Chapter 25: Ch 25 - Completely Reset

“What?” The ram person asked, confused.

Marke brought his hand up between himself and the ram person and grabbed the horn that was poking him in the cheek. The ram bleated in surprise as Marke yanked his head sideway and down. Marke grabbed the other horn with his free hand and twisted hard the other way. The ram tried to punch Marke, but Marke held his head down and the ram couldn’t reach properly. Marke kicked at the ram’s back legs while pulling forward and the ram fell to the ground. Marke used the horns to flip the ram onto his back, then let go with one hand to punch the ram in the throat. The ram landed a punch on Marke’s cheek, but grabbed at his own throat instead of continuing to fight. Marke shook his head and gritted his teeth to fight the shock of the blow to the face. Marke ripped the name tag off the ram’s chest as he stood up straight. He kicked the ram in the gut several times, until the ram curled into a ball. Marke glared around at the crowd, the few remaining watchers looked away and some began walking. Marke turned to the table and tapped ‘Level 2’. His name tag flew back to his chest. Marke walked into the crowd and tried to lose himself by slipping between booths instead of following the path.

“Way to go, Marke.” Kente said. “I mean it. That was decisive and impressive, a lot like when you broke us out of the prison. Well done.”

“Thanks, Kente. I appreciate that.” Marke said. He was pretty sure no one was following him, but he continued walking quickly.

“I thought the ‘Priority One’ line was pretty cool. I’m the only one who knew what it meant, but it was cool.” Kente said with sincerity. Marke chuckled.

What do I do with this name tag? Marke thought to Kente. I thought it would combine with mine when I took it. Can you look at it? Marke asked.

No, I can’t see it on your avatar. Ride that ferris wheel so we can check it out with some privacy. Kente said.

Marke paid one ticket to ride the ferris wheel. When his seat lifted into the air, he folded his hands over the name tag and meditated to enter the shadow sea. He opened his eyes to see Kente, wearing the other name tag. Marke looked down at his own name tag, but it wasn’t expanded so it looked the same. “The name tag is in my lap out there, but it didn’t come with me.” He said.

“Maybe you need to put it on your chest?” Kente suggested.

Marke left the shadow sea and was briefly disoriented as he took in the view from the top of the ferris wheel. The booths and fair people stretched on for miles in every direction except for towards the stone cliff where he arrived in this realm. In the opposite direction from the stone cliff, Marke saw some larger tents in the distance. He focused back on his task and pressed the stolen name tag to his chest. It itched, but didn’t change appearance. The name on the tag was “Charger”.

I can see it, but it’s translucent, not fully there. Oh, it says something. Kente said. The itching grew stronger and the writing on the name tag changed appearance.

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Make a selection: Combine name tags Replace name tag Remove

Marke tapped ‘Remove’ and the tag fell off his chest. He caught it before it blew away. Kente, take my name tag off my avatar, please. Marke thought. The name tag on his chest vanished. Marke placed the stolen name tag on his chest again. It itched and showed more text.

Make a selection: Erase name tag Remove

Without thinking, Marke tapped ‘Erase name tag’. The name tag reverted to “My name is:” with a blank line underneath. “Whoops.” Marke said. “Guess that should have been obvious. I don’t have a pen. You got a pen, Kente?”

No, I do not have a pen, Marke. Kente sounded a bit frustrated with Marke’s impulsive choice. Maybe you can borrow one from the nice ticket booth people. Now Kente sounded sarcastic.

Marke frowned and thought for a while. Eventually, the ferris wheel ride finished and Marke got down. He turned in the direction he had seen the larger tents and started walking. He stopped at the first ticket booth he ran across. The ticket person, this time with a blue leather hat, glared at him suspiciously.

“Can I borrow a pen to fill in my name tag?” He asked. The ticket person looked down at his blank name tag and froze. The person stayed frozen for three entire seconds before slowly holding out a pen. Marke carefully took the pen and wrote ‘Priority Four’ on the blank line. He returned the pen and backed away from the ticket booth. When the ticket person stopped glaring at him, Marke turned and continued walking.

“That was too dangerous, I suggested that sarcastically and you should have warned me what you were doing as part of Priority One. What if they melted you again?” Kente scolded.

Marke winced. “I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, Kente. I don’t think I’ve been able to think straight since I killed that goat guy.”

Kente scoffed. “He wasn’t a goat, he was a ram. Don’t be racist. Also, you didn’t kill him!” Kente said. “He was hurt, but definitely not dead.”

“Oh.” Marke said. “I knew that. I don’t know why I said I killed him. I was trying to kill him. I didn’t think to take his name until it was right in front of me and he was holding his throat with both hands.”

Kente’s voice grew softer. “It’s ok, man. You did great, and we’re still alive. Do you want to keep running around as ‘Priority Four’ for a while? I could merge ‘Priority Three’ into my name tag.”

“What level is this name tag?” Marke asked.

“I don’t know.” Kente said. “I have to hold ‘Priority Three’ with both hands to stop it from merging with mine.”

Marke looked around and found a spot where he could sit down out of the way. He closed his eyes and moved to the shadow sea. He opened his eyes and took the ‘Priority Three’ name tag from Kente. “Take ‘Priority Four’ off my chest.” He said. Kente obliged, and Marke pressed ‘Priority Three’ to his chest. Together, Marke and Kente expanded ‘Priority Four’ to view the level and stats.

NAME: Priority Four LEVEL: 1 TICKETS: 0 DEATHS: 0 HP: 10 MP: 10 STR: 10 DEX: 10 INT: 10 CHR: 10

“Looks like it completely reset.” Kente said. “I don’t think I paid attention to the death count enough before. Does ‘Priority Three’ have the right death count? This one is zero. Does that mean that choosing ‘Combine name tags’ adds the other person’s death count to your own?” Kente shook his head. “This realm’s System is so convoluted.”

Marke shrugged. “Let’s add this name tag onto ‘Priority Three’, then check.” Kente let go of the name tag, and Marke pressed it to the one on his chest. They merged, and Marke could see that the name read, “Priority Three Priority Four”, similar to Kente’s name tag which read, “Priority One Priority Two”. Marke pulled the tag off his chest and they expanded it.

NAME: Priority Three Priority Four LEVEL: 3 EXPERIENCE: 9/300 TICKETS: 23 DEATHS: 0 HP: 12 MP: 12 STR: 12 DEX: 12 INT: 12 CHR: 12

“Hmmm.” Kente said. “What is MP used for anyway?”

Marke just shook his head wordlessly.