The metallic smell of blood in the air was potent, and the brutality of it was even more so.
No normal civilian ever saw such a scene of violence, let alone one of such unexplainable origin.
Brain matter splattered across the ground, eyes and teeth scattered in odd places alongside fragments of shattered jaws.
Their bodies were emptied of all blood, the muddy ground greedily drinking it in.
Many fainted. Some screamed. Others vomited.
"This is a safe settlement. No violence is condoned under my watch." He smiled. "Unless I condone it, of course."
"The rules are the rules, unless I say otherwise."
He waved a hand, and under everyone's shocked gazes, an emerald wave of wind wrapped around Uriel, mending his broken jaw and healing any damage he had sustained.
It empowered his muscles just slightly as well, enough that he could at least move without discomfort.
"Proactive members of the settlement will always be rewarded."
A screen appeared in front of the still-dizzy Uriel.
[You have completed a spontaneous quest!]
[Rewards will be stored in your Ascent Pack!]
…
[•> Quest: Peace and Quiet
~> Objective: The initial assembly must be peaceful and quiet, under the tight care of the Settlement Guide, where all must understand the gravity of their situation.
• Details: Make sure the assembly goes on without issue, or at least try to maintain order.
•> Rewards: {Diamond Pack Modifier}, {Diamond Artefact Card}, {Diamond Pill Card}]
…
The screen displaying the quest was shown to everyone.
Tholyr didn't seem to notice the envious and greedy gazes that fell upon Uriel. He snapped a finger, and the bodies of Lorys and his men vanished.
"Anyway, let's continue."
He crossed his arms over his chest, unbothered by the violence of his act, his pristine suit spotless and free of any gory remains.
"I am Tholyr, the settlement guide. Across the forest, there are thousands of other settlements, each with their own guides."
"Your world, as you've heard, is undergoing change, and with it, you too are changing. While your world physically transforms, you'll be here, fighting to survive and competing for resources."
Just as he was about to continue, a woman suddenly broke from the group, running toward the edges of the plain.
As if on cue, chaos erupted, the crowd dispersing into panicked clusters that fled in every direction.
Tholyr's jaw clenched for a brief moment before he smiled. "Fine."
PAH!
Heads exploded.
Those who had remained silent and unmoving felt their guts churn and their hearts constrict at the sight of hundreds of innocent men and women dying in a single blink.
Tholyr looked deeply at the remaining group, his message unmistakable, then continued.
"You'll learn all the details of what's going on; your status screens, your abilities, and everything else, in due time."
"But first, let me welcome you. Truly. To the settlement."
With childish joy, something that only made him more terrifying, Tholyr clapped his hands.
BANG!
The corpses littering the plain vanished, though that wasn't what caught the survivors' attention.
From the ground itself, a city, grand and sprawling, formed in real time.
The plains evened beneath the might of a potent spectral force, grass and trees uprooted and replaced by thick, heavy stone that settled to form solid ground.
From the skies, tall and massive walls descended, encasing the area in a protective bastion.
Within those walls, a gate formed, gigantic and forged of dark steel. It flung open, revealing more incomprehensible magic at work.
At the center of the settlement, a grand sculpted fountain emerged, radiant blue water jetting skyward.
All around it, a city rapidly took shape.
One district rose with tall, elaborate housing. Another formed into strange cube-like structures of dark blue steel. Shops appeared throughout the city in neat, deliberate patterns.
Then, within the empty buildings, people began to appear, each carrying the same uncanny air Tholyr possessed.
Tholyr laughed, glee overflowing.
"Who's up for a tour?!"
He clapped his hands once more, and suddenly a gigantic topless carriage appeared, pulled by hulking horses, its cabin lined with rows of seats.
"Jump in!" Tholyr roared as he rushed to the conductor's position.
Those left alive were confused, shaken, and terrified, but having learned their lesson, they ran, boarding the carriage with unmatched speed, silent and efficient.
"Let's go!"
…
The carriage had two sides, each filled with rows of seats, separated by a narrow passageway that ran its full length.
Uriel sat at the very back, alone. He slid into the last seat in the corner, close to the 'window,' and leaned against the old wood.
Unsurprisingly, everyone avoided him, much to his dismay. With so many dead, there was ample space, entire rows where he was the only one seated.
It was…disheartening.
'Well, how unlucky. I thought the diplomatic approach might earn me some bonus points, but alas…' He softly rubbed his healed jaw. '…maybe I should've been more tactful.'
He pursed his lips. 'What kind of general randomly punches a civilian trying to help, anyway…'
He thought for a moment. 'I guess they could've just been cons. Maybe.'
'Quite convincing, though. What was the plan there, exactly?'
'Antagonize a floating, inhuman entity and then…do what? It was a bit too caricatural. Almost scripted.'
'If I wanted a group of lesser life forms to listen without defiance, I wouldn't be against staging an execution to—'
Uriel didn't notice that, lost in thought, someone had walked over and sat beside him.
The sensation was so strange that it snapped him out of his spiraling thoughts. He turned, looking at who had chosen to sit so close in a sea of empty seats.
It was a young man.
With layered, slicked-back dark brown hair and a sharply defined face, he was quite handsome, the charismatic smile on his lips only amplifying his presence.
His eyes were a deep green, contrasted by dark rings that pulsed in slow, enchanting cycles.
Uriel had never seen him before, but he recognized the potent cologne immediately.
"Enoch?"