Chapter 27

  All Hell Breaks Loose, Literally

  Part 6

  “Now we're all alone, yes. You've gotten my armies out of the way, and I've removed all the outsiders who might intrude on our little dance. Now DIE!!”-Set

  The kaiju-sized serpent lunges at Jade only to hit the ground as Jade has disappeared underground.

  Suddenly, the System's world announcement reaches Jade too.

  “Well. That sucks, but it doesn't change what I have to do. Let's just check how my girls are doing real quick.”

  The girls' current stats are pulled up, along with a 2-D graphic to represent their injuries. Illuna is almost spotless, as expected, but Alura is grayed out, representing the severe flaying she gave herself when using her [Disintegrate] magic to acquire the flying ship [Blueprint] for Jade.

  “What the hell?! I need to hurry then! I can't just rush over to Alura now, as that giant snake will just follow me and that will defeat the point of teleporting the girls away. Hang in there, My Love. I'll be with you soon.”

  Jade tunnels under Set and appears on the other side, behind the self-proclaimed god.

  “Is that all the mighty Set can do? Slam herself around like an unruly toddler?”

  “GRAGHH!! A mere marble dares to mock me! Pay for your impudence, fool!”

  Set fires off her breath once again, only to completely miss as Jade has once again dug underground.

  “Face me, you despicable coward!!”

  “Coward? Coming from an overgrown garden snake that can only fight while hiding behind an army and can't even deal with a 'mere marble' on her own? Tsk. Tsk!”

  Set tries to swallow Jade whole, but misses, slamming into the ground, face first.

  “You're not the only one who can burrow through the earth, insolent bauble! You can hide, but you can't run!”

  Jade begins playing a deadly game of “cat and mouse” with Set, undermining the ground with tunnels and looking to make Set tie herself up.

  Meanwhile, on Iluna's and Alura's side...

  “Stay still, Alura. Your healing is far from over. Push yourself now, and your fresh, raw skin could just shred right off.”-Iluna.

  “I know, but I'm the only one who can do hit and run attacks on those losers. I need to get out there!”-Alura

  “Here's a thought. Why don't you check your status and see if you've got a level-up or two to work with? While I work on you?”-Iluna.

  “Okay, Mom, I'll do that.”-Alura

  Status: Alura

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  Level 50

  Jobs: Assassin, Hedge Mage, (Awaiting Decision)

  Available Jobs: Alchemist.

  EXP locked until third tier job accepted.

  “Guess I'd better just get this over with. System, please unlock the Alchemist Job. Go ahead, hit me with those penalties...”

  System Notice: Alchemist Job selected.

  Hidden Class, Kunoichi/Ninja unlocked.

  Prerequisite: Assassin, Hedgemage, and Alchemist, in that order.

  Class features: All abilities from previous jobs retained, all drawbacks removed. Ninja can also imitate any other job they're familiar with, even a squire under a well-known knight, if said knight is willing to sponsor them. Contrary to popular opinion, ninja are silent killers, leaving no evidence. A ninja known to be a ninja by general public is a failure as a ninja.

  Weapon specialties: In addition to the weapons list from the Assassin Job, Ninjas may use any makeshift weapon with proficiency. Ninjas show mastery of shuriken, throwing knives, nun chucks, staffs, longswords and daggers, chains, kunai, and any weapon that can easily be concealed.

  Drawbacks: The ninja is a hidden class for a reason. The more people who know a ninja is a ninja, the stiffer the penalties said ninja suffers. The only people who should know a ninja is a ninja are members of that ninja's clan and those who have sworn a blood oath to keep the ninja's true class secret.

  Warning: Accepting this class will reset your level to one, but you will keep all previous level stats and boosts. Declining this class will cause you to lose access to it forever.

  Do you accept the “Ninja” class? Yes/No?

  “System. What is a 'clan' in terms of this hidden class?”-Alura

  System Message: A “Clan” can be anything from a blood-related family unit to a large compound of people, but the key defining factor is that all members are centered around supporting the clandestine activities of the Ninja in their ranks.

  “And the blood oath?”-Alura

  “Blood Oath?! What kind of hidden class needs a blood oath?! I can count the number of good classes that require a blood oath on one hand, if I squint real hard. The rest are totally despicable. What are you thinking of getting, Alura?”-Iluna

  “Something that will give me serious and escalating penalties if word gets out, I can say that it required getting the Assassin, Hedgemage, and Alchemist jobs, in that order, but no more.”-Alura

  “Oh.. OH!! I know that class. My dear departed had it too. Most likely, if she wasn't heavily pregnant at the time, no one person, or group of persons could have taken her down! A 'good' class indeed. I say go for it, dear.”-Iluna.

  “System, I accept.”-Alura

  System: Acceptance acknowledged. Ninja class acquired. You have been reset to level 1. Your body's injuries and debuffs have been negated, restoring you to perfect health. This will have no impact on future injuries or debuffs.

  A packet of goods lands at Alura's feet. She opens the box to find all sorts of strange weapons and tools, along with a new, sleek, sensual, and aesthetically pleasing suit of armor.

  System: You have been provided with the Ninja Class starter kit. This will allow you to get familiar with the tools of the trade, hopefully away from prying eyes, without having to take your chances trying to find the tools yourself, seeing as you currently have no Clan to call home.

  Remember. The Ninja relishes in the silent kill, blending in, killing their enemies, and either leaving no trace, or being long gone by the time their kills are noticed, if not both. The Ninja does not seek direct combat, but instead, misdirection, stealth, sabotage, subtlety, and subterfuge.

  I am bound by ancient rules that keep me impartial, but I wish you good luck.

  Back at the fight with Set...

  Jade and Set continue playing their deadly game of “Cat and Mouse” with Jade as the mouse. Giant furrows appear in the ground following their wake. Buildings crumble and topple. Round and round they go until, at the epicenter, Jade pops out, is briefly airborne, and dives back into the ground again.

  At that point, Set climbs out of the ground, and the entire area collapses into a sinkhole with Set at the epicenter.

  “Where are you?! You blasted ball of glass! You can't evade me forever!!”

  Set then rapidly sinks into the ground as the hollow cave network implodes beneath her, turning the area into a spherical crater. As the ground cracks and caves in, swirling down towards Set, a part of it gives way to eject Jade, or something that looks like him, heading straight towards Set's head.

  “I finally have you, you despicable marble!!”

  Set, without thinking, swallows Jade whole.

  “Normally, whoever is honored enough to be devoured by me would take a thousand or so years to be digested, alive, suffering in unending agony! For you, who have been such a nuisance, and who are responsible for the death of my child, Chhtxhhhk, I shall take my time and make you suffer for eons! COME! MY MINIONS! THE BATTLE IS WON! THIS WORLD IS OURS!!”

  Hundreds of thousands of tanks, airships, infantry, and other troops begin coming forth from the portal, and they make preparations to haul Set out of the pit, preparing to engage in planetary conquest, but during the hustle and bustle, nobody notices one extra ship, waiting on the edges, that looks a bit different from the rest...