The Systemic Lands (Dark Progressive LITRPG)

It was predawn on day 55. The last couple of days had been quite lucrative. I had to use my pack in addition to Alex's to hold the large number of crystals he had picked up. I had earned 215, 397, 412, 409, and 401 crystals over the last 5 days, respectively, putting me at 1,834 crystals.

I made my way back to the plaza. Alex had kept up, if barely. He was breathing louder than a fan the entire time, but he kept up.

We reached the plaza and Evaline was there waiting.

"Evaline," I greeted her.

"Michael."

"What's new?" I asked.

"Well, you have been the hot topic for a while now after that fight. Things are quiet with Red Dawn and Carlos. Some people have gone after the brown slimes. The new arrivals have integrated fairly well. Only a couple of problems. There is a lot of contention over the blue slimes."

"What else?" I asked.

"That is pretty much it." I looked at her carefully. That wasn't much.

"What about the groups grinding? Anything interesting there?"

"Just usual small group drama." I looked her over. She appeared to be doing quite well for herself.

"You clearly had a recent restoration, and you look quite relaxed. There are things you aren't telling me."

"I run an information business. Well, there is one thing. Carl works as a guard for me now." I frowned at that. "He is quite-"

"Shut up." She shut up, and I thought things over. "Was anyone good friends with Hamid?"

"Not that I know of. No one talks about him anymore."

"Is anyone after me?" I asked.

"Again, not that I know of. I don't know everyone's plots and schemes."

"What information are you selling to make crystals?" I asked.

"Just informed guesses about you." I knew my suspicions were right. "You never said anything against it." That was a lie, at least I was pretty sure it was. I had never given her permission to talk about me.

"Who has been asking the most?"

"Patient-client confidentiality." I just stared at her. That was one of the stupidest things to come out of her mouth.

"Really? You sell information about me, but not about others?" I asked.

"You meet with me out here in the middle of the plaza. People know I talk to you, but they don't know who else talks to me. If I talk about them, then there goes my business."

"Evaline, do you know why I hired you in the first place?" I slowly asked.

"For my charming looks." I did not appreciate her flippant attitude. She wasn't taking this seriously. This was life and death and she was treating it like a game.

"To tell me about threats to me. The news was secondary. No one is talking after a fight like that? No one is plotting, not even Carlos? If it was me, I would have ten plots to kill me before the day was done. Now you are trying to tell me, that there are no plots, and you are selling information about me?"

Evaline was silent. I kept going. "Carlos's position is stable enough that I am not worried about what his organization is doing, but you. You need to tell me about the rest of the people running around. Is no one exploring new biomes, or finding new monsters? No one is asking you about my weaknesses?" I saw her eyes quickly glance to the side at that insinuation. I had been paying attention to her eyes, and I counted that as a sign of guilt.

"I think a permanent ban is in order." So she wanted to act like this… Well, she didn't realize the type of pull I had.

"What?"

"Well, you are clever. If I kill you as an example, then everyone will think I am a mindless brute. Like pulling a thread on a sweater, it just all unravels. Instead, I will just have you permanently banned from the store." A far worse death sentence.

"You…you can't do that. I will tell you who-"

"I don't care who is plotting. There are always plotters. That was what was setting me off. I am a super suspicious person, and you didn't point out anyone for a while. The Battle of Blood was a while ago and this fight came up. I think what the most unreasonable paranoid person would do, like me, and then go from there." She just gaped at me as I steamrolled through any objection she might have.

"So, no Evaline. Exile suits you far better. That way your only option is to gather all the plotters to yourself and kill me or die a miserable death yourself. Quite clever, isn't it?" She was silent for a long moment.

"I think you are misunderstanding something. I don't have any specific information—"

"No, Evaline. This is like poker, which I am terrible at by the way. I just went all in calling your bluff. You should have had lists of people and what they were plotting about me. Instead, you have been telling me nothing is happening. There isn't anything to do around here but plot." There was another long moment of silence.

"I am sorry I wasn't active enough in the areas you wanted me to be. I can list everyone who asked about you and what they wanted to know." She was trying to cover her ass, but it was too late. Once you went all in, you couldn't take your chips back.

"I don't know those people, but I know you Evaline. I suggest you run. A bounty will motivate people. What is your head worth? Go fight some monsters and survive outside the city."

"There is no food." That was a good point, but I didn't care.

"Then get strong like I did. Kill your way through hordes of people. I might kill monsters all day, but that means I can't focus my mind on plotting. You were just too obvious in trying not to talk about the thing you should have talked about. Well, this conversation is over." I walked around her, but she reached out and tried to grab my arm. I stepped away and brought up my club. She shied away, making herself look physically weak.

"I am sorry. I should have known better."

I shook my head at that. It was too late. Once trust was broken, there was no easy way to rebuild it.

"Yes, you should have. Now your only worth to me is making an example of people who plot in any way against me. I can't root out all the rats, but I can give them a good scare until I am too strong to mess with." I glared at her.

She said nothing else as I made my way to the guards at the pillars.

"Trouble?" the Captain asked me after Evaline ran off.

"A bit. It is time to settle our debt. Alex held up his end of the deal." The captain gave him a thumbs up and Alex gave a weak grin. I got out 100 crystals and gave them to the Captain. Next, I took Alex's pack and claimed all the crystals, except 80.

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"This is yours. 80 crystals. You can cash them in, with no tax for now. If you are interested in still working for me, then stay. Otherwise, you are free to go. I also hope you don't talk about me." He gave me a look of pure fear. I then turned to the guard Captain while Alex was busy.

"I want to ban the woman Evaline from the pillars and have a bounty to place on her head." He gave me a look and then a look where she ran off. "This is to send a message, which I hope you can spread as well. Don't plot with people against me. That's the message."

"I can get that spread around. Carlos said the pillars are open to everyone as long as they pay the tax."

"I wouldn't want to go against what Carlos said. Then I will pay 200 crystals for her head as a criminal. You don't have a problem with that, do you?"

"No. No problem, Sicario." I noted several of the guards were looking in the direction she ran off in.

"You know her face right?" I asked.

"Yes, I have seen her around several times. She sticks around the plaza most of the day."

"Then bring over your pack. I am going to give you 220 crystals. The 200 is to pay out the bounty and the 20 is for you to handle it. You can handle it right?" I stared at him, and he quickly nodded.

"Yes, Sicario."

"Good. If Carlos has an issue with this, I will talk to him in five days. I expect results in five days or the crystals back. The bounty is tax-free since I am posting it." He nodded at that.

He put me in a death match, so he could deal with me doing this.

"Good, then she can die a dog's death. Feel free to spread that around as well," I said.

"Yes, of course." Alex then walked back over.

"You sticking around?" I asked him.

"Um, are we leaving again today?"

"Yes, right after I am done here. You coming or staying? Well, think it over until I am done with the store." I went over and cashed in all my remaining crystals. The 1,434 crystals gave me 7,170 points, putting me at 11,653.

I purchased a restoration for 116 points. Then food and water for 40 points. The store was supposed to be upgraded today, but apparently, it hadn't taken place. Carlos probably wanted a ceremony or something. I felt annoyed and tired because of Evaline and I wasn't in the mood to socialize in any way at the moment.

I purchased 10 upgrades for 6,255 points and put them all into Mind. It was hard to describe the feeling, but it was like a headache I never had disappeared, making it easier to think. It was hard to tell, and could just be a placebo effect. Still, it was nice to think the stat upgrade was making my mind better. That left me with 5,242 points and no crystals. I lifted my hands off the pillar and put away my food into my pack. The water was automatically put into the available containers as I mentally selected them and they were in range.

"So, decide yet?" I asked Alex.

"Just the wolves? Nothing else?" He asked.

"I was thinking the slime dungeon."

"That…that is pretty dangerous from what I have heard."

"It is. But if you last through it, then I could pay out 100 crystals." He seemed to think on that.

"I don't have to fight?"

"Just carry torches and keep them lit. I will handle the fighting."

"Alright." I looked at the guards nearby.

"My destination had better not be spread around, alright? If anyone asks, say I went after wolves again."

They quickly gave affirmatives and promises to do what I asked. I purchased 7 torches for 3,500 points and an extra sword for 500 points. The torches went into Alex's pack. I was glad the swords came with a basic sheathe and stuck them in my pack.

"Alright, let's go. Good luck with the bounty, gentleman. I hope one of you collects on it," I said to the guards as we left. They gave me affirmatives as I left with Alex in tow.

We moved through the city. Thankfully, no one was up besides the few guards before dawn. That was a big reason why it was my favorite time. We reached the slime gate as dawn broke and quickly left.

I decided to push myself. If this didn't work, I would become a hermit for a while. The bounty was a message and would stir up the nest of rats. I would have to either get more powerful or avoid the rats so I didn't get bitten. I mentally cursed Evaline for the hundredth time.

Making me waste over 1,000 points on her and creating a huge mess. She was just too obvious about it or tired. Probably mentally tired of having to wake up that early to meet with me. She was overconfident, and now she was reaping the consequences.

I killed some blue slimes on the way, and Alex picked up the crystals. It was time to focus on the task ahead. We reached the slime dungeon, and I cleared the blue slimes around it. After that, I walked Alex through what he was supposed to do and made him repeat it back to me.

With that done, he lit a torch with the fire starter, and we entered the dungeon. When we came to the intersection, I went and took the branch to the left and back. There were brown slimes again, which I quickly killed.

Alex grabbed the crystals, and we reached the dimly lit cavern with the glowing pool of water. I stabbed my sword into the ground and got out my club. I began clearing the blue and brown slimes, leaving the few green slimes alone and staying away from the pool.

Once I got to a green slime, I hit it with the club and shielded myself. I quickly retreated as the fluid that came out of the slime evaporated into a green-tinged cloud around the slime. Poison gas slimes? Just great. A bow and arrow would probably work best, but I was out of luck since I hadn't purchased them from the store.

I checked the tunnel, but nothing was coming down it. I began rotating through the green slimes using a sword. It took a small nick before I moved on to the next one. I made sure to stay out of range of the poison gas. I cleared out the rest of the slimes and Alex put away the crystals. With the monsters cleared out and triple-checking, I felt safe enough to check the pool of liquid. I poked it with my club and quickly backed away.

It didn't look like a slime, but I wasn't so sure anymore. The pool was super suspicious.

After the poke, there were ripples, and the entire thing began rising as a massive blue slime. It was about the size of two yoga balls pushed together. I noted the amount of fluid had either decreased or been compressed based on the size of the pool compared to the slime. Another mini-boss, here we go. It suddenly flattened down again, and I backed up a bit more just in case.

It suddenly sprang into the air towards me. I almost shit myself as I ran to the side. I could feel the ground shake a bit as the large monster landed. It spilled no fluid in the movement. It flattened out again. I rushed towards it and to the side. It leapt up into the air.

The blue super slime couldn't angle its leaps very well. I confirmed this as it landed past me. It had a hard time adjusting once it committed to a jump. I turned towards it and swung out to the side with my club. My attack hit the side of the slime and bounced off. Only a small bit of fluid leaked out before it quickly stopped. It can heal as well. Wonderful.

It leapt for me again, and I ran. I tossed the club to the ground away from me and picked up my sword. I kept moving, as the slime kept chasing me relentlessly. I waited for another leap, then stabbed the sword into it, dragging the sword towards me through the slime to leave a large gash.

The cut didn't get far before the blade just melted and I let the hilt go. However, it was enough to leave a deep gash. Blue slime acid gushed out. I retreated backward and picked up my club again.

I then beat on the slime as it quickly shrank down. I didn't want to give it a chance to heal or waste my last sword. The slime finally stopped oozing. It wasn't bleeding since slime juice wasn't blood, it was oozing. It finally crumbled to dust. The dust disappeared from sight. I picked up the crystal left behind.

It was like the one from the white tunnel mind slime from before, which was only 50 points based on its size. I put it in my pack.

"That was…insane." Alex had smartly kept to the side the entire time.

"Thanks. Good job not dying and lighting up a torch." He had lit up another torch when the large blue slime died since the ambient light it was emitting went with it. He nodded at that, and I went back to where the pool, or the large blue slime, had been. I poked into the ground with my sword, but there was nothing there. It was just packed soil that was slightly damp.

That was disappointing. I was hoping for a chest with loot or something. Not a 50-point crystal. I walked back to Alex. "Keep a torch lit and stay further back from me. If I say stop, whatever happens, don't move forward, got it?"

"Got it," he replied. I switched out my shield for a club. Time to duel wield. Slimes weren't people, so dual wielding here made sense. We went back into the tunnel, and I saw sparkling lights up ahead.

"Stop," I said, and Alex came to a halt. I made my way forward and only felt a slight pressure on my head, nothing like before. The 20 stat upgrades into Mind had been a good choice, since the effect was a lot weaker. I cut the slime with my sword and killed the blue slimes that came out with my club.

The fight was over quickly, and I called Alex to come over. I put the 50-point crystal in my pack with the other one. Only halfway on the second torch and we were making quick progress. We ran into more brown slimes and the occasional green slime mixed in as we progressed through the underground tunnel.

The poison dissipated quickly, after about 100 seconds which was similar to the thorny roots the brown slimes let loose. Alex was forced to get out a third torch. I didn't dare risk the poison, no matter how much faster I wanted to go.

We came to another split. One tunnel went left and another right. I picked the left tunnel and there were more sparkling lights. I had Alex stay back and finished off the second tunnel mind slime. The tunnel continued without any other slimes a little bit more until a set of doors.

I could tell they were doors since the wall was completely flat with a clear line down the middle. Where the tunnel walls were root covered and uneven, this set of doors was unnaturally smooth. I gave a little push, and the doors opened. I quickly stopped, and they closed tightly once more.

There was no writing or any kind or an inscription. Still, it didn't take a genius to figure out what this was. I had us turn around and checked the right-hand passage. Blue, green, and brown slimes. I duel wielded and cleared them out. We were on our fourth torch now. The tunnel ended in a dead end.

There were no chests, items, crystals, or anything else. It was just a dirt wall. I poked the wall in front of me, but there was no secret passage or anything that I could sus out and our time down here was limited. Well, that was poor design to just have a dead end, but this entire place had a poor design, so I wasn't that surprised. I went back to the two doors.