Chương 68: Unfiltered Rage

__ Hap Do Ron slammed the jeep door shut. Today had been a day filled with nothing but anxiety. Clors Vor had tasked him with the transfer of two prisoners, humans, both over level one hundred. It had been a nightmare. Especially the bald woman. She was vicious, feral to the last breath. It had taken four of them an hour to beat her into submission. Even now, she was barely even recognisable, her face swollen and caked in blood. He hated today. He couldn't wait to get inside the city and forget about it.

"That damn Clors, I hope he burns in hell for making us run this trip," He spat at his brother.

"Aga ratha," Zen said as the jeep rolled forward. A gust of wind rocked the vehicle. Hap glanced back at the prisoners, taking grim satisfaction in the sight, until... A deafening scream tore the air apart. Pain lanced through his skull. His ears burst. His head whipped violently, confusion shattering his mind. The ground beneath the jeep exploded upward, sending them flying. Hap didn't even have time to process what was happening.

The jeep erupted into fire and shrapnel, vaporizing him before his mind could register his death. __ Gas do Run had just stepped through the entrance into the city when the shockwave hit. The explosion behind him flung him forward like a rag doll, slamming him inside the bubble. His ears rang uselessly. His head pounded. He scrambled to his knees, vision swimming, and looked up. Through the haze, he saw a figure. A human… carrying the two prisoners casually over his shoulders, walking through the wreckage.

The human turned and locked eyes with him. For the first time in Gas's life, he felt pure, consuming terror. He tried to move. To scream. To blink. He managed none of it. The last thing he saw was a blur of motion, and then there was only darkness. __ The newly named city of House Vor shook violently, as explosions erupted everywhere. Geckvo Vor, the pillar owner, was jolted awake from his daily nap by shouts and chaos.

"What the hell is going on?" he barked, scrambling out of bed and yanking on a pair of trousers draped over a nearby chair. He bolted from his room, only to freeze as three more explosions thundered somewhere deep within the city.

"What the hell is going on!" he shouted again, panic rising as he sprinted toward the pillar chamber. His cousin and the city's mayor, Volk Vor, met him halfway.

"Lord, we are under attack. We must notify Pathfinder immediately!" Volk cried as they raced through the corridors.

"Inside the city? How did they get in?" Geckvo asked, fear creeping into his voice.

"We don't know; things just started exploding. Hurry!" They burst into the pillar room, and Geckvo stopped short. The chamber was completely empty.

"Where the hell is everyone?" he demanded, his voice cracking slightly. He darted toward the pillar, cursing. Of course, he knew the answer. Lax discipline. Lax leadership. Something he had foolishly allowed to fester. Something he would correct, if he survived this day. He reached the pillar and began frantically tapping at the communication panel, trying to send an emergency message to Pathfinder. A deafening blast shook the building itself, nearly throwing him to the ground.

Was that an explosion inside the building? He started to panic, his sweaty fingers slipping across the panel as he fumbled through the wrong screens. Cursing, he jabbed back, trying to reach the main base communications when Volk suddenly screamed behind him. Geckvo spun around… and froze. A human stood in the doorway, carrying two others slung over his shoulders.

A system notification flashed into Geckvo's vision: System Message Bounty Target 'Feormere' At that moment, Geckvo Vors's entire life flashed before his eyes. The petty schemes, the wasted years, the brief flicker of hope when he was finally given authority, all of it meaningless now. He stared into the eyes of his executioner. And before he could even scream, his head exploded like a ripe melon, and he died. __ System Message Congratulations. You have killed a pillar owner and have now claimed a city pillar.

Please touch your city pillar to complete the ownership transfer. Joe gently set Samira and Esha down beside him. Both were unconscious, their faces battered and bloodied. He forced a pill into each of their mouths, watching as they dissipated and the healing effect began to take hold. He stood, turned to the pillar, and placed his hand upon it. Kill notifications flooded his vision, thirty Voldura slain in his furious rampage to reach this place. He pushed them all away.

The voice of regret whispered in the back of his mind, but he ignored it. He could barely even remember how he got here, only the raw, blinding rage that had carried him this far. The panel appeared before him, greeting the new city owner. He clicked onto the official's page and scanned the list; every single name ended with Vor. Clan Vor, he guessed. He removed them all from their positions and returned to the main menu.

He quickly found the controls for the defensive bubble, sealing the exit and putting the city on full lockdown. The panel was extremely intuitive, and navigating the menus took no time at all. He was glad he was used to how it worked from his interactions with his own personal pillar. He even found a section to block all communications through the pillar. Satisfied, he turned as he heard stirring behind him. Samira.

"Easy, it's okay. You are safe now," he said softly, kneeling beside her.

"I gave you a healing pill, so rest. Eat this." He handed her a piece of fruit, and she took a tentative bite, then laughed. A strange, almost broken laugh.

"What torture is this?" she said between ragged chuckles.

"Of all the people you show me… why him?" Joe blinked in confusion, his mind still fogged by rage. It took him a moment to understand her rambling… She thought she was hallucinating. He grimaced and leaned closer.

"Samira, look at me," he said, grabbing her face gently but firmly, forcing her to meet his gaze. Her eyes searched his. Lost, disbelieving.

"It's me," he said, voice thick.

"Joe. You know, the Farmer you love so much."

"I don't love…" She stopped. Her hand trembled as she brushed his cheek, tears spilling from her eyes.

"By Vishnu, is it really you?" she whispered, and then she broke, sobbing in his arms.

"It's me, alright. You're safe now," he said, pulling her into a tight embrace. Samira clung to him, weeping into his shoulder. They stayed like that for five full minutes, until a wet, painful cough broke the moment. Joe gently released Samira and rushed over to Esha, who was coughing violently, spitting up blood onto the floor. He helped steady her as she expelled the filth clogging her throat and mouth. Her face was almost unrecognisable, swollen and bruised, but her brown eyes shone through the damage.

"I must be dreaming," Esha croaked between breaths, trying to snarl.

"How is a hairy Farmer here right now?" Joe didn't waste time with words. He shoved a piece of fruit into her mouth, and her eyes widened as the juice hit her tongue.

"Samira, can you handle her?" Joe asked urgently.

"We have guests I need to deal with." Samira nodded and crawled over to Esha, wrapping an arm around her friend as Joe turned and sprinted from the room. He didn't have to go far. Just beyond the entrance stood two Voldura, frozen stiff with fear. Joe's presence hit them like a physical force. He activated Identify. Neither of them bore the name Vor. Good. He stepped forward, his voice like iron.

"I am the new pillar owner. Geckvo Vor is dead. You have two choices: Die here right now, or work for me. You have two seconds to choose. One…"

"We are at your command, city owner!" they both shouted, bowing low in panic.

"Good, come with me," Joe turned sharply and headed back into the room where Esha and Samira lay. He crouched down beside Esha, placing a hand over her bruised shoulder. He couldn't resist a sudden temptation as he moved his hand to her doll's arm, giving it a little squeeze as his healing touch activated. He felt a frail hand grip his, returning the squeeze tenderly, as Esha smiled, tilting her head towards him.

"How?" she started to ask. Joe shook his head firmly.

"I will explain later. For now, close your eyes and heal," he said, his voice tender. Esha sighed, leaning back obediently, trusting him. Joe's head turned slightly toward the two Voldura who had followed him in. Samira watched them with naked fury.

"You two," Joe said, his voice cold and clear, "listen closely. I'm leaving the city shortly to retrieve Clan Relashra." Both Voldura gasped at the name.

"This city will now belong to them. You will both swear fealty to Clan Relashra and serve under their rule. Do either of you have a problem with that?"

"No," said the one called Tif, stepping forward quickly.

"If what you say is true, we would gladly give our lives to Clan Relashra. But… They are all dead. How can they be here?" Joe locked eyes with her.

"Pathfinder lied to you. They still live, Tif. Are there others like you? Who will be willing to join and follow Clan Relashra?" Tif glanced at her companion, Gho. Gho nodded grimly, and Tif turned back to Joe, a strong resolve in her voice.

"If what you say is true… everyone except the Vor Clan would gladly return to serving under Clan Relashra." Joe studied them both carefully. He didn't sense any deceit, but he wasn't especially skilled at detecting lies. He did trust his instincts, though. Maybe Pathfinder's hold on the Voldura was not as strong as it seemed. There was a small hope that the race as a whole wasn't complete monsters who just wanted to enslave humans. He gave a single, decisive nod.

"Great. For now, I want you to go outside and tell everyone gathering that there is a new city owner. My name is Feormere," Joe said firmly. He caught the way their eyes widened in recognition.

"Good, you know my name. I am the number one ranker on this world. This city is mine. And tell the Vors they have two options. Gather at the northern entrance to the city and wait for my return. Or I will root them out and kill them all. Go now!" The two Voldura didn't need to be told twice. They sprinted from the room, eager to escape the furious human barking orders at them.

"Wow," Samira said, her voice filled with half-worry, half-awe.

"Who are you, and what have you done with the naive Farmer?" Joe smiled at her and finally let himself relax.

"Don't worry, that was mostly posturing. A little fear never hurt anybody," he chuckled, a real laugh, one filled with relief and joy. He spent the next hour focused on healing, working mostly on Esha, while Samira popped healing pills into her mouth whenever she could. Only when he was sure that neither of them was in immediate danger did he finally stop. Esha, still too weak to walk, was carefully lifted onto his back. He wrapped her gently in his barding to hold her securely.

"You better not try anything, Farmer," Esha croaked playfully, her voice rough but alive.

"If I feel your hand on my leg, I swear, I'll bite your ear off."

"Oh god, I can't believe I actually missed you, Esh," Joe said, laughing joyously.

"Of course you did. I'm the best," Esha quipped.

"Now, keep your hands to yourself. I'm a taken woman." Joe laughed again as he approached the city pillar. He moved straight to the pillar shop, noting with some disappointment that the city was only level six, much lower than Heliopolis. Still, he hoped it had at least some decent vehicles. He really wished he had his own integration pillar on hand right now.

Scanning through the available listings, he smiled when he found exactly what he was looking for: A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Nomadic Skyboat: Emperor class. This boat seats up to fifty people and comes with all the necessities for a long-haul journey. Price - 30, 000, 000 credits Joe clicked buy, and a new ring appeared before him. His party chat was flashing urgently with unread messages, but he ignored them for the moment.

"Okay, let's go pick up everyone else, shall we? First…" he paused, glancing at Samira.

"I'd better address everyone standing outside. Are you good to walk?"

"I'm as good as new, Farmer. Let's go," Samira said, pulling out her bow with a half grin. She clearly tried to look intimidating, but she still looked half-dead. Joe smiled warmly at her.

"Don't push yourself too hard." They made their way downstairs and out into the street. Around a hundred Voldura had gathered, bowing the moment Joe emerged from the building. He was ready for an attack, but fortunately, no one was foolish enough to try.

"Tif, any Vors here?" he asked.

"No, they're all heading towards the north as you ordered. They all agreed to surrender. Cowards, the lot of them," Tif spat. That brought a small cheer from a few in the crowd. Joe flashed his teeth, and almost everyone flinched back. He must have looked terrifying. One of the reasons he had been so adamant about separating the Vors was simple: those he had encountered so far were higher level than any other Voldura. But more than that, they were the ones Corel had blamed for the massacre of her clan.

It had been Pathfinder and the Vor Clan who had slaughtered so many. They had also started the enslavement of humanity.

"Great. I'm going to pick up Clan Relashra. We will return shortly," Joe announced.

"The city is on lockdown. No one leaves, no one touches the pillar. Understood?" Everyone nodded quickly. Joe wasn't stupid; he locked the controls on the pillar panel before leaving. Only he could access it now. He also set the city's bubble to allow only him and his vessels through. Pulling out his newly purchased skyboat, he jumped aboard. Samira unveiled her wings and joined him easily, while Esha remained strapped to his back, still healing.

She seemed surprisingly comfortable there, giving no sign she wanted to be let down. Her grip around his chest was almost uncomfortably tight. He fought to quell the anger threatening to surge again. The thought of what had been done to her, to both his friends, almost tipped him back into a rage. He paused for a moment, breathing deeply until he calmed his mind. Just as they were ready to leave, a voice called out from below. Joe leaned over the side of the skyboat and looked down.

"Feormere. Sorry to bother you. My name is Galad; I have previously worked with Clan Relashra. Before Pathfinder… I would like to go with you, please. I can be of assistance," the young Voldura called up. Joe studied him closely. He looked about the same age as Corel and Varaiya. So close to his own age.

"Tell me the names of those you worked with," Joe shouted down. Galad quickly rattled off a list of names Joe didn't recognize, until, eventually, he said:"Varaiya and Oris,""Stop. Jump aboard," Joe ordered. Galad beamed with delight and leapt onto the skyboat. Samira shot him a glare and pointed to the row of seats away from the controls. Galad paled but obeyed without question. Without another word, the Emperor-class skyboat rocketed out of the city, heading towards Mount Gorgo Vale. [Okay, so don't get mad.] - Joe. [Oh my god, I told you not to do anything stupid!] - Veda. [I didn't.] - Joe. [Then what did you do?] - Veda. [I may have accidentally stormed the city, killed the pillar owner and claimed the city for myself. I bought a new skyboat big enough to bring everyone over. I'll be there in twenty minutes.] - Joe. There was a long pause before he got a response. [We are going to have a long talk about what constitutes stupid.] - Veda. [... well done.] - Veda.

Joe arrived at Mount Gorgo Vale to find everyone staring up at the massive skyboat in shock. Veda was the first to jump aboard.

"Joe, my dear child, are you…" she started, but fell silent as her gaze locked onto Samira and Esha.

"Everything is forgiven," Veda said as she leapt forward, pulling Samira into a giant hug. Joe finally pried Esha off his back; she actually pouted a little at the separation before he jumped down to the ground, scanning the crowd for Corel.

"What happened?" Corel asked, confusion written all over her face.

"Why did you storm the city?"

"It's a long story. I had to act quickly to save my friends. They are up on the skyboat. We need to leave quickly. I don't want to leave the city empty for too long. Oh, and someone called Galad is with me," he added.

"Galad!" Varaiya exclaimed as she leapt up onto the skyboat.

"Can you get everyone aboard? There is plenty of space," Joe asked.

"Okay, but you need to tell me everything," Corel said, shaking her head. Still riding a wave of adrenaline, Joe helped the oldest elders onto the skyboat. Within ten minutes, they were all aboard and soaring back toward the pillar city.

"So that's what happened," Joe said, finishing his explanation of events.

"Tif said the Vors were gathering at the northern entrance, just like I asked. Hopefully, they are still there and don't scatter when they hear I left." Corel slapped her face in frustration, while Varaiya and Torthin just stared at him.

"What's done is done," Corel said, sighing.

"This is actually a good thing. It should make everything easier," Torthin and Varaiya nodded in agreement.

"You have done well. Again, we are grateful," Varaiya added.

"Great, I'll leave you to deal with the gathered Voldura then. When you decide who should claim the pillar, let me know, and I will transfer ownership," Joe gave them a nod.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to check on my friends." He made his way over to Esha and Samira, briefly introducing them to Corel. One of the Relashra elders had taken over driving the skyboat, and they were less than five minutes from reaching the city. He only managed a brief conversation with the girls before he was called to the front of the skyboat, just as they crossed through the protective bubble surrounding the city.

The Relashra Clan elders, along with Varaiya and Corel, immediately took control of the city, issuing orders and swiftly establishing a chain of command. They quelled all dissent and separated those they deemed untrustworthy. Joe was happy to let them take full control, playing the role of the silent, ominous figure in the background. Later, he learned that all of the Vor clan members had been summarily executed. There was no place in the city for those the Relashra deemed traitors.

Some of the Vors present had even directly participated in the destruction of their Clan. Blood had been paid for with blood. It took only two days for the city to fully fall under their control. On the second day, the pillar flashed as another pillar attempted to establish communication. After a brief discussion among the elders, Varaiya was chosen as the temporary head of the Clan, as Corel had refused the position. To Joe's relief, Varaiya was then given official control of the pillar.

She answered the incoming call and, in a short conversation, declared that this pillar now belonged to Clan Relashra, and that Pathfinder, along with the rest of Clan Ghoyusiffiy and the Vors, was no longer welcome here. Joe spent a good portion of those two days doing something he hadn't done in far too long, farming. As he made his way to a clearing on the eastern side of the city, he glanced at his mini-map. To say the city was a mess would be an understatement.

It was nothing like Heliopolis, with its uniform layout and dazzling new buildings. This place had old, crumbling stone structures, cracked from neglect, and almost no greenery at all. Naturally, Joe immediately set about fixing that second part. He used Nature's Paradise in three locations to create parks, breathing life back into the city. Now, he turned his focus to establishing a large farm area to feed the hundreds of thousands of residents.

With the city still locked down under Varaiya's orders, no one was allowed to leave, so he was determined to ensure they had more than enough food. With Corel's help, he purchased over a hundred new seeds for fruits and vegetables he had never even heard of before, but which were staples in the Voldura diet. He began planting immediately. It took him a full day to fill the area, using every farming skill he had.

Thankfully, everything he planted grew at an almost shocking speed, and within two days, the first batch of ripe fruits and vegetables was ready for harvest. These were different from the ones he grew using Nature's Flourish. Those fruits provided a massive but short-term energy boost upon eating. The fruits from his farming, however, satisfied hunger much more deeply and offered a slow, steady revitalization of the body.

It was a gradual effect, one that wouldn't fully show for a few weeks but would be much more pronounced and long-lasting. This was something that Joe had begun to notice as he travelled and interacted with his friends. Once they started regularly consuming the food he grew, or the meat he cooked with his magical stove, their skin became more vibrant. Their complexions deepened, giving them an enhanced stronger look to them. Corel was the perfect example of this.

Her skin tone was starting to become a deeper shade of green than any of the other Voldura Joe had met. Including Pathfinder and his entourage. Overall, Joe enjoyed his days of farming. However, he couldn't help but notice that most of the Voldura, including the members of Clan Relashra he had saved, were avoiding him. He partly attributed this to how busy things were currently.

Only Corel came by to check on him now and then, though even she didn't stay long; she was busy ensuring the city remained firmly under Varaiya's control. Veda spent the whole time caring for Samira and Esha, leaving Joe mostly alone, which he honestly didn't mind. On the fourth day of Relashra rule, Joe finally got the chance to rest and catch up with his friends. Joe sat on the floor of the small house that had been given to Samira and Esha while they continued their recovery.

Samira was mostly back to full health, but Esha, who had been targeted most viciously, was still healing. Both women sat opposite Joe, as Veda lounged in Esha's lap. The moment Joe saw the expressions on their face, a sinking feeling twisted in his gut.

"There's no easy way to tell you this," Samira began, a tear glinting in her eye.

"So we'll just say it. Drishti was killed when the Voldura claimed our pillar." The news hit Joe like a punch to the soul. She was gone. He had known the likelihood of her survival was slim, but having it confirmed was something he wasn't ready for. He buried his head in his hands and, slowly, tears streamed down his cheeks. Veda climbed into his lap and cried with him. It took a long while before he could gather himself. Finally, he turned to Esha and Samira.

"What happened? How did she die?" Samira recalled the events of that terrible day.

"The day Pathfinder came to the Nagpur pillar… he arrived in peace, offering help and gifts. It was our first interaction with any Voldura, so our guard was down. Then, as soon as he came face-to-face with the pillar owner, he and his entourage attacked. Killing indiscriminately. Drishti… She died defending Alliyah, the pillar owner at the time. She was killed by a Voldura named Neuwo Vor; Esha and I were in battle with Pathfinder at the time. We fought… he was too strong."

Samira's voice broke then, choked by sobs as fresh tears filled her eyes. Joe had heard enough. He apologized softly and hugged his two friends tightly before getting up and walking outside the city, alone. For a long time, he sat under the open sky, lost in mourning. He remembered the first time he met Drishti, so long ago, when he had been surrounded by people he couldn't even communicate with. His first visit to India had been unexpected, to say the least. But Drishti had been the first friend he made there.

He smiled sadly, recalling how timid she had been at first, and how it had taken her a while to warm up to him. He chuckled faintly at the memory. He remembered their journey across the country, the highs, the lows. Another tear rolled down his cheek as he thought back to the devastating events that led to his leaving India alone. He looked up into the sky, hoping she was somewhere safer now, somewhere she could finally rest in peace.

"Goodbye, my friend." He lay down and closed his eyes, mourning in silence. At some point, he didn't even notice when Veda curled up on his chest, falling asleep atop his unmoving form. The next day, a small remembrance was held in Drishti's honour. The four of them, Joe, Samira, Esha, and Corel, held hands and prayed, sharing stories of the good times they had with her. They ate together, walked through the city, and let the memories weave between them like a balm.

Joe and Corel worked together to create a special tree in her memory, planting it in a small, peaceful plot at the southernmost part of the city. For the first time in over a day, Joe smiled. It looked like his spirit was beginning to lift. __ The next day, at approximately four in the afternoon, the party that held Corel, Veda, and Joe disbanded. System Message You have been removed from the party by the party leader. Looting privileges removed.

Corel turned in shock towards Varaiya as her chest heated and a sorrowful pulse of emotion flooded into her.

"Is Joe still in the city?" She shouted in a panic. Varaiya looked at her, momentarily confused, before her eyes glazed over.

"He's heading south, near the memorial," Varaiya said. Corel turned and sprinted south. Thanks to her Nature's Step, it took her less than a minute to reach Drishti's memorial. She arrived to hear a familiar voice shouting.

"Stop! Where are you going?"

"For a walk!" Joe shouted back.

"That's a lie! Why did you disband the party? Just stop!" Veda screamed. Corel slid to a halt beside Veda, who was about to strike at Joe.

"Joe, stop. What is going on?" she pleaded. She instinctively stepped back when Joe turned to face her. He wasn't wearing his sunglasses, and his eyes, swirling with stars, bloodshot and raw, made fear ripple through her chest. But it wasn't just the redness; it was the look in them. A look of such cold, seething anger that for a moment, Corel almost fled. Somehow, she forced herself to stand her ground.

"I'm just going for a walk. Get out of my way." His voice was low, hollow, like something inside him had already broken.

"No!" Veda screamed, her voice shaking the very earth. The nearby trees and buildings quivered as if struck by a storm. A moment later, flames erupted from her small body, forcing Corel to stumble back from the sudden, searing heat. Joe didn't even flinch. He stepped forward blindly, his gaze lost, as if he didn't even see them. The heat didn't touch him. Nothing did. With a cry of pain and rage, Veda launched herself at him, her tail slamming into his chest.

Joe crashed backwards into a wall with a deafening crack. Dust filled the air. Slowly, almost mechanically, he pulled himself free, his hands trembling. His eyes still shimmered and swirled in an unfocused stare.

"You can't stop me," he said again, voice hoarse.

"I'm just going for a…" He shouted the last word: "Walk!" An explosion of raw, savage power erupted from him, drowning the area in suffocating pressure. Corel gasped as her knees buckled, her ears bleeding from the force of his unleashed aura. Her mind went numb. She struggled to breathe, to even stay conscious under the crushing weight of it. It was too much. It was all too much. Just as her vision blurred, Veda moved between them, her body glowing with a radiant, calming light.

As the pressure lifted, Corel gripped tightly against her chest, gasping for air.

"You're hurting Corel! You foolish child!" Veda screamed, her voice cracking not just from anger, but from pain. The words hit Joe harder than any blow. He froze, then fell to his knees, the immense aura around him shattering like broken glass and vanishing into the night air. Silence followed. Heavy, suffocating silence. Corel struggled to her feet and staggered toward him, tears blurring her vision. She threw her arms around him, clutching him tightly as if trying to hold him together by force.

Veda wrapped around him next, pressing her head into his shoulder.

"It's okay," Corel whispered through trembling lips.

"You're going to be okay." Joe said nothing in response. His body shook with silent sobs, his tears finally falling, soaking into her shoulder as the pain he could no longer contain poured out of him. It was a long, long time before he was ready to move again.