The Manaverse

Slatewell Safe Zone

Granite City

Elizabeth Wynters sat down heavily, feeling another mana crash headache building up. Her clothing was drenched in sweat and she just felt grimy. Even though it had only been a couple of days, it was like she hadn't worn makeup in years. She dearly missed the colorful wigs and cosplay outfits she used to wear daily. Now all she did was heal, sweat, and listen to people complain instead of working to change their lives.

Elizabeth had been so excited to get a healing spell from her Skill Orb and that remained true. The pain she felt every time her Mana Points ran low sucked but she was getting used to it. Besides, her mana did recharge pretty quickly. She could easily heal a batch of hunters every hour. It always made her feel a bit better.

Despite the cliche of women being healers in MMORPGs, Elisabeth enjoyed helping people. Not to mention, watching as flesh knit back together under her touch was addicting. Bringing someone back from the brink of death made her giddy and swell with pride.

When Elizabeth was playing online games, a sick part of her enjoyed having power over life and death, deciding who would live and who would die. This was real life, however little it seemed anymore, and that power now felt disturbing, like an immense weight had settled on her shoulders.

These people's lives were now her responsibility and every time a hunter died before she could heal them tore her apart inside. No matter how many people she saved, she lost almost as many, if not more. A majority of the hunters dragged before her were already dead and there was nothing she could do.

It made her feel guilty every time.

"Here. Take a drink. You need a break."

A burly, black man handed her a bottle of water. He smiled gently at her.

"Thanks, Derrick." Elisabeth cracked the seal and took a large swig of the lukewarm water. "Still haven't chosen a new name yet?" She couldn't help but give the man a teasing look of admonishment.

"No. Not yet, Miss Isabelle. As I said, it's not an easy thing to just take on a new identity. I'm surprised it was so easy for you." Derrick said, handing out more water to the civilians in line.

Elisabeth, now going by Isabelle, stood and helped Derrick by grabbing more water and passing it to the next person in line. As over fifty percent of the population was forced to live on the streets of the Safe Zone, Derrick was going to need all the help he could get.

"My sister and I always wanted different names, but our mother made us promise not to change them. The System simply provided a happy medium." Isabelle said with a playful wink.

She hated her original name. It always made her feel too normal. While she respected her mother's request, the moment she discovered she could take on a new name, she had done so. It made her real name feel more special in the process, now being hidden from the world.

"I see. That makes sense. Thank you for your help by the way. You already do so much." Derrick said genuinely, for the third time that day.

"It's nothing. The least I can do." Elisabeth brushed away the compliment as she reached for another bottle. When she straightened with the water in hand, she noticed a reassuring pressure there. Derrick had accidentally grabbed the same bottle. Instead of pulling away, he smiled again and squeezed her hand gently.

"Don't be so modest, Isabelle. You make more of a difference around here than most of the casino's staff combined, and don't let anyone tell you differently."

When Isabelle looked into Derrick's eyes, she didn't see flirtation as she expected , but genuine belief and reassurance instead. She struggled to hold back the tears of relief she felt brewing.

Every time Elizabeth failed to save someone, it hit her harder than the last. Derrick's support helped her let some of the weight go, if only for a moment. She gave him a thankful nod and they got back to work.

An hour later, she returned to the tent with the wounded and began to pour all of her mana into healing once more. She gritted her teeth and pushed through, knowing her shift was only half over.

Elsewhere, just outside of the Slatewell Safe Zone

Granite City.

Brick looked down the scope of his rifle, bringing the massive, monster lizard into his crosshairs. He only had one more clip available for the day, so he was going to have to make this shot count. He moved the crosshairs over to compensate for the wind and distance. He took a steadying breath and exhaled completely. Just before he pulled the trigger, a hand landed on his shoulder.

"No. Let that one go. We have a herd of smaller monsters over here that will produce way more meat." His commander, Fredrick said softly.

"But, Commander, that lizard is about to eat those refugees. We can't just let that...."

"It's an order, Corporal. The mission is to gather more supplies over new mouths to feed." Fredrick's tone was no-nonsense.

Brick sighed and was about to pull up and turn in the direction he was told. His nose crinkled as if he had just smelled something awful. The blue with golden text chat window appeared in his vision.

I say go for it. Be the man you want to be, not the man they expect.

Brick nodded to himself and realigned his shot. Thanks, Auntie. He thought as he pulled the trigger before Fredrick could intervene.

In the distance, a mother and her child were sitting with their backs pressed against a wall. The giant four-legged, frilled lizard hissed and lunged forward. Then the dead monster slumped sideways, a hole appearing in its head and a gunshot echoed in the distance.

The mother looked around quickly before she stood and scooped her child up, running towards the Safe Zone.

"What the Hell, Almight?" Fredrick hiss screamed as he lifted Brick and stared at him, cold fury emanating from the commander. "Are you dense or just stupid? Now the cow monsters are fleeing!"

Behind the Commander, shots began to ring out as the squad began firing rapidly at the terrified cows.

"You can lecture me later. Move out of the way." Brick said calmly.

Reluctantly, Fredrick nodded and let Brick go. Brick immediately looked down the length of his rifle once more and began to slaughter the cow monsters, one after another. A smile never left his lips.

After the area was empty of living monsters, the soldiers all marched out and began harvesting meat and materials, a majority using the ritual. In no time at all, the group had fallen into line and began making their way to the next spot marked to farm.

Commander Fredrick called for the group to continue while signaling for Brick to step aside. Brick did so without hesitation.

Once the rest of the squad was out of earshot, Fredrick looked menacingly at Brick. He grabbed Brick by the front of his uniform and pulled him in close. "Do you realize how many meals you just squandered by taking that shot? How many mouths won't get fed now because of you?"

Brick didn't look abashed or even remorseful. "Why did you join the military, Commander?"

The seemingly random question caught Fredrick off guard and he scowled. "What does that have to do with your decision to not follow a direct order?"

Brick used Fredrick's shock to break the man's grip and push his commander off of him. "Everything. The commander Fredrick I knew would never have let those people get eaten. Who is even giving these so-called orders?"

Brick expected his commander to strike him, to yell some more, something. Instead, the man faltered. He hadn't regained his composure when he finally responded.

"We take Orders from Adam Slatewell now. You are going to just have to get used to it until we hear more from the government."

Brick scoffed loudly, thrusting his gun into Fredrick's chest, making him take the weapon.

"Correction, Fredrick. YOU take orders from Adam. I swore an oath to the people of our country, not a businessman who only cares for his bottom line. I resign my post as of today."

Spinning on his heel, Brick began his march back to the safe zone. He let Fredrick's shouts for him to stop wash over him but ignored them all. Despite the fear and guilt he felt, he kept marching. The chat window popped into his vision yet again.

Your Father would be proud of you.

"I know..." Brick mumbled, the praise not affecting him the way it once would have.

Brick had known his guide from the moment she had awoken from her conversion. His aunt, Bethany, had died minutes into the System's initialization when her pet fish had mutated into something with legs and teeth. Instead of pearly gates, or some other form of an afterlife, she had been given an offer to assist her family in their desperate time of need and had taken it. Her arrival had given Brick immense relief and hope.

Brick let himself wander and decided to take his frustration out on some smaller monsters along his trek back. He had taken to using a bat, similar to Kyle's after he saw how effective it was. When Brick arrived at his room, he noticed Kyle had not returned, but the rest of his squad mates who were bunked with him had.

"Jonny, Randy, Larry, what are you three doing here?" He asked, his squad all rising to greet him.

"Exactly what you are, Brick, my man," Jonny said with his deep voice, grasping Brick in a bro handshake.

"We were just as pissed off as you when we heard you quit and why." Randy's slightly nasally voice added as he too joined the group.

The ever-silent Larry just nodded and thumped Brick on the back, showing his approval.

Brick was left speechless and he thanked his crew the only way he knew how. "Anyone wanna go hunt monsters?"

Slatewell Casino's Boardroom

Granite City

"...so we are at about thirty-five percent towards the current goal with projections having us landing at seventy-three should the collection continue in the current manner." A board member reported to Adam, who didn't respond right away.

When Adam did respond, he was calm and collected, despite the fury growing in his chest. He HAD to complete this Quest. "What do you suggest, Larrison?"

The member who had made the report hesitated. "We could always shift the rations down to a lesser amount. Half rations would jump the projection to ninety-three percent by the end of the deadline. That is, of course, if no new refugees show up."

The cold look Adam gave the man made him quell in his seat.

"I want a better solution. While I would prefer to drop the rations to a quarter instead, we need the population content enough to not act out. Only reduce the non-hunters and non-employees to half rations for now. I expect a more effective solution by our next meeting."

"Yes, Mr. Slatewell." Larrison fell silent.

Adam looked at the next chair and waited.

The older woman blanched, swallowed in fear, then began her report.

"We... we.. are still experiencing tremendous population growth, sir. More refugees keep arriving one after another. We project an increase in population to around... two and half million by the end of the week."

The intense fury she felt directed at her from Adam almost made her have a heart attack, but his expression cooled and he looked past her before speaking.

"And, where are we keeping these new refugees?"

The man next to the woman who hadn't spoken yet jumped in quickly, knowing the price of delay.

"We have cleared out another property to the southwest. After a few more buildings, we should see a fifteen percent increase to those with shelter, Mr. Slatewell."

"Cram a few more into the lesser buildings and make it twenty, Grundson," Adam said, coolly. He turned his gaze to the last member of the board. He wanted some good news. "Todd?"

Matthew Todd looked at Adam with his usual non-expression. He was in his mid to late forties with brown hair that was greying around the temples.

"The mob of monsters to the North East has grown again, Sir. Wish for me to send in the soldiers?"

"Keep to the plan, Todd. You are all dismissed. I expect results."

Each member left differently, with Larrison nearly sprinting out of the room and Matthew Todd walking out slowly.

Just before Todd left, he turned back to Adam. "Do you have a plan to eradicate those monsters, sir?"

Adam smiled softly, his teeth glinting. "Just ensure the bunkers are opened and the chosen are secured."

"Yes, sir. Right away." For the first time in nearly twenty years, Matthew Todd smiled back as he turned and walked out.

Adam looked at the Quest from his Lore Book.

Quest Supplies and Shelter

Objective Gather supplies and provide shelter to those who reside in the [Safe Zone]

Rank Normal [Safe Zone] [Ruler]

Rarity

Very Rare

Difficulty

Hard

Time Limit

6 days, 14 hours, 52 Minutes

Description

Gather enough supplies to feed your population for 14 days. Provide at least 85% of your population with shelter.

Status

Supplies Gathered: 36.3%/100%

Shelter Provided: 31.5%/100%

Reward

Three new [Safe Zone] Structures. Quality and Rarity based on success

This [Quest] is a [Safe Zone] [Ruler] Quest and an 85% completion rate is required for you to retain leadership of the [Slatewell Safe Zone].

Adam closed the System Window and turned to look out over his new kingdom. If everything works out, he will succeed with full marks. He might even land a bonus. That thought brought a fresh smirk to his lips.