Rewards for the Defence of Spree and the death of Cedric the Cleanly
Commander Class Unlocked, Companion Gem - Himawari Uzumaki, 100 Credits, 5 Gacha tokens.
Great, another Uzumaki. That'll be a fun conversation, hey Kushina this is your granddaughter from the future who will probably not exist in your worlds future since I'm going to add her mother to my harem. Yeah, that's going to go well. Plus she's a actual child, what am I supposed to do with a child? She won't have any skills worth summoning her for... If it was Sadara then I could understand since she's a actual ninja, but what use it Himawari to me?
The Commander class is at Level 0, so I don't have the first skills for it yet, it's a special class with 50 levels, and 10 Charisma per level. Interesting but I need to level it first.
I'll roll the Gacha's now, no reason not to.
Summon Unlock Card – The Agent of Miracles - Jupiter (4 Star Unique)
Adds [The Agent of Miracles - Jupiter] to Summon Supernatural (Fae/Angelic)
Missing Pre-Requisite Skill
Summon Unlock Card – Ignoble Knight of High Laundsallyn (5 Star Unique)
Adds [Ignoble Knight of High Laundsallyn] to Summon Follower (Warrior)
Missing Pre-Requisite Skill
Summon Unlock Card – Ebon Magician Curran (2 Star Unique)
Adds [Ebon Magician Curran] to Summon Follower (Mage)
Missing Pre-Requisite Skill
Summon Unlock Card – Gray (4* Assassin)
Adds [Gray (4* Assassin)] to Summon Servant
Companion Gem - Medusa (Dota)
Summons Medusa to become a Companion
That's... a bunch of things I can't even use. I don't have the skills needed for the unlock cards, or the Summoner Level to summon Gray, whoever Gray is.
I don't remember anyone called Gray in fate, but there were a lot, I may have just forgotten.
Medusa is useful I guess, but I never played Dota so that's just a guess.
I don't actually need sleep unlike Serena, since I am undead after all, so now that Serena has fallen asleep, I'm going to do some grinding instead of wasting the night away.
Extracting myself from her grasp, stroking her hair as she whimpers slightly in her sleep until she settles down I head into the Horde Dungeon, levelling here I come.
- Later -
A well spent night.
I got Thief to 20 and Warrior to 30, I've been neglecting my non-magic classes after all, and being over-specialised is problematic if I have to deal with people who at good at negating magic.
Skill Upgrade – [Pickpocket]
50% increase to success chance if Target is asleep or otherwise incapacitated
[Acrobatics Proficiency (Novice)] (Passive)
Gained the knowledge to be more flexible, allowing you to move more freely
[Light Armour Proficiency (Apprentice)] (Passive)
Gained the knowledge on how wear light armour properly
Prevents DEX decreases from wearing light armour
[Shield Proficiency (Apprentice)] (Passive)
Gained the knowledge on how use a shield with adequate skill
Reduces blocked damage by 25%
[Resist Physical (Novice)] (Passive)
Reduces Physical Damage by 10%
Nothing massively interesting, but it's still useful. Acrobatics is useful for dodging when I'm not wearing heavy armour, and 10% Resistance to Physical damage, which is the most common form of damage, is very nice.
Then I got Eromancer to 30, it was at a 23 and the odd number was kinda annoying me. It was making my Total Level uneven, I like multiples of five after all.
[Bitch Breaker Mode]
1000 MP to cast
Increases the users manhood to... unnatural size, effect scales with Eromancer Level and can be controlled at higher levels.
[Imbue Stretchiness]
100 MP to cast
Makes the targets holes more... elastic, a necessary skill for users of Bitch Breaker Mode
[Create Toy]
500 MP to cast
Creates a sex toy, based on the users desires
[Clean]
500 MP to cast
Causes the target to be cleaned
[Strip]
500 MP to cast
Causes the targets clothes to be unequipped
[Alter Fertility]
1000 MP to cast
Increases or Decreases the Fertility of the Target, can be made permanent if chosen.
Bitch Breaker Mode is pretty ridiculous, I'm already blessed down there, probably 10-11 Inches, I never measured it properly since it was always big enough to get the job done, but this makes it from big to nonsensical, at my current Eromancer level it makes it around 18 Inches, which is stupid and unrealistic, but it scales, the higher level I get the more effect it has...
I'm not even half way through the Eromancer Skill-tree... I can't see me needing this spell unless I decide to fuck a giant.
The other spells are just useful, not massively interesting but useful.
I decided to at least get my new class to 10, the first few levels are easy after all, especially with the INT perk.
Summon Follower (Non-Combatant)
Summon an Follower to serve you, you can only have 1 Follower for every 5 CHA.
Followers can be dismissed and summoned at will.
Summon Follower (Warriors)
Summon an Warrior to fight for you, you can only have 1 Follower for every 5 CHA.
Warriors can be dismissed and summoned at will.
A summoning class that takes from CHA instead of INT is pretty interesting even if that means I have less potential Summons since my CHA is far lower than my INT, but the levels from Commander will be a quick way of focusing my CHA stat, I want to work on my LCK since it's my lowest stat at the moment, less than DEX by over 100 points.
I have to admit that the summons are interesting, less because of their individual skills but because of what they represent. The Non-combatants are the Darkshire Alchemist and the Grimestreet Smuggler, which means the Game has the Hearthstone Cards to the Gacha, I don't care about most of them, but if the Legendary cards were added then things could get very interesting with the right draw.
The Alchemist could be useful even if I'm reluctant to summon someone who if I remember correctly does... something with the powers of the Old Gods... essentially Azeroth Cthulhu, and a might need a Smuggler in the future (through I'd want one less... conspicuous than a Tauren, the giant cow woman isn't exactly subtle in a world without Cow Women.)
I don't remember much about Hearthstone, I only ever played it for maybe five-ten hours? And most of that was on a single player adventure thing.
The Warrior ones are Scarlet Crusader, which is both stupid and hilarious since I'm undead and they are very much not a fan of undead. I might summon them just for the amusement of making them serve a Lich... if I end up in Azeroth I'm wiping the Scarlet Crusade out before they can become a threat, or simply an annoyance... Sally Whitemane can live.
And Winged Rhynos, a rhino bird man with wings and a weird two-sided spiky club... If nothing else maybe it'll cause the enemies to pause in pure confusion?
Moving on.
Then I got my Overlord to 50, that 1000 INT perk makes getting my level up much easier.
[Evil Presence] (Active)
Causes unimaginable pain in the target, after holding them under it long enough the target is Enslaved, forcing them to serve the Overlord.
If this spell is held long enough, it will disintegrate the target instead
Can only be used on targets weaker than you.
Warning, Using this skill will permanently remove the ability to gain Rep Rewards from the Target.
[Minion Master Proficiency (Adept)] (Passive)
As a worthy overlord you can control up to 50 (+10) minions at once
Minions deal 35% more damage, and take 20% less damage
[Sword Proficiency (Adept)] (Passive)
Gained the knowledge on how use a regular sword with considerable skill
Increases regular sword damage by 25%
Chance to land critical hit with a sword is 10%
[Axe Proficiency (Adept)] (Passive)
Gained the knowledge on how use a axe with considerable skill
Increases axe damage by 25%
Attacks from an axe cause bleeding damage
[Dominion: Confusion] (Active)
500 MP to use
Causes the target to attack a random enemy for one minute
[Create Tower Gate] (Active)
5000 MP to use
Creates a Tower Gate at your location.
Evil Presence, the Overlord 2 main spell. I honestly hope the peasants don't decide to rebel for their own sakes, because now I can just break them with exactly zero effort. I won't be using it on important people, I do like the rewards after all but nameless peasants don't have rewards, and that means I have very little reason to not crush them.
I'd rather have them obey of their own free will, but this is my world and I won't be challenged by peasants.
Being able to place Tower Gates is useful, since I can teleport from my main portal in the tower to any Gate, so I can essentially make fast travel points.
I spent a lot of the night trying to work out what the hell I even want, all I have been doing is trying to complete the objectives so I can go to the next world but why bother? What do I want to achieve? What do I want to get?
The answer came easily.
I want everything. It's my greed speaking, but I want treasure, power, land, titles, people. I want it all. I honestly don't think I will ever be satisfied with what I have, no matter how much I gather, but that wouldn't stop me.
This world is mine, the Heroes, the Empire, that asshole running around possessing people, they will all submit or they will die.
Trait [Bloodthirsty], [Dominator] and [Sin of Pride] removed and altered to [Conqueror]
[Conqueror]
It is your right, and your destiny to rule.
Bloodthirsty was the most annoying one to deal with, and Pride was dangerous. Conqueror could be better, or worse than them, it's description is vague enough that I don't really know yet.
I'll have to keep an eye on how it effects me, and my actions until I have it under control.
Today I will be dealing with the Ruborian Raiders, along with exploring the desert for more loot and tower objects, I sent Kushimaru back to the desert carrying some minions, so they could make the gate for me to use without any messing about, I'm sure the Mist Shinobi would be angry at being used like a pack rat, but I also don't give a shit.
Another thing I've decided is that I want to complete the collection, I've got one of the Seven Swordsmen, and the means to get another. Might as well complete it and get the whole set.
Realistically the only important ones are Zabuza and Kisame, the rest are basically background characters. Sorry... water boy? I can't remember Sasuke's pet swordsman's name but he's trash so I don't need to. I remember him wanting the swords for himself and looting Zabuza's grave, but he won't be getting any of them when I get there, maybe I'll eat his soul for his water form skill, but other than that he is a nobody.
Laying in my bed, I smile slightly as Serena cuddles against me in her sleep. I got back into bed after a bath once I got back from my grinding session, and she immediately moved closer to me, it's nice to come back to. She's incredibly sweet for a psychopath, realistically I slacked off making her since I didn't want to design her personality, so I chose a preset called Perfect Loyal Evil Mistress, which is exactly what she is.
Her entire life, and all her actions revolve around her desire to be useful to me, and she has nothing resembling morals that would stop her from fulfilling her duties so things like enslavement and torture are nothing to her. All she wants is to please me, and she hates anything that irritates me, or even just inconveniences me, such as a disobedient stubborn slave girl.
My senses confuse me, I was ready to fully lose my ability to taste when I became a Lich, but not only do I still have it, it's better than it was when I was human... explain that Game? I don't have super senses or anything, but I can taste food properly again... which is baffling since I don't actually need food or drink any more, hell I don't even need to breathe like some air-breathing peasant. I am keeping up the habit since not breathing is a quick way to expose myself as inhuman, it wouldn't be a problem for me in this world.
Abyss, it'd probably help since being a unkillable Lich would scare a lot of people into submission once they became convinced of my immortality, but in future worlds I would rather my inhuman nature stay hidden for as long as possible. Besides, if people know I'm a Lich then they'll start looking for my Phylactery, so it's better for it to stay secret. I'm at 96% humanity at the moment, with no signs of Lichdom on my body, once I get to 90% I'll start eating souls.
Inferna is actually doing good work, she spent most of yesterday slaughtering Halflings in the Arena, gathering bodies, Lifeforce and most surprisingly Gold, I am almost sure that the Arena in the game didn't have gold drops... but I only remember killing beetles for Lifeforce in the Arena, I don't think I really spent much time there since you could get Lifeforce from other places easier.
The gold isn't much, but every little helps and Inferna gathered it and took it to the treasury herself, it was almost 1.5k... she killed a lot of halflings. She'll be a good asset, she's seemingly given up on my title, and she likes killing things.
"M-My Love?" Serena mumbles as she wakes up, blinking slowly as she sits up and stretches, unconcerned about her nudity as the morning sunlight leaking in from the window hits her body, giving me a beautiful view first thing in the morning.
"Good Morning, did you sleep well?" I ask as she lays back down on my chest, her face inches from my own.
"Of course, My Love, how could I not with you beside me?" she asks placing light kisses on my face, as I flip us over and pin her to the bed she giggles, her legs wrapping around my waist as she pulls my hips to her own.
Jewel and the desert can wait, they'll still be there in an hour or so.
- Later -
"Lead the way, Jewel. The sooner your dumb-ass Raiders stop attacking me the sooner you'll be safe from Serena." I say as I summon my minions along with some Gigantes and Water Omotics, this place is too hot and my armour isn't helping, so I'm making the Water Omotics fire cold water into the air to make small showers of rain.
"Of course, My Lord. Follow me." she says quickly, leading the way as I smirk slightly, Serena made her a new outfit, a tiny mostly see-through Belly-Dancer outfit to be exact...
I think I love that girl.
I've also sent Inferna to play with the Halflings, they can't attack me if they're all being slaughtered by a pyromaniac after all.
We encounter some beetles as we travel, but the Water Omotics easily destroy them with their water magic, and here I was using them as eye-candy and a cooling system.
We encounter some Raider quickly, but they retreat before Jewel can even say anything making her frown in confusion.
"Why are they running from me? Weren't they trying to free me?" she asks herself as we watch them flee.
As we travel we come across some sand worm creatures that attack anything that spends to long walking on that sand, but that's easily enough dealt with. Throwing a single minion onto the sand I wait for the worm to resurface, and when it does I put my Evil Presence spell to work lashing out at it, making the giant creature screech and writhe as it falls, I don't really need a giant sand worm so I just keep the spell up until it dies.
With it dead, I have my minions gather the Mana Totem and the treasure chests it was guarding.
"I've never seen anyone deal with a Sand-worm so quickly before..." Jewel mumbles as we finish looting the place.
Moving on we come across some Blaster Bugs that we are supposed to use use to break the bones blocking my way, but my Gigantes can just brute force their way through so I don't need to waste my time luring the beetles around.
We meet some more Raiders, but again they quickly flee as they spot us despite Jewel calling out to them...
"...I'm starting to doubt you're going to be any use to me Jewel." I say with a glare as she flinches.
"I don't understand... they're my men, they should listen to me." she says slowly.
As we move on (dealing with another of the sand-worms in the process) we find a small set of buildings, and a Health Totem along with them, as I send my Minions to gather it Raiders jump from the rooftops, attempting to ambush us.
"What are you idiots doing!? Stop this now!" Jewel shouts in a panic, only for one of them to slash at her, the blade barely missing as I bring my mace down on the bastards head crushing him immediately.
The fight ends quickly enough, they're no real match for me or my minions after all, but it leaves me annoyed. They should have just stopped, that was the whole reason I brought her along after all.
"Jewel. Explain." I say coldly as she flinches again.
"I.. I can't... they should have listened, I don't know what's happening..." she says in a panic, her caramel skin taking on a sickly pale hue from her fear.
Moving on I suppress my anger as I keep going, killing more Raiders and worms in the process, a new tower object soothes my anger slightly but I'm still pissed off. At least I got another Health Totem from this hellishly hot desert...
Heavy armour in a desert, genius play there Kuro.
If it wasn't for the considerable amount of treasure and loot I keep finding I'd go home and call it a day, but my Greed pushed me on as I continue slaying worms and looting everything that isn't nailed to the ground, I need the treasure more than the Raiders anyway, since with the way things are going I'll be slaughtering them all soon. They couldn't just take a fucking hint and listen to their supposed leader...
After killing another Worm I find a large pile of treasure chests just sitting around, I get the Game Logic of it but why would the raiders not keep their treasure together?
Moving in the direction of the camp, I find my next surprise. That wasn't there in the game...
"Jewel, why is there a temple in the middle of the desert?" I ask staring at the structure in confusion. I'm almost certain the game didn't have any temples in the desert.
"I-I don't know?" Jewel stutters staring at it as I sigh.
"Seriously, why did I bring you again? Your men won't listen to you and you can't explain anything..."
"It wasn't there last time I was here! I... I can still be useful, I gathered a massive horde of treasure and jewels, I can lead you to it!" she says desperately as I stare at her.
+10 Obedience with Jewel [90/100] due to desperation
"Fine, but it better be good." I say with a sigh, looking back at the temple, another Game addition? I'll check it out after I'm done with the Raiders. These assholes are wasting my time, their boss is telling them to stop but they just aren't getting the message.
Time to change that.
- Gravekeeper's Spy -
Watching the heavily armoured man head into the distance she frowned, he'd be back. They always came back.
It was their duty to protect the temple and ensure no one awoke the ancient spirit sealed within it, but she could see the interest in the mans gaze as he stared at the temple, and she knew they didn't have long until he returned.
She needed to report to the Oracle. They had preparations to make.
- Holly Underbelly -
Watching the village be burnt down, again, she sighed.
They had no one who could slow down the rampaging woman, the only Halfling who even had a chance against her would be her father, and the Overlord had put a stop to that. The closest thing she had to a plan was pulling the villagers out of the village and then just letting the madwoman burn down the village, returning to rebuild once she left.
She had inherited a doomed land, her father had single-handedly made the halflings the enemies of the entire continent, the humans hated them, the elves hated them, the dwarfs hated them. And most importantly the Overlord hated them.
The Humans were no true threat, the Dwarfs didn't want to leave their mines, the Elves were either enslaved or dead, but the Overlord was very much a threat...
He ruled Spree now, and the idiots she called her men had been talked into joining the attack on Spree by that weird knight, which had just pissed the Overlord off, and now the entire village was paying for it.
In a unexpected turn... the Halflings were in danger of starving, not immediately, but soon enough. Her people had gotten too used to eating countless meals a day, and despite her best efforts they were devouring their food supplies at a worrying rate.
Their farms had been abandoned when her father had forced the humans of Spree to work them for him, and then they were burnt by the crazy lady, even if she could make her people go back to their peaceful farming life they just didn't have the land to work any more.
She'd find the irony funny if she wasn't going to starve to death. Assuming the fire lady didn't kill her.
The farms would recover quickly, and the villages warriors would respawn, but they couldn't actually work the farm land, or take advantage of the hordes of sheep since every time they left their village they were immediately set upon by either the guards from Spree, or the Giant Pumpkin monsters that had appeared.
If nothing changed then the halflings would soon be gone from this world, the warriors only respawn if there was enough halfling villagers, and villagers didn't respawn...
She had to do something. The Overlord had exactly zero reason to listen to her, she was the daughter of one of his enemies after all, but it was her only choice, either he'd listen, or he'd kill her and she wouldn't have to starve.
Not exactly a win-win, but it was better than the alternative.
- Kuro -
Heading into the camp I can see Raider's on the various rooftops, they aren't attacking but they are also ignoring Jewel as she tells them to stand down.
"Save your breath, you obviously aren't in charge any more." I scoff as I head further in, immediately seeing the cause of my problems. "Great, another pretender to my throne... you've got guts little dwarf, but you won't be keeping them for long." I sneer at the small figure of Hakon, another Netherghul.
The small dwarf in his strange clockwork and skulls themed armour glares back with green glowing eyes under his horned helm, clutching an axe in each hand as he sneers.
Behind him I can see five people, four men and a woman in matching outfits, a light armoured leather sleeveless top, and red trousers. More Yugioh cards? I use to use the Dark Scorpions in one of my decks, it's interesting to see Don Zaloog and his guns, I don't think I've actually dealt with actual guns yet. Still, if I remember right, these five aren't strong monsters. They were more specialised in doing effects after they dealt battle-damage.
"I'm glad you finally showed up, ya cowardly bastard. I'll be takin that gauntlet from you, your title too." Hakon sneers as he gets ready for battle, the Raiders and the Dark Scorpions following his lead.
He's just a bit stronger than Inferna, she's an Elite Level 75, he's an Elite Level 80. Don Zaloog is stronger than I expected as well, even though I'm sure he's a 4 star monster, he's Elite Level 50. The rest of his little band of thieves are around Elite Level 30, nothing special.
"I'd say you'll have to take it from my cold dead hands... but I get the feeling that was your plan anyway. So instead I think I'll just say... Labyrinth Wall." I say with a smirk as we are engulfed by the rising walls. I wanted to use Labyrinth Wall since I got it, and it's even better than the card shows, since it actually has a roof stopping people from climbing out.
Normally I'd be just as inconvenienced by us being trapped in a Labyrinth with no exits, but it's one of my summons, I can have it reform however I want giving me an easy path to my foes, and it can lead me to the trapped and separated foes.
Now it's just a hunt... and Hakon I just the prey.
First, I might as well invite some people to join the hunt.
- Don Zaloog -
He was started to regret taking this job.
But when he and his group ended up in a weird place with no idea how to get back, and a weird powerful midget started threatening them they really didn't have much of a choice.
"THAT WORM! I'm supposed to be the one ambushing him, what the fuck is this?!" Hakon shouted striking the wall with his axes as Zaloog winced.
The rest of his group had been further back, and now there was a big ass wall between them... he could see where this was going.
His 'Employer' was pissed, and Zaloog wasn't planning on sticking around long enough for the little bastard to take his anger out on him. The moment he had the chance, he was fleeing, finding his subordinates, and getting the fuck out of here. The Dwarf could fight the heavily armoured man by himself, he was a thief, not a warrior.
- Inferna -
Sending a wave of fire down the tight tunnels she burst out laughing as the useless raiders were incinerated immediately, that's the thing about sneaky types, if you take their ability to hide away from them then they didn't have anything else left.
This was just a fun time all round.
Walking around the corner she saw some girl with a whip, she didn't look like one of Lord Kuro's people so she could die as well, incinerating her in an instant she moved on, pausing as some other weaklings cried out in anger.
"Meanae! You Fucking Bitch!" some irrelevant weakling shouted as she looked them over.
They had matching outfits... that was kinda funny, did they colour coordinate when they were getting dressed?
As a bald one with a large spiked club rushed her she calmly swung her blade, removing his head with ease as she turned to the last two, some dumb looking one with a hammer, and a weak looking one with a dagger.
"...You don't work for the Overlord do you?" she asked quickly making them pause.
"N-no?" the stupid looking one answered.
That's good, I almost thought I'd accidentally killed the wrong people. Die now."
- Kuro -
Hakon's not the smartest dwarf, I remember reading that he was the leader of some mercenary band so I expected more from him, but I've had the Labyrinth lead him in a big circle for a while, his raiders are being slaughtered easily, and I lead the Dark Scorpions straight to Inferna, so they're all dead as well.
I've kept Jewel out of the Labyrinth since she's not a fighter, she can stay with the Gigantes who just don't fit. I have my Giant Soldier's of Stone storming through the maze, they are small enough to fit, barely.
The only note-worthy enemies left are Hakon and Don Zaloog, who are together, so I'll separate them first, as Hakon charges down the tunnel, Zaloog trailing behind reluctantly, I make the Labyrinth raise a wall between them, Hakon doesn't even notice in his rage.
Lowering the wall I calmly walk in front of Zaloog who hesitates before he sheaths his guns, raising his hands in surrender.
"Look, I'm a thief. I rob people, sometimes tombs, and occasionally I have to fight cause I got caught, but I'm not a fighter, you'd kill me without breaking a sweat, I just want to get my men and get out of this place." he said immediately.
"...if you'd said that sooner then the rest of your little band would still be alive." I say with a shrug making him freeze.
"...Ah, well in that case..." he says pulling out his gun quickly and shooting me with a look of rage on his face, the bullet going through the slot in my helm as it pierces my eye, lunging at him, I swing my mace blindly, the blood interfering with my vision, he didn't get a chance to move so I smash him into the wall as my minions swarm him, tearing him apart as I take my helm of clutching my ruined eye.
And here I was trying to be nice...
That hurt, a lot.
That being said, my HP regen is 7k per minute, and that only did 10k damage, apparently it was a critical hit, as I blink rapidly my vision returns slowly, the eye healing from the shot.
Critical hits are purely caused by the location from what I can tell, it's not a chance thing, and he would have had to do that 7 more times, each being a Crit to kill me, and even then I would just come back.
Honestly I'm not even mad, I'd be just as pissed if I lost a group I was close to... at least if I couldn't just Res them... without my Pride being turned up to 11 I'm not really bothered about some damage that was a temporary hindrance at best.
It hurt, but I need to get used to pain anyway, I can't let myself get thrown off by pain when I'm in an actually important fight after all, better to get used to it now than have it cost me down the line.
Rage is for idiots with no self-control.
-1 Reputation with Shiro [19/100] for indirectly insulting him
+2 Reputation with the Game [7/100] for insulting Shiro
...Sorry?
Ignore him, he's just pouting.
...Ok.
Moving on, I was in the middle of something. I don't feel like fighting Hakon fairly, so I lead Inferna to me along with my Giant Soldiers of Stone, fuck fighting him one-on-one, I'll just overwhelm him and beat him into the ground.
Opening the wall I smirk as he immediately charges through it swinging wildly as Inferna blocks him with her sword, he's stronger than her but I can change that, Stiffen Limbs, Ray of Enfeeblement, Grasp Heart.
He survives my attempt to destroy his heart, but not easily, the feeling of his heart being squeezed is enough to throw him off leaving an opening in his guard which Inferna takes advantage off immediately, brining her blade down in a diagonal slash across his chest as she kicks him back, launching a fireball at him as she does.
He's higher level, but he's also being weakened and slowed, Inferna has this as he attempts to rise, his axes swinging as he does, He's better at close range than me, and he is far better with his axes than I am, but that really isn't helping him against Inferna who is almost as good as him, and she has Fire Magic to help her out.
Still, it's a reminder that I need to get better at fighting with weapons, I'm overly reliant on my summons and magic, in worlds without magic I will stand out entirely too much, I need the skills to blend in just in case, I'm decent with my Overlord weapons, but decent isn't enough.
It doesn't take long for Inferna to beat him to the ground, dragging him by the hair back to me as she tosses him at my feet, his helm knocked off and his axes taken away.
"So... you were saying something about taking my title?" I say with a smirk as I look down at him.
"Yur a coward, 'Overlord' hiding behind other people, you don't deserve the title!" he says, spitting some blood up at me, it doesn't go far enough, simply landing on my armoured chest.
"You just aren't worth my time, I take it you aren't going to be willing to serve me?" I say already knowing the answer. He isn't wrong, but I'm not a front-line fighter by nature.
"Serve you? Hah! I'd rather die you beardless, yellow-bellied pissant!" he sneers making me smirk.
"That's a shame, dying isn't an option for you." I laugh grabbing him by the throat as I cast Evil Presence, watching as he immediately starts screaming in agony, writhing in my grasp.
Timing it just right, I drop him to the ground just before he would have been killed by it.
"How are you feeling?" I ask amused as he rises up, looking at me with blank eyes.
"...I am ready to serve master." he replies with no emotion in his tone, I think I held that a bit too long.
+100 Obedience with Hakon [100/100] due to Evil Presence
I will have to experiment with any enemies I don't care about to get the hang of this.
Rewards for defeating Hakon
Dark Scorpion Unlock Cards, 100 Credits
I suppose I can use the Dark Scorpions, at least when I get the Summon Follower (Rogue) skill, they can work as my own personal thieves.
And with that, I'm 50% done with the Netherghul's.
"From now on, you answer to Inferna." I order, ignoring his empty reply. "Inferna, consider him the start of your own squad." I say as I lower the Labyrinth Wall, looking around as I see the surviving Raiders looking back in shock.
+12 Affection with Inferna [12/100] for giving her a minion
+12 Obedience with Inferna [72/100] for giving her a minion
"Jewel, get these idiots to listen before I slaughter them to the last man." I say in annoyance, they really need to take a hint.
"Yes My Lord. Right, you fucking traitors, you heard the big angry man. You can either start listening to me again, like you should have to begin with... or you can join the rest of the idiots who thought they could beat the Overlord." she shouts as the Raiders look around for a moment, before they throw their blades down, kneeling.
Finally, it took them long enough. Could have avoided all this if they'd just taken the hint at the beginning.
"Just this way, My Lord... my treasure horde is hidden over here." she says reluctantly, her fear of me surpassing her love of treasure.
Following her I smirk as she opens a secret passageway in one of the inconspicuous building, leading me through a cave system hidden behind a secret door.
As we reach the end, and she opens the large metal door with some trouble, I grin at the sign of the room full to the brim with gold and jewels.
"See? I can be useful, I'll keep those idiots under control, they won't bother you again, I promise." she says as I look over it all. "The only person with more than this would be Goldo, I never managed to rob him..." she says getting my attention.
Good thing I don't rob people, I just loot their corpses.
"You will remain here, ruling the Raiders in my Name. I am taking the treasure, you are mine, and what's yours is mine as well. I will leave some death knights here to ensure your Raiders don't get any ideas, they will obey you, but don't forget that they report to me, they are here to keep you loyal, not just your men. If I call for you, you will drop whatever you are doing and come to me, is that clear? I'll tell Gnarl to let you and you alone use the Gate I will be leaving." I say calmly, getting a quick nod and agreement from her as I add the gold and jewels to my inventory, it immediately reappearing in my treasury.
+10 Obedience with Jewel [100/100] for keeping an eye on her.
Using some of my corpses, I make 15 Death Knights, having them position themselves around the camp.
44,182 Gold... along with almost 500 random jewels, that's my new total. And she said Goldo had even more... my greed approves. I can't wait to kill him... although he'll be the last of the Heroes I go for since he's trapped behind Oberon and I want to leave him there till I've dealt with William since Williams the biggest threat at the moment out of the Heroes.
And isn't that a nice feeling? The Pervert who can't pull himself from the Orgies is my biggest threat on this side of the world, Oberon's asleep, and Goldo is trapped.
I don't know where the Second Overlord is yet, and I don't know where the other Netherghuls are, the Empire haven't made their way over the mountains yet, I've had my spirits scouring the mountains for imperials, and nothing seems to be trying to cross... yet.
Once the last three heroes have been dealt with, I'll be ditching this world, for a while at least.
"I-is there anything else you need my Lord?" Jewel asks as she watches be spawn a gate in a corner of her camp, so I can get back to her immediately. A fact she clearly understands.
"...Where do you sleep?" I ask... I don't have many tanned girls, and Inferna is a far different body-type compared to the slim dancer build.
- Later -
Leaving the camp, I smirk to myself as I set off towards the temple. I want to know what's in it.
Ruborian Raider Camp added to your Domains
Ruborian Raiders removed from enemies
I can't leave it just sitting around in case it's a threat to me, I wouldn't put it past the Game to have it start pumping out units.
As I enter the temple, looking around in confusion at the seemingly empty building.
Location Dungeon Entered
Rules: No Non-Unique Summons, No exit until the boss has been slain, Command Undead has been disabled
...I feel targeted.
Unfortunately that's pretty much all of them, the Unique summons I have are Erebus, who I summon, the Pumpking and Pumprincess, who won't be much use in this place, the Octobypass who can teleport itself and my people, it's not a combatant, and Gaia Plate the Earth Giant who is far too big.
So this is just me and Erebus, even my Minions count as summons.
Remember what I was saying about needed to be less reliant on summons? I think the Game heard me.
Shiro did it after you accidentally insulted him.
He's a petty asshole like that.
...right.
So, big dungeon, no summons, and no leaving until the boss has been slain.
As I go to step forwards Erebus suddenly pulls me back, just as a black cloaked figure drops from the ceiling, stabbing a sword through the spot where I was moments ago.
"You do not belong here, Intruder... Leave at once." an feminine accented voice says as they prepare their blade again, multiple other identical figures dropping from the floor.
"This is my desert, in my world. I go where I please." I scoff, drawing my mace as they rush me, Erebus blasting most of them back with his magic as I knock the Gravekeeper's Assailant away from me with a swing of my mace, she sticks the landing, bouncing once before she flips herself back upright, charging at me again as I blast her with a Fireball, followed by a Ray of Death killing her.
Turning to help Erebus I pause as I watch him lift the last surviving one up, ripping her head from her body and tossing the corpse away.
"My King, this place is not safe, I will be your shield." he says calmly as he returns to my side, blood staining his armour.
"Thank you Erebus. I cannot leave this place until we have defeated the leader of these people." I say getting a nod.
"Then I will destroy them all, and free you from this place." he says moving in front of me. "But first we should take care of the spying fool..." he says blasting one of the pillars with dark magic revealing a tanned girl in a long black cloak staring at us in shock, as she goes to run Erebus immediately blasts her again, sending her flying. "Pathetic insect..." he grumbles as she falls to the floor, not rising again.
The sound clearly attracted attention as the doors at the other side of the room burst open, countless men charging through it as I glare over them, I'm starting to see a pattern here.
Gravekeeper's Guard, Gravekeeper's Spear Soldier, Gravekeeper's Ambusher, Gravekeeper's Cannonholder...
They part as a older woman in a white and gold robe holding a golden staff walks past them, stopping just in front of them, another younger girl also in a white and gold robe follows, stopping just behind her.
"You do not wish to do this, my Child... what lies in this Temple is not something you wish to awaken." she says kindly, making me frown, I'm in the body of a mid-twenties man, hardly a child. If I still had my Pride I'd be enraged right now...
"I don't have a choice, this place is sealed, and I can't leave until I defeat whatever is in here, get out of my way, or die." I say pulling out my sword as she sighs.
"I see, and we are sworn to prevent the Pharaohs awakening, I am sorry." she says as she sends a wave of light at me, Erebus immediately blocking it with a wave of dark. "One of the Monarchs? I see, I alone will not be enough to stop you." she says staring at Erebus as he glares back, before she turns to the younger one, Gravekeeper's Priestess. "Go, you'll be no help here girl... get the Supernaturalist and the Visionary." she says calmly, making the priestess go to speak, before she stops herself, fleeing deeper into the temple.
As she turns back to me and Erebus she blasts Erebus with light as he easily bats it aside, that was apparently the signal since the large group of men charged us the moment she did it, my mace isn't going to help here...
But I have a cunning plan, Powers of Destruction for the win.
Ruin the Extinct allows me to send small fast balls of destruction at my foes, and Extinguished Star makes a large slow ball of destruction that pulls things in, so what if I combine them?
Ruin of the Extinct Star added
Creating five large balls of pure destruction I send them at the charging men, watching as they get pulled into the gravitational pull of the orbs, it's not as fast as Ruin the Extinct but I can manipulate all five orbs at once sending them whichever way I want as I wipe out the weaker attackers, I put a lot of MP into this attack, but I regen it fast anyway.
"I see, I was worried about the wrong person... I had wondered how you gained the loyalty of a Monarch, but I understand now..." she says as Erebus blasts her staff out of her hands.
"My King is the one who will rule this world, you are but a stepping stone." he rumbles as she closes her eyes, not resisting as I send the balls towards her erasing her from existence.
As I dismiss the balls I get blasted with light, I panic for a moment before I realise that I am mostly unharmed, the magic was weak. Turning to the door, I see the Priestess back with reinforcements, I can't see her eyes under the purple blindfold she wears but I can see the tears on her face.
The second blast of magic from the old man is far more effective, sending me into the wall as I watch my HP drop down to half, quickly chugging a HP potion as I rise, casting again I send a wave of destruction at the older man, my eyes widening as he blocks it with a shield of light.
"My King, I will deal with the old one, I am sorry, but you must fight the others yourself." Erebus says as dark magic rolls of him.
"Understood, kill that old fool." I order as they start their battle, as I look over the other five I smirk, hiding my slight concern as I look them over.
Two white-haired men, both dressed in black, one with a golden staff, the other with a more elaborate gold wand, a man with a jackal style helmet, two woman, one in white and one in black
The white haired man with the wand is the biggest threat, so I'll deal with him first, casting Ruin the Extinct Star again I smirk as they attempt what the older one did, blocking my power of destruction with light, as they do I make the orbs shoot up, simply going over the barrier as all five orbs smash into my target, taste 500k destruction damage idiot.
The other white-haired man screams in anger as he tries to cast something, before he too joins the other guy in being erased from existence...
I love this spell.
As the old man fights Erebus I smirk as I send two of the orbs at him, making him split his attention as he has to block the orbs and Erebus's dark powers at the same time.
He succeeds in blocking mine, but Erebus's spells overwhelms his shield, breaking it as the death magic starts to rot his old body.
I can leave the rest to Erebus, as I turn back to the others with a cold smile, they are all too weak to pose a real threat, and my destruction magic makes short work of them despite their best efforts.
It's a shame since the two girls were pretty hot, but they were also in my way so...
Turning back to the fight I watch as Erebus overwhelms the injured older man, beating him with little trouble.
This is going pretty well.
"Thank you, My King. He was a troublesome foe. If I may make a suggestion, you need more servants... the other Monarchs would increase your manpower considerably, despite their weakness." he says making me frown.
"Weakness?" I ask with a raised eyebrow.
"In comparison to myself, of course, they are all powerful in their own way. Only Ehther is my equal amongst the monarchs." he admits making me pause.
A group of powerful mages at my command? Yes please.
Quest Added
[The Monarchs Awaken]
Erebus believes that gathering the Monarchs would serve you well, gather the eleven Monarchs, the Two Squires, and the Evil King
Objectives: Get the mentioned unique summons [1/14]
Reward: The Mega Monarch Cards, Domain of the True Monarchs Card.
Not sure how to get them, since I got Erebus from the Gacha but I'll definitely work on it, I do love powerful minions.
Moving on we both head deeper into the temple, Erebus killing more of the Spear Soldiers and Guards as we do, it's a small place with barely anything noteworthy other than the Egyptian artwork, and before long we enter the underground, as I disintegrate a pair of guards blocking a large door.
Erebus kicks the door open easily, revealing a dark-skinned blonde man sat on a stone throne, a staff with a golden snake head on the end sat in his hands lazily.
"I take it the rest failed in stopping you Monarch?" he asks with a bored tone, a small smirk on his face, I can see another door behind his throne.
Gravekeeper's Oracle
Tier – Champion
Level – 100
...Ah. Well, isn't this going to be interesting?
- Bonus Scene – The Fall of Sanctuary -
Desperately attempting to block the flames with her magic she winced as she saw her barrier crack and shattered under the onslaught from their attackers.
The last sanctuary came under attack without warning as these strange warriors appeared and almost immediately defeated the elven warriors defending their last holdout against the empire.
Florian had vanished the night before, she was certain he had betrayed them though she did not know why.
"Queen Fay! We must retreat!" one of her subordinates shouted desperately firing his arrows at the green garbed man leading the attackers as he dismissively struck the arrows away with his staff, a black shadow in the shape of a strange horse circling his body.
"So you are the leader of this place?" his voice boomed out as he calmly smashed his staff into the skull of an elf who attempted to ambush him, she could tell that he was dead before he even hit the ground his face caved in from the blow.
"I am. May I ask your name?" she said, hoping he was in the mood for conversation, the civilians from the sanctuary were fleeing through a back entrance, and she needed to give them as much time as possible, though even she did not know where they could go with their last hiding place destroyed.
"I am Kirin, of the Brotherhood of the Fire Fist. My Order has been commanded to destroy this place and all those inside it." he said almost sadly as he stared at her, she could see the pity in his eyes as he did.
She'd thought he would be a monster with the way he carved a path through her men, but he seemed... honourable, that didn't change the fact that he had slaughtered most of her soldiers though... she hide a wince as more of this 'Brotherhood' approached, gathering behind her... she was weak from the slaughter of Light Creatures at the hands of the Empire, she might be able to fight this 'Kirin' but she couldn't fight them all... and as she looked around she felt her heart ache at the sight of her former soldiers, who gave their lives to buy their people time.
She had a handful of warriors left, a dozen at the most. They couldn't stand against these warriors, despite their bravery and they were outnumbered, she could count almost twenty of these strange warriors, each of them stronger than her men...
"I see, is there no chance for us to stop this slaughter? Does your emperor not want me captured?" she asked, making her men stand down. This wasn't a fight they could win.
"No, my orders were clear, destroy the place and those inside it." he repeated making her frown in thought, he'd put emphasis on those words each time he said them.
"And if we were no longer inside the sanctuary?" she asked hesitantly, seeing a small smile appear under her full beard before he squashed it.
"Then you would be no longer my target. I must follow my orders to the letter." he said turning away as he started doing... something with the others, the area heating up to unbearable temperatures..
Taking the hint, she fled running as fast as she could as she ran through the passageway, her few surviving men following her.
As they got out, she slammed the exit shut as she felt a wave of magic engulf her former home, flames incinerating everything inside.
And with that, the last home of the Elven Resistance was destroyed... leaving her the leader of countless refugees, with no home or supplies... it didn't take long to catch up with the civilians, the woman and children were slow to escape, much to her shame they were overjoyed to see her, despite her utter failure to protect them. They looked to her for guidance, believing in her even despite all this...
They had a single warrior for every 20-30 non-combatants. They had nowhere to go, and they had no supplies.
One of the only allies they had was the Amazoness Village, but they didn't have the room to take in all their people, and she'd just draw the empire to them... the Empire didn't really know where the Amazoness's were hiding, it was their best defence, the Empire couldn't find the village. The deep jungles had kept them hidden, and the Amazoness's had killed everyone the Empire had sent to try to find them. She wouldn't be the one to doom them.
Getting a vision from her mistress, the Mother Goddess she paused.
She had one place she could lead her people that would be safe from the Empire... at least for a while. Over the mountains... and towards the new Overlord, a being a Dark Magic and Evil...
She was sure he'd end up fighting the empire eventually, either the Empire would try and conquer him, or he would try and conquer them, and hiding with her enemies enemy was her last choice.
She'd head to the Dark Tower in the mountains, and submit herself to his likely non-existent mercy. She had been the Mother Goddess's champion for many years, and she'd never been lead wrong...
Her Goddess was as weakened as she was, the Evil of the Seven Heroes and the destruction of her followers by the Empire had left her Goddess weak and almost powerless, but she was still a Goddess, and her guidance had never failed Fay.
If her Goddess thought that the Overlord was their best chance, then that is where she would go, her duty was to protect her people, what remained of them at least, and if that meant putting her life in the hands of a Tyrant so be it.
As another vision flashed in her mind she froze. She was ready to accept whatever the Overlord chose to put her through to protect her people, no matter how painful or humiliating... the vision had clear evidence of the fact that he had used her sexually, something she both expected and was prepared for...
The vision was simple, her heavily pregnant on a bed, as she exchanged a loving kiss with the Overlord, a look of joy on her face as she held a hand over her large stomach.
She looked so... content. Another vision flashed showing her feeding a baby girl, the child had a strange aura around her that took her a moment to place... as she did she gasped in shock... she was certain that she was right... that baby girl, her future daughter, was without a doubt the Mother Goddess in mortal form... feeling her Goddess confirm her belief she smiled to herself.
The Champion of the Mother Goddess, Embodiment of Light and the Ruler of Evil, Embodiment of Dark would together bring the Mother Goddess into the world... the Empire was living on borrowed time, they might have defeated the Light alone, but the powers of Light and Dark combined would wipe them from this world...
She had prepared herself for a life under the Overlord, she planned to serve him willingly, but not happily. She expected to submit herself to a life of despair to save her people, but now she could feel excitement building in her chest...
Soon she would meet the father of her future child, she honestly couldn't wait... Light alone was not enough, she had realised that, but soon she would see the power of Light and Dark together.
- The Mother Goddess -
Smiling to herself she watched her beloved champion regain her confidence as she lead her people towards their salvation.
She was far too weak now, those few survivors were the last of her true followers, and they just weren't enough for her to maintain herself any more...
The enslavement and slaughter of her elves by the dwarf 'hero' had hurt her badly, despite the dwarfs delusion that he was serving her in some way. The only thing he and his dwarfs worshipped any more was gold.
She was practically powerless, maybe even more so than the Forgotten God now, at least he could draw power from the souls in the abyss, and she needed to take drastic measures.
She'd looked over every future, and seen her death or defeat over and over again.
She'd lose her power and fade away, she'd be dragged to the mortal realm and slain by the Empire, she'd be slain by the Overlord as he was unwilling to leave any being of power in his world, and this was his world now...
In countless timelines she was pulled to the mortal realm, her powers bound as the Overlord kept her as a trophy chained to his throne, spending an eternity as his plaything. She'd held a special place in his heart as the first Goddess to fall to him, certainly not the last. In one timeline he used her as a broodmare, giving birth to countless demi-god daughters that he raised as his warriors to conquer the multiverse in his name.. her divine mind would break by the end of the second year, leaving her little more than a set of hole for him to use, with her broken mind she would serve him willingly, just to stop the pain from disobedience, and Dark Fay would be the biggest source of her suffering, gleefully breaking her former Goddess.
She'd searched desperately to find why this timeline came about, and how to stop it, and she'd realised that it was Fay that caused it, Dark Fay to be exact after he used Evil Presence on her, the whole plan was Dark Fay's idea... her revenge on the Goddess who failed her. And the ones in which he killed her were the timelines in which Fay became Ghost Fay.
So she looked why Fay was corrupted, finding that Fay's hatred for Dark Magic would make her constantly resist him, until he lost his patience and just corrupted or killed her. Which would then lead to her enslavement or death, which would lead to the destruction or enslavement of her children, the death of Light itself.
So she'd kept searching, her power fading with each vision as she tried to find a timeline that wasn't so horrifying, and she'd almost given up hope, ready to try and twist things so she would be killed instead of suffering eternally.
But then she'd found it, the Timeline in which she was alive and happy.
If Fay was happy to serve the Overlord, Love would blossom between them despite their differences, he would neither kill or corrupt her leaving Fay the Champion of Light, an angel sitting on his shoulder. And she in turn would not be killed or enslaved, her powers would still fade however.
Her children would be happy under the Overlord, and in time their love of her would turn to love of him as he ascended to Godhood himself, and she would fade.
Unless she took lengths to stop that, she couldn't stop his ascension, and she couldn't stop his conquest, but she could ensure she had a place in his world... a spot on his future pantheon, not as a slave but as his own flesh and blood, she would be reborn as the Daughter Goddess, not a Goddess of Light, but a Goddess of Balance, both Light and Dark, Fay would eventually take her place as the Goddess of Light, and she would do magnificently, far better then she ever did.
With the last of her power she checked the current timeline, feeling herself start to lose consciousness as her mind started to go into hibernation for when she would be conceived...
She was such a daddy's girl... the vision of her competitions with her sisters to get her beloved fathers attention made her laugh for the first time in years...
Wait... why was she naked? Just as her mind shut down, she watched the vision continue as her future self knelt before her father, her hands swiftly undoing his trousers, staring in awe at the hard shaft as she lowered her mouth, taking it between her lips, looking up at her beloved daddy in love and lust as she did.
Oh dear... maybe she should have examined this Timeline more before she locked it in place... well, it was too late now, and it was still better than the alternative. Her memories wouldn't awaken for a long long time, and by the time she did she'd be a different person entirely.
...She really was going to be a Daddy's Girl.
- Daily life in the Multiverse – Serena's Favourite (While Kuro is in the Desert)-
Kneeling in front of her teacher she leaned forwards, letting her tongue sneak out of her mouth as she placed her lips on Lady Serena's wet slit, sliding her tongue into the older woman's mound.
She didn't find woman attractive, but Emely was a pragmatic girl, and the more Lady Serena liked her the better her life would be. As she licked the cum from the teachers freshly fucked pussy she smirked to herself.
Life her wasn't that bad, all she had to do was keep Serena happy, attend her lessons and clean up the tower and she got to live in comfort, there was food available whenever she was hungry, as long as she was willing to cook it herself if she didn't want to wait for dinner time, she had a luxurious bedroom, better than anything in the Village of Spree, and maybe even the Castle Spree, and she was completely safe, no halflings or other monsters could reach this tower.
She really didn't see what some of the other girls were complaining about, not that they complained around her after she told Lady Serena about Esme insulting their master.
Esme didn't like her after she was punished by Lady Serena, but she didn't care. She didn't need the other girls to like her, she needed Lady Serena and the Overlord to like her, maybe Rose as well.
And keeping Lady Serena happy was easy, she was a smart girl and was doing the best in their lessons, all she needed to do was stay close to Lady Serena and help her out with anything she did.
Lady Serena had given her many lessons the other girls didn't get, ranging from how to make outfits to lessons on how to punish disobedience, and she was allowed into the large library whenever she wasn't working.
She was all too familiar with both pleasuring women and being pleasured by woman now, her extra lessons with her teacher often ended with such things, either her pleasuring Lady Serena to test her growing skills in the Sexual Arts, a good slave should know how to pleasure both men and women after all, or Serena returning the favour as a reward for her success, and she spent most nights sleeping in Lady Serena's large bed, it was nicer than hers and it meant she was always available whenever Lady Serena wanted her.
That was the key to surviving in this place, just finding someone powerful and attaching yourself to them, the other girls hadn't worked that out yet (except maybe Tilda, she had to admire the tomboy's abilities after she got the trust of the Overlord himself).
As Lady Serena's favourite, her life was easy. She got the least troublesome tasks, more free time, access to better resources, a better more comfortable uniform and she couldn't be touched by the other slaves no matter how much they disliked her, Esme cornered her once and as soon as the harassment was over she simply told Lady Serena...
Esme never bothered her again.
Stage one of her plan for an easy life was achieved, now she just had to endear herself to the Overlord himself, a task that would no doubt be much harder... she'd paid attention during Lady Serena's lessons on pleasuring male's, practised regularly with the toy she was given, but she wasn't sure how it would go until she actually spent time with her master.
After he had taken her from the halflings she had seen him several times around the tower, but a good slave does not approach her master without being called.
As she made her mistress climax, she drank all of her juices quickly, she didn't want to make a mess after all.
"You're as good with your tongue as ever, Emely." Lady Serena said with a slight pant as she helped Emely stand up. "I've done such good work with you... I can't wait to show My Love what you can do with your mouth..."
"I live to serve you, and our Lord. I would be honoured to show Lord Kuro what you have taught me..." she said hiding a smile.
Having Lady Serena there for the first time would be useful, Lord Kuro was an intimidating man, having her Mistress there would help her stay calm and make a good first impression.
Stage two of her plan for an easy life was off to a good start. Now she just had to succeed in impressing the Overlord and she was on the path for an easy life, honestly being a slave was easy, the other girls would learn eventually that submission was the the best choice in this situation.