Dark Legacy

by Valery Starsky

  Lyan.

  Yes, Master, the voice immediately rang out in his head.

  Please, model me some rags similar to those that the unfortunate people are wearing.

  It’s done, Master, the guard reported.

  Choosing a suitable place for the portal jump—one of the empty corners— and having considered that no one was currently looking in that direction, he quickly went there and curled up, clasping his knees, his forehead pressed to the corner. A few inches separated him from his chosen place.

  It was necessary to note that the ultrashort portals almost produced no sound and light effects, and the ultra-small jumps he was completing were completely invisible—and as a quiet sound as a clap of your palms. His transfer and exit from invisibility came out perfectly: there was no commotion or noise around him. Nothing had changed in the cage: almost all the doomed people were still squatting and covering themselves completely with their holey clothes. Yar slowly approached the prisoners, sitting down with them. After waiting for a little, he tried to correct his rags in order to reduce the penetration of raindrops under his clothing. Soon, Yar realized the futility of his attempts, and he got down to business, scanning all the people in the cage. Finally, the name and characteristics of the one who was needed most of all others were highlighted.

  Yan Machete Level 4

  The helot collar of the 1st category

  * Issued by Avtovo # sz000227

  * Made/customized: White Forest Workshops

  Progress:

  Inflexible (Willpower + 50%)

  Inflexible II (ability: Steel Skin, spell: Bloody Harvest)

  Inflexible III (ability: Bloody Obsession, Berserker)

  Professions:

  Chipper -

  Warrior -

  Reaper -

  Stat points:

  Health -

  Dexterity -

  Strength -

  Willpower -

  Spells:

  Bloody Harvest

  Abilities:

  Steel Skin -

  Bloody Obsession -

  Berserker -

  It seems that the slave collar has destroyed all their characteristics points, all their achievements, spells and abilities were earned exclusively here—in this damned corral. It’s impressive. Glory to the system that you are still here, Yan Machete, Yar thought with relief.

  Yan was one of those few people who stood at the outer wall of the cage and seemed to be talking quietly to one of the other prisoners.

  Yar walked up and leaned against the bars. He heard a quiet conversation.

  “Machete, what do you think? How long do we have to live? Maybe they won’t come in such a downpour?”

  Yan grunted and replied angrily, “You know, Alex, these creatures will come running even if a nearby volcano wakes up, so don’t depend on this.”

  “Will we fight?” the same man asked bitterly.

  Machete laughed nervously. “It’s better than to stand by as meat carcasses. Maybe the system will throw achievements our way as a reward for our obstinacy. It’s our level-up, not a good one, but at least it would be something. The main thing is that elves cannot take them away. Bro, we will fight with these, he showed his fists, until we no longer breathe, until we are torn to shreds.”

  Having knocked his fist on the bars of the cage, Machete continued the conversation, “Don’t think that this hopelessness doesn’t disturb me. I’m fed up with this corral, but we are denied both death and insanity here. We’ll act, as usual, bro. We’ll use our fists against their claws, canines, and weapons!”

  Yar moved even closer to the people and said quietly, “It’s time to change everything, Yan.”

  Machete abruptly turned around, splashes of water scattering to the sides like a fan. He wanted to say something but changed his mind. Yan had seen this face before, but he couldn’t remember where and when. It was clearly not in a cage: there were never such healthy and clean people here.

  Chapter 14. Slavery Collars

  “W ho are you? Why?” He paused. “Why can’t I see your stats, bastard?!” Blushing Yan hissed angrily, many bad thoughts seemed to bite into his brain, like a crowd of local airport rats.

  Yar didn’t react to the insult, he was well aware of the mental state of the people there. He had to show his neck without a collar. While Machete pondered this information, frowning terribly as if falling into a stupor, Yar continued to speak softly.

  “My name is Yar Dark, you must remember me,” He pointed to the memorable burnt-out frame of the plane that served as a shelter for Yar immediately after the transformation. Luckily, this wiry man realized everything quickly and grabbed Yar, like a drowning man caught a lifebuoy.

  “Shit! What news!” Alex said, turning.

  Machete responded instantly, “Alex, shut up and cover us!”

  Apparently, Yan was authoritative, because the man obeyed without a question. Having shifted, he closed them with his back and began to correct his clothes while repeating monotonously, cursing the elves, his fate, the weather, again the elves... and everything else.

  “How? How did you get here?” Machete wheezed softly, examining his companion carefully.

  Yar shrugged, “Do you remember, I promised to return for you? Well, I’ve come back.”

  Yan shook his head, splashing water around.

  “A madman, a real madman. I don’t know... I don’t understand how you get here without a collar, but you can’t even imagine what horror is going on here. Thousands of beasts,” he repeated this word once again in syllables through clenched teeth, “ Thousands! This is hell ! Do you understand? Real hell !”

  Yar sighed impatiently and interrupted the man, “Believe me, today all the beasts of the Underworld will die. I promise you.”

  Yan was so startled that he couldn’t speak.

  Yar Dark continued, “Let’s not waste time. Wait, don’t twitch a couple of minutes, I will take off your collars. Better close your eyes. Don’t make noise. Do anything, even bite your tongue, but don’t make a single sound.”

  Yan froze and Alex coughed. They were in shock!

  The guys are brave, they are behaving on heroically, Yar thought, moving into the Constructor. He had long thought out a plan, he was quite confident in the implementation. However, Yar decided to play it safe and pumped over the probes-manipulators and the cutter to the full, the result was very encouraging and impressing. The manipulators were now shaped like refined hands with long fingers that glittered like lightning. They were as fast as lightning as if predicting Yar’s thoughts. The cutter, on the contrary, looked very frightening: it was a flat, spinning, black hole.

  The Five-Fingered Manipulators 2 100

  The Annihilation Cutter 2 100

  I need to test the cutter on an inanimate object first , Yar decided, he took a pair of slave collars from his space pocket and used the cutter. Something shrieked, the collars fell apart, but the cut was too wide.

  I could have cut a neck without noticing it. Yar measured the collar thickness without haste, it was fifteen thousand microns.

  The man ordered, “The most accurate setting of the cutting, cut only the Liritii to a depth of fifteen thousand microns. The permissible deviation is not more than one micron.”

  Yar tried to cut the remains of the collar right in the palm of the manipulator. It turned out perfectly well: the Liritii collar was cut like a sausage, and the touch of the cutter to the manipulator was not felt at all.

  “Okay. Bless me, System.” Yar instantly moved both people into the Oblivion Cage. Without hesitation, he cut down both collars with one movement. The elven artifacts hadn’t yet fallen to the floor, but the men had already returned to the corral.

  “Well, no one have noticed,” Yar noted, glancing at the liberated Yan and Alex.

  The former prisoners stood dumbfounded and couldn’t utter a word, touching their necks.

  Yar had to say an absurd thing to bring them to life, “Well, guys, I forgot to say th
at I’m taking your collars. It’s an expensive thing, I hope we can negotiate a reasonable price. Anyway, I’m looking forward to a good discount.”

  Yar didn’t give them time to answer, hugged. “The time’s running out, you should ensure order and silence. Bring the rest of the people to me by three, determine the sequence yourself.”

  Yan and Alex nodded.

  “Yar,” Machete said tensely. “Do you have a plan?”

  Yar straightened his clothes once again; water flowed unpleasantly down his back.

  “I do. I also have fifty thousand of the best warriors in the entire observable Universe. Let’s start working.”

  “What the fuck?’ Alex said and got a kick from Machete. After a short period of time everything was fine, there was no noise or panic. The prisoners approached by three, Yan threatened them with his fist, and Yar cut off the hated artifacts. When he finished, the people crowded in the farthest corner from the gate, and Yar said quietly, but so that everyone could hear him, “Friends, we’re short of time. If I understand correctly, then you are the most audacious people who haven’t accepted the fate of a slave…”

  “You’re right, Yar, the most fearless people are here,” Machete answered for everyone.

  Yar spread his hands slightly, “I need such brave people. If you are with me, then send applications for joining the Midnighters clan. I don’t promise that it’ll be easy, but you’ll have much training, and fighting.”

  “Yar, will we get weapons? The beasts will soon come to dinner, we want to fight.” The rest of the people supported him in a quiet whisper.

  Yar was forced to raise his hand and pronounce strictly, “They won’t reach you. I forbid you to interfere in the fight. Your characteristics are zero, you need to work hard to level up.”

  “What’s your level, Yar? I can’t see it,” Someone shouted from the crowd. Yar winced, and the noisy man immediately received a blow in the gut.

  “I said, be silent,” the quick to punish Machete hissed. “Bummer, stupid, think better, the third is your eternal level. Yar clearly has a level higher than one hundredth, since he was able to come here and take off our collars. Of course, you can’t see his level!”

  “Don’t underestimate the enemies and their technology. These collars are the most complicated artifact of Liritii, which cannot be cut off even with the 800 th level. Stop talking. I repeat! I need to distribute the stat points and approve your applications to join the clan.” Yar said.

  He might not say these words, the former prisoners, being under the strong impression of what they heard, all as one sent their requests to join the clan.

  Machete, who was standing close to Yar and had already sent his request, whispered, “Yar, never doubt us, the men are shocked, no human has spoken to us for a long time.” He slyly squinted, whispering, “By the way, what is our clan leader’s level?”

  Yar nodded and answered in whisper either, “A little more than a thousand.”

  He had just finished the distribution of stat points in favor of newbies, when the people shouted nervously, “Beasts! Beasts!”

  Chapter 15. Corral

  “B easts! Ghouls! Bastards!”

  It was the most innocuous things that the former meat slaves shouted, referring to the herd of the monsters who were running for their dinner. The beasts were still very far away, however, and they could hardly hear the cries of the people. Yar estimated the distance: the transformed creatures were still about six miles away from the cages.

  We have a lead of about ten minutes or more, he thought.

  Suddenly, Eva spoke in a pleasant voice very quickly. “Master, I am glad to greet you and won’t take much of your time. I propose to change the conditions of admission to the clan. The Midnighters is a very status-orientated clan. Despite the fact that it has a status of ‘Incognito’, the conditions for reception have remained unchanged for a long time, since its foundation, in fact.”

  “Benefits?” Yar asked quickly.

  “There are drawbacks, of course. However, the newcomers will immediately receive bonuses from the clan. This is a great start and motivation, but it will mean more work, of course. In addition, Lyan and I will sort the new people individually by their specialization.”

  Yar didn’t hesitate: the benefits were clearly greater than all the possible losses.

  “Thank you, Eva. Do your best! I’ll give you and Lyan a bonus.”

  He put a thousand points into “Equipment” and heard the duo happy exclaim, “Oh!”

  Yar was surprised at the quick results of his assistants; it seemed he was distracted for only a minute. The people in the cage had already forgotten about the approaching monsters and rustled together like a swarm of bees.

  Yar, as the head of the clan, spoke harshly and loudly, “I order you not to join the battle, but instead, you need to sit down and engage in a thoughtful acquaintance with your new characteristics. This is your personal matter, of course, but it’s better to think about your actions. By this, I mean the setting and distribution of your stat points. Believe me, the clan’s two virtual superintelligences, Lyan and Eva, can do this job much better than you.”

  Taking a short pause, Yar continued with importance and respect in his voice, “A thousand of the Untouchables, the best fighters of our clan, will protect you today, so please mind the responsibility. Remember! All the members of the Midnighters clan maintain the status of Incognito for obvious reasons. You have already got access to the clan’s chat and the auction in the same nameless status. You also get bonus characteristics from the clan. Congratulations and get down to business!”

  His confident behavior and calm voice had a calming effect on those they had rescued—though most of the former helots were still as if in prostration. It was predictable; there were too many unexpected events: the release from slavery, the joining of a clan, the chat, the auction, and the bonuses.

  Yar used the Tactical Map of Events. Using it to communicate with Uyu, he said, “We are starting. I’m turning on the Universal Suppressor.”

  “Yes, Master. We are ready,” the head of the diversion squad responded clearly.

  The former slaves watched in surprise as Yar pulled out a glowing suppressor and laid it on the concrete of the runway while saying to Machete,

  “I’m leaving the suppressor under your responsibility. Take care of it. Don’t let anyone close, and don’t touch it.”

  “What is this?” the local leader, Yan, asked in such a way that a refusal to answer could have been regarded as mockery.

  “This artifact will allow me to block all communication capabilities of the enemy over long distances,” Yar explained. “Okay, guys, all the roles are distributed, and everyone has their own tasks.”

  Yar went confidently to the corral gate. The people stared at their mysterious leader. They wanted to believe that the impossible was possible. Yar reached the gate and waited. He was alone, like a pillar in the prairies, in front of the approaching monstrous tornado. It looked wild and creepy.

  ***

  “Hey, guys,” someone decided to speak in a quiet, conspiratorial tone. “Does anyone understand anything that’s going on? Damn it! I think I might be going crazy. I have three thousand gold in my account. What a huge amount of money! All my stats have grown noticeably, moreover, I’ve got a lot of spells, such as portal and the twenty-fifth level. The Midnighters clan gave me all these fucking bonuses.”

  Another brave man decided to speak out too. “Pintle, I have the same buzz. I feel like a golden boy right now.”

  “Hey, Machete, what do you say?”

  “Machete, just a hint, then?”

  “Come on, tell us.”

  Many people had similar questions.

  “Hush!” Machete hissed nervously. “It seems, bros, that we won’t die today. Dice, where are you? Come here!”

  Dice was a short, very agile man with expressive black eyes and a face like a meticulous lawyer’s. He was a former broker and got his nickna
me because he had a personal thing left from that life—and these were dice.

  Everyone understood why Machete called Dice over, and so the people came closer and listened diligently.

  “Come on, Dice, tell me what you have managed to find out?” Machete asked his question in a muffled voice.

  “Oh,” the specialist in statistics and calculations said. “There are such unbelievable perspectives on our financial exchange. They are …” He shook his fists. “... breathtaking! I could barely look up from studying all the data.”

  Dice received a tangible knock to his side for this emotional tangent he’d taken about nothing.

  “Speak about business,” Machete hissed.

  “Sure, sure, I will. Bros, everything is covered with a darkness.” The former broker let in mystery and raised his index finger upwards. “There’s something, and this is enough to go crazy. I assure you, lads.”

  He again received a slap for his lengthy speech.

  Dice finally understood everything and continued, “The Midnighters’ clan doesn’t appear toward the top, well, at least in the first thousand. Although we are first on the four most important parameters.”

  The people fell silent, gazing uncomprehendingly.

  Dice voiced the relevant statistics: “They are the volume of the treasury, the development of magical technologies, the individual combat training, and the adaptation. I don’t know what the last parameter means, but I think it’s something significant. To be honest, lads, I still don’t understand why the data doesn’t affect the top ranking. Perhaps their status of Incognito influences the statistics this way? I just don’t know. By the way, there is an unimaginable number of letters in the clan’s mailbox. I didn’t manage to know the attribution, but it seems to me that most of the letters are petitions to join the clan. What do you think of it?”

  Machete scratched his overgrown beard.

  “What a surprise!”

  “Heck,” Alex echoed him.

  Yan Machete squinted and said, “I see you have something else…”

  Dice nodded affirmatively.