Sometime in the far future

So Jennifer and her aunt walked away from the empty shell of Boom Town, to her aunt's home.

"Did Magnus ever came back here?" Jennifer asked her aunt.

"No, he didn't, and neither did Axel." Her aunt replied. "I think that deep down they thought I was still here, waiting, hiding, and ready to pounce at a moments notice."

"Really?" she asked her aunt.

But her aunt just shrugged. "Better than the other stories about this place."

"What kind of stories?" Jennifer asked curiously.

"The kind about me."

----------

"As my first order of the ruler of Boomtown," I say out loud, for everyone to hear. "I hereby banish Magnus from Boom Town!" I declare as they let out gasps, and talking feverishly among themselves.

"Did she just say that?"

"Is she allowed to do that?"

"What'll she do to us?"

"You can't do that!" protested Axel, making everyone go silent as they look at him while he and Magnus stand in the front of the crowd. "Magnus founded Boomtown, he owns it!"

"I can't?" I rhetorically asked. "Magnus created a rule that whoever defeats him; will become the new ruler of Boomtown." I said, much to his anger.

I then turned to Magnus. "Or are you such a sore looser Magnus that you would use your status, and your biggest fan, to undermine a someone's victory against you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow, everyone watching.

"Clearly you're using poor Axel here to fight your verbal battles for you." I accuse, pointing at Axel. "I understand that you can't even accept the concept of defeat." I taunted, making him even more upset.

Magnus stepped forward, fists clenched. "You cheated!" he shouted. "You used your monster to do the dirty work-!"

"And weakened you, killed you, and took your position of power." I finished for him. "It's called strategy Magnus, or is that a word you can't understand?"

"Hey, Magnus is right!" shouted Axel. "You're just a cheater!"

"Oh, I'm the cheater?" I ask. "You mean how Magnus was hiding safely away inside that giant, obsidian tower full of traps!" I say, pointing at the large black tower as the crowd, even Axel, was shocked.

I lifted the obsidian tower out of the ground, unfolding it, bringing it closer towards the center platform for everyone to see Magnus's secret hiding room, the runes, the traps, and everything else that proves him guilty.

"If that isn't enough proof, and if you really are skilled like you all claim to be, the Scribe this." I say, placing the portal rune and the control orb in front of everyone as Magnus's eyes widen in fear.

If they don't take my word for it, they can look for themselves. After all, Scribing allows one to get information by looking at objects or people.

So I'll let them discover the truth, sit back, and watch the results.

Everyone who was able to see the objects channeled Mana towards their eyes, Scribing the two objects and gasping in shock.

"It's true!" a grifer shouted.

"He really is a cheater!" another screamed.

Even Axel had a look of surprise and disappointment on his face. "Dude..." he looked to Magnus, fear across his face, "is this true?"

"He hides like a coward as you people spend your labor, your energy, your wonderful griefing skills as he's tucked safe away in his little bunker!" I shout to the crowd as they started to get riled up.

"He was hiding while you were unable to escape, dying from the undead colossus, the lich tyrant, and the wraiths!" I pointed out. Sure, I'm the one who released the monsters, but the fact remains that he only stepped in after everyone was dying horribly.

But they're not focusing on me, they're angry at Magnus, and I'm still directing that anger if the crowd's angry reaction is proof of that.

"So Magnus." I ask out loud, the crowd went silent as he flinched from everyone's glare, except Axel. "How is you hiding away from everyone, somewhere they didn't know existed, fair?"

"Well, I mean, I-I j-just-!" Magnus stuttered, rubbing the back of his head nervously as the crowd is practically growling at him.

"Who's to say that he won't do that any of us?" I loudly ask the griefers, interrupting him. "To you people, the rightful citizens of Boom Town?!" I yell, pointing at them.

"He's nothing but a sore loser!" I point accusingly at him. "He claims that I'm a cheater, but he's been cheating you people for years!" I say, making more angry at the rouge.

Emotions... such a powerful weapon, but it's also a double-edged sword. Good thing it's hurting Magnus.

"If he's willing to do this to me, a cripple," I gesture to my non-existing right arm. "Who's to say that he won't do it to you!" I shout to the crowd, making them glare at Magnus, and more importantly, agreeing with me.

"But unlike Magnus, I'll gladly fight someone for rule over Boom Town. And when someone defeats me, I'll will willingly give up my position of power!" I say as the crowd went silent in surprise.

A brave griefer stepped forward. "You will?" he asked.

"Unlike Magnus, I won't hide." I said truthfully. "So yes, whoever beats me, will have the ownership of Boom Town." I clarify out loud.

I hopped off my throne and walked towards everyone. "So... any challengers?" I asked, and a full minute of silence went by as no one stepped forward.

I then shaped my massive throne into an archway, leading out to the desert. "So Magnus..." I say looking at him, gesturing to the opening. "Get out, and don't come back you horrible coward."

The crowd erupted in to cheers. They started to 'boo' him as they shouted insults as well, throwing rocks, eggs, and the occasional TNT. Basically anything they can get.

Ping!

For convincing a whole audience to turn against their hero, you have been granted the skill [Speech].

[Speech] Passive Level 1

Intimidation. Persuasion. Threats. Convincing. Insulting. Complimenting. Manipulation. No matter what it's called, it falls under this skill. The higher the skill level, the more convincing you are.

"STOP!" shouted Axel, making everyone stop. "I'll fight you Jess!"

I raised an eyebrow at that. "You?"

Magnus stepped forward. "And he won't be alone." He said, causing Axel to have a total 'fan-boy' moment.

"YES!" he shouted, raising his hands in the air. "Let's do this!"

Ping!

Quest: Challenger

Axel has challenged you for ownership of Boom Town as is assisted by Magnus the rouge.

Completion: Item: the Empire Crown.

Failure: Lose ownership of Boom Town.

Accept/Decline

"Fine, lets do this." I said as I accepted the quest. I walked back to the archway, which was my former throne.

"Are you ready?" I asked, then I started walking towards them as Axel readied his fists and Magnus pulled out some eggs and TNT, both of them egger to fight.

But now I'm done, no more magic, skills, or fancy weapons. I got what I came here for, so there's no reason to do any of that for now. So the only thing I'm going to use is words.

Words, to me, are like a poisoned, serrated blade: they hurt you on the inside, and the pain lingers on when it's removed.

"You are such a disappointment Axel." I said coldly, shaking my head.

He wasn't expecting that, eyes widen in surprise. "What...?"

"You are nothing more than a man-child, who is one stupid decision away from becoming a mess so terrible that a depressed alcoholic looks like a saint in comparison." I coldly say, causing him to shake from the words I said.

"Hey!" shouted Magnus, stepping in front of him. "No one talks to my biggest fan like that!"

"And you." I say, pointing at Magnus, as I'm halfway across. "You are nothing more than a disappointment that somehow managed to drive the people closest to you away."

"I didn't drive them away-!"

"Sure." I interrupted. "Keep telling yourself that lie as you spent the rest of your life like how you lived in that tower; isolated, lonely, and ashamed." I said as he flinched, dropping the items in his hands. "No wonder Ellegaard hates you. They all do."

I turn my attention back to quivering Axel as I continue to walk towards them.

"People don't like you Axel, they pity you because of your stupidly low intelligence who somehow managed to have enough of to breath. The only reason they even bother being with you because you are nothing more than comical relief."

"T-that's not true..." he said through the sobs and tears.

"Olivia thinks so." I say coldly as he flinched, shaking as his eyes are wide and full of tears. "I bet the only reason she hangs out with you is so she has someone dumber than a cow to compare her intelligence to."

"Don't you get it Axel? She's only with you so she feels superior; you're nothing but a boost to her ego."

We're already on center platform, and I continue to walk towards them as they continue to move back deeper into the center platform, crying while having inner conflicts. Everyone moved away from us, giving us space as I turn my attention way from Axel, and back to the shaking Magnus.

"You are just an impulsive baby who never thinks a step ahead. No wonder the Order of the Stone disbanded; they did it because of you." I say, both of them a shaking mess of emotional pain and tears.

I walk up to them as they back away only to stop and find out that they are at the edge of the platform, crying, shaking, and everyone else watching.

Who knew that Magnus's diary would be so useful in exploiting his deepest fears? I just found out. Axel... he's just stupid.

But I'm going to tell Magnus his greatest fear, something that prevented him from sleeping. I leaned close to Magnus and whispered something only he can hear. "You want to know what happened to Ivor?"

I then whispered him about how he died horribly and slowly, when the Command Block imploded when we were leaving Death's prison, killing him and everyone else but me, and going back to who-knows-where.

And watching Magnus's expression from that was priceless. This is his greatest fear: never making peace with his wrongdoings.

"So how does it feel Magnus, knowing that you'll never be able to redeem yourself for what you did, or make amends to the friend you betrayed?"

I walk up to them and grabbed Magnus's facemask before I ripped it off.

"And now... I'm done with you." I punched Magnus in the face, causing him to collide with Axel as they both fell off the platform; defeated.

They screamed as they drowned in the lava, only to respawn in one of the respawn towers. I had a bunch of dirt wrap around them, bringing them to me.

"Now get out of my kingdom." I say coldly as I dump them on the platform. I turn my attention towards the stunned audience as I walked away.

"Someone throw them out, and if the Nether Portal survived make sure they don't use it." I ordered, I wanted them to take the long way home.

I didn't bother to see if anyone would do it, they would do it.

I watched as the crowd forced Magnus and Axel out of Boom Town, throwing them into the desert. They walked away and not looking back.

Ping!

Quest: Challenger, has been completed!

Item: the Empire Crown, has been added to your Inventory.

[Empire Crown] (Headwear)

This crown, when worn, will show your noble and superior status of a ruler of a kingdom; a solid, acceptable proof that can be presented when questioned of kingdom ownership.

Ping!

[Speech] is now level 24!

------------

Axel wiped away the last of his tears, and let out a sniff as he looked at the ground as he walked. 'Do they really think I'm stupid?' that thought alone managed to make the tears flow again.

"Hey, Axel." Said Magnus. "I know what you're thinking- and before you say anything, yes I do understand." He said seriously.

"You do?" he said, wiping away the tears.

"Look, not being the smartest around other friends, I know what it's like, and I know it hurts, but I learned to be stronger."

"You did?" he asked, looking at the black eye Jess gave him.

"Yeah, I made a lot of mistakes, but I try to make amends for it."

Axel looked down, remembering the awful things he said to Jess before Reuben tacked her off the cliff, telling her brother a fake story, making everyone think that she's dead.

But she wasn't. She came back with vengeance.

"I tried making amends-" Axel said, but was cut off.

"And they didn't forgive." Finished Magnus. "Yeah, I know, but keep trying, eventually they'll realize that you really are sorry."

He then thought about Ivor, who was practically family; they all were. "Trust me Axel," his voice quiet. "Make amends with those you've wronged, and don't wait too long, because if you do, you might not ever get another chance to do it."

"You really think I can make amends?" asked Axel, hopeful.

"I know so." Said Magnus, giving Axel as smile as he returned one. "Stick with me, and you'll be fine. But I have no idea where we are going to go!" he admitted, but smiled. A new adventure awaited them.

An idea popped into Axel's head. "You can come with me, back to the City!" Axel offered excitedly.

"The City?" he pondered. "Eh, why not." He said, much to the delight of Axel.

"YES!" Shouted Axel, throwing his hands in the air. "At least something good happened today."

"Yep," said Magnus. "But one day, I don't know when, but I'm going to come back here, and get my kingdom and my citizens back."

"You really think they'll want you back?" he asked. "Jess did a good job of convincing them to hate you."

Magnus just shook his head. "I might not be smart, but I'm not stupid. I know that with her in charge, they'll be worse off than they did with me."

"You really think so?" Axel asked.

"I know so." Magnus said as they both walked to the City.

But neither of them noticed the tiny purple specs, secretly hidden and clinging on to them. If you stared at it closely, that spec seemed like it is staring back like a tiny eye.

----------

Some time later...

I gathered all 200 citizens of Boom in the large coliseum I created using [Geo-Kinesis]. All of it made out of the obsidian of Magnus's tower and the respawn towers.

I stood on an elevated platform, placing Box down next to me as I addressed the crowd.

"Is everyone here?" I asked as they all nodded and a few 'yes' here and there.

I looked up into the sky, but more importantly at the purple particles that are in the air. "Do it." I ordered.

Suddenly Blink teleported in the middle of the crowd, surprising them as he used his telekinesis to forcibly pin everyone against the walls.

I then used my [Geo-kinesis] to use the wall to wrap them in an obsidian cocoon, restraining them and only leaving their heads exposed.

Box used his bullets to shoot the ones that managed to slip away, trying to run towards the exit. As they were shot, he suspended them in the air as Steam shoots them back down.

After wrapping everyone in their own black cocoon, I levitated their cocoons using [Geo-Kinesis] to move them onto a neat pile.

So I proceeded to rip out the Mana Cores out of every citizen of Boom Town. Gaining 200 hundred of them, including the ones I ripped out before.

A total of 35 red mages, 16 paladins, 24 necromancers, 44 warriors, 22 rangers, 13 alchemists, 15 illusionists, 14 conjurers, and 17 wizards.

I placed them all in my Inventory. Such a profitable day.

I turned my attention back to Blink. "Teleport them back to the cave, and cover the entrance." I ordered. "I don't want anyone to discover the cave, or hear them scream for help. And keep them nourished, they're not of any use to my project if they're dead."

Without hesitation, he carried out my orders. I placed Box on my back again as Blink rapidly teleported, making trips between the cave and here to deliver the live cargo.

I went back to Magnus's tower and pulled out a slab of stone that has a teleporting rune on it. I picked it off of Magnus's inventory when I killed him, and then he respawned.

I activated the rune with just a bit of Mana. I saw my perception warp and twist as the effects of [Mana Vision] made the experience more appealing.

I am in a stone box. The floor was decorated with gold, iron, stained glass, and obsidian; all of them rearranged in the shape of the amulet of the Order of the Stone.

I saw a shrine of some sorts, full of flowers on it. But what really got my attention was another photo of the Order of the Stone, huddling together. But it was different, they are younger in this photo.

This is everyone before they became the Order of the Stone! I placed it in my Inventory as I looked at the final item in here.

Magnus's old armor, the near-indestructible one that Ivor made for everyone, down here on an armor stand, collecting dust. How rude.

I also put it in my Inventory as I activated the teleporting rune on the stone slab, bringing me back to the exposed remains of Magnus's tower before I threw the rune into the lava. I didn't need it anymore.

I jumped on top of Steam using [Leap] and we flew into the Nether Portal. But before we left, I destroyed the portal by using [Vein-Miner]. After harvesting even more netherack, I used it to cover up any evidence of the portal to Boom Town.

When people come here, they won't know about what happen. They'll think that it's just another minecart rail that lead to a dead end.

And for a time, no one will find out what happen to the citizens of Boom Town.

It might not have any citizens in it, but it still has the size, the resources, and bloodshed of a kingdom, so it still counts that I own one.

I'll have Blink salvage the runes from the respawn towers, and anything valuable later on after he's done transporting my new test subjects.

The last thing I need is some greedy kingdom reverse engineering the runes for there own gain.

So we continued to fly in the Nether, to our next destination. After all, I had a project to complete.

Phase One is done, now it is time for Phase Two.

A/N: And so the Boom Town arc is finally over! And to finish it off with a special 3k word chapter!

Thanks for reading, but this part of the story really tired me out so i might take a break for a while. If you have any questions, feel free to ask and i'll try to answer them in a way that won't spoil anything later on.

Also, new follower! Rosefnafcat! For you... here's an [I.O.U]! Good to claim any item i've given out before.