The true might of shadows.

The sight that greeted the Gamer when the flash ended seemed to be a perfect replica of the bar he saw on the mundane end. He didn’t get a good look at it, but what he could see matched. The inside of this barrier appeared to be the textbook definition of a dive bar. At least to his understanding of the term, John had only ever seen it used in some of the shows he enjoyed. Just like in those shows, the bar seemed to be a simple and unimpressive establishment. The air was thick and dense with the smell of ****. All the patrons looked sketchy, most were either drunk or gambling.

At first he was confused as to why they even bothered entering the barrier. Upon closer inspection he started to notice non-human features amongst some of the customers. He was shocked to see a centaur playing darts with what he assumed was an elf. Most of the people present were still human from what he could see, but he finally understood why they needed an Abyssal bar to relax in. Some didn't want to keep up whatever disguise they wore, while others were just openly using magic.

John was examining the room as he followed the ebony woman to the bartender. Suddenly he heard Jasmine's voice in his head, “Before I forget, whatever you do, don’t use your Observe skill here. If you can, try to keep your usage of skills to a minimum. No one here is particularly threatening, especially since most are wanderers or low tier mercenaries. They’re stronger than you are, but none of them should be able to kill you without putting in a bit of effort. Just follow my lead.”

He responded with a simple, “Will do.”

The reporter passed a black card to the gruff looking man behind the bar and then sauntered seductively over to a black clad man drinking alone near one of the windows. She took a seat across from the man; her strawberry scented smoke was the only pleasant smell in the building. “I’m looking for someone and after some digging you seem to be the guy who can help me. If you’re cooperative, you might be able to make it through the night.” Even with her voice that oozed seduction, what she said could only be taken as a polite threat.

“Look, bitch, I’m not in a good mood. I don’t know you, or whoever the fuck you’re looking for.” The black clad man tossed a fireball at an empty chair next to Jasmine. “Leave me alone and let me drink in peace, or next time, you’ll be the one I barbecue.”

He still hadn’t gotten a good look at the man since most of him was covered. When he threw the fireball, the Gamer clearly saw it: the same moth-like tattoo on his hand identical to the one of Meadow’s kidnapper from when he used his Psychometry skill. John clenched his fist in anger as the image of the man started to overlap with the one in his memory. He was just about to lunge at the man when he was interrupted.

“John, wait! Leave it to Jasmine. Things will probably go south, but let Sister set the pace. If not for you, do it for your friend.” John grit his teeth and did his best to calm down.

“Heh, I’d like to see you try, pig. This is my friend in question,” the ebony reporter said, sliding a picture of Meadow toward the black clad man. “She went missing two nights ago and I have a witness who saw you there almost at the same time. Let’s not play games, just tell me where she is, or else.” A tendril came out of her shadow and wrapped itself around the man’s throat to emphasize her threat. This also caused his hood to shake off, revealing the very face John had seen the previous day.

“Fuck you,” the kidnapper yelled, tossing two fireballs at Jasmine and the Gamer who stood behind her. At the same time he tried breaking free of the tendril around his neck; his hands, clad in flames, seemed to be trying to crush it.

Both fireballs were swallowed up by shadows that seemed to be Jasmine’s. The shadow wrapped around the man’s throat picked him up and tossed him out the window into the alley. The reporter stepped through the broken window to follow after the man that collided with the wall outside. “I tried to be nice and do this the easy way, but you just had to be a jerk. It’s always so much more fun when people are cooperative. If you didn’t kidnap his friend, I might even have shown you a good time in exchange for the information I requested.”

John glanced at the other patrons, but neither they nor the bartender even bothered to take a glance in their direction. Since it seemed like no one would bother them, the Gamer followed Jasmine through the broken window. He decided to arm himself with the dagger Sonia gave to him, since it seemed less ridiculous than the one he assumed was created by his powers.

The kidnapper staggered to his feet and created six fireballs which he sent flying towards Jasmine. A blade made entirely of fire extended from his right hand. “You fucking bitch, you’re going to regret this! I’m going to rip your limbs off and turn you into my meat puppet!” he yelled in anger, as he rushed at her brandishing the sword he created.

The reporter looked completely composed and a giant mouth made entirely out of shadows appeared in front of her gulping the fire balls. In one swift motion the giant mouth transformed into eight tentacles which launched themselves at the kidnapper to impale him in both his arms and legs, pinning the man to the wall behind him. “You seem to be overestimating yourself. Just because I was being polite doesn’t mean I’m harmless. Now, you’re going to answer my questions like a good dirt bag, or I’ll be **** to **** it out of you. I’ll start with your idea, by having my shadows rip your limbs off slowly.” To add emphasis to her words, the tentacles started to pull his limbs in different directions. “And don’t bother trying to lie, I'll know. Am I understood?”

John was surprised at how easily she had immobilized the man. Her totally brutal and overwhelming advantage made him wonder, ‘Is this truly the power of someone at level seventeen?’ He unconsciously looked at the information of his party members. The reporter’s level displayed thirty four and the numbers were golden instead of the standard white that his own and Reimi’s showed. He was sure when he woke up that he had glanced at the party info, and at that time her level had still been seventeen and the only thing out of place was that Sonia had left the party. “Hey, Jasmine, why are you suddenly so strong? Your level is double what it was earlier?” asked the Gamer, forgetting the situation he was in even with the main object of his anger impaled before him.

“Not right now, John, this prick comes first,” she responded via their connection. “Now tell me what happened to the girl in the picture. How are you picking your targets? For the past two months, many women went missing and all their disappearances seemed eerily similar to that of Ms. Clarke?”

“I’m just a mercenary, I was given a list and told to collect the women on the list. Then I’d bring them to a drop point. I usually grab a mark every night or two, our meeting point isn’t far from here. That’s all I know, I swear, please let me live,” begged the man, as he did his best to endure the pain.

The tentacles tugged a bit on his stretched limbs. “You didn’t give me any information on your employer. What do they look like?”

“Gah, fuck, they keep themselves covered in black, my only clue is that they are a woman.” He gritted teeth as his limbs were yanked further. “Ok, ok, one time I caught a glimpse of what looked to be a long pink braid. That’s really all I know, even if you spare me, I’m pretty much a dead man walking now. Once they find out, I squealed I’m fucked,” whined the man.

“Where do you keep the list? You seem to be lightly armed, so you should have a spatial device or two. Tell me what they are to save me the trouble.”

“Now you’re robbing me. Ugh, whatever, one is the ring on my right hand and the other is the earring I wear.” Another two tentacles emerged from the brutal ebony woman’s shadow. They viciously cut out the man’s ear and finger, and brought the items over to Jasmine. “Gaia damn it, you didn’t have to be so ruthless and maim me,” complained the man, who was bleeding even more profusely.

For a moment John agreed with him, but the images of his first love being assaulted by this mercenary were enough to change his mind. ‘Don’t pity this garbage, he’s the one who kidnapped Meadow. Who knows what happened to her?’

While the Gamer was in his thoughts, Jasmine was inspecting the spatial items. “I’m not stupid enough to get close to a cornered rat, you give in too easily, so you probably have a trick or two you’re confident in. Ah! Here we go, it’s this list, right?” asked the reporter as she put the ring and earring in her pocket.

“Fuck you, why should I help you, you’ve already made up your mind, you fucking bitch!” screamed the man as he did his best to struggle free,

“Jasmine, watch out. Someone just took control of and expanded the size of the barrier!” yelled Reini in their telepathic link, panic in her voice.

The Gamer looked up at a bright pink light he could see. It seemed to be getting closer to them.