Blood for Power: A LitRPG Apocalypse

When we took the elevator back to the city, we came back out at the same place as before. Even after paying Gren handsomely, we still had a lot of money to burn, and I was eager to spend it. Unfortunately, all of the establishments surrounding us were all places to eat and drink.

After a brief exploration, we decided to ask for directions. Most of the people we asked ignored us and kept walking. I guess I couldn’t blame them. Walking around with a sword and cloak with a bird on my shoulder would’ve screamed ‘danger’ to me too, not so long ago.

We were about to give up and just pick a direction when a well-dressed middle-aged man paused to check the time on his pocket watch.

“Excuse me. Would you happen to know where the merchant stores are?” I asked him.

He smiled. “Certainly. They’re in the market district. Head that way,” he pointed east. “Once you’re past the park, you should find them.” There was a posh lilt to his accent which I couldn’t place, and he even tipped his hat to me before continuing on his way.

That didn’t seem like somebody from Earth. Roan did say something about all the residents here being aliens. I went into chat to ask him to clarify that.

Lucas: Where did the humans of the Strand come from?

Roan: This is why you contacted me? Usually when mortals beseech my wisdom, they have better questions.

Lucas: I promise I’ll beseech better later. I’m just trying to understand this place. Between the goblins and the Grayskins, it’s hard to figure out the dynamics of how the city works.

Roan: Okay, judging from the fact that you’re still alive, I’m going to assume you haven’t used the word Grayskin in their presence. Don’t. They consider it to be a grave insult.

Lucas: So what do I call them instead?

Roan: How about by their names? You racist.

Hugo snickered, and when I looked at him, he tried to turn it into a cough.

Lucas: Can we get back to the humans?

Roan: Right. Certain species have visited Earth in the distant past and took some samples with them. Enough to repopulate another planet or two. Thus, you have humans from other planets.

Lucas: By ‘samples’ you mean alien abduction. But what do you know about the humans here?

Roan: Very little. This whole thing was set up for this Tower run by the Officiator several years ago. All I know is that the humans are not Earthlings. They grew up with different customs and religions than you did. Be cautious with over familiarizing. Also, I’m going to be out of contact for a while. Just a little personal business. Nothing to worry about. Is there anything else you need before I go?

Lucas: What can you tell me about the other city faction that isn’t goblin or human?

Roan: They’re rich, powerful, and secretive. Despite those attributes, they tend to appreciate blunt honesty if you’re trying to win them over. You probably wouldn’t have much to offer them right now, so you should keep your distance from them too.

The conversation ended there, and I continued down the street until we reached the park. It was lined with a wrought-iron fence and a gate that lay open. The park looked huge and inviting, with lush green fields and trees. Parents were in there playing with their kids and others sat on blankets for picnics.

It was a level of normality I hadn’t seen since the System had arrived, and I felt myself being drawn to it.

Hugo flapped his wings to get my attention. “Come on,” he said. “That isn’t meant for us.”

He was trying to gently prod me along, but his words cut deeper than he could’ve known. Not meant for us. It was frustrating because he was right. We were still on the clock. This Tower climb had a deadline and if we didn’t make it out in time, then we were dead. Neither of us could afford the luxury of a day off right now. But even if we escaped the Tower, I didn’t know what kind of life would be waiting for us.

I buried all those questions and feelings and kept walking.

After the park, we walked past a cemetery with a large gothic church. Both also had high iron fences around them and gates. Perhaps as a security measure? Gren had said that the goblins usually left humans alone, but that hadn’t been my impression so far. Maybe the other humans here also consider them a threat?

Through the fence, I saw a couple of men in hooded brown robes sitting on the church steps. Gren had mentioned that some of the humans were religious, but I hadn’t realized that he’d been talking about monks.

One of them looked up and caught me staring, so I kept walking.

Past the church were these long, connected blocks of three-story houses and rooms to rent. The amount of people coming and going suggested this was a well-populated area. But as soon as I set foot on their street, everyone felt the need to leave or get inside.

Lucas: Something’s wrong.

Hugo: Yeah, it’s like those old westerns where everyone in town clears out right before the big shoot out.

A group of eight people in brown robes rounded the corner and were heading straight for us. I looked back and saw another ten coming from the other way. Their hands were hidden in their sleeves and they approached calmly.

Lucas: Don’t say anything. Just let me do the talking.

Hugo: Oh, because that worked so well last time with the goblins.

Lucas: Let them think you’re just a bird. That way, if things turn violent, they’ll underestimate you.

Hugo squawked to play along. I rubbed his head to calm him until the monks got close. After that, there was a pause, as if they expected me to say or do something. Me silently standing there seemed to flummox them. But just to be safe, I scanned all of them with Aura Sense. None of them gave off even a hint of magic.

After an awkward moment of silence, one of the monks stepped forward and pulled his hood down. The face was a friendly one. A man in his sixties with a short and well-groomed white beard who beamed at us like we were welcome guests.

“My name is Father Thomas,” he said with the same accent as the man with the pocket watch. “The place you are standing in is part of our parish and thus under our protection. We do not allow trespassers. So you must be a wayward soul looking for absolution.”

Yeah, I’m not playing that game.

“Nope, I’m new to the city and I just got lost. I’m happy to leave in whichever direction you’d prefer.”

Father Thomas gave me a disappointed smile. “Sadly, it can’t be that simple. If we just let you go, then everyone will start doing it. Pretty soon after that, we’d be infested with goblins.”

A few of the monks behind us softly laughed.

Hugo: Are we fighting now?

Lucas: Not yet. We don’t know how many of the humans in the city are religious. We can’t afford to have the entire goblin faction and the human faction both hate us.

“Perhaps I could pay for my travel?” I hinted.

Father Thomas was slightly offended. “We are people of God. We have no desire for greed.”

Hugo: What about now?

Lucas: No, I’m pretty sure he’s still angling for a bribe. You just have to beat around the bush first with these sanctimonious types.

“What about a donation?” I offered. “Surely, that magnificent church of yours requires certain materials and labor to maintain?”

Father Thomas nodded. “It does, but we are blessed with a wealthy congregation. Perhaps as a Tower Climber you would have something more unique to trade, like that sword of yours?”

Yeah, that ain’t happening. I said as much to him and he sighed like a disappointed grandparent.

“You will not leave here unless you comply with my instructions,” he said. “If you do not want to give up your blade, then perhaps you have something else worthy of trading?”

Lucas: Summon the bug and throw it behind us when I draw my sword.

Hugo: Got it.

Lucas: Just try to injure them. We’ll break their ranks quickly and run until we get out of this area. Much like with Goblintown, something tells me these guys stick to their own territory.

I coldly smiled. “As you say Father, I’m a Tower Climber. Are you sure you want to provoke me?”

Father Thomas whistled, and the monks opened their robes. All of them were wearing armor over their chests. Some carried knifes and short swords, while a couple of others carried these lanterns on chains that held a faint green glow.

I drew my sword, but none of the monks moved. It was a group of men and women who stared at me calmly. Just waiting to do their job. Either this wasn’t their first time fighting, or they were so devout that they assumed there was no way for them to lose. Neither option was good for me. It meant I’d have to fight to kill and alienate another city faction.

Also, what the hell was Hugo waiting for?

Lucas: Hey, anytime you want to jump in and summon the big scary bug creature?

Hugo: I can’t! None of my magic is working.

I used Aura Sense again. The lanterns that the monks were holding were emitting some kind of pulse. I watched as Hugo tried to summon something. A gold thread came out of his chest and the lantern pulsed again, causing the thread to disintegrate.

“You are not the first Tower Climber we’ve crossed paths with,” said Father Thomas. “Our lanterns nullify your abilities and, as you can see, the numbers are in our favor. Why don’t you put that sword down and come back to the church with us? I’m sure we can find a reasonable solution. In fact, I think you’d be surprised at what the church can offer you.”

I’d met quite a few gods recently, but never any worshippers. It got me curious as to which one they followed.

“What’s the name of your God?” I asked, taking a different tack.

Father Thomas was briefly taken aback though his smile remained in place. He seemed to find me taking an interest in his religion flattering.

“It’s not just my god, but everyone’s,” he said. “But I understand that the word of them has not reached everyone. Perhaps that is the very reason why people like me exist in the first place. To answer your question, we worship the Harvest Mother.”

I was relieved to hear that they didn’t worship a being that already hated me. On the other hand, I had no idea who the Harvest Mother was. Hugo hadn’t heard of her either. Her name sounded intimidating, but that was par for the course with gods. Most of them carried a name or a title that was meant to strike fear into the hearts of their enemies.

I tried to contact Roan for advice.

[God Chat Unavailable]

Great. Guess we’re on our own.

Lucas: Alright, Hugo, empty your pockets. Let’s see what you have.

Hugo: What? We’re really not fighting these guys? They seem so suspect. Plus, they’re extorting us.

Lucas: I know, but the anti-magic lanterns no longer make this fight a sure thing. Let’s see if we have something to trade first. I’d rather stay on good terms with at least one group today.

“I might have something to trade,” I told Father Thomas. “But this could take a while,” I warned him as we opened up our inventories.

We started with the dead bodies. Hugo and I still had an assortment from our climb, so I offered the priest a fresh Shrikon corpse to start with. The monks were startled when the dead fishman body was plopped in front of them. Hugo had to cough to avoid laughing.

Father Thomas merely pursed his lips and shook his head.

I took back the corpse, and we moved on to basic weapons, armor, and shields. There was a little more interest in their eyes here, but most of what we had was junk, or of such quality that it could be called junk-adjacent.

None of it was acceptable to them.

Lucas: Hey, what about your pocket ship?

Hugo: We’re in a city in the desert. I couldn’t offer it to them without flattening half of the neighborhood. Besides, I lost it on the last floor.

Lucas: Right, I forgot. It’s just that I’m getting dangerously close to offering the clothes off my back. At which point, I’d rather just fight.

Hugo: What about potions?

I almost said no, but I did have something that was like a potion. Something Rare that I wouldn’t mind parting with.

I pulled out the Scarlet Apple. As soon as he saw it, Father Thomas’s eyes were fixed on it.

Lucas: He’d make a terrible gambler.

Losing the Apple wouldn’t be a great loss. From what I understood, the Blood Orchard would simply grow more of them as I spilled more blood. This could be a valuable resource that I could keep growing and trading to others for supplies and favors.

I offered the Apple to the priest, and as his hand reached out for it, I pulled it back. Hugo and I couldn’t afford to keep doing this song and dance every time we wanted to cross through this district. I needed a guarantee from Father Thomas before I handed over the Apple.

“This gets us permanent visitation privileges,” I said. “I don’t want me or my bird being hassled by your people while we’re here again.”

Father Thomas nodded. “Very well.”

I handed over the Apple and the excitement in his eyes made me think that he was getting away with a much better deal.

The monks moved aside, and we left that district for the part of town that was actually labelled the market district on a sign.

“That went better than expected,” Hugo said.

“Yes, let’s see what other problems we could potentially buy our way out of.”