《From Paladin to Pawn [HIATUS]》


 Prologue - Broken and Reborn

    "So you think you''re a hero," a man with a heavy accent says as he crouches to look into the face of the broken and beaten paladin.  He blows smoke from his cigar down on the paladin, making him cough violently.  "You''re no hero.  You''re just some lucky, no good, degenerate gamer.  Well, you''re in luck.  We''ve got a LIMP here all set up.  True, it was set up for the girl you prevented us from taking.  Since she''s not here to be put in it, we''ll be putting you into it in her place."


    "N...no...  Please, don''t!  These things aren''t meant for people of different genders once initialized with someone''s data..." Jonas begged.


    "Of course we know that, you fool.  Hope you enjoy your new life in the body of a woman!  If the cops do ever find you, I doubt you''ll be recognizable.  This is the last time anyone is going to be entering this place, and we''re welding the door shut behind us," the crime lord stated as he kicked him again.  "Put him in the pod.  I''ll see you in game, Pet."


    The technicians dragged Jonas to the pod, and rolled him into it, laughing as the gel quickly sucked him into place and started the sealing process.


    ---------


    Initializing...  Guardians of Delmare VRMMO Initialized.


    Processing...  Special Character Settings Processed.


    Accessing Data...


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''2''>Appearance</td></tr><tr><td>Gender</td><td>Female</td></tr><tr><td>Height</td><td>5''2"</td></tr><tr><td>Weight</td><td>Improper to Ask (120 pounds)</td></tr><tr><td>Measurements</td><td>36" 24" 30"</td></tr><tr><td>Hair</td><td>Platinum Blonde (Straight, Knee Length)</td></tr><tr><td>Skin</td><td>Golden Bronze</td></tr><tr><td>Eye</td><td>Sapphire</td></tr></tbody></table>


    <table><tbody><tr><td>Name</td><td>Lisandra</td></tr><tr><td>Race</td><td>Cloud Elf</td></tr><tr><td>Level</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Class</td><td>Slave</td></tr><tr><td>Currency</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Debt</td><td>50,000,000</td></tr><tr><td>Health</td><td>50/50</td></tr><tr><td>Health Regen</td><td>1 health per 2 seconds out of battle</td></tr><tr><td>Magicka</td><td>100/100</td></tr><tr><td>Magicka Regen</td><td>2 magicka per second</td></tr><tr><td>Stamina</td><td>50/50</td></tr><tr><td>Stamina Regen</td><td>1 stamina per second</td></tr><tr><td>Strength</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td>Dexterity</td><td>20</td></tr><tr><td>Vitality</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Intelligence</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td>Willpower</td><td>20</td></tr><tr><td>Endurance</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Charisma</td><td>30</td></tr><tr><td>Luck</td><td>50</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Data Accessed.


    Well, a Slave with 50,000,000 Credits of debt to buy a special race and interesting bonus stats.  Seems that this girl will make a fantastic caster, if he can get rid of the Slave class.  Otherwise, a Ranger or Thief may be the way to go, depending upon what other ''goodies'' his character''s owners had in store.  He scrolled to the Skills section and took a look.


    <table><tbody><tr><td>Skill</td><td>Description</td></tr><tr><td>Cooking (Beginner)</td><td>The Basic starting skill for being able to cook properly.  Adds a 10% chance the food comes out right.</td></tr><tr><td>Herbology (Beginner)</td><td>The Basic starting skill for being able to recognize plants and tell good from ill.</td></tr><tr><td>Alchemy (Beginner)</td><td>The Basic starting skill for being able to make potions and poisons.</td></tr><tr><td>Foraging (Beginner)</td><td>The Basic starting skill for being able to gather plants and other resources.  Adds a 10% chance to increased yield.</td></tr><tr><td>Mining (Beginner)</td><td>The Basic starting skill for being able to gather ore from rocky outcrops.  Adds a 10% chance to increased yield.</td></tr><tr><td>Tailor (Beginner)</td><td>The Basic starting skill for crafting Cloth and Leather goods.  Adds a 10% chance to successful Crafting.</td></tr><tr><td>Embroidery (Beginner)</td><td>The Basic starting skill for Embroidery.  Can be used to enhance Cloth and Leather products.  Adds a 5% chance to successful Crafting.</td></tr><tr><td>Dance (Intermediate)</td><td>Your body has gathered a lot of experience with coordinated movement, especially coordinated to music.</td></tr><tr><td>Flexibility (Advanced)</td><td>Your body is very hard to damage with blunt force.  Adds a 10% chance of successful Crafting. +10 Dexterity</td></tr><tr><td>Hand to Hand Proficiency (Intermediate)</td><td>+10 damage when fighting without a weapon</td></tr><tr><td>Knife Proficiency (Beginner)</td><td>+5 damage when fighting with a Knife.  +10% chance to Cooking success.</td></tr><tr><td>Slave Brand (Silence)</td><td>Cannot speak as long as remains a Slave.</td></tr><tr><td>Slave Brand (Obedience)</td><td>Cannot disobey a direct order from Owner.</td></tr><tr><td>Slave Brand (Debt)</td><td>Cannot remove Slave status while in Debt.</td></tr><tr><td>Slave Brand (Punishment)</td><td>Can be forced to take Master''s damage, no matter how far apart.</td></tr><tr><td>Slave Brand (Impotent)</td><td>Cannot damage players or NPCs unless they attack you first.  Cannot Kill.  Cannot Gain Experience.</td></tr><tr><td>Slave Brand (Sacrifice)</td><td>Debt is lowered by 1,000 credits every time you are killed by or for your master''s sake.</td></tr></tbody></table>


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    Well, shit...  There goes any chance of being a Mage for a long time... he thought.  Hmmm...  Dance, Flexibility, and Knife...  Sounds like a combination for an Assassin... but then again, I can''t attack first or kill.  The bastards.  I''m a god damned paladin, how can I play this character?


    He sighed sadly as he looked at the Passives menu.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''2''>Passive Boosts</td></tr><tr><td>Cooking</td><td>+35% Success Rate</td></tr><tr><td>Crafting</td><td>+25% Success Rate</td></tr><tr><td>Eagle Vision (Racial)</td><td>Can ''Zoom'' in your vision for seeing long distances.</td></tr><tr><td>Night Vision (Racial)</td><td>Can see normally in low light settings.</td></tr><tr><td>Enhanced Skill Training (Racial)</td><td>+200% Rate of leveling Skills.  Skills can Level without Exp Consumption.</td></tr><tr><td>Pain Resistance (Slave)</td><td>Reduces the amount of pain you feel to 20%</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Well, nothing to do now, other than accept and begin my new life...  Hopefully with this amount of Charisma and Luck I can find a way to get out of this.  Well, I always did say I wanted a challenge, but I never would have tried something like this...


    He closed his eyes as he willed the machine to life, since it was either that, or die a final death here and now.


    ---------


    She opens her eyes, and finds herself in a cage on a wagon.  "Oy, they said I was to expect another one.  What''s your name, you beautiful thing?"


    She opens her mouth to respond to the grotesque orc that was standing menacingly in front of her cage, but nothing came out of her mouth.  Oh, right, Slave Brand of Silence, duh.  Well, is there any way I can answer, so that I don''t get hurt by this monstrous beast right now?  What about trying to write it in the air with mana?


    She channels her mana into her hand and slowly writes in the air ''Lisandra''.  Her mana is a graceful golden color, quite pretty to look at.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''2''>Congratulations!</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>You have discovered the skill ''Mana Infusion (Beginner)''.


    You have discovered the Ability ''Magicka Writing''.</td></tr><tr><td>Mana Infusion (Beginner)</td><td>You can infuse your magicka into an item to give it a temporary spell effect, transform it, or increase its quality.</td></tr><tr><td>Magicka Writing</td><td>You can infuse your finger with Mana to write messages.  The more magicka you infuse into your Writing, the longer it lasts.</td></tr></tbody></table>


    I watched as my magicka quickly plummeted by nearly ten points a second and let it go while I still had about half my maximum.  The orc barked in laughter as the name faded.  "Well, Lisandra, you are going to be an obedient girl.  You should have been here last month for sale, but you weren''t, so you aren''t being sold in the city you were supposed to be sold in.  You can only blame yourself for that, since you didn''t show up for the proper meeting."


    I blinked up at him, and he could clearly see the confusion in my eyes.  He handed me a wrapped bundle.  "As much as I enjoy staring at your default panties and bra, you better get dressed.  Here are the agreed upon items.  And yes, that''s the true reason you''re so far ''in debt'' despite having given us a hundred million for arranging this."


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''2''>You have acquired Bundle of Clothes!</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>You have acquired: Direwolf Corset


    You have acquired: Direwolf Arm Gloves


    You have acquired: Direwolf Choker


    You have acquired: Direwolf Stilleto Boots


    You have acquired: Direwolf Fur Coat


    You have acquired: Fishnet Stockings</td></tr><tr><td>Direwolf Corset


    Quality: Masterwork


    Durability: 70/70</td><td>A beautiful Dominatrix-themed Corset made out of the pelt of a Direwolf.


    Alters Waist to 20, increasing Bust to 38.  +5 Vitality, +10 Endurance, +5 Charisma


    +10 Defense against all types of damage.</td></tr><tr><td>Direwolf Arm Gloves


    Quality: Masterwork


    Durability: 70/70</td><td>A beautiful pair of Dominatrix-themed gloves made out of the pelt of a Direwolf.


    +5 Dexterity, +5 Charisma


    +10 to Unarmed Attack damage.  +10 to Defense against all types of damage.</td></tr><tr><td>Direwolf Choker


    Quality: Masterwork


    Durability: 70/70</td><td>A beautiful Dominatrix-themed choker made out of the pelt of a direwolf.


    +5 Endurance, +10 Willpower


    +5 to Defense against all types of damage.</td></tr><tr><td>Direwolf Stilleto Boots


    Quality: Masterwork


    Durability: 70/70</td><td>A beautiful pair of Dominatrix-themed Stilleto boots made out of the pelt of a Direwolf.


    +15 Charisma, +5 Dexterity, +10 Willpower


    +10 to Unarmed Attack damage.  +10 to Defense against all types of damage.</td></tr><tr><td>Direwolf Fur Coat


    Quality: Masterwork


    Durability: 70/70</td><td>An absolutely gorgeous coat made from the pelt and fur of a Direwolf.


    +25 Charisma


    Grants immunity to cold weather.</td></tr><tr><td>Fishnet Stockings


    Quality: Divine


    Durability: 1/1</td><td>Hubba-Hubba.


    +100 Charisma


    Indestructable, Soulbound</td></tr></tbody></table>


    She stared at the gear before quickly equipping it, blushing heavily.  What, no whip?  And am I to understand she had agreed to this deal, and I just stumbled in on it?


    "Ah, now there Miss Lisandra, if I let you out, you won''t cause any trouble, right?  That''s an order by the way.  Don''t cause trouble," he said, blushing as he unlocked the cage and let her out.  "We''ll be in the city of Katzor in an hour, and you''ll be going up on the market block then.  All good and legal.  You are extremely beautiful, by the way."

 Chapter 1 - Civilian Paladin and The Auction Block

    Lisandra sat at the table after she exited the cage and inspected her upgraded stats, thanks to the gear.


    <b>Spoiler</b> : <input type=''button'' value=''Show'' class=''spoilerButton''><table><tbody><tr><td>Name</td><td>Lisandra</td></tr><tr><td>Race</td><td>Cloud Elf</td></tr><tr><td>Level</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Class</td><td>Slave</td></tr><tr><td>Currency</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Debt</td><td>50,000,000</td></tr><tr><td>Health</td><td>100/100</td></tr><tr><td>Health Regen</td><td>2 health per second out of battle</td></tr><tr><td>Magicka</td><td>100/100</td></tr><tr><td>Magicka Regen</td><td>4 magicka per second</td></tr><tr><td>Stamina</td><td>200/200</td></tr><tr><td>Stamina Regen</td><td>1 stamina per second</td></tr><tr><td>Strength</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td>Dexterity</td><td>20 (40)</td></tr><tr><td>Vitality</td><td>5 (10)</td></tr><tr><td>Intelligence</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td>Willpower</td><td>20 (40)</td></tr><tr><td>Endurance</td><td>5 (20)</td></tr><tr><td>Charisma</td><td>30 (180)</td></tr><tr><td>Luck</td><td>50</td></tr></tbody></table>


    180 fucking Charisma...  As a Paladin, I couldn''t get my Charisma over 50!  I wonder if I will be able to get any of those legendary quests I read about that required huge amounts of Charisma to unlock...  But first, I need to figure out a way to get out of this situation... she thought.  Not to mention 50 fucking luck.  Each point of Luck above the default 5 costs like 500,000 credits!


    "Oy, I''m going back up front to continue driving.  We''ll be there in an hour," the ork snorted.


    She bowed her head and focused her eyes upon him, hoping to learn ''Inspection'' or ''Analyze''.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''2''>Congratulations!</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>You have learned the skill ''Inspection (Beginner)''.


    You have learned the Ability ''Analyze''.</td></tr><tr><td>Inspection (Beginner)</td><td>You can see the default information a Player or NPC allows you to see.</td></tr><tr><td>Analyze</td><td>You can focus your gaze upon something to learn more from the flow of magicka around it.</td></tr></tbody></table>


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''2''>G''rokin Res''pit</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Ork</td></tr><tr><td>Level</td><td>200</td></tr><tr><td>Class</td><td>Merchant</td></tr><tr><td>Health</td><td>175,000/175,000</td></tr><tr><td>Magicka</td><td>250,000/250,000</td></tr><tr><td>Stamina</td><td>200,000/200,000</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>G''rokin is one of the few NPCs who handle Player Sales.  He is often curious as to why people wish to be Slaves.  Keeps his hands off the merchandise.</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Well, at least I don''t have to worry about him trying to paw me, she snorted softly before looking down at her hands and thinking back to how this all started.


    <hr />


    Jonas got out of his LIMP, having just spent the last twelve hours in Guardians of Delmare, obtaining the World First clear of the ''Tower of Bailorn'', which had just come out a month ago.  The damned boss last boss was a russian roulette of powerful abilities.  He washed his face and looked into the mirror.


    <b>Spoiler</b> : <input type=''button'' value=''Show'' class=''spoilerButton''><table><tbody><tr><td>Name</td><td>Jonas "GP" Plython</td></tr><tr><td>Job</td><td>Gamer</td></tr><tr><td>Net Worth</td><td>5,000,000 Credits</td></tr><tr><td>Corporate Relationship</td><td>Grand Paladin (All 8 Games)</td></tr><tr><td>Marital Status</td><td>Married (3 Children)</td></tr><tr><td>Age</td><td>38</td></tr><tr><td>Height</td><td>6''8"</td></tr><tr><td>Weight</td><td>280 lbs (Muscle)</td></tr><tr><td>Hair</td><td>Jet Black (Buzz Cut)</td></tr><tr><td>Skin</td><td>Bronze Tan</td></tr><tr><td>Eye</td><td>Silver (LIMP Nano Augmented)</td></tr></tbody></table>


    "Honey, you need to go pick up your Collector''s Edition from the Corporation today," his wife called out from the other room.  "Also, you need to tell them about the LIMP''s latest side effect, and hand in the contract to be the next expansion''s Promotional Gamer."


    Jonas looked at her as he entered the room and smiled.  "Of course, my love.  I''m just glad that I''m not tonight''s expansion''s Promotional...  I would look silly in slave chains."


    <b>Spoiler</b> : <input type=''button'' value=''Show'' class=''spoilerButton''><table><tbody><tr><td>Name</td><td>Patricia Plython</td></tr><tr><td>Job</td><td>Mother</td></tr><tr><td>Net Worth</td><td>7,500,000 Credits</td></tr><tr><td>Corporate Relationship</td><td>Technology Developer (LIMP Maker)</td></tr><tr><td>Marital Status</td><td>Married (3 Children)</td></tr><tr><td>Age</td><td>You shouldn''t ask (34)</td></tr><tr><td>Height</td><td>5''4"</td></tr><tr><td>Weight</td><td>You shouldn''t ask (125 lbs)</td></tr><tr><td>Hair</td><td>Crimson (Waist Length)</td></tr><tr><td>Skin</td><td>Pale Scottish</td></tr><tr><td>Eye</td><td>Emerald</td></tr></tbody></table>


    She swatted his ass and handed him the Contract Tablet.  "I don''t now...  Having you as my personal slave might even interest me into the Game," she whispered before they kissed.  "Anyways, enough talking.  Your uncle has your Collector''s Edition, which includes that fancy suit of armor you are always strutting around in those in-game videos.  I heard that your uncle even talked them into making the 3D Printed replica sword and shield realistic, with sharpness and weight.  It''s a good time to let them know the magicka from the game is starting to seep into heavy players.  Then again, it may just be because you play a Paladin in all of their games, where as others play different classes in each that you''re getting the Healing spell to come through."


    Patricia had always been ahead of the time as far as the tech was concerned until she had to retire to take care of the children.  "If you see Becca, tell her I said hello, and that she should stop by for dinner again soon!"


    "Darling, you know Becca has a crush on me.  She''s proposed to me in all eight of the games!" Jonas teased.


    "Yes, but she''s still my best friend from when I worked at the company in the LIMP Development team.  I want her to come visit us.  You''re a Paladin, in heart as well as game.  You would never cheat on me."


    "Alright, darling, I''ll let her know when I see her.  Say, are the LIMPs for the kids already ordered?"


    "Yes, darling.  They should arrive tomorrow, and then they have to spend a full month inside their pods to get them fully adjusted to their bodies.  Thank you for agreeing to these younger trials," Patricia said and kissed his cheek before summoning an Automatic Vehicle to take her husband to VR-Technics headquarters.


    Jonas stepped into the Headquarters, and smiles as he sees Becca behind the counter.  "Hey there, Becca.  How''s it going?"


    <b>Spoiler</b> : <input type=''button'' value=''Show'' class=''spoilerButton''><table><tbody><tr><td>Name</td><td>Rebecca "Becca" Rogers</td></tr><tr><td>Job</td><td>Receptionist / Gamer</td></tr><tr><td>Net Worth</td><td>500,000 Credits</td></tr><tr><td>Corporate Relationship</td><td>Valued Employee</td></tr><tr><td>Marital Status</td><td>Office Complications</td></tr><tr><td>Age</td><td>You shouldn''t ask (24)</td></tr><tr><td>Height</td><td>5''2"</td></tr><tr><td>Weight</td><td>You shouldn''t ask (132 lbs)</td></tr><tr><td>Hair</td><td>Blonde (Curly, Shoulder Length)</td></tr><tr><td>Skin</td><td>Ebony</td></tr><tr><td>Eye</td><td>Honey (LIMP Nano Augmented)</td></tr></tbody></table>


    "You are a true asshole, Jonas!  You couldn''t wait to run the Tower until tonight?  Do you know how much trouble you''ve gotten your poor uncle into for your clearing it in a month?  They''ve accused him of giving you information!" Becca burst out as she smiled at him from the reception desk.


    "Hey, it''s not my fault that my uncle happened to have made it easy to read the boss and know what to do," Jonas answered.  In truth, this was by far the hardest boss he''d ever faced in a normal dungeon!


    "Yeah, right!  Did you know they streamed it through the entire office?  How the hell did you manage to clear it?  I swear, your Uncle has stated he''s going to purposefully create a boss to take you out completely.  You''ve woken the Python..."


    Jonas swallowed nervously.  "He''s not allowed to make a boss designed to wipe out a specific class, is he?"


    "HA!  He''s already developed one for every single class, and is just waiting for approval on implementation...  He''s sworn that it will take even you a year to get through.  You really made him angry.  He went in and revised the Paladin Slayer."


    "NO!  He''s not allowed to do that!  They nerfed him because he wasn''t able to be beaten!"


    "Well, your uncle has taken the back-up of the original version and is implementing it in the next major hidden dungeon.  You better go up and collect your Collector''s Edition and beg his forgiveness!"


    Jonas dashed to the elevators and took it up to the 35th floor, and went to the corner office where his uncle worked and could look down at the city.  "Hey there Uncle Phil!"


    <b>Spoiler</b> : <input type=''button'' value=''Show'' class=''spoilerButton''><table><tbody><tr><td>Name</td><td>Phillip "Pissed Python" Plython</td></tr><tr><td>Job</td><td>Boss Creator</td></tr><tr><td>Net Worth</td><td>50,000,000 Credits</td></tr><tr><td>Corporate Relationship</td><td>Chief Boss Developer</td></tr><tr><td>Marital Status</td><td>Divorced (2 Children)</td></tr><tr><td>Age</td><td>62</td></tr><tr><td>Height</td><td>6''4"</td></tr><tr><td>Weight</td><td>150 lbs (Wirey)</td></tr><tr><td>Hair</td><td>Salt and Pepper (Einstein)</td></tr><tr><td>Skin</td><td>Necromantic Palor</td></tr><tr><td>Eye</td><td>Blue (LIMP Nano Augmented)</td></tr></tbody></table>


    "Your Collector''s Edition," he points towards a corner, where a full suit of armor, a sword, and a shield are waiting.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Jonas quickly started getting into it, and smiled.  "Patricia sends her regards, and wants me to let you know that I''ve developed minor healing magic, with being a Paladin in all eight of the games.  She thinks it has something to do with the amount of exposure I have to the class."


    "I see...  You do realize you''ve seriously damaged my standing with the company by your managing to clear this boss in a month, right?"


    "The rest of the team all died, and I survived with a total of 2 Health!  It was pure luck that I managed to clear the Tower today!"


    "I know it was.  You hadn''t even figured out the secret trick to figuring out what moves the boss would use.  I''m going to have to post a strategy guide based on this boss in another month if other people don''t clear it.  I''m not letting them nerf another one of my bosses!"


    Jonas handed his uncle the Contract Tablet, and his uncle bursts out laughing.  "So, they''ve agreed the Grand Paladin finally gets to be acknowledged by the regular people," Phillip''s smirk was wicked.  Standing next to each other they looked like a traditional Paladin and a mad Court Alchemist.


    "So the kids will be entering the game in a week or so for a month," Jonas mentioned.


    "Good.  Patty wanted more LIMP tests on people younger than twenty-five," Phillip stated.  "Anyways, let''s go take some pictures, and then you wear that home.  Get used to the weight, as you''re going to be needing to wear it in public."


    "What weight?  It feels natural after all the time in the game," Jonas replied, making Phillip just shake his head.


    They went down to the 22nd floor, and got some still photos and some video footage of Jonas the Grand Paladin, including the golden glow forming around him from casting a Healing Hands spell.


    After that, Jonas left, remembering to invite Becca over on his way out.  Taking his uncle''s advice seriously, he decided to walk the two and a half miles home.  About a mile later, he hears a woman scream "HELP!"  He turns his head and sees a woman over a man''s shoulder, having just been dragged out of a black van.


    <b>Spoiler</b> : <input type=''button'' value=''Show'' class=''spoilerButton''><table><tbody><tr><td>Name</td><td>Lisa Papinap</td></tr><tr><td>Job</td><td>Student</td></tr><tr><td>Net Worth</td><td>1,000,000 Credits</td></tr><tr><td>Corporate Relationship</td><td>Mayor''s Daughter</td></tr><tr><td>Marital Status</td><td>Single</td></tr><tr><td>Age</td><td>18</td></tr><tr><td>Height</td><td>5''4"</td></tr><tr><td>Weight</td><td>Isn''t that rude?</td></tr><tr><td>Hair</td><td>Blonde (Shoulder Length)</td></tr><tr><td>Skin</td><td>Cream and Silk</td></tr><tr><td>Eye</td><td>Green</td></tr></tbody></table>


    He rushed forward and slamed his plated gauntlet into the gut of one one of the two thugs, and then twisted his arm and elbowed the one who held Lisa Papinap.


    He easily caught Lisa as the thug fell, there was a ''BANG'' from behind him, and a ''PLING'' as the bullet richocheted off his armor.  he set her on her feet, and turned, drawing his sword and shield.  "Come get some, you kidnapping scum!"


    <b>Spoiler</b> : <input type=''button'' value=''Show'' class=''spoilerButton''><table><tbody><tr><td>Name</td><td>Loius Soulvant</td></tr><tr><td>Job</td><td>Mariat Mafia Thug</td></tr><tr><td>Net Worth</td><td>55,000 Credits</td></tr><tr><td>Corporate Relationship</td><td>None (No Gaming History)</td></tr><tr><td>Marital Status</td><td>Single</td></tr><tr><td>Age</td><td>24</td></tr><tr><td>Height</td><td>5''9"</td></tr><tr><td>Weight</td><td>185 lbs</td></tr><tr><td>Hair</td><td>Brown (Short & Curly)</td></tr><tr><td>Skin</td><td>Hispanic</td></tr><tr><td>Eye</td><td>Brown</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Jonas closed the distance, blocking the bullets with his shield, and once close enough, he Shield Bashed Loius, stunning him, and allowing him to disarm the thug.  He then turned around just in time, and used Shield Swipe to trip a fourth thug from the Mariat Mafia.


    Jonas smiled as the police sirens immediately surrounded the area, he sheathed his sword, and held his hands up as the cops swarmed around the corner.  He tapped his Communications bracelet with the lead officer, transfering the information from his Augmented Vision to him.


    <b>Spoiler</b> : <input type=''button'' value=''Show'' class=''spoilerButton''><table><tbody><tr><td>Name</td><td>Jesus "Malephin" Morales</td></tr><tr><td>Job</td><td>Police Lieutenant / Gamer</td></tr><tr><td>Net Worth</td><td>255,000 Credits</td></tr><tr><td>Corporate Relationship</td><td>Respected Alchemist</td></tr><tr><td>Marital Status</td><td>Married (2 kids)</td></tr><tr><td>Age</td><td>30</td></tr><tr><td>Height</td><td>5''7"</td></tr><tr><td>Weight</td><td>187lbs</td></tr><tr><td>Hair</td><td>Brown (Short & Wavey)</td></tr><tr><td>Skin</td><td>Hispanic</td></tr><tr><td>Eye</td><td>Brown</td></tr></tbody></table>


    "Thank you, Grand Paladin.  We''ll take care of the arrests from here.  According to your video footage this was all self defense, and we won''t need to hold you for questioning," Jesus stated.


    <hr />


    The wagon rumbled over a series a bumps, shaking Lisandra out of her recollection as they approached the Market''s Auction block.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''2''>System Notification</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Welcome to the Player Slave Auctions!</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Only Players may purchase other Players.  One half of your Sale Price will be removed from your Debt.


    Thank you for trying out the Hardcore Gameplay Slave Experience.


    Customer Service will be available as soon as your Debt is cleared.</td></tr></tbody></table>


    So, I''ll be a slave to another real person...  hopefully I can avoid being bought by a representative of the Mariat Mafia.  I really don''t want to suffer at their hands anymore, Lisandra thought.  In fact, there are five bidders from the Mariat Mafia guild in attendance at the Auction, each one having orders to buy a specific slave, one of which is herself.


    After a half an hour of cheering and auctioneer noise, G''rokin pokes his head in.  "Yer up in five minutes, girly.  Get ready, and don''t cause any problems," he states.


    She slowly saunters her way out of the wagon, and up onto the stage, catching the eyes of all the male players with eagerness, and all the female players with envy.


    "We''ve got a special slave up for auction now!  A legendary Cloud Elf by the name of Lisandra!" the Auctioneer broadcasts.


    <b>Spoiler</b> : <input type=''button'' value=''Show'' class=''spoilerButton''><table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''2''>Lithulis</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Drow</td></tr><tr><td>Level</td><td>50</td></tr><tr><td>Class</td><td>Auctioneer</td></tr><tr><td>Health</td><td>5000/5000</td></tr><tr><td>Magicka</td><td>1000/1000</td></tr><tr><td>Stamina</td><td>750/2500</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Lithulis is one of the most respected NPC Auctioneers of Katzor City.


    He is infamous for being able to drive the price up beyond anything reasonable.</td></tr></tbody></table>


    The moment he says ''Cloud Elf'' even the eyes that weren''t on her before turn to her, including some of the NPCs.  He motions for her to strut across the stage and show herself off, which she inwardly sighs but does so.


    "As you can tell, this is a fine specimen of the Cloud Elf race.  She''s got a vast debt she needs to work off, but any master or mistress would be lucky to have this fine thing in their party!" Lithulis proclaims as he reveals her Stat Screen, and then her Skill Screen.


    "As you can see, while she can''t take too much damage at the moment, she is highly intelligent, and her luck is ten times the standard!  Not to mention her high level of Charisma would help any Tamer.  You can have her take the damage for you, you can also have her gather or craft for you!"


    "But that''s not all!"  He reveals her Passive Boosts screen.  "While she''s a slave, you can train her in almost anything, and she has the default Cloud Elf bonus of an additional 200% Skill Growth!  Bidding starts at 500,000 Credits with a minimum bid increase of 10,000."


    Over the next five minutes, the bid quickly rises to over 1,500,000 Credits.  "1,500,000 Credits!  Going Once!"


    "Going Twice!"


    "5,000,000 Credits!"


    Lisandra''s head jerks in the direction of the man who just made a Five Million Credit bid on her!  Everyone else is also turning to face this mysterious bidder.


    <b>Spoiler</b> : <input type=''button'' value=''Show'' class=''spoilerButton''><table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''2''>Prince Loran Deji</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Mystic</td></tr><tr><td>Level</td><td>???</td></tr><tr><td>Class</td><td>Prince / Archsage</td></tr><tr><td>Health</td><td>???</td></tr><tr><td>Magicka</td><td>???</td></tr><tr><td>Stamina</td><td>???</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Not much is known about either Prince Loran Deji or the Mystic Race that rules over the Forest of Mages.</td></tr></tbody></table>


    That''s not possible!  NPCs aren''t able to see the Player Auction! Lisandra gasps.


    "F...Five Million, Going Once!"


    "Going Twice!"


    "SOLD to Prince Loran Deji, Archsage of the Forest of Mages!"


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''2''>System Notification</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>ERROR</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Somehow, you''ve been bought by an NPC.  Sadly, this purchase is still Legal.


    Customer Service would like to speak with you as soon as you have freed yourself of Debt.</td></tr></tbody></table>


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''2''>System Notification</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>CONGRATULATIONS!</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>You have received a payment of 2,500,000 Credits toward your Debt.


    Current Debt Owed: 47,500,000 Credits.</td></tr></tbody></table>


    <hr />


    Author''s Note:  I hope you enjoyed this chapter.  I enjoyed writing it, although about an hour in, I lost all the data due to an accidental Alt+Left instead of Ctrl+Left.  Since then, I''ve been keeping it separate in a text file to help with writing this.


    Hope I got all the Spoilers and Tables correct...

 Chapter 2 - NPCs Issues

    Prince Loran approaches the stage and hands over a card, which Lithulis accepts, and gently pushes Lisandra towards her purchaser... her savior?  She is extremely nervous, as why would someone as powerful as an Archsage purchase low level girls?


    "Greetings.  I can see the power of your soul, although it does not fit with this form," Loran states, his skin glistening as if it is emitting moonlight.  "The soul in this being is that of a Paladin, and yet the gods have deemed to give you the form of an Assassin or Mage."


    "She cannot speak, Prince Loran," Lithulis quickly explains.  "She is under the Brand of Silence, so that she will focus all her efforts on your desires instead of voicing her own."


    Lisandra rolls her eyes.  If he knows I''m  Paladin, then what else could he know?  Could he know of a way for me to make another Forty-seven and a half million? Lisandra ponders.


    I can write, if you have questions.  I too have questions. How were you able to bid?  Normal members of this world should not have been able to. Lisandra writes in the air with her magicka.


    "Ah, I love an intelligent woman!" Loran laughs.  "Come, we will talk, and you and I will learn more about each other!"


    I pale as I see the five members of the Mariat Mafia Guild off to the side watching her.  She taps Loran''s forearm gently and points at them.


    "Ah, are you saying those will cause us trouble?" he asks her and she nods.  He laughs heartily, and she gets her first good look at his teeth.  They are all pointed, fangs meant for a carnivore.  "Don''t worry about them.  If they try anything they will be forced to learn they are not the ones in charge here."


    She still looks worried but she bows her head in understanding.  Who in their right mind would dare attack someone who is both a prince and an Archsage? she thinks.  Wait, what exactly is an Archsage?


    "Come, my beautiful," Loran says, walking right past them with her and leading her to his group, which consists of four other Mythics, all of them with hidden characteristics, although there is a Moonlight Bladedancer, an Archpriest of Seluna (Goddess of the Moon), a Twilight Dancer, and a Eclipse Blade.


    I tap his arm and write quickly.  Why don''t you have a reference to the moon with your Class?


    All four of them burst out laughing at the question while Loran blushes deeply.  "Didn''t think she had would ask that question, did you?" Raphael, the Eclipse Blade asked.


    "It''s because the Prince hasn''t finished his Training," Jelliba, the Twilight Dancer answers, as she rolls her hips in a dance move.  It seems like she has trouble standing still for too long.


    "You will find out more about our race, our culture, and our special relationship with the Lady Seluna and the Moon as you work off your debt," Aurian, the Archpriest of Seluna, states calmly.


    "Anyways, now that you''ve blown our shopping budget, we might as well leave," Alana states as she taps her foot.  "I can''t believe you spent our entire trip''s budget to buy a slave!  Do you know how much crap you''re going to get from the rest of the nobles for that?"


    Loran takes a long, deep breath, then lets it out slowly.  "Alora told me before we left that I would see something that would end up helping our nation rebuild from the tiny community huddled in the Forest of Mages to what we were long, long ago," Loran firmly informs them.  "She said that I was to spend the entire trip''s fund to force us to immediately return with the source of our salvation."


    Alana sighs and shakes her head, muttering about Alora and Loran''s foolishness.  "Fine, let''s go," she says.  "I''m not protecting her, though.  That''s all on you."


    Jelliba smiles and smacks Loran''s shoulder.  "Don''t worry, I''ll help you protect her.  After all, if the Oracle said you should buy her, then you did your job.  Let''s go, if we leave now, we can be home in a few days."


    It looks like they are adjusting menus, and then to her surprise Lisandra receives a Notification.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''2''>System Notification</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>You have been added to Prince Loran''s Party</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>As Prince Loran''s Property, you are not allowed to decline this party invite.</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Her legs go weak and she collapses in surprise.  NPCs aren''t supposed to have access to Party or Raid systems, other than accepting a Player''s Proposal or joining as a Companion!


    Raphael catches her as she starts to fall so she doesn''t land in the street, ending up leaning into his arms.  "I can see why this one caught your interest, Prince.  Her Charisma score is well above normal, as is her Luck."


    NPCs...  shouldn''t have access to menus and party invites, Lisandra writes quickly, making them all pale and wipe out her writing in the air before anyone else notices.  They quickly march her off away from other players, and into an inn which Raphael pays for the night''s stay.


    "Alright, what is going on?" Alana snarls.  "How dare this...  this piece of disgusting filth...  call us NPCs!"


    I''m a Player! Lisandra huffs angrily.


    Alana moves to backhand her, but just before her hand connects Loran catches her wrist and keeps her from connecting.


    I am Jonas Plython, the Grand Paladin!


    "Bullshit!  The Grand Paladin disappeared shortly after clearing the Tower of Bailorn, and everyone knows that Grand Paladin Plython was a normal member of this world, who disappeared!" Alana swears at her.


    I am the Grand Paladin of Guardians of Delmare, Arcons of Dreadmore, Legends of Listlo, League of Eternity, Heroes of Archropolis, Siphoned System, Mortals vs Gods, and Limitless Beyond. her writing quickly fades as she is running out of magicka.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''2''>Congratulations!</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>You have learned the skill ''Enhanced Magicka Regeneration (Beginner)''</td></tr><tr><td>Enhanced Magicka Regeneration (Beginner)</td><td>You now regain Magicka at a much faster rate than normal.  Magicka Restoration +100%</td></tr></tbody></table>


    "So you''re claiming to be like us?  You''re claiming to be able to be reborn every six hours after death?"


    After waiting a moment for her magicka to fully regenerate, she writes, Six hours?  Players can respawn after an hour, if not resurrected.  What do you mean by Six Hours?  You aren''t playing a game by VR-Technics, are you?


    "What the fuck are VR-Technics?"


    "Let''s let a calmer person than you talk with her, Alana...  why don''t you step out and get something to drink," Aurian insists, pushing her out of the room.


    Loran frowns as he sits in a chair, and rests his elbows on his knees knees and his chin on his hands as he examines her.  "She speaks the truth.  Her soul is that of a Paladin.  I don''t know how she ended up in this body, but the Soul screams ''Male Paladin''.  To think that Seluna would bless us with a chance like this..."


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.Wasn''t Seluna a goddess added with the latest expansion?


    "Expansion...?  Could you explain what you mean by that?" Loran inquires.


    Well, an Expansion is where the Developers of the Game add in a lot of quests, dungeons, raids, and instances like the Tower of Bailorn.  They also tend to add in new races, classes, and occassionally deities.  She takes a deep breath and waits for her magicka to regenerate again.  In the Expansion that launched last month, they introduced the Purchasable Race: Cloud Elf, as well as Hardcore Gameplay, where a player starts out as a Slave and has to work for their freedom.


    "Game?  Our Goddess truly brought us to a World that is a Game?" Raphael mutters softly.


    "Well, that would explain the pop-ups, easier communication with her, and the fact that we can now return to her chapels after being killed.  Our goddess was quite wise to guide us here," Jelliba worships.


    What do you mean you were brought here?


    "Our world was being destroyed by an army of demons.  Our last stand was being fought at the base of Seluna''s Grand Temple, with only a few thousand of us remaining.  If not for the great transition, in which Seluna moved her Grand Temple from our world, we would have all been lost, and the goddess herself may even have been killed," Aurian states calmly.


    I see...  What happened a week ago, when the servers were taken down for maintenance?


    "What do you mean, maintenance?"


    Last week, it would have been around six in the morning, until about five in the afternoon...  The game servers were shut down to fix a bug in one of the new skills introduced, she calmly inquires.


    "Ah, you mean when the people with the glowing crystal above their head vanished?  Everyone else went about their standard business.  In fact, we received better deals because we didn''t have to wait for those others to turn in their quests and make purchases," Jelliba smiles.


    Does that mean that...  we are influencing the lives of real people, instead of just artificial game characters?


    "Yes, it does.  Does that bother you?" Loran wonders.


    Me personally?  Not really.  I''m a Paladin, after all.  I live to serve and protect.  It would, however, greatly worry some of the people back on my home world, she answers.  My wife will probably find it fascinating.


    "You''re married?  To a woman?" Jelliba gasps.


    I''m really a man, as is the case of being the Grand Paladin.  I was forced into a capsule set up for a woman after having my body beaten and broken.  After a few moments for magicka regeneration, she continues.  Apparently, I was tricked when I saved the woman who was supposed to end up in this shell, either that or it was the influence of a higher being like Seluna that made her cry out for help when she had arranged for her character to be sold, probably with a lot lighter bonds on the slavery side.


    "Yes, Seluna can do things like that," Aurian states flatly.  "However, she rarely interferes without just reasons."


    Well, right now, my body is healing in the medical pod they dumped it in.  I estimate it will need about a month or two to fully heal before the nanobots and nanites start to do anything funky to my body.


    "What do you mean, ''funky''?" Loran asks.


    There is a very good reason why playing as anything other than a character designed off your personal body is a bad thing.  The first, is that the physical characteristics of the difference start to be carried over.  She sighs, hating to have to pause for magicka regenration, yet again.  It is theorized that if you left someone in a Long Immersion Medical Pod on a non-human race continuously for about a year, the majority of that race''s physical and psychological traits would carry over back to our world.


    "Amazing...  Your world sounds marvelous," Jelliba whispers.


    My body will be healing for the first two months.  After that, the changes might start.  I don''t know how fast, though.  The science behind this is inconsistent at the moment, and still only theory.  I know for a fact that I don''t want to end up as a woman though, which was the plan of those assholes I pointed out earlier.


    "So, in order for you to be free..."


    I need to raise 47,500,000 Credits personally to pay off my character''s ''Debt'' and remove the Slave state at a Temple, where I can then contact Customer Support, which will locate the Pod my body is in and get me out.


    "That''s not going to be easy, especially not in under three months," Jelliba mutters.  "The entirety of our race, all seven thousand of us, barely made ten million total in the last month, and half of that was spent on you, when it was supposed to be used to help us explore this new world."


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''2''>Quest Alert</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>You have been offered a quest!


    Assist the Mythic to Rebuild their Civilization!</td></tr><tr><td>Reward:</td><td>Unknown</td></tr><tr><td>Failure or Refusal:</td><td>Loss of Reputation with Mythic Race and Goddess Seluna.</td></tr><tr><td>Accept</td><td>Decline</td></tr></tbody></table>


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''2''>Quest Alert</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>You have been offered a quest!


    Assist the Mythic explore their new World.</td></tr><tr><td>Reward:</td><td>Unknown</td></tr><tr><td>Failure or Refusal:</td><td>Loss of Reputation with Mythic Race and Goddess Seluna.</td></tr><tr><td>Accept</td><td>Decline</td></tr></tbody></table>


    She accepted both quests, of course.  There was a lot to be explored in the new expansion zones, not to mention the older zones.  Of course, every true paladin enjoyed a good civilization quest!


    "Wow...  We can issue quests to people like you?" Jelliba asks.


    Apparently, Lisandra yawns.  All this magicka expenditure and restoration...  really takes it out of a person.  May I go to sleep?


    "Of course, good night," Loran states and escorts the others out of the room.


    <hr />


    Author''s Note:  This Chapter is a bit shorter than I might have wanted it, but with the amount of magicka it takes for her to continuously talk with them, she''d be dead tired by now.  Also, this chapter veered far, far away from the original plan for the story, and I can only anticipate what else might come.


    Have a good night everyone!

 Chapter 3 - Meltdown and Mafia

    When she awoke, Lisandra had a new pop up, which made her smile.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''2''>Congratulations!</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Due to the efforts you have put in you have gained the following Abilities and Stats!</td></tr><tr><td>Enhanced Magicka Regeneration (Intermediate)</td><td>Due to consistantly draining your Magicka, you now regenerate it at an enhanced Rate.  Rate +300%</td></tr><tr><td>Meditation (Beginner)</td><td>During Meditation you regain Magicka at a Bonus Rate of 50%</td></tr><tr><td>Mana Infusion (Beginner) - (Intermediate)</td><td>Infusion takes less time and costs less Magicka.  Magicka Writing can now cast Spells.</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>+150 Magicka


    +10 Intelligence


    +15 Wisdom


    +5 Endurance</td></tr></tbody></table>


    She immediately wrote out the basic healing spell''s incantation while targeting herself.  A golden glow surrounded her and made her sigh in pleasure, especially when a chime announced a new message.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''2''>Congratulations!</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Due to your knowledge, you have gained access to the following spell!</td></tr><tr><td>Minor Healing (Beginner)</td><td>The starting healing spell from Holy Magic Tier.</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Due to being among the Mystics, this spell will perform better if you pray to Seluna while you cast it.</td></tr></tbody></table>


    She sighs and shakes her head.  I don''t even know Seluna or what her values are, so I can''t really pray to her, can I?  Especially if she arranged for this to happen to me! she was thinking.


    There was a knock on the door, and it was obviously just a curtosy because the next moment the door was kicked in by Alana.  "Get your arse out of bed you worthless dreg!  A slave should have been up before the rest of us, and have prepared our meals herself, not left it up for the people of the inn!"


    I am not YOUR slave Lisandra wrote as she moves out of Alana''s grab, dodging her attack.  I was purchased by the Prince.  As she wrote that, she kicked Alana in the gut and made her double over from the directed hit.


    Over the next few minutes, Alana and Lisandra exchange attacks, however for each attack Alana lands, she''s hit almost four times by Lisandra.  After a total of five minutes, Alana''s health has been reduced to a single point, and Lisandra is standing over her, panting heavily.


    Don''t ever lay a hand on me!  I have no reason to trust your people, Lisandra wrote, snarling down at her.  I especially don''t trust your goddess after they said that this was within her power to set up.


    Alana glares and gets up, lunging and managing to grab Lisandra by the throat and starts to strangle her.  "Don''t you dare besmirch the goddess!"


    Lisandra struggles as her ''No Air'' bar starts to fill, drumming her heels against the wall that Alana pins her to, with her feet off the ground.  The bar took about two minutes to fill, and then Lisandra''s stamina started to plumet, and when it hit zero, her health took the treck downward.  After losing a quarter of her health, Lisandra''s body stopped struggling back, and at half health, she went unconcious.


    When Lisandra came to, she found herself on the floor of the Inn room, with a pop up that truly terrifies her.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''2''>You''ve been rendered unconscious!</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Angering your Owners and insulting their Goddess is extremely foolish.


    Having been beaten by Alana, your Slave Brand will now force you to Obey her.</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Oh no...  Not that bitch... Lisandra swallows nervously.


    "Get your fat ass up, you lazy slut!" Alana snarls, which makes the brand glow a painful burning red and jerks her to her feet.  "Go prepare our breakfasts!"


    With the command, Lisandra is forced to move out of the room and downstairs, the Direwolf Choker hiding the forming bruises on her neck from being seen.  Her body is shaking as ten minutes later she is setting food on the table from the inn''s common room for the Mythic party.


    "You are not to eat.  For now, you will kneel at the Prince''s feet while he eats.  You are nothing but a filthy animal, unworthy of being near the Prince," Alana snaps, making the brand glow violently and force her to her knees. as Alana smirks with a sadist''s smile.


    "Alana, you have no right to do this to her," the Prince states softly.


    "I disagree, your highness.  As shown by the slave brand''s reactions, I have every right, especially after she disrespected our Goddess as she has."


    She was stupid...  how the hell can I be helpful as a Level One slave, when I was the top level Paladin?  If your people or she had asked for my help, I would have been able to help much more as a Free Paladin than a Slave, Lisandra writes out.


    This draws the ire of the entire group, and the Prince whispers very softly, "I would suggest against accusing the Goddess of stupidity.  I would also suggest you beg her forgiveness, or we will be forced to kill you and wait for your respawn."


    Lisandra glares back at him.  You dare say that I can do more for you without access to the Developers, one of which is my Uncle, and my resources and skills as a top level Paladin?


    Alana draws a dagger as she stands up and walks over to Lisandra.  She grabs Lisandra by the hair and smirks down at her.  "When you respawn, you are to walk back here from your spawn location.  You are not to equip anything in your inventory.  When you get here, you will kneel, and kiss the prince''s boots and beg forgiveness for your blasphemy."  She jams the dagger into her eye violently.  Lisandra cries out in pain before her body goes limp, dead, her stockings vanishing from the legs of the corpse.


    When Lisandra regains sensation, she''s in the middle of the graveyard, naked except for the damned stockings.  Her skin is very cold, especially around her her nipples and privates, which makes her eyes widen.  She whimpers as she reads the pop up.


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.<table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''2''>You''ve been killed!</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>You didn''t learn your lesson and continued to insult your Owner''s Goddess!</td></tr><tr><td>Minor Celestial Curse</td><td>You no longer have protective undergarments.


    Duration: Indefinite</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>You have lost access to the Passive Traight: Pain Resistance (Slave Brand).  You will now feel 100% Pain, regardless of Endurance stat.</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>You were killed by one of the people your Slave Brand recognizes as an Owner.


    Your debt has been reduced by 1,000.


    Current Debt: 47,499,000</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Fuck this bitch of a Goddess!  Lisandra quickly copies the status notice into a Saved Draft for contacting support, for the moment that she has eliminated her debt.  I''ll have this Goddess fucking limited or killed when I get back Home.  Lisandra''s legs move on their own, moving in the standard ''woman on a prowl'' walk that the Stockings make as the default.


    She blushes furiously as she is made to walk, naked and vulnerable, through the streets from the graveyard back to the inn.  As she walks through town, there are wolf whistles, cat calls, and offers of ''good lays'' in an alley or inn.  Two members of the Mafia see her walking naked, and follow her, and just as they are about to grab her, they see Loran watching them and her.


    Subconsciously, she picks up her pace even further and follows Loran inside, where she is forced to kneel by the brand and kisses the top of his boot.  No!  I will not beg!  Her fingers twitch violently as there is a battle of will between her and the brand.


    "There were two goons that had been bidding on her watching her as walked through the city.  If I hadn''t been outside, they probably would have grabbed her and raped her," Loran informs them calmly.


    "Maybe you should have let them," Alana replies coldly.  "Unless you want her virginity?"


    "That''s very crude, even for you, Alana," Jelliba says softly.  "She was a gift to us by the Goddess, and we haven''t treated her like it.  You''ve even killed her!"


    "She disrespected the Goddess!  Hell, look at her, it''s obvious that Seluna cursed her too!"


    Loran looks at Lisandra and says slowly, "Go and remove your gear from your corpse and get dressed in it again."  Lisandra rises from her knees and goes to the corpse laying on the side of the inn''s floor and does as she''s been told.  After she has stripped her own corpse, she receives another notification.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''2''>System Notification</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>CONGRATULATIONS!</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>You have looted your first Corpse.


    Sadly, this corpse was your own.


    Would you like to destroy this Corpse?</td></tr><tr><td>Yes</td><td>No</td></tr></tbody></table>


    She clicked ''Yes'', her corpse crumbled to dust.  In this virtual world, you had to actually had to strip the corpse yourself for ''looting''.  As she was getting dressed right there in the common room, a group of ten from the Mafia enter the inn, including the bastard who broke Jonas''s body on Earth.


    <b>Spoiler</b> : <input type=''button'' value=''Show'' class=''spoilerButton''><table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''2''>Hyrtio Silverblow</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Human</td></tr><tr><td>Level</td><td>58</td></tr><tr><td>Class</td><td>Beast Tamer</td></tr><tr><td>Health</td><td>50,000/50,000</td></tr><tr><td>Magicka</td><td>17,500/17,500</td></tr><tr><td>Stamina</td><td>40,000/40,000</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>The Guild Leader of the Mariat Mafia, he runs the Slave Breaking and illegal Slave Auctions.</td></tr></tbody></table>


    "You have something that belongs to me," Hyrtio says as he steps in front of the other nine.  "If you give the little whore back to me so I can break her like she deserves, I''ll let you leave here peacefully."


    "Alana...  You are to protect Lisandra," Loran growls.


    Alana starts cursing up a storm as she moves between Lisandra and the Mafia goons while Loran and the other three pull out their weapons.


    "You actually think you can fight us?"  Lisandra struggles remain awake as ''Sleep'' is cast upon their group.  However, the spell manages to catch her, and her vision goes dark as her body collapses like a puppet that has had its strings cut.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''2''>You have been rendered unconcious due to the Sleep Spell.</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Effect Duration: 5 minutes</td></tr></tbody></table>


    When her vision returns at the end of the countdown, she finds herself surrounded by the bodies of the dead members of the Mafia, with no apparent injuries amongst the Mystics.


    "They weren''t so tough," Jelliba giggles.  "After all those demons, they were kinda soft and squishy."


    "Go and loot them Slave," Alana snaps at her, making her walk over to the bodies and start stripping their bodies.


    Should I destroy their corpses, or leave them here for the hope of retrieving their gear which we are taking?


    Alana bursts out laughing.  "Leave the corpses naked, and give the gear to Jelliba."


    Lisandra sighs, wishing she could have taken proper clothes for herself as she hands the rest of the gear over to Jelliba.  Raphael enters the room from outside again, and sighs.  "They''ve got another squad of a dozen headed this way, and they look very angry," he says.  "I''m going to go and kill them before they get here."


    "It would be best if we left the town and headed home before more show up," Loran states and walks out, leading the rest.  "Come, Lisandra."

 Chapter 4 - Into the Mystic Forest

    A week has passed since the battle in the town and the Mystics and Lisandra have returned to the Forest of Eternal Moonlight, which was one of the lands that appeared on the continent of Elindra with the release of the expansion.  The people of the surrounding plains consider the forest cursed because of the fact of its sudden appearance, and the fact that no matter what, it is always nighttime, with a large full moon overhead.


    Normally, only the Instanced Dungeons that NPCs aren''t able to enter are able to be set to a specific state, and so it is only because of the fact that the Goddess has messed with the code was she able to watch over the remaining worshipers she had smuggled from their homeworld.  Upon entering the Forest, Lisandra had received an odd pop up.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''2''>System Notification</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>ERROR!!!</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>You have entered into an area not registered in the database.  Please contact Customer Support.


    VR-Technics is not liable for what happens in areas not registered in the database.</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Sure, I''d love to contact Support, and my uncle...  It''s not like I''m going insane here from the constant violence between me and my captors... Lisandra thinks.  I do not wish to enter this area.  The Corporation refuses liability for what happens inside as it is not part of their database.  You have bullied me far to much for my acceptance, and I refuse to enter there without explanation or freedom.


    Of course, this just set off Alana again.  "You have no choice but to obey, you worthless slut.  Hell, I can''t wait to get you to the temple, as I plan on offering you up to the goddess as a sacrifice considering how many times you''ve insulted her!"  Alana did a spin-kick, and knocked the wind out of Lisandra''s lungs, flattening her to the ground.  She then grabs Lisandra by the hair and drags her, flailing and struggling into the woods.


    Loran sighs and shakes his head.  "We really shouldn''t be so angry with her.  She has every right to hate us and our goddess, if the goddess did manipulate her into the situation she is in right now..."


    Jelliba giggles at that.  "I think the goddess was just angry because she lost our homeworld and had to move us cross-dimensionally to save what she could of her powerbase...  We need to get her to help us, if her story about being the Paladin is true...  Do you really think Alana will sacrifice her in the temple when we get back?"


    Raphael frowns before speaking, "Perhaps it would be best if we let Alana have her way for now...  Time in here is I believe I heard what Lisandra termed ''players'' say something like three times faster than time out there, so we have about six months to convince her to help us and free her before anything ''traumatic'' starts to happen to her real body."


    Aurian shakes his head, "Seluna won''t be happy with the fact that you are questioning her methods, Prince."


    "Aurian, I''m sorry, but I was never much of a pious man, and the actions she has taken are a confusion for me.  If she truly wanted us to receive the best help, this does not seem to be the way," Loran whispers.  "I''m thinking it is time to separate the Church and Crown again.  I appreciate the recommendations and assistance the church has given the Crown, especially with the relocation..."


    "But you wish to make decisions not bound by the desires of our people''s Goddess?"


    "Something like that.  We don''t know these ''players'', let alone how they think or what their emotions are.  We need to understand these ''players''.  We cannot anger them, when they have power equaling our home world''s minor deities."


    "You''re just afraid of backlash.  What we need to do is crush Lisandra''s spirit and break her into our tool to be used outside of here!"


    Loran and Aurian glare at each other.  "Seeing as Lisandra is the property of the Crown, I will not be allowing you to break her."


    Raphael steps between them and motions for them to hurry forward.  "Better be careful, or we will get too far behind, and Alana will take the choice out of either of your hands."


    <hr />


    Phillip frowns as he is going through the player database by hand, combing it for any inconsistencies he can find, knowing that somewhere in this haystack is a clue to his precious nephew''s whereabouts.


    "Are you even listening to me?" Patricia snaps at Phillip from the holo-call she is on.  "Or is it that you don''t care about Jonas being missing?"


    "Damn it, Patty, I''m more worried than you.  Do you know how much effort I put into reviving the Paladin Slayer so that we could film it for the promotional movie?"


    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    "You''re upset he''s missing because it pushes back the expansion!?  How inhumane are you?"


    He sighs and shakes his head.  "I''m not upset he''s missing because of the expansion, you silly woman.  That''s like saying you''re upset because his being missing pushes back your ability to experiment on him in secret thanks to that special capsule that allows you to reprogram the nanobots at will."


    "You know I would never do anything that would harm my husband!"


    "And I would never do anything to harm my nephew.  Right now, I''m going through the player database looking for a missing connection of some kind.  In fact, if what I think is accurate happened, then we need to find a ''Slave'' status character with an enormous debt..."


    "Why a slave character?"


    "Because they are unable to contact Support, and if he was in-game as we suspect, he would have contacted us already.  What''s more worrying is the fact that there are areas in the game that aren''t listed on our database, so we have no control over the areas there.  The only thing that we can make sure there is that respawns occur."


    "Why not check for data regarding that girl he saved?"


    "Already did, and she deleted her character over two months ago...  She probably had arranged a special ''Slave'' capsule and was going to blackmail her own father into paying for her ''release''..."


    "Damn it.  So, those mafia people dared to hurt my husband...?  I''ll find them in the game and ruin them!  I''ll make them tell me what I want to know..."


    "You know that ability is not supposed to be used on players!"


    "I don''t know what ability you are talking about, but I know that by being part of that Mafia guild allows me to beat them into a pulp.  Also, my Hidden Class allows me to take them out even if they were double my level."


    "Yes, I remember programming that very odd class...  It''s what I based the Slayer off of, with a lot of work afterwards."


    "Since it was the Mayor''s Daughter, you might search for recently sold female players," Patricia growls.


    Phillip does a quick search via another tab, and blinks as he sees a notification for Support and Programming.  "There was one sold a week ago in game, which is about when he went missing..."


    Phillip whistles as he checks the character''s data, and blinks as he frowns.  "Well, if this is him, he''s earned the enmity of a goddess named Se...luna...?  There wasn''t a goddess Seluna in our programming!  What the hell is going on?  Patty, I''m gonna have to call you back."


    He hangs up the call, and marches out of his office and down the hall, before pounding on ''Religious'' Robert Riblik''s door.  "BOB!  YOU BASTARD!  Did you implement another hidden goddess?"


    "Eh?  Which goddess ya be talkin'' ''bout?" Bob asks as the door opens.  He just sits there, tired, his white hair looking like he was making an Einstein cosplay.


    "Seluna," Phillip growls.


    Bob frowns and taps his lips.  "Nope, don''t know that goddess.  Is it another bug in the system?"


    Phillip sighs.  "Apparently, she''s handing out divine curses.  Could you look into fixing it?"


    "Sure Phil, I''ll get right on it."


    Phillip returns to his room and accesses the ''live camera'' function of the character ''Lisandra'', as he was highly interested in this odd ''Slave'' character.  He frowns as he debugs her code and quickly removes the ''Divine Curse'', as well as undoing the artificial inflation of the debt.


    <hr />


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''2''>System Notification</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>System Support Staff</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>A Developer has connected to your Live Action Camera


    A Developer has removed the debuff ''Divine Curse of Seluna''


    A Developer has adjusted your Debt.  Current Debt: 2,499,000</td></tr></tbody></table>


    A Developer is watching!? Lisandra quickly thinks.  Help!  Me: Paladin Jonas!  Missing!  Help!


    "What the hell are you writing there, you worthless slave?" Alana snarls.


    <hr />


    Well!  "Call: Patricia," Phillip states.  "Patty, I found him!  He''s a slave named Lisandra!  He just entered an Undesignated Forest area on the plains of Elindra."


    "Thank you, Phillip!"


    "Be careful, he''s got a debt of 2,499,000 still.  I did what I could by removing 45,000,000 of the debt, considering it was originally programmed as 5,000,000.  Someone hacked the character data to up it to 50,000,000."


    "I''ll go and find him.  I have a teleport to a village right by that new forest.  I had intended to check out there."

 Chapter 5 - The Bloodstorm Cometh

    Author''s Note: The scene of the wolf fight is needed to explain just how cold Patricia gets when she''s in the ''Platinum_Blood'' character.


    <hr />


    Patricia glares at her Pod.  "Alright, access Alpha Gamma Sigma Trilogy Delta Beta Omega."


    A chime and a computerized voice answers, "Access granted.  Awaiting commands."


    "Back-up current character.  Set it as Family-001.  Empty current character.  Load Character file BloodSupreme.  Raise Nanobot production to 200%."


    "Character: Pattibomb Backed up to file Famiy-001.  Current Character slot erased.  Character: Platinum_Blood restored to Character Slot.  Nanobot count raising to 200%."


    "Unlock GM Toolkit, merge with Character: Platinum_Blood."


    "Command requires Authorization."


    "Authorization Gamma Epsilon Alpha Foxtrot November," Patricia sighs.


    "Authorization accepted.  Platinum_Blood has been registered as a Game Master with VR Technics.  Please hold for confirmation from VR Technics.  Confirmation received.  Platinum_Blood is officially a Game Master, with full CS and GM Rights."


    Patricia sighs and opens her pod, sliding in and pulling it closed.


    <hr />


    <b>Spoiler</b> : <input type=''button'' value=''Show'' class=''spoilerButton''><table><tbody><tr><td>Name</td><td>Platinum_Blood</td></tr><tr><td>Race</td><td>Arch-Elf</td></tr><tr><td>Level</td><td>185</td></tr><tr><td>Class</td><td>Blood Lord</td></tr><tr><td>Currency</td><td>50,000,000</td></tr><tr><td>Debt</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Health</td><td>75,185/75,185</td></tr><tr><td>Health Regen</td><td>250 health per second out of battle</td></tr><tr><td>Magicka</td><td>158,725/158,725</td></tr><tr><td>Magicka Regen</td><td>500 magicka per second</td></tr><tr><td>Stamina</td><td>10,000/10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Stamina Regen</td><td>100 stamina per second</td></tr><tr><td>Strength</td><td>150 (800)</td></tr><tr><td>Dexterity</td><td>150 (800)</td></tr><tr><td>Vitality</td><td>150 (750)</td></tr><tr><td>Intelligence</td><td>500 (1,000)</td></tr><tr><td>Willpower</td><td>100 (500)</td></tr><tr><td>Endurance</td><td>200 (250)</td></tr><tr><td>Charisma</td><td>10 (50)</td></tr><tr><td>Luck</td><td>10 (50)</td></tr></tbody></table>


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''2''>System Notification</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Game Master Activation</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Welcome back to Elindra, Game Master Platinum_Blood


    Please select your returning Location:</td></tr><tr><td>Linsol Cogni (Elindra Continent Capital)</td><td>Aurisila (Plains Village near new Unidentified Location)</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Platinum immediately selected the plains village of Aurisila.  She would only be staying in the village a few moments before marching off to this new unknown forest.  Unknown to many, the Blood Lord was a Hidden Class that required the player to first become a Vampire and then completely drain the Vampire Patriarch in the Dark Forest, and reset your character''s level completely upon draining the Patriarch.  Then you could only gain a level for each enemy completely drained of blood, but if you started drinking from a target, they would become your pet if you stopped before fifty percent, and your complete thrall if you stopped between fifty-one and seventy-five percent drained.  After seventy-five percent, if you didn''t finish draining them, you could get one of their abilities, they would still die from blood loss but you wouldn''t get the Level.


    The ability is banned from being used on players, because the Pet/Thrall status lasts until respawn, and if used five times in a row, then the status became permanent until deleted by a member of the support staff.  Oh, you''re probably wondering what the different between pets and thralls are, don''t you?  pets are summonable and have some small amount of self and personal control.  If they have enough willpower, then they could break free from the Pet status and flee or attack the owner.  A Thrall, however, has their will wiped and replaced by the desire to do nothing more than please their owner.


    Platinum opens her eyes and looks around before smirking and heading onto the plains towards the forest.  "I''m coming for you, Lisandra darling."


    <hr />


    Lisandra smirks coldly.  You''ve fucked up with how you have handled me, she writes.  A Developer is currently watching.


    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Alana growls and drags her further into the woods.


    <table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''2''>System Notification</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>System Support Staff</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Platinum_Blood has been unleashed.


    The Blood Lord is coming for you.</td></tr></tbody></table>


    So, Patricia is really angry, isn''t she?  My wife is coming.  She is very angry.


    "So what?  She''s nothing compared to our Oracle," Alana spits.


    Loran catches up as she says that.  "What''s going on?"


    "Apparently our slave here has a Developer who sent her wife after her.  She claims that her wife is angry," Alana states as if she couldn''t care less.


    "You will hand my slave over.  I have decided that she is officially the property of the Crown, not the Church, since it was the Crown''s coin and the Crown''s bid." Loran reaches out for the leather strap that Alana has been using to drag Lisandra by.


    Alana snarls.  "I don''t think so.  The Crown has lost all its power amongst our people.  You dare think you have the right to rule after our Goddess had to save us all?"


    "The Crown has the right to Rule.  I am the Crown.  The Church needs to step back, as the Church has improperly handled this, especially with sending someone like you, a member of the Seluna''s Lunatics..." Loran growls back at Alana.


    Lisandra grabs onto Alana as she lunges towards the prince, using her arm as a pivot, she slams Alana facedown into the ground at his feet.  "Thank you, Lisandra.  Jelliba, keep your sister in hand."  Jelliba helps Alana up and starts whispering with her, to keep her from attacking the two who are ahead of them on the path.


    Loran guides the party deep into the woods, where there is a sudden clearing with a single giant stone cathedral and many small wooden houses.  Due to the power of Seluna, the monsters in the woods do not attack the party on their way in.


    <hr />


    Platinum arrives at the forest just as they reach the large clearing in the center.  The moment Platinum enters, she draws her sword to be ready to attack as soon as she was attacked.


    When she''s about ten feet inside the forest, there''s a long howl, which reverberates through the forest which makes her smile and draw her second sword.


    <hr />


    Lisandra smiles and writes.  The Bloodstorm comes.


    "What is the Bloodstorm?" Loran asks.


    The Great Lord of Blood, Platinum_Blood. Lisandra''s smile becomes quite cold.  The Game Master character that belongs to my wife.  Developers use her to wipe an area if things go out of control.  Lisandra changes the color from its normal color to that of blood.  I hope your people are willing to surrender, or they will all die...  Although I won''t mourn Alana''s death, you are an alright person.


    "Can you have them call her off?"


    Nope.  Once unleashed, the only one who can stop her is my Paladin, but there''s no chance that that will happen this time...


    <hr />


    Platinum''s smile keeps growing as she is charged by a wolf.


    <b>Spoiler</b> : <input type=''button'' value=''Show'' class=''spoilerButton''><table><tbody><tr><td colspan=''2''>Moonlight Howler</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>Lunar Wolf</td></tr><tr><td>Level</td><td>250</td></tr><tr><td>Health</td><td>75,000/75,000</td></tr><tr><td>Magicka</td><td>100/100</td></tr><tr><td>Stamina</td><td>7,500/7,500</td></tr><tr><td colspan=''2''>One of the powerful, lone wolves that can summon lesser lunar wolves to aid it in battle should it feel threatened.</td></tr></tbody></table>


    Without seeming to waste any movement, she slides slightly to the side, while raising her blade so it slices down the belly of the  wolf, inflicting powerful critical after critical as it is locked into its jumping trajectory.  When it lands, it cries out in pain as its guts spill down onto the ground, making it trip over its own intestines.  She thrusts her sword through its eye and deep into its brain to kill it before it can summon others of its kind.


    With her gear, and her personal stats, Platinum_Blood is the equivalent of a level 600 Boss character, which is why they use her to basically wipe areas about to have their lore edited for expansion reasons.  She keeps going along the way, ignoring the creatures that are too scared to fight her after her quick kill of the Moonlight Howler.

 Official Hiatus of this Project

    I''m sorry for those who have been enjoying and waiting for this story to continue, but I have decided that at the moment I will be taking an official Hiatus from this project to focus on finishing up ''Chaos Wave'' Volume 1: The Divine Adventure.


    I expect to have completed The Divine Adventure (and hopefully fleshed out the upgraded published version) by mid-October.  Once again, I am sorry.  It looks like I bit off a lot more than I could chew in trying to keep multiple stories running, especially when Chaos Wave Volume 2: The Changed World started making me focus on the building of its world and system.


    At this moment, I have about 5 chapters of CW1:TDA to still rough out, but I have a nearly fleshed out epilogue, of which I will cut most of that Flesh from the RRL edition (although the majority of the information cut out can be found on the World/System building google doc I posted to see if people could give me feedback on the ''Timeline'' and System).


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    I truly appreciate the readers and followers of this story, and it is NOT being canceled, just shelved until I can get time to give it the attention it deserves so that it can be a quality work.


    Thank you very much for your time,


    Justin "Johnist" Johanson


    Author