Corrupt Hero System

"How many would you like?" A young man asked his customer. He was of average build with short blonde hair and blue eyes. He had been working at this shop since he was a teenager. It was the only shop in the area that supplied the local adventurers weapon and armor. He was currently speaking to one of his favorite customers. A female hero by the name of Lucy.

"Just the one today, thanks." Lucy said with a smile. "Hopefully I don't lose this one, they get so expensive to replace."

"Well, we try to keep our prices low." The clerk said.

"Zeke, it's not the prices." Lucy said. "It's the fact I have to keep buying them you understand, don't you?"

"Yeah." Zeke said. "Must be so exciting going on those adventures, I don't think I could ever do anything like that. I am just a level fifteen merchant, not much use on an adventure."

"Oh, Zeke." Lucy said. "It is more about your heart than anything, you need to have courage and a strong will. Everything else can come in time. Afterall, I did not start as a level fifty swordswoman, I worked hard and went on a bunch of quests. Your gear saved me multiple times. So do not be hard on yourself, you do an especially important service to us adventurers."

"Well, my boss does." Zeke said. "I just work here; he runs the place."

"True…" Lucy sighed.

Zeke finished the transaction and handed Lucy her brand-new sword. "Have a momentous day!" Zeke said with a smile. "Please shop again and thank you so much for your patronage."

"No problem!" Lucy took her wares and left.

The rest of the day was uneventful. Zeke did his normal duties and cleaned the store. He was closing that night, so he locked up and headed home. They lived in a village next to the sea. The streets were paved in cobblestone and illuminated by lamp posts. The posts were enchanted with a spell to burn when the sun set until the sun rose again.

"Another day in the books." Zeke said as he walked home, enjoying the sea breeze and salty air. He stopped along the road and admired the sea. He thought about all the adventures that must happen somewhere out there, in the distance. All the adventurers in his town were between levels thirty and fifty, they had only minor caves and labyrinths in their area, so it was difficult to progress past level fifty. Across the sea however, who knows what lies in wait. People from his town rarely left and when they did, they never bothered to return.

"Is that a ship?" Zeke said, squinting his eyes. The moonlight reflected off the seabed, but it appeared as if a small object was floating across in the distance. "Why would someone be coming to our town?! We never get visitors!" Excitement flared in Zeke's heart, and he started to run to the dock.

As he ran, he kept an eye on the ship, and noticed what looked like orange orbs coming from it. It did not take him long to realize that those orbs were fire, and that the ship was attacking the dock. "Are they serious?!" He shouted as he stopped running. He began to see the docks ignite in an orange glow. The alarm bell of the town rang out, a sound he had only heard two times in his life, both during monster attacks. "The adventurers will take care of it." He said to himself, trying to justify his lack of action. "I just need to stay out of their way and let them handle it."

A realization suddenly dawned on him that sparked him into action. His mother worked at the docks three nights a week. She would take in the fish catches of the day and preserve them to be sold the next morning. "Mom!" He shouted as he overcame his fear. He thought even if he got in the way he could still help his mom.

Within a few minutes Zeke arrived at the docks, he looked for the shed that his mother worked in but all he saw was fire. The ship had also gotten closer, and Zeke could finally get a good look at it. The wood was pitch black with dark gray sails, skeletons and skulls were carved into the hull. At the front of the ship stood a man clad in obsidian armor with silver trim. He had long white hair and fiery red eyes.

"Zeke!" Lucy yelled as she saw him. "What are you doing here! You need to evacuate and leave it to us!"

"My mom!" Zeke yelled as he pointed at the burning shed. "I have to make sure she isn't in there!" He started to run to the shed. He could feel the flames kiss his flesh as he ran. As he approached the roof of the shed collapsed and fell into itself. "Mom!" Zeke shouted. "No!" He ran to the building and grabbed the door. The heat from the flames burned his hands. He fought through the pain and pulled it open. Inside all he could see was fire. "Mom, are you in here?!" He yelled again. There was no response. He kept scanning the room and he found an arm on fire, sticking out from the rubble. "No!" He cried out in pain and fell to his knees.

Lucy grabbed his shoulder and pulled him out of the shed. "Are you trying to die too?!" She scolded him. "We can't worry about you and defend the town; you need to run!"

Lucy was right, Zeke could see the scene behind her. Adventurers were fighting to the death with an army of the undead, the ship had been carrying undead. As one adventurer fell, they would rise again and join the ranks of the enemy. The man in black armor noticed the two slightly off in the distance and decided to have some fun. He leaped from the top of the ship and landed directly behind Lucy.