William knew this battle was going to be a lost one for the side of normal masters in the city. But before they'd leave through portals, he'd prefer to do like others, to stand up and fight with all their might.
As the most experienced and formidable masters stepped up, William knew things would be little better than he expected. It'd still be their loss, but the casualties would decrease a lot, and the monsters would get hit pretty bad.
As for the barrels of his toxin, they were already covering up thirty kilometres around the city.
"Wait for me in the next couple hours, I'll try to take down as much as I can before returning. Ah, do you have elixirs?"
[Sure, it's a must to have in such times. Why? Do you lack any?]
"I lack a lot," he laughed.
[Well, I can promise to supply two types of elixirs, not all of them. But I can provide lots of them as compensation]
"Going all out this time, I like that!"
[There is no point in carrying extra weight on our rings, right?] she laughed, [So I decided to take everything from the family vault and distribute them. Not to mention I already plundered the rest of forces here from their riches]
"Wow! You did that? And your elders agreed?"
[Hahahaha! I got to thank the idiots who led these forces about that! They announced to the public their intentions clearly, turning them all the way into public enemy number one. My elders? Not only them, but even the ones who used to be part of these forces cheered for my decision back then, even helped me to look for the hidden riches and secret vaults, hahahaha!]
"I want my share; I was the one who told you to do so in the first place."
[And where do you think these elixirs come from? It's your share honey, so ask what you want, and you'll get more than you dream of]
"No, that won't count!" William rolled his eyes, "I just want one type of elixirs for now, the spirit power regeneration elixir. Bring me all the elixirs you can find."
[Sure, do you want potions as well? I got tons of these…]
"No thanks," William knew she wasn't just offering this out of good will. She wanted to frame him with these war supplies that he desperately needed, to not give him any share later from the grand wealth she and the family gained.
[You don't need to be shy, you know that, right?]
"I'm acting cautious," William laughed, "you won't take away my share, you hear me? Stop dreaming! Now go back and take care of things. Never stop making the stuff your people are making."
[Alchemists can continue doing it, but artisans… We'll need their help to repair our damaged weapons, replenish our exhausted war consumables, amend the broken defences and such]
"I don't want them, I want alchemists for now," William paused, "also made sure to arrange a good escape plan."
[It's already set. Don't worry, my elders and the big names of the city are helping in various aspects]
"Good. any news from the various places in the world? Anyone coming?" This was the last straw William got attached to. But Lara's answer disappointed him greatly.
Not even a single place sent a single master or even a message over. William thought for a moment, before asking her to relay what happened here to the world.
She didn't like spreading the dirty news about the city to outsiders, but she listened to William's advice at the end.
William's aim was to get back at the forces and families' leaders who ran away from the city, but he'd end up getting something entirely different.
No one would take such a great risk without enough benefits in return. And by spreading such news around, everyone realised a simple fact, one that Lara and William missed in the middle of all this hectic and crazy situation.
This city… If it got saved, then it got lots of opening slots for new powers to rise within. That was enough temptation for any outside force to seriously consider joining the war.
William just tried this move out of his anger towards the various forces' leaders in the city, but never imagined it'd work like magic. Once he ended speaking with Lara, he also checked with his vices, asking about the current condition of the guild preparations.
It went without saying that the newly joined members were feeling quite depressed. They came here to join a prestigious guild, join a place that had a future. And when they came here, they found out that the entire city was about to be lost, and there was no future at all for the guild branch here.
Yet William didn't feel any worry about that. He knew the moment his newly joined members witnessed how he and others fought, especially him, then things would totally change in their eyes.
Spirit masters might be cold and cruel, might look for their benefits, but all the time they'd respect a single and simple fact, strength!
Once they'd see him in action, William was sure the seeds of admiration, respect, veneration, and loyalty would be placed deeply inside their spirits.
If a miracle happened, and by some unknown method they won this battle and saved the city, then things would be much better.
Yet under the persistence of his vices, William decided to give them a promise. If the city was lost, he'd go towards another big city and establish a guild branch there. No matter how this would cost him, he'd do it.
"They got all the right to complain, but will that be the same after the end of this battle?" William stored away the Bullets of his vices, all except for one.
"Any news for me?" he asked, and then he heard the brief of what his last vice found out. After listening to his words for ten minutes straight, William nodded in satisfaction, "I knew I can depend on you. Alright then, keep yourself hidden, and keep me updated."
William stored the Bullet while turning towards the growing number of leopards around. "I hate that someone takes a bite off me, and I won't chop his head off. Let's see how this will end then…"
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