BXBX NOVEL Chapter 76: My Purpose?
It differed greatly if the zone fell to zombies or because the defender voluntarily stepped down. The former included getting ripped apart by the undead while the latter would allow a safe transition to the new defender.
I then wondered if like lands of nobility the zones were passed down from one generation to the next?
"Uhm, can I ask you something?"
Not expecting the sudden question I answered curtly. "Shoot."
"How do you use guns in Hellsgate?"
"What do you mean how? I point at a target and pull the trigger."
"…"
Was I not understanding something? I knew reapers looked down on guns past the 10th floor, but if it was on floor 8th guns should be fine. So what was Scott stressing about?
"Today is my first night in Hellsgate, so I lack common sense on the most basic things. What do you mean exactly?"
Scott nodded his head as he pulled out a knife. He then touched the blade gingerly as he spoke.
"The Manifested have weapons they can always summon, people like me do not have such luxuries. Only soulgear weaponry or soularms can be used by the Formless."
"I am aware of the difference between the Manifested and the Formless. I also am familiar with soulgears, but what are soularms? And why do they matter?" I asked curiously.
Jack's adopted son then gave me the knife he held and pointed towards a gem in the handle.
"Its like this John, when reapers are summoned to Hellsgate only the clothes on your back come with you. The only items you can bring to this place are those with soul. Meaning even if I armed myself with guns, when I am summoned I leave them all behind. Soularms are weapons with no {Fates} that can be soul bound to a reaper."
Oh. That was something I didn't know. so Formless cannot even arm themselves without either weapons made from {Fates} like soulgear or soularms. Then how was I different?
"This knife was the first soularm Jack gave me 7 years ago. As far as I know only Production can create soularms. And since only Formless use them, there are hardly any high end soularms. Most Production smiths focus on soulgears but as those are extremely rare people like me have to settle for what we can get."
If what he said was true then the only reason I could bring guns to Hellsgate would be because of {Store}. Nothing else made sense. If only soul bounded items could be brought to hell, supply for weapons and armor would need to be made locally in Hellsgate. How could the Formless fight when they don't even have the arms to do so?
"Are there porter {Fates} that allow transport of items to and from earth?" I couldn't help asking.
"There are, but I heard that they took a lot of souls and stamina to use. Such services were normally reserved to medical supplies and support for Specters. Plus, even If I got them to bring me a gun, the rounds I would need would also incur a high cost. It is simply impractical especially when they are useful only in the first 10 floors."
'I guess that makes sense. If you only have 30 rounds in a mag and bring 4 mags, that would only last you a single engagement. You would need an armories worth if you wanted to use such weapons for a longer time.'
That basically meant unless someone had Lilly's ability, it was impossible to bring firearms to Hellsgate. Funny how when I compared {Store} and Lilly's fake {Fate} Thirst, the latter hardly appeared useful at all. Yet because of the stigma on the Formless. {Store} was hidden regardless of the good it could have done.
I returned the knife to Scott as I answered his original question.
"Thank you for the info, but how I bring guns to Hellsgate is a secret. Your father told me you were familiar with guns is that true?"
"Yes, I was a Reservist for the Marines. I joined when I worked as a firearm instructor prior to dying," Scott replied.
"Okay. If I you work for me I will supply you with guns. It stops the moment you leave."
"How do we split the spoils?"
"You keep what you kill. I will give bonuses depending on your performance."
"Am I allowed to move without you?"
"Sure, but you must keep my updated every night."
"That is fair. Last question John. What is your purpose in hellsgate?"
"My Purpose?" I parroted.
"Yes. Why did you accept the curse of the reapers? To fulfill your regret? To comeback to life? Revenge? Through the years I heard all sort of reasons.
I want to know how you intend to live in Hellsgate."
I took a deep breath and pondered. The things I learned from Lilly and Bella. The injustices experienced by Jo, Jas, Liv, Aki and Robyn. Truthfully my goal revolved around a single notion.
"I came to Hellsgate to do one thing, and that is to massacre as many undead as I possibly can."
Becoming a Revenant was just a means to an end. The most basic reason of all was to have undead cease to exist. Without any flair, without any additional baggage. Closing Hellsgate became the way to do so. That was the purest desire I have right now.
I then noticed Scott making a face that could only be described as blood drunk. From his reaction I felt he had a goal similar to mine. Feeling our connection both of us grabbed each others hands and bro-hugged.
"Father was right. I agree to all your conditions. Pleasure working with you boss."
My lips twisted into a wide smile as I made my first bro in hellsgate. I could arm these bastards with weapons and create a force for the sole purpose of ending the undead. I didn't need soulgears nor soularms. Just lead, gunpowder and steel.
"Welcome aboard. Return to the Dispatch center and wait for me there. We can discuss specifics afterwards."
"What will you be doing boss?"
"Night is still young. I am going to bust a few more heads."
"Can't I come with?"
"No, the way you are now grief will make you suicidal. Use this week to mourn and rest. Once we begin we don't take days off."
"… understood. Then I will make sure I am ready by then."
After our discussion Scott and I waited for the new defenders to arrive. Similar to the 1st zone. The new phantom purified the soul crystal, gave me my payment then had his posse prepare the zone for the next assault.
Once the new defender signed the paperwork, Scott took back the body of his adopted father and friend to be given their last rites.
I on the other hand responded to the third siren for the night.
[Limitless, the Death seekers have upgraded your designation from Rank 5 to Rank 4. You may now respond to Priority 4 Dirge Sirens. Congratulations! Do you wish to respond to a Priority 5 or 4 for our next siren?]
"Thanks Aira, please respond to Priority 4. I want to see the difference."
[Understood.]
***
After completing the transfer procedure, I was again teleported into another unfamiliar area. Much like the first two, the skies were dark and hardly anything was visible. Out of consideration to those responding to the sirens. Unless personally requested by the defender It was illegal to teleport directly near the soul crystal.
[Limitless, Welcome to Zone 1091-1. This Siren is classified as a Priority 4 and was issued 12 minutes ago. Would you like a Sitrep?]
"Please do Aira. And feel free to give it without me asking the next time we respond to a dirge siren."
[Noted. The current zone has already lost it's defender. There were originally twenty-four wraiths but only two are still fighting against the undead. Enemy Forces are comprised of 570 Rank F undead, and two Rank E Cyclops. The entire undead army is currently chasing after the wraiths.]
"Chasing? How can they outrun 570 zombies?"
The standards for the defenders was all over the place. The last two zones had less than five wraiths, but this one had over twenty. Was it because this was the 9th floor or was it because this was a Tier 1 zone? 200 zombies was already hard enough, five hundred alone would take quite a long time.
"{Thief}. Guess there is only one way to find out."
I began running forward at my top speed. From the vast differences between the zones I could safely assume that the fighting style of the defender shaped how the zone was fortified.
The lone house in 1063-2 showed lack of preparation. In contrast the heavily defensible castle of 1084-3 showed that even stakes could stop a zombie to some degree.
"As I could have my forces use firearms, trenches and barbed wire would be enough to stop charging zombies. If I could get access to artillery or mines, I would be able to blow these sons of bitches sky high. Still, maybe I could pick up some tricks from the other zones."
Soon I was able to hear the stampede of hundred of bodies on the ground. The vibrations were so intense it felt like a magnitude 4 earthquake. Again the lack of lighting made everything barely visible.
"When I get my own zone, I will ensure its always bright as fuck. These cheap skates can't even afford candles."
Pillars of smoke were soaring towards the skies the more I approached the sounds of battle. Eventually I saw a giant horde of hundreds of zombies all sloppily chasing an Asian woman on a black armored horse. The woman had a massive spiked club that looked over 300 lbs.
What surprised me the most was the field. It was an open plain with deep holes on the ground. I could hear tens of zombie groans coming from the pits. When I observed the massive horde would find some of its members suddenly falling into holes as they followed the woman.
Every so often the woman would turn and begin one-sidedly flattening the zombies with her club. Two giant monsters with only one eye clumsily tried to chase it as they kept stomping Normies dead. The insane tactic again reminded me of how good mankind became when fighting impossible odds.
"It seems like I still have much to learn."
Excited to join the battle. I ran towards the female rider with all my strength.