14 Chapter 12: Warmongers

Proving Grounds: Forgotten City, Downtown

1821Y 04M02D 0700H

Just over the clearing, the walls of the downtown area are almost in view.

"Look," Luci on top of the wagon pointed towards the town.The walls have crumbled, piles of corpses scattered around, weary looks all over. Everyone around gazes on them with scrutiny, as they entered the premises. They already know the answer to what happened; they just pass through in silence.

Talks already started as they ventured to pass the ruined gates.

They arrive at the tavern, it was surprisingly still intact, just a few broken walls, roofless but still in service but the once-bustling place is now... silent. Their usual table by the corner was still vacant, lots of dead looks around.

"Should I..." Menan was about to say something when Baby gave him a ferocious look. He slumps back on his chair and sighed. "Waiter, Give us our usual." Acki shouting across the room, taking everyone's attention on them. The group looks away from him.

"What!? I'm hungry." Acki trying to explain.

"There is no waiter, get them your selves." A warrior said from the bar. "I'll get em, y'all wait here." Smirf went to the kitchen, Acki followed.

"So, Captain what now?" Luci inquiring. He moved as Luci woke him up from a dream. "Did you say something?" Plates came in between them. "Here ya go, eat up before us go to work." Smirf interjected.

"Oop, coming through." Acking brings up the rest. "Ate up Acki, I'll just go get us drinks." Acki gave a thumbs up to Smirf.

The door slammed open. A lot of people poured in occupying the vacant seats. "Trouble over yonder..." Menan looking at Baby then tilted his head towards the crowd. "Madre de dios, seriously... did they?" Frantically asking the group. "Yes dear, I think their here for us." Luci trying to ignore but Shiro's bloodlust is emanating beside her. "Calm down,"

A guy in hard leather armor stood up. "Oh, is this not a pleasant surprise... The Spelunkers are here." Everyone started laughing. "What brings your — whole guild into town. Hah ha ha." No one in the group paid attention to him. "Hey, are you guys ignoring us?" Standing beside their table. "You guys still remember us, right?"

"Yes, Former Guild Master Calor," Luci answered lazily. "What you want?"

"Just greeting my old friends that's all." Smiles all around him as the laughter continued in the background.

"E'cuse mister," Smirf beside the table, Calor got surprised and accidentally bump drinks spilling it on him. "Watch it you d..." He notice the black armor move slightly; the person on it glared at him.

"I'm sorry, mister... lemme get a towel." Smirf about to leave when Baby took hold of her. "Eat up Hermana, I'll take care of it." Firmly held her, assisting her to the chair. "Amigo, por pavor." Told Calor. "Tsk," he moves back to his group, whispering curses.

"Who're they?" Smirf asks everyone. "Love, their former mates... probably." Luci swirling her cup of tea. "They left for greener pastures, I would say."

"Their farmers?" Smirf starting to space out, Everyone chuckled at the sight.

"They went to NewWorld, a top guild in whole Acedia. A representative came to guild one day, asking "hey, anyone wants to join our club?'." Menan swaying the fork around, Baby got irritated and slammed it down. "Ow... well, you could already guess what happened next."

"For some reason, we wanted to stick together. So, we did." Acki speaking with a mouth full. Smirf started to look sad. Luci pushed the plate towards her. "Eat up love, it is all in the past... we have no regrets." She smiled and said. "Kay,"

A big shadow loomed over the table. "Sorry, about Calor's behavior, we are actually here to invite you guys to join our family." A guy bigger and taller than Acki stood beside them. "Sorry, but ah think. We're all good, thank's." Smirf bowed humbly at the giant. "Hey, missy you should let us adults do the talking." Bending over, trying to intimidate her. "What she said, that's our decision. You can move along now, thank you kindly." Menan swaying his fork till Baby gave him the look.

"That is unfortunate, but anyone can join... Even you missy can be as strong as I am if you join." The giant offered his hand. "Ah am really sorry, but thank's, am alright here." Bowing her head in humility.

The giant opened up a console looking over Smirfs profile. "You haven't died yet, interesting... Yet, you got not much kills either."

Menan suddenly moves from his chair. "I have never seen that ladle kill anyone. Seriously." He abruptly said it making everyone laugh out loud, even Shiro gave a chuckle. "It's So'liel's kills, not Hermana's." Baby clearing it out.

The giant pummeled the table. "I am talking here, worms." He took Smirf by the hand and drag her up the chair. Mat grabs the giant's arm drag him down making him kneel before him. "That's my princess..." His aura seeping out.

"Did he just say, princess?" Menan asks Baby. "He said priestess," Luci answering, Baby agreed, Acki giving a thumbs up, giving Menan a confused look.

Shiro took Smirf away in a flash. Mat stood up now looking the giant face to face. Everyone opened a console, all their faces in shock.* Undead?*

The giant swept his hand away and stood up as well. "You runt, how dare you!" Fuming in anger. Azaleah sitting on Mat's shoulder sent the giant a duel invite. "Accept or leave dum-dum, we don't want to waste time here." Flinging her hair as she said it. The giant swung his arm as he accepted, Mat just grabs it his left. The giant tried to take back his arm but he couldn't. He recalled his ax from his seat and swung it, hitting Mat on the sides breaking his armor. Blood drip from the ax blade but the black knight stood emotionless.

Mat opened up his right palm. From the outside, his War Hammer came crashing in, breaking the wall and making it collapse. "Hoh ho ho, die dum-dum." Azaleah terrorizing the giant from his shoulder. The giant swung his ax, aiming at the black knight's arm but his blade did not cut through. The last thing he saw was a huge shadow coming over his head.

Acki brought his plate and stood beside Mat. "You killed him, in one blow, I could have done that, but I am eating." The bloody mess on the floor started to disintegrate turning to fragments of blue light. Everyone stood in awe.

"Even an ugly mess like that can turn pretty, what you know." Menan jeering the crowd.

Smirf runs towards Mat checking him up. " Are ya alright?" Mat took her by the hand and led her out the tavern. The group let their smirk be seen by the crowd as they left. Smirf apologizes sincerely for the damaged wall and floor.

. . .

Proving Grounds: Forgotten City, Downtown.

1821Y 04M03D 0900H

Everyone resting around the wagon, under the shade of a tree.

"Y'all am back," Smirf shouting as he runs back to them. Stopped just by the shade to catch her breath. "Ease up love, we are not going anywhere without you." Luci on top of the wagon swirling her cup of tea. Acki rush in beside her. "So, how did it go?" Still catching her breath she flicks her hand a scroll appeared. "Our guild registration form." Baby exclaimed in delight.

"Good work Cat, how much?" Azaleah asking with sarcasm. Smirf smiled as she answered. "About half, heh..." Everyone stared, which made her nervous. "Heh, half of everythin'."

"Doesn't matter, Mhirfa give it to me." Smirf saw Mat sitting by the tree she walk over then sat beside him. Everyone excitedly followed.

"Boss, what's the new name?" Menan asks eagerly. "Here," flinging the scroll towards them. "Warmongers," Menan readout. Everyone sat silently thinking. "Is there a problem you idiots?" Azaleah flying around them.

"Well, this is way better than Spelunkers." Acki hitting his thigh and laughing. Baby softly said. "I was expecting something, you know. Uhm..."

"Something flashy, like ahh... SuperNova Star Guild." Menan acting it out.

"That's a lot to say Menan," Luci sway over the guild scroll. "Warmongers, I like it, honestly... quite foreboding."

"How 'bout we change it to something less forebodin', like the Mutantbuster Guild," Smirf said out loud. "Love, that is so not like you." Laughing as Luci tap her at the back.

Mail came in on everyone. It was a notification of guild name change. "How..." Menan looking around for the scroll but was nowhere in sight then Shiro walk pass him chuckling ominously. "Guess, that settles it." Baby raises her shoulders.

Azaleah spoke up. "Mat, gave you idiots an errand before he slept." They look at him, he was really sleeping. "What is it, potty mouth fairy," Luci ask. "Well, witch... paint the wagon. Put our guild name, war cry, motto, and banner." Pointing towards the tank.

"We have a banner?" Acki stood up surprise. Azaleah scratching her cheek. "Well, prototype banner... here." She sent them mail, now go work."

Everyone stood up.

Baby and So'liel went to town to buy paint, while the boys clean up the wagon including Shiro. Luci work on a spell scroll, adjusting parameters and configurations. Smirf started on her chores.

The paint arrives just in time, as the boys finish up. Luci came over with Nar'vash. "Move over love, this is a grand spell." Luci conjured her Mage Art. "Pink... Grand Scribble," Nar'vash started firing streams of laser around the wagon. Took about a few minutes after the black sphere done its job, the wagon looks like some kind of coloring book.

"Well, what are you guys waiting for... paint." Luci aggravated by their reactions. Everyone had fun, laughing, spilling paint all over, making fun of each other's works. Once it's done...

"That looks nice," commented Acki. The wagon is full metallic grey now, on the sides was their banner. A horse skull around it is written 'Warmonger, Carpe Diem, Fuck Today'. On top, a WAR was written in bold, white.

Smirf teary-eyed said. "It's pluck the day, it's pluck the day..."