Magic Murder Cube Marine

The city of Riverlark didn't have much going on. The chief exports seemed to be vegetables and boredom. The main road went from the castle gates directly out of town, Francis figured it had the right idea.

The brass had briefly stationed Francis in Germany before thinking better of it. Apparently the Germans complained. Riverlark reminded him of a tourist trap there named Rothenburg. It had the same cobblestone streets and stone buildings. He hated Rothenburg.

“So, Francis. What brings you to the city?” Chuck asked as they rode out towards the dark forest.

“Long story short, I was gonna watch some fireworks when I got my ass spirited away. Now I'm stuck here in this place until I can find a way out. Then an old man told me about the Adventure Guild and I said fuck it, why not? It beats being a civilian.” Francis explained.

“Oh, you got isekaied. My first owner was a portal hopper. Cool guy. His name was Chuck too. He was eaten by wolves.” Chuck plodded forward into the night and the certain doom that awaited him. He had a sneaking suspicion he would be reunited with his former owner very soon. Going into the Dark Forest at night was an incredibly stupid way to die.

Off in the distance a wolf howled. The road ran directly to the forest and was surrounded by open fields to either side. Chuck knew if the pack attacked them, there was no way they would be able to escape.

But the wolves were the least of his worries. The highwaymen to either side of the road took priority. Four of them leveled crossbows at Francis and fired. It should have been an easy shot. But Francis' 11 Deflect made the bolts bounce off him like nerf darts.

“Hey, are you assholes, the ‘Merry Highwaymen of the Moor’ or someone else?” Francis shouted out into the dark. He had some unwanted words stuck in his head, and he wanted to get rid of them.

After four more bolts careened off him harmlessly a voice called out. “Who's asking?”

“My name's Francis.” He hopped off the horse and started walking towards the four men. They were a scruffy bunch. “The Adventure Guild says they'll pay me five gold for each one of you I kill. I'm willing to hear a counter offer.”

“Wait, are you robbing us?” A lanky man in leather armor asked.

“Yeah.” Francis replied. “I figure some new group will just take your territory if I kill you. So how is this? If you pay me ten gold each, I'll let you go.”

The man considered this. “We don't have forty gold.”

Francis tapped his staff on the ground to stop it from trying to make him become one with the universe again. Sparks flew as it hit the stone road. “Well, how much do you have?”

“About ten gold.” The highwayman said.

“Ok, so let me ask you this. How much health do you have?” Francis pointed with his staff, then some math had to happen.

He was ten meters away from the furthest of the four men. He wanted to do a hundred damage to each of them. That meant he had to spend 410 MP.

The night briefly became day and a notification jammed itself into Francis' brain.