands.”
“Oh, please, the Elf lands would be so much better,” Leggylass chimed in.
“Where will they respawn?” Ironhand asked.
“The fort, so maybe an hour, or less if they run,” Alburet told him as he got to his feet. “Portal and head out, or stick around here. Your call.” He turned to the other two, “DrBone, I remember you. What is your name?” The last was addressed to the Lunari.
The lion maned Lunari bowed his head, “Lambert.”
Alburet started to laugh, “Oh gods, that is horrible.”