The spider slumped right near my vehicle, and I was fortunate none of us damaged my SUV somehow. I used Assess on it and two of the dead goblins.

  Mermec Arachne(Demon), War Mount, Level 10

  Fiendish Goblin, Hunter, Level 4

  Fiendish Goblin, Marauder, Level 3

  So, a demon spider and two fiendish goblins. Two different classes. Makes sense that they wouldn’t be uniform, they are goblins after all. I looked around at everybody and they looked okay. “Everyone okay?” I shouted just to be safe. I could hear my own words so my hearing was returning as well.

  I got a lot of affirmatives back, so I felt good to check out what the fucking gun was from the second floor of Katnessa’s place. I don’t remember anyone packing a rifle on them that used larger than 7.62mm ammo. Walking up the street towards the house I saw Rick and Ted stabbing the goblins and their massive spider mount thoroughly to ensure all of them were very dead. “Good job, gentlemen. As soon as I get Katnessa squared away, we will fall back to the other half of the squad.”

  “What about the lupin camp?” Rick asked.

  “I want to take care of it, but our first priority has to be evacuating people. Problems are clearly going to find us, no matter what we do.” Rick and Ted chuckled for a moment in response.

  “Oh, and keep an eye on the house across the street. I don’t think the other spider, its riders, or the demonic muncher are dead, only injured, delayed, and probably very pissed off.”

  “Yes, Captain,” they both responded. They didn’t even blink an eye at the new official name for our demonic gut monster.

  With that I made my way into the house. The front was still the same as before, but I turned and went up the stairs to my right. The hard wooden steps creaked slightly under my steps. “Katnessa, it’s me, Neal, just coming up the stairs to the second floor.” I didn’t see her, but I was not going to try and scare anyone with a gun that can push a horse sized spider several feet in any direction. I then continued up to the landing and turned to find the open room at the front of the house with Katnessa standing in the doorway.

  “So nice to have you back so quickly. Are checking on little ole me?”

  “Yes, and I was curious what gun that was that knocked the stupid demon spider so far.”

  She laughed, “Oh, that’s my rifle. His name is Big Richard.” She moved aside to point to the massive 50 caliber sniper rifle. “I had a boyfriend a year ago that was way into guns. He thought giving me a giant rifle like this would be a great present. I didn’t think so at the time, so I broke up with him.” She giggled as if there was a hidden joke to the whole thing.

  “Well, we need to get packed in a hurry. You have about 5 minutes. To get what you need. Then we are headed down the street together to join up with the other half of the first squad.”

  “Oh, are you enlisting me?”

  “Yes, if you are ready for it.”

  “Oh yay. More men to enjoy!” I rolled my eyes at the last statement. I almost feel bad for attaching her to the first squad, but her shooting is worth it.

  I walked back downstairs and sat at the kitchen counter. I saw Will sitting there as well. “How do you feel after surviving your first firefight?”

  “I’m umm… okay I guess. I leveled up. So that’s something at least. I feel hungry now. Does leveling do that?”

  “Yes it does Will, yes it does. Here, I think I can help on the snack front.” I pulled out a bunch of cookies and other snacks from my pouch and slid half of it over to Will. I then did my level up as well. I selected to improve my Mana-Recovery skill to finally get it to tier two. I will have to look at it after this to see how fast I recover mana passively now. I finalized my level up and then started eating food. I figured I had a few minutes until Katnessa was done. In reviewing the changes, I saw that my charisma, caster level, effect level, health, mana, rifle skill, and Mana-Recovery skill had all gone up. I gained an ability slot as well. Not groundbreaking, but a nice boost none the less.

  Neal Cassland    Human

  Level: 4        9% to next level

  Affinities: Intelligence, Charisma, Knowledge, Law, Politics

  Current Class: Legislative Aide      Lvl 4/5

  Str 3; Agi 3; Con 4; Int 5; Wis 3; Cha 6; Health 39/39; Mana 8/12

  Abilites: (3/6) Identify; Mana Reinforcement 1; Predictive Aim    Class Ability: Assess

  Caster Level: 4       Ability Effect Level: 4

  Skills of Note: Pistols 2; Rifles 3; Running 4; Hunting 3; Fishing 2; History 3; Public Speaking 3; Law 4; Persuasion 4; Command 1; Mana-Recovery 2; Perception 1

  I was happy with my gains, but I really wanted to know more about mana-recovery. So, I took a peak under the hood.

  Skill: Mana-Recovery Tier 2

  Affinities: Wisdom, Arcane, Divine, Nature, Hunter, Crusade

  Mana-Recovery has to do with the passive ability of individuals to draw mana into their bodies from their environment. This is normally achieved by long hours of meditation and visualization of their mana core. At tier 2 the user can recover 1 mana every 30 minutes.

  Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

  2 mana every hour. So, I should recover my 4 mana spent in less than 2 hours. Well hot damn. My stone started vibrating, so I fished it out of my pocket. “Neal, It’s Ted. You better get out here.”

  Fuck. With that I stuffed some cookies in my mouth and shoved the rest of my snacks into the pouch for safe keeping. Saying goodbye to Will I headed out the front door. What I saw was not what I expected. Three Humvees were parked out in the street. An officer from Colonel Smolder’s staff was there as well. I couldn’t remember her name to save my life. I kept my approach steady as I got down to the street stopping just short of her. “Captain Cassland reporting in. Is there something I can do for you ma’am?”

  “I’m Major Green. Your direct commanding officer. We haven’t spoken yet, as you have mostly dealt with Colonel Smolders. I need a sitrep for the containment loss, pronto.”

  “Major Green. We were helping folks get out of the last few houses here when an explosion happened to our west. We didn’t investigate because our responsibility was to get these people evacuated. Enemy must have broken containment at the portal because we had a bunch of monsters head this way. We killed many with the help of the helicopter over there.” I pointed to the raging fire at the gas station across the main road. “We have a few more trapped in the webbing in that house. It won’t hold for long.”

  “And exactly how did you trap a bunch of monsters in webbing?”

  “An ability.” I was tired of complete transparency biting me in the ass. The Colonel already knew about the wand. If he chooses not to inform her, then that’s on him.

  “Well then. Two of these Humvees are for you to use. There are ample communication devices there. The walkie talkies have exceptional range. There is sufficient ammo for the guns on top to get you through the next few days.”

  “Excellent. I appreciate the supplies, Ma’am.”

  She looked like she wanted to correct me. “You are a hard man to get a hold of. Also, you move around a lot. We know this because you’ve become quite the internet sensation. Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube all have videos floating around of you confronting reporters, talking to concerned civilians, recruiting volunteers, addressing whole groups of citizens, and in general just being everywhere across these four municipalities.”

  I stood up a little straighter at those words. She continued, “Not all of it is good. It has brought a lot of scrutiny to what you are doing and what we are doing to provide leadership and oversight for you. I am sending one of my lieutenants with you to look over your operation. She needs to see all that you are doing and ensuring it is in compliance with military standards.”

  “Not a problem Ma’am.”

  “Oh, and a reporter from Hound News is arriving overnight to attach themselves to your unit for extended coverage of what you do. Make sure you give her full access.” With that she turned and left inside one of the Humvees leaving us two others.

  I wasn’t quite sure what to make of the news of all this scrutiny and oversight. I originally thought that I should be sharing as much as I can with as many people as possible. Colonel Kent abused me of that notion. I have been a little more careful with Colonel Smolders, but not that careful. However, I didn’t have time to worry about that at the moment. We needed to distribute some goods from the Humvees. As I approached the vehicle a tall imposing woman got out. She had the markings of a lieutenant. She must be the one assigned to me.

  “Good afternoon Lieutenant. May I have your name please?” I saluted her quickly to save her the time.

  “I’m Lieutenant Griggs, Sir.”

  “Excellent Griggs. If you could help me get comms in the hands of this half of the squad that would be great.”

  “Where is the other half?”

  And so, it begins. “Down the street helping several elderly couples get onto a bus to evacuate them.”

  “But you’re too far to support one another.”

  “We have a lot of ground to cover. I want Oakland emptied out today or tomorrow morning at the latest. That is going to stretch us thin. Tonight, after we finish for the day, feel free to go over any mistakes you think I have made. For now, I think we should distribute gear.” Granted this means she is going to take notes. I am not entirely sure if that is a good or bad thing.

  We quickly handed out earpieces to the guys and walkie talkies to me, Griggs, and Ted. No need to tell her about the communications stones just yet. I was about to yell at Katnessa about not being done when Ted tapped me on my shoulder and pointed at the webbing at the house across the street. A single line was slicing its way down the middle. Webbing parted from a single spider leg. They must be razor sharp. Another line parted a foot to it’s left and another leg. Nothing yet emerged from the webs. Then garage door exploded outwards and a heavy duty 4x4 came barreling straight out. It ran in a single line, yet no driver was behind the wheel. I was mesmerized for the moment it took to drive out of the driveway and straight across past us and into the front porch of Katnessa’s “What the Fuck was that?” Ted and I said it in virtual unison. The crunch of car against concrete retaining wall was not pretty, and the engine promptly cut off due to the engine concaving in a bit much.

  It was then that both the spider and the muncher bolted. The spider skittered through the opening it had created in the webbing while the muncher leapt through the same hole in the garage. The diversion and escape would have worked. It was rather ingeniously planned. Unfortunately, Dan and Hank from the squad had already been getting used to being in the turrets. Fifty caliber bullets from fully automatic machine guns met the monsters mid stride less than two paces from their cover. The results were as destructive and bloody as they were predictable. Muncher got smacked with a half a dozen shot was practically torn into two parts, both of which seemed a bit deflated from the brief fusillade. The Spider’s durable but thin carapace faired no better. By the 10th bullet the mermec Arachne exploded in a display of pulp, guts, and gore. The lawn and driveway were thoroughly painted in dark bloody ichor.

  The goblins riding on the two creatures faired no better. Three were taken out by random 50 caliber bullets. The fourth was out of sight, but we then heard a small roar as three oversized cats pounced on him. They charged from Katnessa’s front yard and tackled the poor green skin. One went for the goblin’s legs, while the other two attacked the torso and arms. I turned away. I assumed the goblin wouldn’t survive. From its cries in a foreign language that eventually silenced, it was probably a good assumption.

  Griggs turned to me, “Your men seem really effective on the machine guns.”

  “They do seem that way. I am very impressed with their work.”

  Will came out of the house carrying two bags of cat food in his scrawny arms. He put it into my SUV’s trunk before coming over to me. “Sir, with my level up I can use my ability one more time.”

  “Good. Check the dead goblins and loot anything worthwhile. Whichever one has the best stuff, use your ability on that one.” Will nodded and went to the first of the goblins. Rick was already looting other dead goblins. They likely didn’t have much that was useful, but every magical trinket and potion mattered. Ted went over to check the jeep while Griggs leveled a look at me.

  “Is there any reason you are employing children illegally? And what ability does have that is so useful?” And the questions keep coming.

  “Will is a volunteer at my political office. Note that he carries a side arm, but no rifle. So, he isn’t under military purview. He is helping with his ability. It strengthens us.”

  “Strengthens how?”

  I frowned, but continued, “I’ll explain everything in time. I’ll do so both later tonight and tomorrow. However, I need assurances from you before I do so.”

  “Assurances?”

  “Yes, assurances that you, nor anyone else, is going to come in and start seizing any of my people. I’ve been trying hard to build a reasonably sustainable infrastructure. There are about a dozen more things we need to become completely sustainable for the war, but we have a start.”

  “There is no way I can guarantee you that. If you are doing things illegally then I won’t ever protect you. Besides, what you are doing may be better if done elsewhere and by somebody else.”

  “That tells me all I need to know.” I promptly headed back to the house and got the rest of Katnessa’s things. This was not going to be a positive relationship until she could change her mind. I’m not sure how I will keep things from her, but I can at least not overshare.