Ollie shrugged. "It's part of my Loan Shark Enforcer subclass. From time to time, I get a commission pop up when the System wants me to hunt down someone who owes money. They're usually thieves that have a way of dodging the System—some kind of tech that allows them to move around without being seen."
"Like stealth?"
The other man shook his head. "No, more than that. I mean, the System can't even see them. Apparently, there are a bunch of these buggers running around, stealing shit and flogging it on the black market. They're basically impossible to see, let alone fight for normal players, but my subclass allows me to see them and gives me some abilities that are specifically designed to hunt them down."
Sam narrowed her eyes. "And does the System ever tell you to kill other players?"
Ollie sighed. "No. For the hundredth time, I'm not a damned Reaver. It's just NPCs, or whatever you want to call them. I've only had a few commissions so far, and those have just been to take out low-level thieves."
Sam frowned. "And now the System is telling you to kill the Overseer?"
"Yeah, looks like it. Some of these are optional, but this one's mandatory. If I don't do it, the System will remove the subclass altogether."
"So," Pete said. "You're a Paladin but also some kind of contract killer?"
"Enforcer," Ollie said. "I think it's just a way for the System to clean up rogue elements in the game. It can't find them, but for some reason when the System gives a player this class, the player can."
"You can call it whatever you like," Pete said. "The System is hiring you to kill rogue elements."
"I guess so, yeah."
"And you're a zombie killer," Sam said. "So, a Paladin who occasionally does contract killings for the System and who also kills zombies."
Ollie shrugged. "What can I say? The heart wants what the heart wants."
She shook her head. "That doesn't make any sense at all."
"Children!" Coop interjected. "Perhaps we could focus on what we need to do to survive the next three minutes."
Pete nodded. "Right. Okay, so Ollie, does this contract mean that you have to be the one to kill Greedwell?"
"I don't think so. I just need to make sure it gets done."
"Okay. Then the plan stays the same," Pete said. "I run past the craters and aim for one of the guards, then blow them up. I think the rest of you should stay back out of range of the worst of the blast. Then, you can come running over once the dust settles, we'll finish off Greedwell, get the key, and get the hell out."
"I'm coming with you," Coop said.
Pete was about to object when she continued.
"You'll be too close to the blast to get away when it goes off, and you've only got one shield."
"I have a lot of evasion though," Pete countered.
The little ferret snorted. "Right. And how did that go with the first explosion?"
Pete stood with his mouth open for a few moments, but he realized that he didn't have a good answer. The truth was, he would have been badly hurt if Coop hadn't shielded him from the worst of the damage.
[Nero] I would advise that you take Coop with you, Pete. The changed geography of this floor will force you closer to the Asset Protection Associates this time, and you will have nowhere to retreat to.
"I get it," Pete said, "but Coop will be out in the open. Whoever is driving those Peons might send a bunch of Supervisors after her."
"Wait," Sam broke in. "We were gonna try her aggro ability first, remember? You might not need to get any closer. If she can pull the guards out from behind the security checkpoint, you can take them out once they're in the open."
"Agreed," Pete said. "But if that doesn't work, we need to go with my plan."
A loud thud drew their attention to the other side of the lobby, where a large silver pod had just appeared directly in front of the security checkpoint. The pod looked like it had materialized out of thin air just a few feet above the floor, after which it promptly slammed against the stone while managing to stay perfectly upright. The pod was a little taller than Pete, shaped like an egg and metallic white.
"Gettin' a strong Mork and Mindy vibe here," Ollie said.
Sam turned to face him. "Just how old are you?"
A door slid open at the front of the egg, and a familiar figure strode out, wearing a black suit with silver trim. From a distance, Pete couldn't make out Greedwell's face clearly, but he felt an immediate rage rise in his chest at the sight. This was the evil little bastard who had dangled his mother over a vat of acid, and he was going to pay for that. Whatever happened, Pete would make sure that Augustus Greedwell didn't survive the next ten minutes.
As the former Overseer stepped forward, the egg behind him began to shift, folding in on itself and shrinking, with the sound of mechanical whirring. Two large guns appeared to the right and left of what was beginning to look more like a combat suit. The egg continued to evolve, opening out with armored plating and elongated legs and arms that were similar in size to Pete's.
"I see you, Vault Breaker!" Greedwell screeched, his voice a higher pitch than when he'd addressed them all previously. "I mean to kill you and, once I have done this, I will expunge all record of you from the Ultrimax codex. You will be forgotten and your memory will be—"
"Eat a bag of dicks!" Pete shouted back.
The little goblin blinked, momentarily staggered by the interjection. After a brief moment, he recovered and continued his tirade.
"I will flay the skin from your body and—"
"Gobble gobble!" Ollie shouted, once more short-circuiting the former Overseer's rant.
Now shaking with rage, Greedwell backed into his combat suit, and the white exo-suit locked into place around his body, enlarging his limbs and covering them in metallic armor. A helmet closed down over his face and, when the former Overseer spoke again, his voice was deeper in pitch, booming across the lobby floor.
"I WILL CRUSH YOU, VAULT BREAKER!"
"You are of diminutive size even among a race known for its shortness!" Craig yelled, grinning.
That drew raucous laughter from Torgo and even a chuckle from Grizzle.
"Your teeth lack luster!" Grizzle shouted, joining the insult party.
"Damn," Ollie said. "You guys are bringing out the big guns."
"ENOUGH OF THIS, WORMS! YOU WILL ALL PAY FOR YOUR INSULTS!"
"Dickhead said what?" Sam shouted back.
"WHAT?"
That brought a round of uncontrollable laughter from the others.
"YOUR TAUNTS ARE MEANINGLESS! I WILL—"
Pete notched an arrow and fired it so quickly that he barely had time to aim. The arrow sailed through the air and hit the head of the battle suit, bouncing off harmlessly but with sufficient force to interrupt Greedwell's rant.
"PITIFUL WORMS! THIS WILL NOT—"
Wolfy appeared directly in front of the battle suit, lunging into the air, jaw wide open. The hellhound bit down on one of the former Overseer's arms, and the gun embedded in the limb fired a blistering round of machine-gun fire. Rounds of what looked like Belch Bucks bounced off the floor and ricocheted into the air, flying off into the distance.
Greedwell shook his enhanced arm, and Wolfy was sent hurtling off to one side. The hellhound rolled on the floor, quickly regaining its feet and growling as it ran toward the former Overseer. Greedwell turned both arm cannons on the beast, sending a devastating hail of golden projectiles toward the wolf and ripping through its body before the beast was able to get close.
Sam clicked her fingers and Wolfy vanished, reappearing in front of her, unharmed and growling as it stared at the distant armored form, crimson eyes hot with anger.
"Fuck a duck!" Ollie said, turning to Pete. "This guy's loaded."
Pete frowned. "Makes sense."
"Yeah, but it means that all my shit does way more damage. I get increased accuracy too, and I get a percentage of whatever the System recovers from the mark. So, this could mean big bucks for me."
"For us," Sam corrected.
Ollie shot her a grin. "Yeah, of course."
Before she had a chance to reply, the System interjected.
>> NEW LOBBY CHALLENGE
>> COMMENCING IN THREE...
"You ready, Coop?"
The ferret nodded. "Ready."
>> TWO...
"Okay. I take out the guards, and then we deal with whatever is left of Greedwell after the blast."
The group nodded in response.
>> ONE...
"Now, Coop!" Pete shouted, pushing all of his current funds over to Coop's wallet and triggering his Insolvency debuff.
He was already running toward the left side of the cratered floor just in case the ability didn't work. The ferret ran by his side, her body surrounded by a light blue shield.
[Coop] Trying now!
One of the guards stationed behind the security checkpoint turned to face Coop, its broad smile faltering as it tried to move forward but stopped short.
[Coop] It didn't work!
[Pete] Okay, stay close and watch out for Greedwell's gun and Supervisors.
Greedwell fired a flurry of coins toward Pete, and the projectiles bounced off the floor, several connecting with Coop's shield. Pete triggered his Pauper's Ward, and it was immediately burst by one of the many Belch Bucks flying through the air.
[Sam] Torgo! You take care of the Peons; I'll keep Greedwell's attention focused on us.
Wolfy appeared in front of Greedwell, biting down on one of the combat suit arms as Craig fired repeatedly at the disgraced figure. Indigo chains studded with skulls also appeared, wrapping themselves around the white armored figure as Sam thrust her hands out. A supervisor appeared beside her, but before the specter could attack, Grizzle interposed herself between Sam and the spectral form, shoving her shield forward as she hunched down and braced herself.
While they couldn't damage the specters, it seemed that Grizzle's shield was an effective defense against the psychic attacks. The little goblin stood stalwart as the Supervisor delivered its psychic blows, but the attacks bounced harmlessly off the shield and failed to cause injury.
Nearby, Craig fired three shots from his rifle in rapid succession. They each bounced harmlessly off the slick white armor enclosing Greedwell's body.
"WORTHLESS WORMS!" the former Overseer roared in his too-deep, mechanically augmented voice.
The guns on his combat suit limbs were still firing, but between Wolfy's insistent attentions and the chains that Sam had wrapped around him, the former Overseer wasn't able to get a clear shot at Pete.
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Behind the Overseer, several Peons burst into flames that were immediately extinguished as they erupted into a shower of boiling hot coffee. Balls of what looked like liquid fire shot from Torgo's fire staff and hit one of the remaining Peons, engulfing the figure in flames. The little goblin cackled maniacally, his eyes aflame as he conjured more fire at the tip of his staff and prepared to shoot once more.
The crack of gunfire from Craig's pistol continued, interrupting the constant machine-gun-style shooting from Greedwell's arm cannons. As Craig triggered his Ragged Standard buff, a holographic banner unfurled atop a tattered bone and cloth structure. The image at the center of the banner looked like a castle going up in flames, and smoke rose from the standard as Craig fired once more.
[Craig] That armor is too thick to penetrate! Even with the additional damage my banner provides, I cannot break through.
[Sam] Same here. I can hold the bastard, but I can't break the armor. We need to crack it open.
[Ollie] On it!
Ollie was already running. He bolted down the nearest edge of a crater, legs pumping, maul held in his right hand.
[Sam] Watch yourself! There's coffee on the ground where he's standing!
Ollie either didn't hear the warning or ignored it. He headed directly for the former Overseer, scrambling up the opposite side of the crater and setting off at a sprint as he reached the floor again. Belch Bucks peppered the area ahead of him, bouncing off the stone and cracking its surface as hundreds of the projectiles poured out of Greedwell's arm cannons. As he ran, Ollie zigzagged to avoid the worst of the gunfire, maul hanging from his right hand, body surrounded by a faint golden aura and shimmering each time it was struck by a stray projectile.
Pete caught sight of the Paladin charging forward out of the corner of his eye as he notched an arrow and focused on the closest guard. The two Asset Protection Associates were standing on the other side of a bench that extended all the way to the wall on one side and the reception desk on the other, with only the scanning area as a viable path through to the other side. Pete was still able to see them, though, but as he fired the arrow and watched it fly, he thought he could detect the faint shimmer of something like a translucent plane in the space above the bench.
His suspicion was confirmed when the arrow bounced off the invisible shield and a swell of silver light extended outward from the impact point. The arrow fell harmlessly to the ground, and neither of the guards seemed to notice. The closest receptionist, however, looked up from her keyboard and stared directly at Pete, grinning like a cartoon clown, one extended finger pointing directly at him.
>> NON PLAYER CAPITALIST [NPC] GROUP
NAME: Front Desk Liaison
TYPE: Augmented Hooman
THREAT TIER: Low (Spatial Control / High Annoyance)
>> DESCRIPTION
Front Desk Liaisons are immaculately polite administrative entities permanently stationed behind reinforced reception desks. Their primary function is not combat, but denial. Through a combination of procedural authority, laminated signage, and unwavering eye contact, they prevent unauthorized movement toward elevators, executive corridors, and anything labeled "Restricted."
>> UTILITY & DEFENSIVE ABILITIES:
+| RECEPTION ZONE SHIELDING: The Liaison activates a discreet barrier field covering the lobby area nearest the reception desk and prohibiting access to the elevator.
Effect: Creates a persistent shield that has an 80% chance of completely deflecting all incoming melee and projectile damage.
+| WEAPONIZED SMALL TALK: The Liaison initiates a high-output conversational broadcast across the entire lobby floor by means of an inbuilt PA system.
Effect: Applies a Profoundly Distracted status to all enemies within range for 8 seconds, reducing accuracy by 70%, movement speed by 20%, and critical strike chance by 50%.
>> PASSIVE TRAITS:
+| YOU'LL NEED TO SIGN IN: Enemies attempting to enter restricted areas while the Liaison is active suffer 40% reduced movement speed and a 5% increase to ability cooldowns.
"Shit!" Pete blurted as he notched and fired a second arrow with the same result.
[Pete] I can't shoot the guards. Not without getting a hell of a lot closer.
[Sam] You're invisible, aren't you? Just scoot through the security scanner and shoot them from the other side.
[Pete] Too risky. There's only a little space between the security desk and the elevator, and the receptionists have a shield in place, so it...
He stopped mid-thought, suddenly seeing a path through. The shield that the receptionists were maintaining had protected them and the other guards from the initial blasts. If he slipped through to the other side and blew up the remaining guards, it was possible the receptionists' shield would keep the damage from hurting the rest of Pete's crew. Of course, if the blast killed the receptionists, it was likely the shield would drop, so this could still go either way.
It was a risk, but Pete couldn't see any other option, and time was ticking.
>> TIME REMAINING: 2 MIN 23 SEC
[Pete] Okay, you guys take out Greedwell and the remaining Peons. Coop and I will take out the exploding guards. We'll try to keep the damage on the other side of the reception desk, but be prepared in case we can't.
[Sam] Got it.
[Craig] Understood!
[Ollie] Fuck yeah!
Pete dropped his bow into his inventory and ran, with Coop close behind. He turned just in time to see Ollie go thundering into the former Overseers and slam his maul into the side of the figure's armored head. Bright golden light spread out along the floor in a shimmering spiderweb pattern that surrounded Ollie and seemed to affect the armor.
"I'LL SKIN YOU ALL!" Greedwell roared as Ollie repeated his attack, this time hitting so hard that it cracked the white metal on the surface of the former Overseer's helmet and staggered the figure slightly.
While Pete was still watching, an oversized holographic golden coin appeared in the air, spinning over and over above the disgraced Overseer's head before landing with a single face showing, which had an image of a hammer striking a goblin's head on its front. A moment later, a golden hammer composed of pure light fell from above the Overseer and slammed against the top of the figure's armored head with an accompanying burst of light.
Greedwell stumbled to his knees, the armor on his head and shoulders cracking beneath the strain of the attack as Ollie roared with laughter and swung his maul again. Wolfy joined the fight, sinking its teeth into one of the damaged shoulder sections while Sam's Woe Binder chains continued to pull against the armored body, the strange indigo power emanating from the chain links beginning to melt the metal in places.
[Pete] They can't see me, but they'll be able to see you, and that might trigger the guard's ability.
[Sam] They're after you though, aren't they?
[Pete] Yeah, but we don't have any way of knowing if they'll explode when they attack you. Just stay behind the scanner until I'm in position and keep yourself shielded. When I give you the go-ahead, get to me as fast as you can.
[Sam] Okay, if you say so, Pete.
As they approached the scanner, Pete saw that now both of the receptionists were pointing in his direction. Before he had a chance to wonder what the significance of that might be, the sound of two female voices speaking in perfect unison filled the lobby, high-pitched and with an unnerving, metallic tone as though they were being heard through an old, badly tuned radio.
"Have you ever tried pottery before? My cousin Linda just started an amazing little pottery business. She says it helps her stay grounded, you know? That's important because poor old Linda's had a hard time lately, what with her husband getting laid off and her son jet-setting off to Asia with his girlfriend. She says the clay helps her feel connected to the earth."
The words grated against Pete's mind, slowing his movement and making his thoughts sluggish. It felt like he'd just woken up after a night of restless sleeplessness. His vision was unaffected, but Pete could feel the change, and two symbols on the top of his HUD indicated the debuff that had been applied to everyone within range of the receptionist ability. A bullseye with a cross through it, a foot with an arrow stuck in the ankle, and a crossed-out die and dagger symbol showed debuffs to speed, accuracy, and critical strike chance.
[Ollie] The fuck was that?! And why can't I hit this guy?
[Pete] Weaponized Small Talk debuff. You're just gonna have to push through it!
Once more, the sound of the two receptionists speaking in unison was piped through speakers in the lobby ceiling.
"Word is the executive lounge is getting a complete refit. It's already got the best coffee machines and facilities, but the new CEO is a germophobe, so he's insisting that hand washing stations are fitted to every office and all the doors are going to open automatically. Martha from payroll says it's costing millions."
The words didn't make the debuffs any worse, and Pete didn't think it would make them last any longer, but as long as the receptionists were blathering, fighting the enemy would be considerably harder.
>> TIME REMAINING: 1 MIN 59 SEC
Still maintaining his Insolvency debuff, Pete sprinted through the security scanner while Coop stayed on the other side, darting left and right, shield surrounding her scurrying little form.
[Coop] Don't die!
[Pete] I'll do my best!
"Fuck a duck!" Ollie roared as he swung his maul and it missed the armored Overseer, thudding into the floor and cracking the stone.
"DIE YOU PATHETIC IMP!" Greedwell spat, a long blade sliding out from his left arm as he swung around and attempted to cut Ollie in two.
Golden light swelled around Ollie's body as he took a glancing blow to the shoulder and backed away, cursing.
[Sam] Use your AOE attacks! The accuracy debuff won't apply!
Light burst from Ollie's body as he triggered his Vaulted Reserves area-of-effect ability and chose damage rather than healing. Immediately after, he triggered Ledger Lockdown and, once more, a web of golden light burst onto the floor, trapping the former Overseer in place and dealing pulsing damage to Greedwell that combined with the previous attack.
Ollie moved behind the former Overseer and swung his maul once more, using the pointy edge of the hammer to pierce the armor plating just behind Greedwell's helmet. Even with the added 25% accuracy his Stench of Debt ability provided, the blow landed awkwardly, failing to properly penetrate but still dealing considerable bludgeoning damage and a little piercing damage.
"I WILL RIP YOU LIMB FROM LIMB!" the former Overseer spat.
Wolfy barked, jaws clamping around the same arm he'd been savaging as Sam's chains tightened, deadly indigo power swirling like mist around the spectral links as they began to crack the combat suit armor.
"I WILL—"
Ollie swung again, and this time the blow connected, hitting with such force that the pointy end of his maul punctured the metal armor, burying deep and prompting the former Overseer to cough and stumble as damage continued to flow from the area-of-effect abilities that were still in operation.
Pete missed all of this as he sprinted ahead. The scanner beeped in warning as Pete darted through the metal doorway. Immediately, both guards became animated, pulling batons from their belts and looking left and right, searching for the intruder. Pete's Insolvency held as he ran past the security station, loaded an arrow, and fired at the closest receptionist.
The shot went completely wide, thudding into the desk to the left of the receptionist he was aiming for. They both spun around, grinning manically, arms extended and pointing as they searched for the source of the attack.
Pete's movement had slowed the moment he'd passed through the scanner, the receptionists' "You'll Need to Sign In" ability reducing movement speed by 40% in addition to the 20% he'd already lost because of Weaponized Small Talk. This was different from the sense of slowing down that he experienced when he switched to his Berserker stance, and it felt infinitely worse, particularly because time was still ticking at its usual pace despite his slowness.
>> TIME REMAINING: 1 MIN 25 SEC
Panic screamed through Pete's mind as he drew a second arrow and aimed for the same receptionist. This time he waited for his Coinpiercer charged shot ability to trigger, spending precious seconds in order to guarantee the effectiveness of the shot as he moved to the left and changed his angle of approach. The charged shot ability kicked in long before he was able to move into position, and the shift in location brought Pete dangerously close to one of the guards, making this an even riskier ploy.
If he'd had more time, Pete would have reconsidered the approach, but it was too late for that. His aim was to use the Line Shot version of his ability, firing at such an angle that he could take out both receptionists with a single shot. The problem was, in order to get that angle right, he needed to move within a few feet of one of the guards and, if the shot was successful, the moment he earned a kill reward, his Insolvency status would end, he'd be visible to the guards, and they'd likely explode immediately. He'd have to move the money he earned from his own wallet to Coop's quickly enough that he could drop back into Insolvency without being noticed, but the chances of that weren't good, particularly because he'd been slowed.
No time to message Coop.
No time to change plans and try something less risky.
Pete triggered his Pauper's Ward, hoping that it would be able to deflect the worst of the initial blast damage. He fired the arrow and shifted direction at the same time, attempting to run away from the guard despite the fact that whatever meager distance he managed to gain wouldn't stop the terminal effects of the blast if the guard exploded.
ACHIEVEMENT: Potent Pauper Protection!
Congratulations! You have deflected more than 5000% damage using a single ward. In case you're wondering, if you hadn't used your Pauper's Ward to deflect this damage, the skin and muscle would have been ripped from your bones and likely incinerated before your clattering remains hit the floor. Even with your heightened evasion, agility, and other class and proficiency bonuses, you would have been dead before you realized it. Given that there's still one Asset Protection Associate remaining, chances are you'll be dead in a moment anyway, but well done for staving off the Grim Reaper for a few milliseconds.
ACHIEVEMENT BONUS: Pauper's Ward cooldown reduction, 10 seconds reduced to 9 seconds [permanent change].
KILL REWARD: 1200 Belch Bucks
There was no time to consider any of the details that appeared on his display, mostly because, a moment after he fired, Pete was launched into the air and sent hurtling toward the elevator. While he was flying through the air, Pete shuttled the newly acquired Belch Bucks to Coop but saw that it was too late.
In the precious second he flew through the rear section of the lobby, Pete understood what had happened. His charged shot had successfully killed both receptionists, but not before they'd extended a shield around the last remaining guard, protecting it from the blast of the first.
Pete hit the elevator doors with enough force to crack bone. Pain ripped through his body as he slammed against the metal and fell to the floor, head throbbing, blood dripping from his mouth and nose. The Belch Bucks had been transferred to Coop, but Pete saw, as he pushed himself up into a sitting position, that the guard had already seen him and was approaching at speed.
The only thing that had saved Pete from death, aside from his Pauper's Ward, was the fact that he'd been thrown so far clear that he must have landed out of range of the second guard's attack area. The guard was rapidly closing the distance between them, however, eyes locked on the space where Pete sat. Despite his Insolvency status, it was clear that the guard had enough information to locate its enemy, and whoever was controlling the augmented human planned on killing Pete once and for all.
>> Pauper's Ward Cooldown: 6 seconds
Everything was moving so fast, but Pete was still aware of the fact that his only chance of survival was six seconds away from being a reality. Through blurred vision, he watched as the guard ran toward him, a small white figure darting from behind the enemy and charging ahead, a semi-transparent golden sphere surrounding the small form.
Body battered, the taste of blood in his mouth, ears ringing, Pete watched as Coop lunged into the air, placing herself directly in front of the guard at the moment it exploded, filling the already damaged lobby with blinding light and deafening sound.
A wave of debris flew in all directions, but notably, most of it was deflected away from Pete. Stone peppered the walls to either side, a barrage of lethal projectiles that included thousands of newly minted Belch Bucks. The golden coins spilled out from the center of the blast, a product of one of Coop's Midas Exchange abilities.
Dust filled the air as Pete struggled to his feet. He pulled a medkit from his inventory and searched for some sign of Coop, wondering how the little ferret could have survived when she was so close to the explosion point.
He saw that she was lying on the ground, in the middle of a newly formed crater, small spiraling eddies of smoke rising from the scorched earth and broken stone.
[Pete] Coop?! You okay?
[Coop] I'm fine. Managed to use a shield right before the blast went off.
"NO! NO! NO!"
Pete caught sight of Greedwell, his armored form struggling beneath a barrage of attacks from Ollie and the others. The combat suit was clearly damaged. It was leaking a viscous, bright green fluid from several places, and the metal had been sheared away to reveal the goblin within here and there. Its arm cannons were still firing, however, and one arm boasted a long metallic blade that scythed around savagely, aiming for Ollie's neck.
"THIS WILL NOT DO!" the former Overseer roared as a compartment opened up in the battered armor plating on the back of his battle suit.
Three rockets launched from the newly revealed compartment, each leaving behind a thin wisp of white smoke as they snaked through the air and headed not for Pete, who was still invisible, but directly for Coop.