Sixth Realm

by Michael Chatfield

  "I am over here boy," The lady said.

  Ledell's head turned slowly, seeing her standing there with a smoking wooden spoon in her hand.

  What is that spoon made of? Just looking at it my cheeks hurt! I have tempered the foundations of my body.

  "You will go out there and you will apologize to those nice people in line that you went in front of. Then you will say sorry to Lusia! Then you will wait until I am done work. Don't make me come and find you," Her eyes narrowed as Ledell trembled. All thoughts of fleeing were followed by a tanned wooden spoon wielding demon.

  "Y-yes,"

  "Yes Momma Rodriguez," SHe enunciated with her spoon.

  "Y-yes Momma Rodriguez.

  "Good," She lowered her spoon and turned towards her kitchen, as if nothing had happened.

  ***

  Ledell apologized to the people in line and Lusia, before meekly went to the back of the line.

  He sat down and ordered crawfish boil.

  He forgot everything as he dug in. Once he finished, remembering what Momma Rodriguez said, he hung around. She gave him small jobs to do; help Lusia, seat people and serve drinks.

  People were nervous as he came around but he did the tasks. It wasn't like fighting and he liked how relaxed it was, the organized chaos of it all.

  As the shop closed, Ledell felt less embarrassed and more fulfilled than he had in a long time, working with other people and doing simple jobs it was nice compared to the everyday chaos of his life.

  "Come and take a seat," Momma Rodriguez said. She put down two iced teas as she was outside on a simple bench, looking at the simple road she lived on.

  Ledell moved to the other side of the bench and took the iced tea with both drinks.

  "You might be a good person, but you can't go around bullying others, or else you will turn into a bad person from all that negativity," Momma Rodriguez said.

  She looked tired in the moonlight. A woman that worked every day in her kitchen; preparing ingredients, turning them into fine meals meeting and greeting people as they came by.

  "What is troubling you?" She looked at Ledell.

  Ledell opened his mouth and then closed it, he felt like all of his lies were useless in front of her.

  "I had one son, in our neighbourhood to make some extra money I looked after the kids. I've seen it all and then some. I had many sons and daughters, nieces and nephews. My Boy went to be a fighter and then all of the people he met in the marines became my kids as well. Don't try and dodge the question."

  "I have to be this way, it is the Fourth Realm, if you show weakness, then people will step all over you. I am surprised you are able to run your shop. I have to prove my power all the time so that I can get dangerous jobs."

  "You need to get some friends."

  Ledell drank from his cup, feeling somehow worse.

  "I don't mean that in a bad way, I just mean that if you are always doing things by yourself then it will be harder. There is no one to watch your back."

  "How?" Ledell asked.

  "First, stop acting like a damn ogre. What is with these piercings?" Momma Rodriguez asked.

  "Well they make me look hard."

  Ledell shook his head, he didn't know when the spoon had tapped him on the head.

  "Lose that tattoos, stand straight up, stop hunching, it is bad for your posture! You want to stay like that for the rest of your life? Go and talk to one of the mercenary groups and see if you can sign up, then go on a few simple jobs with people. Get to know them first."

  "But people use one another in the Ten Realms."

  "That they do, watch your back in your line of work. Though I have heard that the Adventurer's Guild and Fighter's Association are good groups."

  "I have to be much stronger to be in those groups," Ledell slumped. A spoon smacked him, several times as he found himself in proper posture.

  "Have you tried?" Momma Rodriguez asked, taking a sedate sip from her drink.

  Ledell was quiet.

  "If you never, try then you won't know what will happen. Others call you a big brute. Don't be defined by others, define yourself."

  Ledell was quiet as he sat there, unable to express just what he felt as his mind started to turn over.

  He felt a small hand on his big shoulder.

  He looked to Momma Rodriguez at the end of it.

  "And don't butt lines for my shop. If you want to have a meal, line up earlier."

  Ledell felt the hairs on the back of his neck rising up before Momma Rodriguez broke out into a smile.

  "Tomorrow go and apply to the Fighter's Association and Adventurer's Guild, then to the other mercenary groups. Then come and tell me how it went, I'll give you a ten percent discount!"

  How do I feel that I am going to be spending all my money here? Though the food is really good.

  Chapter: Gearing up

  Rugrat looked at the store from the outside. There were all kinds of drawings in the window. There were artistic designs, spell designs, formation designs. Some glowed with different mana imbued colors, other were vibrant inks or simple plain inks.

  Rugrat looked at his arm and then walked into the tattoo parlor.

  There were different rooms where people were getting tattoos, talking to the artists.

  “Looking to get some fresh ink?”

  Moto asked, as she pulled on the herbal wrapped leaves. She had designs running up her neck, and down her arms. The lines were clear and powerful. She had piercings along one ear on half of her head that she had shaved off, the other side was longer and half covered her eye.

  The burning incense leaves helped to recover one's stamina and keep them alert.

  Moto looked to be a perpetual half-asleep state.

  "Same again?" She asked letting out a breath, her eyes shone as she looked at Rugrat's arms.

  "Keep looking at me and I'll think you want nothing more than to pin my tattoos to the wall."

  Moto let out a laugh and waved Rugrat back. He followed her and the fragrant smoke, it smelled like rich cherry wood.

  She patted a lounging seat and sat in her own chair.

  "Names in the same places," Rugrat started.

  "Of course, I have an outline for them."

  "Was thinking something of dragons and tigers fighting running up my right arm, leading to my hand. In the web of my right hand I want an American flag. Left Arm, something Tribal?"

  "That could be fun, any designs?"

  "Surprise me."

  "You always give me so many options!" Moto smiled and then pulled out a book and passed it to Rugrat.

  He opened it and saw spell formation designs.

  "What are these?"

  "Formation tattoos. They're new, we combined tattooing, spell formations, formation creation and spell scroll creation. We have tattoos to increase stamina and mana regen, or increase healing. We can't increase one's stamina pool or mana pool, agility or strength, takes too much toll on the body. With those new formation armors then not so useful, though healing and stamina tattoos, useful for any fighter."

  "That's pretty sweet," Rugrat said.

  "Put it right on your chest, over your heart, keep you going."

  "What about power, does it pull from the body?"

  "No, there is a power formation that can link to it so you're not drawing from your own internal power. You just need to have it within a few feet of you."

  "Sign me up!" Rugrat pulled off his shirt and sat back down.

  "Names first," Moto moved the tables around and took a deep puff of her rolled cigarette, putting it to the side.

  She pulled out an outline and placed it on Rugrat's arm. Rugrat read the different names, turning solemn as memories started to appear. He let out a chuckle, patting his shoulder, imaging patting his friends on the back.

  Moto finished up the names and started drafting out different outlines for the rest of his tattoos.

  "It's annoying that every time I temper my body or I have to heal my skin then
I remove the tattoos," Rugrat complained.

  "As if? You can change what kind of tattoos you have all the time. Pretty sweet, more return customers for sure."

  Rugrat laughed. "I guess that makes sense, easier to change it if people have a new idea."

  "You haven't visited me in a while, not got anything to work on?"

  "New weapons are done. I've tempered and cultivated the hell out of myself. If I keep on going then I could do some real damage. Don't want to do that again! The Fighting competition in Vuzgal will start in a few days. Need to head up and show the faces."

  "Aren't you wearing masks?"

  "Yeah, but just being there should be enough right?

  “Weird way to run a city.”

  “Hiao Xen runs it, we just show up from time to time.”

  “Glad it's your job and not mine.”

  “With those new tattoos I’m sure that there will be more people from the army that want to get tattoos. Well from all of the branches.”

  “Already things are heating up. I heard that there might be a large fight soon?”

  “Maybe, we’ll have to see, that is on a need to know,” Rugrat said.

  “Just making small talk, plus with my oaths, not like I can go telling someone,” Moto smirked. “Part of a secret ultra cool and ultra secret city. I don’t think I would believe myself if I said it out loud.”

  ***

  "The Army's production has increased rapidly, going from just getting the extras off of the Crafting Workshops. Now we have seven purpose built supply compounds, with all the factories that they would need to supply the Army," Rugrat said to Erik as they reached the gate into Supply Compound One.

  "What is it, three in Alva, one in the second and third each and then two in Vuzgal? Overkill much?"

  "Just planning, if anything happens then our people can fall back to these positions and have supplies, weapons and armor ready to go. The locations are only known by a few select crafters, officers and higher ups."

  The doors opened fully and the two men walked in. Their special team trailed behind them, Gong Jin's Special Team Three was running their security detail.

  "I'm looking forward to getting new gear, though breaking it in again is always a bitch," Erik said.

  "Nothing sexier than new armor and weapons," Han Wu said.

  "Or new explosives?" Gong Jin said.

  "Oh, I like it when you talk dirty Sarge."

  Rugrat snorted.

  "Like you can laugh, are you any different? You and your gun porn," Erik added.

  Rugrat's face turned dark as the special team members fought to keep their lips under control.

  They passed through checks of their ID, then passed through more locked doors before they exited into the Supply Compound. Factories were working at full production speed. Recruits were filing in, staring around with wide eyes as their training sergeants and Corporals got them into order, getting them their issued kit.

  Airborne members were working with Engineering crews to get their aerial mounts fitted with armor and weapons fresh off of the assembly lines.

  "Recruiting has accelerated with the opening of the sect, mercenaries from Vermire, recruits from the Adventurer's Guild ranks and members of the Beast Mountain Range Army. The recruits from Vuzgal are being trained up by the forces based there. There are Navy, Air and Ground force trainers. Squads are training everyday in the new dungeons, fighting the endless waves and all kinds of creatures. Their leveling speed is impressive and it allows them to get real combat experience," Erik said.

  "It's grown from the twenty or so guards from Alva," Rugrat said.

  Crates of ammunition were collected by carts to be taken to different armories and supply dumps.

  Rations, clothing, armor, all of it was collected and sent out.

  "How is the re-armoring going?"

  "The new formation enhanced armor has been issued out to the units deployed in combat operations. Four Companies have made the switch, all of them are army units. That should double in the next two weeks with the Airborne getting the armor as well. Then it will be divided out to the navy and army forces," Rugrat said.

  Gong Jin and a few of the team members walked ahead, opening the door into a building that looked like a bunker. They cleared the area, Rugrat and Erik walked in, finding Taran there.

  "So, you got the good stuff for us?" Rugrat asked.

  "Please tell me it doesn't follow Rugrat's naming scheme," Erik muttered.

  "No butt chaffing ass greaves around here," Taran smirked. He led them through a few gates, they reached a room with racks of supplies on them. There was everything from socks and underwear to brand new carriers and mag pouches.

  "First, protection," Taran went down a few racks waving his storage ring, collecting items.

  He returned to the long table and looked at Gong Jin "Since you're here, you get new gear too."

  He waved his hand and boxes appeared.

  "Formation enhanced armor, Extended range, level three protection," Taran opened a box, inside there was a front and back plate and side armor plates.

  ==========

  Formation Armor Plate (Front/Rear) Extended Range Level III

  ==========

  Defense:

  457

  Weight:

  7.2 kg

  Charge:

  10,000/10,000

  Durability:

  100/100

  Slot:

  Takes up Front/Rear Armor slot. Requires Carrier.

  Innate Effect:

  Increase defense by 5%

  Socket One:

  Empty

  Socket Two:

  Extended link—Link to more sets of armor (3km Range).

  Requirements:

  Agility 58

  Strength 47

  ==========

  ==========

  Formation Armor Plate (Side) Level III

  ==========

  Defense:

  213

  Weight:

  5.3 kg

  Charge:

  1,000/1,000

  Durability:

  100/100

  Slot:

  Takes up side slot

  Innate Effect:

  Increase defense by 5%

  Socket One:

  Self Heal—Increase natural healing by 3%

  Socket Two:

  Stamina Rejuvenation—Increase Stamina Recovery by 2%

  Requirements:

  Mana Pool 35

  Strength 51

  ==========

  With the sound of ripping Alvan rip-tape, everyone took off their vests and opened them up, they worked in two's, one holding the carrier's material and the other holding the plates inside as they fought to pull the plates out.

  "I hate changing side plates," Rugrat said as they finished pulling out his and Erik's.

  "The front and back plates are much easier," Erik pulled out the padding and the plate on the front and rear.

  "I knew I was forgetting something, this is a new padding."

  Tarran passed them thick blocks that fit behind the armor plates.

  "Should take more of the impact, take a few more hits without changing your point of aim."

  He started to take out long sleeve shirts and pants that had armored knees. He checked them against the different people, changing out different sizes.

  “Good firm support, set of these and your tropic thunder gloves, damn you’d be a hit in any marine base.”

  “Dude, you’re fucked,” Erik finished replacing his plates and padding and grabbed a pair of pants.

  “Heh, couldn’t not!”

  ==========

  Combat pants (reinforced knees)

  ==========

  Defense:

  81

  Weight:

  1.3 kg

  Charge:

  1,000/1,000

  Durability:

  100/100

  Slot:

  Takes up Pants slot

  Innate
Effect:

  Increased tensile strength 5%

  Camouflage-clothing will make small alterations to blend into the environment.

  Waterproof

  Formation One:

  Heat regulation—will maintain comfortable temperature in hot and cold climates.

  Requirements:

  Agility 31

  Strength 27

  ==========

  ==========

  Combat shirt

  ==========

  Defense:

  65

  Weight:

  0.7 kg

  Charge:

  1,000/1,000

  Durability:

  100/100

  Slot:

  Takes up Shirt slot

  Innate Effect:

  Increased tensile strength 5%

  Camouflage-clothing will make small alterations to blend into the environment.

  Waterproof

  Formation One:

  Heat regulation—will maintain comfortable temperature in hot and cold climates.

  Requirements:

  Agility 31

  Strength 27

  ==========

  "Clothes, as you might know, they can't handle that many formations, but they can have more innate effects. These pants and shirts will try to blend with your surroundings, keep you dry and nice and warm. Also they're hard to tear. You lot with your rapid movements are driving the tailors nuts."

  Taran threw out drop pouches and medical bags.

  "Eyes here!" These drop pouches are selective storage devices!" He pulled out a magazine and put it into the drop pouch.

  "Dump what you need in here, it will remain like this, unless you close it."

  He closed the top of the dump pouch and opened it, there was no magazine.

  "Tada! The magazine is stored away. You can set it to accept everything or just when you close the drop pouch!"

  He picked up the medical pouches and opened it up.

  "These are new issue medical pouches! Open yours as well!"

  Erik looked inside.

  "Erik, you were the one that designed these things?" Taran said.

  "Inside you have two IO devices. Apply these to the IO locations in the shoulders, under the knees and above the ankles. They will automatically drill into the patient. There are also two IV needles. There is one potion pack with three units of Stamina potions to one unit of healing potion. Medical scissors to get through clothes. Chest seal is pretty self explanatory, make sure you have them in a position to drain that blood if you can. Gauze plug that wound, bandages hold it in place, a fourteen gauge catheter if people get tension Pneumothorax, duct tape to hold shit in place, a treated gauze with a clotting powder embedded into it and a tourniquet. These are the basic kits should deal with most issues, you can do self aid or buddy aid even with one fucked up hand till a medic can get to you. Pack them up with the things you'll need first in an emergency last, then you can grab it first. Tourniquet to start, scissors, then have chest seal, clotting gauze normal gauze, bandage, IO and IV kits, catheter, duct tape at the end. Oh, also have a casualty tag. If you do not have a pen anywhere else, keep one here. Write on the patient's forehead and chest if you can. If you're working on yourself use the casualty tag. The potion bag contains two hundred milliliters of the good stuff. Deal with the bleeds and get it into you as quick as possible. Healing and stamina formations will help you out but they're general. Plug the potion bag closest to the site of the wound. You won't have much time with the bag but you should have extras in your storage rings. Remember to use your patients equipment before you use yours. Unless you are the medic."