Date: 2018-05-15 04:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Fantasy
Description: To earn a second chance at life, Devrim Bains must die and enter a virtual world of monsters and mayhem. Let's just hope one death is all it will take, because he can't afford another. When Devrim Bains reaches his twenty–first birthday, he's finally punished for a crime that was never his fault–being born. In a world of strict population control, his life's been decided for him, and it's about to end. But a stroke of luck gives him opportunity to have his consciousness uploaded into a simulated-reality game world with the promise of paradise. Except paradise always comes with a cost. Monsters

Monster Slayer Online

Goblin King

R.R. Virdi

Copyright R.R. Virdi 2018

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Acknowledgments

To my wonderful editors, Aaron Fernandez of Edited AF, and Greythorne Edits for their services. To Abby, for your unending support and love. To James Hunter of the Viridian Gate Online series: thank you for your limitless kindness, motivation, push, and efforts to help me as only a friend can. Thank you, Luke Chmilenko of the Ascend Online novels, for your friendship, support, kindness, and being a welcoming face/hand in the genre. To you, the readers of and in the LitRPG/GameLit community: thank you for your loyal and voracious appetites in fueling and bolstering this growing genre so gaming authors can continue to write in it.

~Table of Contents~

Prelude

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-one

Chapter Twenty-two

Chapter Twenty-three

Chapter Twenty-four

Chapter Twenty-five

Chapter Twenty-six

Chapter Twenty-seven

Chapter Twenty-eight

Chapter Twenty-nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-one

Chapter Thirty-two

Chapter Thirty-three

Chapter Thirty-four

Chapter Thirty-five

Chapter Thirty-six

Chapter Thirty-seven

Chapter Thirty-eight

Chapter Thirty-nine

Prelude – The Present

Of Where It All Went Wrong

No one expects to die twice for their twenty-first birthday. Once in the real world. Once digitally. Two times too many if you ask me. ~ Devrim Bains, class: Slayer

Pillars of smoke billowed from thatched roofs, spreading into clouds of charcoal to blot out the world’s light. Bands of violent orange licked wooden homes and consumed fallen bodies. The tinge of fiery light washed away much of anything else in sight, leaving only nightmarish silhouettes of black, moving among the flames with a singular purpose: Death.

An orange film seemed to stain the sky, muting the greenish-blues of the world. The smear of hellish carmine from the fires didn’t help.

Devrim’s chest and lungs felt shrunken, tight from the acrid air clinging to his insides like a burning adhesive. His throat constricted as he tried to breathe and his limbs felt distant and unresponsive. He pushed away the fatigue, drawing on what little adrenaline he had left to clear his mind.

The fog lifted long enough for him to focus. Activate Slayer’s Resolve.

The world flashed white for a blink of an eye before an electric cold rush flooded his body, renewing his strength and clarity of thought. He felt as if he’d been shocked awake by a freezing shower. An arctic static charge coursed over his skin.

Devrim gripped the antiquated katana with both hands, flexing his fingers to steel himself. Thirst, his blade, quivered in his hand as if excited for the oncoming monsters.

The crackling of failing wood and crumbling masonry deafened him to other sounds, but he shut his eyes for a split second, trying to take in what else he could.

Metal clanked, ill-cared for, sized improperly, and rattling constantly.

Someone ran toward him.

The sounds of heavy footfalls stomping over hard-packed ground, baked harder by the fire, graced his ears. And the noise of splintering wood under unforgiving boots followed.

Sounds like one of them. He took a slow, calming breath and pivoted toward the oncoming creature.

A figure clad in irregularly-shaped armor leapt from a line of flames cutting through one of the dirt roads in the village. The creature’s body was hunched, with gangly limbs that seemed oversized for its torso. Its features were a horrible cross between simian and reptilian, like a gibbon had mated with an iguana and taken on a bipedal form. Leathery, pale green skin took on a sicklier look under the firelight. The goblin’s eyes seemed to pull in the brightness from the surrounding inferno, deepening in their intensity. Its crooked nose twitched, and its mouth spread into a feral grin, revealing countless serrated teeth.

Devrim loosened his hold on the blade before gripping it harder again. Come on. Come on.

The goblin shuffled a few steps forward, its armor rattling like the only thing keeping it on the creature’s body was the assortment of frayed leather straps and rusted buckles. The plating sported odd protrusions that served no purpose other than making the monster look larger and more intimidating than normal. The material seemed comprised of a blend of chitin and obsidian.

Not a lot of openings in that mess. Devrim slid his feet forward, keeping his center of gravity low as he advanced. He turned to the side to limit how much of his body remained exposed. The loose robes and scant lacquered plating over his body wouldn’t do much to protect him. It offered him superior mobility and little else.

The goblin threw its head back, releasing a whistling keen before lunging. It raised an arm to bring a spiked flail overhead.

Wait till it closes the distance, my skillshot has limited range. His teeth grated against one another as he ignored the instinct to attack in favor of playing smart.

The flail blurred into a metal dervish with the sole intent of caving his skull in—more likely pulping it.

Devrim exhaled, counting his heartbeats to keep his mind on a singular track.

The goblin had crossed within five feet of him.

Now! The mental command he’d been holding at bay released, and he activated another one of his skillshots: Reverberating Strike. His body sped forward and he reversed the blade in his grip, arcing the weapon upward in a diagonal blow. The cap of the hilt crashed home at the base of the monster’s chin, lifting the goblin inches from the ground. A resounding smack echoed over the snapping of the fires.

The goblin reeled in place like it had forgotten how to keep upright and balanced. It would remain stunned for a short period of time.

Devrim resisted the urge to tear through his remaining skillshots to dispatch the creature, reserving them should the situation grow bleaker, which looked inevitable. He stepped forward, casting the blade in a horizontal strike at the paralyzed creature’s face. The basic attack dragged a long gash along the goblin’s forehead.

He repeated the blow, bringing the blade across from cheek-to-cheek.

The goblin staggered back, shaking its head free of the reverie it had been forced into. Its lips peeled back, viscous saliva hanging from its gums, forming connecting bands between the upper and lower portions of its mouth. The goblin convulsed, its eyes flashing garnet before it squatted. A rolling howl left its mouth as it rocketed into the air, spinning the flail with renewed intensity.

Crap. Devrim moved under an adrenaline-fueled panic, taking several long strides. His left arm exploded like endless shards of frozen glass had bitten into the flesh while being pummeled by a hammer. He stumbled to the side, losing his balance and toppling to the ground. Devrim winced through the pain. He hissed, coming short of breath as the world flashed a putrid, translucent green. The strobe faded before resurging, racking his body with thousands of pricks that lasted a nanosecond.

Poisoned. Dammit. The lost health was noticeable, but not detrimental…yet. Devrim gnashed his teeth and slammed the base of his weapon to the ground, using it to help get to his feet. He rounded about in time to see the goblin swing the flail toward his midsection. His recent experiences tangling with the monsters won out, driving him to close the distance to put him chest-to-chest with the creature.

The flail’s chain lashed around his waist and sent the head slamming into his lower back. He snarled, letting the added pain fuel him, and ignored his diminishing health. Devrim used his position to capitalize on the gaps between the goblin’s mismatched plating. He twisted, driving the chisel tip of the katana into one of the beast’s exposed armpits. Devrim gave the monster no reprieve, jamming the blade in a frenzy into whatever openings he found. He worked the weapon like a sewing machine into the goblin’s flesh.

The monster’s eyes lost their focus, and the bright reds dulled into hollow burgundy as the creature fell to the ground.

Devrim sighed, planting his blade into the ground to lean on it. He ignored the prompt informing him he’d slayed the beast. Another counter updated below him.

Goblins slain count increased.

He blotted the total from his mind, concerning himself with the deteriorating scenario around him. Devrim cast a look around the immediate area. Where’s my party? He shot another glance around the village. Nothing.

The world flashed again, leaving his muscles contracting in an electric seizure before dissipating. The poison’s effect would linger for a while yet. He hadn’t committed the exact duration to memory.

Devrim put a hand to the side of his mouth and hollered, hoping his shouts would be answered.

Nothing.

“Gama! Gama, where are you?” He grimaced, pulling on the blade to help haul himself forward before wrenching the weapon free. They’re still out there. They can’t be gone. I didn’t fuck this up that bad. I can’t have. He trudged on, moving through the nearest open path into another of the village’s small circles.

Every one of the nearby small buildings had collapsed into heaps of burning rubble. Several structures had toppled toward one another, leaving no openings between them. A ring of fire engulfed the area.

He spat, wincing through another sharp jolt from the poison. Watching his health diminish wouldn’t help. He pushed it from his mind and gave the area a final look in case he’d missed something the first time around. The air caught in his throat as he spotted a figure that seemed to be woven out of darkness cast within a set of flames at the other end of the circle.

The shadow stood several feet above him, towering close to ten feet.

Shit. He wasn’t supposed to be here. Devrim grimaced, brandishing his weapon. His body throbbed again from the poison. Dammit.

The figure stepped out from the flames, a few rogue tendrils still licking across his armor. If it bothered him, he showed no signs.

Devrim noted a lack of decreasing health. Is he immune to fire? The hell did he pull that off?

The armored giant wore solid plating the color of dull charcoal. Each piece was oversized and reminded him of what an ancient samurai’s might be like if it had been exaggerated and geared toward intimidation over practicality. He wore a crude helmet shaped like an elongated skull and painted the same grim black as the rest of his armor.

Devrim couldn’t make out his eyes, staring into the large holes on either side of the helmet only to see endless black. The darkness stared back at him.

A crown of miniature blades ran along the top of the giant’s helmet, seemingly fashioned into the piece itself rather than separate.

Devrim gripped his weapon in both hands, loosening and flexing his fingers over the hilt in anticipation as the figure neared. “Goblin King.” He let the words hang in the air.

The Goblin King said nothing, drawing his war club from behind his back. The weapon was nearly his height, sporting silver studs along its burnt umber body. It looked like a baseball bat on steroids to him.

Something blurred at the edge of his vision, prompting him to turn. Devrim spotted an NPC—non-player character—running out from behind one of the burning buildings. He hadn’t seen anyone behave so mechanically within the world as of yet. It had to be a result of the imminent threat prompting a defensive response from the game world.

The guard was garbed in nothing more than hardened leather and ring mail, wielding a small spiked mace. He shouted an incoherent battle cry and charged the Goblin King. “Come on, men. Come, men of Hillside. We’ve got trouble to sort out.”

Devrim opened his mouth to warn the character away, shutting it just as fast. A cold calculation went through his mind. Maybe if enough of them spawn, they can whittle him down a bit.

As if on cue, another guard materialized near the edge of the burning building. A third followed. Within seconds, half a dozen guards came to life, all armed with a variety of weapons. They broke into a roaring cry and charged behind the first guard.

Don’t do anything stupid. Sit. Watch him. Learn. He has to have some weakness.

Devrim’s theory went out the window as the first guard closed in.

The Goblin King twisted, swinging the kanabo-club in a single-handed strike to bat the NPC away with contemptuous ease.

Devrim watched the guard’s health plummet to a fraction of its total. Well, that’s insightful. New strategy, don’t get hit.

The Goblin King took a step toward the oncoming mass of guards and let the head of the club sink to the ground. As the first guard drew closer, he whipped it up, delivering the weapon to the base of the character’s chin. The guard rose into the air before the Goblin King brought the club overhead. He slammed it into the NPC’s back and drove him into the ground like a hammer on a nail.

The character’s health depleted completely.

Devrim blinked as the Goblin King continued the onslaught without effort.

The armored giant twirled the club in his grip like it was nothing more than a stick. He sent it crashing into the side of another guard’s arm, sending him to the ground. A second strike followed, caving in the character’s skull. The third and fourth guard rushed him together.

They fared as well as the first bunch.

The Goblin King swatted them down, leaving them crumpled on the ground. He finished with the remaining two guards in a flurry of strikes.

The lone guard from earlier had finally recovered, staggering to his feet and raising his weapon. “For Hillside!” He pumped the short sword once in the air before racing toward the Goblin King.

Devrim shut his eyes and exhaled as a thunderous crunch filled the area. He opened them a moment later, staring hard at the black-clad warrior-king. “Someone’s been eating their spinach.”

The Goblin King ignored the quip, stopping in place to regard him. His chest heaved for a few moments as he tilted his head to stare at Devrim. “Ah, the little slayer.” He gestured to the surrounding circle. “Is this what you expected?” He shook his head more to himself than to Devrim. “I didn’t think so, but it’s the price for what you’ve started. The first price of many to be paid. And I intend to collect in full.” The Goblin King’s hand tightened visibly around his war club.

Devrim sucked in a breath through his teeth to help steel himself for what was to come. He dragged the chisel tip of his blade along the ground, drawing a faint line. A quick leap back put him a foot away from it. “See that? Do not pass go. Do not collect two hundred dollars.” He flashed a lopsided grin at the Goblin King.

The armored king stared at the line in silence before staring at Devrim. Despite no visible eyes, he managed to give off a look of befuddlement.

“It’s the line in the sand—the one you don’t cross.” Devrim winced in anticipation of another body-encompassing twang of pain from the poison. It never came. He breathed a minor sigh of relief in that it had dissipated.

The Goblin King stood immobile, silent, enough so to make statues seem lively by comparison.

Creepy asshole.

“Then, by all means, come to me.” The armor-clad king beckoned Devrim with one hand. “I can wait. Can you? The village burns. Your friends are out there…somewhere, as are my goblins. Who do you think will come out of this? If you want to save them, you’ll have to get by me. Stand there, rooted in fear, for as long as you’d like, but the village will burn until ash and echoes are all that are left. Can you survive that?”

Devrim didn’t answer, but the implication was clear: The Goblin King was telling him all that fire wasn’t a threat to him. Maybe not, but my sword sure as hell will be. His hands shook on the weapon, and he gritted his teeth as a fire seared the marrow within him. Fine, I’ll bring the fight to him.

He focused and triggered another skillshot: Fleet-footed. A chilling current rushed around his feet, making its way through the split-toe boots, and into his flesh. He felt like he was walking barefoot over ice. Devrim bounced once in place to reassure himself of his lightness and increased speed. His feet touched back to the ground and he sprang, pumping his legs until acid burned his sinews.

The world rushed by as he moved at a speed that would shame competitive sprinters. Orange tendrils of fire blurred into a single, crackling mass of jarring light. Time to find out if this freak’s got eyes. He closed the distance, focusing on the black hole in the helmet where the Goblin King’s right eye would be. Thirst hummed in his grip, quivering in a fashion almost as if the blade had a hungry will of its own. A few more steps. He was within reach, twisting to launch the katana in a thrust that’d skewer the king’s eye.

The Goblin King bowed his head at an angle, catching the tip of the blade and sending it skittering off the helm. A bar flashed to life above the king’s head, blipping once in a minute amount that would have been almost unnoticeable.

He took damage. Renewed by that, Devrim lunged again. The tip of his weapon jabbed against the armored giant like a jackhammer with no reprieve. An endless succession of stabs peppered the black plating, chipping away at the Goblin King’s health. A string of obscenities flooded his mind as he tallied the damage per strike. It’s not enough. He pivoted, sending the sword into a cast toward the king’s throat, hoping he would trigger a critical strike.

The Goblin King surged into motion. He hunched forward, releasing a cavernous bellow that shook loose stone from the ground, reverberating through the air for an untold distance.

Devrim’s strike faltered, contacting the twin protrusions, resembling small blades, at the base of the king’s helmet. The katana struck with an echoing twang. His muscles refused to obey him at the speeds they had moments ago. He felt like he was moving through brackish water, and that his body was too distant from his mind. That’s not good…

He took the momentary risk to blink, focusing on his character status. Shit. The roar had stripped him of his speed buff, negating the benefits to the point of detriment. He’d been slowed—intimidated by the monstrous howl.

The Goblin King capitalized on his temporary lull. He lashed out with a foot, crashing a black-steel boot into Devrim’s stomach.

He lurched backward, nearly tumbling before the Goblin King’s hand snatched the front of his robes, hauling him close. Devrim shook within the iron grip. He couldn’t break it.

The king snapped his head forward, bringing the crown crunching into the front of Devrim’s skull.

Carmine light flashed through his vision. The world blurred at the edges, and he could see a faint outline of a reddish bar diminishing. Everything sank as the Goblin King raised him up and hurled him to the ground. A single throb encompassed his whole body, leaving him feeling like he’d been beaten by countless clubs at once.

Ow.

The health bar flickered before him, a jarring white outline strobing outside what little red was left.

“Ready to die, Slayer? There won’t be a second chance this time. No new world to escape to. I’ll make it permanent.” The Goblin King raised the war club overhead in both hands. “Any last words?”

Devrim spat near the king’s feet. “Yeah, why do asshole villains always talk so much?” He gave him a toothy grin.

The Goblin King swung the club toward him.

How the hell did it all go wrong?

The weapon sailed toward his head. His vision swam, blackness encroaching from the corners of his eyes, and he wondered if he’d wake again as consciousness slipped.

Chapter One – The Past

The Penalty for Being Born

A faint trilling grated his ears, jarring him from sleep. Devrim blinked several times, smacking his palms to his eyes and grinding them in hopes of getting them to open. He turned his head to glare at the translucent rectangle of viridian green on the opposite wall.

The current time scrolled along in blocky white lettering.

Devrim narrowed his eyes at the information panel, hoping if stared long enough, it would stop. Two-thirty in the freaking morning. Why wake me up?

The trilling intensified for a moment.

He sighed.

The noise died, and a secondary message rolled across the screen: Happy birthday, Devrim Bains. Twenty-one years old today. You have reached your allowed life expectancy. Make a wish!

His heart lurched, feeling like it was caught in an endless loop of somersaults with the intent of lodging itself in his throat. He twisted in bed, reaching for a heavy book resting by his leg. He snatched and sent it into a tumble in a swift move.

The book passed through the light display, banging into the metal wall behind with a hollow thunk. The text flashed by once again before blinking out of existence.

Devrim sighed, easing himself out of bed to retrieve the book. He placed a hand against the cold wall and thumbed the paperback cover. His world consisted a small room of unforgiving metal that reminded him of the old pictures of submarine quarters back on Earth.

Wish I could’ve gotten to know it. He pushed off the wall, flipping through the mythology text. Reading was the only entertainment left to him in a life consisting of daily hard labor without pay. The administrators considered being allowed to live payment enough.

He gritted his teeth at the thought, twisting to send a fist into the closest wall. The cheap metal sheeting layered over the actual wall deformed as dull pain radiated through the small bones in his fingers. The knowledge of his impending execution clung to him, sending his mind into a hive of activity, and his heart jackhammering. His fist pistoned into the wall until his hand quaked and felt distant.

Devrim exhaled, turning to rest his back against the wall and sinking to the ground, the book still splayed open in his good hand. He scanned over it mechanically, finding solace in the variety of fictional creatures and the stories they originated from.

Anywhere’s better than this shit hole, even if it’s not real. Why’d the people before us have to wreck Earth before we ever got a chance to see it?

A succession of heavy thudding emanated from the door.

Devrim sprang to his feet, sending the book hurtling onto his bed. “Yeah, what?”

“You know what.” The speaker sounded like they’d swallowed a fistful of ash along with a bottle of hard liquor. Their words slurred and came out strained—dry.

I do. Guess that’s why he’s loaded. Can’t do this job, at least this part, sober. Devrim shut his eyes, taking a long breath to calm himself. “Maybe I’m not as smart as I look. Tell me what’s going on that you’re at my room before my shift?”

“You don’t look smart at all, Dev. And we know you’re not that dumb.”

We. There’s someone else there. Someone keeping quiet.

“You don’t have a shift today… Sorry to say it, but you’re not going to have any ever again. You know the rules, kid.”

He flexed his fingers. An array of pinpricks burst out through the hand he’d pummeled into the wall. “Yeah, the rules I didn’t make. None of us did. We just got stuck with them. Punished for the mistakes of others.”

A long sigh came from the other side of the door. “Take it up with your parents, Dev. They weren’t supposed to have you. One kid too many. We have population rules for a reason. The station just doesn’t have enough room. It’s about all of us, not just you.”

“Fuck your reasons! We’re not stuck in this crap because of me or my parents. We’re here because people generations before us screwed our planet till nothing could live on it.”

Silence fell, holding out long enough for the only audible sound to be his heartbeat going through his skull. He breathed in tandem with the pounding.

“We know, Dev. Everyone does. It’s not right—it’s definitely not fair. But, it’s what it is. We’ve got a job to do.”

He shut his eyes tight for a moment, drawing a deeper breath before exhaling. “Then come do it. I’m not coming out to you. Not for this. Screw that.”

Another long count of seconds passed without sound.

“Okay, Dev. Just remember, you’re making it harder. Not us.” The squeal of protesting metal filled his room as the pair outside likely turned the hatch wheel.

I’ve got a few seconds. He sucked in a few short breaths, rubbernecking to find something of use. An adjustable wrench lay atop his the cubed metal protrusion in the wall that served as a low nightstand. Well, it’s not like I’m going to need tools for work ever again. He lunged, snatching it up before diving onto his bed.

The deadbolt to his room clicked open with the soft echo of metal impacting metal.

He grabbed his book, grimacing at would come next. I just need to get past them, through the door, then maybe I’ve got a shot at getting to the maintenance halls. I could stay there for a while. Pull some panels and hide. Maybe find a way to sneak onto a tether pod between stations. Start over somewhere else. Worst case, take a chance and find a way down to the surface.

The door swung open with enough force to damage the hinges. Two figures stood there in identical outfits. They wore antiquated football helmets, the protective facemask having been removed for a full plastic shield tinted black to obscure their faces. Padded vests were fitted over their baggy canvas overalls. Bulbous, round plates clung to the knees and elbows to protect their joints. An extendable club, nearly the length of his arm, hung in each of their grips.

One of them stepped forward. Their posture was hunched more in fatigue and exertion than to appear looming and intimidating.

Dev heard the laborious breathing, letting him know the closest guard was the drunk one.

“I’m sorry,” said the inebriated guard.

“No…you’re not.” Devrim hurled the book past the teetering guard, striking the faceplate of the one in back.

They reeled, pawing at the air in shock.

He leaped from his bed, springing toward the drunk guard in a shoulder tackle. Dev pushed him back a step before twisting and lashing out with the wrench. Plastic cracked from the impact, and the guard staggered to the side. Devrim shoved him hard, pushing him into the second sentry.

The pair toppled into the wall.

Dev released a minor huff of air and raced through the door. Pain exploded along his forehead like he’d taken a hammer to the front of his skull. Pinkish-red strobed across his vision, and the world appeared to slip away into the distance.

A black-gloved hand reached out, fingers digging into his hair with a sharp tug.

He winced, blinking as fast as he could to clear his vision. Devrim found himself wishing he hadn’t. He counted eight guards, near mirror images of the ones in his room, surrounding him in the hall.

“Maybe you are dumb, kid,” said the slurring voice from behind him. “You’ve always been trouble. But, come on. What did you expect?”

Devrim’s face twisted in anguish. No. The hell with this. It’s not right. Not fair. He tensed and batted at the hand holding him, freeing his body from the grip.

The guard who’d been holding him lashed out with the lengthy baton.

It was like a hard-plastic whip, bending a bit as it smacked into the flesh of his left arm. An electric-charged fire spread across the area. The skin felt like it had split from the strike. He howled, staggering to a knee as he clutched the area.

The guard with baton grabbed him by the hair again. “Just stop. We don’t want to hurt you.”

Dev slumped and let the resistance leave his body.

“Hold him down! Don’t let him try anything.” The guard shoved him to the ground, bashing his head onto the cold tiled floor.

Bastard! He trashed before the middle of his back cried out as a padded knee jabbed into it. The sentry’s weight held him in place, cutting off any movement he could make to shake free. His vision faded out as another blow struck the back of his head, numbing him to everything else. A second followed.

“Take him,” said a garbled voice.

A final thought echoed through his mind. Happy birthday to me.

* * *

Coolness, along with the faint tingle associated with antiseptic washes, worked over the back of his head and down his back. He blinked, shutting his eyes instantly against the halogen bright lights in the clinically-white room. A Neanderthalesque grunt left Devrim’s mouth as he tried to squirm. He took a peek again, letting his vision adjust. His arms were pinned down at the wrists by thick straps. A similar band held his head to the table. Dev’s breathing quickened.

Crap. They’re gonna kill me.

He struggled harder, wrenching with whatever weight he could throw behind his limbs, arching up to strain the straps. Fatigue built, searing his insides. Devrim exhaled and went slack against the metal table.

“Struggling’s not going to help.” The voice was flat, tired. The speaker came into view at the edge of his eyesight. His medical robes matched the same color as the walls in the room. Deep crow’s feet lined his eyes like he made a habit of getting little sleep. The tiredness hung in his face, making his skin seem paler as well as dulling the green of his eyes a bit. A few strands of gray hair peeped through the disposable scrub cap atop his head. Overall, he looked like he could have been someone’s elderly uncle. He had a kind mannerism about him.

“Not struggling won’t help either. I can’t not do anything. I can’t. It’s all I’ve had to do my life—nothing. Nothing but what the administration’s told the other kids and me.” Dev jerked against the bindings again.

The doctor clasped his hands, leaning forward to regard him. “You’re not really a kid anymore. Twenty-one’s an adult. And, the admins don’t have easy jobs.”

Yeah, neither did I. Hard, unpaid labor for the crime of being born. Fuck you.

“How do you manage a station where we’re running out of room? All of them are. We can’t keep up…even with our technology. Advances in one realm don’t mean they permeate to all others. You know that.” The doctor gave him a sympathetic look that came off more as chiding.

Dev turned his head as far as he could to the opposite side.

“Look, there’s only so much we can do. And, for what it’s worth, I’ve been doing my part. If you’ll bother indulging me with a chat, I can tell you what that is.”

Devrim snorted. “Yeah, what? Painless execution. Whoopie. Oh, wait, let me guess…you’ve got a way to sneak us doomed souls off the station. Maybe you’ll send us down to the planet, huh?” He bit down on his tongue, trying to keep the hint of hope that entered his voice at the thought from being heard.

The doctor shook his head. “No, sorry.” He gave Devrim a weak smile. “Earth’s still, by estimation, pretty radiated. At least, that’s what I heard at the last report. Not my sphere of specialty.”

“They call murder a specialty?” Dev glared at him.

“I can’t tell you, because I’m not here to kill you.”

What?

“I’m a digital architect of sorts. I’m—was—the understudy of Adam Grant.” The doctor stared at him for a long moment as if waiting for signs of recognition on his face.

Dev matched the look, unblinking in the hopes the doc would explain.

“He’s the man who pioneered the SR—simulated reality—interface systems we use aboard the stations to teach, share information through small, portal rooms, and test out scenarios in what limited space we have. Over the last few years, I’ve done my best, along with my team, to push that technology further. I’m happy to tell you we’ve succeeded.” The doctor stretched a smile of self-satisfaction across his face.

Dev found it to be more a shit-eating grin than anything else.

“We’ve found an alternative to the, um, rather uncouth population control methods we’ve had over the years. How do you feel about video games?”

The question threw him off. “What? I, I never got much time to really play them. We were allotted an hour a week to play through a few. I picked the stuff with monsters, fantasy, mythology and things. Why?”

The doctor inclined his head. “What if I could offer you a second chance at life? All of those up for execution on the next bloc? A chance to explore and live in a video game. An endless expanse, no more prison labor, no more guards?”

Sounds too good to be true. His thoughts must have shown on his face, because the doc held up a hand for him to hold on.

“It’s a perfect escape, isn’t it?” The doctor’s smile vanished. “It’s not really. I am sorry in that I have to admit the game—the world—is a tad too wild. It’s primitive in some ways, but with tons of potential in others. You’ll have to fight to survive. Hunt. Craft. Build. You’re starting in a savage world. There are places of refuge programmed in, but a lot is going to be up to you. There are a few automated protocols surrounding some of the citizens to help you in terrible danger, but it’s not much apart from generating mindless help to buy you time. Then there are the risks.

“You see…we’re not sure how safe it is. We need testers. And no one is volunteering. Now you see the problem. I can put you up for execution if you want. Or, if you’d like to help pave the way—help us find a way to save every other person ever put up for death, you can do that. Help forge a new haven where space isn’t an issue. How’s that sound?”

Dev didn’t hesitate. “I’m in.”

“I thought you’d say that. Good.” The doctor produced a syringe. “This’ll put you into a medically induced coma so we can operate. Your body’s going to be implanted with a neural interface chip that will allow us to map your mind and conscious in one of our SRICs—Simulated Reality Interface Cradles. You’ll wake up in a new world with all of your memories and personality traits. You won’t feel a thing. I promise.”

A new world where I’m in charge of my life. My mind, my skills, my control. “Do it.”

The doctor stepped toward him, sinking the needle into the meat of his right shoulder.

Devrim opened his mouth to comment about the chemical cocktail being faulty, but his tongue refused to obey his commands. Cement seemed to fill the inside of his skull, and his eyes fluttered shut.

Chapter Two – The Past

Class Restricted

A gentle pressure built around him, something like a gelatinous fluid clinging to his body. Devrim woke to a sea of blackness. Where am I?

He looked down, biting off a curse when he couldn’t see his own body.

“Welcome player.” The voice carried an artificial note, a hollow tinge under the female tone.

Devrim whirled about to look for the source, but nothing came into view.

“You have been selected to enter Monster Slayer Online. In the world of Lorian, monsters roam free—untamed, and a grave threat to the safety of the citizens. Your task is simple: Survive.”

That’s all I’ve been doing my whole life. I’ll be fine. He gritted his teeth.

“The world is unbalanced—wild—needing a firm hand. Fiefdoms spring up with the rise of powerful feudal lords. They conquer and claim. Battles rage over domains ripe with creatures to track, trap, and slay. Be brave and ruthless in your quest to kill beasts and craft the tools to prosper in Lorian.”

An unseen hook latched to his navel, jerking him forward through the black expanse at ballistic speed.

“Holy crap!” He flailed, reaching out to the source of the pull to find nothing to grip to. His body snapped to halt, jarring him hard enough to worry him about brain damage. “Well, that sucked.”

“Character creation. Shape yourself for the trials to come. Choose wisely.”

A three-dimensional wireframe figure burst into life before him—featureless.

Huh?

“There are many races, each with their own gifts to better navigate the world. Take a moment to sift through them.”

Okay…

Pallenfael (Pale Elf): The elves of the Shivering Spine—the mountain range that lines the edge of the known world. Coming from a cold and unforgiving place with little agriculture, they’ve grown to become excellent trackers and hunters. Keen eyesight helps them better navigate their tough terrain and spot prey. This class is suited for tracker or trapper classes.

Not bad. He stared at the tall, lithe figure of the elf. Its skin was the color of polished marble. Hard, angular features made up its face. Yellow eyes. It was built like a sprinter; lean slabs of muscle no doubt earned from its mountainous life. Next?

Another panel flared to life with a matching character display.

Trawladar (Half-troll): The scion of a troll and mankind. These creatures have the cunning intellect of men, with the strength and savagery of their troll bloodlines. Uncanny dexterity with heavy muscle makes them effective for trapper and lancer classes. Unspoken ties to their mystic ancestors gives them a minor potential for the sage class.

The troll’s skin was a powder blue. A slider to the side indicated it could be changed to other pale hues along a selective color palette. The half-breed creature carried thick, ropey muscle like the kind found on men doing hard labor. A pair of sawed-off tusks sprouted from under its upper lip. It had no pupils, only red sclera.

Cool. Not for me. Next.

The artificial voice returned. “It seems as if you’re having some trouble deciding. Beginning personality and knowledge assessment test.”

He waved a hand in futility. “What? No. I’m fine. Stop.”

The program ignored him, bringing a new prompt to life before him.

This fire-breathing creature is a mixture of a lion, goat, and snake. Some cultures have viewed it as an omen of disaster. It is:

> Administrator Cowlan

> The Echidna

> The Sphinx

> The Chimera

Devrim mentally selected the last answer. That’s a bit too easy.

“Correct.”

Yeah, no shit. He had spoken too soon. The questions increased in difficulty, forcing him to rack his mind, dredging up every obscure bit of mythology he’d read over the years. A random personality-based query would interject itself every few prompts. He answered as honestly as he could, trying to keep his patience. The process lasted close to an hour.

“Congratulations. Class recommendations have been—error, list cleared—”

“Wait, error?” He blinked, reaching out to grab at the display prompt on nothing more than instinct. “Hey!”

“Mythology and lore test score: one hundred percent. Class restricted by founding parameters.”

What the hell?

“Slayer class unlocked—selected—locked. Race selection bypassed. Slayer race selected.”

“Uh, no, I didn’t pick any of that. Doctor? Can you hear me? What’s going on?”

No answer.

The computer went on as if he hadn’t protested at all. “Prepare for injection into Lorian—Monster Slayer Online. A final word of warning: Hunt…or be hunted. Good luck.”

The hell?

The world flashed into white light, forming into a pillar that enclosed him. Pressure built around his legs and yanked him below.

Another prompt appeared: Now loading… … …

* * *

He slammed into the ground, the impact rolling up his shins to settle in his knees. Ow.

Gray stone, pitted and stained by age and weather, made up his surroundings. It looked like the insides of a castle…or dungeon. A lone, rusted gate barred the way out of the cell.

Great. I’ve traded one prison for another.

Another prompt flashed before his vision: Please inspect yourself.

He stared at the command, considering how to do as it asked. Inspect self? A rectangular display came to life before him. Faint, gold lines bordered the black screen. A portrait of a recognizable figure hung on the left. Is…that me?

He wore a set of Japanese-inspired robes, a deep carmine with hints of burgundy. Grimy patches stood out in select places, as did frayed and tattered portions of the clothing. Dirty gauze bandages wrapped his hands and feet.

His bodily appearance had mostly remained the same: The same dark hair, now longer and pulled into a ponytail. His height clocked in at six-foot-flat. His skin, originally a light fawn with flecks of gold, now sported a shifting undertone he couldn’t make out. One instance, a pallid green tinged his flesh, another moment later, soft red. He stared until something else broke over his skin. Black lines crisscrossed over him, taking shape like minute scales, fading just as fast as they’d come.

“What the hell?”

His eyes shifted in color. The whites turned orange, morphing to encompass the rest of the organs before changing to complete red, consuming his pupils along the way. They shifted again, taking on the milky gold associated with reptiles, his pupils becoming vertically slit. Another second passed, and they returned to normal.

What am I? He navigated the reticle until he found a compendium of information. Devrim focused on it, opening the section. An entry flickered with a subtle light, indicating it hadn’t been addressed. He selected it. New text scrolled along his vision.

Slayers: A lost race of human-hybrids created through forgotten dark sorcery. Not much is known about them apart from their bloody history. Brought to life to be the ultimate hunters and warriors, their unquenchable bloodlust eventually got the better of them, driving them to relentlessly slay man and monster across the world of Lorian. The varying fiefdoms rose up, rallying to exterminate the race until only hushed whispers and scattered bits of lore remained. It has been rumored that this race possessed a hidden ability tied into their shocking proficiency for dispatching man and monster alike. Kill more things to find out.

Well, that’s not creepy at all. Only part human, huh? He closed the menu, deciding he’d learned enough. Right, focus here. I need a way out of this cell. He snorted as another thought crossed his mind. Maybe there’s another pair of drunk, chump-like, guards here.

Dev searched the cell, hoping something useful would be hidden nearby. A small mound of dirt revealed a sliver of metal. Its tip was notched and set at a flat angle like a chisel. A few serrated edges ran down the blade before it ended wrapped in leather strips.

Discarded Shiv: This crudely fashioned weapon was made from refuse lying around. Not great for slaying monsters. Possibly useful for killing an unsuspecting chicken. For the weaponless, it’s just above your own two hands.

He glanced at the makeshift weapon, turning it over in his grip. Well, they’re not wrong. It’s better than nothing.

Footsteps echoed outside the cell.

He perked up, rushing to the gate to get a better look. The poor lighting within the hall kept him from getting a good look at the source of the noise. He couldn’t see past the second cell across from him. Damn. Devrim placed his free hand on the metal bars, shaking them.

The door held firm despite its age and wear.

“Eh, who goes there?” The speaker hadn’t entered his field of view yet.

He reeled from the gate, brandishing the shiv in one hand.

The hollow thwaps of the footsteps increased in noise and speed as the source neared. They stopped before his cell, dressed in simple, mismatched leather, all sewn together to form a patchwork shirt and pair of breeches. A dented metal coif covered the man’s head.

He stood an inch shorter than Dev. Pale, beads of sweat peppering his face and scraggly, russet beard. His eyes appeared glassy and unfocused. “Oh-ho. A new prisoner. You’re not getting out of here.” The guard waved a finger in admonishment. His other hand fell to his waist, patting a ringlet of keys.

Devrim’s eyes homed in on it. A wide smile crossed his face. Don’t need more than a guess to figure out what those are for. He turned his attention back to the guard and opened his mouth to speak.

The world froze, and he found the air in his throat frozen by an invisible force.

A new prompt appeared before him.

All living beings within the land of Lorian, and Monster Slayer Online, possess a unique and dynamic way of interaction. They are governed by the A.P.M. (Adaptive Personality Matrix). They don’t function as cold, robotic characters with preset responses and interaction choices. They think, feel, react, and behave as you would expect of any real creature. They learn. You’ll be hard-pressed to tell some of the more advanced ones apart from real players and beings from the real world. Keep this in mind.

The prompt vanished.

He bit down on his tongue, keeping himself from saying what he’d planned to. Guess I better reconsider how to play this fool. “Hey, I’m not really a prisoner. I’m here to help this world. I have to make it a safer place for us all. I can’t do that stuck in here, can I?” He arched a brow, smiling at the guard.

The unnamed character stared at him for a moment before throwing his head back and laughing. “You? What, with your dirty clothes? No, I don’t think so. Prisoners don’t save anything in Lorian. They rot.” The guard waved at him, turning in place as if he was going to leave.

Shit. No. He had no idea how long before the guard would return to repeat the encounter…if he even would. There was no way for him to know if the scripted routine was set to occur more than once. The idea of adaptive characters had thrown him. It was a new concept, yet made sense for the sort of world the doctor had hinted at wanting to create.

The warning from the character creation buzzed in his mind. Hunt…or be hunted.

This isn’t a fucking joy ride. I was told to survive. That means I’m going to have to make even harder choices to do so. He took a breath and lunged, sending his left hand through the gap between the bars. His fingers closed around the back of the guard’s leather jerkin. He hauled him back, bringing his other arm through the gate. Devrim worked the shiv with mechanical efficiency, plunging it into the man’s exposed throat.

A rectangular bar appeared in front of him. The field of red within it quickly diminished with each strike from the metal implement.

The guard ceased struggling after a moment, slumping against the bars.

Humans slain count increased. Kill more.

Dev recoiled from the man’s body, his eyes going wide as his deed set in. His stomach constricted like cold chains wrapped around it. He hadn’t eaten, but he felt as if something would come up any moment. He placed a hand on the area, hoping the simple gesture would help him settle the sensation. It’s just a stupid character. Nobody cares. It’s not real.

The warmth over his hands convinced him otherwise. The blood stained his gauze wraps, some of the droplets seeping into his robes. Another prompted appeared in the corner of his vision and flashed twice.

He mentally addressed it.

The inventory appeared, displaying his attire.

Freshly blood-soaked robes and wraps. The old clothes gain a renewed sense of purpose after bathing in the blood of fresh kills. Though old and tattered, it’s been said these clothes can be restored to their former glory somehow. Discard them, or hold on. Who knows what use they might come to have in the future?

Well, that’s macabre. The momentary fixation on the item description eased the knotting of his stomach. He took a handful of deep breaths to calm himself further before dismissing the menu. Right, keys. He fell to a knee and reached through the bars to retrieve the ringlet. Devrim didn’t bother scanning it through the inventory, choosing to thumb through the keys and jam them into the lock. The first two refused to budge. The third twisted with a heavy click.

He pushed the cell door open, stepping over the guard’s body.

Another prompt.

He shut his eyes, waving it away. I got it. I’ve played enough of these to know. He crouched and searched the guard for anything useful. Dev rifled through the NPC’s belongings, frowning that nothing fruitful turned up. The character had carried worthless clothing that had no in-game monetary value from what he saw. For whatever reason, Devrim couldn’t find any weapons on the guard. Weird, you think they’d arm him to do his job. Unless…I’m supposed to do this to get out of here.

He pushed away from the fallen character, brushing his hands against his sides to remove the last traces of blood that hadn’t dried against his skin already. Okay. Focus and find a way out of here. It’s a game, this is clearly a tutorial or something. That means there’s a way out. Logic. He shuffled toward the nearest corner, taking pains to minimize the sounds of each step. A quick peek around the edge revealed another darkened hall.

“Well, that’s always a good sign. A long hall with no one or nothing obviously in sight.” That’s how you get ambushed. Years of prank attacks and surprises working in the low-light conditions of the maintenance tunnels back on the station floated through his mind. Every prisoner needed to keep a second set of eyes on the back of their heads just in case someone else decided to take out some pent-up frustration on them. Fights didn’t last long if one was caught unaware. It was an easy way to lose ration cards and end up in a cast.

He gripped the shiv tighter for a moment before loosening his hold. Another glance down the hall allowed him to pick out the recessed sections in the walls where likely other cells stood. Which means other prisoners. And I have no idea if they’re locked—possibly not. Devrim ground a foot in place, rocking back and forth. Something skittered nearby.

He glanced down at a stone, the size of his thumbnail, he’d inadvertently tapped while twisting his foot. Let’s see what kind of mechanics this game has. He bent, scooping up the stone, snapping his wrist. The rock struck the ground with a snap and shattered into small pieces.

A low drone echoed out from the dark cells lining the hall ahead.

Oh, that’s always great.

A figure with an emaciated build stumbled out of the closest cell. It stood with broken posture, resting too much of its weight on bent knees and a crooked back. Its arms were furled like it couldn’t extend them properly, and the entirety of its body was wrapped in bandages that had long since yellowed where dirt didn’t cake them. It could have been a man at one point, but now it looked like a mummy.

Several more creatures of the same sort shambled out of the neighboring cells.

Good… Good… Just what I needed. What the hell are those things?

Another golden rectangle pulsated in the corner of his vision. He sighed and opened it. The menu flickered by of its own accord, navigating to a new section: Bestiary.

Ragmen: It’s been said that when the unwanted, the wronged, and the forgotten die, their suffering lingers and keeps their bodies burning with the last vestiges of the spark of life. Brainless, arguably lifeless, all that remains of these people are frail husks kept together by the rag bandages now wrapping their forms. Hollow—aimless, they wander dark places moaning in agony, attacking unsuspecting spelunkers and dungeon dwellers. Be warned, in great numbers they can conquer unwary hunters and leave them to become ragmen in the decades to come.

Oh, wonderful. Zombie mummies. He released a drawn out breath through his nostrils, trying to keep the exhale as quiet as possible.

One of the ragmen twisted its head at a canted angle that should have been impossible. It held the stare in Devrim’s direction.

He gripped the shiv harder until he could feel its base digging into the soft flesh of his palm. Come on. Think. There’s a way past them. I don’t have any weapons past this toothpick. No obvious abilities or skills yet. It makes sense that I’m not supposed to—

The ragman raised its head, throwing his arms as wide as it could manage with its limited mobility. A warbling howl left its throat followed by a puff of dust as the creature hacked a violent cough. It lurched forward toward him.

Shit. There goes that theory. He stepped away from the corner, refusing to backpedal any further.

The ragman’s foot broke past the cover of the corner.

Devrim sucked in a breath, stilling his body as best he could. Just another second.

The ragman rounded the corner.

He pivoted, lashing out with a hand to grab the creature by the bandages binding its chest. His fingers dug in and he hauled. A quick twist of his arm sent the monster slamming into the wall. Devrim plunged the shiv into where the creature’s right shoulder blade would be. He didn’t relent, pulling the weapon free before sinking it into the monster’s waist.

The ragman’s health bar depleted at a steady rate until less than a quarter remained.

Devrim pulled back to strike with the next set of blows, but they never came. His arm felt like rebar shot through his joints and muscles, leaving them unable to move freely. The air in his chest seemed to dissipate without cause, and his lungs felt like they’d been wrung by invisible hands. He collapsed against the wall, fighting for breath.

A green rectangle strobed above his ahead. Gold lettering ran atop saying: Endurance depleted.

Of course there’s a mechanic for that. He growled, chest heaving as he waited for the bar to regenerate.

The ragmen recovered and reached toward him. Its gnarled hand flexed as it drew closer to his face.

Come on, come on! A hint of green surged through the bar, quickly overtaking an eighth of it. It’ll have to be enough. He sank into a crouch, grimacing through the sudden ache in his knees. Devrim slammed the blade into the ragman’s leg. The blow drained the last remnants of the creature’s health, leaving it shuddering as it pressed its hands to its chest.

The ragmen released a final rasp before tumbling into a pile of dust.

Ragmen slain count increased.

Devrim found no reprieve in the moment, bracing himself for the rest of the group that had perked up at his first encounter. He heard their shuffling feet beat across the stone floor as they made their way toward him. Here comes round two.

Chapter Three – The Past

A Companion Named Gama

Another ragman crossed the corner, its momentum carrying it far too forward into the new hall. It overshot him and flailed as it tried to compensate.

Devrim seized the initiative, rushing the creature and pinning it to the ground. He ignored the new prompt advising him on the tactics of mounting enemies to find new ways of damaging them. The shiv bit into the monster’s back, gouging out chunks of deteriorated flesh. Devrim reminded himself to eye the diminishing bar tied to his stamina. I don’t want to be caught winded like that again. That’s a death sentence. You’d think they’d lighten up on the intro into this world.

The ragman thrashed, draining his bar faster than he’d anticipated. He pushed off of the creature, getting back to his feet to assess the situation. The others had stumbled into view. They eyed him and stepped forward in unison. He blinked hard, trying to will away the fatigue, but it persisted.

One ragman broke free of the small group, charging him.

He looked down at the shiv. The diminutive weapon didn’t offer much in combating a group of the creatures at once. It barely did any damage. With how much effort he had to exert in dealing with one encounter, the odds didn’t suit him in a prolonged fight. He recalled what little he’d noticed upon entering the world.

He hadn’t seen his stamina decline while navigating the dungeon. It had only gone down from attacking in full combat. His exchange with the guard hadn’t affected the meter whatsoever. Sneak attacks might not cost any points. Nice to know. I’ll have to test that later. Devrim focused on the nearing ragmen, debating how to proceed with the worsening combat situation.

The closest creature swung a fist at him.

He bobbed, letting it pass over him and sprinted past the mummified being. His attention turned back to the bar above him. It hadn’t changed. Movement doesn’t lower it either. Got it. Attacks only. He set his shoulder and barreled into the closet ragman, sending it sprawling into another. The action hadn’t cost him anything else other than a bit of effort and attention. He raced past them, rounding the corner and giving a fleeting glance to the cells.

All of them were without doors. All save for one.

“Hey—brrp!”

Devrim skidded to a halt, facing the locked room. He scanned for the person behind the voice. Nothing stood out within the darkened cell.

“Down here. Brrp.”

He looked at the ground within the prison.

A fist-sized toad sat on the ground, garbed in an open kimono trimmed to fit its bulbous figure. The amphibian was the color of wet coal. Its eyes glimmered like bright citrine, making the black, vertically-slit pupil stick out all the more. It waved a hand at him. “Brrp. Let me out.”

Something’s really wrong with this game. “Uh, no. Sorry. I can’t.” Each word came out clipped as he glanced over his shoulder to the ragmen.

The creatures had finally processed what had happened and adjusted to face him. Another chorus of low moans echoed through the place.

“Sorry, frog…toad—”

“I’m a toad.” It pinched the front of his kimono, giving it a light tug. “Have some respect.”

Devrim nodded. “Yeah-huh. Look I don’t have time for this. I’ve got to find a way out or a way to kill those things.”

The toad clapped its hands. “Excellent, because it just so happens I’m here to help.”

He pursed his lips, frowning at the creature. This must be the doctor’s idea of a joke. There’s no way this little freak is going to be any use.

The toad bounded in place. “So, let me out.”

Devrim hesitated.

“Oh. What great, brave hunter you are…afraid of a tiny toad. Maybe I should hold onto all this gear for someone else. Someone who’s not a chicken.”

He narrowed his eyes, glaring at the amphibian. “You know, some people eat frog legs back in my world. Maybe I could revive the dish here. Keep talking crap.” What the pipsqueak had said clicked a second later. “Wait, did you say gear? You’ve got items?”

The toad crossed his arms and turned away in defiance, thrusting his chin up into the air. “I’m. A. Toad. And, yeah, I might have had some class items for you.” The toad raised a hand in a dramatic gesture while pressing the other one to its chest in mock agony. “I’ll just die here, alone, cold…while you get torn apart by ragmen.”

Dammit. He pulled the ringlet out and thumbed through the keys until he found the one that opened his cell. Could be a one key fits all kind of thing. It wasn’t. The key refused to turn. Devrim hissed and tried the next, repeating it until one finally clicked. The cell door shuddered in place as if it had been waiting to be unlocked. It opened under its own weight.

The toad hopped out, stretching its arms overhead and interlocking its stubby fingers. “Ah, better—brrp.”

Devrim gave him a look, sending a silent message about the expected gear.

The toad motioned to him with one hand. “Gimme the shiv, will ya?”

It won’t do me much good anyhow. I can’t fight them all off with this. He lobbed the weapon toward the toad in an underhand toss.

The amphibian leapt into the air, catching it with a triumphant smile spreading across its flabby lips. “Ha! Thanks, Devrim Bains.” The toad gestured behind itself. “Your gear’s back there. It’s not much, but it’ll do for a starting slayer.”

Devrim faltered for a step as he entered the cell. He repeated what the animal had told him. “How do you know my name and class?”

The toad ignored him, hopping out and turning to face the approaching group of ragmen. “No time. These guys are slow, but not that slow. Grab your stuff. Arm up. Kill them. Then talk.”

He frowned but followed the toad’s advice. A tightly wrapped bundle lay at the end of the cell. It wasn’t a stretch for him to figure out what lay within. He rushed to the roll, unfurling it and activating the new prompt.

Antiquated Katana: This forgotten blade once belonged to slayers who carved their way to countless swaths of monsters and men. It’s rumored the souls of each kill were etched into the blade, now faded to time, but maybe new blood will make this blade remember its purpose. The worn edge can find a second life in the hands of another slayer.

The katana’s blade had lost its original shine, but enough of a hint remained to let him know it had once mirrored an appearance rivaling polished diamonds. Its hilt was wrapped in worn black leather. The blade lacked the traditional guards he’d seen in old pictures. He rolled it in his grip, unsure of how best to use it.

“Brrp—if you’re done admiring the sword, come help me!” The toad leapt back into the cell, flailing its stubby arms.

Right-right. He pulled himself away from the draw of the blade and turned around to face the opening into the room.

Another of the ragmen had broken ahead of the group, lumbering toward him.

I don’t know too much about swordplay, but it’s cramped in here. It’s like fighting back in the work shafts. Tight quarters. Funnel the groups into here one at a time. He heeded his own advice, taking a step back.

The first creature entered and lunged at him.

Devrim did the only thing he could summon to mind. He stepped forward, driving his weight behind the blade into a long thrust. The weapon pierced the weak bindings around the ragman’s torso, splitting old flesh and decaying sinew alike. He twisted and wrenched to bring the sword scything out of the creature’s side.

The lone monster collapsed into a pile of bandages.

That’s another down. The previous kill counter reemerged, blaring above him. He paid it no mind as the next of the ragmen shambled in. Keep doing what works. Swinging the weapon around in here will end up in you hitting the walls. Can’t take any dumb risks. He repeated the tactic, treating the weapon like a lance, driving it through the second monster’s body. It became a mechanical process—stab-slash.

Ragmen lined up, forcing themselves through the opening, and he cut them down one after another until only dust and distant echoes hung in the air. Each creature’s anguished howls reverberated through the dungeon long after their death.

“Kind of creepy, huh?” The toad eyed him, clasping its hands over the shiv.

“Yeah…kind of. You didn’t answer my questions. How do you know what you do? How come you happened to be waiting by a weapon perfect for my character?” Devrim matched the amphibian’s stare, holding it until the uppity creature chose to reply.

“Well, I’m your companion totem.” The toad’s tone implied the meaning behind that should have been obvious.

It wasn’t. Devrim squinted, regarding the amphibian to see if its face would betray anything. But, its features were a stone-like mask for the next passing minute. He sighed. “Of course you are. That’s like a guide?” He arched a brow.

“Guide. Best friend. Fearless vanguard to protect you in the moments where monsters leave you cowering.” The toad slapped a hand to its chest, puffing itself before exhaling an impressive amount of air for something its size.

Right… This thing’s clearly bugged. He ignored the amphibian, looking around the cell for any other items that might have come into being for completing the immediate problem. Nothing of the sort happened. Devrim pursed his lips, debating the next course of action.

The toad leaned against the cell door, puffing on the tips of its fingers nonchalantly. “You have to accept me to get a handy item. Otherwise, have fun toting your katana around out in the open everywhere. That’ll be fun when you walk into a town.” The toad threw a hand to the side of its mouth. “Look out everyone, he’s armed and dangerous.” It snickered.

Devrim took a long breath, trying to prevent the building brain hemorrhage from the yappy toad. “Sure. I accept you. Look, no hard feelings, but I really need to figure this out. A lot is riding on how I do my job here and—”

The toad waved him off. “I know. I know. We’ve got to save the lands. Stop the warring fiefdoms and bring peace. But, mostly, we have to hunt”—its voice took on a dark, ominous tone—“or be hunted.”

Devrim shook his head. “Yeah-no. I’m sure that’s important here, but I mean I have to do things to pacify people in the real world…where I’m from.”

The toad blinked.

“Forget it. What’s your name?”

“Gamakiri Daikoshen-hunza—”

Devrim cut the animal off. “Whoa, and I thought people had trouble with my name. Can you shorten that?”

The toad narrowed its eyes. “My name is sacred, coming from a long line of ancestral battle toads.”

I’m sure it does.

“But, no. I cannot change that. You, however, and rather sadly, have that purview.”

I do? A second later, another prompt flashed before him.

Companion added: All players in Monster Slayer Online are awarded a totem character that follows them into battle, can accomplish minor tasks, store limited items, and provide advice.

Devrim highly suspected the little toad’s capacity for giving sound input, but he wasn’t in a position to argue against the game. A second menu sprang to life and displayed a holographic image of the creature. He noted it also showcased the gender. “You’re male?”

The toad inflated, eyes bulging with a look of reproach in them. “Obviously. Are you?”

He sputtered, “Obviously.”

“Then don’t ask stupid questions, human.”

Devrim glared at the creature for a moment longer before deciding to slide through the new menu and amend its name. He shortened it considerably.

“Brrp. Something just tingled along my back… I didn’t like it, and”—the toad tilted its head a fraction to stare at him—“did you just change my name? Gama?” He bristled.

“Less of a mouthful now. Come on.” Dev walked by him, exiting the cell. He beckoned him with a hand as he continued to move. “We’ve got to get out of here, Gama.”

“Brrp. You’re a horrible person, do you know that?” Gama grumbled something else under his breath.

Devrim ignored him, skulking farther down the hall until he came to a set of ascending stairs. Up. Up is good. Might lead out of here. He crept up the steps, leaning to one side to peek around the corner when he reached the top. The area ahead split into two paths. One continued in front of him, the other split off to the side at an angle preventing him from viewing any further than halfway. He frowned, mulling the choice over.

A series of splut-splut-spluts sounded off behind him. He looked over his shoulder to see the toad hopping over to him.

“You left me behind. That’s good…goooood. Always a smart thing to do to leave the brains of the operation behind.”

Devrim held his look on the amphibian. He really thinks he’s the brains? God help me. Maybe I’ll indulge him. “So, Gama, what now?”

The toad hopped up the final step, coming to his side. He threw a hand above his eyes as if surveying the distance. Gama jabbed the shiv forward, aiming down the path ahead. “Straight’s always the best way. You can see clearly. Nothing to ambush you.”

Devrim grunted, admitting the logic was sound. Maybe he’s smarter than he looks. He took a step forward when a bit of his robe tightened around his leg. He looked down.

Gama clung to it, tugging away. “Check your inventory, and don’t say I’ve done nothing for ya.”

He obliged the toad and concentrated on bringing up his menu. Another item occupied one of the slots in the area marked for his equipment. The scabbard was the color of mulled wine, clearly having held up better than the sword. It had retained its polish, catching the errant bits of light filtering through into the dungeon from the breaks in the stone above. A thin band of braided string sat knotted along the middle of the scabbard. Its soft gold color complemented the wood.

Antiquated Scabbard: An aged but trusty accompaniment to any slayer for their sword, and in case one weapon isn’t enough. Can serve as a substitute for a blunt instrument. It’s held up for a long time; it should be good enough to last a battle or two.

Devrim hefted the scabbard in his offhand, finding the weight reassuring. Finishing his appraisal, he placed the new item near his waist, fastening it in place. “Thanks, Gama.” He patted his side and moved down the hall the toad had advised. Each footfall seemed to echo louder than before as if his weight had multiplied. He frowned, glancing down at the stone below. “What do you make of that?”

The toad hopped to his side, eliciting a heavy thump with his landing. He blinked and gazed to the ground as well. “I must’ve put on some weight all of a sudden.” Gama patted his belly. “Must’ve been from the stress of having to deal with you. You know, they say stress adds weight.”

Devrim shut his eyes and brought a hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose. “Yeah, I’ve heard that. If this goes on the way it has been, I’m likely to end up obese as hell…from the stress.”

“What’s stressing you?”

Don’t tell him. “Nothing.” He took another step, causing the stone to echo louder. That can’t be good.

Stone groaned in protest. Loose pebbles leapt across the ground as it trembled.

He rubbernecked, watching the walls for any sign of what had caused the tremors.

Block of old rock shifted, receding to give way to darkened slots. Something gleamed within one of the black recesses. It rocketed out, zipping by a hand’s breadth from his nose before sinking into the other wall.

Devrim didn’t wait for the following bolts to fire. He broke into a sprint as the world around him erupted into a horizontal hailstorm of projectiles. Shit-shit-shit. He pumped his legs, bobbing on instinct in the hopes some unwitting part of him was more attuned to the game than him and would help him avoid becoming a pincushion.

He found slayer’s didn’t benefit from much luck.

His right shoulder blossomed in pain as a bolt struck home. The wound burned like he’d taken a hot iron to the area before going numbingly cold. The blow had staggered him, but he pressed on, clearing the hall. His breaths came in ragged gasps, leaving him to rest his back against a nearby wall. Coolness from the stone seeped into his body, some making its way into the meat of his injured shoulder. It was a small salve that didn’t do much to dull the pain.

He considered the minor relief a blessing regardless.

The heavy thumping continued to echo through the hall.

Devrim cast a glance to Gama, who hopped along the path without worry. Every bolt had sailed overhead by feet for the diminutive creature. Dev gnashed his teeth, releasing his grip on the sword to wad some of the front of his robe together. He brought it to his mouth and bit down hard. The action aided in his efforts to push his mind away from the pain. He’d worked through aching limbs and pulled muscles before, but this was taxing him.

It took him a moment to notice the flashing bar above. He’d lost an eighth, at rough estimate, of his health.

Not bad, but certainly not fun either. He grimaced again, letting the wad fall free from his mouth. “Hey, Gama.”

The toad hopped closer. “Hm?”

“I don’t suppose you have some kind of starting player’s kit? Something to help me out? Maybe something to heal me?”

The toad simply stared in silence.

Right. Thanks. “How accurate is this world?”

The toad held the blank look.

He sighed. “If I pull this bolt out, will I keep bleeding and lose health?”

Gama folded his flabby lips together, bringing a finger up to his mouth as if considering the question. “Doesn’t everything bleed?”

Wrong thing to focus on, pal. “Look at that, you’re a philosopher.” He clamped down on the wad once more, pondering his next move. I could pull it out and learn if there’s a mechanic for continuous damage. I hope not. It wouldn’t really help people in their quest to tame this world. Then again, if it’s supposed to be a mirror of our world—something to at least be familiar in some regard and be inhabitable—it’d have to be somewhat realistic. Devrim nodded more to himself than Gama before grabbing hold of his sword.

The toad raised the shiv to the air, miming a slash. “I don’t think attacking that is going to help you out.”

He ignored Gama, biting down on the clump of cloth as hard as he could while swinging the blade. It passed through the bulk of the shaft and severed it. There, now I hopefully won’t bump it in any future combat and worsen my injury. The thought of it sent a pang through his mind, causing him to wince in reflex. A low sigh left his lips as he took a deep breath and relaxed against the wall.

Gama took a single hop, getting close enough to brush his leg. The toad stared at him in silence like he was waiting for Devrim to speak.

He obliged the amphibian. “Do you know if there’s someone that can see to this?” Devrim nodded to the shaft.

Gama bobbed in place. “Brrp. There should be someone.” The toad offered no other information.

For a creature supposedly meant to give advice, he was doing a poor job of it, in Devrim’s opinion. He frowned and repeated the word in his mind. Should. The uncertainty didn’t sit well with him. But something else came to him. “Does that mean, regardless of something to take care of me, that there is a place nearby where one could possibly find help?”

The toad stroked his lower lip with a finger. “I think so.” He paused and moved the finger to the side of his face, scratching it idly. “It’s occurred to me…I don’t know where we are.”

Devrim ground his teeth in pain that had nothing to do with his wound. Of course not. I’ve got to figure that out myself too. He inhaled to clear his mind. It’s no different than working labor runs on the station. If no one gives you directions, set your own and follow them through. Dev shuffled to position his good side against the wall, leaning onto it for support as he pushed himself to his feet. He recovered his blade and looked to the path ahead.

If part of the dungeon was booby trapped so early on, it stands to reason there could be more up ahead. He glanced down to the toad. He didn’t trigger anything. He wouldn’t be at risk either. Devrim shook the thought away as he realized what had crossed his mind. I wouldn’t like anyone else doing that to me, what right do I have to do it to an animal, even if it—he’s—just programming? His arm ached, a reminder of the shaft. Well, I guess I might have to amend what I think is real.

Gama made a noise that sounded like he had retched. The toad leapt past him, rounding the edge ahead to disappear into what lay beyond.

The action galvanized him into following after Gama. He turned the corner and found himself staring at a downward slope. A smooth channel ran through it like it had been carved to help something travel along.

Devrim stared at it, unsure of what to do next. So far, the world of Lorian hadn’t been forgiving when it came to mistakes or recklessness.

Gama had stopped halfway down the slope, turning to look back at him. He beckoned Devrim with a wave of a hand.

Dev took a step, regretting it when the stone tile before him groaned. It sank further like it intended to fall out from below. He shut his eyes for a moment, cursing everything.

A deeper bellow sounded behind him.

He turned to address it.

A boulder, large enough to collapse entire maintenance sections on the station, emerged from a newly opened section in the wall. It fell toward him.

Of course.

Chapter Four – The Past

A Hamlet Called New Haven

Adrenaline rushed through him like a cold slurry, pushing him into a sprint before he’d realized he’d moved. He jumped into the carved divot and fought for balance as the boulder tumbled to the ground. Devrim raced forward, ignoring the tightening in his chest as he pushed himself to catch up to Gama.

The boulder covered the first quarter of the channel in seconds, bearing down on him.

“Gama, get on!” Dev jerked his head in a gesture to prompt the toad to grab hold of him.

The amphibian obliged, leaping onto his leg and clinging to the loose fabric of his robes.

Devrim pushed harder, giving thanks the stamina bar didn’t deplete from his burst of speed. He refused to look over his shoulder to gauge the boulder’s position. He could feel it.

“I don’t suppose you can run faster, can you? I don’t want to be smooshed, Devrim!”

He ignored the toad’s comment, hammering his legs until the impact made its way to his knees. Don’t think. Just run. Dev pushed himself until he felt the effort would cause him to tear something in his legs. The end of the channel came up ahead.

A narrow opening lay within it. It appeared to be a crevice, naturally formed, whether through age or something else, he didn’t know. It was wide enough for a pair of people to pass through side-by-side.

The opening drew closer as his reserves fled him. The constant exertion of effort since entering the world had taxed him. “Gama, when I’m close enough for your best guess, I want you to jump. Got it?”

“Brrp.”

Dev considered that an agreement. He ignored the building heat within his injured arm, his face tightening into a grimace as he ran the last few lengths. The toad sprang off of him, sailing into the opening. He followed the example and leapt himself, keeping it from turning into a dive. Devrim passed into the crevice at an angle. The wooden shaft protruding from his arm nearly jabbed against a bit of jutting stone. He moved without stop, flinching on instinct as the approaching boulder blotted out the light.

The massive stone slammed into the opening of the narrow passage, deforming it as rock crumbled and rained down to seal it.

Devrim refused to rest until he cleared the fissure. Pale rays of light touched the highest points of the stone ahead in the path.

Gama hopped ahead, nearly fading out of sight as he passed a particularly large protrusion. “I see the exit. And I’ve got good news!”

Devrim breathed a sigh of relief, sucking the breath back in as he came to the hunk of stone sticking out that the toad had vanished behind. The tip of the rocky formation dragged along his torso as he slipped by. This whole world sucks so far. New salvation, my ass.

He trudged his way out of the crevice, throwing his good arm up to shield his eyes from the intensity of the light. Rogue bits of sun made its way past his robes, striking his eyelids, tingeing his vision salmon. Unknown notes of cool freshness tickled his nose. He couldn’t place the smell. It was like the air filters and recirculators on the station, only lacking the metallic tinge that followed every breath.

After a moment, his eyes adjusted to the strain of brightness, and the new smells invigorated him. He lowered his arm. “Whoa.”

The stony face of a cavern lay behind him. Ahead, an expansive mosaic of greens. Pale lime stalks, reaching his waist, bowed under the current of a flitting breeze. Shorter blades of grass stood out here and there, some paler in color. A dirt road ran ahead with no visible end in sight.

“I’ve never seen so much green before…” He took a step toward the nearest growth of grass, reaching out to it. His fingers waggled almost on instinct as he nearly brushed the blades of green. The first touch sent a refreshingly cold jolt into his digits. A hint of moisture lined his fingertips. He rubbed them together before bringing them to his mouth to taste. “It’s water—dew?”

Gama shot him a look that said his revelation was obvious.

“Sorry. I’ve never seen any of this, at least not in person. I grew up with pictures, films, some simulated scenarios. Nothing like this. It’s…real.”

“Brrp.”

Yeah, thanks for appreciating it. He plucked a portion of a blade of grass free, twining it around an index finger. Devrim ran his thumb against it for a moment to savor the feeling.

“Not to pull you from whatever you’re doing, Devrim, but I know where we are—brrp.” The toad didn’t wait for him to speak up, waving a hand to the distance. “We’re an hour’s walk from a little hamlet. It’s a nice place. I know they’ll have some local healer who can patch you up. From there, we can figure out what to do next to stop the war.”

Baby steps, buddy. First, get the freaking bolt out of me. Then we can deal with…a damn war. Devrim brought his right hand to his face, rubbing it in hopes of alleviating the mounting stress. It didn’t work, but the hint of water trailing across his face now offered minor relief. An hour’s walk. He looked at the shaft.

The pain hadn’t fully dulled, but it had numbed enough. The lingering bit of agony prompted him to consider something else. He’d seen wounds that had gone unattended on the station worsen over time. He fought to recall the exact issue. “Hey, Gama?”

The toad gurgled in what he took to be acknowledgment.

“Do you know if…sepsis is a thing here?”

The amphibian blinked.

“Like injuries getting infected, rotting—falling ill even from a wound.” He hoped the clarification would help him get some semblance of a useful answer from his companion.

“I don’t know. I’ve never been hurt.” Gama inflated, throwing his chest out in what could have been a gesture of pride.

Yeah, I’ll bet. “Alright, I guess we start walking then. It’s the best plan I’ve got.”

“It’s not much of a plan, Devrim Bains.”

He bit back a retort, feeling it best not to antagonize what was supposed to be his guide in the world. “Dev. That’s what my friends called me. Stick with that, Gama. And, as far as plans go, it’ll work. Sometimes the simple solution is the best one.”

The toad nodded in silent understanding. “And you seem a simple man. Makes sense you’d come up with something like that.” Gama seemed to be speaking to himself than Dev.

Devrim ignored the toad’s comment, focusing on the march ahead. He moved in long strides to clear the area outside of the cavern. Twenty yards later, the air around him bowed. Motes of light burst into life and cascaded before him. His skin tingled.

Introduction complete. Level up. Skillshot acquired.

A set of bars glowed above him: the red health indicator seemed to stretch by a minute amount. The process repeated for the green one tied to his stamina.

Guess it’s passive and out of my hands. Small relief. Micromanaging that allocation this early into a new world could be a problem.

Reverberating Strike: After years of training, slayers have mastered the art of pinpoint blunt strikes to force targets into a stupor. Rushing forward, the slayer slams the butt of their weapon into their opponent, sending a stunning shockwave through them. Does minimum damage.

The sensation vanished, followed by the mild throbbing in his shoulder. He glanced at his injury and blinked several times. The remainder of the staff no longer protruded from his arm. A torn section of his robes, marred with blood, was the only sign something had happened.

Huh. Leveling up must reset stuff like that. Good to know. He rolled his shoulder, testing the joint and muscle. No aches or pangs plagued him. A smile spread across his face. Not bad.

“Brrp. Brrp. Brrp.”

Dev paid no mind to Gama’s idle noises, keeping his gaze ahead as he walked toward New Haven. He made it fifty yards by rough estimate when a gust of wind batted against him, sending the ends of his robe fluttering. Devrim turned to see the grass behind him bowed toward him as if under a great weight. A few clods of loose earth shook around him, particulate bits of dirt bouncing without pause. “Uh, Gama, what’s going on?”

“Brrp. I don’t know.”

Great. That’s great. Earthquake?

An all-encompassing shadow raced across the ground, closing in on him as it bathed everything in darkness.

He glanced up to find the source, wishing he hadn’t.

The creature soared overhead. It looked like it’d leapt out of the pages of myth; a horrible cross between gargantuan lizard and serpent with wings. The entirety of its body seemed crafted from obsidian and coal. Jagged volcanic stone sprouted over the top portions of the beast, glowing visibly even in the distant as if harboring remnants of fire. The creature could have dwarfed mountains.

“Ho…lee…shit.” Devrim gawked as one of the most prominent monsters from mythology sailed overhead, utterly unaware of his existence. “It’s—”

An earth-shaking keen erupted from the creature’s mouth.

Dev’s knees buckled, and his ability to stand upright failed. The strength fled his body as unseen hands thrust and pinned him to the ground. The pressure built, threatening to flatten him further. Every blade of grass lay against the ground and trembled from the force of the roar. He could feel his blood curdle.

The beastly cry ceased.

His body felt like an iced cocktail pumped through him, simultaneously chilling his veins and searing them with an alcoholic burn. “Was that a dragon?”

Gama didn’t answer. The toad remained flat against the ground, both hands over its eyes.

Devrim eyed the departing creature, focusing on it and his menu.

Unknown Dragon: No data entry found. Threat level—highest.

The in-game bestiary offered nothing else. He sighed, still keeping his gaze on the mythical reptile as it passed into the horizon.

“Well, that was something, huh?”

Gama pulled a hand away from one eye, the bulbous organ spinning in panic to take in the surroundings. “Is it gone?”

“Yeah.”

The toad bounced upright, his belly distending before he let out a raucous burp. “As well it should! Harumph. Challenge me, would it?” Gama brandished the shiv in the dragon’s direction. “Live to fight another day, lizard!”

Dev hissed at the toad. “Don’t antagonize the mythical apex predator, huh?”

The toad deflated, its lips pressing into a pensive frown. “You make a sensible point. Onward to New Haven?”

He sheathed the katana and picked up his pace. Yeah, sounds like a plan.

* * *

He hadn’t bothered to count the time it had taken to walk to New Haven, but the toad’s estimate had been close enough from the looks of it.

The hamlet came into view, set into and atop rolling hills of neatly trimmed green. A single road split into a set of paths leading off over mounds to sections dotted with tiny homes made from pale, weathered bricks.

“Looks peaceful—cozy.” Devrim rocked on his heels before setting off at a renewed and brisk walk toward New Haven. “What kind of place is it, aside from looking pleasant?”

Gama faltered on a hop. He made up for it with a series of shorter leaps, catching up. “I’ve never been here before. But all companions are born with knowledge of it. It’s the beginning for every hunter to visit, learn about Lorian, and find their footing. Being a hunter—slayer more so—isn’t easy. In this world, hunting monsters is how you survive. Hunting bigger, more challenging ones…is how you thrive.”

Dev grunted, mulling over what he’d been told. Easier said than done. But, maybe not so impossible. Humans had to do it at one point to get by on Earth. We tracked, killed, and cooked prey as a species until we conquered the world—only to lose it. He looked to the calm hamlet before him. We’ll do it right this time around.

He approached the entry to the hamlet, eyeing the people bustling by about their day. Dev shot a quick look at Gama. “Are…they real?”

The toad managed to shake his head, staring at him like he didn’t understand the question. “They’re there.”

Not the answer I was looking for, but I guess I’ll find out. He waved to the nearest person.

The man was near his age, fair-skinned with shoulder length hair the color of wheat spilling out from beneath a green cap. His clothing looked homespun from a durable fabric like canvas. The entirety of his outfit was dyed in earthy hues. The townsman waved back before returning to his task of wrestling a sack into a cart.

“That didn’t tell me much other than he’s friendly.” Dev passed into the town, giving the man a final look as he moved by him. As he neared homes or objects, translucent boxes peppered his vision with text descriptions of the items and who owned them. A few pieces came affixed with numbering he couldn’t make sense of. Currency, maybe?

Townsfolk smiled and nodded in his direction as he wandered through. Each person was dressed similarly to the man with the sack. Everyone seemed to be of differing nationalities, yet all looking familiar enough to people he’d seen back on station life.

“Not really sure where to go. There’s normally some kind of update or marker in games.” Devrim stopped, turning in place to survey the immediate area.

Nothing of the sort came to his aid.

“We should go to see the mayor. If anyone has an idea of what’s going on here and needs doin’, it’ll be him.” The toad jumped ahead of him, leading the way up the incline.

Works for me. As long as someone has a clue. Dev set after him, keeping to a slower pace to take in the sights. Only ever seen things like these in pictures and old holos. Every hint of movement tore at his attention, begging him to give each distraction his full attention. The vibrancy of the hamlet and people, the variety of items being passed around—everything pulled at him.

“Brrp. Dev, over here!” The toad motioned at him. He sat hunched outside a home that looked to have held up better than the ones around it.

The roof didn’t carry the same darkened patches and streaks the others did. The bricks comprising the house looked more uniform in color, none washed out or pitted as severely as the neighboring buildings. A single window sat on the right. White paneling ran through it, bisecting the glass into fours. Puffs of smoke plumed into the air from a short chimney stack.

Devrim stopped outside the door, an old thing stained umber. He looked down at Gama. “Knock?”

The toad stared back. “It’s only polite. Granted, you’ve developed a habit for stabbing and barreling into things the short time I’ve known you.”

He sighed and rapped his knuckles on the door. The hollow thuds echoed out, but no answer came from within. That’s a bust.

A click sounded from behind the door. Text flared to life, disappearing almost as fast, informing him the home had been unlocked. Devrim pushed the door open but remained rooted in place.

The majority of the home’s insides were fashioned from bright wood, catching rays of light and harboring an inner orange glow that gave off a sense of warmth. A bookshelf ran along the back wall, reaching the ceiling. Every rung was littered with literary material ranging in size in thickness.

“Do we just go on?” Dev exchanged a look with Gama.

The toad said nothing, meeting his gaze, unblinking. Seconds later, he croaked.

Devrim took that as an answer to proceed. He stepped into the home, leaning forward and peering around the room.

A small rug, woven out of cinnamon-colored fur, lay in front of a mound of carmine cushions.

He moved farther inside and tapped the katana’s sheath against the door as a final courtesy. “Hello?” When Devrim received no answer, he put a hand to the side of his mouth to amplify his voice. “Anyone there?”

No one answered.

He moved to the center of the room, eyeing the welcoming spot amongst the cushions and rug. The urge to rest grew now that he’d found somewhere in the world without traps and monsters to harry him without a moment’s pause. Devrim shuffled over to the pillows, eyeing the open archways on the other side of the room just in case. Seconds passed before he released a breath of relief and sank to the ground.

“By all means…make yourself at home—mrowl.”

Devrim leapt back to his feet, a hand falling on the hilt of his blade. A new figure stood in the archway near the back wall, staring at him. He blinked hard several times, clearing his vision to ensure he was seeing properly.

The newcomer was a bizarre cross between a man and cat. There weren’t any felines on the stations back home, but the stranger resembled a thick-coated Maine Coon that had learned to stand on two legs. The creature matched him in height, but had double his mass, though it looked to be mostly fur the color of smeared tangerine touched with cream. Its eyes were dull gold, but still held a hint of light in them.

Devrim’s mouth hung open as he tried to find the proper words to address the beast.

The man-cat creature held up a hand, not unlike his own, but covered with a thinner layer of fur. “Please-please, sit.” It motioned for him to return to the cushions.

He didn’t, keeping his gaze fixed on the beast.

The creature frowned, tugging at the ornate robe around its body. The clothing looked pulled out of some fantasy: shimmering silk the color of ruby trimmed in gold, and padded shoulders that tapered out to sharp points to make the cat appear broader.

The cat sighed, its posture sinking. “While it’s polite to acquiesce to guests, it’s equally important that visitors listen to the homeowner, you know?” The creature arched a brow and gave him a knowing look.

Dev pulled his hand away from his weapon and felt his face flush. “This is your home?”

The cat gave him a silent look that made it obviously clear that was the case.

He kept his face neutral, not wanting to offend the cat-person. Dev lowered himself to the ground and raised a hand as a gesture of calm. “Sorry. The house was unlocked. I thought was supposed to come here.”

The cat nodded in silence. “Well, yes. I’m the mayor of New Haven. All new hunters come here to get their bearings. I only just finished introducing the others to this world.”

Others? There are more from the station here? He quivered in place, resisting the urge to jump back to his feet and press the cat for information. A chorus of warbling howls cut through the air before he could collect his thoughts. Devrim looked through the sole window in the building. “What’s that?”

The cat shut its eyes and its body stiffened. “Trouble—your trial by fire. Welcome to the world of Lorian. Now’s your chance to help save a part of it. New Haven’s under attack.”

Chapter Five – The Past

The Laughing Death

Devrim sprang to his feet, rushing toward the door. “Come on!” He beckoned Gama with a brusque wave of his hand.

The toad hopped into action behind him.

The man-cat cut him off with a burst of animalistic speed, holding out a hand to stop Dev’s advance. “Wait. Take some free advice before you go out there.”

He bristled but sucked in a breath to calm himself. I could use some of that to survive in this world.

“The other visitors from your world left not more than ten minutes before you came into my home. They’re likely still out there. Seek them out, fight with them. It’s your best chance. Or don’t…and die. I’ll be bored until the next group of you arrives.”

Dev bowed his head in a hasty thanks and raced out of the home, hand on sword and ready to draw.

Screams tore through the air as townsfolk hurtled by and made their way to whatever form of safety they could. Some rushed into nearby buildings, others worked in unison to tip over massive carts and huddle beneath them.

What the hell is coming? Devrim turned in place, putting a hand to his brow to survey the direction of the incoming howling.

The noise intensified, coming now as rolling yipping, almost like odd laughter.

“Um, Devrim, I think you should pull out your weapon now instead of waiting.” Gama mimed slashing through the air with a sword.

He heeded the toad’s advice and freed his katana from the sheath, flexing his fingers against the grip in anticipation. “Any other advice? What’s your plan?” Dev shot a glance at the amphibian.

“I’ll retreat, tactically so, and find some high ground to survey the situation. From there, I’ll imbue you with mightiness from my famed battle cry. It’ll rouse you—push you to excel.” The toad backpedaled with increasing speed, eyes darting around the area as if looking for the first place to claim shelter.

Devrim frowned for a second as his companion fled for safety. His turned his attention back to the low hill several dozen yards before him. The source of the yowling emanated from the other side of it, growing louder by the passing moment. A fleeting glance to his side revealed no one else had approached. So much for other visitors.

The first of the creatures broke the crest of the hill. It reminded him of the hyenas he’d seen in old Earth biology lessons. The beast came to his shoulders in height, built with a musculature between a bear and large dog. A ridgeline of dark fur raced along its back, complementing the muddy color of its short fur. Its blunted snout streamed mucus that mixed with trails of saliva.

Devrim licked his lips. That doesn’t look too bad.

A second of the creatures came into view, followed by over a dozen at rough count, with no sign of their numbers stopping.

“Don’t worry, Dev. You can do this—brrp! I’m with you in spirit.”

He ground his teeth and kept from searching for where Gama hid, keeping focused on the growing number of hyena-like monsters.

One of the creatures shouldered its way to the front of the pack. It stood inches taller than those around it. Pale patches of skin sat exposed where it looked like scar tissue had formed from long gashes. A single flashing image hung above the beast’s head in the shape of a rudimentary skull glowing a faint orange.

That’s never a good sign. He narrowed his eyes on the larger of the beasts.

The skull-bearing creature released a final, rolling cry, then charged.

Damn. He gritted his teeth, tracking the oncoming horde. If I turn and run, I’ll get trampled. Motion at the edge of his vision prompted him to steal a look in that direction. Dev’s mind left him as he took in the new being standing to his side.

The trawladar’s skin was pale blue, a shade lighter than the sky. His belly rivaled that of professional strongmen, a solid and slightly distended gut that protruded out of his open leather vest. His pants were made from a dark green canvas-like material, thick and durable. Open and unlaced boots covered the half-troll’s feet. A pair of shaved-down tusks sprouted from under his upper lips, giving him perpetual upturned snarl. The troll ran a hand through his crimson mohawk.

Dev shifted a step in the trawladar’s direction, unsure of where the greater threat lie.

The half-troll raised a hand, urging him to stop. “Same side.” He gestured above his head to where a faint script hung, revealing a name: Dread Erik.

Bit goofy. He refrained from advancing closer to the half-troll.

The trawladar hefted a crude spear fashioned from what looked like gnarled driftwood tipped with old iron. Its point still seemed sharp enough with enough weight behind it to pierce the charging monsters. A tattered net, made from thick twine and braids of metal cordage, hung from his other hand.

Trapper class? Devrim got his answering the following moment as the half-troll rushed to the side to clear the area.

Dread Erik raised the net overhead, spinning it with an unnecessary flourish before hurling it toward the closing hyena-like beasts. The net sailed out and spread wide before crashing to the ground like it’d be pulled down by invisible weights. The contraption pinned a pair of the creatures flat, keeping them from thrashing.

The half-troll bounded forward in two short leaps and twisted. He drove the spear into the closest of the trapped creatures, drawing a long yowl of pain from it. Its health diminished by a quarter, but it wasn’t enough with how little time Erik had before the rest of the horde encircled him.

Dev spat and rushed to his aid. He shouldn’t have done that.

The pack split as a group broke off to head toward Erik, the rest heading in the direction of the homes at the edge of New Haven.

He didn’t pursue the half that charged the village, deciding it best to help the only other real person he’d crossed paths with. Dev reached Erik’s side as one of the pack jumped at the trawladar player. Here goes nothing. He focused on his newly acquired ability, letting the name repeat through his mind. Activate skill: Reverberating Strike.

His body flew forward as if he’d been thrown by a gargantuan hand. He surged through the air, bringing the butt of his katana hilt slamming into the side of the hyena-creature’s skull. The beast went limp midair, crashing to the ground in a stupor. Its eyes fluttered, still wide with consciousness, lazily tracking him. He brought his sword down at an angle, drawing a gash across the monster’s ribs.

The beast whimpered through the strike.

His stamina had nearly crashed from his relentless attacking. He paused, leaving the half-troll to finish what he’d started.

Erik bowed his head in silent thanks before driving his spear into the creature’s gut for a death blow. The half-troll spun in place to jab the monster he’d wounded earlier, dispatching it as well. “These odds don’t look…” He trailed off as the net dissipated, freeing the second of the freakish hyenas.

What are these things? Dev turned his attention to the freshly slain monster near his feet.

Kaftar Hounds: These beasts are highly intelligent, operating in large packs led by an alpha. The leader is chosen through in-pack fighting and is usually the survivor of dozens of gruesome battles and has the scars to prove it. When faced with no choice but to battle a kaftar pack, take out the alpha as fast as you can. The rest might scatter. Might.

These creatures are known for their laughing howls, which have earned them the name: Laughing Death. Few who hear their chilling cackles survive to tell the tale. On rare occasions, kaftars have been seen as mounts for other humanoid creatures in Lorian. But taming them is no easy feat, and it might cost you a hand…or two.

Ugly name for ugly creatures.

One of the passing kaftars stopped and turned to face him. A guttural burble formed in its throat. The kaftar opened its mouth, its jaws splitting into four parts almost like an unfurling flower. An endless row of serrated teeth lined its maw. It released a cackle that lived up to its name as it rushed him.

“Hey, trap that thing!” Dev jabbed a finger in the direction of the kaftar hurtling at them.

Erik wrestled with a beast of his own, having lodged the shaft of his spear between the creature’s mouth to keep it back. “Love to, but I can’t. My net isn’t recharged. Have to wait…” He snarled and shoved the kaftar back with a sharp thrust, freeing his weapon from its hold. Erik poked out with the spear in short jabs, forcing the kaftar to keep its distance. “I need another ten seconds.”

Ten seconds in this situation is an eternity.

A moment’s glance above his own head revealed his cooldown remained active for his lone ability. His lips pressed into a thin frown as Dev reaffirmed what he had to do. He ignored his instincts to challenge the oncoming kaftar, rushing to Erik’s side. With a sharp twist, he sent the point of the katana through the meat of the hyena’s neck. Devrim put both hands to the hilt and wrenched it free to repeat the process. He skewered the beast until Erik gained ground in his contest of pushing the beast back.

His stamina hovered near a quarter, threatening to give out should he push himself again without holding off for a few seconds.

The half-troll player shoved the injured animal to the side, plowing past him to lunge with his spear. The tip sailed inches wide of the approaching kaftar’s snout. The attack failed to connect, but had successfully caused the beast to pause, its face wrinkling as it surveyed them.

Devrim counted off the remaining seconds in his head. All he had to do was keep the kaftar from focusing on the trawladar for a bit longer. The wounded creature on the ground gave him the perfect way to keep its packmate’s attention. He lunged toward it, reversing the blade in his grip as he brought it down like a spike. The katana passed through the fallen kaftar’s midsection, pinning it to the ground as its remaining life points dwindled to zero.

His impromptu charge set the other creature off into a renewed frenzy. The kaftar leapt, its mouth splitting wide into four parts as it closed in on Erik. The trapper backpedaled a few feet before slinging a net from his offhand. The repeat performance pinned the hyena to the ground, leaving it helpless as they dispatched it.

“That’s a few down”—Erik huffed and rubbed a hand against his brow—“tons more to go. You see the alpha?”

Devrim nodded, casting his gaze around the crazed scene in search of the monster. “I…did. I don’t see it now.”

The half-troll’s color appeared to pale a shade. “Damn, that means it’s in the village leading the charge. Go!” Erik ushered him with a hand, motioning back at New Haven. “I’ll follow you and try to keep the rest of this pack back and—”

A hollow cry echoed through the air. It blared without pause, dragging on and seeming to renew without dying once.

“Is that a horn?” Devrim searched for the source.

Erik jabbed his spear to the roof of a nearby home. “There!” A feral grin spread across his face. “I’m glad some of them finally decided to show up. Lazy asses.”

The figure atop the house held a curved horn made from what looked like discarded wood. The material had been shaped crudely, riddled with pit marks, and devoid of any paint. He looked to be carved from a single piece of marble tinged varying shades of white. The pale elf’s face was lean and angular like it’d been shaped by a straight razor. His skin reminded Devrim of the moonlight, a soft white carrying an inner glow. The pale elf’s hair was a snowy white dusted with ash, giving it a darker hue, and was worn in a long tail that hung to the middle of his back. He wore a tight-fitting coat and matching pants that were fashioned out of a patchwork of greens and browns found in forests.

The elf turned his head to regard him, blowing the horn once again in his direction.

Devrim felt as if his body had grown lighter. He jumped back a step, finding that the effort came easier than before. A faint shower of lights raced up from around his feet to meet his eyes in a continuous blur of energy. A buff? He stared at the elf.

The pale player stowed the horn, drawing a simple recurve bow and nocking an arrow. He released it, following with another in rapid succession. Each shot hit home, striking several kaftars in their legs.

The wounded beasts staggered, losing their momentum.

The pale elf widened his stance and nocked another arrow. A translucent aura sprung to life around him, concentrating on the shaft of his projectile. The bowman fired and the energy field collapsed around the shot to propel it forward with explosive force. The arrow rocketed toward a trio of weakened kaftar, striking the ground between them. The arrow shattered into countless mini barbs that lashed out in every direction. Each of the kaftar toppled over, sporting new coats of wooden shrapnel.

Devrim figured the elf and Erik had the situation near the hill under control. He turned without a second thought and rushed further into the village. The other half of the pack had split up, taking to surrounding several homes, pawing at the doors as if trying to claw their way through. The alpha remained out of his sight.

I’m thinking of this all wrong. Hunt or be hunted. If I keep chasing after them, these beasts will do more harm while I’m whittling them down. I’ve got to get them to come after me. He shot a look at the pale elf. “Hey!”

The elf turned, signaling to him with a quick wave.

Devrim mimed blowing a horn, jabbing a finger at the spread out kaftar before hooking a thumb to his chest. If I can’t be the hunter, I’ll be the hunted. “Make them come to me if you can!”

The elf bobbed his head in what Dev took as an acknowledgment. The pale bowman raised the horn to his lips and blew a thunderous note in Devrim’s direction.

Every kaftar visibly quivered, their manes going rigid along their backs. They turned to glare at Devrim. Each beast’s lips shook and peeled away from their teeth. The alpha strode into view from behind a nearby home. It narrowed its eyes and released a howl, breaking into a charge at him. The rest of the kaftar followed behind.

Not my brightest idea. Devrim gritted his teeth in anticipation.

Chapter Six – The Past

The Goblin King

The pack gained ground, covering two-thirds of the distance between him and them in seconds.

Devrim slid his feet against the soft earth, settling into position as he braced himself. His gaze remained fixed on the beast leading the charge—the alpha.

The lead kaftar increased its gap between the rest of the pack, moving so swiftly across the ground, it looked like its feet were gliding over the air instead.

Dev angled his katana horizontally so the chisel tip lined up with the approaching monster’s gullet. Come on.

The kaftar alpha sped up, coming within a dozen feet of him.

Dev ran through the previous scenario when he’d used his skillshot. His lips pulled at the edges, breaking out into a wide smile as he noted the ability had fully cooled down. He activated it and surged forward to bash the alpha in the skull.

The stunned beast reeled, flopping to the ground. The rest of the pack faltered seeing their alpha brought down. They slowed their momentum until they came to a crawl several yards behind their leader. Each of the remaining beasts hung back, snarling as they crouched low to form a defensive semi-circle.

If I move on the alpha, they might all jump me. I can’t win against those odds. He glanced over his shoulder. But maybe I don’t have to. Devrim raised a hand overhead, gesturing to the fallen leader.

An arrow zipped by, nearly skinning the top of his finger as it passed. The shot sank into the meat of the beast’s right foreleg. The surrounding kaftars bristled in unison as they looked for the source of the shot.

The alpha recovered faster than the kaftar Devrim had struck earlier. It bound to its feet, lunging to close to the remaining distance between them. The action galvanized the rest of the pack to follow the alpha’s lead.

Devrim moved to meet the creature, slashing across its face. The blade parted one of the four portions of the monster’s mouth. As the kaftar alpha stumbled, thrashing its head side-to-side in agony, he followed up with a short, clubbing blow with the base of the hilt. It didn’t do much but jar the creature. He ran another mental tally of how much time had passed since Erik had pinned the last kaftar.

As if on cue, a net fell over a third of the remaining kaftar making up the pack. The surprise binding startled the free hyena-creatures, setting them into a yapping panic as they broke their formation, rushing past Devrim. The beasts raced toward Erik.

He smiled, knowing the pale elf bowman, and the trapper, would be able to pick off the kaftar headed their way. Devrim turned his attention back to the recovering alpha, giving it no reprieve as he jabbed the tip of his weapon into its snout. He followed with a shallow graze over the kaftar’s eyes.

A new icon appeared above the hyena’s head, resembling a red gash with dripping globules.

Status Effect: Blinded. When a creature’s eyes are damaged or impaired in some manner, their reactions are slowed. They also have a greater chance to miss attacks. While under this effect, they are more susceptible to critical strikes and unable to dodge effectively.

I’ll take it. Devrim unleashed a flurry of adrenaline-fueled strikes, eyeing the diminishing stamina bar above. It continued to whittle away with each blow, yet he noted it did so slower than before. Must be the earlier buff. He grinned, deciding to risk what he had in pushing the beast without pause. He grabbed the creature by one of its ears, eliciting a sharp yowl of pain from the monster as he did. Devrim brought the blade low and slammed it upward into the soft place below the alpha’s sternum. His stamina hovered a hair’s breadth from giving out completely. He gritted his teeth and dragged the blade through the beast as if trying to bisect it.

The alpha’s health gave out first. It collapsed to the ground, heaving a last sigh as a torrent of blood and gore spilled from its belly along with its innards. Its death sent an unseen wave rolling over him that spread through the village and nearby field.

The surrounding kaftar froze, trading frantic looks. They yipped simultaneously as they fanned out to run in different directions. Each of the monsters lost interest in the village and people occupying it now.

Devrim collapsed to the ground, chest straining for breath as his stamina bar flashed empty. He allowed himself to fall onto his back and laugh what little he could at the triumph. A prompt flashed to life.

Kaftar slain count increased. Alpha slain.

He watched the counter skip up by multiples, leaving him to wager that the alpha had counted for several regular kills. The stamina bar flickered once before slowly inching forward as it regenerated. His muscles ached, but enough of his strength returned to allow him to push against the ground. He rose to a shaky standstill, waving a hand to the approaching pale elf and half-troll players.

They traded grins before flashing them his way.

“Nice job, taking out the alpha like that. How’d you know how to do that?” The pale elf tilted his head to the side, regarding him with mild curiosity.

Devrim finally managed to note the player’s name hovering above his head: Hawkeye Jace. Dev ignored the self-aggrandizing name and decided to answer the elf’s question instead. “I got the idea from the bestiary entry that popped up after I killed one. It let me know that taking out the alpha could scatter the pack.”

Silence fell. Erik and Jace pursed their lips and glanced at each other before turning back to face him.

“How did you get that to happen? I didn’t get any prompts until just now, and we’d finished scaring them off. I still don’t have one for the alpha.” Jace’s brows knitted together as he turned his attention to the fallen kaftar leader. “Correction, now I do. But I had to focus on it for that.”

Devrim shook the blood and gore from his katana, kneeling to clean it further by sliding it through the grass when he caught sight of the remaining ichor fading from existence. Must be something to clean up player gear after completing a battle. He sheathed his weapon and looked at Jace. “I’m not sure how I got it to happen, just that it’s been like that from the second I entered the world. First time I saw the ragmen was the same. A prompt—”

“What are those?” Erik rolled his neck, hefting his spear to rest atop one of his shoulders.

Devrim described the creatures to him.

The half-troll frowned. “Didn’t see any of them in the clearing.” He turned to Jace. “You?”

The pale elf shook his head.

Clearing? “Where did you guys load into the world?” Devrim’s heart skipped once as he tried to figure out what separated his experiences so far from theirs. There has to be a reason.

“An empty forest clearing. Well, not so empty. We loaded in together and had to fend off some feral things that looked like chubby raccoons. At least, they looked like the raccoons from old biology vids.” Erik shrugged and glanced at the mayor’s home. “We should head back and figure out what the heck that was about. We’re not supposed to be attacked here from what I understand.”

Devrim’s mind raced with dozens of questions, but he stowed them. The sooner he had a handle on the immediate issue, he’d have more time to dedicate to the others surrounding his character and different experiences so far. He turned and led the way back to the mayor’s house.

Dev heard Erik and Jace fall into step behind him, but tuned their presences out of mind, letting his thoughts dwell on what had happened. He’d encountered other players in the game world, meaning they were most likely others sentenced to execution who’d gotten another chance. They’d reached the village before him. It could have meant that they had entered the world closer to New Haven, or they’d been loaded in before he had.

They might have had more time to explore or learn. He shook his head a moment later, deciding that they too must have been prompted in some manner to head for the village as soon as possible. The thought brought to mind the creature responsible for his own journey to New Haven.

Crap. Devrim put a hand to the side of his face. “Gama!” He repeated the call several times, sweeping the nearby area with his gaze for any sign of movement.

A small mass, a bit larger than his fist, bounded into view. The uppity toad bounced toward him, releasing a throaty burble. “Brrp. We did it.” Gama inflated his throat pouch in what Devrim took to be a gesture of pride.

“We?” He eyed the amphibian.

The toad deflated. “Of course. Did you think you”—he jabbed a stubby finger at the two behind Devrim—“any of you would be able to defeat those things without my rousing battle cry? Who filled you with endless vigor during that fight? Whose voice sang through your veins, lending you strength to slay those beasts? Mine.” There was no question in the toad’s voice, only iron resolution.

Devrim flashed Erik and Jace a hapless smile. “Sorry. He’s got an ego bigger than any of the guards back on the station. And that’s saying something.”

The pair behind him snickered.

Gama blinked at the comment, pursing his lips.

Devrim deigned not to clarify and picked up his pace to make it to the mayor’s door. He banged the base of a fist against it. Each thud shook the door in its frame with enough force he feared it might come loose.

A heavy click sounded off followed by the familiar prompt indicating it had been unlocked.

He pushed his way inside, taking care to ease the door with his shoulder.

The mayor sat cross-legged near the cushions. He poured an amber liquid out of a porcelain kettle into cups of the same material and color. Minute plumes of steam rose from each of mugs. He nodded to them in a nonchalant manner as he set the kettle down.

Devrim took the silent cue, making his way to the low table and falling to his knees to take one. “Uh, thank you.”

The mayor didn’t reply, choosing to eye the other two players.

They fell by Devrim’s side, following his lead.

“Tell me if you like it. I’ve been working on the recipe for quite a while now.” The mayor scooped up a cup of his own, blowing on it before bringing it to his lips.

Devrim raised his own and gave it a few puffs. The first sip rolled over his tongue, feeling oily and acidic. It reminded him of lubrication fluid that sprayed out during maintenance runs if someone didn’t wipe down the hydraulic rods after coating them. Eventually, everyone working that detail would get a globule or two on their lips and tongues. The taste could drive someone to retch.

He set his cup down, coughing and placing a hand to his chest. “I think you need to keep working on that, mayor.” Devrim gave him a lopsided smile.

The cat-man sipped slowly, holding out far better than he had. After a handful of seconds, the mayor lowered the cup. “I think…you’re right.” He hacked once, placing a hand over his mouth. “Excuse me. Ahem. Sorry, had to try it and figured, why not with company?”

Devrim refrained from mentioning he wasn’t fond of being a guinea pig. Much of his prior life had been nothing more than that. Not to mention his current situation.

“Right, well.” The mayor brushed the cup aside. “Thank you for taking care of those kaftar. Not how I wanted to have you introduced to the world, but what’s done is done. Given that I’m the local quest anchor point, I can mark that as a completed event for you and let you reap the rewards.”

Dev’s vision flashed a brilliant white smeared with a faint shade of orange. The jarring light vanished, leaving behind a set of messages.

Random encounter complete: Kaftar attack

Rewards: Kaftar pelt X4. Kaftar teeth X10. Alpha kaftar mane. Alpha kaftar jaw bone.

Devrim opened his mouth, but the mayor held up a hand.

“You’re probably wondering what that was about.” It wasn’t a question the way he’d voiced it. “And you likely have several more about the state of things. How you should go about saving Lorian to make it habitable.”

Devrim narrowed his eyes. How’s he know about that? “I didn’t think the characters in here would be programmed with that knowledge.” He flashed Erik and Jace a quick look.

They returned it, furrowing their brows.

“You’re right.” The mayor placed a hand on the table. “None of the programmed characters know it. Your mistake is thinking that you’re the first people to set foot in Lorian. You’re not.” He hooked a thumb to his chest. “I am.”

Dev blinked. “You—what? Who are you? What shift tour are you from? Who are your parents?” Each question came to him before he finished voicing the previous. “How the hell did you end up in power and mayor of a village?”

The mayor raised a hand to calm him. “You’re asking the wrong questions, but I’ll answer them soon. You should be concerned with something else.”

Devrim waited for him to elaborate.

“Why did a pack of kaftar, normally relegated to living in grassland plains and savannahs, choose to go this far out of their way to attack this place? A place with little to offer, safe homes to hide behind, and nothing new but you lot.” The mayor jabbed a finger at the three of them.

Devrim put it together. “Someone or something is targeting us. Erik and Jace were already here, and I’d just arrived.”

The mayor nodded. “Kaftar can be trained to harass and threaten settlements. Few in Lorian have managed that. Notably, goblins have. Among them, one being in particular has risen to power and is threatening everything. The Goblin King. And he’s after you.”

Chapter Seven – The Past

A Cat Named Thom

“Why’s he after us?” Dev’s hand fell instinctively to the hilt of his weapon. It took him a moment to realize he’d gripped it. He pulled his hand away, taking a breath to still himself. “We just arrived. We haven’t done a thing to him.”

The mayor shook his head. “But you might. Look at it from his point of view. You know about the adaptive personality matrix?”

Devrim inclined his head, catching Erik and Jace doing the same.

“It means creatures and humanoid characters in Lorian can rationalize, infer—learn. He sees you as a threat.”

Something’s not adding up. Devrim eyed the mayor askance. “But how did he know we arrived?”

The mayor didn’t meet his gaze. “I’m not sure on that, only that he’s currently the largest power in Lorian, and growing stronger. No one else could have tamed kaftar and sent them to New Haven, the only spot new players arrive at.”

Makes sense, but he’s leaving something out.

As if on cue, the mayor seemed to have the answer. “The Goblin King has spies over the country, not to mention traveling parties passing through to collect information and spot new players. When you load in, there’s quite a show of it in the air.” He pointed to the roof.

The explanation mollified him. Devrim sighed in relief. “Well, that’s something. Alright. What do we need to do to make this place habitable then?”

Everyone’s eyes widened, staring at him like he’d said something stupid.

“Right now, the way you are?” The mayor snorted and smoothed his robe. “You’ll need to venture out and grow. The Goblin King character has risen to his current status after years of surviving Lorian. You’ve been here hours. You’ll need to learn, make mistakes—dangerous ones—and hunt. You’ll need to delve into your classes and master them. That comes from challenging the greatest beasts you can and walking away with their hides and more.”

Fair enough. “Survive and thrive mentality, huh?” Devrim flashed a knowing look at Erik and Jace. “No different than back on the station. We’d been pushed around forever, punished for crimes we didn’t commit. Now’s a chance to earn out of that and make our own way. I’m okay with that. You two?”

The half-troll bowed his head. “Hell yeah. I ran double shifts every damn day on assembly.” He rolled his shoulders, wincing in reflexive pain as if the memory of his old job caused him ache. “Besides, what choice do we have? If we don’t do this, we die.”

The mayor bristled, his fur standing on end.

Devrim caught note of that just as the cat-man composed himself. What was that about?

The pale elf to his side remained quiet, clenching his jaw in what Dev took to be firm resolution.

“Good. You’re resolved. Now, leave my home. Don’t get killed. If you find something shiny, consider bringing it back here. I may let you purchase a home here.” The mayor shooed them with a hand.

“Wait, that’s it?” Devrim got to his feet, hand on his blade again. “You haven’t told us anything. Where do we start? Where do we stay? Hell, who are you for that matter? It didn’t slip my mind. But I think something did pass by yours.” Dev didn’t wait for the mayor to retort. “We could have run and saved ourselves.” He gestured to Erik and Jace.

The mayor shied away from Dev’s look. “Well, yes, you have a point. I suppose it would be fair to answer some of your questions and show my gratitude.” He put a hand to his mouth and cleared his throat pointedly. “My name is Thom Purrlin.”

Devrim narrowed his eyes. “Is…that, did you really choose that?”

Thom’s mouth spread into a Cheshire-like grin. “It fits. As for more of who I am, I once went by Thomas. I lived on the station as you all did.” He raised a hand as Devrim opened his mouth. “No, I’m not a forbidden child. I entered Lorian to test it out long ago when it was first developed—not refined.” Thom let out a rueful chuckle. “You see, I was dying.” The words fell with leaden weight.

Here I was worried about that myself. And there’s someone else in the same boat. No chance but to jump into a new world for a second chance.

“I developed bone cancer.” Thom’s wide smile faltered, turning into something brittle. “Despite all the advances, all the technology we managed to come up with over the stations to improve our lives, we never did manage to crack that.” The grin returned, inching slowly across his face like it was forced.

Devrim knew that expression. It came from long practice and lying to one’s self. He’d worn that same smile when having to appease people in power on the station. When having to pretend work was bearable when it was anything but. And when having to lie about the treatment he’d received at the hands of the guards and labor forces.

“I’m sorry.” Devrim couldn’t meet Thom’s eyes for a moment. He worked moisture into his throat, clearing it before beginning again. “I didn’t know they let someone into this place so long ago. You figured better a shot at this just in case it worked out?”

The mayor nodded.

Dev swallowed and reminded himself that he took that very chance for the same reason. The possibility of death, after all, was only that. No guarantee. It certainly beat the alternative in his mind. “How long has it been?”

“Years. I’ve lost track of the longer scale of time in all honesty. It’s really served no purpose for me till recently.” Thom gestured at the three of them. “I was instilled as mayor to ensure I had a comfy life. The programmed and pre-generated people in New Haven would tend to my needs as well as their own. The village is never in need of anything. What little comes as outside luxury passes through on the backs and in the pockets of traders.” He folded his hands together. “I live comfortably.”

Sounds nice. But comfort won’t pave our way to a new life. A stable one. And that’s what we need.

“It won’t be that for you and, for that, I’m really sorry.” Sincerity hung in Thom’s voice, the sort Dev never thought he’d hear. “You’re going to have to earn your way. In Lorian, for many, that comes through hunting. I’ll guide you as best I can for what you’ve done. I don’t know what it’ll be worth. I’ve never progressed my class and made inroads into hunting.” He rolled his shoulders in a casual shrug. “But, I have access to a lot of the digital world’s mechanics. You’ll want to know those.”

He has a point.

“The short of what you need to know is this: You have to hunt and quest to grow. The world rewards successful quests with ability points. Do an easy quest, you might—might—get one. The harder the quest, the more likely you will get one. Some are difficult enough to earn you multiple points. Depends on what the creature you’re hunting is. In addition to this, successfully killing creatures earns you prestige. Kill something impressive, your renown grows. With that, you can capitalize on your fame and buy things cheaper, sell them pricier, and so on. It’s a celebrity status thing.” Thom rolled his eyes like he found the idea laughable.

Devrim committed it all to memory.

“Kill something far beneath you, however, and you can lose that status. It’s seen as unsporting. The last thing to take into account is crafting. This is a world that thrives on using what you can harvest from the monsters you kill. Sadly, you’re not given a choice to truly pick and take what you want. What you get is what you get. You can use the material to develop new weapons and armor. That is how you will be able to better give and take punishment in Lorian. When you leave New Haven, you’ll be held to those rules. It’s why I’ve never left.” Thom ran the back of his hand against his mouth, licking the appendage.

Devrim weighed the final bits of what the mayor had told them. The world and his life would revolve around constantly pushing himself—endangering himself for the sole purpose of growing. The unsaid message was clear: Stagnation is death. The thought brought a single question to his mind he needed to voice. “Why did they develop the world this way? What’s the point if they wanted to give us a second chance and help the population crisis on the stations?”

Both Erik and Jace looked at him, frowning in unison before turning their gazes on Thom. His query had struck a nerve, and everyone knew it.

Thom stopped licking his hand, turning away from the stares. His chest shook as he hacked in a fit of violent coughing. The final cough launched a mass of tangled fur, coated in bile and saliva, out from his mouth to squelch onto the floor.

Dev stared at it, then Thom.

The mayor gave him a weak smile. “Sorry. Can’t help that. Bit of cruel humor from the developers, I suppose.” He cleared his throat, a somber look hanging in his face. “As for the population crisis…” Thom shied away from their looks for several seconds. “This world is the solution, though not how you think.”

Silence flooded the room, waiting to be broken.

Thom licked his lips and clasped his hands together. “You’re already gone from the real world.”

Devrim rolled his eyes. “Yeah, we know this. But once we solve whatever we need to here, we can—”

Thom cut him off with a wave of his hand. “There is no solving Lorian. You can make it habitable, but you can’t go back to tell people that. There is no going back. You have nothing to go back to. You weren’t copied over and uploaded here. You were transferred.” Thom’s words fell with iron weight.

Dev swallowed the lump of air that’d formed in his throat, casting a questioning glance at Erik and Jace. “You’re saying this was one-way. That we’re—”

“Dead.” Thom inclined his head.

Chapter Eight – The Past

Dead Men Questing

Devrim shut his eyes, exhaling for a seven-count. Silence returned in the wake of his out-breath.

A brrp from Gama broke it.

“So, new world and the station powers still managed to screw us one last time.” Dev opened his eyes, gritting his teeth hard enough send pressure radiating through his gums. “Fine.” He threw a look to the half-troll and the pale elf, then turning back to face Thom. “Then they made our choice easier. We deal with this world, make it home—make it ours.”

Thom’s eyebrows shot up followed by the other two men. “Just like that—mrowl?” The mayor brushed one side of his face with the back of his hand. “You’ve decided?”

Devrim arched his back, straightening after a series of minor stiff spots alleviated themselves with the sounds of cracking twigs. “It’s not up for me to decide. That was made for us. This is the only world left for us. All that’s left now is to make it habitable for us.” He shrugged. “That means learning it, growing ourselves, and hunting.” He searched the faces of Erik and Jace, hoping they’d be in agreement. Instead, he saw both frozen in masks of apprehension.

Oh, hell. They feel lost. They believed they were really going to make a difference to the station. They thought they’d have a chance to come out heroes.

He sighed, searching his mind for something to rouse the pair into accepting their new situation at the very least, regardless of how uncomfortable the underlying truth behind it was. “Hey, Erik, Jace.”

They stared at him.

“This isn’t ideal. I know we’re all thinking the same things about missing our families, what little moments we got to spend with them, and the fact that the stations were the only life we knew.” His throat ran dry, feeling like it’d been raked. “But, we do have a second chance. Maybe not the exact sort we were promised. Think about it, though. This is like those worlds of fantasy we’ve read about in—”

“Shut up! Dammit, Devrim.” Jace thrust the top of his bow in his direction. “Can it with the nerd talk and fantasy. Our lives were taken from us a second time. Maybe you can’t see it, so let me help you out with that. This is something you can run away and hide in a freaking book from. We’re in a world of freaking monsters with no safety net. Now what?” Jace’s chest heaved, his breaths coming in short.

Dev reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder. The pale elf moved to pull away from him, but Devrim gripped him hard. “Now we start over.” He kept his voice level and soft. “We start over. Look around. Who’s here to hurt us? Who’s here to make us do anything other than what we want? Some Goblin King?” He cast a glance at Thom. “If we were a big enough threat to him, why hasn’t he come himself?”

Jace’s eyes widened for a fleeting second in what Devrim took to be understanding.

“We’re clean. Fresh slate. Let’s use it. Are you really angry about being lied to by the people that used us our whole lives?” He stared hard at Jace. “Or are you angry at yourself for not catching it in the first place? Are you telling me that part of you didn’t suspect something was off?”

Jace looked to the ground, pulling away from his hold.

Devrim let him slip free, allowing the pale elf to stand in silence, absorbed in his own thoughts. He didn’t see the benefit in not giving the man time enough to work through whatever plagued his mind.

Gama’s steady ribbiting became the only sounds in the mayor’s home for a while.

Jace hung his head, taking in a deep breath. “I’m good. I’m good.” He seemed to be repeating it more to reassure himself than anyone else.

Devrim nodded, giving Jace a few extra moments to compose himself and sift through any lingering doubts. He felt the man deserved that courtesy after everything they’d just gone through. A minute slipped by before Dev decided to share his thoughts on the situation. “Now we’ve got zero ties or obligation to the people on the station. Our priorities should be us.”

Jace’s face was cold stone, but something in his eyes let Dev know they were on the same page.

Erik pressed his lips together and bowed his head in what could only have been resigned agreement.

“Right.” Devrim wrung his hands against his wrists. “Right. We’ve sort of got a plan. That’s a start. I guess all we need now is something to hunt—a quest.” He stared at Thom, giving the cat-man a knowing look.

The mayor shook his head, looking at the ground. A heavy sigh passed through his lips. “Yes, I suppose that’s where you should start.” He didn’t sound particularly enthused about sending them off on one. Thom waved a hand and a translucent panel of light appeared. A ghostly blue frame hung before them, filling in before shifting colors. Earthy hues colored the tawny map. Rudimentary lines darted to life, forming the outlines of mountains in dark brown. Dotted paths raced along the display in the same color.

Devrim tried committing everything he saw to memory, torn between taking in every detail and working to find where they were in the world.

The details sprung to life until the map outlined more than he could process.

Thom murmured to himself, extending an index finger to one point on the display. He dragged the digit along various roads and paused near a diminutive village. “Ah.” He tapped the area. The area’s name promptly sprang onto the display. “Here we are.” Thom hummed as his attention turned to neighboring villages and towns. He dragged his finger to the closest place, tapping it once. A white ring flared around the location, pulsating. “Well, it just so happens there is a quest for—”

Half a dozen nearby towns flashed with the same display of light. The effect rippled, carrying out to ten more locations from those until the entire world pinged in some manner.

Thom cleared his throat. “Well, I did mention I never went on any quests and hunts of my own. Seems like a great deal have piled up.” He clapped his hands together. “The good news is that you’ll have no end of work! So, let’s start you with something small.” He tapped the place his index finger hovered over once again. “Little village half a day’s walk from here. Their mayor’s reported a series of abductions in the night. No one has a clue what’s behind it. It’s worth one ability point. Beyond that, I don’t know what rewards you’ll get. However, it’s rated as moderate in difficulty for new hunters.”

Moderate. Not easy. Noted.

His vision flashed once, and a compass rose flashed in all white at the edge of his eyesight. Devrim raised a hand to it, making contact to bring a miniature map into view. The scenery blurred and fixed on the location Thom had shown him.

Mysterious abductions: The village of Muddeep has been experiencing kidnappings in the late of night. The abductors come and go without a sound. The taken leave no echoing cries to follow. Crimes in silence. Find them.

Reward: Misc.

Skill points: 1

Devrim brushed the display away with a wave of his hand and focused on a pale gold current of gaseous light rushing from his across the floor. He set after it, motioning for Gama to follow. The toad fell in behind his heels as he moved toward the door. “I’m heading out”—he looked over his shoulder to Thom—“unless there’s any last business?”

Thom shook his head. “Just parting words…and a last explanation, if you want them.” There was no question hanging in his voice. He knew they’d be keen for answers. “His nerdery”—Thom pointed at Dev—“is why he’s benefitting so early in this world. Lorian is based on monsters and myths. Tales of old and legends that inspired the creative team.” He tapped a finger to the side of his head. “Knowledge of mythology will take you far here, Devrim. Keep that in mind, and reap the other bonuses your class and race allow you.” He shooed them with both his hands.

Devrim lowered his head in thanks and pushed his way out of the door, glancing at the lingering trail of light at his feet. The endless length of gold snaked out over the hills where they’d killed the kaftar, vanishing out of sight over a particularly high mound. He set out after it, placing a hand on the hilt of his sword as he marched.

Despite the recent beast encounter, he felt reinvigorated walking through New Haven now that the immediacy of the threat had passed. The quest hovered in his mind, but he permitted himself to enjoy the vibrancy of the new world.

In space, there had only been endless swaths of monochromatic metals. The clothing has come to mimic that, taking on simple, single color schemes. There was little sense in catering to fashion when the advancement of technology had been imperative to functionality and survival. He pursed his lips for a moment as he rethought that.

Now that I think about it, the kids who were permitted to be born had colorful clothes. Only the prison rats like us had the dumpy gray outfits. He shook his head clear of the memories, reminding himself where he was. Doesn’t matter now.

Gama seemed to pick up on his wandering mind. “Brrp—are you okay?”

Devrim waved a hand in a dismissive gesture. “Yeah, just thinking. We’ve got a long walk from what I can tell. I guess I let my thoughts run off.”

The toad leapt forward in a series of frenetic bursts to come ahead of Devrim. “That makes sense. You’ve had a lot happen—brrp. Are you really serious about undertaking this quest—so soon? You’ve just arrived. We should consider safety and give you time to learn the world.”

He paused, using it as an excuse to suck down a lungful of the fresh, chilling air. “I thought about it.” Devrim looked over his shoulder to Erik, who’d only just exited the mayor’s home. “It’d be easier on us all. But…” He pulled his gaze away from the half-troll to stare into the distance. “Look at them.” Devrim hooked a thumb over his shoulder to point in the direction of Thom’s home. “What do you see?”

Gama made a burbling noise, staying otherwise silent for a minute. “They look confused—lost, but then again, you humans always look lost to me. It must come from not having toad brains. We think clearer, you know?”

Devrim ignored that last half of what the amphibian had said, lowering his hand and taking a few more steps forward. “They are lost. That’s why I’m doing this. Erik’s shut down. I can see it. He’s going through the motions. I don’t know him, but it’s pretty clear. I’ve seen that look when people were worn out working back-to-back shifts, just getting through the work like mindless drones. He needs someone to take charge. Jace is too wrapped up anger and thoughts to have a plan.” He sighed and walked up the first incline, taking note of the restored grass.

Each blade had reverted back to its form prior to the group of kaftar storming over the hills. Every footprint had vanished along with the bodies of the beasts. It was like the scene had never occurred.

That’s uncannily creepy.

“And what about you, Devrim?” Gama released a rolling burp-like sound.

He didn’t pause to answer the toad. “What do you mean?” Devrim made it to the hill’s peak, taking the first step down the other side, letting his momentum carry him further.

“What’s keeping you going?”

Dev faltered a step, nearly losing his balance and toppling. I wish I knew. He recovered, spreading his feet wide to help steady himself better. “I guess they are.” He waved beyond the hill to where Erik and Jace still were. “I don’t know much what to do besides what they need me to. If none of us takes a step, any step, we’ll end up stuck. That’s a recipe for disaster. You sit too long somewhere, you get complacent, you sink—drown.” He shook his head more to himself than anything. “That doesn’t seem like a good idea in this world.”

Gama ran a finger under his chin like he was musing on Devrim’s words.

He left the toad to ponder, making his way to the base of the first hill before trudging up the second. The blue skyline looked muted as if its previous brightness had been daubed away by a wet sponge. Greyness seeped in with the promise of black to follow. Devrim put a hand to his brow, looking over the hills to the distance. “I’ve never seen a real nightfall before. How long before it gets dark?” He glanced to the toad.

“Brrp.” Gama pressed his lips together as if mulling over the question. “When the light goes away, normally.”

Dev sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I figured that.”

“Then why did you ask?” The toad looked at him, unblinking, waiting for an answer.

Devrim ignored him and plodded up the next hill. He dragged the back of a hand against his chin, wondering if increasing his pace was worth the risk to make it to Muddeep during the night. The kaftar experience still hung fresh in his mind. The brazen attack occurred during daylight, leaving him to mull over what could possibly come for them at night.

He suppressed a small shiver as a countless number of mythological beasts flashed through his thoughts. “Gama, how much do you know about the local wildlife here?”

The toad blinked, then croaked. “There aren’t any other toads—notably battle toads—anywhere around these parts.”

“No offense, but I didn’t see you living up to that name either during our fight.” Dev kept a smile from spreading over his face.

“I don’t think you can say that without meaning offense.” The toad stared hard at him.

Dev sniffed once, making it to the top of the hill. The path ahead leveled out, showcasing a well-worn trail of firm earth that had been undoubtedly formed by years of nothing more than walking that particular path. The golden motes of light danced along that route, guiding him over a crest in the land he couldn’t see past. He took another step. Air rushed from the ground, cutting progress off as he felt like he’d crashed into an invisible wall.

The menu appeared, sliding of its own accord to a screen he hadn’t seen before.

Leaving New Haven. Monster Slayer Online Introduction Complete. Best of luck, hunters. Remember, hunt or be hunted.

Character: Devrim Bains. Class/Race: Slayer.

Renown: 5 points.

Skill points: 0

Skills: Reverberating Strike.

Clothing/Armor Stats: 0 Resistance. 0 Recovery. 5 Speed. 3 Bloodlust.

He stared at the information, committing it to memory as best he could. It was one of the few guideposts in this world letting him know how his progress came along. Recalling it offhand seemed a better choice than searching for it—an ever-present reminder of his status, and the drive to improve them.

Focus on that. Forward, not back.

The menu faded, freeing him from the momentary stasis. He walked toward the clear trail and kept his eyes to the horizon as it dimmed further.

“Dammit, Devrim! Wait up.”

He turned to the source of the voice, spotting Erik lumbering over the hillcrest he’d hiked past minutes earlier.

The half-troll stopped midway down the slope, doubling over to rest his hands on his knees. His chest and stomach heaved with obvious effort as he gulped down air. “I…I’m coming with you.”

Jace came into view at the top of the hill, navigating the path down with ease. He passed Erik without stopping and came to a foot from Devrim. “What he said. We fought together back there. We might as well stick together like it was suggested. None of us knows what we’re really getting into, just ideas of it. And…”—he inhaled—“maybe having a nerd around wouldn’t be a bad thing in a geek-fantasy world.” Jace flashed him an apologetic smile.

Dev inclined his head. “Works for me.” He looked past the elf to the approaching trawladar. “Don’t suppose any of you did any labor or upkeep with the herbalism and survival departments on the stations?”

Both the pale elf and half-troll shook their heads.

Was worth a shot to ask.

Erik leaned back, putting his hands on his hips as he breathed out and stretched. “Why, what have you got in mind?”

Devrim gestured into the distance where the golden light trailed off. “Down that way is Muddeep. Based on the map and that”—he pointed up to the darkening sky—“I don’t think we can make it before night. None of us have ever experienced that on a planet…with wildlife. All I know of is myths and legends of what comes out in the dark.” He gave them knowing looks. “And it’s not pretty.”

Jace licked his lips and glanced off to the forest lining the view to their left. “We’re not left with great options.” The pale elf swallowed and looked back to the road ahead. “If we’re caught in the dark out by the road, who knows? We were already attacked in the open near a village. It can happen again.”

Dev nodded in silent agreement.

“Getting off the road into the forest might not be a bad idea, but…” Jace trailed off.

Devrim knew what was on his mind. “What’s hiding in there? What comes out at night?”

Silence filled the space between the three men for minutes.

“Well, we are hunters.” Erik ran a hand through his hair, mussing it in a gesture of nervousness. “Even if there is something in the trees at night, shouldn’t we be taking care of it—them? It’ll probably make the place safer too for the locals.”

If. Devrim focused on the word. If there is something out there. Why not make sure of it? “Let’s not leave things up to chance. And let’s not repeat what happened earlier. Before, we were the prey. This time we’ll be the predators. Let’s hunt.”

Both men fixed him with quizzical looks.

* * *

Night had fallen, caking the forest in swaths of black and indigo. Staccato chittering warbled through the dark before dying out. Something brayed before going silent. Every sound prompted him to turn to the direction of the source, but he found nothing each time.

His heart jackhammered with adrenaline through their trudging. It wasn’t helped by Gama moving around within in his robe. He’d stowed the meddlesome toad in the confines of the garments in the hopes he wouldn’t wander off and attract unwanted attention. “We could use a light source. Don’t suppose either of you know how to make a fire or have a skill for that.”

“No,” said the pair in unison.

“Wait.” Erik perked up, extending a hand in the darkness as if trying to feel his way through the darkness. “Why do we need one?”

Devrim passed through a tight-knit tangle of narrow trees that had grown too close together. “Besides the fact it’ll keep us warm, it’ll draw the attention of anything else in here. We can use that. I read old stories about hunters doing that sort of thing. You set it, skirt around outside the fire’s light, and wait for something dumb enough to come check it out.” At least, I hope it works that way. He kept his reservations to himself.

Erik cracked his neck side-to-side, making a noise far greater than if he’d trodden over a bundle of sticks. He muttered a hushed apology and kept from being noisy as they progressed.

Faint traces of orange light flickered through the trees ahead. The fire strobed in the distance, beckoning him with silent flashes.

He sank his weight, moving in a low crouch in the direction of the light source. Devrim waved for the men at his back to follow as he peered around. A hand fell on his shoulder, squeezing the tissue between his joint and neck. He winced and looked back at the pale elf. Devrim shook his head and gave him a look that amounted to a silent, “What?”

Jace crept closer until Devrim could feel his breath on his skin. The elf cupped a hand to his mouth, placing it against Devrim’s ears. “Didn’t you say something about being dumb enough to fall for something like that?” Jace pointed to the fire.

Devrim ran a tongue against the back of his teeth. “A trap?”

Jace shrugged. Erik mirrored the gesture.

He mused over what it could mean, coming to a single conclusion. “If it is a trap, it might not be meant for us. That’s a stretch. And we’re likely not the only players in the world.” Devrim cut himself off from speaking further as the firelight vanished.

Something moved dozens of feet ahead of them, blotting out the light as it passed by, circling the makeshift campsite. Another shape glided by behind the first. A third followed.

Devrim waited in place, rooting himself to the ground like he was part of it, unmoving. He stilled his breath as he watched and took count. Six. No, seven. He amended the tally again when several other shapes moved by.

Each stood roughly around his height, navigating the uneven ground and darkened forest like he had done.

People?

The first of the shapes drew closer to the fire. The rest followed.

Devrim set off, keeping low to the ground as he motioned for Erik and Jace to trail behind him. He crept toward the closest of the moving shadows and came to a stop several yards ahead. Dev narrowed his eyes, hoping the added focus would help in the low-light conditions.

One of the shapes signaled to another nearby, moving with coordination that made it clear they possessed higher intelligence than an animal.

Dev rolled to his side and reached for his blade. He gritted his teeth as he pulled the weapon free, hissing as it sounded off against the sheath.

“What was that?” The question had come from the moving shadows.

They’re human?

He tensed, holding his hand to the hilt of his weapon, but refusing to draw it any farther.

“You really should be quieter, Dev. Being noisy in the night isn’t a smart idea. Brrp!” The toad’s ribbit came louder than any other sound in the forest.

“It came from there!” said one of the dark shapes.

Dammit. “Lead them into the firelight!” Devrim sprang to his feet and drew his blade, charging the closest of the shapes.

Chapter Nine – The Past

Stalker

Devrim cast the katana into a horizontal slash at the target’s midsection. They lurched back, catching their foot on something and stumbling away from him. He followed them, driving the target toward the fire.

The assailant broke into the corona of light, revealing their features. The man looked like he was carved from wood: hard, gnarled features and the body to go with them. Scraps of old, boiled leather wrapped his body to form a patchwork set of shirt and pants that left gaping holes to showcase his thin, ropey muscles. He had a pinched face with a severe, crooked nose, and eyes that seemed too small for his face. The shock of black hair reminded Dev of some birds he’d seen in old pictures.

The man spread his mouth into a toothy grin.

Dev watched him while managing to glance at the perimeter of the campsite.

Other men broke through the trees, lining the outer edges and keeping watch. Likely for his friends.

Dev took a step toward the man, extending his sword to keep the assailant at the tip’s end. He brought up the bestiary in the hopes it’d inform him on the band of leather-clad men surrounding him.

The Chased: The Chased are men and women who were forced to flee their homes, normally at the pointy ends of weapons and tools alike, by their fellow townsfolk. They are criminals caught in the act and banished, turning to wilds to prey on unsuspecting travelers to alleviate them of goods and coin. Desperate, resourceful, and cold-hearted as they come. While they look like disheveled messes, be warned, in large enough groups, they can be dangerous. Fortunately, they bleed like any other human.

Is that so? Bunch of thugs—no different than the ones back on the station. Only they’ve been punished for their crimes. The katana seemed to quiver in his grip. Its weight was reassuring. Devrim surged forward, banishing all thought of the green stamina bar above him. He worked his arm like a piston to drive the sword at the chased man.

His target pulled a large knife free, its edge coated in rust. The Chased man had been too slow.

Devrim’s blade skewered the meat of the man’s bicep, coming out the other end.

The man screamed, dropping his weapon and reaching for the wound.

He gave the man no reprieve. Devrim twisted, tearing the weapon free of the tissue, and severing a good portion of the man’s arm. He clamped his free hand onto the man’s shoulder and pulled him close. With a quick pivot, Dev sent the katana through the man’s gut.

His stamina bar flashed, drawing his attention. It hung at half-full.

Humans slain count increased.

He pulled the weapon free, wiping the blood along one of his sleeves. The action caused the blade to shake in his grip. He paused, staring at the weapon as it trembled in his hand.

What the hell? Dev tore his gaze away from the trembling katana. He looked up as a crude club sailed toward his head. Flashes of white, tinged with red, streaked through his vision. The world snapped out of clarity as he stumbled back. Through the dark haze, he saw the red bar above him decrease. Devrim blinked to clear his sight.

Another of the Chased stood several feet from him, hefting a cudgel as long and as thick as his forearm. It looked fashioned out of a log that she hadn’t bothered to properly shape. The woman bore a resemblance to the man he’d killed moments earlier. A light danced in her eyes that didn’t come from the campfire. It was a thing of hot iron—anger.

Devrim scrambled to his feet, wobbling in place.

A guttural growl rolled through the trees.

His heart quickened on hearing that, but he pushed the noise to the back of his brain, focusing on the threat before him.

The Chased raised her club overhead and rushed him, releasing a shrill war cry.

He didn’t want to leave the engagement to chance. She’d already surprised him once. Devrim counted his breaths, waiting for her to draw closer. Satisfied she was within range, he focused on his lone skillshot. Reverberating Strike.

He sailed toward the chased, reversing the katana in his grip. The butt crashed into her skull and drove her back. His stamina flashed lower, hovering at a fourth of his total. Devrim swallowed a curse and stepped toward the woman, bringing his sword down at the area between her throat and shoulder.

The Chased looked up at him, spreading her mouth in a twisted grin as the blade careened for her neck. A jet of fluid, earthy in color, shot out from between her lips.

The vile spray impacted his face and spread across him. It smelled pungent, strong enough to sting his eyes and obscure his vision. His strike faltered, connected with something soft. Devrim reeled in the hopes of putting distance between his opponent and himself.

His chest tightened as something impacted his solar plexus, driving the air from his body. He sank to a knee. His vision hadn’t recovered from the sickly spray. Think. That had to be a skill they have. If we have abilities, it stands to reason they would too. He dragged the back of his sleeve against his face, clearing the sludge. Devrim’s vision had returned enough to watch the heel of the woman’s boot crash into his face. The world flashed again. Bands of crimson lined his sight.

The low, rolling growls returned.

As bad as these people are, that sounds worse.

He recovered as the Chased woman rushed toward him, releasing another furious shriek. His health had dropped further. If she gets a few more shots in, I won’t make it. He gritted his teeth and clenched his katana tighter.

An inhuman roar tore through the woods, shaking its way down into his bones. He felt as if his limbs had become distant and refused to obey him.

A shadow rocketed out from the treetops, hammering the Chased woman to the ground. The blur moved with sinuous grace.

Devrim squinted to better make out the newcomer.

She reminded him of Thom, an odd cross between cat and woman. She carried less fur over her body than he had, revealing smooth, springy muscle like an athlete. Her eyes caught the firelight, dancing in the dark like radiant yellow sapphires. Soft amber made up her pupils, helping her retain another hint of humanity in the catlike appearance. She flexed and pivoted, sending the top of her foot into the side of the Chased woman’s head.

The criminal toppled to the ground.

Devrim got to his feet, brandishing the weapon at the cat-woman before turning to the Chased, unsure of who to keep at bay with the chisel point.

The feline-esque newcomer ignored him, pouncing on the criminal, flexing her fingers. Her nails extended like catlike claws. She swung an open hand, raking the woman’s face before pressing her down flat against the ground. The cat-woman mauled the Chased until the criminal ceased flailing in protest.

Devrim took a step before pausing, sucking in a breath. He reached out with a hand toward the cat-girl.

She rose from her crouch, leaning back to regard him with a sideways stare. “If you’re going to try and use it, do it. If not, help your friends.” Her eyes narrowed into slits as she gestured to the camp.

Devrim blinked, staring past her.

Eric and Jace had been corralled toward the center of the camp. Half a dozen Chased surrounded them.

Dev shot the cat-woman a questioning glance.

She returned it with an impassive stare.

He huffed a breath and shouldered past her, letting adrenaline fuel his rush. Devrim broke into the camp circle, snarling at the nearest Chased to draw his attention. He glanced at this fleeting stamina and swore. With a snap of his wrist, he cast the blade into a short tumble through the air, nicking the Chased man’s ear.

The thug stumbled to the side and threw up a hand to the sliced organ on reflex.

Devrim swept his hand in a wide gesture at Erik, prompting the half-troll to take action.

The trawladar grunted in acknowledgment and mimicked Dev’s earlier motion. He cast his net out wide, ensnaring one of the Chased. He moved in sync with Jace. The bulk of the half-troll kept most of the Chased fixed in place.

It was one of mankind’s simplest and oldest ingrained responses—fear. Erik was the largest thing within eyeshot by a considerable number of factors: height, weight, and sheer size. The idea of something that large charging them must’ve kept the Chased paralyzed as they tried to process the assault.

Jace slowed his pace, hanging behind Erik, and drew his horn. His chest expanded as he took a deep breath and blew a rousing note.

Devrim felt his mind calm, and his body lighten. The situation cleared, no longer a frenzy to him. He brought his katana down into a vertical chop. The Chased man raised an arm in panic to shield himself from the blow, but Devrim added more weight to the strike. His weapon cut into the limb, stopping two-thirds of the way through. He sank his body and used the leverage to bring the weapon out the other side of the man’s arm. A quick plunge to follow up sent the katana through the center of the Chased’s chest.

The criminal collapsed.

Both of his hands grew warm as if he’d been holding them by the fire. The hilt vibrated again like a thing possessed. He gritted his teeth and tightened his hold on the weapon, stilling the shaking.

Jace unleashed a trio of arrows into another of the Chased while the cat-woman receded into the shadows to pounce again on an unsuspecting criminal.

The fight became cold and mechanical until they’d finished disposing of the men and women.

The folds of his clothing shook. “Brrp. Is it over?”

“Yes, Gama. It’s over.” Devrim made his way to the fire, cleaning his blade against his clothes before stowing it. They’re already blood-soaked. A little more can’t hurt. He lowered himself to the ground, sitting cross-legged as he took in the fire’s warmth. The sword hadn’t stopped its tremoring. It rattled in the sheath. He placed a hand on it to stop the quaking.

Erik and Jace fell by his side. The troll went down on his haunches whereas the pale elf sprawled out flat against the soft earth.

Devrim peered out of the corners of his eyes at the cat-woman stalking the perimeter of the fire before she decided to saunter closer in. “Thank you”—he motioned to the fallen bodies—“for that.”

She stared at him, tilting her head to one side.

Devrim waited for a response. When none came, he glanced above her to the name indicator. Keeley, huh. She’d chosen to forego the gamer-name conventions Erik and Jace had. He didn’t bother getting to his feet but casually extended a hand. “Devrim.”

She ignored the gesture.

He blew out a breath, using the momentary silence to regard her in the better light the fire offered.

She stood a few inches shorter than him. The tawny cat-like fur lined her shoulders, going down to her elbows, but only covering the top halves of her arms. A similar pattern ran over her legs, from ankle to knee. The look seemed solely for aesthetic purposes. The woman’s face sported nothing cat-like, appearing every bit human as the townsfolk in New Haven. Her hair was the same color as the dark wood in Thom’s home, and cut short and ragged to keep it from falling in front of her eyes. What bits of her body weren’t exposed, were covered in cloth wraps that looked strong enough to stretch without tearing, allowing her freedom of movement. A pair of triangular ears sat atop her head like a normal feline’s. They were lined with the same fur as her body.

They really took this fantasy race thing seriously. Maybe a bit too much. Devrim brought up the menu, requesting the bestiary in hopes of shedding some light on the cat-people he’d been running across.

Havahneko: The scions of a forgotten species of cat demons and man. Though they’ve long since left their feline ancestors’ bloodthirsty ways behind, it’s been said in the heat of battle, those tendencies resurge—violently so. Strong, agile, possessing cat-like grace and sight, havahneko make for excellent tracker and stalkers.

Keeley came around to his side, still watching him, before she decided to plop to the ground along with the rest of them. “How long have you been here?” She wasted no time getting to the point.

Devrim rolled his shoulders, leaning back a bit. “Not long. Came in today. Just after them, I think.” He waved a hand at Erik and Jace.

“That explains it.” She sounded like she was talking more to herself than any of them. Keeley brushed her lower lip with the back of one of her fingers, clearly lost in thought.

Dev caught a hint of fur lining the tops of her hands. “Explains what?”

“Brrp!”

Keeley stiffened, turning to stare at his chest, eyeing the spot like she were boring holes through it with her vision. “What was that?”

Gama scrambled free from the robes, plopping unceremoniously to the ground. The toad had the grace to manage a poor bow, flourishing with a wave of his hand. “Gama, knight errant, battle toad, hero, sage, and lover at heart.” The amphibian looked up at Keeley, spreading his flabby lips.

She remained stoic, shooting a glance at Dev. “If I eat him, will he shut up?”

“Brrp?” Gama backpedaled, coming to Devrim’s side. “I don’t think we can trust her. She seems cracked.” He rapped a hand on his head. “Right here.” The toad slapped his skull again.

Devrim raised a hand in a calming gesture. “He’s uh, eccentric. Ignore him.”

The toad inflated, distending his throat pouch in irritation.

“And dramatic.” Dev gave her an apologetic smile before brushing the toad to the side. “Back to what’s important. What about you? How long have you been here, and what was this about?” He nodded to the fallen chased group.

“Two weeks, give or take. Enough to learn the truth about this world—the way things work, really work. Not that bullshit Thom probably fed you.”

A chunk of ice solidified in his gut. Did Thom lie to us? He didn’t get a chance to voice the question.

“This was a quest, before you guys interfered. I had it under control. These Chased were bothering traveling traders between small towns.” She rolled her wrist in a nonchalant manner. “They weren’t much trouble, occasionally roughing up passing traders for coins, but…”—her eyes glimmered, catching the firelight—“the quest reward was worth it.” She brought up her menu for them to see, swiping until she found a box with a name running through it. She tapped it once and the text flashed to update.

Quest update: Completed. The Traveling Thieves.

Rewards: Leather bundle. Rusted knife. Chipped ruby. Expensive linens.

Skill points: 1

Devrim looked at her screen as she displayed the items coming to her. He perused his own, noting none of the rewards had come his way. Frowning, he traded glances with Jace and Erik before looking at Keeley. “You know we helped with that, right?”

She arched a brow.

“Where are our rewards? And what did you want out of the quest?”

Keeley let out a rueful chuckle. “Yeah, you helped after I’d spent a few days narrowing down their location—they moved a lot—set up the campfire to draw their attention, and picked off some more of their members before they reached this spot.” She clapped her hands together in mock applause.

She did all of that? He went back over her words, recalling the length of time she’d been here. A lot can happen in two weeks. Wonder what she knows? Wonder what she’s willing to share? Dev felt it best to start easy, prying little pieces of harmless information from her. “What class are you exactly? I didn’t get to see past the first two…my loading glitched.” He could feel Jace and Erik perk up at the question. Their interest was more likely geared toward him than her.

“I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.” She smiled, searching him with her eyes.

Devrim raised his brows. He thought it over, debating how open he could possibly be about a class he barely understood. In the end, he bobbed his head in agreement.

Keeley needed nothing further to spur her into explaining. “Stalker. It’s an ambush assassin class.” She bared her teeth, flexing her fingers to extend her claws and accentuate her point. “Gives me some passive abilities like trackers to follow trails, to hide my presence, and do loads of damage when I pounce.” Keeley released the same, low growl from earlier, playing up the sound more than necessary. “I went into the game figuring that it would give me an edge. Plus, being part cat adds bonuses for night vision and scent tracking.”

Dev memorized it, treating the facts like obscure mythology, convincing himself the knowledge could come in useful.

“Your turn.” Keeley fell flat against the ground, sprawling much like Jace had.

Devrim stared for a moment in silence, finding the fire cast a light over her body that magnified the appeal. He cleared his throat and recalled what she’d asked him. “I don’t know much, but when I was uploaded, the game forced me into a class and race in one called a slayer?”

Keeley perked up, arching her back as she looked at him. She kept quiet, however.

“I was taking too long to look through races, so the game threw me a test. I guess I aced it. It unlocked a restricted class. I’m…still learning everything about it.”

The cat-woman sat up fully, still regarding him like an oddity. “Hm. Guess we need to throw you into more trouble to find out what you can really do. We’ll need to learn that to survive.”

“The Goblin King?” Erik leaned forward. “You think Devrim’s class can help us with that?”

“I hope so.” Jace kept his voice low, almost as if he’d intended for his comment to go unheard.

Keeley’s mouth twitched, but she said nothing. Her face made it clear something hung on the tip of her tongue.

“What is it?” Devrim thought back to what she’d said about Thom. Every other question on his mind fell away in favor of the ones about the mayor. “What do you know? What did you mean when you spoke about Thom?”

Keeley looked away for a long moment, her gaze falling to the ground before she finally brought it up to face him. “There is no surviving this world. There is no Goblin King. It’s just a lie. We’re dumped here...and eventually, this world will kill us. Get used to it.”

Chapter Ten – The Past

Manslayer

The world slipped away from Devrim as he tried to quell the beehive of thoughts. Why would Thom lie? What would he get out of it? Each answer he came up with failed to satisfy. The thought of Thom lying to them banded his chest with hot iron. The mayor had been the first open contact with him since he’d entered the world, going so far as to encourage him, offer him some aid.

“How do we know what you’re saying is true?” Jace kept his voice level, but Devrim picked up on the undercurrent of doubt lingering within the question. The pale elf wasn’t buying her story.

Keeley didn’t miss a beat. She eyed Jace, then faced Devrim. “One”—she raised an index finger—“why would the Goblin King be after you?” The cat-woman gave them no chance for a reply. “No, really. All three of you just loaded into the world. What possible threat could you be?” She held up a second finger. “Two, if you were any danger at all, why not already eliminate you?”

“He tried!” Erik slashed a hand through the air as if trying to dismiss all of Keeley’s arguments with the simple action. “Tell her, Jace, Devrim. Back at New Haven, we were attacked by a bunch of kaftar. Thom told us only goblins can train them, and there’s one person who’s ruling them now.” The half-troll inhaled, casting a wary look around their surroundings as if he expected to be ambushed any second. “The Goblin King.”

Keeley snorted. “Uh-huh. And tell me this, have any of you, even once, seen him?”

The crackling of the fire was the only sound for countless minutes.

Devrim thought over what she’d said, weighing it against all he thought of Thom. “I saw some stars back on the station. Mostly through some of the viewports on the way to shifts. You know what I never caught glimpse of?” He let the silence hang for a handful of seconds. “The sun.” Dev shrugged. “It doesn’t mean it wasn’t out there. Just that I never saw it. Its light helped power a lot of the solar panels along the station’s surface. That unseen something kept us going.”

She arched a brow. “Faith? You’re going to believe in the Goblin King because of that? Something has to be chasing you, is that it? You need a monster in the closet—a bully—to have some reason to get through this new life and world?”

Devrim held her stare, gritting his teeth. “I’ve had enough bullies in my life.” He waved to Erik and Jace. “We all have. And you’re no different. Not if you’re here. We’re all dead back there”—he hooked a thumb over his shoulder—“so it doesn’t matter what reasons we find to go on, so long as we have them. Sometimes that’s all people need, a reason. Any reason.” His chest heaved, and he took a few breaths to still himself.

A visible lump formed in Keeley’s throat. It took her a moment to swallow it. “Dead?” She blinked several times, her mouth moving without sound as if she’d forgotten how to speak. “I was…I mean, dying here…” She inhaled, shutting her eyes for a long pause. “So, we really are stuck here. There is no home. What I said earlier about dying here, I just…” Keeley bound to her feet, turning on the ball of one foot before breaking into a sprint. She vanished into the thicket of trees.

Devrim turned to look at Erik and Jace. The pair stared back at him, tilting their heads in her direction, giving him a knowing look. He sulked.

“Hey, you ran your mouth”—Jace mimed a pair of flapping lips with a hand—“you go talk to her. She could be a huge help.”

Erik nodded in agreement.

“And what about you two?” Dev eyed the pair.

Jace rolled to his side, turning away from him. “It’s night. We’ve got a long walk to Muddeep tomorrow. A quest to rest up for.” He feigned an exaggerated yawn.

Dev scowled, facing Erik.

The half-troll had the grace to look away from him, stretching his arms up as if fatigued. He folded his hands under his head and shut his eyes without a word.

Figures.

Devrim jammed the base of his sheath into the ground, pushing off it to rise. “Stay here, Gama.”

“But—”

Dev waved him off, cutting the protest short. “I’ll be back.” He headed after Keeley, turning his profile to squeeze through a section of trees growing far too close to each other. This’ll go well, chasing after the cat-girl in the dark forest at night after being ambushed by crazy people. The Asian guy always dies in the spooky woods. He grumbled incoherently to himself as he trudged after her, trying to work out the path she’d taken.

The trees thinned ahead. Devrim broke into a clearing not unlike the one the campfire had been set in. The space above him was clear, unobscured by the dense foliage that had made up most of the forest. The sky hung like a canvas of black tinged with smears of astral blue, and threaded with glimmering sequins of starlight. It reminded him of home—almost.

He tore his gaze away, moving further into the clearing. The space showed no signs that Keeley had passed through it. The grass remained perfectly untouched save for where he’d walked over it. He cupped both his hands to his face. “Keeley!”

No answer.

He sighed, calling again as he marched on.

A familiar growl rolled through the forest before something choked it off.

Devrim edged his way toward the source of the noise.

The animalistic noises returned, weaker than before.

He crept up to the other end of the clearing, peering around the nearest tree.

Keeley sat slumped against the opposite side. Her knees were tucked to her chest, arms wrapped tight around them. “What do you want?” She didn’t bother to look at him.

Dev said nothing, motioning to the ground beside her.

She inclined her head in what could have passed for an invitation.

He made his way to her side and sat down, staring at her in silence.

Keeley rubbed the back of her hand against her nose and sniffed once. “What?” She finally looked up at him, her eyes catching rogue glints of light from the stars above.

“I’m sorry about what I said and how I said it.” Devrim offered her a lopsided smile as way of an apology. “This hasn’t been easy for any of us, I know. And we probably disagree on a lot, but there’s one thing I feel we could agree on.” He stopped himself short, letting the sentence hang in the air in hopes of catching her curiosity.

She regarded him askance. “Oh?”

“We need each other. You’ve been here long enough to get a better idea of how to survive. We’ve got numbers, which, to be honest, can only help. If there’s anything I’ve learned reading mythology, it’s that heroes need to work together. It’s great on paper to have the lone warrior taking on quests, but in reality, you need people—good ones—by your side.” He offered Keeley a hand, keeping the smile from earlier on his face.

She returned the expression, trading grips with him. “That’s not a stupid point.” Her eyes danced like she was nursing a second smile. She pulled her hand free from his, running it through her hair.

Dev hadn’t noticed earlier, but the woman’s canines were larger than normal, appearing more like actual fangs. “I try not to be stupid, seems like a good way to get killed.”

She rolled her eyes as if she didn’t entirely believe him.

He placed a hand to his chest in mock indignation. “I’m wounded.”

Keeley snorted, arching her brows to brush off the comment. “Please, if I wanted that, I could wound you easier with these.” She flexed her hands, extending the claws before retracting them.

“Eh, not my kink.”

Keeley’s chest shook as she fell back against the tree trunk, breaking out into laughter. “Keep dreaming.” The chuckling subsided into a weak torrent of giggles before she composed herself. “That was the first laugh I’ve had since coming to this place. Thank you. I needed that.”

“No problem.” He let out a little chortle himself, reveling in the fact that they could find some semblance of humor despite all that had happened.

They sat quietly for minutes, turning their gazes up to the sky, watching the silvery dots above flash.

“Do you miss it?” Keeley kept her eyes trained on the stars.

“I’m trying not to. Is that weird? All we ever had was work. Wake up, be forced into the labor crews, work hard, get no thanks, maybe get beaten, get shoved back into your room. The only times we had to live were in the mandatory VR classes and when I got to read or game. It’s funny, all that time wishing—dreaming of an escape, and now we’ve got it. Part of me is still fixated on home.”

“It’s not funny. I get it. That same part of me, like you, almost believed one day we’d go back and show people that this world was better. But, there is no going back.” She sighed, rubbing her hands against her legs. “It makes it easier though, the idea of surviving here, if here’s all we have left.”

He nodded in agreement.

Something changed in her posture, becoming more rigid, confident, as she straightened against the tree. A feral, lopsided grin spread over her face, revealing her sharpened canines again. “So, want to learn a little bit more about how to survive here? A little bit more about yourself, your class?”

He matched her grin. “Hell yes.”

* * *

Devrim stalked through the forest, occasionally glancing up to the treetops where Keeley bounded among the limbs with feline grace. He did his best to keep pace with the cat-woman as she led him to where she’d promised to show him more about the world and his place in it as a slayer.

She pounced again, bending with acrobatic flexibility, arching her back before slapping open palms against a thick branch. Keeley swung her legs, using the momentum to launch herself up and forward to the next tree.

Devrim mumbled to himself as he kicked a gnarled pair of upturned roots out of his way. Showoff. He glanced up again to see Keeley had frozen, hanging by all fours upside down from a branch that didn’t look solid enough to hold her. He pressed his tongue against the back of his teeth, hissing to get her attention.

She looked at him.

“What is it?” He hoped her enhanced hearing picked up on his hushed tones.

Keeley pointed ahead with a finger.

He followed the gesture, spotting a familiar shape skulking through the woods ahead. Another Chased? Devrim crept closer, concealing the bulk of his body behind a tree as he watched the criminal.

The sheath shook against his hip. A gentle buzz made its way into the base of his skull, rolling through into his gums and teeth.

What the hell? He placed a hand on the sword to keep it from rattling. The sensation filled his palm, radiating warmth through his skin. His body moved of its own accord, urged by something primal. He drew the weapon and looked to Keeley.

Her eyes widened, shooting him a questioning look.

Devrim’s heart beat like a drum, resonating into his ears. A red lens seemed to color the world before him. He prowled toward the chased, placing a hand on a nearby tree as he watched the man plod about. The menu flared to life without his input.

Character: Devrim Bains. Class/Race: Slayer

7 Bloodlust

The last word pulsated in sync with his heartbeat before the menu collapsed. When did that number go up? A pair of twigs cracked underneath his foot. The sound rattled through the woods.

The Chased man spun in place, trying to identify where the noise had come from.

Another wave of adrenaline surged through him and buried all caution. Devrim rushed the criminal, drowning all thoughts with a frenzied scream.

The Chased sputtered and fiddled with something at his waist. He pulled free a curved dagger, its metal catching enough starlight to glint. His head was shaped like a lumpy stone, solid, with a protruding jaw that made the man seem oafish. He had shaved his hair down to a short fuzz of all black. The Chased man lobbed the dagger from one hand to the other, as if trying to intimidate him with the action.

To Dev, the world looked as if someone had washed it in a deep carmine. The basso beats of his heart came in louder, filling his head with endless thundering. Pressure built along with it. His skull felt like it was caught between a pair of vice-grips. The trifecta assaulting his senses pushed all coherent thoughts from his mind, leaving him driven by an uncontrollable fervor. He hadn’t realized he’d brought the sword up over his shoulder at an angle until it was cast into a diagonal strike.

The Chased panicked, eyes wide, trying to bring his knife up to intercept the katana and backpedal at the same time. He faltered, sending his arm out too wide.

Dev’s weapon bit into the Chased’s limb above the elbow. The attack stopped two-thirds of the way through, leaving the man to gawk, unable to scream. Devrim pulled the blade clean out of the wound and swung it like a cudgel in both hands at the man’s neck. It passed through without a hint of resistance.

As soon as the Chased’s head and body toppled to the ground, the hot flood rushing through his body ceased. He felt like his muscles had been stretched thin and flattened. His body wobbled under its own weight, leaving him to stumble to the side for support. A pair of arms slipped under his to keep him steady. The sword thrummed in his grip.

Humans slain count increased.

Awakening: The antiquated katana has tasted enough blood of man and monster alike to remember its old purpose. It quivers in excitement at the promise of more. Feed it to unlock its true potential.

He had no time to contemplate the update as another followed, asking him to consider his newly awoken blade’s name. Devrim blinked, his vision still shifting between tides of soft reds and the darker tones of night. He considered what the previous pop-up had told him about the weapon’s need to feed and thirst. Sounds like a good name, Thirst.

Dev entered the name in and watched the item update in the menu. He sighed, hoping for a moment of relief as Keeley helped lower him to the ground to rest. Another prompt burst across the air in front of him.

Manslayer: This mantle was given to slayers who have cut through swaths of humans, a heinous crime, but sometimes, a much-needed one in the world. Slayers who fed their bloodlust on the flesh of men awakened a dark side of their nature, leaving themselves to be driven to hunt and slay like things possessed. This mantle gives slayers a passive bonus when in combat against humans. Move faster, hit harder, fell humans, and leave some to spread the tales of the Manslayers.

Notes: Take less damage from human characters. Deal increased damage to them. Human kills now result in a higher bloodlust boost. Increased combat perception against humans. Increased movement speed against humans.

He lay there, unable to properly process the information and what it meant.

“Are you okay?” Keeley took his shoulders in her hand, shaking him with care as if to rouse him out of his stupor. “Hey, say something.”

He groaned.

“Well, that was almost intelligible. Maybe more than normal.” She smiled.

Devrim snorted. “I think so. I don’t know what just happened.”

“That makes two of us. You went psycho. You should have seen your eyes. They changed color, and I swear the temperature dropped when I looked at them. I felt like I was dipped into ice.” She rubbed her shoulders in an unconscious gesture. “You looked, I don’t know, like you weren’t human. It was like you were a monster in human’s skin.”

The thought chilled him to his marrow. He turned away from her look. “I can’t explain it, something just took me over. It was like I was suffocating and the only way to breathe was if I killed him.” He told her what had happened to his senses.

She listened silently, placing a hand on one of his shoulders, giving it a gentle squeeze when he finished. “I’ve never heard of anything like that while I’ve been here.”

He pursed his lips, wondering how much of what had happened was tied to his restricted class. “What do you know about the bloodlust stat?”

She blinked, tilting her head at an angle to place one of her ears closer to him. “Sorry, what?”

He repeated himself.

Keeley shook her head. “There isn’t one. Just the three we all have.” She rattled them off. “Where do you see that?”

He brought up his menu, swiping through it until he found a setting allowing him to display it publicly. Dev jabbed his index finger at the screen where the stat floated.

Max bloodlust. Kill more to keep it filled.

Keeley stared at the screen, licking her lips. “What’s that mean?”

He shook his head much like she had earlier. “Not sure, but I think it might have something to do with that.” Dev pointed at the decapitated Chased. “I never even thought about it, but killing has been so easy ever since I came here. I know they’re computer generated”—he made a dismissive wave of a hand—“but they look and feel so real. I thought I’d have some hesitation. I haven’t. It’s been easy, like a switch has been flipped. And honestly, it freaks me out. It’s like all the anger I’ve had all my life on the station has been sharpened and pointed at whatever’s in front me, or at the end of this.” Devrim raised the katana, looking down its point.

Trails of sangria ichor ran down the edge. He wiped the weapon clean on his robes in what had become a habit now.

Keeley wrapped an arm around him. “Maybe we should go back?”

Devrim stared past her, turning his gaze to the sky, then back to the ground. “I think I’m fine here for the night, if you don’t mind.”

She shook her head. “I don’t.” Keeley rolled back, stretching flat before turning onto her side next to him. She reached up, grabbing the fabric over one of his shoulders, tugging him.

Devrim lowered himself onto his back so he could keep his eyes trained on the sky. Thirst stayed in his right hand, thrumming softer than before, radiating a gentle warmth. Devrim stared at the stars, pushing aside the sword, the bloodlust, and taking solace in Keeley’s presence beside him as his eyes grew heavy.

Chapter Eleven – The Past

Trails in Muddeep

Heat pricked the skin of his eyelids, forcing him to turn away from the light. Devrim groaned and threw his left arm over his face to shield it from the sun. A hand fell on his back, shoving him. He batted it away and rose. Devrim blinked until his vision cleared. He glanced at where the Chased’s body had been.

It had vanished, removed by the same mechanic that had cleared the field of grass outside New Haven. Its disappearance helped settle the nagging at the back of his mind about what had happened the night before.

A cursory look at the menu revealed that the bloodlust stat had fallen to three. Whatever urges had come with them, had left him. His body felt stiff but well-rested.

A light yawn escaped his lips as he stretched and got to his feet. He offered Keeley a hand, which she took.

She pulled against his arm and bound to stand with a single spring in an impressive display of athleticism. The cat-woman ran her hands over her body, patting her legs and sides in an attempt to clear off some of the grass that had clung to her. “Ready to head back? We should figure out our next move when we meet back up with your friends.”

He inclined his head, leading the way. Devrim told her about Muddeep and the quest they’d undertaken as they walked toward the camp. He watched as her expression grew distant, and she likely drifted off to mull over what he’d told her.

She nodded more to herself than him as if coming to a conclusion. “Wouldn’t be a bad start. The three of you need to stock up on skill points to spend, and fast. Players are going to keep loading into the world. You’re going to want whatever lead you can build. You’re weeks behind me alone.” Keeley brought up her menu as they neared the makeshift camp. She swiped along the display, showcasing a list of skills either marked with tags indicating passive or active.

He tallied them up, counting seven in total. A single arch of his brow was enough to ask her a silent question prompting for an explanation.

“As you go through the game, you can add in other abilities. Some are ones you can use in battle like what you did in stunning that Chased last night by smacking him with your sword. Others are always giving you some benefit in the background, but you have less control over them. Skill points let you buy both, but the costs go up. Normally, you can grab beginner abilities for a point each. Upgrading them costs more. I’m not sure how many you’re allowed total.” Keeley shrugged.

He managed to memorize all that she’d acquired skill-wise before she shut the menu off. It wasn’t as helpful considering the class and race differences, but it gave him a baseline on how to properly manage and spend what he’d be acquiring soon enough.

The pair crossed through the trees into the camp.

Erik and Jace hadn’t woken yet. The former smacked his lips unconsciously. Minute bubbles formed along his lips before sinking to the ground in a trail of saliva.

Keeley shot him a look. “Charming.”

Gama had moved off a distance from the fire, resting on his belly beside the pale elf. The toad’s belly inflated along with the throat pouch, giving the impression he’d swallowed a stone several times larger than the whole of his body. The toad burbled and released a violent burp. He deflated an instant later.

Devrim mimicked Keeley’s earlier tone. “Charming.”

She laughed.

He sheathed his sword, walking over to the half-troll. “Wake up.” When Erik failed to reply, Dev jabbed the base of the sheath into the trawladar’s back.

“Ow—hey!” Erik rolled over, slapping Dev’s weapon aside as he got halfway up. “What gives?” He opened his mouth to say something else before cutting himself off, staring at Keeley. “Oh, you found her. Good.” A mischievous light entered the troll’s eyes as he leaned over to shake Jace awake.

The pale elf mumbled something, blinking his way into bleary-eyed consciousness. He stared daggers at Erik. “What?”

The half-troll grinned, gesturing to Dev and Keeley.

Jace grunted and followed to where Erik had pointed. “Oh.” His eyebrows raised, and he matched the half-troll’s expression. “So, you two, uh”—he waggled an index finger between the pair of them—“we didn’t see you come back to the fire. How was your night?”

Dev faltered.

Keeley didn’t hesitate. “Great. You should have been there. Shame you missed it.” She walked off, running a hand through her hair.

Erik and Jace moved their mouths soundlessly, looking to each other in the hopes one of them would be able to offer the right words. They failed.

Devrim ran a hand along the back of his head, rubbing his neck. “Um, we should get going to Muddeep. Gama, get up!” He refused to meet Erik and Jace’s stares and moved off after Keeley.

The toad woke with a series of brrps and leapt after him, coming to his side in seconds. “Dev, you’re back. Where did you go? You found Keeley. Did you learn anything? I was so worried.” The toad rattled off words at ballistic speed. “Okay, I was moderately worried. Not enough so to disturb my sleep. Do you have any idea how important resting is? It’s said all great warriors need a rest equal to their stature.” He inflated his throat pouch. “So you can see why I needed to sleep while you were out in the forest.”

Devrim ignored the toad’s justification. “It’s fine.” He waved him off. “Just have a lot on my mind.”

“Brrp.” The noise sounded like an acknowledgment, and Gama kept quiet as they walked.

Devrim caught up with Keeley, following her lead as she maneuvered out of the forest. “Hey.”

She eyed him sideways, not saying a word. The corners of her mouth twitched like they were resisting the urge to pull into a smile.

“About what you said back there?” He gestured behind him.

“Mhm?”

“Why’d you say it?”

“We’re in a world of monsters, Devrim. If we don’t have a little fun and laughter…we’ll go crazy. Did you see their faces?” The grin broke over her face, wide and full.

“Yeah.” He found himself smiling. “You blew their minds.” Dev left that as the last topic for a while as they passed out of the forest, hitting the nearby trail toward Muddeep.

They crossed most of the way in silence before he had to break up the quiet. “What do you know about the place?” He glanced at Keeley.

The havahneko rolled her shoulders and pursed her lips. “Only what I’ve heard. I didn’t bother going that way.” She pointed over her side to the opposite direction. “There’s not much there, and what little there is, the name’s the best clue about it. It’s by a huge riverbank with streams of water running through most of the settlement. There’s no grass, just soft earth—mud. Everything’s built out of it from their homes to their crafts.” She picked up her pace. “It’s not a place where you’ll find much to help besides the quest you want to do.”

He went over what she had said, wondering if he should have taken another quest instead. Second-guessing yourself isn’t going to help. All it does is keep you focused on what you should’ve done instead of what you can do. Dev took a breath to help clear his mind. We do this quest, figure things out, and then decide from there. Until then, there’s just the quest.

His thoughts kept him occupied during their walk to Muddeep.

* * *

They arrived at afternoon. The sun had taken on a deeper orange glow, bringing out more of the red in the clay-rich earth before them.

Muddeep lived up both to its name and Keeley’s description. Solid mud, baked dry from the sun’s heat, spread out as far as he could see. Endless cracks ran through the ground where it had split from the weight of walking people. Low buildings dotted the flat plane. Each was built like a perfect brick of all flat surfaces with square holes to serve as windows. The entire village of Muddeep blurred in a uniform color of ruddy clay.

Erik came to his side, planting his spear into the ground to lean against it. He panted for a few seconds before swallowing enough breath to recover. “This place doesn’t look half as nice as New Haven did.” The half-troll frowned, placing a hand to his forehead to help shield his eyes from the sun as he surveyed Muddeep.

Devrim agreed with him and walked into the village.

Keeley hung by his other side, placing her hands behind her head and leaning back like she was enjoying the walk. She showed no signs of fatigue.

Jace chose to linger several paces behind, his eyes tracking every moving thing.

Throngs of people moved by, paying them no mind. They were dressed similarly, in shirts and shorts cut at their elbows and knees. Mud covered most of their exposed limbs and bits of their clothing. Some had splatter marks on their face, with rogue beads of dried earth clumping their hair.

Hard place to live. A morning routine of station life flashed through his mind. Devrim winced, shaking the memory away. “Let’s find someone to talk to. They’ve got to have a mayor or someone in charge like in New Haven.” He moved faster, leaving the group behind as he waved a hand to flag down someone from the moving lines of people.

One person bothered to address his call, breaking from his path to come over.

The young man looked to be in his early teens. He had a reedy build and his clothes hung off him, obviously several sizes too large. His skin was fair, where it was visible. The boy had slathered mud over most of his limbs. A few hints of reddened skin stood out at the edges where the earthy poultice had flaked off. His eyes were a brown several shades lighter than the ground and matched the color of his hair.

Devrim figured politeness would be the best bet for getting them the information they needed. He smiled, extending a hand. “Hi—”

The boy blinked, staring into his eyes, backpedaling instantly.

“Wait!”

Keeley brushed by his side, pausing halfway between them.

The young boy stopped and stared at her before leaning past to point at Devrim. “What’s wrong with his eyes?”

Dev blinked and fixed Keeley with a look. “Yeah, what’s wrong with my eyes?”

She gave him an apologetic half-smile. “Check your menu, character screen.” Keeley rubbed the skin under her eyes to accentuate her point before turning back to face the young man.

He did, bringing up the display to see his features had remained the same save for the color of his pupils. They’d taken on hints of reddish-gold, and a piercing light filled them like he was perpetually angry. He made a face to test the display. His image before him mimicked him perfectly except for the eyes. They still carried that hard look.

A flashing marquee at the top right indicated he still had the Manslayer mantle equipped. He selected it, but couldn’t turn it off. Searching for an option to disable it turned up nothing. Dev shut the menu, resigning himself to keeping the passive ability on.

Keeley placed her hands on the young man’s shoulders, lowering herself till she stood eye-level with him. She gave him a smile reserved for old friends. “What my friend wanted to know was if you would be sweet enough to tell us where we could find whoever is in charge of this…lovely place?”

The boy blinked, looking over a shoulder to the distance. He pursed his lips before turning back to face Keeley. “Muddeep doesn’t have a mayor, but we have a steward. He’s in charge of most of the important things.” The young boy shrugged himself free of Keeley’s hold, taking a cautious step back. He fixed her with an oblique stare. “Why do you need to see him?” His eyes narrowed further.

“We’re here to look into the disappearances by night happening in your town. Hopefully, we can help.” She widened her smile.

The boy sighed, his shoulders sagging in what looked like relief. “Folk will be happy to hear that. Nobody we’ve got here in town can deal with it. People have looked in”—he sunk his head, shaking it—“but no one’s come back with anything useful. Townsfolk are still out there…somewhere. Don’t know when or how they’re coming back, if…” he trailed off.

Keeley reached out with one arm, giving him a reassuring shoulder squeeze. “We’ll do what we can. Do you think you can take us to your steward?”

The boy looked at the shuffling lines he’d been a part of moments earlier. “Can’t. I have to get to my shift. Otherwise, I’ll get lashings, no food, and no money.” The light in the boy’s eyes dulled in Devrim’s opinion as he spoke.

Guess some things never change. Leave it to the minds on the station to make a place almost like home.

“Just keeping walking until you come to that.” The boy pointed at red clay spire, crude and uneven in design, hanging at the far end of the path they were on. “Steward Maberry lives there. I should get going.” He took a couple of steps before pausing to look back. “I hope you find our people.” The boy broke into a light sprint, catching up to the line of people he’d broken from.

Devrim moved past Keeley, keeping his head down and avoiding eye contact as he headed in the direction the boy had gestured to. The cat-woman fell in step by his side, staring at him in silence. He could guess the question on her mind, but he didn’t bring it up.

The spire neared. It looked to him like someone had tried to shape a tower of uncooperative mud. Lumpen ridges ran around its form like the wet clay had sunk down the sides before properly setting in place, only to dry under the oppressive heat of the sun. The Steward’s building stood twice the height of the small homes spread throughout the Muddeep. Devrim wagered it was the largest the structure could be without becoming dangerously unstable.

“Are you not going to say anything?” Keeley nudged him with a bump of her hip.

He thought back to the screen he’d stared at earlier, scowling for a second. “Say what?”

“About this.” She ran a finger under one of her eyes.

“I don’t know what to tell you. I checked my menu, but there’s no way to undo it. I think it has to do with the mantles my class has.” He frowned, wondering if the effects would be permanent. “You think the people in this world would be okay with someone looking a little different.” Dev glanced at Keeley.

“There’s different, and there’s scary.” She returned his look. “You’ve got this look in your eyes like you want to stab everything in front of you.” Keeley shrugged. “It might be nothing, but I think you should let me do the talking with the steward too.”

He nodded.

The tower of mud had a single entrance in the shape of an arched opening without a door to bar the way. It sported similar gaps, smaller in size, over the entirety of the building that served as simple windows to likely aerate and cool the insides.

Devrim approached the entrance, staring at the two men flanking either side.

They wore thick, cotton-like padding over their chests and shoulders. It didn’t look to do much other than widen their profiles, making them seem all the more like hulking threats. Each carried a wooden spear tipped with black metal. Their features and builds represented the surroundings well. Both men were layered in chunky, solid muscle, with the heavy, sloping heads to match.

Keeley stepped in front of him, waving at the two guards.

They seemed to stare at her and through her at the same time. Both men lowered their spears a fraction in her direction, making the subtle threat clear.

“We’re here to see the steward to help you out with your missing people problem.” Keeley took a step back, smiling.

The guards advanced, releasing a pair of chest shaking growls that belonged more to animals than men.

Devrim made an exaggerated show of placing a hand on Thirst, motioning to draw it and get the guards’ attention. He cleared his throat and narrowed his gaze.

Both men met his eyes, holding still.

“Like she said, we’re here to help. Now you’ve got the choice of whether you’re going to make trouble with the people coming to save your missing villagers, or do the smart thing and let us pass.” He hardened his gaze, imagining boring holes through each man with his eyes. His fingers drummed against the hilt, emphasizing the hand on the sword. “Move, or you’ll be moved.”

The guards shied away from his stare.

Devrim didn’t give them a second look as he passed through the entrance, motioning for Keeley and the others to follow. His skin breathed a sigh of relief as the cool air within the tower flowed over him.

“Phew. I thought I would bake to death in the heat—brrp.” Gama cut him off, stopping in front of him. “You know battle toads can die from temperatures like that! You should consider these things when taking me places.”

Dev rolled his eyes. “I’ll keep it in mind.” He moved to the nearby stairs and clambered up them. Gama stayed at his side, croaking, but he pushed it from his mind. The only sounds during the walk were of echoing footsteps. He reached the top of the tower after a few minutes, finding his path blocked by the first door he’d seen in the structure.

It was fashioned from what looked like discarded wood, unvarnished and breaking apart from age and use. Splinters, as long as his arms and thick as his fingers, peeled away from the loosely nailed boards comprising the entry.

Devrim feared a single, hard knock would dislodge a chunk of the door. He took a breath and rapped two knuckles against the wood. It shuddered at his touch, looking it like would make good on his thoughts of it falling free of its hinges.

“Who is it?” said a voice on the other side of the door.

Devrim repeated a mix of what he and Keeley had explained to the young boy as well as the guards.

“Oh. Oh, help. Wonderful! Come in.”

He pushed his way through, still keeping one hand on the hilt of his weapon.

The room had been painted a chalky white. A simple desk sat near the far end by a square opening. The steward’s office lacked chairs or any place to sit.

Devrim moved to the center of the room and eyed the sole occupant.

He was in his late forties on first look. His thinning hair was a shade lighter than the walls and had left the front and upper portions of his skull. What remained hung around the sides of his head in a curtain of gray-white. Despite his age, the man had a grandfatherly look about him. His eyes were a pale blue that carried notes of worn gray. His clothing stood out from rest of the people in Muddeep. He wore a canvas jacket and matching pants in olive tones.

Devrim inclined his head, hoping showing a modicum of respect would go far with the man. “Steward…” he let the words hang in the air so they could be filled in.

“Mayberry.” The steward extended a hand.

Dev traded grips with him, shaking it. “Devrim Bains.” He gestured behind him to where Keeley and Jace stood, just within the entrance. Erik had chosen to remain outside. “And my friends.” He ran over their names quickly, not wanting to burden the steward with anything more. “What can you tell us about the quest you’ve put out?”

Muddeep’s steward furrowed his brow, turning away to look out the window. “Only what little you know. People are going missing in the late night, soundless, and without a sign. No”—he shook his head more to himself than Dev or the others—“not wholly without a sign. There are odd tracks outside the homes of the taken. No one could make heads or tails of them.”

“What kind of tracks?” Dev took a step closer, the hilt quivering once again in his grip like the sword was eager to hunt.

The steward hung his head low. “The kind that can’t be followed. The kind you’ll see this night if you stay. Tell me, Devrim Bains, will you stay and risk whatever comes in the dark?”

Dev clenched his jaw. “Yes.”

Chapter Twelve – The Past

What Comes in the Dark

Night fell over Muddeep. Devrim left the tower with his friends and the steward in tow. He held one of the torches provided to better illuminate the way, squinting against the jarringly bright light as his vision adjusted.

Muddeep appeared ghostly—hollow—in the dark. The townsfolk had retreated to the safety of their homes hours ago. Dim flickers of light emanated from within the low-standing houses spread throughout the village.

I wonder if the candlelight attracts whatever’s taking people. Devrim bit his lower lip, mulling the thought over as he walked on. “Where’s the home the last abduction happened?” He glanced out of the corner of an eye to the steward.

Steward Maberry tipped his torch to where the land sloped ahead off to the right. “The home is down by the river. Poorest of folk live down there. It’s the source we use to shape our clay, bring home water to drink and wash with. But…during the rains, it has a chance to rise over the bank and flood homes.” The steward gave him a thin, sympathetic smile. “There haven’t been any storms of late, so the tracks shouldn’t be washed away.” Maberry’s expression made it clear that he nursed a silent hope in his statement.

Devrim bowed his head, choosing not to reply. He followed the steward until they made their way down the slope to stop at a row of houses running along the river’s bank. Casting his torch’s light over the closest building revealed a change in its color.

The bottom halves of the homes nearby were darker than the tops.

Must be from the flooding and exposure to the sun. He pulled the torch away, turning to stare at the steward.

Maberry inclined his head to a home several dozen feet ahead. “That one.” He motioned with his torch to the ground in front of the window. “Look.”

Devrim did, spotting a wide furrow in the ground like an oversized log had been dragged through wet earth to leave the trail behind. He dropped to a knee and ran a finger through the muddy soil. It came back with nothing more than clay and dirt. Dev rubbed the debris between his thumb and forefinger, hoping something would come to light.

Nothing did.

He sighed, casting a look over his shoulder to Keeley and the rest of the group.

The cat-woman came to his side and fell to a full crouch, eyeing the track. “No footprints. No marks of any kind.” She squinted, leaning forward. “What makes a trail like this?”

Devrim shook his head, turning back to the steward. “And everyone’s gone missing in silence according to what we’ve heard. No struggles. No bodies. That means they were taken without being given a chance to make noise.” He pursed his lips, racking his brain for possible monsters behind the abduction.

Something long, wide, and moves quietly. Dev frowned and looked away to where the tracks went off. Not much to go on. “They continue on the other side?” He motioned with his index finger to the trail, then across the slow moving river.

The steward nodded. “Whatever took our folk crossed the water on its own. Mind you, it’s not hard, but doing it with someone who doesn’t want to be in your hold, that’s another matter.”

Devrim rose to a stand, peering across the river. “Guess we go across and try to pick up the tracks from there. Follow them back to wherever they go.”

“Brrp. I don’t think that’s a good idea, Dev. What if whatever took the people of Muddeep takes us as well?” Gama waved his arms over his head with an exaggerated air of drama.

“Probably not, but it’s a risk we have to take.” Dev brushed his hands against his robes, walking over to the edge of the water before glancing back to the steward. “How do people normally get across?”

Maberry’s brows rose. “You can’t swim?”

Dev’s lips pressed together, but he didn’t comment. Growing up on the station didn’t allow for swimming lessons. “Is there an easier way than that?”

Steward Maberry inclined his head and went over to the nearest home, bringing the base of his fist against the door just loud enough to rouse whoever lived there without being obnoxious.

A rail-thin man appeared in the entry. He looked to be in his middle years, his dark hair cropped short and brushed back. The man had the unassuming features and looks to blend in among any crowd. He stared past the steward to look Dev in the eyes, then turned his attention back to the steward. “What’s this about, Maberry?” His voice sounded like dry twigs cracking under strain.

The steward motioned to Dev and the group. “They’re here to help, or so they say. Any chance, as late as it is, that you might be up for a quick ferry ride to get them across the river? I know it’s not a guarantee, but maybe they’ll come through and find Asha for you?”

The ferryman stiffened, a hard light entering his eyes. “I’ll take them.” He brushed past the steward without another word, moving to the edge of the bank before walking along several dozen yards away from them. He came to a stop by ferry comprised of wooden planks with railings running along the sides to likely prevent anyone from falling over. “Get on!” The ferryman waved once with a hand before busying himself with a rope keeping the vessel in place. He unfastened the knots holding the line to the heavy stake pinned in the ground.

Devrim headed toward the ferry, stepping onto it. The raft bobbed under his weight. He sucked in a breath and steadied himself, moving to the center of the floating structure. Gama stayed at his heel as he positioned himself.

Keeley boarded quickly behind him, followed by Jace. Erik paused in front of the vessel and stared at his own bulk. The half-troll shifted in place, hesitant to step on board.

The ferryman spotted Erik’s unease and ushered everyone to the other end of the raft. “Step on. We’ll balance it out until you can move inward.”

Erik did as instructed.

The ferry tipped in his favor, lifting up half a foot with the hint it’d rise further. It leveled a moment later, and Dev released a minor sigh of relief.

The ferryman fetched an oar several times Dev’s full length and plunged into the water, straining as he maneuvered the raft forward. The vessel moved and sailed off at a pace that gave the illusion they remained immobile.

Dev lost track of time as they traveled across the river.

The ferry bumped into the opposite bank with a judder that caused everyone to fight for balance for a second before it stilled.

Dev leapt off of the shaking structure, moving away from the edge to survey the land. “Thank you.” He didn’t bother looking back at the ferryman.

“Don’t thank me until you come back with my daughter. If you manage to come back at all.” The ferryman waited until the rest of the group disembarked before pushing off without another word.

Dev ignored the man’s dark utterings and picked up where the tracks continued. The wide trail raced along the ground like a large serpent had slithered through. Flecks of gray caught his eye. Dev reached out, pinching some of the granules between his thumb and forefinger. He rolled the material around for a moment. “It’s…stone.” He held it up for Keeley to see.

She shrugged, staring up to where the tracks led. “They’ll be visible for a good distance since the monster behind the kidnappings got wet.” Keeley raced ahead, beckoning them to follow. “Come on.”

Devrim moved in step behind her as they made their way up a slope. He kept his eyes on the trail while he worked to keep his balance on the ascending path. A scattering of gray debris pulled his attention again. More stone? He didn’t bother picking it up to examine, figuring that keeping it in mind was the best decision at the moment.

Rocks, long tracks without prints, and dead silence. No answer came to mind, but the thought of a creature that could manage that sent needles pricking along the base of his neck.

“There.” Keeley’s declaration pulled him out of his thoughts and she jabbed ahead to the mouth of a cave. Trees lined one side of the formation, running far ahead into the dark. “I can see the tracks going into that.” She stopped a good distance from the entrance. “I’m not sure if we should go in during the night.” Keeley put a hand to her brow as she peered into the cave from her position. “I’m the only one with night vision, I think. And I can’t be everyone’s eyes all the time.”

Dev looked to Jace, asking him a silent question.

The pale elf rolled his shoulders. “I can see long distances by day, and decently in the dark, but not like her.”

Erik shook his head.

“Alright, that’s not in our favor then.” Dev cradled his forehead in one of his hands. “I’m not a fan of waiting either.” Everyone gawked at him, but he ignored the stares. “There are people in there. It’s not their fault they were whisked away by monsters. I’m not going to let them wait any longer.”

“Fake people,” said Erik, looking up as if he’d realized he’d spoken aloud.

“What?” Dev rounded on him.

Jace moved with startling speed, coming between him and Erik. “He’s right, Dev. They’re programs. Yeah, they look, act, and think like real people because of that matrix, but they’re not. They’re just code.”

“So are we.” Dev’s words fell with lead weight. “We lost our bodies. It’s pretty clear we’re not getting them back. So what are we now?” He pointed to the cavern. “They’re real to their families. You know, like the ones we left behind and barely got to know.”

Erik bristled, brushing Jace aside with the back of a hand. “Yeah, and we didn’t have a choice there. It was done to us. We have one, here and now.” The troll’s chest heaved.

“Yeah, we do. That’s what you’re not getting. We have a choice to be better. To do something. We still have to live here, make it work for us in this world. We have a choice to change things, for the people—real or not—and ourselves. That’s all we have, choice. That means taking them, even when they’re hard. Doing something right with them. Making this world better. And not when it’s convenient for us, but whenever we can.” Dev’s fingers brushed against Thirst’s hilt, magnetically drawn to gripping the weapon.

“Are you going to make me?” Erik raised a brow, inclining his head toward Dev’s weapon. “If it’s between fighting you and whatever took those people, maybe I’d do better here than in there.” He waved a hand at the cavern.

“I don’t want to fight you.” Despite his words, Devrim kept his hand on the weapon. “You’re missing the point. For the first time in our lives, we have the power to decide things. With that, we can make it so when people have their control taken away, we give it back. We can give people their lives back. Like here.” Dev mirrored Erik’s gesture. “Now, you decide. Are you going to sit here and be scared? Or are you going to do something about it?”

Devrim turned and marched toward the cave, not bothering to look back at the group. He neared the entrance when something rustled in the nearby thicket. Devrim spun to face the source of the noise.

The creature slithered into view. Its upper body had been plucked from a woman, forcibly mated to the lower half of a gargantuan serpent. Opalescent scales of viridian green covered the majority of the monster’s body. Her exposed bits of skin were ashen gray. But what held Devrim’s attention was the writhing mass of snakes atop her head.

He averted his gaze to keep from meeting her eyes. Gorgon, crap. “Don’t stare at her face. Look away!” He heard Erik sputter in defiance, but he repeated himself over the half-troll’s comments. “Do it. They turn you to stone if you trade looks with them.” His words had a sobering effect on the group, causing them all to stiffen in response and avert their gaze. He focused instead on the limp mass hanging in the monster’s arms.

The dark didn’t help flesh out the young man’s features, but after a moment’s hard look, Dev identified him as the boy they’d spoken to when asking questions.

Heat blossomed in his gut and made its way into his chest. He threw back his head, releasing an echoing bellow as he tore off toward the creature. Dev focused on the beast’s midsection and brought the codex to mind while closing the distance.

Lesser Gorgon Churl: These scions of the mythical gorgon are weaker than the progenitors of their species. Smaller in size, simpler in mind, they’re still deadly. A quick stare is enough to petrify weaker-willed beings. These lesser gorgons move silently, striking in the night to kidnap lone travelers and exposed townsfolk. With a look, they silence any cries and carry off their prey into the night. After all, stone never complains, and it never cries out for help.

Note: Avoid eye contact.

Yeah, I figured that part out myself. He made it to a few feet from the creature, keeping his eyes on the young man. The boy’s body retained its skin color and his clothes rustled in the gorgon’s grip, letting Dev know he hadn’t been turned to stone. Maybe these things can petrify people into unconsciousness too?

He drew Thirst from its scabbard, twisting to send the sword into a vertical arc at the gorgon’s arm. Green flashed above his head to warn him of the stamina he’d expended in the combat charge and attack.

The gorgon moved with sinuous grace, darting out of the way. Thirst nicked the creature’s forearm, eliciting a short hiss from the monster.

“Don’t hurt the kid.” Devrim wasn’t if he’d been heard by the rest of the party. He kept his sight trained on the young boy, moving to swing again.

The gorgon must have anticipated his desire. It resituated itself, bringing the limp child between Dev and itself as a shield.

He stopped short, sucking in a breath through his teeth. His stamina bar flared at the waste of movement and half attack. “Stop it from moving. Erik, pin it.”

The half-troll answered him with a snarl of agreement. Erik moved into view and cast his net, trapping the gorgon.

“Jace, hammer that freak without hitting the kid!” Devrim moved toward the creature’s tail, ensuring he’d stay away from the gorgon’s gaze.

The pale elf unleashed a trio of shots, turning the monster’s torso into a pincushion. Jace pivoted, spreading his legs and drawing his next arrow back. A familiar green light coalesced around the projectile before he fired it. It rocketed into the gorgon, snapping it back.

The gorgon flailed and broke its hold on the young boy.

“How long before your net disappears?” Dev glanced at Erik.

The half-troll answered with grunt and raising a count of fingers he lowered by the second.

Devrim kept the diminishing number in mind as he dropped his weight, plunging Thirst into the gorgon’s tail.

It howled and thrashed harder.

The net vanished and pandemonium erupted. Keeley rushed for the young boy, taking him up in her arms before bounding back. The gorgon whipped its tail. The blow clubbed the cat-woman across her shoulders, forcing her off balance. She crashed into the bushes lining the side of the cave.

Dev pulled Thirst free, scrambling over the gorgon’s body to swing at the base of its neck. The creature twisted under him and brought itself around to stare at him. Dev snapped his eyes shut, slashing in blind hope. He met resistance as Thirst bit into the gorgon’s flesh. Dev didn’t risk looking where he’d struck, choosing to push harder and sink his weight behind the weapon. He felt it dig in deeper as he leaned.

The gorgon bucked, throwing him clear. Devrim hit the ground and rolled a few feet. He opened his eyes, shaking his head and looking to the ground. The gorgon’s slithering form moved at the edge of his vision. It slumped and recovered like it was in a drunken stupor. Dev pushed himself up, staring at the monster’s tail as he lumbered forward.

Erik released a warbling war cry, drawing the gorgon’s attention.

No, you idiot.

The half-troll sent his spear into a tumble like a club, striking the gorgon across the skull with the shaft of the weapon. Its wood wobbled from the impact but held firm. Erik shifted his hips, driving a heavy blow from his left fist into the creature’s face. They exchanged looks.

No!

Erik’s body shuddered once. The muscles along his back went visibly rigid like an iron rod had gone down his spine. The gorgon held his stare, leaning in as if trying to intensify it. Erik’s skin paled in color and shifted texture until he looked carved out of stone.

Chapter Thirteen – The Past

Of Stone and Tears

The sight galvanized Devrim into action. His feet hammered against the ground as he charged, pulling the katana back over his left shoulder for a wide swing. Practicality left his mind. A thunderous drumming in his chest drove him on, beating its way into his skull until he one thought dominated his mind: Revenge.

The gorgon moved in a drunken stupor, turning like it could barely manage the movement. The creature released a sharp, challenging cry as it focused its stare on him.

Devrim averted his gaze, but kept his pace strong as he closed in. The distance closed and he cast Thirst into a wide arc. His blade scythed through the air, passing through the meat of the gorgon’s neck.

The creature writhed for an instant before its head toppled free from its shoulders. Snakes still flailed with the last vestiges of life atop the gorgon’s skull. A few of the serpents lashed out at his ankles, trying to nip him in retaliation.

Dev stepped away from the head and kept his eyes on the ground until the movement stopped.

Gorgon slain count increased.

“It’s still blinking.” Keeley gestured to the gorgon’s face. “That’s plain creepy.”

Devrim ignored the comment and the creature’s stare. He focused on Erik’s petrified state, opening his menu in the hopes the bestiary would tell him something. A few flicked through the interactive display brought up a subsection on gorgons and status ailments.

Petrification Type I: Many creatures in Lorian have the ability to terrify things into a waking state of immobility. The first kind of petrification renders victims unable to move or make a sound. It’s worth noting that those afflicted are wholly conscious during their ordeal and without an option to do anything about it. Some call this status ailment the waking terror. It fades after two hours.

Petrification Type II: Some monsters in the world have access to a frightening gift that allows them to freeze their targets in their tracks like the first petrification type. Unlike the lesser variant, this version causes a physical change in the victim, turning mind and body into stone. These poor souls are locked into a dark slumber in which they lose all thought and awareness. Some have never been pulled out of this stony state.

Note: Procure an ample amount of tears from the monster responsible to have a hope of restoring those petrified this way.

Dev shut the menu, bringing his attention on Keeley. “Did you see and read any of that?”

She inclined her head. “So he’ll be fine.” Keeley made her way over to the beast’s corpse, retrieving the young boy’s immobile body from the gorgon’s limp hold. “I hope he didn’t feel the fall. He’ll wake up with some uncomfortable bruises, but he’ll be okay.” Keeley grunted, hefting the boy onto her shoulders and taking a few steps away from the cavern.

Dev said nothing, simply raising a single brow.

“Someone’s got to bring him back home.” She offered him a look that invited no further contest of her point.

“Leave him here with me.” Jace stepped in front of her, extending his arms to take the boy from her. “I’ll wait and keep an eye on Erik. I don’t like the idea of leaving his body behind.” The pale elf’s voice wavered notably. “The kid will recover soon enough and can head home on his own. We’re not that far from the raft that brought us over.”

Dev mulled over Jace’s argument, picking up on what had gone unsaid. If Keeley took the young man home, and Jace watched over their half-troll friend, Devrim would be left tackling what lay ahead alone. There were likely more gorgons within the cave considering the quest hadn’t ended after slaying the one he had.

The best bet going forward was having the most number of people at his side. Even one more person helped. Keeley’s character-based skills would go the furthest in the dark and cramped cave.

“He’s right.” Devrim arched back, stretching his muscles so the phantom aches and stiffness relieved themselves. “I don’t like the idea of going in alone. There’s brave necessity, and then there’s sheer stupidity. We saw you move in the woods back near New Haven. You could skulk through this place without making a sound. We’ll need that. You’ll have to be my eyes.”

Keeley threw a glance at the cave, then looked back at him. Her lower lip folded beneath her teeth as she chewed. The uncertainty hung clear in her face.

“If we don’t do it, that kid won’t be the only person taken. And…” Devrim trailed off, tilting his head at Erik. “I’m getting those tears, even if I have to cut through every gorgon in that place.” Thirst thrummed in his hand as if it relished the thought.

Jace perked up, his eyes searching Dev with what looked like hope. “You have any idea on how to make a gorgon cry?”

Devrim answered him with a wolfish grin. “Not yet. But I plan on finding out.” The sword vibrated again in his grip. “You with me, Keeley?”

She inclined her head, passing the young man into Jace’s arms. “Let’s go.”

* * *

The darkness within the cavern made night outside seem like evening light in comparison. Dev kept a hand on Keeley’s back as she led the way, navigating over the broken and uneven ground.

A serpentine hiss flitted through the cave, drawing his attention. He narrowed his eyes on instinct in hopes of picking up the source of the noise. “Tch. Keeley, you see anything?”

She shifted, bouncing an elbow off of his ribs. “Keep it down. And I can’t see whatever made that whisper.”

He grimaced, tightening his grip on Thirst.

The whispers grew in intensity and frequency, coming down the cave like hushed chatter between a group of snakes.

That’s reassuring.

“Up ahead.” Keeley waved an arm that he could barely make out. “There’s a break in the path. It looks…brighter there.”

“Light source? I can’t see a thing.”

“It’s faint, flickering. I think it could be firelight.” Keeley bristled before slowing her pace. “I don’t know how well these things hear, but you’re breathing pretty loud to me.” She mimed zipping her lips, following up with a nod.

He mirrored the gesture and muffled his breath in the folds of his robes. The light grew as they neared the break Keeley had mentioned, forcing him to squint until his eyes adjusted. Dev squeezed the cat-woman’s shoulder, giving her a signal to stop. He leaned in close until his lips nearly brushed one of her ears. “Can you see inside the opening?”

A handful of seconds passed in silence.

“Keeley?”

She didn’t respond.

Dev squeezed her shoulder again. “Hey, what do you see?”

“Trouble. Lots of it.” She held up a hand, slowly raising fingers for him to count. Keeley repeated the process after going through a five count.

Dev tallied up eleven total. “Almost a dozen gorgons?”

Keeley inclined her head.

He inhaled, drawing out the breath. Stealth will only take us so far, and we’re going to have to kill them to stop these abductions from happening again. That much is given. Dev ground his teeth against each other. I ran my mouth and put us in this situation. Time to earn my way out of it. He rose to his feet, inching his way toward the opening.

Keeley hissed, urging him to retreat against the cavern wall.

He shook his head. “Stay here. Let them think I’m the only one until you can surprise them.” Dev lingered just before the break in the cave wall, rocking in place as he mused over a thought. “One last thing.”

Keeley regarded him in silence.

“Now that we’re all working together, will we share the rewards?”

The cat-woman answered him with a bob of her head.

Good. Erik and Jace will need the boost if we want the best shot at surviving this world. He braced himself before creeping into the opening.

A scattering of crude torches lined the outermost edges of the domed room, casting their ghostly orange glow over the place. Bits of light seeped out behind him and created the flickering illumination Keeley had picked up on. The cavern floor had been worn smooth to a nearly glass-like finish. Several gray structures stood spread through the room surrounded by the gorgons Keeley had counted off.

Each statue varied in height and appearance.

No, not statues—people. Dev clenched Thirst until dull pressure built within his knuckles and the soft tissue of his palm. Something rasped at his side, drawing his attention.

One of the gorgons clung to a stonework of a man not much older than him in appearance. The creature’s eyes had shifted from the petrified person to him, narrowing as its lengthy tongue trailed along the stone. It released a second hiss of protest, then raced toward him.

He gripped his weapon with both hands and turned his gaze to the approaching gorgon churl’s tail.

The creature’s elongated appendage snapped out like a whip.

His torso felt like he’d been struck by a large paddle of flesh and muscle. The robes protected his skin from the worst of the sting, but the blow reverberated deep into his chest and drove him back a few steps. Dev pushed aside the pain and refused to glare at the flashing health indicator above him.

He released a guttural grunt to clear the ache in his body, pivoting as the gorgon raked the air beside him with its taloned hands. Thirst shook in his grip with an intensity that threatened to free it from his hold. He squeezed his hands and thrust the blade at the gorgon’s face.

The serpent-like creature sank its weight, avoiding most of the blow as the weapon sailed through its hair of snakes, skewering several of the reptiles. The gorgon tipped its head back and howled. Its pained noises drew the attention of the rest of the creatures in the cavern.

Shit. If I don’t handle this fast, they’ll overrun me. Panic welled in his heart, making its way to his gut where it knotted his insides. He let it galvanize him into action and focused on his sole skillshot: Reverberating Strike.

The ability hurled him forward, bringing his arms up without thought as he slammed the base of Thirst into the gorgon’s skull. The weapon ricocheted off its forehead as the monster fell into a drunken stupor. Dev cast a fleeting look at his diminishing stamina bar, estimating how many strikes he could get away with before it depleted.

The other ten gorgon slithered his way.

He spat, disregarding his calculations and slashed in a frenzied flurry. The first blow drove a deep furrow in the gorgon’s flesh above its chest, inches below its throat. He followed up with a second across the creature’s right arm in an attempt to cripple it. A quick step back allowed him to shift his hips enough and drive Thirst’s tip into the monster’s gut, piercing its body until the blade came out the other side.

The weapon tremored again, stilling itself a second later. Warmth filled his hands and seeped deep into his arms. The sensation slowly flooded the rest of his body. A quick checkup revealed his stamina bar ticked up at a faster rate than before.

He didn’t get a moment to examine the oddity as the gorgon shook itself clear of its stunned status. Devrim lunged, letting a scream build in his belly before releasing it as he swung Thirst in a similar strike to the one he’d used to decapitate the first snake-like monster. The blade severed the creature’s neck.

Déjà vu. He permitted himself to smile a bit as the creature collapsed to the ground. The short-lived joy passed as he glanced at the group of gorgons moving to encircle him. Crap. If they surround me, there’s a good chance I’ll end up looking at one of them in the eyes by mistake.

One of the gorgons broke ahead of the group, slithering around one of the stone-citizens. It swept its tail in a contemptuous lash, striking the midsection of the petrified person. The stone crumbled around the person’s waist and shattered on hitting the ground. The gorgon coiled further around the statue, staring at Dev. “Here to save them? What happens if this one goes back to normal now?” The gorgon stroked one of the statue’s arms.

He blinked, filing away the fact the creatures could speak. “What happens if I run you through with my sword? Will you cry? I’m hoping so.” Dev kept his look trained on the creature’s face just below its eyes.

Thirst shook harder than before as if it were begging him to make good on his promise and carve through the serpentine monster.

“Come closer and look me in the eyes to find out, human.” The gorgon let out a small moan as if it relished the idea.

A soft growl graced his ears, but he kept from turning to the source. Dev swallowed and hoped the noise had gone unheard. “I’m staying right here.” He tapped the tip of Thirst against the ground, eliciting a light chime that sounded over another set of growls. “You want to make good on your threats…you come to me.” He flashed a crooked smile at the creature in the hopes he could goad the gorgon.

Medusa was supposed to be beautiful to the point of driving suitors to insane jealousy. If these things are made anything like her, they might be caught up in their looks. Maybe I can get them to fight me one-on-one if I taunt them.

“Come on, ugly.” He put extra heat into the last word and sneered at the gorgon. His words jarred the monster, forcing it to glare at him with an intensity that could’ve shattered the stone figures throughout the hall. Dev kept from locking stares with the creature and forced his smile wider. “Come get me.”

The gorgon released a challenging shriek, snaking toward him. The rest of the group remained in place with their eyes fixed on him should he make a mistake.

Five more seconds. He focused on the cooldown for his skillshot, knowing he’d be able to employ to similar effect as before. Devrim solidified his grip on Thirst and took a step, slashing in a wide arc that would bisect the approaching gorgon at the waist.

The creature stopped short, dropping flat against the ground to avoid the strike. The gorgon sprang back up, swiping with a hand like it intended to jam its talons into the soft flesh beneath his chin.

Dev took a step back as the claws nearly grazed his nose. He had no time to exhale in relief as the creature took hold of his shoulders in its grip. Crap. He struggled as the gorgon brought its face near his.

“Tell me now, am I so ugly? Look at me.”

He shut his eyes tight, squirming to free his arms and get off a strike with Thirst.

The gorgon squeezed him harder, digging the talons into the flesh of his shoulders.

He muffled a snarl of pain.

A similar noise echoed back, but the gorgon didn’t appear to register it.

“You were so quick to insult me. Take another look. Go on.” The creature shook him.

Devrim winced as the talons moved within the meat of his arms, but he refused to open his eyes. He racked his throat for whatever moisture he could and spat a thick globule of saliva at the gorgon’s face.

The monster yowled in fury.

Something sank into the area above his left collarbone. It felt like a set of needles skewering the flesh before pulling out.

The snakes on her head? Medusa’s were poisonous. He shuddered at the thought, straining the muscles in his arms to break free of the hold. The piercing sensation returned in the same spot on the other side of his body. He squirmed, snapping his head forward on instinct. His forehead cracked into something soft that gave way under the blow with a sound like cracking twigs.

The hold broke and he stumbled free, blinking to take in the scene.

The gorgon reeled, pawing at its deformed nose. A thin stream of viscous fluid flowed from its nostrils.

That’s one way to use my head, I guess. “So, I’ve taken my look.”

The gorgon narrowed its eyes at him, seething.

“And yeah, you’re hideous. Your nose could use some work.” He plastered a shit-eating grin on his face, knowing it’d rile the monster into a thoughtless rage. His plan worked perfectly and his expression slipped as the gorgon screamed. Oops.

The creature spun, slamming its tail into the damaged midsection of the previously broken statue. Stone smashed under the strength of the blow and left the upper portions of the stature without a solid hold. The top half of the petrified human crashed to the ground with a series of sharp snaps that echoed through the cavern.

Thirst thrummed in his hold, the previous heat flooding his body wrenched on his insides, driving him to raise the sword. He obliged and brought the weapon overhead. The opening served as an invitation for the gorgon.

It snaked forward, its thrashing mass of serpent-filled hair pulling his attention.

He winced as the pains on either side of his neck panged. Dev pushed them away and gripped his weapon, keeping firmly in place before the gorgon’s charge. His attention turned to the cooldown he had been watching earlier. He smiled as the beast closed the distance.

“I’ll turn you into dust and debris!” The gorgon whipped a hand in the direction of the destroyed statue to accentuate its point.

Activate skillshot: Reverberating Strike. He lurched forward, narrowing his gaze so he could only make out the gorgon’s mouth and nose. The base of his katana crashed home into the damaged cartilage.

The monster reeled, twitching in silent agony. Its mouth hung limp as the creature blinked through the pain.

Devrim brought Thirst down at a sharp angle, biting into the flesh between the gorgon’s shoulder and neck. The katana dug into the creature’s tough tissue and until it reached bone. Devrim worked the weapon like a saw before ripping it free.

His stamina bar ebbed before inching back up. He committed the oddity to memory before pushing it away to focus on another piece of mythology. Perseus turned King Atlas to stone with the severed head of Medusa. And…he turned her to stone as well. The thought sent a cold current through his body that revitalized him as he whipped Thirst into a stroke like he’d done twice before. The katana parted the gorgon’s head.

Another one down. He rushed forward, twining his fingers through the mess of snakes, wrenching the skull from the rest of the body. Some of the serpents lashed out at his fingers. Each bite forced his hand to flex without control, but he gritted through it. If they were actually poisonous, I’d feel something by now. He solidified his grip and raised the head in front of his face, turning it to cast its gaze on the remaining gorgon.

“She died without an answer to her question. Someone mind putting her out of her misery? Was she ugly?” Devrim smiled and advanced, keeping the head in place to protect himself as well as halt any advance the group or gorgons might have made.

The low mrowling from earlier grew into a deep rumble.

Any time now… Dev drew closer to the gorgon farther to his right. Thirst shivered in his grip, anticipating the next engagement.

Keeley burst into view at the edge of his vision. She let out a sharp cry reserved for large cats as she grappled one of the gorgons to the ground. Her hands flexed as her claws extended, and she raked the serpent-woman without pause. The attack sent the remaining gorgons into action.

I took out two here. She’s taking on another. Eight left. He swallowed a fistful of air and advanced on the closest of the monsters, waving the severed head to his exposed side to keep himself covered best he could.

The gorgon closest to him swung an open hand in front of him as if trying to bat the weapon out of his hand.

His cooldown had completed, leaving him with the option to repeat the successful chain of attacks he’d used to slay several of the creatures already. It meant dropping the one object in his hand that could prove more useful. He resisted the urge and tested his theory, backpedaling and thrusting the head in front of him.

The attacking gorgon stopped short, trying to shield its face from the severed gorgon’s head.

Well, that’s telling.

The creature failed, locking eyes. Its body shuddered before snapping into rigidity. The gorgon’s flesh paled and its scales lost their light shimmer. The monster’s tissue morphed with the sounds of a crackling fire as it turned to stone.

Dev didn’t get a moment to enjoy his success. His maneuver drew an anguished cry from another of the gorgons, which lunged toward him before he could compose himself. He turned in place and brought the head up as a makeshift shield. The creature’s blow struck it, tearing through some of the flesh with enough force to almost rip it from his grip. Devrim held on, thrusting with Thirst in a manner best suited for a spear.

The gorgon spat as the blade nicked the side of its torso.

A fleeting glance past the creature showed Devrim that Keeley had savagely mauled the creature she’d taken on earlier. She now relied on her speed to skirt around three of the serpent-women chasing her.

“Keeley!” Devrim swung the dangling head like a flail, clubbing the gorgon in front of him across its skull. Freeing himself for a moment, he raced past the creature and lobbed the skull in his hand toward the cat-woman. “Catch!”

The head tumbled through the air. Keeley displayed an impressive bit of athleticism in darting past a pair of gorgon blocking her path, then leaping to the air to recover the skull. She spun around and used the head to deter an approaching monster.

Devrim turned in time to spot an incoming swipe from the gorgon he’d sidestepped moments earlier. He stepped into the blow on instinct, catching the inside of the creature’s forearm along the side of his head. The blow forced his vision to snap out of clarity for a second, long enough for the gorgon to follow up with a second swing at his midsection. He screamed as minute lances of heat raced along one side of his stomach to the other.

The gorgon pulled its hand back, its talons coated in a thin veneer of Devrim’s blood.

He squeezed his eyes and contorted his face in a mild effort to work through the pain. It didn’t do much. Thirst sent bands of heat through his body again, the heat concentrating along his abdominals. The hint of warmth helped him bear the agony as he fixed his mind on the most reliable trick he had.

The skillshot activated, driving him toward his attacker despite his pain-clouded mind. He slammed against the gorgon and left it stunned. His body succumbed to a moment of weakness and he fell to a knee, heaving to recover.

Crackling sounds filled his ears, drawing his attention to Keeley’s struggle. She’d somehow managed to dupe two of the gorgons to trade looks with the severed head. Both of the beasts spasmed before succumbing to the petrification effects.

Another two down. He couldn’t savor the minor victory as a prompt cut off his thoughts.

Heroic Hunt Joined! Defeat the Greater Gorgon!

Devrim didn’t get the chance to ponder what a greater gorgon could be. The ground shook and a primal scream shook through the cavern. Oh, I’ve got a bad feeling about this.

Chapter Fourteen – The Past

Snake Eat Snake World

The gorgons in the room froze, whipping their heads about wide-eyed as if terrified of what was to come.

Devrim tried to home in on the direction the screaming came from. It sounded as if it originated from the walls around him, shaking its way through the stone until it drowned out every other noise in the cavern.

It slowly died moments later, but concentrated itself near the far end of the room.

Devrim turned his attention toward a gorgon slithering into view that towered at twice the size of the other serpent-women in the room.

Greater Gorgon: These fiends are closer to the mythical beast, Medusa, than their lesser cousins. Fast, filled with serpentine strength, and savage, they make for truly dangerous foes. Be wary the snakes atop their head, for they carry a paralyzing toxin.

Note: These creatures have the ability to inflict both forms of petrification with nothing more than a quick glance, and they can affect an entire party at once.

Greater gorgons can feed upon the bodies of lesser versions to restore or increase health and strength.

The new monster lived up to its description, racing toward one of the lesser versions of itself and grabbing it. The greater gorgon moved with efficiency and distended its jaws to open its mouth to a width that shouldn’t have ever been possible. It clamped down and bit clean through the top half of the smaller serpent-woman. All eyes focused on the scene as the greater of the gorgons swallowed the rest of the churl. The beast finished devouring its smaller cousin before setting about to snatch up the rest.

Keeley receded to the shadows, still clutching the severed head in her hands.

Devrim looked around for something to take cover behind. He broke into a sprint, cursing the depleting stamina bar. Still trapped in a combat scenario left him with limited options for dealing with the immediate threat. He set his eyes on the largest of the statues within the room, an oversized creature that looked like a bastardization of half man, and half horse. It stood high enough to obscure most of his form if he got behind it.

The gorgon finished consuming the last of her kind, turning her attention to where he ran. “You turned some of them into stone. Clever.”

He stopped in place, refusing to turn around and look at the beast. His kill counter for gorgons had increased even though he hadn’t been the one to dispatch them. He took note of that. “I have my moments.” And I’m about to have another. Devrim dragged Thirst against his robes, cleaning the blood and ichor to restore the weapon’s mirror-like finish. He held it an inch above eye-level, smiling as the gorgon’s reflection came to view within the shining metal. Perseus used a polished shield to keep an eye on Medusa. This’ll have to do.

“Your moments are over.” The gorgon flicked her forked tongue, head twitching as she cast a wide look around the room. “Your havahneko friend is nowhere to be found. You’re alone.”

Did Keeley really bail on me?

The gorgon slithered forward at a leisurely pace, its tail lashing out at random to strike some of the petrified people as it passed.

Devrim gnashed his teeth. “Stop that.”

The gorgon’s mouth spread into a carnivorous grin. “By all means…make me.”

I plan on it.

His cooldown had reset before the gargantuan beast had emerged, ensuring he had one trick up his sleeve. If it ain’t broke… He watched as the monster neared.

The gorgon stopped a dozen yards from him. “Make this easy on yourself, hunter, and don’t fight.”

He raised his left fist, keeping it clenched save for one digit. Dev extended his middle finger. “All I’ve done all my life is fight.”

The gorgon wasted no time with words and lunged toward him. She batted aside two other horse-man statues, reducing them to rubble.

Devrim held horizontally and gauged the monster’s advance as he ran. The creature gained on him faster than he could break away. He slowed his pace and pivoted a fraction, hoping to run toward the creature in the hopes its momentum would carry it past him.

He’d thought wrong.

The gorgon dragged a hand against the ground, its talons rending chips of stone free and sending them into the air like minute projectiles.

Bits of stone peppered him, forcing him to shield his face from the jagged rubble. The creature’s hand continued sailing upward and collided with his sternum in a fleshy slap. His feet left the ground and a hot fire exploded over his chest, sinking into his previously wounded midsection. He tumbled once through the air before crashing hard. His back cried out as his lungs felt like wet towels wrung dry.

The gorgon chuckled to itself, sounding more like a series of sputtering gas leaks. It advanced slowly as if savoring his predicament.

His health bar had dropped below the halfway mark. It seems so superficial. Just a little red bar. And all it needs to do is drop a bit further and I’m a goner. The pain over his torso doubled, causing him to grind his teeth to cut off any pained sounds he might make.

The greater gorgon slithered closer. “Maybe I won’t kill you, yet. You might serve as a better warning—a statue.”

Dev flashed her a lopsided smile in the reflection along his blade. “Seems like a hard job.” The act of speaking strained his body, sending pain rolling through his midsection.

The gorgon’s expression slipped into a neutral mask, clearly missing the pun. “It’ll stop you from dying, and you are so very close to that.”

Maybe I am. And maybe I can use that. He turned around, grimacing as his body protested the action, crying out with sharp lances of agony. Devrim lowered his head, tilting his blade in concert to trade looks with the gorgon without staring at it directly.

The gorgon crept closer. “Just look up and end this.”

Keeley’s growl filled the room.

The gorgon whirled about, trying to pinpoint the havahneko’s location.

Keeley erupted from the shadows and sailed toward the serpent-woman’s face. She held the severed head before her, obscuring her face as she closed the dive. The larger gorgon snarled, swatting with both of her hands. The first strike ripped the head out of Keeley’s hand. The second blow batted her aside with ease. Keeley hurtled through the air, her back slamming into one of the statues, shattering it.

“Keeley!” Devrim winced from the effort of shouting. He watched the cat-woman’s health bar plummet as severely as his had. She lay prone, immobile, several dozen feet from him.

The gorgon turned with an air of laziness, taking its time as it glanced at him. She flicked her tongue in anticipation. “Perhaps I was too generous with my offer. I should eat you both, starting with the little cat.”

“No!” Devrim clamped his teeth together, exerting as much pressure as he could to drown out the pain. He rose to his feet. “You want to turn me into a statue? Fine. I’ll look up, but leave her out of this.”

“Why should I do that?” The gorgon played at being disinterested, yet it slithered a few yards closer to him.

These things have egos. I just have to stroke it. “Because, you’ll have beaten a slayer. Gotten one of the best hunters to admit he couldn’t beat you.” It wasn’t wholly a lie. He spoke the truth of his class, only exaggerating his capability as a hunter.

The gorgon raised itself straighter, visibly quivering with excitement.

“You wanted a warning, right? What better than a statue of a slayer that couldn’t take you out?” He shrugged, adopting a weak posture that signaled resignation. Take the bait.

The gorgon crossed the remaining distance in a short burst of speed, stopping a couple of feet before him. “I accept your offer. Look up for the last time in your life.”

“Alright.” He looked up, locking eyes with the gorgon. His body grew distant like he’d lost control and all feeling. His muscles felt like they were made of jelly, weak and trembling. The strength in his fingers failed and almost release their hold on the katana.

The gorgon leaned forward, bringing her face to almost an inch of his so he couldn’t break away.

Perfect. Close enough. He summoned what effort he could and shut his eyes, snapping Thirst up between himself and the gorgon’s stare.

“What’s this?”

Devrim didn’t open his eyes. “I promised I’d look up, not that I’d look into your eyes. What do they look like by the way? Can you see them clearly in the reflection? Medusa did.” His body ached like his skin grew too tight for his insides. He felt like the world around him was shrinking, threatening to crush him.

Damn, I might have gone too far with that stunt.

A status update flashed through his mind.

Petrification Type II

Great. He opened his eyes to find the gorgon’s skin hardening into stone. His own followed along.

“You’re a fool.” The gorgon’s eyes narrowed in slits.

“Are you going to cry about it?” He stopped short, fighting to crack his neck despite the tension building within it. “Maybe you should. It might the only way out for you.”

She said nothing, struggling as her body changed color.

“We don’t…ugh, have long left. What’s it going to be?”

The gorgon spat a curse, lowering her head. Beads of moisture welled along her lids before falling.

The first struck his shoulder. Another hit the crown of his head. The stiffness plaguing his body faded almost as fast as it had come on. Devrim glanced at the gorgon’s body. Her skin hadn’t changed since shedding the tears.

“Apply them to my body.” The gorgon’s eyes watered, her face contorted in a mask of effort and pain.

Devrim almost did as he was asked. He blinked, turning his attention on the scattered stone statues in the room. “How many?”

The gorgon’s mouth moved without sound. Every breath came as a strained rasp. “How…many?”

Devrim tilted his head toward the nearest petrified figure. “How many have you and your kind taken and turned?”

The gorgon didn’t answer, turning her head away as much as she could. The petrification process limited her movement to just a fraction of an inch.

“That’s what I thought.” Devrim took a step back, waiting for a handful of seconds until the gorgon had solidified into stone. A few tears dropped from her concrete eyes and splashed onto the cavern ground. The pain through his body pulled at him, begging him to lie down and rest. He channeled into an anger that fed into his hands. Devrim reversed his grip on Thirst and activated his skillshot, slamming into the stone gorgon with concussive force.

The blow sent a thunderous crack through the cave as finger-thick fissures sprouted in the petrified creature. Each fracture raced out like spider webs until the structure could no longer support its own weight. It crumbled, shattering into chips of brittle stone and dust.

Gorgon slain count increased. Multiplier added for killing greater variant.

Quest Completed: Mysterious Abductions. Find the monsters responsible for kidnapping the citizens of Muddeep and slay them.

Bonus: Find a way to restore the petrified citizens to normal.

Heroic Hunt Modifier: Petrify enough gorgon to summon a greater one and slay it.

Rewards: Gorgon scales X15, petrified greater gorgon head (trophy), gorgon tears X8.

Skill points: 5 awarded.

Devrim processed the information, comparing it to what he’d been told prior to the quest. More skill points than I was promised. Possibly an extra reward for the heroic hunt?

Keeley coughed, pulling him away from his thoughts.

He rushed toward her, relieved to find the stamina bar had replenished. A quick hand to his stomach revealed his wounds had healed courtesy of the game mechanics. He fell to a knee beside Keeley, slipping a hand under her back. “You good?”

She nodded, blinking. “The pain’s gone away, but they could do something about the aftereffects of a headache.” She winced and rubbed her temple.

Dev let out a little laugh as he helped haul her to her feet. “This might help soothe that.” He opened his inventory, selecting the slot the gorgon tears occupied. A glass ampule, the size of his thumb, popped into existence within his free hand. He jiggled it to draw Keeley’s attention.

Her eyes ballooned.

“Let’s see if this stuff works.” Devrim stowed Thirst and moved over to the nearest human-looking statue. He pressed his thumb against the cork plugging the glass vial and popped it free, upturning the liquid contents onto the petrified person.

The drops splashed over the stone man’s face, hissing spitefully. The statue’s gray color seeped away as tawny tones rushed in to flood the man’s skin. He had simple, worn features, the sort that came with later years and a life of hard labor. Flecks of silver threaded his short cropped dark hair. The man slumped forward.

Dev caught him under the arms. “Hey, you’re okay. Can you hear me fine?”

The old man nodded.

Devrim looked over his shoulder, smiling at Keeley. “Guess it works. Let’s get started saving people.”

Chapter Fifteen – The Past

A Modicum of Fame

Devrim applied another vial of gorgon tears to the last of the human statues in the cavern, brushing off the young woman’s thanks after she’d been restored. Three ampules remained in his inventory. He waved to Keeley, motioning toward the exit.

She bowed her head in acknowledgment.

The walk out took a quarter of the time it had in now that they didn’t have to worry about stealth. Devrim picked up his pace on exiting the cavern mouth, brushing by Jace and Gama. He ignored their questions and removed another vial.

“Is that what I think it is?” Jace cocked a brow.

Dev spilled the contents of another vial over Erik, waiting as their restorative properties took hold. Moments passed where the only sounds were those of the half-troll’s stone form cracking away.

Erik blinked, taking a step forward and looking his body over in confusion. “Did I…” he trailed off and patted his chest. “Was I turned to stone?”

“Yes. But look at it this way, you didn’t have to do a thing, and you got credit for completing the quest.” Devrim gave him a gentle shove.

Erik scowled.

Devrim’s menu blipped.

Bonus Completed: Restore all those petrified.

Reward: 50 shims.

He scrolled through, finding the newly added items and reading over them. The mass of thin metal slivers served as currency, and a decent bit of it. “Well, that’s handy. Guess we should head back and the let the steward know we did it.” Devrim watched his companion’s faces, all of which were lined with fatigue. “And maybe we should celebrate?”

Everyone stood a little straighter at his suggestion.

Gama clapped his hands together. “Excellent. Slaying monsters always makes me hungry. A good revelry is just what I need.”

Devrim stared at the toad for a long moment before shaking his head. “Sure thing. Everyone who helped take down the gorgons gets a meal on me.” He flashed the toad a smile.

“I do hope you’re not forgetting my contribution, Devrim—brrp?” Gama looked at him as if he were serious. “I was with you in spirit. Surely you felt my rousing cheers course through your body, help you push through any and all injury, and overcome your struggle. Besides, there was no way you’d let yourself fail and risk never seeing me again. Who would I train then?” Gama kept a level look.

Holy shit, he’s serious. “I…yeah, whatever.”

Keeley stifled a laugh, drawing his attention.

He narrowed his eyes. “Don’t encourage him.”

She choked the laughter off, giving him an innocent look. “What? My companion’s nothing like that, and I’ve got her stored in my menu anyway.”

Devrim turned slowly to look at Gama. “That’s an option?” He didn’t wait for the amphibian’s protests, opening his menu and swiping through until he found the designated storage slot. He issued the command to store Gama. The game rebuffed him with a message informing him that slayer companions were not able to be stored, deeming them as necessary for the class.

Devrim squinted at the menu before turning his look on the toad.

“Even this world recognizes my importance.” Gama waggled a finger in admonishment at him.

Everyone else broke into a chorus of muffled laughter.

Devrim ignored them, heading toward the edge of the hill they’d climbed earlier. “You’re welcome to stay here if you want. I’m going back to Muddeep.”

“If you want to take the long way back, sure.” Keeley brought her menu up. She swiped her hand until the world map appeared, taking an index finger and thumb to a specific location which she expanded on. A rudimentary drawing of Muddeep, done in earthy tones, exploded into view. Keeley jabbed a finger at it. “We can just fast travel as a party to it.” A prompt erupted over her map, asking her if she wanted to return to the town. “So, you want to walk back alone and grumbly?”

“I’m not grumbly.”

She eyed him askance.

“Just get us there.” He narrowed his eyes.

Keeley finalized the fast travel option.

The world flashed black.

* * *

Muddeep came to life before him. The clay town looked washed in ochre under the darkness of the night sky. Joyous cries filled the air. Torchlight strobed from within many of the buildings.

Devrim blinked, looking around the village before exchanging looks with his party. “Do you hear…singing?”

Erik pursed his lips. “Yeah. Maybe they’re celebrating? Do you think the petrified people got back before us somehow?”

Devrim rolled his shoulders nonchalantly. “Guess we’ll find out.” He gestured ahead to a passerby who staggered his way forward like he’d forgotten how to keep his balance. “Excuse me—”

The disheveled man spun around, arms flailing. He leaned forward and squinted. “Heek. Whozzat?”

Devrim opened his mouth but the Muddeep citizen cut him off with a wave of his hand.

The man wore a heavy canvas coat and matching pants caked in layers of clay stains. Bits of wet earth matted his stringy brown hair. The man lurched to one side, struggling to find his balance. “I know you. You’re thems that came here for a hunt, huh?”

Devrim didn’t see the point in talking. He lowered his head in acknowledgment.

The man’s mouth spread into a wide and toothy grin. “I knew it.” He lunged at Dev, grabbing him by the collar.

Devrim’s hand flew to Thirst’s hilt, pulling the weapon a few inches before the man burped.

“Come on.” The drunkard tugged on Dev’s clothes. “People here will be wanting to say thanks for bringing our folk back.” The man pulled harder. “I owe you a drink, and by that I mean if I had money I’d get you one. But you know what they say, it’s the thought that counts, eh?” The man nudged him in the ribs.

“Uh, right.” Dev glanced at the rest of his party. “Drinks?”

Everyone nodded in unison.

The drunkard clapped his hands together in self-satisfaction, beckoning them to follow as he led the way to a building nearby.

The structure stood lower than the others nearby. Odd additions, not matching the original width of the place, jutted out from both sides as well as the back. It looked as if the building had been altered heavily after its construction.

Raucous cheers and howls emanated from within the building.

“What’s everyone celebrating?” Devrim cocked an eyebrow at their escort.

“You, kid.” The man opened his mouth to speak before a violent set of hiccups cut him off. He stumbled through the door, throwing an arm wide to wave and get the attention of the nearest group of people. “Everyone!”

Devrim peered past him to find what looked like an old-world tavern lifted from the stories he’d read, albeit shabbier than anything from the novels.

The room ahead was situated mostly in the center of the building and ran toward the left. A set of stairs descended along the right hinting at another floor below. The bright glow of torches further beyond told him that the tavern went on for several levels past the next visible one.

The counter and tabletops were fashioned out of heavy slabs of hardened clay that glistened in the few places where their glaze had remained. Most of the finish had likely been worn away from years of use, spilled drinks, and by the looks of the place, the not-so-occasional fight.

Their inebriated guide staggered his way further inside, hooting incoherently at a pair deep in conversation at the closest table. He shook the nearest by the shoulder and hooked a thumb over his shoulder toward Dev and the group.

The couple stopped their conversation short, gawking at Devrim. They bolted upright and broke into rolling howls and applause. Their sudden outburst drew the attention of the rest of the patrons. The entire tavern erupted into a standing chorus of clapping and shouts of admiration.

“Guess we’re pretty popular, huh?” Dev quirked a smile as he moved to the center of the room. I could get used to this. He snapped out of his thought as someone shoved a large mug into his hands. Murky brown liquid sloshed over the rim, splashing over his fingers.

He raised the drink to his mouth and paused just before putting his lips to it. The beverage smelled sweet with notes of a spice he couldn’t identify. Something else hung beneath the other odors, a hint of wet earth, like clay. Devrim eyed the crowd, all of whom tipped back similar drinks without reservation.

Erik hoisted two mugs and guzzled from each.

Jace followed suit.

Keeley waved a hand, abstaining.

Devrim let the liquid pass his lips, wincing as it touched his tongue. The beverage had a thick consistency, nearly like watered-down porridge with hints of an acid-like bite. The fruit and spice notes couldn’t mask the sharp pricks and a muddy film. He had the grace to swallow the sip and force a smile on his face. Must be an acquired taste.

“Like it?” The drunk man staggered back, giving him a gentle shove against his chest. “It’s good, huh? Got all of what you need.” The man ribbed him again with an elbow. “Bit of booze, bit of sweet, and a little bit of clay. Makes it filling. Dirt here’s rich with minerals. Stuff’s good for ya.” The man teetered in place.

Devrim stepped away from the man, looking for an open space in the bar. Gama stayed at his side, eyeing him, then the drink expectantly.

“You know, Devrim, Lorian can be a hostile place.” The toad rubbed his hands together. “Many people might want to lash out at a hunter like you. They might do it through, say”—the toad had the grace to take a second to feign looking around the room as if lost in thought—“a drink, maybe. Maybe the very drink you’re holding. It could be poisoned.”

Dev looked down at his amphibian companion. “Do you want to have my drink?”

Gama managed to shrug, which was an impressive feat considering Dev couldn’t make out anything that resembled a clear set of shoulders. “It would most likely be in your best interest.” Gama adopted a sage-like posture and look, folding his arms and fixing him with a sober stare. “It wouldn’t do for my slayer to die from a toxic drink.”

Devrim rolled his eyes and kneeled to place the mug on the ground where Gama could reach it. “Knock yourself out, buddy. If you want to take it as far as going literal, I won’t stop you.”

The toad ignored him and wrestled his way up to the top of the drink.

Dev shook his head, separating himself from the group to make his way toward the stairs leading down. He bustled past a trio of women blocking most of the way. Their mouths hung agape as he passed them. He paused, trading looks with them. One of his hands fell on Thirst. It took him a moment to realize the unconscious gesture he’d made. He pulled his hand away and turned his attention from the weapon to the people in front of him. “Is something wrong?”

They shook their heads simultaneously. One of the group, a woman that looked no older than him, fair-featured, took a step toward him. “You’re the one who rescued our folk, yes?” Her eyes widened and a cheery light filled them, brightening the fog-like grey of her irises. A hint of red touched her cheeks. It could have been the alcohol, possibly the glow from the torches, or it could have been something else altogether.

Dev rubbed a hand against the back of his head. “Yeah, but it wasn’t just me.” He waved in the general direction of the party he’d left behind. “My friends helped as well and—”

The woman leaned forward, brushing her lips against his. She somehow tasted of only the fruity and spice notes from the drink being served in the tavern and none of its unpleasantness. She pulled her mouth away a long moment later, the color in her cheeks intensifying.

Dev felt a bit of heat, which had nothing to do with the torches, flood his face.

The young woman ran a finger through her raven locks and twined it through a few strands of hair. “One of those you saved was my younger sister. Thank you.” She leaned forward, kissing him on the cheek before pulling back and breaking into a series of light giggles. Her laughter fueled the women around her to break into a similar fit. They grabbed each other by the arms and led themselves past him to the first floor.

He watched them go, a slight smile on his face until his gaze fell on the woman standing at the top of stairs.

Keeley watched the group of women shuffle past her. She turned her eyes slowly on him, her expression carefully neutral. “So, how was it?”

Devrim blinked.

“The—” Keeley mimed a kiss.

“Oh.” He shrugged and turned his attention down the stairs, wondering what the level below was like. “You know.”

“No, I don’t.”

“It was okay.” Devrim rolled his shoulders, keeping his attention on the way down.

“Mhm.” Keeley brushed by him, exchanging a look with him that seemed to drag on for minutes before she walked ahead.

What was that about? He shook his head and followed behind, ensuring to hold some distance between himself and Keeley. Someone stumbled by and bumped his shoulder. Dev muttered a faint apology, forcing them to pay attention to him. The newcomer adopted the similar stunned look he’d been getting since entering the establishment. They clapped him hard on the back, passing him their drink. He took it and thanked them, picking up his pace to not lose sight of Keeley.

The cat-woman rounded the end of the stairs, making her way onto the second floor.

The room was more spaciously laid out than the one above. Another counter ran along the far wall, but all of the seating came in the form of long benches against the remaining sides of the room. It seemed simpler, more communal. A few long tables stretched through the center of the room.

“Keeley.” His call went unanswered. Dev jumped, clearing the remaining the steps and sprang into a light jog immediately on touching down. He crossed the distance the between Keeley and himself, reaching out to place a hand on her shoulder. “Wait up.”

She stopped, looking at him sideways. “Yes?”

“I wanted to know if you just wanted to sit, get a drink”—he raised the mug he’d been given, most of the beverage having spilled out from his leap earlier—“just not one of these.”

She looked up at the ceiling, almost as if she were gazing through it. “If you’re sure this is where you’d rather be spending your time.”

He pursed his lips for a second, unsure of what to make of that. “There’s nowhere else I’d want to be.”

Keeley stood a little straighter after his declaration. Her mouth pulled into a wide smile and her eyes danced with amusement. “Of course.” She moved toward the end of the nearest table, plopping down onto its bench seat, motioning with a hand for him to come join her.

He sat beside her, placing his drink on the ground and sliding it under the table with one of his heels. “You know, it’s weird.” Devrim placed a hand on his stomach, trying to assuage the gnawing sensation building within it. He rubbed his midsection harder. “I haven’t really gotten hungry or thirsty until now. It’s hitting me hard.”

Keeley bobbed her head in what looked like more to herself than him. “Mm, yeah. I noticed that too. It doesn’t start to get to you until you leave New Haven for a while. I started getting hunger pangs two days after I’d ventured out. Since then, I’ve been eating out of my inventory, picking up and foraging scraps or trading for food when I can. I figured Thom told you this already.”

Dev shook his head. “No. We didn’t cover the basics of survival. I’m sort of wishing we had.” He cast a look over to the counter. “You think they’ve got something edible here that doesn’t have mud in it?” His ribs panged as the back of Keeley’s fist bounced off them. “Ow.” He glared at her.

“Be nice. They’re good people, even if they’re, you know, not real.” She gave him a mild shrug and a smile to match. “This is our home now. It might be a good idea to treat the inhabitants pleasantly.” She gave him a knowing look.

He rolled his eyes, but conceded the point as he rose from his place. “I’m going to grab us some food. When I get back, mind sifting through my menu with me? I want to better understand the progression system and class advancement. You’ve got to have a decent idea of it by now?”

She dipped her head in acknowledgment.

Good. And maybe she can help me figure out what’s going on with my sword and body. He made his way over to the counter, clearing his throat to get the barkeeper’s attention.

The man had a thick, bald head that seemed to disappear into his shoulders with no signs of a neck. He had a stocky build that indicated he was equal parts solid muscle as he was a few layers of fat underneath his long sleeve shirt. His watery eyes seemed too tiny for his face. “What can I…” He trailed off, stammering. One of the barkeeper’s hands shot toward him as the man lunged forward. “You’re the one they’re all talking about!” The barman pulled him close until his waist pressed against the edge of the counter.

“I’m the one.” Dev didn’t see any point in downplaying or avoiding the fact any longer. He raised his hand, laying it on the barman’s meaty wrist and gently pushing on it, sending him a silent message.

The man let go, raising both his hands in a gesture of placation. “Sorry. Just excited is all. You and your lot saved my second cousin, you know?” The barkeeper reached over to his side, snatching up a smaller mug than the ones Dev had been handed earlier. “Drink? First one’s on me.” He looked past Dev to Keeley. “Maybe the second one too, eh?” The barkeeper gave him a look.

“Thanks. Have you got something other than the popular drink going around?”

The barman gave him an affirmative grunt and took both mugs and filled them with an orange, effervescent fluid and slid them towards Devrim. The barman raised a hand and told him to wait in place as he bustled off toward a door behind the far side of the counter. “You wanting food?” The barkeeper paused halfway through the door, glancing at him.

“Please.”

The man disappeared through the door, returning minutes later with a metal tray layered with fist-sized hunks of meat piled a few inches high. The barman plunked the platter down before him, raising both his brows as if expecting more of a reaction.

Dev didn’t see the harm in giving him what he wanted. “Looks good. How much?”

The man frowned thoughtfully, but the gesture carried a hint of practice like it was a bit put on. “Hm, normally this much would go for five whole shims…but I can’t go charging the heroes of Muddeep full price.” He leaned forward, casting a shifty look around the room. “It’d be bad for business if word got out. I wouldn’t be well received. Besides, my second cousin.” He waved a dismissive hand. “Two and a half shims will do. And maybe if things go poorly, give the pretty lady over there a good mouthful about me, eh?” His eyes twinkled.

“Yeah, sure.” Dev didn’t think anything he could say would sway Keeley to see the barman in a favorable light. He gave the man a weak smile and opened his inventory, swiping through until he found the shims and forked them over. The half shim that remained sat on the table. Devrim looked at the small amount of currency in comparison to what he had. He figured a little generosity could go a long way. Devrim placed two fingers on the metal piece and pushed it toward the barkeeper.

The man tilted his head, looking at him for an explanation.

“For any information, if you don’t mind? Once we’re done with our meal, I’ve got some questions about the world.”

The barkeeper placed a hand over the extra piece, enclosing it before making a small flourish to showcase the metal shim had vanished almost like magic. “Anything you want.”

Devrim thanked him and hefted the tray, heading back to the table to put it down before fetching their drinks. He caught Keeley’s stare at the platter of meat. “This count as a decent meal?”

She let out a low growl. “Marry me.” Keeley grabbed one of the drumsticks and tore into it, ripping a mouthful of meat free. She grabbed hold of her mug a second later, tipping it back to guzzle down the light liquid. “Damn, that’s good—” she shook abruptly, her chest visibly straining.

Devrim reacted on instinct, winding up a hand and slapping it into her back several times until she recovered. “Either you have trouble swallowing, or that was one hell of a fur ball.”

She turned slowly to face him. Her eyes glimmered with a dangerous heat despite the sweet smile she plastered across her face. “You think you’re funny?”

“Grew up running the same shit details as you back on the station. I know I’m damn hilarious. Humor’s all most of us had to get through the day.”

“Uh-huh. Why do I have the feeling you got more ass-kickings than laughs, Devrim?”

He grabbed his own drumstick, biting off a chunk for himself. Devrim felt it a good idea to follow suit with a heartier drink than Keeley had taken to avoid choking. The liquid tingled as it hit his tongue, bursting with a fruity-acidic bite that he enjoyed. “Man, I had no idea how much I missed good food. Barely got any of it back on station life, you?”

Keeley’s answer came by way of her ravenous assault on another drumstick.

Dev laughed to himself, turning on the bench to lean against the table. He brought up the menu with a casual wave of his hand and some thought. A reminder of his skill points to spend hovered at the top right of the translucent screen. He still knew little about what being a slayer meant, but he’d learned quickly the class carried a potential he needed to master.

And it’s got its fair share of dangers. His mind went to Thirst. The sword had stilled since leaving combat, but the fact it seemed to thrum with life and desire in the middle of any battle tugged at his brain. His hand fell back on the weapon’s hilt. He left it in place this time, finding a degree of comfort in its touch.

“Mhm.” Keeley gently shouldered him, sliding over to rest her body against his side. “What are you thinking of spending points on?”

He frowned, swiping through until he brought up his character display. The Manslayer mantle still remained active, a jarring reminder that he didn’t appear wholly human. He pulled up a submenu, indicating the list of skillshots he had as well as those he could purchase. A miniature display flashed into existence to inform him of the option of investing an extra pair of points to increase the effectiveness of his current ability.

He mulled it over, knowing that the paralyzing maneuver had saved his life on several occasions, but the thought of relying on a singular ability didn’t sit well with him. Having one trick in this world sounds more like a death sentence than a good move. Devrim focused on the list of newly available skills, pausing to hover one: Slayer’s Resolve. He pointed at it. “How’s that look to you? You’ve got more experience here.”

She murmured under her breath. “An ability that resets your cooldowns on everything else and restores your stamina, plus it boosts the regeneration speed of that stat. I don’t see anything negative about it other than it takes a while to reset itself. Go for it.”

He nabbed the ability, spending one of his points. Another skill caught his eye as he tumbled through the list: Fleet-footed. The skill ability would imbue him with a shocking increase to his speed temporarily, allowing him to run circles around most creatures. An added benefit was the number of attacks he’d be able to get off during an exchange with an opponent. A minor boon of note was that it negated any injury from a severe fall while active. He added the skill without further thought.

It gets pretty easy just spending points on them. I wonder how many I can tally up if I keep hunting? He leaned back against Keeley, turning slightly to face her and voiced the question about skill point limits.

She leaned back, letting her attention fall on the ceiling. “Not sure. I know there’s no end to how many we can buy, but I think we can only have a certain number slotted for use. Best way to find out is keep taking quests until we’ve got our answer.”

He didn’t reply aloud, busying himself with trundling further through the skill list. Three points left. Not bad. Keeley shoved him harder than before, getting his attention and pointing to an ability he’d almost scrolled past. Dev paused, staring hard at it. “Slayer’s Shadow, huh.”

Slayer’s Shadow: This ability draws on the dark ancestry common to all slayers. Through the latent magic in their cursed bloodlines as well as an internal ritual, slayers are able to temporarily split their essence to create a dark—darker—reflection of themselves. This living shadow has all of the intelligence and lethality of the original source. Short-lived, they are devastatingly effective when fighting against larger numbers. If there’s anything better than one slayer, it’s two.

Note: Any kills made by the shadow count toward a slayer’s kill counts in acquiring bonuses and mantles.

Purchase Count: 3 points.

Spending his remaining points on a single skill was a gamble. But is the reward worth it? He reread the skill, deciding the advantage of adding another version of himself outweighed its required purchase points. He committed to it with a click of his finger.

Keeley watched him in silence, giving him a look that said she wasn’t certain about his choice.

He didn’t bother justifying it, busying himself with another piece of meat, then taking another swig of his drink.

The barkeeper swung by and stopped at the end of the table to drop off a second pair of mugs. He looked around the room for a moment, catching the stares of other patrons before turning back to give Dev and Keeley an apologetic smile. “Felt a second round of drinks wouldn’t hurt, you lot being heroes and all.” He leaned close and put a hand to his mouth. “Truth be told, you saved a number of kin to those here tonight.” The barkeeper dropped his voice to a hushed whisper. “Can’t go charging you now in front of them.”

Devrim kept quiet, stuffing another piece of meat in his mouth, wondering if the barman’s revelation meant he’d return the shims to him, but he doubted it. “If you want to make a good impression, how about helping us heroes out?” Dev leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs as he grinned at the barkeeper.

The man mused aloud before putting a boot on the edge of the table. “Fair’s fair. What do you need to know?”

Devrim glanced at Keeley, who watched him with intense interest. Here goes nothing. “What do you know of The Goblin King?”

Keeley perked up beside him, pulling away from his arm as she stared hard at him, then the barkeeper.

The man shrugged, leaning harder against the table. “Mostly the same old stories people have been telling for a few years now. Monster just showed up here one day. Don’t know exactly when, never saw the damn thing myself. Heck, ask me, I think it’s all a hoax. But some say they’ve seen him, or at least his minions. Wrangled himself up an army of goblins, taking over and pillaging places at will. Some say he’s over a dozen feet tall with the strength of twenty men.

“I’ve heard he and his freaks have razed villages far off north. Some say they’ve taken over a handful of townships and turned them into something awful. He rules with an iron fist, things you hear in old horror stories. Stuff like that. But like I said, folk here, we’ve never seen nothing of him. Only whispers on loose tongues and drunker stories.”

Devrim could feel Keeley’s stare drilling holes in the back of his head. He still couldn’t believe Thom had been wrong about that, or worse, lied. There wasn’t an angle he could see that benefited the mayor in that. The drive to survive The Goblin King would only make him and his friends stronger, even if they were always looking over their shoulders for trouble. That didn’t serve Thom any purpose. He looked back up at the barkeeper. “What about the kaftar?”

The man didn’t blink. “What about them? They’re wild beasts. They hunt in numbers, some alphas drum up huge packs and have the guts to tear into towns and villages until they’re put down or they scatter.”

That settles it, then. Dev rubbed the heel of a palm against his forehead, grinding it in place to alleviate some of the mounting pressure.

“Anything else?” The barkeeper clasped his hands together, waiting patiently for Dev’s response.

He’d slept not that long ago. However, it now felt like ages. “You wouldn’t happen to have anywhere to sleep in Muddeep for people traveling through, would you?”

The barkeeper grunted in confirmation. “Third floor”—he jabbed to a staircase off at the farthest corner of the room—“has half a dozen rooms. Not much, some are bunks if you’re okay with that? Won’t cost you much, promise.” The barman placed an open hand on his chest over his heart. “Seven shims will keep you for the night until tomorrow evening. Room’s yours through the day as well.”

Dev forked the money over without a second thought, getting up from his seat to march toward the stairs. Something tugged his robes. He looked back to Keeley already on her feet, hanging just a foot behind him.

“Got room for one more?”

He extended a hand, answering her question with a lopsided grin. She took it and he closed his fingers around hers, leading the way to their room to retire for the night.

Chapter Sixteen – The Past

The Truth Revealed

Dev woke with the aches and stiffness having fled his body in the night. He stretched in place, looking over to Keeley by his side. With some effort, he managed to slip out from under the covers without disturbing her sleep. An unconscious nag forced him to pull up his menu and recheck his character sheet.

The display showcased his reflection with a shortlist on the side with his newly acquired skills. His face and eyes hadn’t softened over the night, still carrying the aggressive hints in how his irises carried a dangerous, red tinge, and his mouth seemed set in a perennial snarl. A flashing at the top of his menu begged him to shift over to another tab. He did as hinted at, pulling up the stat section.

Character: Devrim Bains. Class/Race: Slayer.

Renown: 15 points.

Skill points: 0

Skills: Reverberating Strike. Fleet-footed. Slayer’s Shadow.

Clothing/Armor Stats: 0 Resistance. 0 Recovery. 5 Speed. 3 Bloodlust.

His bloodlust had diminished, leaving his mind to turn to the urges he’d associated with the stat when it was higher. It was such a temperamental thing, but the drive it imbued in him had made him a machine in combat. The decrease in its number forced him to consider what the perfect balance for the bloodlust would be that could keep him toeing a line between added power and the savage impulses.

A series of fleshy slaps sounded off against the door. “Devrim? Dev. You went off to bed an awfully long time ago, and you must have been quite drunk—quite—to have forgotten about me.” Gama didn’t sound particularly perturbed by it. “I slept out here, in case you were wondering. It wasn’t bad, you know, but I feel a bedroom must have been far better. I’m sure you could tell me how it felt, hm?”

Dev rolled his eyes as he headed to the door, opening it to stare down at the uppity amphibian. “It wasn’t bad.” He shot an unconscious glance at Keeley. “Where are Erik and Jace?”

Gama twiddled his thumbs, averting his gaze. “Ah, the thing about those two is, well…” The toad looked to the ground and let out a sigh. “They might have had too much to drink. Not being hardened battle toads”—Gama thumped his chest—“they couldn’t handle their beverages as well as I, of course.”

Of course.

“They may have, rumor, mind you, caused a small bit of ruckus and ended up sleeping outside…in the dirt.” Gama gave him a smile he felt was supposed to be reassuring.

It wasn’t.

“Let’s go get them. We need to discuss a plan.” The thought drew him back to last night’s conversation about the lie surrounding The Goblin King. The confirmation left him with more questions than answers, but on the other hand, it simplified the task ahead. All he and his friends had to do was survive and make a home for themselves in Lorian.

Finally, a break.

A gentle moan came from behind. He glanced back to see Keeley arching her back, stretching before slipping out of bed.

“Mm.” She dragged the back of a hand against her eyes. “Morning.”

Dev greeted her, stepping out of the room while keeping a hand on the door. “Want me to give you a bit to wake up?”

She waved a hand summoning her own menu. “I’m going to laze here for a bit, spend some points—plan things. I’ll see you upstairs in a few for some food.”

“Sounds great.” Dev shut the door, motioning with his head for Gama to follow him. “I don’t suppose you might have any useful advice?” He gave the toad a quick look.

“All I have ever given is invaluable, no?” Gama stared back at him clearly waiting for agreement.

Devrim answered with a thin smile that made it obvious the toad hadn’t done anything of the sort. “Any idea on where we should go next? The idea of just grinding on hunts without a direction for the long term doesn’t seem smart. We still need to find a way to find some roots here.”

Gama pursed his lips, stroking his chin with an index finger. “Perhaps going out farther east, to the coast, would be a good idea. It’s supposed to be beautiful, albeit dangerous. Many vile monsters to hunt. Large rewards. And, there is endless, gorgeous land to buy and build on. It’s expensive but worth it.”

He mulled it over, picturing what life on a nice coast would be like. All he had were mental images from old pictures of Earth’s beaches. He’d never had a chance to see one virtually replicated on the station. The appeal outweighed any of the work necessary to make it happen. “Congrats, Gama. That was damn good advice for once.”

The amphibian harrumphed as if that sort of information was to be expected from him.

Dev made his way up to the second floor when a set of pounding footsteps drummed through the building from above. He glanced up to the staircase leading down to where he was.

Erik and Jace stumbled toward him side-by-side, eyes wide. “What happened?” Both men continued to speak over one another, echoing each other’s words.

Dev raised his hands to calm them. “Slow down. And I’ve got no idea what you’re talking about. Is this about ending up outside? Gama said you two ended up trashed and had to be put out.” He shrugged, not seeing how it was that much of a deal.

“No”—Erik stumbled forward a step, trying to find his balance—“New Haven.” The words carried a note implying Devrim should have known what the half-troll meant.

He shook his head.

Jace flared his menu to life, swiping a hand aggressively through the air until the world map appeared. The pale elf zoomed in on where New Haven sat on the display and pointed his finger at it. Red rings pulsed, widening and rolling out like crimson waves around the village.

He reached out to touch the map on instinct. The back of his brain buzzed, cutting off his action as a new prompt advised him to open up his menu and display his own map. Devrim did as the game asked and brought up New Haven. His display mirrored Jace’s perfectly.

The pulsating strands of red held his attention, filling his body with coils of cold iron. “That can’t be good.”

“It’s not.” Keeley came to his side, eyes wide and alert. “New Haven’s the first major point of contact and guidance for all new people loaded into the world. It’s important—a foundation. Any time a town has those warning lines it means it’s in danger. It’s normally an opportunity for hunters to go in and rescue it, earn extra goodwill, fame, fortune, and items. But…New Haven’s normally off limits.”

Dev glanced at Erik and Jace before turning his look on Keeley. “We told you we were attacked there.”

She waved him off. “By kaftar. Big, ugly, dumb war hounds. Who cares? This is something else. Wild animal attacks don’t trigger that map alert.”

Could it be… Dev cut his train of thought short when he realized everyone in the tavern, including his friends, were staring at him. They expect me to make a decision. He didn’t bother to think why he’d been put in that position, focusing instead on the best course of immediate action. Dev poked the icon for New Haven, bringing up the miniature option list for the village. He blinked when reading over the text for the fast travel selection. A white line ran through it, and he found himself unable to choose the option.

“No good.” Keeley shut her menu down, looking around the room with her face a tight mask of scrutiny. “You can’t take the quick route to a place under attack. It’s a safety protocol because you might end up in the thick of a bad battle before you can situate yourself. We need something quicker than running.”

Jace and Erik agreed with a grunt each.

Just like that. I make it clear I want to go there, and they’re already running along with my idea. Dev signaled the barkeeper, whose eyes looked like they were fighting a losing battle to stay open. “What’s the fastest way to New Haven besides traveling on foot?”

The barman didn’t seem to register his question, staring at him through barely open slits. “Huh?”

Dev lunged, grabbing him by the collar and shaking him. He repeated his question and jarred the man out of his sleepy stupor.

“Oh, um, we’ve not got much in the way of mounts in Muddeep. Best we’ve got is the steward’s labor beasts. He rents them out to merchants for a small fee to move goods in bulk to neighboring villages and the like.”

“What are they? And are they fast?” Dev didn’t imagine beasts of burden would help them get to New Haven faster than running.

“Buri bulls. Monstrous things. Tough, made of muscle and anger. Things can move mountains if they ever had the mind to. And once they get moving, nothing stops them. They’ll get you to New Haven better than your own two legs. But”—the barkeeper stroked his chin, shying away from Devrim’s look—“they’re not going to be cheap to rent out from the steward’s other clients. People need to trade after all.”

Dev clenched his fist tighter around the front of the man’s shirt, hauling him closer until they were nearly nose-to-nose. He gave the barkeeper a level stare. “If your steward doesn’t let us use those bulls, Muddeep’s going to lose one of its biggest trading partners. Get us that ride, because I’ve got a feeling some mudware sales isn’t all you’re going to lose. If I’m right, that trouble will head here if we don’t stop it.”

* * *

The bulls lived up to the barkeeper’s description. Each of the trio was built from solid muscle that rippled under their coarse, short hair. Their dark coats were like dull ebony that made their red eyes stand out all the more with menacing intensity. The beasts stood as high as the tavern had back in Muddeep, well over ten feet, and they carried a mass that could have rivaled the building.

Every step sent thunderous waves through the ground as the creatures hauled the flatbed wooden cart the party sat within. Their speed was preposterous for their size, leaving Devrim to squint against the rush of air pummeling his face and forcing him to breathe through his mouth. All he could properly make out were the beasts’ four, curling horns that protruded from the tips of their skulls and angled toward their mouths.

I almost feel sorry for anything dumb enough to get in front of these things. Almost.

“How long have we been on these things?” Erik’s face contorted until his cheeks were pushing up against his eyes, stretching his mouth into what looked like a pained grin. He gripped hard enough on the side of the wagon to turn his knuckles white. “I think I’m going”—he heaved, cutting himself off before taking a breath—“I’m going to hurl.”

Jace had to have been gifted a hint of elven grace that Dev had read about in old stories. The pale elf rested with his back against the siding, legs crossed, eyes shut without a care. A gentle hum passed through his lips like he was sleeping in bed and not rattling around in a cart at high speed.

Keeley sat on her knees, holding to the front of the wooden container. She kept her keen gaze fixed ahead.

“You’ll be fine, man. Besides, you don’t have much of a choice. Think how embarrassing it’ll be if we get there and the first thing you do is puke in battle. We’ll be telling stories about it forever. We will never let it go.” Dev shot him a mischievous grin, hoping the jab would rile Erik enough to sober him.

“Never let it go.” Keeley looked back, adding her own feral grin to taunt the half-troll.

Erik’s cheeks expanded like he was about to void the contents of his stomach, but he traded stares with Keeley, then Dev before composing himself.

Devrim turned his attention to the lead bull, staring at its horns until they appeared to blur. New Haven may have been filled with countless lives that had been programmed to greet players and help shepherd them into the world, but the next batch of people coming into Lorian would need that. Letting them die would be consigning future hunters to an early grave as well.

Besides, Thom is there. The previous night’s information had led him to believe the mayor had misled him, but the current threat tugged at something deep in his gut that told him otherwise. He had to know the truth. It may not give him much other than information, but he refused to go forward blindly any longer.

The developers and station leaders lied to us when they sent us here. Thom might have. No more. Not when my friends’ lives are at stake. I need answers.

“How long till we reach New Haven, Keeley?” He didn’t bother pulling his own map up, keeping his eyes trained on the path ahead. Dev found comfort in the scenery rushing by that he wanted to hold onto for as long as possible before getting to the village.

“At this rate, another half hour. These things have set a crazy pace since we left Muddeep hours ago. It would’ve taken us till tonight to make it here on foot.”

Devrim risked pulling a hand away from the edge of the cart, gripping Thirst. The weapon no longer thrummed in anticipation, nor did it fill his body with the soothing and restorative heat it had during his battle with the greater gorgon. The thoughts occupied his mind until he lost track of time and New Haven finally came into view.

He shook his head clear, narrowing his gaze to try and make out the throng of pale green mobbing one of the homes at the edge of town. “Keeley, can you make out what those things are?”

“Barely. They’re some kind of tiny monster. Their faces are twisted-looking.”

The buri bulls hurtled into the outermost boundary of the village, refusing to slow as they tore onward.

“How do we stop these things?” Erik’s eyes grew to the size of saucers.

Devrim looked ahead to the path the beasts were on, then to the crowd of passing monsters running through the village. A wolfish grin spread over his face. “Maybe we shouldn’t. I think there’s something to letting them run right through the place and trample any of—whatever those are—that get in their way. Get ready to jump.”

Erik looked at him like he was an idiot for suggesting that.

“Or you could stay here.” Dev hauled himself up, looking at the ground, then Gama, who’d been napping peacefully through the entirety of the journey. “Might want to get up and hold tight.”

The toad roused himself, leaping up to cling to his leg without question.

Devrim traded a quick look with Keeley and winked before leaping out of the cart. Maybe I should’ve thought this through better. He activated one of his nearly acquired skills: Fleet-footed.

The rush of air flowing over him seemed to slow from a buffeting to a caressing breeze. Everything seemed slow to his eyes as he touched down on the ground, his knees absorbing the impact without pain. Gama hopped free of his leg. Dev leaned forward and capitalized on the momentum to break into a furious sprint to keep himself from tumbling. A glance to his side revealed he kept pace with the charging buri bulls.

Not bad. Devrim looked ahead, pushing himself harder as he crossed into the village.

The creatures were roughly humanoid. Each stood around waist height, layered in ropey muscles that knotted with effort under their leathery skin. Their features were gnarled and hideous: elongated, crooked noses, protruding fangs that forced their lips to lift up and reveal too much of their gums, and their tapered ears stretched far back. They were a freakish cross between diminutive humans and primates with a hint of reptilian nature as well.

He didn’t slow his pace as he closed in on one of the creatures that had strayed from the nearest grouping of its kind.

It stood shirtless, clad only in a girdle fashioned from discarded rags. The creature turned to face him, its eyes glowing a richer red than the bulls’. Its mouth spread into a ravenous smile as it howled.

The buri bulls hurtled by, creating a current of air that washed over him with enough force to buffet his robes. His passing look revealed that the cart dragged behind empty of his friends.

Hope they made it out fine.

The stamina bar flared to life above, informing him he’d officially entered what the world considered combat. He eyed its rapid deterioration with his temporarily increased speed. Devrim capitalized on his charge and twisted, drawing Thirst into a smooth cast that had quickly become second nature. The blade arced toward the mini-monster, sinking into the side of its head just below its ear. Thirst tore through flesh and sinew only to stop short when it impacted the creature’s upper jawbone.

He paid no mind to the monster’s health, ripping the blade free so he could work it like a spear. Dev plunged the weapon into the freak’s eye, skewering the organ and forcing Thirst’s tip to burst through the back of the monster’s skull. The creature shivered spasmodically before going limp. Devrim pulled his weapon free, risking a moment to identify what the being was according to the bestiary.

Goblin: Short, ugly, and ferocious. Don’t let their size fool you. Goblins always travel in bands. Where there’s one, there’s many, and where there’s many, there’s trouble. Goblins possess a fierce intellect despite looking like mindless savages. These creatures are far stronger than their size suggests, fighting like tiny berserkers able to fend off beings several times larger than them. Add to this their horde-like mentality, a group of goblins will often swarm prey together, tearing their target into strings of flesh and discarded muscle. Goblins are among the most dangerous creatures in Lorian. Don’t go into battle unprepared against them.

Note: Goblin morale is group-based. Every mobile horde has a commander holding it together. Without them, goblins are prone to infighting for dominance and leadership. This can be used to create group chaos. Be warned, should they rally behind a new commander in the midst of battle, they will regroup quickly and fight with new vigor.

Dev reread the information, glancing down at the fallen goblin. The one he’d dispatched didn’t seem to fit the threatening bill. Another look off to the nearest home drove the truth in harder than necessary.

Six goblins swarmed a pair of townsfolk armed with a machete and pitchfork. The men swung and jabbed with their weapons, trying to keep the monsters at bay. It didn’t work. The goblins inched forward, backpedaling in what looked like random succession, keeping the townsfolks’ eyes on the wrong monsters. For every goblin the men forced back, another pair in the group advanced, prompting the men to whirl around to compensate. The goblins closed in inch-by-inch with startling coordination.

Devrim glanced at his stamina bar, which sat close to the quarter mark. With his temporarily increased speed, he might have had a chance to make it. He gritted his teeth and rocketed into a sprint that covered half the distance in a second. Green, tinged with white, strobed with dizzying intensity at the edge of his vision, informing him his stamina had nearly depleted from the enhanced exertion of energy. Devrim pushed regardless and closed in on the house.

Erik staggered into the scene, chest heaving like he was at his physical limit. The half-troll powered through his fatigue and hurled his net to trap a trio of the goblin. Erik didn’t dawdle despite moving with a slight lurch.

He must’ve hurt himself jumping off the cart.

The half-troll drove his spear toward one of the remaining goblins, but the creature bobbed out of the way and charged him. The goblin brandished a curved dagger that looked like serrated bone fastened to crudely sharpened metal. It didn’t seem practical, but the weapon would definitely tear through flesh like a poor saw. Erik battered the goblin across the chest with the back of his forearm. The creature took the blow, wrapping its arms around Erik’s and holding onto the limb.

Dev broke into the group of goblins, stabbing with Thirst like a stake to impale the closest monster to him. The green fiend swatted the katana aside with the bulk of his bulbous club. The stone head of the weapon could’ve broken bone if it landed a hit. Devrim slapped out with his free hand, hoping to catch the monster on the side of its head to stun it. His stamina blinked white before disappearing. His strike fell short as if his limb had fallen asleep.

No.

The goblin leapt, crashing into his chest with its full weight and driving him to the ground. The impact rolled through his back and neck. Devrim’s eyes felt frozen open, transfixed on the goblin raising its club overhead to send it crashing down into his skull. He saw Erik at the edge of his vision come under assault by the remaining free goblin.

The two monsters scampered over him, dragging their hooked weapons through his flesh. His health bar flashed without pause.

Devrim couldn’t see Jace or Keeley anywhere. Gama had likely fled to cover. Think. Get out of this. The answer came to him as he finished his thought. He activated another of his skillshots: Slayer’s Resolve. An ice-cold burst of air shot out from his core, forcing his muscles to contract in reaction. The chilling wave rolled through his body and washed away his fatigue. Devrim snapped up, bringing his forehead into the goblin’s face before it could drop its club. A dull throb rolled through his skull as it bounced off the crown of the goblin’s head.

The creature recoiled, slapping a hand to the injury on instinct.

Devrim didn’t give the goblin a reprieve. He got to a low crouch and slashed Thirst across the monster’s belly, not bothering to finish the job. Devrim pumped his legs, springing off the ground, rushing to Erik’s aid. Thirst resonated with the familiar hum of power within his grip. The recent exchange with the wounded goblin had forced him to abandon his reserve. Devrim focused on another skillshot.

He activated the ability, launching himself into a strike that had saved him many times before. The butt of his weapon hammered into the back of a goblin scrambling over Erik. Stupefied, and unable to keep its hold, the goblin tumbled off of the half-troll’s body.

Erik didn’t give him thanks. The troll busied himself with grabbing the other goblin by the ear, yanking him into the air.

Dev sank his weight, bringing Thirst down into the goblin’s chest cavity, pinning it to the ground. A chorus of screaming informed him the trio of goblins had broken free of Erik’s net. Those three plus the one I wounded. He gritted his teeth and dragged Thirst along the goblin’s upper body in an attempt to bisect it. The katana quivered again, sending tendrils of warmth into his muscles.

His stamina grew in response. Feeding the sword’s hunger slowly renewed him. Nice to know. He finished the goblin off, getting to his feet and spinning to face the oncoming group.

The wave of four goblins crashed into him at once, using their weight and momentum to knock him to the ground. Three of the creatures pinned his arms. The fourth scrambled over him, bringing a spear to his throat.

The heat rolling through him from Thirst had nearly restored his stamina in conjunction with the effects of his other skillshot. He still had another skill left. In his current position, he didn’t see the point of holding it in reserve. He activated the ability: Slayer’s Shadow.

His vision darkened as if a film of mud coated his eyes. His muscles felt like invisible claws raked them, shredding them into bloody ribbons. The scream building in his chest loosed itself until his throat felt raw. A lance of pain shot down his head, running along his spine like it intended to split his body in half through the agony. The overwhelming pain left as fast as it had come on.

The goblins broke their hold on him, chittering as they stumbled back.

He blinked to clear his vision. A figure, wreathed in shadowy tendrils, stood at his side. The man’s outline could have been a perfect imitation of his own if it weren’t for the roiling mass of black swarming around him like a cloak of black fire. The shadow-being drew a katana made of the same material as his body.

Is that supposed to be me?

The goblins screeched amongst themselves, jabbing fingers at him, then his clone.

His dark reflection didn’t need any prompting to rush into action. It charged the group, making no sound as it rushed over the ground. The shadowy manifestation reversed its blade, mimicking one of his abilities. It struck with the pommel of the katana and sent a goblin into a stunned state. The clone sidestepped a blow from another of the creatures, swinging its sword in a backhanded strike that slit the goblin’s throat.

The added kill flared above Dev’s screen, bringing his attention to his stamina bar as well. The stat had nearly depleted from summoning his shadow, but the reflection’s kills fed Thirst’s hunger, powering its strange ability to restore his strength.

It’s like a loop—a bloodthirsty one. The thought brought his mind to another stat. He opened his menu, chancing the risk in the battle to stare at his bloodlust. It had surged in combat. Maybe it’s best if I give into it.

His shadow gave him little choice. It moved like a wraith among the fiends, dancing out of their strikes only to step back in range to cut them down. Within a minute, the black reflection stood overtop the goblins’ bodies, each hacked or skewered into bloody lumps of meat and flesh. The clone lingered for another moment before dissipating like a flame caught in too strong of a gust.

Erik ran over to his side, kneeling to place a hand on him.

Dev took it and got to his feet.

“What was that…thing?” Erik cast a look to where the shadow had been.

“Me, I guess.”

Erik let out a low whistle. “Come on”—he winced, catching his breath—“there’s like a hundred more of these things. We’ve got it cut out for us.”

Devrim turned his toward the rest of the village. The buri bulls had rampaged through the place without damaging a single building. He chalked it up to a minor miracle, if the game-world had allowances for that sort of thing. But the creatures had managed to trample over a fair number of goblins that now lay pulped in a mixture of leathery skin and ichor. “We’ve always had our work cut out for us back on station life. It’s just different here. Now our work means something for us, and for them.” He waved a hand at the villages, some of whom fled, others who stood their ground.

Erik hoisted his spear, a look of grim determination on his face. “Damn right.” The half-troll looked ahead, pointing with his weapon to draw Dev’s attention to the same spot.

He followed the gesture and saw what held Erik’s gaze. A dozen goblins amassed on a nearby slope close to Thom’s home. But their eyes were fixed on Erik and him. A peculiar goblin stood at the front of the group.

Its body was covered in coal-colored armor that couldn’t have been fashioned by a single smith. Each piece was irregularly shaped, seeming mismatched for the creature’s size. Jagged protrusions sprouted from the metalwork. It raised an oversized cleaver into the air, screeching at the top of its lungs to draw all other nearby goblin ears to itself. “Goblin King!” Its cry carried through New Haven.

Echoing screams returned the call until the only sounds on the air was the endless chant, “Goblin King. Goblin King. Goblin King.”

More of the fiends joined the armor-clad goblin. A final howl set them loose into a charge toward Dev and Erik.

At least I know the truth now.

The horde charged.

Chapter Seventeen – The Past

Set Up To Fail

Blades of grass trembled as the mass of goblins stampeded toward them. Dev brought Thirst before him, looking down the length of the blade at the oncoming monsters. He cast a sideways look at Erik.

The half-troll took a step back, eyeing him dubiously. “For the record, your idea to come save this place was stupid.”

Duly noted. Dev stood his ground and focused on his skills. A few had recovered, but not the shadow. Keeley and Jace were still out of sight. And the goblin horde grew in numbers by the second as more of the creatures flocked to them from around the village. He needed to cull their numbers before they were on top of them. “Erik, your net back up?”

The half-troll gave him an affirmative grunt, not waiting for instruction. Erik activated his skill and sent the net into the air. The restrictive mesh sailed out, drifting toward the right to ensnare four goblins.

A second tremor rolled through the ground below him. Dev chanced a look away from the goblins to spot the buri bulls heading his way. Oh…shit. “Hey, Erik.”

The half-troll didn’t look in his direction. His face was tight with anticipation as he stared down the horde. “Yeah, what?”

“Whatever you do, don’t move until I say so. This is another one of my ideas you’re going to hate.”

Erik didn’t listen to him, turning his head to look where he had. The half-troll blinked several times as if he couldn’t believe what he saw. “Those things are heading for us, and you want me to stay here?”

Dev gestured to the horde, which was fifty feet away and closing. “Start running when they’re both on us. Good bet that the bulls will—”

The buri bulls let loose a braying call that morphed into a deafening bellow as they veered off toward the mob. The beasts bucked, sending the cart behind them into a spin that sent the rear wheels striking the ground at a sharp angle, upturning the entire wagon. It flipped, breaking free of the bindings to tumble through part of the goblin army. Wood shattered, sending skewering splinters through a handful of the creatures as the remaining bulk of the cart pulverized others.

The goblin horde scattered, chittering in disarray until the armored creature at the head of the group released a cry that silenced their protests. It made a circular motion with its hand, rallying the dispersing monsters. The leader made a fist in the direction of the bulls, and a dozen of the goblins broke off to pursue them.

“That sort of worked.” Erik frowned, mouthing off a count of the rest of the fiends.

“Sort of.” Dev followed Erik’s example and tallied up the goblins who’d regrouped. Still a ton more of them than us.

The armored leader jabbed his weapon toward him, sending the horde into a screaming frenzy. Goblins rocketed forward in a frenzy.

Devrim flexed his fingers against Thirst, taking a few breaths to center himself before the mass of angry green crashed over him. “You ready?” He didn’t bother shooting a sideways glance at Erik.

The half-troll grunted. “Do I have any other option?”

Not really.

A lance of energy hurtled across his vision, striking a goblin in the front ranks of the charge. The translucent aura of light washed over the creature and dissipated, revealing an arrow embedded in the monster’s gullet. The creature gurgled in futility before falling to its knees. A couple of goblins whipped around to spot the source of the projectile. Twin shafts sank each one of them, burying into their chests.

The horde hadn’t stopped its rush despite coming under fire.

Devrim glanced out of the corner of his eyes in the direction the arrows came from.

Jace had scrambled onto a villager’s home, firing from atop the roof. The pale elf brought his horn to his mouth and blew a crystalline note that carried over New Haven.

It felt like a cool rag had been daubed against his eyes. Dev’s sight seemed to clear from a blurriness he didn’t realize he’d been under. The goblins stood out sharper—closer than before. A faint light hung over each one of the monsters, trailing them in a manner that made it easy for him to separate the creatures within the mass of them. He felt like he could track every one without needing to divert attention to the task.

What the hell is this? He realized a moment later it must have been a new ability Jace had acquired after their quest, something that allowed the pale elf to impart a bonus on the group.

The goblins closed in, only ten feet from him now—a wave of whipcord muscles and gnashing teeth.

“Erik, net again!” He hoped the troll’s ability had recovered in the lull between the buri bulls’ stampede and goblin disarray.

The half-troll flung his net at the forefront of the goblin horde. His skillshot restrained five of the tightly packed monsters, forcing them to the ground to disrupt the charge behind them. Nearly a dozen-plus of the creatures tumbled and caused their comrades pause.

“Move back!” Jace followed his cry with another horn call, stealing the goblin army’s attention. He fell to a knee, nocking an arrow and aiming at the sky. Wisps of golden light threaded around the bow. Jace fired, the bands of energy following the arrow as it soared into the air to shatter. Hundreds of splinters rained down, peppering the goblin horde with steel and wooden shrapnel.

The monster’s chittered in confusion, looking to one another for some semblance of direction.

Now’s our shot. Dev capitalized on their lull to surge toward the armored leader. If I drop him, the rest will flee. Thirst shook in his grip like it protested the idea. He ignored the sword’s trembling and activated a skillshot. The katana flipped in his grip, and he bashed its base into the goblin’s helmet, sending it staggering back. He gave the creature no time to recover and lashed out with a kick to its chest to keep it off balance.

Erik had taken up position beside him, swiping his spear in wide arcs to keep the greatest number of the goblins from getting in too close. The half-troll recoiled as one of the goblins slammed a broad club into his chest. He grunted and stumbled further back before planting his feet to regain his composure. Erik swung his arm out, coils of rope materializing at the end of his throw like magic. Each loop of twine carried fist-sized stones at the end, twirling as they careened through the air to lash around the legs and throats of several monsters. “Didn’t think that skill would come in as handy as it just did.”

Dev ignored Erik’s comment, pressing the goblin leader to keep it from bringing its weapon to bear. A blip informed him his shadow had fully recharged. Hints of light pulled him back into the fray as a pair of goblins flanked their armored commander. The lingering aura helped him navigate around their frantic movements.

One of the goblins lumbered forward, chopping the air above his head in an attempt to split his skull.

Dev watched the blur of light and stepped to the side as the creature’s ax passed through empty air. Thirst thrummed in anticipation of the upcoming kill. Devrim gave the sword what it wanted, snapping out with a strike. Thirst carved through several inches of the goblin’s throat. A deeper heat flowed from his katana into his body, refueling his stamina.

He slammed an open palm into the second goblin. The blow forced the creature back, leaving the commander exposed. The longer this drags out, the worse it’ll get for us. Dev summoned his shadow, gasping as the skillshot drained that majority of his stamina at once. His clone leapt into action without command and dispatched some of the goblins trapped by Erik’s bolas earlier.

The goblin commander leapt forward, barreling into him with the jagged pauldrons.

Rows of heat cut through his flesh as the metalwork sliced through his skin. The goblin’s weight and momentum drove Dev onto his back, causing the spiked armor to bury itself further into him. He screamed, only able to make out the withering bar of red above him. A glance showed him that his clone hadn’t bothered to come to his aid. It busied itself with fending off a larger group of the fiends much like Erik had opted to.

A jarring hammer-like blow slammed into the side of his head, driving his vision into momentary blackness. Dev blinked through the aftermath of the armored fist crashing into his skull. I need to get out of this and fast. His body ached, muscles burning in a mixture of effort and pain from the cuts. Activate skillshot: Slayer’s Resolve.

He felt his strength return, allowing him to right himself and lash out with Thirst. The blade clanged harmlessly off of the goblin’s armor, but the strike had forced the creature to step back in caution. Dev used the newly created gap between them to get to his feet and activate another ability. Fleet-footed sent him into an adrenaline rush. He closed the distance between the goblin commander and himself, jabbing with Thirst until he found some opening in the armor.

His attacks pressed the creature back without pause, leaving it unable to counter. Devrim waited until the monster’s movements clearly slowed and it succumbed to the fatigue of moving under armor. He activated another skillshot, hammering the goblin into a stunned state. Once paralyzed, he carefully wrapped his other hand around Thirst’s edge, jamming the weapon down into the exposed collar around the goblin’s throat.

The commander garbled something indiscernible as he crumpled to the ground. Some of the goblins engaged with Devrim’s shadow spotted their leader falling dead. They quickly released a chittering cry that carried through the ranks. Many broke loose from the group, signaling the rest to follow suit. Goblins poured out of New Haven in every direction, leaving behind only those creatures driven by battle fervor, or stupidity.

Devrim chased and cut down the closest goblin survivors. After rounding the corner of a building, he’d finally spotted Keeley, skulking along the edge of a house up ahead.

The cat-woman lunged out to tackle a goblin to the ground, raking it until it moved no more. She retreated to cover, likely stalking more of the creatures.

Devrim grunted; Thirst and his mounting bloodlust drove him in cleaning up the village. It’d become a cold and methodical process that lasted another half an hour. Every kill caused Thirst to vibrate stronger than before until the blade’s quivering numbed his hand. A cursory look at his stats showcased his bloodlust had capped once again, explaining the mounting throbbing within his head.

Something clapped against his back, sending his heart lurching as he spun around to combat the threat. He swung Thirst and stopped short as the blade came to rest an inch from Erik’s throat.

The half-troll raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. “Whoa. Calm down, Devrim.”

His chest heaved and the pressure within his skull built. Thirst tremored harder than before as if begging him to bring the sword a few inches closer so its edge could taste Erik’s flesh.

Jace came into view behind the troll’s shoulder, nocking another arrow, its point set level with his eye. “Back away from him. Now!”

Dev took another breath, but didn’t move.

“Dev!” Keeley’s lips peeled back to reveal her fangs. “What the hell are you doing?”

Gama hopped behind her, giving him a long look, but choosing to remain quiet. The toad’s silent stare said enough.

He shut his eyes, taking a long breath and counted down from ten. Thirst didn’t relent, shaking him until the tremors made their way deep into his bones. A pair of arms wrapped around his chest and held him firmly. Dev opened his eyes.

Keeley clung to him, prying him away.

The hell is wrong with me? He wrenched the sword away from Erik’s throat, dragging the weapon along his robes until every trace of the crimson veneer had been soaked into the clothing, leaving Thirst pristine. Sheathing the sword, he muttered an apology to Erik.

The half-troll brushed him off with a nonchalant wave. “No…worries. Things got heated is all, right?”

Dev’s hand clung to Thirst, but he pulled it free and stared Erik in the eyes. He felt his friend deserved that much. “Honestly, no. But I intend to find out what the hell that really was. I think it’s something to do with the bloodlust mechanic I have to deal with as a slayer. Thom might know more.” He turned to face the direction of the mayor’s home. “I have a feeling he knows a lot more. And it’s time he told us everything.” Dev marched hard toward the cat-man’s house, not waiting to see if anyone would follow.

If they had the same questions he had, they’d come of their own accord. And if they didn’t, they weren’t thinking hard enough about the world, and it’d likely get them all killed. He hadn’t seen any adverse effects to the other classes and races so far. Just his. There had to be a reason behind that.

Thom will know. He has to…he better. Dev gritted his teeth and picked up his pace.

“Brrp. Are you okay, Devrim?” Gama slapped the side of one of his ankles in what felt like a reassuring bump a friend might give to another. “I haven’t seen you like that before. Your eyes…you looked like you genuinely wanted to kill Erik. Bit frightening if you ask me, which I noticed you didn’t. Mistake, that, not asking me. Always ask a toad for advice.”

He sighed, exhaling through his nose to prolong the expulsion of air and buy himself some quiet. “I’ll remember that. And yeah, something got the better of me. It gets worse the more I fight.” He looked down to one of his hands, clenching it into a fist. “And then there’s the fighting here.”

“What about it—brrp?”

“It’s…easy.” Devrim stopped for a second, staring off into the distance of the village.

Townsfolk moved about with caution, heads on a swivel as if they expected another attack any moment now. They set about picking up any debris, righting overturned carts and stalls, and tending to their wounded.

He pulled his gaze away and turned it back on his fist. “Fighting like this shouldn’t be second nature, Gama. I’ve never held a sword before in my life, but the longer I’m here, the faster it all comes to me. It’s like I’ve done this hundreds of times before.” He let the words hang in the air with a finality he hoped would drive the point into the toad’s mind. Devrim set into motion and kept quiet until he reached Thom’s home.

He raised a fist to pound on the door, but it opened before his hand connected.

Thom stood in front of him, eyes unfocused and dull in color. His face looked sunken as did his shoulders. “I wondered when you’d come.” The mayor’s voice sounded distant and hollow, like he hadn’t spoken of late. “I’m glad you did. The village wouldn’t have fared well without you. Come on in, I’m sure there’s much on your mind.” Thom leaned out of the doorway, looking past him to the rest of his group. “Tell them to come in as well.” The mayor retreated into his home, waving his hand like he was shooing something away.

Random encounter complete: Goblin attack.

Rewards: Crude goblin knife, goblin ears X6, goblin commander helm (trophy), 10 shims, goblin plate armor (set).

Skill points: 2

Dev didn’t bother glossing over the newly added items, figuring the distraction would cause him to lose the more important things on his mind. He followed Thom into his open home without waiting on the others. “Those were goblins…” Dev didn’t bother finishing the statement, knowing the mayor would pick up on the implication.

“Yes, and?” Thom went to the side of his table and sat beside it.

Keeley and the others had made it to the doorway, entering in a single file behind him.

Dev paid them no further mind. “Why did they attack New Haven? I have a feeling I know the answer, but I need to hear it from your mouth, Thom. Why?”

Thom stretched his arms overhead and let out a gentle purr. “Same reason the kaftar did. The Goblin King. I told you he would come for you. More and more of you are loading into the world, and that means more threats. Especially you, Slayer.”

Dev could feel everyone’s eyes settle on him. He didn’t turn to face them, choosing to stare down Thom instead. “So he is real?”

The mayor cocked his head to the side, looking at him like he were an idiot. “Of course the Goblin King is real. Why wouldn’t he be?”

“I told you so.” He didn’t turn around to look at Keeley, feeling the words were enough to drive the point home. He felt her bristle beside him. Maybe I pushed a bit too far, but everyone needs to get that this threat is real, and now. “But why attack again, Thom?”

The mayor brought a fist to his mouth, coughing into it. “To destabilize the town, draw you here, hopefully kill you all. There’s a number of reasons, and I bet all of them are right. New Haven is the start for any hunter. If it stays in chaos through constant harassment, it throws a lot in the world off. That makes it tougher for newer hunters to have a safe haven. It pulls old ones back into a fight here where they could die. It keeps you from having time to grow and advance. See it yet?”

Dev moved along the front wall of Thom’s home, stopping by the window looking out into the village. He stared out it for a long moment. “No, I don’t. But make me. Tell me what’s going on; all of us need to know—deserve to.”

Thom sighed. “You were told to make Lorian habitable—safe, yes?” The mayor cleared his throat, cutting off any response Dev could have made. “Well, it already is in a manner of speaking. At least, for the likes of me and the Goblin King. The recent influx of players is upsetting the balance of that. New people—some of whom might be dangerous—change the power balance and dynamics here. Some who might threaten him, Devrim Bains.”

A hollow thud rang out as his fist collided with the wall. “Threaten him how? We haven’t done anything but just try to figure out our own lives.” Devrim turned around, seething.

“All of your existences are a problem.” Thom gave each member of the group a long and steady look. “You’ve felt it, haven’t you?” His question seemed aimed at all of them. “The subtle shifts and changes in how you act, think, and how easy some things have become.” The mayor broke his gaze, looking at the ground with something almost like shame hanging in his face.

He perked up at that, his stomach buzzing in anticipation of what Thom might have to offer. “You mean how easy it’s been to kill, don’t you?”

The mayor’s mouth pulled into a wan smile. “Yes. Especially for you.” He got back to his feet, brushing off his robes. “Tea, anyone? I promise it’s a better batch than from before.”

Erik raised his hand halfway before realizing he didn’t have to go to that length. Jace bowed his head in what could have been taken as a request for a drink. Keeley and Gama both voiced their desire.

“I’m fine. I just want—need—answers.” Dev’s hand itched, an urge to reach for Thirst kept building within it. He resisted the temptation and flexed his fingers until the feeling subsided.

“I think I have the ones you need, and some you’d rather not hear, Devrim.” The mayor shuffled his way into the room off to the side.

“You have any idea what he’s getting at?” Keeley came to his side, nudging him to get his attention.

Dev didn’t meet her eyes, turning his attention back outside to the cleanup efforts happening in New Haven. “I do.” I just hope I’m wrong, because we can’t afford for me to be right.

Thom returned, carrying a wooden tray with porcelain cups sitting atop. Wisps of steam billowed from each of the amber-colored drinks. “It’s good, I promise.”

Each of the group muttered a thanks while plucking up their cups.

Thom set the tray down on the table, picking up a drink for himself. “Now”—he took a sip, not bothered by the heat of the tea—“Lorian. The world was built to push you all in increments. Every fight, every quest—you’re all nudged and prodded to extremes. Aggressiveness, killing, it all becomes easier here.”

Devrim looked sideways at the man-cat, refusing to meet his eyes completely. He knew where the conversation would go and he waited silently for it to reach that point.

“That’s part of why the Goblin King is concerned. Before the recent coming of players, he was the largest power in Lorian. Your very natures, whatever they may be, will end up the way the world wants. Hunt or be hunted. If you don’t die, you’ll end up coming after him. That’s just the way of it. You’ll be driven to it.”

Dev gritted his teeth. “You’re saying we have no choice?”

“Not much. Least of all you. Why do you think your class was restricted?”

Dev gawked at him.

“Oh, I know all about it. Slayers are this world’s check against stagnation. For hunters becoming complacent. I can see it in your eyes you’ve already acquired a mantle, haven’t you? Do I need to take a guess as to which one?” Thom held up an index finger. “Manslayer, no doubt?”

Dev sputtered.

“Simple guess. It was programmed to be the easiest. You see, what’s more common in Lorian than monsters? People. You were bound to run across some that were dangerous. When you did, you’d be forced to kill them, thus unlocking the mantle. It has a low requirement. Once done, any combat with humans would push you closer to the deep end. The slayer mechanics are geared around bloodshed. You’re supposed to be a killing machine.”

Dev’s head spun in thoughtless disarray.

“What happens when you stay here longer—killing more things and acquiring those mantles? What happens when your bloodlust is constantly at its peak? How long before you turn on the citizens of the world? What happens if you level up the mantles? How long before you turn on the ones who’d stop you, like your friends?”

Silence.

Cold hands raked through the insides of his stomach, clawing at his innards and leaving him in a frozen stupor. I’d been inches away from cutting Erik’s neck.

“It’s just one of the ways the developers on the station could guarantee their end goal. I’m sorry.” Thom sounded as if he were genuinely upset by it.

“And what’s that end goal?” Dev already knew the answer to the question, but he had to ask it.

“Ensure you all die. If not today, then tomorrow. If not then, then many years down the line. It’s the same as life on the station, population control. Hunters will inevitably cross paths. Not all will get along. When things get extreme…” Thom trailed off, leaving the message clear.

“And I’m supposed to just get crazier as time goes along, is that it?” Dev turned to glare at Thom. Everyone else shied away from his stare. He couldn’t tell if it was genuine fear, or just them not wanting to catch his immediate ire.

Thom took another sip from his cup. “Yes. If it’s any consolation, it’s not so much crazy as it is hungry. Your class is built to be a one-man purging system. Cut away the excess in Lorian until you become too dangerous. Then, other players, normally in great number, will come to cut you down.” Thom took a longer drink this time, tilting his head back as if not wanting to look at him for the moment.

Dev exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose. The longer I go in this world and try to survive, the more I push myself down that path. “None of that still answers why the Goblin King sees us as a threat. Screw the mechanics and intent of the world. Why, Thom?”

“He’s become complacent. He’s at the top of a very high peak, and no one is really challenging him. At least, none of the powers programmed into the world. Troll lords leave him be. Havahneko clans avoid this part of the world, choosing to be nomads and recluses. The pale elves have their mountains. But most of the grasslands and inner continent belong to him. He wants to keep it that way. After all, no one wants to die a second time.”

Holy shit. It finally clicked in his head. “Thom…is the Goblin King one of us? Is he a player?”

“Yes.”

Chapter Eighteen – The Past

Choices

Devrim’s mind fell into a tailspin, blurring with thoughts leaving him unable to focus. The voices in the room morphed into distant garbles almost as if they were underwater. Minutes passed before he’d sobered up. “That all fits, doesn’t it? He’s expecting us to do what the station runners planned for all along, to grow stronger, then kill him. Then eventually, someone will come to do the same to us. Just an endless cycle, right?”

Thom sipped his tea, giving him a look that answered the question.

“Right, and it can’t have helped that he’s been here for so long in a position of power—unchallenged. He’s probably gone crazy. I mean I would have.” He regretted saying the words an instant later when the group gave him varying degrees of odd looks. “You know what I meant.”

Keeley rolled her eyes. “That’s why you told me running away wasn’t an option when we first spoke. It doesn’t matter what we planned so long as he’s too paranoid to see anything else, right?”

Thom inclined his head.

“But it doesn’t answer the question of how he knows so much, Thom. Does he know Devrim’s a slayer? That we have someone like him in our group?” Keeley’s voice had wavered near the end with an undercurrent of concern.

“Of course he does. The Goblin King knows nearly all there is about newcomers to the world.” Thom took another long sip, smacking his lips before frowning as he gazed into the cup. “That was a good batch.” He huffed a breath and sagged his shoulders.

Keeley took a step forward, placing her cup down on the tray. She hadn’t taken a single sip from it. “But how?”

Thom shifted in place, unease showing on his face. “Well, that’s a harder question to answer.”

An electric lance went through Dev’s mind, and he surged across the room, drawing Thirst in a fluid motion. He grabbed hold of the man-cat, laying the blade against his throat nearly as he’d done with Erik. “No more games! Not with our lives. Not again. We’re not on the station. Do you understand me? No one is jerking us around anymore. Answer her, now.”

Thom’s eyes didn’t bulge, nor did his body tense in panic. The mayor acted as if he’d expected this. “You’re right, Devrim. I’m sorry. Consider my position, will you?”

He did. Thom was the mayor of New Haven, responsible for it. But in Dev’s mind, it was nothing more than a sleepy village full of lies. The people, as kind and realistic as they may have been, were programmed to be. They weren’t like him and his friends. But Thom was, and he didn’t have the right to weigh his job and artificial townsfolk over the lives of people like him.

“I thought it over. I’m still not feeling that sympathetic. Answer her question, otherwise I’ll start earning a new mantle for havahnekos.”

Thom raised a hand, placing it against Thirst’s edge and gently pushing on it. “I’ll speak. Lower your weapon. Believe it or not, I’d rather not see you jump down this path if we can all avoid it.”

Thom’s words rang within his skull. That implies it might be avoidable. I’ll have to ask about that later. He lowered the sword but didn’t sheath it.

“I tell him, Keeley. That’s how. The Goblin King sends people through New Haven under the guise of merchants every now and again. They always stop by here. I tell them about new developments. It’s how New Haven has stayed relatively undisturbed.” The mayor’s brows furrowed and his eyes narrowed as he shot them all a look of annoyance.

Dev slipped Thirst back into its sheath, moving away from Thom toward the window. Villagers were still busy with restoring the town, tending to one another. He could make out where the bulk of the goblins had been from the trampled blades of grass and mass of footprints dotting the dirt paths. “Yeah, how’s that working out for you, mayor? Because from what I can see, this place isn’t as undisturbed as you think.”

Thom growled, keeping most of the deep burble in his throat, but it was audible enough.

Dev cocked a brow. “Did I hit a nerve? Good. Now you have an idea how we feel.”

“I never lied to you, Devrim. I told you from the start the Goblin King was a threat. You chose to forget about it, or ignore it. I can’t say which, but if you’ve been spending time with her”—Thom broke off and stared at Keeley—“then it’s an easy guess to make. I know how she felt when I first told her. The only thing matters now is what you choose to do about it.”

Dev ignored the mayor, glancing at his friends. “Suggestions? I know you’re all thinking of running. It might work. We could buy ourselves years maybe. But it’s all borrowed time.”

Everyone met his stare, but remained silent.

“We finally have a chance to make lives for ourselves, real ones.” The heat seemed to leech out of his blood and bones, filling his voice for the moment. “We had a taste of that back in Muddeep. We made a difference, saved people. Sure, they’re just programs, but they’re real to each other. We gave them their loved ones back. We ate, celebrated, and had a good night’s rest where we decided when to get back up. When’s the last time we really had something like that?”

Erik licked his lips, looking to Jace for an answer. The pale elf didn’t reply. Keeley turned her attention to the ground much like Thom had.

Gama burbled and raised a hand to draw attention to himself. “I’ve spent most of my life eating and sleeping rather well. Although, my brief time in that prison wasn’t comfortable. It was by far the worst two hours of my life being cooped up there waiting for you.”

Devrim squinted at the toad. “Not helping. Zip it.”

The toad shut his mouth, inflating his throat pouch in what looked like a last act of defiance.

“Look, we’re not going to find any peace in this world until this is dealt with. I can’t see the Goblin King ever leaving us alone. Not when he expects us to inevitably come after him. Better to deal with us while we’re weak in comparison. Besides, I think he’s the key to doing what we’re told to by coming in here.”

Everyone’s ears perked up at that comment.

“Think about it, even if the idea of making Lorian safe was a lie, we could still make it a reality. Just because it’s not the goals of the developers and people back on the station, doesn’t mean we can’t do it ourselves. The Goblin King is the biggest obstacle in our way. I’m guessing the people back home already knew that when they sent us in.” It wasn’t a question, but Dev still turned to face Thom in the hopes the mayor would reply.

“Of course. He was another check left in place, though he came about of his own power, to ensure newcomers to the world would die for good. If you remove him, yes, Lorian would find new stability…for a while.” Thom looked at his empty cup for a long moment.

“What do you mean for a while?” Keeley ran a hand through her hair, tousling it in what could have been a nervous gesture.

“Hm? Oh, remember there are other powers in the world. Most are busying keeping themselves stable, but if the Goblin King falls, it leaves a vacuum that will need to be filled. Lorian will see to that.”

Dev grimaced. The idea of something else rising to that position while they hadn’t even dealt with the immediate threat rankled him. He rubbed a hand against his face as if trying wipe away the fatigue and stress of late. The immediacy of the Goblin King’s danger left him time and thought for little else, including weariness. Enduring it all would be worth it if it meant a safer world for him and his friends.

The Goblin King represented more than a monstrous threat. He stood as a physical representation in their new world of the old life they’d left behind, another force looming over to instill fear and control them. And when the time came, he’d work to end them.

Dev put a hand on Thirst, clenching his fist against the hilt until a deep ache developed and reached the bones within. “Thom, how do we take him out?”

Something deeper than the earlier silences permeated the room. Dev imagined he could hear his own blood pumping, he could certainly feel the throbbing within his temple and throat, but no sound graced his ears. The gentle rising of everyone’s chests told him they were breathing. But he couldn’t make out the faint wisps of air as they inhaled and exhaled.

Gama broke the silence after what felt like an hour of uncanny deafness. “Brrp. What do you mean take him out—brrp? You want to challenge him?” The toad’s eyes ballooned to ridiculous proportions.

“I don’t want to, no. But I don’t see any other choice. We lived our whole lives knowing we’d die early. And now we finally have a chance to live another way. I’m going to fight for it, or die trying, because we’re already dead men and women if you think about it.”

“I’d rather not.” Jace stared deeply into the contents of his cup as if trying to lose himself in the tea. “But…I don’t like the idea of living afraid. Not again. I’m not sure I can go through life like that again.” He moved to the table, setting his tea down.

Erik followed the pale elf’s lead and returned his cup to the tray. “I can’t lie, I’m scared thinking about this. It’s not going to be easy.”

Dev thought it over and admitted to himself that the half-troll had a point. They had only just found their feet within the world. He’d only begun learning the intricacies of his class, not to mention the risks associated with it. Challenging someone who’d grown adept enough in the world to rise to that level of power would be difficult. But what his friends needed to hear was that taking on the Goblin King was possible. He voiced the thought.

“Nothing worth doing is ever easy. If it were, I’m not sure anyone would still do it. But the thing is, this is something we have to do. For the other people coming into this world who’ve had a shit life just like us, and because, dammit, we deserve it too. This is our break. And if we have to do this to make it so, then let’s.

“What’s been easy since coming here? We’ve been under attack every moment since coming here, worrying, trying to find our feet all while knowing there’s a monster out there after us. We’re still here. I want us to stay here—for as long as possible. The Goblin King is another player, which means he can die, right?” Dev didn’t turn his attention on Thom, making it clear through his words that the question was meant for him.

“He can. But you’ll have to get through a lot of goblins to have a shot at him, Devrim. The strength of his class lies in numbers.” Thom exited the room, returning a handful of seconds later with a kettle that still managed to seep some steam. He poured himself another cup of tea and brought the cup to his mouth to blow on it. “He’s a tamer.”

Devrim glanced at the others in the room, hoping one of them would be able to explain.

No one spoke up.

“The one thing you have over the Goblin King”—Thom settled his gaze on him—“is that your class is built on combat. It’s focused on specifically gaining bonuses against any creature you face, including him.”

Goblins. A big one. I’ll have to start hunting them. His mind went back to the recent engagement with the horde. The bestiary had informed him that goblins were monsters with a group mentality. He’d seldom find one alone, much less without a large number around them. Any scenario involved with hunting them meant he’d be fighting handfuls of the freaks. That’s a risk I’m going to have to take.

“Point me in the right direction, Thom. I’ll earn whatever mantles I need. I’ll hunt everything I have to.” Dev pulled his hand away from Thirst and clenched it into a fist, causing his knuckles to crack.

Thom stroked his chin like he was deep in thought. “Tamers with his level of experience and skills aren’t ever alone. It’s unlikely you’ll be able to fight him without legions of goblins by his side. The tamer class revolves around creating allies out of monsters. Somehow, he’s taken it to a level beyond what I thought was possible. Then, that might be because of my ignorance and never needing to leave my life of comfort here.” He waved a hand at their surroundings.

“Tamers can subdue weak-willed creatures, turning them into thralls early on. The potential of the class could be limitless if someone learned to ensnare an entire species.” Thom took another sip, wincing and sticking out his tongue. He hissed and shut his eyes as if trying to work through the pain of burning the organ. “It was rather smart of him to pick goblins. They already tame other monsters like the kaftar. He’s built himself a nice army.”

Keeley let out a low rumble, holding up a hand and extending a finger. “So we have to take out his army of goblins.” She raised another finger. “Get Devrim a mantle that gives him a bonus against them.” She extended another digit, repeating the process as she counted off the other goals. “Level up ourselves. Find the Goblin King, wherever he is. And then…kill him.”

Jace snorted, rolling his eyes. “Is that all? Piece of cake.” He idly strummed his bowstring, humming to himself.

“It’s a plan.” Devrim summoned his map, pulling out of the close-up view on New Haven to take in as much of Lorian as he could. “So let’s get started.”

Thom came over to him, cup still in hand. He took another swig of tea while motioning with his hand over Dev’s map. “Here.” He pointed to a region several days’ journey from where they currently were. “This area is ripe with wild goblin clans that haven’t been tamed into submission. It gives you some options. You could try to slay as many as you can, earn a mantle and many skills…” Thom trailed off and took a longer sip.

Dev sensed an underlying suggestion in what the mayor had said. “Or?”

“Or, possibly convince them to join you against the Goblin King.” Thom’s answer sounded like it should have been obvious. But the idea of turning creatures like that against someone whose entire strength rested on putting monsters under his power seemed out of reach.

“It’s an idea…” Dev mulled it over. “But one thing’s still missing. We have no idea what the Goblin King even looks like?”

Thom meowed, brushing the back of a hand against the fur lining his throat. “Mm. I haven’t met him myself, but by all descriptions, he’s a fiendish thing larger than your half-troll friend.” He gestured to Erik. “It could be a benefit of his class. Tamers do get a bonus for the more creatures they enthrall.”

Great. A supersized goblin. Dev kept his reservations to himself. “Thom, I don’t suppose you have a ride we can borrow to get out there?” He pointed to the spot Thom had shown earlier on the map. “I mean, you are mayor.”

The man-cat growled, but didn’t protest further. “I’ll arrange something.”

“Alright, let’s go goblin hunting.”

Chapter Nineteen – The Past

The Road to Brisane

The carriage juddered and rocked nearly every few feet they traveled as if the road were nothing but uneven and littered with stones. Dev bounced off the wooden pew, crashing back onto it. He leaned to the side and rubbed his bottom, scowling. “I almost regret not walking.”

Keeley rolled her eyes. “You’d be more than a day behind us if you had.” She yawned, stretching her arms overhead as she leaned against the canvas covering of their ride. The arched fabric roof sank against her weight before going taut. “The ride’s not so bad. I slept fine.”

Erik grumbled from his position on the floor, rolling over onto his side. “At least someone did.” He mumbled further under his breath and sprawled his body. “I’ve gotten hours here and there. I hate this thing. Wish I was a narcoleptic like Jace.”

The pale elf sat huddled in the far right corner of the carriage, head resting against his knees. “I’m not narcoleptic.” He let out a small groan. “I’m trying to rest up before this big hunt. If you’re having trouble, then spend some time tuning your skills and leveling up.” Jace turned his head to the side, smacking his lips and falling back to sleep.

Dev decided the pale elf had a good point. They had another day of riding before reaching the region of Brisbane. He opened his menu, tumbling through the list of skills he’d acquired as well as the ones he hadn’t. With the two points to spend, he had a choice of options to follow. He could procure another skill, possibly two, or he could invest them in empowering the abilities he already had.

Dev returned to his current skills, evaluating the cost to benefit for investing points into them. Reverberating Strike gained a longer duration for the stun if he invested another point into it. Putting the second into the skill gained him the ability to use it twice before triggering the cooldown.

Not bad. It puts two monsters out of commission for a while. Could be handy with what we’re going into.

Feeding points into his shadow didn’t have a reward he could capitalize on immediately. The ability would last longer, but it wasn’t much considering how quickly the clone dissipated. He gauged the long-term potential of the ability in leading to a shadow that could endure so long as it continued to slay creatures. The cost gave him pause. He’d have to invest both his remaining points just to get the ability to work for another ten seconds.

But that’s an eternity in a fight.

Fleet-footed only offered to increase his speed, but the stamina drain went up commensurately. The remaining skills he trundled through tempted him, but the battle ahead impressed upon him the need to better hone the ones he had. With that in mind, he returned to what had become his favorite and allocated both points into it.

Reverberating Strike lvl 3 – Perform two attacks that leave opponents in a daze for a longer period of time than previous levels.

He returned to the main menu, glossing over general info, some of which detailed recent events. His mind drifted to the quest with the gorgons. He had led his friends into it as just a simple excursion. It had been a way to test the depths of hunting, play with their classes and learn, and it had nearly gotten Erik killed.

It’s only luck that the game had a mechanic to reverse petrification. The quest made it obvious in hindsight, but another question lingered in his mind. What if it’s not always like that? He glanced to the restless half-troll, still struggling to find some sleep. I have to do better.

He replayed the quest over in his mind, reconsidering every choice he had made and how he could have done it without putting people at risk. No answers came to him. Dev closed the menu with a swipe of his hand, grinding the heel of a palm against his forehead.

“What’s wrong?” Keeley let out a rumbling purr as she stretched, eyeing him with a look of concern.

He told her about his doubts with the previous quest and where he was leading them.

“You just realized that you can’t protect everyone?” She gave him a sympathetic smile. “I figured it out a few days after getting here. It’s great that you want to, Dev. It really is. But that’s not how life works. Sometimes…sometimes all you can do is your best and trust that when things screw up, that you can fix them. It’s not ideal, but it’s doable. Someone got hurt. But you figured out a way to save them. That’s what matters.” A heat entered her eyes that made it clear he wasn’t supposed to argue.

“Believe me”—Dev balled his fists, looking out the carriage rear—“I intend to fix a lot of things. I’m going to save us and this world.” Because I have to. He pulled up his menu again, dragging the screen until the bestiary hung before him. A few swipes brought up the list of monsters he’d come across. He focused his attention on the listing about goblins, committing every detail to memory until his eyes ached and a fire built in the back of his mind.

“Don’t stress yourself out, Dev.” Keeley got up from her seat, crossing over to his side of the carriage and plopping down beside him. She nudged him gently with a shoulder. “And don’t say you’re not stressing yourself out. I can see it in your face. You look like you’re constipated.”

He frowned, pulling away from the bestiary. “I mean, we have been on the carriage for over a day with nothing but a few rations Thom gave us. I could be.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re not funny.”

“I’m hilarious. Tell her, Gama.” Dev moved his foot, prodding the toad napping beneath the wooden bench.

“Hrm. Brrp. Why would I lie to Keeley?” The toad looked at him, bulbous eyes blinking in confusion.

Keeley stifled a laugh by burying it in the crook of one of her arm.

Dev scowled at the toad. “How come I got stuck with the ass of a companion?”

Gama inflated, waving an arm in protest. “Brrp. I’m no mere companion. I’m a battle toad. Remember this, Slayer. It’s because of me you’re still alive.”

Keeley’s laughter doubled.

Dev tried not to let it infect him, but he realized the toad hadn’t argued the ass comment. He considered that a win. A smile touched his lips as he rested his head against the carriage’s covering. Despite the ride’s discomfort, the little moments like this pulled away the stress weighing on his mind.

We never really got to have bits like this in our lives back on the station. It was always to work, eating separately, then back to our quarters under escort. Guess they did that to keep us alone, from connecting. Maybe they knew if we did, it’d be harder to keep us down and accept our fate. The thought galvanized him. And it’s why we won’t accept this either.

“What’s on your mind?” Keeley shoved him lightly, rousing him out of his train of thought.

“Just this. That if we work hard, take some risks, this could be normal.” Dev met her gaze, smiling. “That we can have these passing moments that you remember forever, you know? Laughing with friends, trading barbs, going on adventures like in the stories. The things you grew up reading about in books—about what life really was meant to be. It’s not easy, but it’s something spent with people. And in the end, it’s not really about the hardships. It’s about the bits like this, sitting in a carriage arguing with a toad and a cat-woman.”

Keeley leaned against him, slipping an arm under his. “Yeah. It’s not so bad when you think about it like that. It’s been a blur to survive since getting here. All the things Thom talked about, the slipping over the edge to become killers.” She sucked in a breath and shuddered. “It freaks me out. But, hearing what you said, and just being here for this, it makes me think that maybe we don’t have to end up like that.”

I’d like to believe that. He brought his menu back up on to check his stats, staring at the bloodlust listing. It had sunk since the battle and hit zero. The decrease in the stat explained his tranquility, but the flexibility of the bloodlust caused him to mull over the other defining traits. He stared at this speed, which ranked significantly higher than rest of his attributes, and through no choice of his own.

Is it tied to class, race, something else? It could be a mix of all three. His thoughts must have shown on his face, for Keeley needled him with an elbow to get his attention. “Hm?”

“Trying to figure out your stats?” She gestured to the screen. “I’ll save you the time. They don’t really spoon-feed that to you here. You come in with those modified by your race and class. Though”—she frowned, casting another look over his screen—“I’ve never seen anyone come in with nothing in the other attributes. Weird.”

“You’re telling me. I’m trying to figure out how to up the others. I’m guessing it’s why I can’t shrug off hits the way Erik can. He handled getting shredded by a few goblins at the same time without trouble.”

The half-troll grunted, propping himself up on his elbows. “Still hurt a ton.” Erik lowered himself back to the carriage floor, struggling again to find a position that’d let him find solid rest.

Keeley pulled up her own screen, tugging on his robes to pull his attention to it. “They don’t change on their own or with skill points once we’re done choosing our characters. It’s done through armor and weapons, buying new ones or augmenting what we have. That’s why I was on that quest hunting the Chased.” She scrolled to another display, showcasing spools of silken thread.

Dev raised a brow, waiting for her to explain the items.

“I hoped I’d come across a town with some smiths and merchants better than anywhere else I’d been. New Haven doesn’t have much for a girl to work with. But these silks can be woven into an outfit that ups my speed and imparts a bonus to my class.” Her eyes twinkled. “Extra stealth. If you bother to dig around for the right materials, you open up a list of added benefits for armors you can make. This stuff won’t offer me much in protection, but then, I don’t get hit much.” She gave him a chiding look.

He rolled his eyes, swiping through the menu to glance over everything he’d picked up of late. The bits of kaftar, as well as the gorgon refuse, didn’t seem to add up to much in his mind. I need to keep an eye out for useful materials. The thought forced him to consider his weapon and what Keeley had said. The idea of changing Thirst, even to improve it, caused his skin to itch.

The sword hadn’t let him yet, despite its odd behavior. Thirst had only rewarded him for using it faithfully. He’d awakened a hidden nature within the katana that aided him in battle when it came to his stamina. The ingrained appetite the weapon carried also seemed to work in tandem with his bloodlust, making him a temporary killing machine so long as he continued to slay.

It’s not ideal, but it keeps me alive.

He thought back to when he’d first entered the world and scanned over his clothing. The description he’d been given about his robes hinted at a similar potential like Thirst. Dev pinched a bit of the fabric between his thumb and forefinger, rubbing the material as he thought. The robes promised a return to their former glory if he nurtured them somehow. The name implied bathing them in blood.

It was macabre, but fit his class and race’s history. Guess I should focus on improving them rather than trading them out. The carriage slowed to a halt with a judder. He frowned, leaning forward to give himself a better view out of the open back.

Night had fallen over Lorian, deepening during their conversation. Dev couldn’t make out much but the open and arid path behind them. “We can’t be there already.”

Keeley shook her head, confirming what he had said.

The twin flaps at the front of the carriage opened and the driver, hidden beneath his wide-brimmed hat, rapped his knuckles along the wooden frame below to get their attention. “Rockfall’s blocked the road ahead. Gonna have to set about clearing it unless you want me to back up and find another way?”

Keeley gave him a questioning look before turning back to the driver. “Does this happen often?”

The man ran a finger along the rim of his hat, tugging on it as he kept them waiting. “Heard it does. Don’t come out this way often. Out here in these stone mountains, it’s common enough. Dry rocks crumble and come crashing down and blocking the roads.”

“What do you think, Dev? Are your slayer senses tingling?” Keeley’s ears twitched, and the hairs where she sported patches of fur stood up on end.

The fallen rocks seemed a common enough phenomenon according to the driver, but every deterrent since coming into the world had been driven by trouble in his experience. “What else is out here?”

The man hummed to himself for a count of ten seconds. “Loads, really. But in these parts…hobs. Don’t venture out till night. Nasty things. Not keen on running into any.”

Keeley pursed her lips, her nose wrinkling as she did. “What are hobs?”

Cries filled the air followed by wet gargles. A flash of white tore through the canvas top of the carriage, sliding between Keeley and him. The shale, makeshift spear quivered in place before settling.

“I think you’re about to find out.” Devrim raced toward the back of the carriage to leap out into the night.

Chapter Twenty – The Past

Hobs in the Dark

Another spear pierced the canvas lining, nearly skewering his arm. Dev stumbled to the side and grabbed hold of the backboard of the carriage. He hauled himself over it, hitting the ground hard.

The arid landscape stretched for miles in both directions. Sand and grit, peppered with larger stones, made up the surface of the ground. Walls of hard rock towered on either side of them and formed a long, canyon corridor, entrapping them. The land was the antithesis of New Haven. Dev couldn’t see a single green thing anywhere.

The gurgling sounds grew.

He turned toward the source, drawing Thirst.

The creatures reminded him of grotesque babies engorged to the size of a young child. Each of the monsters was a sickly pale gray, their skin carrying a wet shine that caught the moon’s light. Their beady eyes seemed too small for their misshapen and thick heads. The hobs’ bellies jiggled as they waddled, straining their matted loincloths.

Dev made a note of the crude, wooden implements they carried. A few of the monsters held sharpened sticks, paler in color than their own skin. It took him a second to identify what they were made from. That’s not shale. It’s bone.

Hobs: These hideous creatures roam all over the world of Lorian, normally preferring the safety of dark caves and reclusive mountain tunnels. Some bands have been found to hole up in abandoned mining operations. Small, always sticking in large numbers, and particularly aggressive for their size, hobs come out at night to attack unsuspecting travelers. They’re also known for kidnapping young children to feed on. Unlike other creatures of their size and demeanor, like goblins, hobs aren’t rather intelligent. They’ve been known to drown themselves while bathing in deep waters, and many get lost without their group.

Dimwitted though they may be, these pack monsters can successfully overwhelm a party with their numbers and crude weaponry.

Note: Hobs are blind and hunt by sense of smell—tracking pheromones—and their keen hearing.

Dev ran along the side of the carriage, tapping Thirst along its wooden side. The effect was instantaneous.

The hobs hooted and jeered, jabbing their weapons in his direction. They rushed after him.

A mound of rocks, nearly as tall as him, stood off a dozen yards from him. He ran toward and circled around the structure. A few slaps against the stone with Thirst caused the hobs to readjust their course, charging after him.

He peered past the collection of rocks to see Keeley and the others had dismounted from the carriage, running behind the hobs. A faint grin spread over his face. We’ve got them surrounded.

A few of the hobs at the front of the charge reared back their heads, lurching forward to spit globs of viscous mucus. Each blob struck the group of stones standing before him, hissing violently as puffs of smoke rose from their impact.

Of course it burns through stone. He gritted his teeth and did a rough tally of the incoming hobs, counting almost two dozen of the creatures.

The first of the hobs reached the stone and swung a club at the rocks. It crashed into the formation, turning part of it to rubble, carrying through to strike his chest.

The breath left his lungs, leaving behind a tightness that burned. He fell to the ground, backpedaling. Just a bit closer. He waited until the closest hobs pressed their advance, piling up into a tight-knit group, eager to be the ones to kill him. “Erik!”

The half-troll lumbered forward, swinging an arm to cast out a net. It spiraled through the air before a faint shimmer came to life around it. The net split into two, trapping seven of the hobs in front of Dev.

Good move. He scrambled to his feet, settling his gaze on the hobs who weren’t pinned. Dev summoned his shadow. The maneuver sapped him of what little air and strength remained inside him. His stamina plummeted, but the dark apparition flared to life and sprang into action.

It plunged the katana through the ear of a hob, sinking it in until it came out the other side of the creature’s skull. In a single and smooth twist, the shadow slid the blade clean through the rest of the head, sinking to a knee to carve into the belly of another hob.

Showoff. He clutched to Thirst’s hilt, taking in a slow breath as the familiar warmth passed into his limbs. His shadow’s kill fed the blade’s hunger and renewed his stamina slightly. It was enough to activate another skill. He kept from using an ability until he closed in on a few of the hobs by his shadow. “Erik, pick off the ones in the net. Jace, drop whatever you can on the outside of the mob. Keeley, pick off any of them straggling or trying to run away.”

One of the hobs lurched off-balance toward him, dragging a piece of wood with bony protrusions. It flailed, overcommitting to the swing to stumble past him.

Dev clipped the creature on the side of the skull with the back of Thirst. He dragged the blade across the back of the hob’s neck, working it like a saw until it met bone. Another hob barreled toward him with a pair of jawbones still filled with teeth.

Well, that’s creative.

Dev activated Slayer’s Resolve. He brought Thirst smacking into the hob’s forehead.

Another creature flanked him, jabbing him with a bone spear.

The muscle of his arm exploded into hot agony as the weapon pierced his flesh. He screamed, nearly losing his grip on the katana.

His shadow came to his aid, bringing its dark blade overhead to bisect the hob with a downward chop. The sword came to an inch of the creature’s skull before his shadow spasmed and lost clarity. It dissipated before the weapon cut through the hob.

The hob leered, its lips pulling away from its teeth to revealed yellow stains and chipped enamel.

Guess toothbrushes don’t exist here. He shut his eyes through the pain, trying to think of a way out. The answer came to him an instant later. He reactivated the same ability, hoping the second use would go smoothly considering his position. Dev’s hand clung to the blade with a strength outside his own as he moved, pushing the spear further through his arm. A fire seared his muscles and made its way deep into his blood and marrow as he crashed the cap of the hilt into the second hob.

The beast reeled and broke its hold on the weapon.

Dev gingerly moved Thirst to his left hand. The weapon felt awkward in his grip but he convinced himself it wouldn’t matter much if he kept his attacks simple. He twisted and jabbed Thirst into the hob’s face. The sword pierced the creature’s nose, making its way into the center of its skull.

The hob twitched once before collapsing.

Dev wrenched the weapon free, lurching to the side and using the momentum to power the blow as Thirst carved through the arm of the previously stunned first hob.

Wet squelching sounds drowned out the creature’s cries.

Dev looked out of the corners of his eyes to see Erik spearing the remaining pinned hobs with brutal efficiency.

Something whistled through the air beside him. He turned to watch an arrow bite into the chest of the hob he’d dismembered. Another shaft buried into the monster’s left breast, followed by a third. Blood pooled with saliva in the creature’s alack mouth, foaming as the hob gurgled. It fell to the ground an instant later.

Keeley systematically took fleeing hobs to the ground and raked them into shredded lumps of meat.

Devrim exhaled. The simple motion caused the spear in his arm to twitch, reigniting the pain in his limb. He winced, spitting out a curse, waiting for the injury to disappear as soon as the battlefield.

Wild random encounter complete: Hob attack

Update: Follow the hobs back to their caves to find a way around the roadblock

Rewards: Crude cudgel, hob fat X8, glo dust X5

Skill points: 1

That answers the question of the roadblock. He grimaced and fumbled to reverse his hold on Thirst, wiping the blade clean as best he could against his robes. He figured the fabric would appreciate the small offering of hob blood and hoped it brought him closer to the promise made to him about its nature.

The spear hadn’t vanished from his arm, clinging to him with a weight and chill that numbed the limb. He planted Thirst, point down, into the ground to free his hand. He gripped the hob’s weapon, tugging on it to pull it through his torn muscle. Every inch sent tendrils of pain coursing through his arm into his fingers as well as pinpricks in the back of his eyes. He gritted through it, grinding his teeth to the point his gums ached. Dev removed the spear and let it fall to the ground.

He spotted the carriage driver watching the scene unfold, perched atop the canvas covering as if getting out of reach of the hobs and using it like a viewing platform. “I think you should head back to find a new way around.” Dev tilted his head in the direction they’d come from, hoping the driver would agree.

If the road ahead was anything like this altercation, they’d be moving along in a target. He wagered their best bet would be to heed the impromptu quest’s advice to follow the hobs. The message hinted at that being a way to find a route around the roadblock. If it panned out, they could reunite with the driver up ahead. He informed the driver of his plan, keeping his voice high enough so his friends could hear him.

The driver shouted back in agreement and returned to the reins, easing his horses to turn around in the canyon passageway. Upon his successful realignment, the spear vanished from the ground along with the hob’s bodies.

The pain in his arm grew distant. He shot a look at the limb, worried. The wound had healed as the encounter had been deemed officially ended by the world’s standards. He let out a short huff of agitation, plucking Thirst up from the ground to sheath it.

Alright, just need to find this hob cave. Can’t be far. The memory of the wound sent a phantom pillar of pain arching through his arm for a second. He shook his head, clearing it away before waving at his party.

Keeley and Erik came over to him while Jace swiveled in place, bow still drawn as if he expected more trouble.

“You all get the same update about the hob caves?” Dev moved down the path they’d come from, trying to better make out the stone walls on either side of him. He couldn’t spot any sort of opening that could serve as the entrance of a cave.

Keeley crossed over to the left side of the canyon path, jumping toward the rock face. She gripped it with her hands and feet, scrabbling for a second for purchase. The havahneko found it and scaled the stone for several yards. She peeled away from the canyon formation a bit, hanging on with one hand and both her feet as she twisted to eye the path behind them. “I can’t see anything that could be what we’re looking for.” She released her hold, falling to a deep crouch as she hit the ground.

“Huh. Did you know she could do that?” Erik ran a hand through his hair, playing with it idly.

“I do now.” Dev filed that away for later, imagining her climbing abilities could come in useful. He put a hand to his mouth and whistled to get Jace’s attention. “Jace, what do your elf eyes see?”

The pale elf lowered his weapon, turning to stare at him in confusion. “What?”

“Nothing. Just something I read once in a scan save of an old book.” Dev placed a hand to his brow, squinting to better help him peer into the dark ahead. It didn’t help. “I wanted to know if you could see anything out there.”

The pale elf mimicked him, raising a hand to his forehead to help him focus his gaze. He frowned and shook his head. “Nothing.”

Keeley strode over to him, gesturing ahead to a part of the left side of the canyon wall. “Part of the stone juts out on the side. I can’t see past it, but it’s not that far ahead. It could be where they came out from.” She looked back to the blocked part of the road. “They’re stubby little things. If they made that rock fall somehow, they can’t have walked too far from their cave to do it.”

The logic worked for him. “I buy it.” Dev summoned his menu, scrolling through it to track the newly acquired two points. “If you need to level up a skill, do it now before we go in. I don’t want anyone wishing they’d done something earlier if we can take care of it now.” He heeded his own advice, going over to his skill points, watching his friends do the same.

A similar problem as earlier presented itself. He could invest in a prior skill, or buy something new. Keeley had no idea just how many we can stack before hitting a limit. He frowned, considering if it was worth burning the points to test the boundaries of how many he could have. His upgrade of Reverberating Strike had potentially saved his life in the battle minutes earlier. But so could something new.

He trundled through his list, spotting a new series of entries that were shaded in gray and marked by a line of question marks. Dev clicked on one.

Purchase and upgrade more skills to gain access to these.

Dev kept that in mind, reasoning that more powerful abilities lay in wait to reward his diligence in hunting and questing He continued perusing through the list until he came across a skill considerably more useful in offense than his previous ones had been: Skewer.

Skewer: The slayer lunges forward at ballistic speed, driving their blade out into an impaling strike that can pierce shields and armor. With years of practice, slayers have learned how to get the most out of their near supernatural speed, using it to propel themselves like the wind and cut through stone, metal, and bone alike. This ability can be used pierce objects outside of combat as well.

The skill’s cost sat at two points. He mulled it over, managing to find a few more abilities he could purchase for a single investment each. However, none of them offered the potential for use out of battle. He thought about the applications for a moment, realizing the tip of the weapon had a finite space he could use to impale things, but it could be handy if used properly. He purchased the skill, causing another screen to flash before him.

Four out of eight active skillshots and one ultimate equipped. After reaching the maximum allotted, please create sub-profiles with skill loadouts to switch between them faster.

Ultimate sounds promising.

Keeley let out an undulating purr that pulled him out of his thoughts. “I just saw your screen. So, eight max?”

He nodded. “Figured you would have come across that message by now with how long you’ve been doing this.”

She shook her head. “I’ve been pouring points into this.” She showed him a skill on her screen.

Havahneko’s walk: The famed half-cat people of Lorian have developed a specialized style of walking and running that minimizes noise while not impacting their animalistic speed. They move silently, able to pass by unknown and stalk their prey in a low crouch, muscles always at the ready to help them pounce into action.

Havahneko’s walk lvl 4: Through constant training, the player has developed the ability to run at full speed without making a sound. Havahnekos who progress to this level are able to launch attacks that enemies cannot detect as long as the player does so out of immediate range of enemy vision. Player is now able to use their cat-like dexterity and strength to scale walls as quietly as they move on ground and through trees.

“I’m a bit like you, Dev. I can’t really take a hit. Besides, I don’t really want to. I’ve been pumping points into boosting that passive skill because it costs me nothing in a fight and gives me nearly every advantage I could want. All I have to do is find some quick cover for an enemy to lose sight of me, and then I can come back around and get the drop of them without making a sound.”

He couldn’t argue with her reasoning. The way she’d designed herself also added an extra dynamic to their group that would only help. Having someone able to slink out of enemy eyes and able to move stealthily could save their lives in the cavern trek to come.

She closed her menu, walking off and beckoning him with a hand to follow. “If you’re worried after seeing my skills that I’ve got nothing else, don’t. I have two combat ones. It’s not much, but with that sneaking ability, it all adds up.” Keeley picked up her pace, her footsteps living up to her skill’s promise as she moved soundlessly.

Dev lengthened his strides to come by her side. Gama finally left the carriage to trail behind him, but he ignored the toad. “With that and your night vision, you should take the lead again in the dark. I’m not sure it’d be smart having Erik up front, even though his bulk would protect us from a lot. Then there’s his nets. They could help, but I’d rather know what’s going on before walking into it.”

Keeley bobbed her head in agreement. “Well, looks like I was right.” She pointed past the stony protrusion. “There’s a huge opening in the canyon wall.”

Devrim rounded the jutting rock face and saw a cavernous maw of darkness that seemed to pull in what little light hung in the night. “Looks welcoming.” He waited for Jace and Erik to catch up before telling them the plan. “Keeley’s leading with me in front. Erik, I want you behind us. Anything tries to get to close to us, pin them and take them out. Anything tries to get past you…don’t let it. Jace, help slow or pick off anything rushing toward them.”

Everyone agreed with his plan, except Gama. “Where will I be?”

Dev rolled his eyes and motioned for Keeley to enter the cave, moving to enter alongside her until the darkness swept over them.

Chapter Twenty-one – The Past

Worse Things in the Dark

Cold stone nicked part of his ankle, grazing the flesh enough to be irritating. He grumbled to himself and cursed the darkness. There seemed to be no way around it but to rely on Keeley’s night vision. Dev had experimented with pulling his menu earlier, hoping the faint light from the display would radiate through the cavern and give the party some ease in navigation. It hadn’t worked.

He returned to the menu in a fit of frustration, working to see if anything else could lend a hand.

Keeley hissed at him. “If I can see that, then so can anything else.”

“Hobs are blind…but they’re not deaf.” He didn’t shut off the screen, moving toward the section holding the items he’d managed to collect so far. Something tugged at him about the glo dust he’d picked up from the hobs. Its name hinted at a trait that could be helpful, so long as the misspelling still carried the same meaning as the word it was intended to be. He pulled up a description for the pouch of dust.

Glo dust: Harvested from the gubroot plants growing deep within the caves throughout Lorian. The dust is really a pollen residue that reacts to the touch of hunters, drawing on their innate and latent magical potential, which gives them their abilities, to temporarily illuminate the immediate area. If you find yourself in dark places, take a pinch of glo dust and throw it.

Be warned: It lets you see in the dark, but what’s in the dark can just as easily see you!

“You all catch that?” Dev selected one of the bags of dust, opening it with two of his fingers. He reached in and grabbed a pinch. The screen informed him that a single use of the bag, no matter how small a dose he took, would consume the entirety of the item. “Ration what you have. We have no idea how far this cave system goes on.” Dev threw a scattering of the glo dust in front him.

Motes of golden-yellow light strobed into existence, casting their glow over the stone walls of the cave. It reminded him of the story he’d alluded to earlier with Jace. Dark stone, shining in places with hints of moisture, made up most of the cavern. Pointed formations plunged down from the ceiling like gruesome teeth. The dust flitted forward on its own despite no current of wind to carry it, bringing light to the rest of the pathway.

The tunnel went on for some distance, forking ahead into three paths.

Dev shrugged, nudging Keeley to resume the lead as he considered how to best decide which way to take. They reached the split, and all eyes turned to him. The glo dust hadn’t permeated the paths ahead. Devrim ran his hand along the cavern floor until coming across loose stones. He scooped them up in a smooth movement, bouncing the trio of rocks on his palm.

“Get ready just in case something hears this.” He ignored the bewildered looks his friends gave him. A quick snap of his wrist sent one of the stones hurtling down the far left path until it struck something, echoing back with a crack. Fortunately, no monstrous cries followed the sound. He repeated the process down the other two paths. The toss down the center resulted in a faint thunk as the stone sounded like it finally hit the ground and skittered along to a stop. The right path sent back a dull and hollow note like he’d struck a solid wall.

“Don’t know what’s on the left, but it could get narrow in there. That’s what I’m thinking. The hobs weren’t exactly nimble things earlier. It’d probably be a pain for them to wobble through that. The center could be pretty open—wide enough for them to move through in their numbers.” He waited for his friends to consider what he’d said.

A handful of seconds passed in silence before they made varying gestures of agreement.

He took a breath and stepped into the middle passage, whispering to Keeley to keep her eyes open and alert. Dev lost track of time as they navigated the twists and turns of the single passage without incident. His knees and calves ached from their crouched shuffle through the place, but he dealt with the discomfort by reminding himself of the hobs’ keen hearing.

A series of snuffling sounds came from up ahead.

The group stopped, Keeley’s body going rigid as she moved her head on a swivel trying to track the noise. Erik shimmied in place and spread his arms as if trying to make himself as wide as possible. Jace sank lower to the ground and drew an arrow, not quite nocking it.

Dev considered throwing another batch of glo dust. He refrained from doing so, instead leaning close to brush his cheeks against Keeley’s. “Psst.”

The snuffling ceased, replaced by the sounds of intense sniffing.

He shut up and hoped Keeley understood why he’d leaned in close to her and spoke. A hand fell on his chest, pushing back lightly. It was a signal of danger ahead.

Erik shifted in place again, his mouth and nose twitching in a nervous tell.

Jace exhaled through his nose, a barely audible wisp of air leaving him. The pale-elf tugged a bit on his arrow, finally applying a hint of pressure on the bowstring.

Keeley’s hands flexed as she extended her claws.

Dev thought about drawing Thirst, but the subtle sound of pulling the blade free wouldn’t go unheard by the hobs. We’re in a tight spot. If we stand, we’ll have an easier time, but any movement could make noise against the rocks and set the monsters off. He took the risk, getting to his feet. The fire in his legs eased as he relieved most of the pressure on them.

Jace took a cue from him, standing as well to be able to fire a shot over Erik’s massive form.

A familiar gurgling filled the air.

Yellow light cascaded over Keeley, pooling into the area ahead to flood it with the golden-pale glow. Erik gave him an apologetic frown and shrug as the bag of glo dust vanished from his hands.

Countless hobs huddled together in a circular room within the cave. Their numbers came in at triple that of the previous assault at a rough count. Dev clenched his jaw, surveying the tightly packed room as well as the ground. He wouldn’t find even footing there. Erik’s bulk and slowness wouldn’t do him any favors. Jace’s natural grace, as well as Keeley’s racial bonuses and skills, afforded the pair the best advantage in combat.

The idea of sneaking by the hobs appealed to him. He owed his friends that much in the way of responsibility. Being reckless would only hurt their goal of taking down the Goblin King, especially if he did something to hurt his party. But if they failed at skulking by, they’d end up rushed at once by the entire mob of hobs with little way of fending them off.

Sometimes the best defense is a good offense. He took another look at the room before glancing back at Jace. He mimed drawing a bow, then pointing at various hobs lingering at the outermost edges of the group. Dev played out a scene with his hands in the hopes the pale elf would understand the question hanging beneath it. He dragged his fingers along his lips before flashing them like he was miming a talking mouth, then imitated firing an arrow again.

The pale elf’s lips pressed tightly together as he leaned to one side to better assess the hobs. Jace tugged gently on the arrow, letting off the pressure a second later as if it were an idle gesture he’d become accustomed to. He shut his eyes and took a deep breath before drawing again. A wave of white tendrils flourished around his body before disappearing. Jace fired a shot.

The arrow shot by without a sound, snapping into one of the ears of a hob at the far end opposite them. The creature fell just as quietly as when Jace had loosed the projectile.

Jace held up a hand, wiggling five fingers.

Dev didn’t know what it meant.

The pale elf fired another shot, quickly following up with a third. He flashed his hand again, showing two fingers.

Dev put it together. His signal was tied into his silent arrows and how many more he could fire. He realized it must’ve been another skill the pale elf had picked up during their leveling.

Jace finished unloading the last two shots, each dropping another hob.

The room still held far too many hobs for them to successfully engage without taking serious risks. Thirst quivered in his grip as if sensing the nearby monsters. A quick check on his bloodlust showed him the stat hadn’t quite peaked from his previous battle, but it hung near the halfway mark. It hadn’t been pushing him as seriously of late. The feeling had settled to something akin to a low boil he could manage. He didn’t bother wondering why he’d been spared the crazed side effects, considering instead to embrace it.

His shadow had recovered in the time spent searching for and moving through the cave. It wouldn’t move in total silence, but it could draw the creatures’ attention to it, carving through as many as it could to in turn fuel him.

Dev looked to Keeley and signaled similarly with his hands as he had done with Jace. He mimicked a pair of legs with two fingers, moving them upward to indicate scaling the wall.

She frowned as if she didn’t agree with the idea, but she clung to the nearest part of the cave and climbed up.

Dev stepped forward without pause. Each footfall released a hushed clap that made its way to the hobs’ ears.

They gurgled louder, training their attention on his direction as they shambled toward him.

He pushed off hard once he’d entered the main body of the room, making enough noise to take their focus off the passage from which he came, hopefully sparing his friends. Dev selected his Slayer’s Shadow and sent it out.

The dark form warped to life and imitated another one of his skills, the newly learned Skewer. It surged toward a hob and impaled it through the chest. The shadow pulled its version of Thirst free, swiping down in a diagonal cut to drag a long furrow over another hob’s collarbone to its hip. The creature reeled back, but not out of the dark clone’s reach. It sank the blade into the monster’s gut several times until it fell.

The apparition’s frantic combat pulled every hob’s attention to it. They rushed it, swarming the clone with an array of Neanderthal-like weaponry. One of the hobs landed a blow along the shadow’s back, sending it staggering. The clone whipped around and cut through the creature’s snub of a nose. His shadow took a spear to the knee, dropping to a single leg. It didn’t quit. The artificial slayer activated another skillshot, leaping forward to stun two hobs in rapid succession before lurching into wide swings to cut them down.

A nearby hob released a warbling cry of fury and clubbed the weakened shadow until it faded.

The sight of seeing his reflection succumb to the monsters’ attacks sent a ripple under his skin that found its way to his heart. He paused for a second, taking in the numbers remaining. They still tallied up to more than double what the assault on the carriage had been. A quick glance up revealed that Keeley had taken a position at the center of the roof, ready to plunge down on unsuspecting hobs.

Now or never. He released a primal roar, pulling it from deep within his stomach, filling the entire room. The unnaturally loud outburst sent all of the hobs teetering in place, shrieking in protest as they tried to determine what was happening. He gave the nearest no chance to figure it out. Dev brought Thirst overhead, sinking the sword halfway into a hob’s skull before pulling it out to cut through another.

His stamina ebbed a bit from the basic attacks, but the kills his shadow had achieved now fueled Thirst. Dev activated his Reverberating Strike to hammer an approaching hob. He didn’t bother dispatching it as Keeley fell from the ceiling, tackling the monster to the ground. Her claws went to work, savaging its throat, while Dev incapacitated another hob with a repeat of the skill. His maneuver bought Keeley enough time to scamper back across the walls to safety.

A dull impact rocked his thigh, forcing his leg to nearly buckle. He looked down to see a hob clubbing his limb just above the knee. It used a club in the form of a large rock tied by twine to a thick piece of wood. Dev endured the leg-crippling blows and poked out with Thirst. The pinprick didn’t do much but elicit a sharp whine from the hob as it shied away from him, pawing at the puncture wound.

He performed the maneuver again to another hob closing in on him.

Jace fired off a series of shots that sank into the bodies of hobs, failing to drop them.

Erik finally set into action to hurl his nets. He managed to pin a total of nine of the creatures with his two traps. The half-troll didn’t restrain himself in using his skills, slinging a series of bolas to trip up as many of the hobs as he could.

The group of creatures fell into panic, howling and shrieking in a mixture of angst and confusion. They pumped their weapons in the air and hopped in place like a primitive dance.

Dev used their lull in combat to press them. He channeled his newest ability, breaking into a ballistic lunge to drive Thirst through a hob’s sternum with shocking ease. He pulled the blade free, reveling in the increased warmth it directed through his body. His temple pulsed again with the familiarity of the mounting bloodlust.

A hob wobbled toward him in a misguided charge of stupidity, hooting incoherently in a preemptive holler of triumph.

Dev whipped Thirst to the side in a move of cold contempt. The blade cut through the hob’s throat with enough force to dig into the windpipe. He wrenched the blade free, wiping the fresh hob blood onto his robes. A static tingle engulfed his body.

Hobslayer: This mantle first came to knowledge when brave slayers delved into the caverns below Lorian, coming into contact with the denizens of the deep. Through their battles in the dark, slayers cut through hordes of hobs, bathing in their blood until awakening more of their hidden nature. They quickly grew proficient in navigating the lightless tunnels and engaging in combat with bands of roaming hobs. Slayers donning this mantle gain passive bonuses to stamina recovery as well as strength when dealing with overwhelming numbers of hobs.

The mantle fell over him like an invisible cloak. The gentle weight brought to a subtle fire to life in his chest, coaxing it into something fiercer by the second. His breaths shortened, coming in faster, yet he didn’t feel fatigued. Dev rolled a shoulder and snapped Thirst through a flurry in thin air, taking pleasure in the blade’s movements.

The hobs brayed louder. A few rallied and charged him.

Dev moved to meet them, cutting them down in a series of quick strikes with uncomfortable ease. He buried the doubts and gave into the growing reverberations within his body. He chased down a fleeing hob, bringing Thirst back for a swing to take the creature’s head from its shoulders. The Hobslayer mantle made him feel like liquid fire coursed through his veins. The urge to gut every hob in the vicinity overcame all thought.

An earthshaking bellow rattled through the room, rattling loose stone on the ground. Every hob froze.

Dev and his friends were forced into an immobile stupor as well. The sheer volume of it bathed him in an unseen, cold film that nearly subdued the heat from his bloodlust.

A cavernous groan echoed behind the roar, sending the hobs into a renewed frenzy. They wobbled away from Dev and his group, diving into smaller passageways fit only for their bodies. A few ran past him into larger paths leading deeper into the cave system.

“Um…” Erik raised a hand, glancing down the widest of the paths where the sounds came from. “Does anyone else thinks it’s a bad thing that whatever’s making that noise scared off the army of monsters that were trying to kill us?”

The question seemed muted to Dev’s ears, but he turned to face half-troll, opening his mouth to respond.

Another roar came from the passage, silencing him.

“Yes, Erik. I think it’s a very bad thing. And it sounds like it’s getting closer.” Dev planted his feet, solidifying his grip on Thirst.

Erik and Jace rushed over to him, grabbing the back of his robes and tugging hard. “Let’s go.”

Keeley dropped to the ground, urging him to heed their words.

The beast lumbered out of the tunnel, reminding him of images he’d seen of trolls in mythology and fiction. It made Erik seem stunted in growth by comparison. The creature’s skin mirrored the hobs, glistening in mixture sweat and moisture from the cave. Its bulbous head dwarfed some of the boulders he’d seen on the carriage ride. Its lips sported freshly healed scars like the creature had torn them frequently. It opened its mouth, revealing a handful of worn, jagged teeth with hints of raw flesh hanging between them.

His friends broke their hold on him, breaking into sprints in the opposite direction. “Run!”

The monster raised a club, well suited to its size, and barreled toward him.

Chapter Twenty-two – The Past

Slaying Trolls

Stone quaked under the troll’s charge, sending vibrations up into Devrim’s legs that settled in his knees. He remained planted in place as the monster closed the distance.

“Devrim, what are you doing? Run, dumbass!” Erik repeated the cry a second later.

Part of his brain, the bit that held to logic and survival, screamed for him to follow the half-troll’s words. The bloodlust pounded through his body like a tribal drumbeat, stirring his baser instincts. He held firm and waited for the troll to be atop him.

Time to start really learning how everything works in this world. His speed had been noticeably higher than his other stats upon entering the world, something he had no control over. He had chalked it up to a bonus of his class and race. But throughout combat, he hadn’t paid much attention to how much faster—nimbler—he’d been over his opponents. His mind had always been drawn to the bloodlust, and how little he had in the way of physical protection. Every impact had rocked his body, at times crippling him. He decided to put more stock into his fast movement and capitalize on it.

The troll bellowed again, shaking its flabby jowls.

Dev roared back in a mixture of defiance and instinct.

His shout did nothing to deter the oncoming beast. The troll pulled the club back across its body like it intended to bat him aside.

Dev sprang into action, racing toward the blow.

The troll swung.

He collapsed to the ground, taking the brunt of the impact on his knees. Dev gnashed his teeth as he tumbled forward.

The club sailed by harmlessly overhead.

He scrambled back to his feet, darting around the side of the monster to get behind it. His stamina flickered as it tried to deplete. The bloodbath with the hobs had done enough to send Thirst into a restorative manner, fueling his stamina’s recharge. He activated his Fleet-footed ability.

The world slowed. He watched the troll shift in place, still staring at where his party stood. The creature’s posture shrank as it brought a hand to the back of its head to scratch the folds in its neck. It’s not that bright.

He decided to give the troll a hint as to where he was. Dev burned another skillshot, activating Skewer. He flew into motion faster than his mind and eyesight could keep up with, thrusting the katana out as he slammed into the troll’s back. Thirst passed through the middle of the creature’s spine, burying itself in the monster’s generous mass. The impact forced the troll to stagger forward a couple of steps.

What the hell was that? I didn’t move anywhere close to that fast when I used the ability earlier. His body still shook within under the strain of Fleet-footed, giving him his answer. The two skills worked together? He pulled Thirst free, hitting the ground and backpedaling with his increased speed. The boost to his movement drained his stamina at a rate Thirst’s bloodlust couldn’t wholly offset, but he still had enough left to make a few more risky moves.

His shadow hadn’t recovered yet. It would have been the most ideal for combating the beast. Reverberating Strike had cooled down, allowing him to rely on that to hopefully stun the troll. He channeled the ability and launched himself at a speed the creature couldn’t process. He sailed upward, driving Thirst’s pommel cap into the base of the troll’s chin.

Its head snapped back as it stumbled for a step. The creature managed to shake off the blow, narrowing its eyes at it resettled its glare on Dev.

Huh?

Ineffective. Some large creatures are immune to attacks and abilities that stun. Stack paralyzing moves to be more effective. No guarantee this will work.

He stood, eyes wide as the troll lurched to the side, swinging the club. It connected with his side with a bone-jarring impact that dulled his senses to everything but his body hurtling horizontally. He bounced off the opposite wall, sending a throbbing wave through the other half of his body before he slumped to the ground.

“Dev!” The cry sounded like it’d come from Keeley, but he couldn’t make it out properly as a hollow and metallic ringing filled his ears.

His health bar plummeted at a rate he couldn’t keep up with in the momentary daze. It sank to less than a quarter of his total. Maybe I should do something about my resilience. He got to his feet, steadying himself as the troll advanced. His mind blurred under the effects of Fleet-footed. The only ability he had to stack with that to great effect would have been his Skewer, but it hadn’t recovered yet.

He ground his teeth and activated Reverberating Strike to bash the troll again over its head. The blow caused the beast to lurch back off balance once again, failing to paralyze it. But he didn’t hang around for the troll’s retaliation.

It clubbed the ground where he’d been standing, shattering stone to send chips of former cavern rock into the air like shrapnel.

Dev moved around the creature’s legs, snapping out in short cuts to slice tissue. Each slash didn’t go deep enough to be anything but superficial, but they drew a series of irritated huffs from the troll.

It plodded around in place in an awkward attempt to paw at him.

Devrim’s stamina inched away under the increased movement and load. Each consumption of skills didn’t help, and Thirst hadn’t been fed a kill since the hobs fled. It hadn’t been long, but the dragging battle wore on his mind like it’d been going on for hours. He spotted that his friends hadn’t left completely, choosing to hang within the mouth of the widest passage on the other side of the room.

None of them rushed in to help. He understood their hesitation. A single strike from the troll had nearly killed him. He knew the only thing keeping him functioning was the combination of the bloodlust and the alertness from Fleet-footed. And the ability would peter out in the coming seconds.

He activated his Slayer’s Resolve, feeling the familiar rush take him over as his stamina recharged, followed by his skillshots.

The troll bent over to scream in his face, sending spittle hurtling toward him in what sounded like a challenge.

Dev didn’t reply with a scream of his own. “You’re not a monster. But I’m about to show you one.” He activated a slew of freshly restored abilities: Fleet-footed, Slayer’s Shadow, Skewer. His mind sped up as did his senses. Dev felt his essence split to summon his shadow, which raced into action without him, drawing the troll’s focus. He lunged after the apparition, driving Thirst into beast’s gut with a force that pushed the monster back into another stumble.

It moaned, dropping the club as it pressed its hands gingerly to its belly.

The slayer clone didn’t give it time to address the wound. It hacked at the creature’s arms, then sinking the katana along the monster’s waist to where its kidneys would be without pause. Each stab resulted in rivulets of tears spilling from the troll’s eyes until it released a final whimper of resignation. The beast pulled away from them, collapsing onto its back.

Good idea. Dev sank to the ground, easing his way flat to rest. He inched his head up just enough to glance at the troll’s prone form to summon his bestiary.

Cave Troll: These subterranean monsters may not be the worst of what hunters can find in the depths of Lorian’s caves, but they’re something you’ll wish to avoid if possible. Large, freakishly strong, and just as brutish, these fiends are devastating juggernauts able to break the lines of even well-equipped hunters. A single blow has been known to fell many a warrior. Their strength is their greatest advantage, but their minds are severely lacking. Cumbersome, dull, and not particularly versatile, trolls can be bested if you can outsmart them and fight creatively.

Notes: Running away fast is also an acceptable plan for many hunters.

Random encounter complete: Clear out the hobs. Survive the troll.

Bonus: Troll slain.

Rewards: Hob fat X20, jar of hob mucus X2, glo dust X3, troll club (trophy), troll heart, troll ribs X8, troll fat X5.

Skill points: 2

Well, that was almost worth it. He grimaced, relinquishing his hold on Thirst to place a hand on his battered side. The consistent flow of warmth left him the instant he released the weapon. “Ackh!” He clenched a hand around Thirst, sighing as the heat seeped back into him. Dangerous mechanic. It ends up being like a crutch. He waited for the bodies to vanish as well as the injuries. The minute passed agonizingly slow, but the pain faded eventually.

He got to his feet, wiping Thirst down on the folds of his robes, wondering what more it would take to restore their old nature.

Keeley stomped over to him, her shoulders and jaw set in a sign of frustration.

He sheathed his weapon despite the bloodlust’s pounding within his body to hold onto it. The sensation didn’t leave, tugging at him to draw Thirst again to plunge it into something else’s body. He shut his eyes and drew a deep breath to help settle the urge a bit. When he opened them, Keeley stood several feet away and closed in.

“Hey.” His mouth spread into a lopsided grin.

Her hand blurred into motion, striking his cheek with enough force to turn his head aside. Before he could even register the sting, she pulled him close, pressing her lips against his. The kiss lasted for seconds that felt like a long minute before she pulled away.

He blinked, unsure of what had just happened.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” She glared at him with an angry light in her eyes made worse by the tinge of the glo dust in the room. Keeley cut him off before he could answer. “No, don’t tell me. You’re fucking psycho, that’s what. We could’ve been killed if you screwed that up.”

“But I didn’t—”

She raised a finger in a gesture telling him to keep quiet. “No, this is where I talk. You could’ve have died. That thing pancaked you into the wall.” Keeley stopped to take a series of deep breaths, her gaze falling on the hilt of Thirst, then moving to his arms. “Your hands are shaking.”

He looked down to see for himself. True to her words, his hands shook, and he hadn’t noticed all this time.

Gama burbled to himself, blowing a few bubbles.

“It’s that thing, the bloodlust, isn’t it? That’s why you went nuts. You were cutting down hobs like they were nothing. I thought I was watching a machine.”

The words settled into his gut with leaden weight. She had a point, but the bloodlust had saved him—them. The group might not have made it if they had run from the troll. He didn’t have proof of that, but he voiced the concern regardless. “I don’t have a great reason, Keeley, just that I had to.” He shrugged. “It was risky, but I didn’t see another way out. And you’re right, the bloodlust drove me hard back there, but look what it let me do. I don’t like it, but I don’t think liking is a luxury we can afford right now.”

Keeley sighed, hanging her head. “I know. And I know what you did—can do—will only help us if things get worse. But remember what Thom said. I’m worried about what cost this is going to come at. What happens if we trade one monster like the Goblin King for another?”

He ran his tongue against the back of his teeth, trying to figure out how to answer her question. But the truth left him empty. He had no response for a minute as he fought through a hive of thoughts. It came to him a moment later. “Then I guess my friends will have to keep me in line. If you’re all willing to do that, that is? The risk’s there for all of us, somehow, someway. This mechanic may be a curse, but I plan on using it as a gift. It sounds weird, but I think there’s a reason it’s there beyond driving me crazy. If there wasn’t, then how come your classes don’t have it?” He looked each member of his party in the eye until they shied away from him.

No one replied, leaving the only sounds in the cave to be the occasional beads of water smacking onto the ground from above.

“If we’re supposed to keep crossing this imaginary line into becoming crazed killers, wouldn’t it have made sense for us to all get a stat like that? I think there’s a reason beyond what Thom said. He didn’t develop this world. He just lives in it, like we do now. I’m not sure he knows the extent of what this bloodlust thing will play out into. Right now, it’s saving us, albeit at a risk to me. If it gets to be too much, then help me manage it.” Dev met their gazes again, hoping this time they’d agree with him.

Keeley wrapped her arms around him, squeezing tight before easing off the hug. “Of course.”

Jace and Erik echoed her words.

“Good. Let’s take a minute to check our stats again, level up, and then move on. If this troll popped up, I’m a bit worried what else might be lurking down here.” His words caused his friends to stiffen in response.

Everyone opened their menus, working in silence as they sifted through the various screens to identify new items and assign points.

The screen had grown to become one of the most familiar things to him now, burning itself into his mind. He swept through and scanned over his skills. Nothing stuck out for him to snatch up, and the idea of investing more points didn’t pull at him with the same intensity as earlier. He shut the screen and decided to hold out until needing to spend what he’d earned.

Devrim moved past his friends, stepping into the passage at the far end of the room. The glo dust hadn’t made its way into the tunnel. He didn’t think twice before burning another pouch of the substance to brighten the way.

The path snaked along with bends preventing him from seeing around corners, but the glowing particulates floated ahead regardless. He ran a hand across the stone as he moved through and let the cool stone help ease some of the heat from the bloodlust in his body. It didn’t do as much as he wanted, but the feeling gave him something else to focus on.

Habit got the better of him as he rounded another corner and he gave in to checking his stats. His bloodlust still hung at the maximum, displaying without a number to let him know where it capped and in what increments it moved to that. He hadn’t timed how long it took the stat to decrease and decided to keep an eye on it as long as he could.

Something slapped against the stone behind him. A few brrps told him who had caught up with him.

“Something on your mind, Gama?”

The toad didn’t speak immediately. Gama chose to hop until he came to Dev’s side before clapping a hand to the side of his head. “Devrim…”

He waited for the amphibian to pick back up, knowing the pause was for drama’s sake more than anything else.

“They’re quite right, you know? Your friends. I’m as brave as they come, and I even was shaken by what I saw back there. I knew what slayers were capable of. It’s part of our history, of course, to learn of and guide slayers. I must say, you’re very different than what I expected in many ways. And in others…a bit disturbing.” The toad coughed, bouncing a fist off his chest to help settle it.

Gama’s words didn’t do anything to ease the seed of doubt in his mind, but something caught his attention in what he had said. Devrim rubbed the top of his head where he imagined a crystallized form of his worries sat. “You said you had to study us, right?” He didn’t wait for the toad to answer before going on. “Does that mean you learned anything about the bloodlust?” Dev hoped the subject would prompt the toad to think about a way to possibly manage the stat.

Gama brought a finger to his lips. “I recall some things, yes.”

Devrim’s body still nursed basso thrum from the bloodlust in his chest, thumping away like his heart had grown several sizes. “All ears.”

The toad mused aloud, not saying anything of consequence as they crossed a few more bends in the path. “Well, I do remember it being dangerous. So far from what I’ve seen, it lives up to that.”

Devrim resisted the urge to slap a hand to his forehead. “Anything else?” He felt a small knot forming above one of his eyes as a headache built. Dev brought a hand to the pained spot, massaging.

“Hm”—Gama leaped several paces ahead—“well, I suppose it wouldn’t be great for me if my slayer went on a bloodthirsty rampage and killed everyone. Other toads would think I hadn’t done my job very well. How embarrassing would that be?”

Dev shut his eyes and rubbed his head harder. “Yeah. I feel your pain. I mean I could end up losing my temper and killing you.” He glared at the toad.

The threat passed over Gama’s head. The amphibian placed a hand to his belly, letting out a laugh that came out more as a series of staccato croaks. “Why would you ever kill anyone as knowledgeable and helpful as me? Why, you wouldn’t last two days in Lorian without me.”

The ache grew in his skull, and he decided it best for his mental health to move onward in silence. The light dimmed ahead as he neared the end of the path. Dev cast his hand, throwing another scattering of glo dust.

The tunnel led into an opening lined with stalagmites rising out of the ground. Cords, made of something like matted hair and sinew, wrapped around the stone formations. Beads of bone hung threaded through the makeshift bindings. Small hovels of salvaged wood and other scavenged material dotted the area. A look past his surroundings revealed that the structures continued far past the immediate location like he’d stumbled onto an underground shanty town.

Gama picked up on what he had. The toad grabbed onto his leg to get his attention.

Dev didn’t say anything but gave him a knowing look. They’d come across a hob settlement of sorts.

Keeley and the others finally arrived, exiting the tunnels. The group stopped and gawked at the sight before them, turning their eyes to him.

His bloodlust surged.

His hand fell on Thirst.

The Hobslayer mantle won out.

And he rushed to rouse the sleeping monsters for a battle.

Chapter Twenty-three – The Past

Flight from Shanty Town

He raced across the ground, hurtling toward the closest of the hovels before something darted in front of him.

Keeley crashed into him, throwing her arms around his body into a firm hug. “Dev, don’t.” She pushed her weight against his to keep him in place. “Don’t.”

He moved her back a foot, gaining ground on the hovel, which remained strangely quiet. Dev had thought his charge would have woken and rallied the sleeping hobs into a fight he couldn’t back out of. The bloodlust and his mantle would help him slay dozens possibly to advance his skills. His robes would benefit from the bloodbath as well.

Gama had clung to his leg, not doing much to deter him.

“What are you doing?” He tried to keep the heat out of his voice as he glared at Keeley. “This is the only way forward, and these things are in our way. I can take them.” He gritted his teeth and pushed her back a bit farther.

A pair of hands clamped onto his shoulders, hauling him back with more strength than he could counter. “Listen to her, we don’t need this. Not now, man.” Erik squeezed harder, nearly crushing the muscles above his collarbones.

Dev gritted through the pain and thrashed to break the hold. “Let. Me. Go.”

The pair did, each taking a step back to regard him. They watched him with quiet apprehension.

Devrim understood why. The back of his brain registered the reckless nature of his plan, but the rest of him knew why it wasn’t as dangerous as they seemed to think. The entirety of his class—race—revolved around efficiently slaying creatures. As risky as it was, not playing to his greatest strength seemed the more precarious of choices.

“You going to turn around and put your sword on my throat again?” Erik’s words drove a cold lance through his mind, somehow cutting past the bloodlust’s heat and pressure.

“No.” He took a deep breath, lowering Thirst. “I’m not. I just…you saw what I did back there, what I can do. I felt like I could do this too.” Dev gestured to the hovel with a point of his katana.

Something stirred within the refuse-shack, casting a small shadow along the ground under the glo dust’s light. The hob stumbled out of the tiny dwelling and turned to face them. It sniffed once, its face wrinkling like it smelled something particularly unpleasant. The creature thrust a fist in their direction and threw its head back to release a rollicking scream that filled the area.

Dev sighed. Well, looks like I got what I wanted. He brushed by Keeley, who made no move to stop him, and he plunged Thirst into the hob’s throat to silence its cry.

The damage had already been done. Other shrieks called back to answer their fallen brother, waking every other hob in the vicinity.

Keeley gave him a look that said she’d discuss this with him later.

He flashed her a half-smile that he hoped counted as a sufficient apology for the moment. Dev ran ahead, drawing the attention of several emerging hobs. “Hey!” He slapped the flat of his blade against his sheath, repeating it like a challenging call. “Hold on, Gama. Things are about to get rough.”

The toad let out a brrp.

All of the hobs hooted in excitement as they wobbled toward him.

Dev waved an arm, ushering his friends to run between the charge and toward the other end of the room.

A wooden platform lay ahead, canting off to the left with the promise of a path out.

They heeded his advice. Erik rushed by, hurling a pair of nets to cut off the front of the hob charge. He expended the rest of his immobilizing arsenal by slinging more bolas than Dev could track with his eyes.

Hobs collapsed under the weight of their bindings and restrained limbs.

Jace moved deftly through the throng of stubby creatures, firing arrows as he best saw fit, holding back from using his skillshots.

Keeley didn’t bother laying a hand on a single creature, making it first to the platform. She motioned for Dev and the others to follow as she made a point of scanning the path ahead.

Thirst sent a course of heated iron rods into the muscles of his forearm, causing them to tense like they’d cramped. He felt it as the equivalent of the sword screaming at him to cut down more hobs. He tore the urge away, running by the trapped creatures to make his way to Keeley and his friends.

Keeley pointed down the path. “Rickety bridge, but it goes along the wall to branch out over that.” She jabbed a finger to what Dev hadn’t bothered noticing at first.

A chasm stretched ahead for a distance he couldn’t make out in length or width. It was beyond anything he’d ever seen or imagined, even in some of the old stories. The bridge hung anchored to the wall on their left, descending until breaking off to a series of identical structures held off of other supporting stone and the platform they stood on. An entire network of floating stages crisscrossed through the chasm, supporting thin towers with holes that served as hob homes.

The entire thing is like a floating city of fuckery and monsters. Dev shoved Erik in front, pointing to a bridge hanging near the middle that led to others to get them across. “Take the lead. You’re big, strong, and move things out of the way. Use the narrowness of the bridges to your advantage. It’s like fighting in the hallways on the stations. If you ever get into it with the guards, fight where their numbers don’t matter.”

Everyone glared at him. Keeley’s mouth twisted into an uneven grin. “I think you were the only one stupid enough to pick fights with them.”

He glowered, motioning for them to run as he turned around to assess the hobs to their backs.

They’d broken free of Erik’s trap, regrouping to barrel toward them.

“Go!” Dev took one step back, widening his stance to take up as much of the platform as he could.

His friends gave him one last look before stepping onto the bridge and making their way across.

You wanted this, Thirst. Now you’ve got it. Don’t let me down. He gripped the hilt hard for a second before loosening his hold.

The hobs funneled their ranks as if they knew they were approaching the platform despite being blind. The first of the creatures stumbled forward, snuffling as it swung what looked like an animal’s jawbone with sharp teeth.

Dev slapped it aside with Thirst, lunging to sink the blade through the creature’s sternum. He planted a foot on the hob and kicked to remove his weapon and send the monster tumbling back. Its collapse stopped the advance of its friends, who staggered aside or toppled over it. The extra second allowed Dev to ease his way onto the bridge and draw the remaining mass of creatures onto a narrower field. He looked over his shoulder to check his friends’ progress.

They’d made their way onto another bridge that webbed out to four others.

Dev smiled, turning on a heel and sprinting away from the conflict. He activated Fleet-footed to increase the distance between himself and the hobs. The increased stamina drain didn’t deter him from rocketing away. As the green bar plunged, he neared the first intersection, grabbing onto a pole to help swing his way around and onto the new bridge. He skidded to a stop and brought Thirst down in a vertical chop through one of the ropes holding the previous structure.

The bridge sunk near the end, straining the rest of its supports until a few others gave way. The hobs lurched to the outside, throwing their weight on the deteriorating rope, only adding to its failure. It snapped, peeling away from the stone and its anchors. Hobs cried out as they tumbled into the chasm.

Hobs slain count increased.

A part of him relished the increased multiplier for killing a large number of the creatures, but it didn’t do him much good apart from thinning their ranks for the moment. He looked ahead to see more of the freaks scuttling out from their holes along the bridges. Some popped out of hollowed chunks of the stone walls on the opposite end of the chasm, scampering onto the bridges in the direction of the most noise.

Thirst filled his arms with a flow of heat that felt like sleeping close to a nice fire by night. His stamina blossomed in the momentary lull after killing the mass of hobs. Dev set back into a staggering run, still empowered by his speed boost. He closed in on his friends as they climbed up a semi-circular staircase that led toward their destination.

A band of hobs raced toward them from the front, some throwing their bodies onto the ropes suspending the bridges to climb along them. He pushed himself harder until he reached a pole planted firmly along the way. Dev grabbed hold of it, climbing atop and balancing himself. He leapt onto a bridge slightly above him and slammed both hands onto the boards running along the bottom.

They creaked under his sudden weight, and holding onto Thirst prevented him from getting a solid grip. He slipped. Dev revered his grip on the katana, sinking it into the nearest board to act like a stake, pinning him in place. He hung onto the weapon as it slowly sliced through the wood under his weight. The maneuver bought him enough time to kick his legs and get onto the bridge. He pulled the weapon free, rushing back toward his friends.

They snaked below him on another bridge, pausing to holler at him.

He hurled himself over a rope railing and hoped he hadn’t misjudged the fall.

Erik’s arms reached out, catching him before he crashed onto the bridge, likely destabilizing it with his weight. The half-troll grunted, shifting his posture as the ropes quivered under the added load. Fortunately, nothing broke. Erik eased him down. “You need to stop with the craziness, Devrim.”

Gama had managed to stay on him without losing his grip through the series of jumps.

He brushed himself off, taking a second to wipe the hob blood onto his robes. “I’ll stop once it stops working. Come on.” Dev took the lead in time to see a hob at the far end of their bridge pause just before the structure began.

It may not have been able to see Dev, but the creature knew he was there from sounds and smell. It reached out to one of the ropes holding the bridge. The hob’s flabby lips spread into a gruesome grin as it raised an ax with a stone head.

“Move!” Dev whipped his head to look for an alternative route. A bridge connected to theirs several dozen feet ahead, closer to the point where the hob stood than they were. His Fleet-footed ability had ended, meaning he had zero advantage apart from his natural speed to reach it. He wasn’t sure to what extent his friends could match his movements. “The bridge ahead, run for it.” He pointed at it before looking to Jace. “Shoot that hob, now!”

The pale elf drew in a swift pull and nocked an arrow. He fired, lining up a second before the first had struck. Jace loosed the next shot and followed with a third. Each of the arrows bit into the hob’s flesh, driving it back as it swung. The creature’s blow missed the rope, and it tumbled forward under its pain and momentum. Its collapse snapped the wooden shafts protruding from it, driving the arrows all the way through its mass.

Keeley had made her way a good length down the other bridge. Erik finally stepped onto its beginning, lagging seriously behind. Jace moved with surprising speed to catch up.

Dev raced to catch up when another hob lurched into view, mimicking the previous monster’s intent. He pumped his legs harder as he realized Jace had just made his way onto the next bridge and hadn’t turned to notice the new hob.

The creature brought its sickle through the rope, turning to sever the others. Wood groaned as twine snapped and failed.

Dev ran regardless as his world sunk at an angle. He jumped, landing on the new bridge as the previous collapsed. But the damage had been done. The path before them lay cut off from anything that would lead to the opposite end of the chasm. Every bridge ahead snaked downward into the depths of their surroundings.

His party looked back at him, catching on to what he had.

“It’s the only option. Just hurry before any more of these things cut us off.” He moved to the front, signaling Jace to take the rear. “Shoot everything trying to catch up to us. I don’t know how good your aim is, but see if you can bring any bridges down. Anything helps.” He turned as the pale elf grunted in acknowledgment and raced ahead.

Dev led them down another spiraling path, wood creaking in imminent failure under his party’s weight. He made his way onto the next bridge and spotted a file of hobs coming from his right. Dev broke to the left, summoning his friends with a wave to follow after.

Each successive path led farther down until the lingering glo dust’s effect vanished. He summoned his menu and tossed another bag. The light helped him make out what lay below. A large torrent rushed through the base of the chasm, likely responsible for carving it long ago.

He shook his head at the logic, reminding himself that the world of Lorian had been manufactured to be a certain way. But that means that water must go somewhere. It’s coming from one end, and must lead out another. Dev doubled his pace, descending another pair of curved bridges until he’d led his friends to lengthier crossing that ran along the breadth of the chasm, falling short of the opposite wall.

Hobs flooded down the path behind them, close to catching up.

“It’s a dead end…” Keeley stared at him, then back to the path ahead. “What do we do?”

The number of hobs grew as it looked like every creature within the entirety of the cave system had raced to attack them. The bridge swayed under the increasing weight as another mob of hobs flooded onto it to bolster the ranks of the monster army. Ropes frayed visibly, peeling away from the other bands of fiber holding them together.

Dev looked down to the current of water, judging the length of the bridge as well as the drop. His thoughts must have shown on his face, because Keeley grabbed one of his shoulders, tugging on his robe.

“What are you thinking?” She frowned. “You’ve got one of those looks like you’re going to do something stupid…”

“I’m going to do something stupid. That’s what. Hang onto something!” He waited a split second until his friends had done as he’d advised before cutting through the ropes. The bridge sank, swinging toward the racing body of water with a chorus of echoing screams filling the chasm.

The bridge slapped against the river, shattering and ripping everyone from their holds. Dev watched hobs plummet into the depths as he was dragged below into darkness.

Chapter Twenty-four – The Past

Arrival in Brisane

Something struck the top of his head, sending vines of pain arcing through his skull. Dev woke floating with something at his head holding him in place. He blinked for a long moment, staring up at the sky. Endless blue filled the world above, streaked with soft wisps of white, threading their way through the air.

Aches filled his body, reaching deep into him. The numbing cold of the water soaking his robes and skin didn’t help. He turned his head to see what he’d crashed against. A low patch of land, littered with fist-sized stones, stopped him from drifting any farther in the gentle current.

He sniffed once and rolled to grab hold of a patch of earth, pulling himself up and onto the bank. His other hand remained clenched around Thirst almost as if it’d been frozen into a fist. Dev sheathed the weapon, noting it no longer radiated any warmth or resisted his attempts to stow it.  His bloodlust had to have vanished by now, and a pass through his menu revealed that it had. Something still bothered him.

Gama. He bolted upright, whipping his head around to search for the toad. His companion had clung to his leg through the whole fiasco in the hob shanty town. He had no way of knowing if the toad had survived the impact and journey down the river. “Gama!”

No response.

He shut his eyes for a short moment to help settle his thoughts and develop a plan. A dirt track, well worn, snaked toward the edge of the bank and back up through the grassy land. His decision had been made for him. “When there’s only one way to go, you go forward.” He repeated the words in his head, using them as a consistent, driving force to spur each of his following steps as he marched.

A blinking light at the corner of his vision drew a begrudging grunt from him, but he addressed the message, turning to that part of his menu.

Wild encounter complete: Follow the hobs through their tunnels

Skill points: 2

He smiled to himself. At least my plan worked. Dev swiped to his character screen as he fell into a leisured pace across the grassland. He’d picked up another pair of points in addition to what he’d earned slaying the troll. A slew of skills still remained out of his purchasing ability, obscured by whatever prerequisites were required to even peek at them. He focused on what little was available, as well as considering upgrading what he had earned already.

Having already improved his first skill had saved his life earlier in combat with the hob horde. The thought hadn’t left his mind, convincing him a similar improvement of what he owned could keep him from falling into that situation in the first place. He pulled up Fleet-footed. The skill would allow him to gain another percentage to increase his speed while mitigating the stamina cost. It wasn’t much of an improvement, and would cost him half the points he had.

The temptation to empower his shadow still hung in his mind, but its cost far outweighed what he felt comfortable spending, even if it did lend him a considerable advantage. He’d seen the ability be overwhelmed by enough hobs, and it was rather short-lived.

Maybe someday down the line.

He invested two points into bolstering Fleet-footed, using the remaining two to increase his Skewer skill. The two had paired up marvelously to turn him into a javelin that had punctured the troll’s thick hide. The added benefit from his newest increase in Skewer would only add to that, allowing him to impale something with enough force to drive it into another combatant nearby, effectively spearing two for the price of one.

Reverberating Strike lvl 3 – Perform two attacks that leave opponents in a daze for a longer period of time than previous levels.

Fleet-footed lvl 2 – Move faster than before while incurring a lower stamina use penalty.

Skewer lvl 2 – Impale an enemy with enough force to drive yourself into another. Two for one.

His walk and leveling had taken him a greater distance than he’d noticed until he’d closed the menu, spotting a band of men moving toward him. Dev braced himself, straightening his posture and letting a hand drift to Thirst’s hilt, keeping his appearance as neutral as possible.

Each of the figures wore an outfit of leather dotted with metal rivulets. Their heads were covered by caps made from the same dark material, thin bands of metal lining portions of the hide caps. Long shafts of wood sat comfortably in their right hands, each of the poles tipped with a pointed head, glistening under the morning light. Broad discs hung from their backs. They caught sight of him, picking up their pace to close in.

Dev set his jaw, keeping his walk steady to not trigger the approaching men any further.

They came to a stop several feet from him, not making any show of lowering their weapons to intimidate him. He found it difficult to tell any one of them apart from another. They all had the same features as if they were cast off the same die, and their sun-kissed skin didn’t vary in the slightest between them. One of the men reached to a pouch on his side. It wriggled at his touch, then broke into spasmodic thrashing. He opened it and plunged a hand inside.

“Brrp!”

Dev’s eyes widened.

The man held Gama firm in his fist, looking down at the toad.

Dev pulled Thirst, inching it a bit out of its scabbard for a quicker draw should he need it.

“That’s him.” Gama released another burble. “Just like I said: hopelessly lost, bit of a crazed look in his face, dressed in robes, carrying a sword—that he’s frighteningly good with, courtesy of my training, of course. He’s the one responsible for clearing up your hob problem, good sirs.” Gama squirmed free of the man’s hold, jumping toward Dev.

He caught his amphibian friend with his free hand and placed him on his shoulder. “Want to explain what’s going on?” Dev arched a brow, keeping his gaze on the toad, and not the armored men.

“Brrp. After the most ingenious plan of mine to collapse the hob bridges—good work executing that, by the way—we ended up ashore.” Gama clapped his hands as if giving himself a round of applause.

Dev ignored his personal congratulations and homed in on what he had said. “We?” He looked past the group of men. Plumes of smoke billowed into the air past a crest of low hills that obscured the source of the gray clouds. “Did everyone else make it?

Gama bobbed his entire body in place. “Through both my cunning, and of course a smattering of luck. Luck always helps.”

The man who’d pulled Gama out of his pouch earlier shook his head, rubbing a hand over his eyes as if he’d grown weary hearing the toad speak. “One of the river traders spotted the frog floating through along with your half-troll friend. He nearly had a panic and tried to club the poor soul. Cooler heads prevailed and he got them on board. The man spent the next hour rallying some of the other traders to find your friends and get them back to town. They told us the story of how you all came to end up in the water. Bit reckless, if you ask me. But we’re grateful all the same. Those hobs had a nasty habit a picking on some of the miners going the long way into the mountains and tunnels for work.”

Dev blinked rapidly, trying to process the deluge of information the guard regurgitated at him. “Where are you based out of?” Dev looked past the man back to the rising columns of smoke in the distance.

“Brisane.” The guardsman pointed back to where Dev’s gaze sat fixed. “Come on, we’ll escort you back. There’s some folk who’ll be pleased to meet you…and offer work, if you’re interested in that sort of thing.”

Dev didn’t say anything at first, taking a moment to enjoy the relief that came with knowing his friends were fine. “Lead the way.” He finally eased off of Thirst, bringing his hand up to hold the shimmying Gama in place. “Glad you made it out fine.”

The toad harrumphed indignantly. “I wouldn’t say that. But I survived, as is expected of a hardened battle toad.”

Dev rolled his eyes, settling back into an easy pace behind the guards as they walked toward the city. The journey lasted close to half an hour, sadly not long enough to dry his clothes despite the sun. Every step forced his clothes to squelch and wring some water free. A constant frown had hung on his face until Brisane came into view.

The city stood surrounded by a wall of smooth, dark stone that couldn’t have come from the arid lands Dev and his friends had traveled through earlier. A few, peaked buildings, jutted above the height of the surrounding barrier. Two wooden gates towered at the center of the wall and stood open to allow crowds of passersby to flit through the city.

Devrim gawked at the sight, unable to properly process it.

One of the guards jabbed him with an elbow. “First time seeing a city, huh?”

He nodded. “Yeah. I’ve only read about these kinds of things.”

The guard clapped him on the back as he picked up his pace. “Wait till you get inside. Though you might want to find a change of clothes. Yours are all bloodied and wet.”

The thought came as an odd mental blow to him. He hadn’t considered the idea of wearing anything else since coming into Lorian. Even though every worker had been given set of clothes on the station, those confined to hard labor wore a set that looked identical to each other every day. There wasn’t really any way to tell you wearing something new other than that it didn’t smell of yesterday’s sweat and toil. He’d grown used to it.

Though being prompted to change now seemed foreign. He pulled at one of the damp folds of his robes, looking it at and remembering why he’d let the clothing become so heavily blood-soaked. “I think I’ll just let it dry and find some way of cleaning it without removing the stains, if that’s possible?”

The guard eyed him askance, his expression making it clear he thought Devrim was addled. “Sure. You can pick up some hunter’s powder at the general store. It’ll dry and clean your clothing without changing anything. Stuff’s pretty cheap. Only half a shim for a box.” The guard paused outside the gate, motioning for him to continue on. “This is where we part ways. Your friends are staying at the Hunter’s Hollow. Easy enough to find.” The guard waved him off.

Dev returned the gesture, entering the city.

Buildings lined both sides immediately after passing through the gate. No one structure looked alike. Some sat at a single story, made of the same stone as the wall behind him, but painted a bright white that somehow avoided any stains. Others stood higher, with open upper decks allowing you to spot the inner goings of the shop or lodge. Various crafters and merchants stood along the path at low-hanging stalls, hawking their goods and services with practiced efficiency. He only caught brief fragments of their pitches.

“Sick-ill-dying-sleep with the wrong creature? I’ve got what’ll cure you…or make it happen again, if that’s your thing!”

“Women won’t be able to resist you once you—”

“—and that, traveler, is how I slayed a dragon. You can too if you—”

“Pissed off your friends and lovers? Drink this and have it go away. They might still remember, but you sure won’t!”

Dev shook his head, hoping the onslaught of words would go with it. “Hey, Gama. You have any idea where this…” He trailed off as a building dominated most of the scenery ahead.

Its arched roof sloped low and spread wide out in front of the entrance to create an archway lined with artificial fangs, giving it the look of a monstrous beast’s maw. White, blocky lettering racing over the top read: Hunter’s Hollow. The building was made from solid timber with pictographs in black and red ink covering most of the cylindrical beams holding up the structure.

He slowed his pace as he stumbled into the lodge and registered everything he could.

Wood, rich brown in color and shining from a recent polish, made up the whole of flooring and the counters at each corner of the open room. The tables and chairs were made from a similar material, some draped in pelts likely from monsters that hunters had slain. A pair of stairs sat on the far side leading up to another floor in both directions. Hunter’s Hollow bustled with activity, but it was the people that held his attention captive.

He spotted pale-elves, much like Jace, walking by. Another half-troll boisterously pounded back mug after mug, belching and letting out a raucous laugh. A pair of havahnekos leaned against one counter, talking idly to one another. Another handful of races—that he couldn’t identify—occupied a nearby table. Some regular humans sat mixed in with the crowds, all of them heavily armed.

Other people…real people?

“Dev!” The cry came from a few tables down. A humanesque hand waved above the crowd as the only clue as to where he should go. A splotch of fur lining the limb told him all he needed to know about who it was.

He grinned, slipping by some of the moving hunters and inching sideways through the tightly packed tables to make his way over. A few eyes turned to stare at him as he passed. Whispers broke through the tables as more fixed their sights on him. He let it pass without a second thought.

Keeley stood up, beckoning him to the table where the rest of his party sat, as well as a few faces he didn’t recognize. She shifted her hips, bumping Jace’s shoulders in a move to tell him to scout over. The elf did without arguing, and Keeley motioned for Dev to take a seat beside her.

He moved over to her side, spreading his arms wide. “I’d give you a hug, but I’m not sure you want me getting you wet.”

She raised both her brows. “You already have.”

He opened his mouth to speak, feeling the stares around him grow. “Uh…”

“You dropped us into a freaking river, or don’t you remember?” Her face remained stone-like, but a mischievous light hung in her eyes. She’d phrased her words like that intentionally.

He couldn’t help breaking into a light laugh. “Yeah, but it saved us, didn’t it?” Dev glanced past her to Erik, who occupied himself tearing meat from a drumstick the size of Gama. “I think someone owes me an apology.” He held his look on Erik.

The half-troll grunted and held up a hand, his middle finger sticking up.

“I’ll accept that, pal.” He grinned, easing onto the bench-style seat beside Keeley. “I don’t suppose you’ve got something for me to eat?”

Erik and Jace traded looks before giving him one that made it clear they hadn’t bothered.

He scowled.

Keeley pushed a plate to his side.

Strips of meat, hints of steam still wafting from them, sat piled over the dish. Long grains of something white filled the other half of the plate, a handful of vegetables layered through them with stripes of an orange sauce over it all.

He grabbed a nearby fork, spearing the bits of meat and shoveling them into his mouth without pause. Keeley passed him a mug that he grabbed without looking. He tipped it back, guzzling the sweet and foaming liquid. Dev finished his meal with a near-mechanical nature.

Everyone watched him in silence, giving each other passing glances that spoke volumes.

“What?” He eyed every person at the table, waiting for someone to give him an answer.

Jace finished his drink and set the mug down with a hollow thump. “You’re not going to like it, but we’ve been learning a lot since making it to the city. Nearly every hunter here has had some run in with the Goblin King’s monsters.”

Dev frowned. “That’s not a bad thing if they survived. It’s only more proof he’s after us. And hell, look at this place”—he waved an arm at the crowd—“these are all our people, right? We’ve got numbers to take him on.”

The nearby tables fell silent. It was the sort of quiet that managed to hang over the room despite other groups still clamoring away. It felt like a steady weight on his shoulders.

“I’m guessing you’ve got more bad news?”

Jace gave him a thin smile, the expression saying that he didn’t want to share. “Nobody feels particularly driven to take him on. They’ve all managed to avoid the worst of it…” Jace broke away, looking into his mug in silence.

“What is it?” Dev didn’t press it any further, knowing something troubled his friend.

“We’ve still lost people. Others from the station. I think twenty-two of us have died so far. Some didn’t even make it to New Haven.” Jace’s words had a sobering effect on the revelry going around them. The few tables that hadn’t stopped talking dropped their voices to a whisper as if the mention of the dead renewed their pain.

Dev rolled his tongue around the inside of his mouth, unsure of what to say.

“It’s still pretty sore for most people, man.” Jace kept his gaze on his mug. “That kind of thing doesn’t make anyone want to go out of their way to deal with him, you know? All it takes is one mistake—a bad one, and people are done. It’s a second chance, like you said. Everyone else seems to want to take it. People have and are building lives, groups, having fun…” The last word sounded strange to hear aloud.

They’d had chances at fun back on the station if only to keep them from breaking mentally. Brief VR gaming sessions, reading, drawing, mindless holo recasts of old television from old earth. But most of it had felt empty after they had finished their sessions. The idea of honest, open fun without conditions wasn’t a concept he could properly fathom. But he liked the sound of it.

“Yeah, I can see why people wouldn’t want to risk their lives. They’ve finally got something to hold on to. But the thing is…if they don’t stand up, they’re going to get knocked down. Maybe not now. Maybe not tomorrow. But someday. If they don’t want to do something about that, well, I can’t blame them. But I’m going to. Someone has to. Otherwise, everyone could lose this dream. I’m not sure I could live with the idea of knowing it can be taken away at any moment by some asshole who doesn’t value the chance we’ve been given.”

The air quivered after he’d finished speaking, everyone’s attention fully on him as all other noise finally died. He noticed no one stood up to agree with him. Dev may have had their eyes, even bits of their hearts, but he didn’t have their support for what they must’ve thought was a suicide mission. The only option left meant leading by example. If he couldn’t rally the hunters’ support through words, he’d do it through actions.

“This lodge has hunts for us to follow up on, right?” He gave each of his friends a level look.

“Yeah…” Jace narrowed his eyes, looking at him over the rim of his mug. “Why?”

A feral smile spread over his face. “And how many of them have to deal with goblins?”

Jace’s mouth sank. “Oh, no.”

Chapter Twenty-five – The Past

Hunts and Crafts

Dev got to his feet, keeping hold of the room’s attention. “What’s it going to take to get you all off your asses? If we”—he gestured to his friends before thumping his chest—“show you it’s possible, is that enough? If we take out goblin after goblin and whittle down his forces…is that enough? All of you here had it no different than any of us, so what gives you the right to sit down and just look away when we all might die? You’ve lost friends? If you don’t do anything, get ready to lose more.” One of his sleeves went tight around his arm.

Keeley tugged harder, her eyes carrying a plea for him to stop. “Tone it down. Just look at their faces.”

He did. Every hunter had averted their gaze, staring at their plates or the ground. Shame. It hung clearly on each of their faces. He hadn’t roused them. He’d reminded them of their escape—cowardice. So he’d have to inspire them then to earn their trust.

Dev left the table, heading toward the counter at right corner. “Come on, Gama.” He scanned the placard hanging to the right of the stand as the amphibian hopped over to him. Leaflets littered the board in a number forcing newer sheets to be pinned overtop older ones. Each of them detailed an active hunt, the associated risk level, and the rewards. He settled on one of the hunts tacked atop a stack of yellowing paper. A warning had been scribbled along the edge of the paper: Wild goblins. Savage. Not for the inexperienced.

He grinned, tearing the sheet free and going over the details. Dev felt everyone’s eyes fix back on him. He had their attention. Good. He aimed to keep it and give them something worth watching. “Has anyone here hunted goblins before? Have any of you killed them?”

No answer.

“I have.” He left out the part about how it had been more of an ambush by the creatures than a hunt. “And my friends and I put them down. They’re tough, but not unbeatable.” Dev raised the hunt above his head, officially accepting it.

The rewards were minor in terms of money, but the opportunity to advance his mantles appealed more than anything material. Acquiring a goblin slayer advantage would be crucial to defeating the Goblin King. If he did it right, he’d show an entire army of hunters it was possible.

He turned his attention to his friends, tilting his head toward the door in a signal for them to follow.

All of them held his gaze but remained seated.

He frowned. “What’s wrong?”

Erik rose and turned to face him, his shoulders sagging. “We were kind of thinking…of maybe taking a break?” He ran a hand through his hair and looked away as if trying to find support from the others. “We’re not backing away from this, but dammit, Dev, we’ve been on this almost non-stop. Hunt after hunt. Running from village and town to make progress. You’re going to burn us out, and worst of all, yourself. You can’t run yourself into the ground and still expect to take on something like the Goblin King.”

Watch me. He didn’t voice the thought, instead tuning into the murmurs from the other hunters. They were all teetering on an unseen edge, tempted to follow his example, but resonating with the comfort Erik showcased. They’d finally been given a break in life, and they wanted to make the most of it. He couldn’t fault them for that.

Rather than pushing his friends and the onlookers too hard, he nodded and headed toward the exit. “Thanks for the food.” He tipped a two-finger salute to everyone behind as he left the lodge, setting his eyes on the four-way intersection ahead. Dev opened his menu, sliding to the map to address the new region.

Most of the land around Brisane was lush fields and plains. Not too far outside that, the ground changed to the unforgiving and rocky terrain the hobs had occupied. His new hunt had triggered an update on the map and circled the place to begin looking for goblins. The area lay near a village nestled among the grassy flatlands outside the city, close to a day’s journey from where he was.

He shifted back through the map, bringing it to his immediate location to find the store the guard had mentioned earlier. Dev had rested enough during his unconscious drifting. All he needed was the powder to dry his clothing so he could move on.

“Dev?”

“Hm?” He shut his menu, looking down at the ground where Gama sat.

“Do you think you may have been a bit hard on people back there?” The toad twiddled his thumbs and pursed his flabby lips. “People do need a reprieve every now and again. The hunter’s life isn’t easy. I imagine many of them see this as a chance—a short-lived one possibly—to find solace in Lorian, which can be a hectic place.”

Gama had a point.

“I know.” Dev sighed and rubbed the back of a hand against his forehead. “That’s what I’m concerned about. If someone doesn’t do something, it is going to be short-lasting, and it’ll be over permanently. You heard them back there, some people have already died. This world’s harsh enough without the Goblin King. If we’re going to survive, this threat needs to be handled.”

“So you want to show them what you’re willing to do for them, the risks worth taking, hm?” The toad’s voice had leveled out, for the first time sounding serious.

“You saw them, Gama. Everyone may have been silent, but they were listening. I had their attention. They wanted to believe. It’s the same as it was back on the station. We didn’t have those kinds of conversations often, but there were moments people traded dreams and hopes about one day not living like that. Now they’ve tasted a kind of freedom, but the idea there’s someone who can take it away scares them. And rather than fight, they’d prefer to hide and pretend it’s fine. But there’s still a part of them that wants to save their dream. I saw it in them.” Dev let his words fall with a weight of finality as he chose a path to take.

Gama burbled, but didn’t press the issue further.

Dev made his way down one of the streets lined with another slew of vendors screaming at the top of their lungs. He tuned most of their clamor out, occasionally looking down the shimmering guide that had materialized to keep him on the right path for his hunt.

He turned the corner, making his way into an alleyway cutting between buildings to lead to another street. Dev took a step down it when a call came over the busy cries of the street.

“Hey!”

He stopped and looked over a shoulder in the direction of the shout.

“Hunter—Devrim?”

He blinked and leaned back to stare past a haggling customer and vendor blocking most of his view.

The woman rushing down the alley, calling his name, stood out from the crowd. He put her at standing a couple of inches taller than him. She wore a leather chest piece, formed to her body, with her arms left bare, revealing solid cords of muscles that flexed with every movement. Her hair bobbed with every step. The thick, brown locks took on a burnt orange tinge under the sunlight. She wore it long, letting half spill over her front, and the rest down her back just longer than shoulder length. A hilt protruded from behind her neck at an angle, the crimson wrappings standing out against the darkness of her armor.

He stepped out of the alley, waiting for her as he eyed Gama sideways. “What do you think?”

“I think she’s a hunter.”

He sighed, realizing he’d hoped too soon that the toad’s attitude had matured from before. “Yeah, thanks. I meant, why’s she looking for me?”

“She must want to find you. Why else look for someone if you didn’t want to find them?”

Dev blinked, wondering if the knots forming in his brain were signs of a stroke courtesy of his yammering companion.

The woman stopped a foot from him, straightening her posture. Her breaths came low and steady as if she hadn’t just sprinted in armor. “Devrim Bains.”

He pointed a finger above his head to where his name would be for other players. “I hope so, otherwise that’s really going to confuse people.” Dev glanced above the woman’s head, shaking off the fact she had a pair of triangular ears, somewhat similar to Keeley’s, but trimmed in fur matching her hair color. The name read: Mira Bearstrong. He gave her another look, deciding it suited her.

Her eyes were a light brown that carried notes of liquid gold within, giving them slightly animalistic notes. A mantle of dark fur lined the armor around her neck. The same leather of her chest piece ran from her waist down, splitting into strips like a skirt that ended inches above her knees. Calf-high boots, made of the same hide as her top, revealed that her lower body carried the same solid muscle as the rest of her.

“What can I do for you?” He adopted a neutral posture, not wanting to set the woman off given the appearance his class carried under the mantles he wore.

“I was in the lodge when you spoke”—she smiled, showing a set of canines just as pointed as Keeley’s even though she didn’t look to be a havahneko—“and I wanted to tell you that you’re right.”

The words rocked him. He hadn’t expected someone to come after him in agreement, feeling that he would first have to return with proof that whittling down the Goblin King’s forces was an attainable goal.

She turned her head a fraction, gazing down the street like she was looking at something only she could see. “I lost someone too when we came into Lorian, and it was because of those things.” Her tone made it obvious what she was referring to. “No one else stood up to help you, but I know some of the other hunters there. They want to. They’re just—”

“Scared. I know.” Dev reached out, clapping one of her arms. “I don’t judge them for it. It just means I’ve got my work cut out for me.”

“I’m here to make that easier. I want to help. I loaded in two weeks ago. I’ve spent that time hunting a lot.” She gave him a feral grin that left no doubt in his mind that she’d slain her fair share of creatures already. Mira extended a hand.

He took it and shook. “Happy to have you.”

“Good. Now let’s take care of your clothes before we leave.”

Dev’s expression slipped. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”

She rolled her eyes and scoffed, not bothering to explain as she turned and walked off.

He followed her until they reached a shop recessed within a white-brick wall.

The entirety of the shop was made from polished wood that seemed to retain its luster no matter how many hunters traipsed through it. Swords and a line of other weapons ran across the right wall from a simple rack. Rolls of fabric rested across the other side of the shop. A tiny stand occupied the middle of the place with a rake of a man in simple clothes. He perked up as Mira stepped up to the counter.

“Ah, Mistress Mira.” The shopkeeper clapped his hands. “Oh, and you brought me a new customer. What can I do for the both of you?”

Mira took a step to the side, gesturing with both hands to Dev. “He needs an upgrade. Some crafting changes and maybe hunter’s powder to clean up that outfit.”

The shopkeeper bustled over to him before he could open his mouth to say anything. The man tugged his robes, rubbing them between his fingers.

“What kind of upgrades would you like?”

Dev shrugged. “I’m not sure what the options are with what materials and money I have. But, is there anything that can up my resilience without costing me any speed?” He opened his menu to display its contents. He still had fifty shims after recovering what he’d spent in Muddeep from slaying the goblins back in New Haven.

The shopkeeper peeled away, stroking his chin as he looked over Dev’s items. “I can work with those. You won’t get much, but it won’t hurt, and it’ll be a good start. Mhm, yes.” He sounded as if he were talking to himself now. “Gorgon scales can be woven into the robes for some armor...and I could put a lacquer on them. Yes-yes. The kaftar pelts and mane would do nicely. I can’t overlook the teeth. Those would make a decent necklace. Of course-course.” He wrung his wrists. “Are you willing to part with fifty shims for this?”

Dev didn’t hesitate, forking over the sum. His survival outweighed any amount of money. If he succeeded in taking out the Goblin King, the accompanying reputation as well as rewards would offset any costs he incurred now.

“Okay, strip.”

Dev blinked. “What?”

“Strip.” The shopkeeper’s voice had stayed level, letting him know he wasn’t joking.

Mira crossed her arms, leaning against a wall. Her mouth pulled to one side in amusement.

Dev grumbled and slipped out of his clothing.

Mira whistled, turning her head when he glared at her.

Gama ribbited, hopping over to the corner of the shop to relieve himself on the otherwise spotless floor.

Dev averted his gaze and pretended he hadn’t seen that happen. He focused on Mira instead, trying to identify her race and class. His look prompted his menu to answer the questions he had about her.

Ursium: These men and women are the descendants of a race of old druids with an affinity for shapeshifting. At some point these forgotten people committed a magical taboo and bound their bloodlines and bodies to bears. What was supposed to be a ritual to gain the strength and ferocity of the creatures went awry, leaving them and their offspring to be forever a hybrid of man and bear. Ursium possess the monstrous power of their animal sides as well as the fury, senses, and feral nature. Don’t let that fool you, they retain all the cunning and wisdom of their human halves as well. If you go into battle, you want one of these—or a lot of them—by your side.

Ursium are easy to spot given their above-average height, increased muscle mass, and their tufted ears sprouting from the tops of their heads. Some ursium have patches of fur lining parts of the limbs. This is an aesthetic choice for hunters.

“Huh. You picked a beary interesting race, Mira.”

Her smile slipped. “Don’t make that pun again.”

“I need to kill time while I’m sitting here giving the public one crazy view.”

Mira’s grin returned. “Oh, I’m enjoying it.”

The shopkeeper returned, holding a set of robes he didn’t recognize. Stains of blood colored a majority of the fabric and proved it was still the same outfit. Minute ridges, like scales, spread through the area around the chest within the fabric, giving a honeycomb-like appearance to it. A trim of fur, much like the mane around Mira’s armor, now lined the neck of his robes. The changes looked more superficial than anything else.

Dev pulled the outfit from the shopkeeper, slipping into it. It didn’t feel any different aside from the tickle of fibers along the back of his neck. He checked his menu.

Character: Devrim Bains. Class/Race: Slayer.

Renown: 25 points.

Skill points: 0

Skills: Reverberating Strike lvl 3. Skewer lvl 2. Slayer’s Shadow. Fleet-footed lvl 2.

Clothing/Armor Stats: 3 Resistance. 0 Recovery. 5 Speed. 3 Bloodlust.

“Here.” The shopkeeper pulled out a leather cord strung with all of the kaftar teeth Dev had given him.

He squinted at the necklace, unsure of what it could do for him, but he donned it anyway. A second look at his menu showed the minor item had upped his recovery and renown.

Renown: 27 points.

Clothing/Armor Stats: 3 Resistance. 1 Recovery. 5 Speed. 3 Bloodlust.

The added stats would offer him a hint of protection now in combat as well as being able to recover, even if slightly, during any fight. It hadn’t cost him anything other than his appearance. “How do I look?”

Mira bared her teeth. “Like there are going to be some frightened goblins pretty soon. Let’s collect some heads.”

Chapter Twenty-six – The Past

The Fiddlers’ Peace

Devrim stared across the field. Stalks of grass, a soft green that’d been washed lighter by years under the sun, brushed against his waist. Tendrils of smoke rose just at the edge of his vision. He pointed to the spot, getting Mira’s attention. “That looks pretty tame for signs of a goblin raid. I saw more smoke coming out of Brisane.”

“That’s because they haven’t been hit yet. It’s like a band of nomads passing through—fiddlers. They move through Lorian, setting up camps outside cities, villages, and towns. They’re great for traveling hunters who need a quick stop to rest, grab food, and maybe even do some trading. Fiddlers will take on clients from any neighboring settlement, and for cheap.” Mira ran a hand along the hilt of the sword strapped over her back.

The weapon stretched from her shoulders down past her bottom. It rest without a scabbard, the metal catching hints of the morning sun’s rays along both its edges, giving it an illusion of carrying light within its body. An unadorned pommel, cast in a simple sphere, sat at the other end of the weapon.

Dev pulled his gaze away from the sword and focused on the tinker encampment. He set off at a leisured pace, running a hand along the blades of grass, enjoying the faint tickle across his palm. “Do goblins make a habit of attacking these people?”

Mira’s lips pressed. “Mhm. Fiddlers have it pretty rough. They travel whenever they feel threatened or unwelcome, which is a lot. You know how some people can be, they’re afraid of anything or anyone different. Townsfolk accuse them of being thieves. Monsters find them easy pickings. Any creature that travels in groups will normally try to chase them down for a meal.” She gripped the hilt of her weapon until the whites of her knuckles showed.

He placed a hand on her shoulder, giving her reassuring squeeze. “We’ll save them.” Dev picked up his pace, reaching up to stroke Gama’s chin with an index finger. The action brought the toad out of his sleep.

“Brrp. What’s wrong? Why did you wake me?”

“Nothing’s wrong. Just wanted an opinion.”

“Oh, I have no end of those!”

I know. “What do you know of wild goblins? How different are they than those under the Goblin King’s command?”

“Brrp. Well, they’re just as violent, cunning, and intelligent. I don’t think they’re as well-equipped. You might find this a surprise, but they’re not charming traders able to procure goods on their own. Most people have a strong aversion to those ugly things.” Gama shivered, rustling Dev’s robes.

It wasn’t much in the way of information, but it helped. If Gama’s words held true, it meant the goblins wouldn’t be as much of a threat as the ones from New Haven. Perfect for his training and earning the mantle he desired. He hoped the lack of command meant they’d be a smaller band with less coordination.

Dev played through a variety of scenarios as the fiddler camp came into view ahead.

Conical huts stood over a clearing in the grass about fifteen minutes’ walk from where they were. No two tents looked alike save for their shape. It was as if each had been crafted to be both a work of art as well as represent an identity. Every hut was made of tough fabric and hide dyed in prismatic colors. A layer of rudimentary symbols had been painted over every inch of the homes.

An array of small campfires spread through the fiddler settlement, sending consistent plumes of smoke into the air. A few people moved about and passed from tent-to-tent.

As they drew closer, a faint and steady thrum, peppered with an odd twang, graced his ears. “Is that…music?” He frowned, trying to recognize the discordant sounds.

Mira shrugged. “Anything can be music if you like it.” Her gaze sifted over the surroundings, not settling on the fiddler camp, like she was searching for signs of trouble. “It’s pretty peaceful so far.”

He agreed. The hunt didn’t add up with what the leaflet had said. Nothing stood out as a clear warning of danger the closer he got to the collection of tents. It seemed like the fiddlers hadn’t been bothered at all.

Dev brushed Gama’s side, eliciting a shudder from the amphibian. “Do you have any idea how big a band of wild goblins could be?”

The toad extended his tongue, licking one of his eyes, then running the organ over his lips. “Mhrm. It varies. Goblins don’t do well without a stern hand in large groups. Without someone like the Goblin King, they’d need a commander. But those don’t last too long in the wild. Goblins are notorious for infighting and killing each other off for power. I don’t see a successful band being more than twenty, which is more than enough to raze a fiddler camp to the ground.”

It wasn’t the ideal number he had preferred to slay, but it would help his count. And it would send a message he hoped would carry through the world of Lorian. If some goblins could be killed, then the rest could be as well.

They made it to the edge of the field, stepping onto bare earth that’d likely been cleared by human hands to allow for traveling camps like the fiddlers’. Dev raised a hand, calling out to the few settlers outside of their huts. “Hey!”

One of the fiddlers rose from their place by the fire and titled their head toward him. A wide-brimmed hat obscured most of their face the way they had it angled down near the front. The man tipped the hat back and gave them a toothy smile. His face was lined and weathered with age and years under the sun, kissing his skin to a rich bronze. His eyes were a light brown, almost fatherly in the way they stared at Dev and Mira. “What can I do for ya?” The fiddler tugged at the sleeves of his plaid shirt.

Devrim brought up the listed hunt, explaining why they’d come.

“Oh, that old request.” The man scratched a few days’ growth of facial hair that hadn’t quite passed being stubble. He dusted his hands against his canvas pants before patting his sides. “Ayep. Put out that job a while back before heading out here. Been harassed by goblins all through this region. No idea the job had ended up in the likes of Brisane—awful big place, innit?”

He didn’t know how best to pass the man’s kind, but idle, chitchat. “It’s definitely something. Biggest place I’ve seen since coming here.” Dev tried to match the fiddler’s genuine smile, but felt he failed. “What can you tell us about your problem? How long have goblins been chasing your camp? Do you expect any trouble today—tonight?” Dev rubbernecked out of a mixture of boredom and curiosity, hoping to catch some semblance of movement outside the camp.

But nothing of the sort happened.

“They’ve been a mite of bother, there’s truth in that. But we’re simple folk. We see trouble comin’, we pack and head on.” The man stopped, licking his lips as his expression grew distant. The light in his eyes dulled for a moment as he seemed to stare through them. “Sometimes it’s not enough, you see. We’ve lost good folk now and again getting away from people and monsters alike. Sometimes I can’t tell the two apart. Comes with the life.” The fiddler moved off toward one of the tents, waving at them to follow.

Dev shrugged, falling in behind the man. Mira came to his side as they entered the tent together. He didn’t know how the small dwelling managed to be spacious enough on the inside to host two separate bedrolls, a metal pot and lid cast from the same black metal, a chest that looked like it weighed more than all three of them together, and dozens of books spread haphazardly through the place. “Cozy.” He nodded at a pack of rolled wool blankets stacked atop one another.

“It is. All a man needs to make a home and, well, good company, eh?” The fiddler and tilted his head toward Mira. “Remember that, boy.”

“Right.” He didn’t see how that mattered, but saw no need in offending their host. “Look, we’re really grateful for you offering to show us around your tent and—”

The flap to the fiddler’s home brushed open and a plump woman entered. She had his skin both in color and weathered appearance. The same kind light hung in her eyes. Silver, with a few strands of dull steel, threaded most of her otherwise dark hair. She wore a tunic, dyed a soft pink with red and orange floral print. The cloth fell to her ankles, serving as the only garment aside from a pair of tough, leather shoes. A matronly air hung about her. “Guests?”

The fiddler man fetched a pipe from atop a stack of books, tapping it clean against his forearm. “It’s lookin’ like, dear.” Satisfied he’d cleaned the pipe, the fiddler leaned over to kiss his wife on the cheek. He slipped the wooden stem into his mouth and pulled out a pouch from one of his pockets. The fiddler undid the string cinching the bag shut, pinching free a mound of earthy substance to pack it into the pipe’s bowl. “That’ll do for a while. Let’s go back out to the fire to talk, eh?” The fiddler led them back to where they’d first met him.

Dev didn’t take a seat on the old mat resting on the ground when offered. He stood in place, shuffling lightly to keep from feeling like he was another fixture in the camp. “You’re pretty calm for someone who could come under attack. Isn’t there anything we can do?”

The fiddler reached out to the fire, nudging aside some of the burning wood by their untouched portions. He grabbed a smoldering branch that hadn’t burst into flames yet and brought it to the bowl. The fiddler took his time cupping a hand over the pipe, blowing and nursing it until smoke wafted from the bowl. “Ah.” He set the branch back in its place. “When you get to be my age, which comes about from a bit of patience, by the way, you learn to take things slow. What’ll be is what’ll be. We can’t do much about it. Now you…” He trailed off, eyes twinkling.

Dev waited for the man to pick back up, but he didn’t. “But we what?”

The fiddler waved a finger in admonishment. “That right there. The impatience. It’s a good thing when you’re young, but temper it a little. You’re all fire. You keep going like that, you’ll end up like this.” The fiddler fished the branch back out, tossing it into the center of the fire. It snapped, bits of bark breaking free as it crackled under the heat. Seconds passed and the whole of the stick caught fire. “You burn up. Good fires take time to build, and you’ve got to keep an eye on them, nurse them.”

Dev didn’t know what exactly the old man was getting at, only that his patience could get them killed. “Sir, respectfully, I’m pretty concerned that just sitting around is going to lead to you digging more graves. Do you have anyone here who can help? People who can fight?”

The fiddler blinked, tilting his head as if Dev had spoken gibberish. “Why in Lorian would we want that? None of our folk have ever taken to blade and spear.” He shook his head. “It’s not our way. We’re peaceful people. And if people aren’t wantin’ to keep that peace, then we’re more than happy to get up and go where things are calmer up until they ain’t.”

The idea of peace sent bells off in his head. That was why he came on this hunt, to strengthen himself to help secure that idea for the whole of Lorian. At the very least, his fellow hunters and former station workers. The fact people had already claimed to find it, and in just moving around as they willed, baffled him.

“Well, don’t fault us for wanting to keep your peace a different way. You put the job out. Surely you must want some protection?”

The fiddler took a deep inhale of his pipe, pulling it from his lips to blow a ring of smoke. He sat in silence for a moment and puffed out another ring, smaller, sending it through the first. “That I do, hunter. That I do. I’m man enough to admit I put out that job, maybe going a bit awry from our ways. We’re not fond of bloodshed among the fiddlers. But I’ve got a duty to my people to keep them safe within our laws. I’m hoping you can do that, and hoping doubly so that you can do it without killing those foul things.”

Devrim didn’t see any other course but to slay the goblins. He kept that reservation to himself, leaving the fiddler to his thoughts and ideals. “Fair enough, sir. I hope you don’t mind if Mira and I take a look around the camp and talk things about for a while.”

The fiddler pulled his pipe out of his mouth again, puffing out a steady band of smoke. “Don’t mind at all. And the name’s Tin, like the metal.”

Dev motioned for Mira to follow him as the day’s light dimmed. Evening would be on them in another few hours. The perfect time for goblins to strike. If the hunt had led them here on the map, it was for a reason. Apparent or not didn’t matter so long as Devrim ensured the fiddlers’ safety.

He made his way to the farthest of the tents, situated several dozen yards from a thicket of trees. They spread as far as he could see in the makings of a forest. “What do you think?”

“Goblins are woodland creatures. People here have all these superstitions that they lurk in caves and underground.” Mira placed a hand on her neck, pushing as she cracked it to one side. “The truth is that goblins live close to a lot of towns and settlements in this region of Lorian. They’re nocturnal and have plenty of wild prey to pick on in the woods and forests. It’s easy to lose sight of them with all the foliage at night, meaning they have some kind of safety in their environment.” She swept the immediate area with a long, slow look.

Dev repeated what Mira had told him, wondering what would prompt wild goblins to leave their wooded environments and risk coming in contact with humans. Though the fiddlers may have been peaceful people, the monsters would run a risk in coming in contact with other hunters or traveling guards. “Any idea why these goblins are bothering people? Why not just hunt other monsters that are less likely to put up a fight?”

Mira edged her way closer to the tree line, bending over at the waist as she peered into the woods. “Not sure. Some people think it has to do with what they can take: tools, clothing, which can serve fabric for other uses like coverings for shelter, metal, anything precious and shiny. I’ll be honest, I haven’t thought much about why they do anything. I’ve been learning how best to kill them…” Mira stopped, the muscles in her back visibly rippling as she stiffened. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be. Trust me, I get it. You lost someone. I nearly did too. And for the first time in our lives, we’ve got the chance and power to do something about it.” Dev let a hand fall on Thirst, pushing down in the scabbard. Its touch comforted him.

A branch creaked in the woods like it was under a sudden weight. Something beat against the trunks of numerous trees, eliciting a series of hollow clacks. A cacophony of howls and shrieks rippled out to fill the afternoon air. Countless red eyes stared back at them from within the woods.

Mira pulled her sword free, gripping it in both hands. “I guess we’re going to be able to do something sooner than we think.”

Goblins burst out of the woodwork.

Chapter Twenty-seven – The Past

Goblin Raid

The first of the creatures scuttled across the ground on all fours, veins throbbing like minute serpents under its skin.

“Gama, warn the fiddlers. Get them into their tents or have them run. Go!” Dev scooped the toad from his shoulders, lowering him to the ground.

The amphibian needed no further prompting. He leapt into motion, hollering at the top of his lungs at the camp.

Saliva spilled over the goblin’s lower lip as it snarled. It closed in, pulling a short knife from its hip and took to the air toward him.

Devrim drew Thirst, not bothering to activate a skillshot. He held the sword firm before him and stepped into the beast’s charge. A simple shift in his weight brought him to the side of the falling goblin. Its own weight drove it into Thirst, skewering itself under its sternum until its body sank against the hilt. Devrim pulled the weapon free and backpedaled to size up the situation.

Gama had been wrong about his goblin count. The wild creatures hadn’t kept to a band of twenty. At first glance they numbered well over forty, and more poured out of the forest.

Devrim put more distance between himself and the oncoming horde, using the gap to buy himself time to restore some stamina. He dragged Thirst against his robes to coat in fresh blood.

Goblins slain count increased.

Six goblins broke from the bulk of the charge to come his way, each of them brandishing a pair of identical sickles.

Paralyzing two of them with a skillshot would leave him immediately surrounded by four who could take him to the ground.

Mira rushed into the fray, sliding to a halt and twisting. She swung her sword like a club into the midsection of one of the goblins. The ursium warrior cleaved the beast in two, snapping out with a boot to kick the creature’s lower half into another monster. Mira recomposed herself and thrust the weapon in the air. “Requip, spear wielder!”

Currents of air swept around Mira, throwing her hair into a frenzy. Her armor warped as if it were made of liquid. The leather shrank in places. Fur sprouted to cover more of what armor remained. Her sword collapsed on itself under an aura of blinding white light, only to form into a slender shaft tipped with a spearhead. A quiver appeared on her back holding over a dozen of smaller spears. Bands of light wrapped over her left forearm and hardened into a buckler shield.

She pivoted, hurling the spear in her hand at another of the goblins. It tore through the creature to impale a second. The force behind the weapon pinned both of the monsters to the ground. Mira threw back her head, releasing a war cry that resounded through the field, stirring loose particulates on the ground. The ursium warrior raised an arm, catching the sickle of goblin that had lunged at her. She drove the tip of a foot into its groin before drawing another short spear to jam it into the goblin’s belly. A quick twist and pull freed the weapon.

Noted. Don’t make her angry.

Mira thrust a series of short jabs at another of goblins. The creature stumbled back, working its sickles like metal fans in an attempt to fend off the spear. Clanging metal and grunts of exertion sounded off over their exchange of blows. Mira sank her weight, thrust the spear up at an angle to come between the creature’s guard. The weapon passed behind the monster’s arms to wedge its tip in the goblin’s chin. She gave the spear a final shove to bring its head out through the beast’s skull.

Her action drew the ire of the two goblins left in the former group. They scampered toward her, howling and beating their weapons together in a discordant metal beat.

Dev caught a band of goblins skulking near the edge of the tree line, making their way to the tents closest to the woods. Crap. He activated his Fleet-footed skill and took off in a burst, heading in Mira’s direction. Dev activated his Skewer and launched himself at ballistic speed. Thirst passed through the meat of a goblin’s arm, driving through the side of the creature’s body. His momentum and the level up to the ability drove him into a second beast. Thirst hadn’t fully pierced the first monster’s midsection, but the combination of abilities crushed the goblin’s form from the speed and impact to force Thirst out as he crashed into another beast.

Mira’s eyed widened and she arched a brow. “Impressive.”

Dev wrenched Thirst free, cleaning the blood onto his robes again. “I was going to say the same to you. You literally transformed into, ah…” He waved from her head to her feet.

“I’ll tell you about the many perks of my class later. Let’s go.” She broke into a sprint toward the camp.

Dev called to her, pointing with Thirst to the woods.

She nodded and sped up.

He made his way over to the farthest tent, his stamina nearly collapsing on him. Mira’s mini-massacre had robbed him of fueling Thirst and his bloodlust to net him some regenerative boons. He closed in on the closest of the fiddler homes. Shadows arced over the fabric, revealing a pair of people huddling near each other within the tent. Dev’s stamina sank below a quarter and dipped by the second.

He’d already consumed two skills, leaving a few left to count on.

A goblin spotted him and paused in front of the tent. It jabbed a finger at him, snarling something incomprehensible. Three goblins racing by stopped in their tracks to barrel toward him.

Dev activated Slayer’s Resolve. His body surged with renewed energy as his stamina exploded to full. He summoned his shadow, spending the majority of what he had just restored. The dark clone leapt ahead of him to cut down the goblin entering the tent.

One of the goblins broke from the trio to attack his apparition.

The shadow stunned it with a pommel strike, snapping down to slice into the goblin’s shoulder with the dark katana.

Dev took slow steps to close in on the pair of goblins left. The easy pace minimized his stamina consumption, allowing him to regain a miniscule amount from the kills his clone had made. He waited a handful of seconds until one of the creatures drew nearer than the other. Dev activated Reverberating Strike in double succession, launching himself to stun the first creature before lunging to paralyze the second. The maneuver crashed his stamina to zero. He sank to the ground, gulping down as much air as he could as his lungs strained.

His shadow came to his side and skewered one of the goblins through the throat. Another case of its sword severed the last goblin’s head from its shoulders. Dispatching the monsters must have been the last bit of effort his clone could expend. It vanished just as he caught his breath and his stamina recovered.

The extra kills revitalized Thirst’s hunger, sending the familiar warmth into his body that fueled him. Dev got back to his feet and took off after Mira.

She sat crouched, encircled by close to a dozen goblins. Mira held two of her short spears, pivoting to face any of the creatures that tried to close in on her. She drummed the shafts together to make a steady beat that she bobbed in place to.

Dev did a mental calculation of which of his skills remained. Using his Slayer’s Resolve had refreshed some at the cost of him expending others. His stamina slowly ticked upward despite running courtesy of the amount of goblin blood shed so far. He channeled his Fleet-footed ability and covered the distance between him and Mira in seconds. Slowing down wasn’t an option as he neared some of the goblins. He used the momentum to help him drive Thirst into one of the creature’s backs, tearing through its spine and belly.

The rest of the group whirled about to shriek and jump after him.

He didn’t pause, grabbing another goblin by one of its ears and wrenching the tissue at an angle. The creature hobbled to one side, wincing from the strain. Dev jabbed the monster’s chest with Thirst until it stopped struggling against his hold.

Most of the goblins had forgotten about Mira, leaving her free to capitalize on their distraction. She rushed the opposite side of the goblin formation and let loose another bellowing cry. Mira took to the air in an impressive leap, bringing the spears down into a pair of goblins’ chests, pinning them to the ground. She wrenched the weapons free and hurled one like a javelin. The spear bit into another monster’s side, toppling it, but not finishing the beast. She whipped the remaining weapon to her side and struck a goblin across the face with the end of the shaft.

Devrim activated the Skewer skillshot, embodying the ability’s namesake as he slammed Thirst through a pair of the green monsters. He pulled the katana free and lunged after another goblin with a snap-cast that sent the blade through one of the creature’s legs. Dev followed up by plunging Thirst through the goblin’s abdomen. He glanced over his shoulder at Mira.

The ursium woman drew another spear, running her hand along it as she murmured something. Its metal tip glowed hot orange. She hurled it at a tight-knit group of goblins fleeing the scene. The spear crashed into the back of one of the creatures, sinking into its flesh and sending orange tendrils through its body. Each stream of orange throbbed under the goblin’s skin until the fiend exploded into flames, showering its companions. She systematically plucked and threw the remaining spears in her quiver. “Requip, barbarian!”

Wind, threaded by slivers of light, coursed around her body as her outfit changed again. Her boots morphed into ones made of pale hide wrapped in fur of the same color. The leather skirt vanished, replaced by one that matched her new footwear. Her top followed the motif, as did her arms, now wrapped in hide and fur. Mira’s brown locks seemed to thicken, growing into a wild mane more than hair. She carried a new spear, of which a good portion consisted of a sharpened bone with a serrated edge. A shorter ax, double-headed, sat in her other hand. Streaks of red paint ran across her face in a design Dev couldn’t identify.

Mira took off after the fleeing goblins.

Dev shook his head, trying to process what he had witnessed, figuring it best to save it for a conversation with her later. He spotted a pair of fiddlers leaving their tent, pursued by two of the diminutive creatures. Dev solidified his grip on Thirst and rushed to their aid. He made within a few feet of the couple, sliding to a halt to scream. His cry did the trick and stole the goblins’ attention.

They broke off their chase to come after him.

Thirst vibrated, sending heated coils of iron into his forearms. He fed off the heat, imagining it helping set his blood into a boil. The pounding from the mounting bloodlust kept him in a state of drumming hyperawareness as the first goblin lurched, sword overhead. The creature moved sluggishly as far as he was concerned. Dev struck the monster with an open-handed blow against its nose, deforming it with a sickening crunch. He twisted, bringing Thirst down at an angle through the creature’s neck and burying the blade into one of its collarbones.

The second goblin didn’t bother using its weapons. It crashed into him, grabbing hold of his waist as it wrestled him.

Dev lost his hold on Thirst, ice coating his skin and muscles as the continued flow of heat and stamina vanished. His foot slipped as he coped with the shock and the goblin’s attempts to topple him. He clubbed the creature over the back of the head with a fist, failing to daze it. Most of his skillshots hadn’t recovered yet. They could still function without Thirst, in theory at least. Thin rows of needlelike pain erupted across his forearm.

The goblin had taken hold of the limb and clamped on with its teeth.

Dev slammed the base of his fist into the side of the monster’s head, striking one of its ears repeatedly in an attempt to dislodge the creature’s hold. It didn’t work. He decided to take a cue from the goblin. Dev stopped resisting the charge, throwing his weight back and taking the both of them to the ground. He grabbed hold of one of the goblin’s ears, wrenching on it to force the creature’s head to the other side. Satisfied with the newly created opening, he bit into the goblin’s throat, gnashing his teeth and tearing the flesh.

The creature opened its mouth, squealing and kicking its feet against the ground to backpedal from Dev.

The taste of hot copper and salt flowed over his tongue. The presence of fresh blood in his mouth forced the muscles in his neck to spasm, throbbing as if several hearts had come to life in his throat. He spat, retching until the fluid and traces of bile spilled over the ground.

The goblin gawked at him, wide-eyed, before whipping its head in search of escape.

Dev’s head pounded harder than before as if the bloodlust had taken on a second life after tasting the creature’s blood. He drew on the agonizing hammering to keep himself from collapsing under fatigue. A few short steps brought him to the fallen goblin from which Thirst protruded. He pulled the weapon free, making his way to the scuttling monster who’d bitten him.

The creature raised a hand. “No kill. Mercy.”

Dev blinked, then scanned the rest of the camp.

A fiddler body lay motionless on the ground as goblins stripped it, a few still burying the tips of their weapons in the deceased’s flesh. One of the tents had been set on fire somehow. A woman screamed in the distance.

“I don’t think so.” He drove Thirst into the goblin’s throat, letting the sword sit there as blood poured from the wound. The ribbons of heat flooding his body grew the longer he left the katana within the dying monster’s body. A part of him reasoned that he was toeing the line to becoming a monster himself, but another look at the fiddler camp convinced him otherwise. He finally ripped the weapon out of the goblin’s corpse, setting after the creatures that still flooded the area.

The monsters had enough sense to know when things were going poorly. Most of them regrouped and fled into the safety of the woods. A few stragglers stayed behind, rallying together to charge him.

He cut them down with cold efficiency despite the bloodlust setting his nerves and sinew on fire. Thirst shook harder as if it hadn’t gotten its fill of slain monsters. Dev shut his eyes, tuning out his surroundings in an effort to distance himself from the blade’s hunger. He reversed the weapon in his grip and cleaned it with his robes, rubbing the fabric with a thumb and forefinger over the metal like he was polishing it. The simple and repetitive act helped still his mind and numb the bloodlust’s pressure.

The throbbing lessened, granting him a measure of ease in sheathing the weapon. He took a breath that came in colder than the air around him. Dev figured it was another side effect of stowing Thirst so quickly after a battle. He opened his eyes, scanning the campsite for Mira and Gama, but couldn’t spot them.

Goblin raid complete: Protect the fiddler encampment from wild goblins.

Rewards: Goblin ears (trophy), crude sickles X2, chipped goblin horn, farrow root X3.

Skill points: 1

He walked toward the fire where he’d first met the elderly fiddler man.

Tin stood there, bent at the waist, staring at a prone form on the ground obscured by a patchwork blanket. The fiddler turned his head a fraction to one side, catching note of Devrim. Tin waved him over and resumed his hunched posture. “Pretty young thing she was.” The fiddler pulled the hat from his head and pressed it to his chest.

Dev followed the man’s gaze down to the body.

The girl couldn’t have been more than fifteen. Fair-complected, with hints of rose in her cheeks, the girl was the description for carefree and lively youth. A smattering of freckles spread out from her nose, running under her eyes. Her hair was the color of the earth beneath them, a walnut highlighted by streaks of golden hickory. The young woman’s eyes were soft brown with notes of honey, caught in sunlight. They were open wide, unfocused like she’d died in confusion more than horror.

Dev held the dead girl’s stare for a long moment in silence that stretched further than he would have liked. Finally, he kneeled, closing the girl’s eyelids. “Sorry. Hope you don’t mind? I just couldn’t keep looking is all.”

Tin sighed. “Sometimes that’s all folk can do, just look. You look on to things that are changing, things that are coming that you’ve no way to stop. You look at life, knowing you’re aging, and the coming days are ones where you’re frailer than before. Lots of things in life are simply things you can look at. But, the thing is, boy, it’s how you look at them that makes a world of difference.”

“All I see is what the goblins did, and a part of me can’t stop thinking what they would’ve done if they’d gotten the chance. And there’s worse out there still. So I guess I’m not sure how exactly I am supposed to look at it.”

Tin put his hat back on, taking a deep breath before exhaling. “Then I’ll show you, son. It’ll take a bit of work, though. Will you help me tend to the dead?”

The answer was easy. “Yes.”

Chapter Twenty-eight – The Past

Songs for the Dead

Devrim and Tin had spent the next hour gathering the bodies of the few fiddlers that had fallen. The pair worked to carefully wrap them in blankets, making sure to treat the deceased with as much dignity as they could. The fiddler man had explained why they didn’t strip the corpses, owing to the belief that every fiddler would pass on to endless fields with clear skies in the afterlife, and they’d appreciate making the journey with what little precious positions they had in life.

Completing the task, Dev rose and dusted himself off, waiting for Tin to give him further instructions. They never came.

The fiddler man brought out his pipe, lighting it. “Think we’ll wait till dark before starting the sendoff. It’ll give me time to think of the proper words and music. It’s a wrong thing to send fiddlers off without a dancing tune.” He shook his head and moved off toward his tent.

Hours passed as the fire crackled, occasionally snapping as it consumed some of the larger bits of wood. His mind had wandered off from the thoughts of the goblins and their king. Gama and Mira hadn’t returned from wherever they’d gone. Their absence had caused him a moment’s discomfort until he’d reasoned that they were fine. The mouthy toad had managed to survive danger far above his ability to combat. And Mira seemed to be equipped for any possible situation the world of Lorian could throw at her.

The train of thought only prompted more questions. Each of them having to do with the next move. His impromptu hunt had made some semblance of difference, at least he had convinced himself of that. The majority of the fiddlers were safe. But Dev hadn’t earned the Goblinslayer mantle he needed. He ran a thumb along Thirst’s pommel cap, drowning himself in the repetitive action.

“So, I go out and do all the hard work, and you’re here relaxing.” A subtle note of amusement hung in the voice.

Dev didn’t turn his head to address Mira. “Where’d you vanish off to?”

She plopped down opposite him at the fire, hunching over to wrap her arms around her legs. “Oh, I donned another one of my roles and chased the goblins into the woods. I wanted to make sure they weren’t going to camp close to the edge and come back to hurt us deep into the night.” Mira tilted her head back, glancing at the sky. “I got a few more of the freaks as they left. Spent the rest of the time making sure none tried to sneak back. You?”

Devrim opened his mouth, shutting it just as fast as he realized what he’d been close to saying. Mira didn’t have a clue about his bloodlust and the lengths it pushed him to. He didn’t know if telling her would be the best idea. She deserved the honesty, but he didn’t relish the idea of making her wary of him—needlessly so in fact.

“I hunted down whatever goblins didn’t bolt.” He took a breath, eyeing the wrapped bodies and nodding toward them to draw Mira’s attention to the bundles. “I helped Tin find and prepare the dead after that.” His voice grew hollow. “There’s supposed to be a fiddler sendoff tonight.”

Mira licked her lips, exhaling and muttering something only she could hear.

The awkward silence stretched on for longer than Dev was comfortable with. He broke it. “Do you have any idea where Gama is?”

Mira rolled her shoulders, pulling her arms away from her legs to stretch them overhead. “Hm, yeah. I saw him vanish into one of the fiddler tents earlier”—she pointed off to one of the larger homes within the encampment—“and he led a group of them to safety. I think he’s still there.”

Dev took a moment to imagine the jabbering toad leading fiddlers out of harm’s way and keeping them company, no doubt running his mouth to distract them from the threats around them. The thought brought a small grin to his face. He felt content to leave his companion in their midst until Tin returned to the start the ceremony.

“That’s good. I’m sure someone else will love to have their ears talked off by him.” Dev chuckled to himself, pulling his hand away from Thirst. The action brought to mind Mira’s weapons, and how they had changed with her declarations. “Mind if I ask you something?”

Mira cocked her head to one side, a light smile playing on her lips. “Does that question count?” She waved him off before he tried to speak. “Of course, go ahead.”

“You changed back in combat when the goblins first attacked. Then you did it again. It was like watching you play totally different classes, being able to switch to them like that.” Dev snapped his fingers to accentuate his point.

Mira frowned like she’d gone deep into thought. “It’s complicated, but at the same time, pretty close to what you said.” She arched back, the firelight casting a glow over her body. “Do you know anything about the old earth stories and myths?”

Dev inclined his head, keeping from saying just how much he knew on the matter.

“Ever hear of the Triple Goddess?”

The question set him off. “Yeah. Goddess with three aspects, personalities, faces, distinct beings if you want to get that far into it. Lots of cultures had a similar deity. Moirai, or the Fates, if you will. Juno had multiple aspects.” He bit his lower lip as he delved deeper into thought. “The Morrigan from Irish mythos. She was supposed to be war, fate, and…death.”

Mira blinked, her mouth hanging partially open. It took her a second to compose herself. “Wow. Maybe I should be the one asking the questions. No wonder you’re doing well in Lorian, you’re a monster nerd.”

Dev bristled.

Mira raised her hands. “It’s a compliment. Relax. But, it’s interesting you bring up the Morrigan.” Mira placed a hand to her collar, trailing it down along her throat, over her chest, stopping at her abdomen. “That’s what I am. Inspired by her name and the multiple roles she served. My class is sort of everything in one, but it’s hard—complex—to master. I haven’t bumped into another hunter who’s chosen it. There was a warning during the selection about it.” She shrugged. “We’re limited in abilities starting out, but instead, we can swap everything based on the situation.

“We can buy skillshots per role we have, or we can save up to buy new roles to switch to. Each one has its own set of abilities, weapons, stat changes, and armors. The catch is that it’s really easy to get caught up in acquiring more roles than you can afford to invest in skills for. So you could end up with a bunch of useless transformations. Is it better to have a few to one, and master them, or do you dabble in a bit of everything with just enough skills to be a danger?” She lowered herself to the ground, resting on her back as she threw one leg over the other to adopt a more comfortable position.

The sky had darkened above and stretched out in unmarred clarity. No wisps of nighttime clouds obscured the fluorescent gemstones studding the blackness above. It almost seemed like the idyllic version of a night sky, the sort of thing Dev had read about in stories, and adventurers slept under.

Perfect for the fiddler’s sendoff. The flicker of faint orange light at the edge of his vision pulled him from his thoughts.

Tin approached as if on cue. He held onto a torch made of discarded wood with old clothing, likely soaked in oil, wrapped around the top to serve as fuel. A procession of other fiddlers followed behind, all carrying their own light. Dev spotted a case hanging across Tin’s back, held to his chest by a thin strap of dark leather.

The fiddler leader stopped several paces from the fire and the nearby bodies. He extended a hand, a signal for another of his folk to take the torch from him as he set back into motion. “Help me move the bodies, will you?” Tin didn’t look up to address the pair of them.

Dev moved to his side without a word, kneeling to take one end of the wrapped bundle as Tin took hold of another. Mira came by him to help another fiddler carry another of the deceased. They brought the bodies over to a low platform of wood that Tin and a few others had assembled while Dev had waited by the fire.

Each fiddler was laid side-by-side. Wreaths made from the nearby woods, lined with ribbons of fabric from the various tents in the camp, were placed top the dead.

Tin slipped the strap over his head, pulling the case before him. He placed it on the ground with nearly as much care as he’d exerted in handling the bodies of the fallen. A pair of snaps echoed as Tin undid the latches, fetching a tear-shaped base of wood with a slender neck extending from the top. Thin wires ran along the length of the object. Tin brushed his thumb along the strings, drawing a gentle thrum from them.

Dev perked at that.

Tin slid his fingers along the strings, plucking at them, pulling a hand away to adjust the flat nubs at the end of the neck. Each simple strum and correction resonated in Dev’s chest and heart, like Tin wasn’t so much pulling at the instrument as he was at people’s emotions. A minute passed before the fiddler leader seemed content with what he’d done to the object. “Fussy old thing, this lute. Been passed down from my father’s father’s father. We’ve all been storytellers, singers. That’s how you come to lead fiddlers, you know? Telling tales, easing pains, stirring hope with song.”

Tin stepped back from the platform, waving to one of the fiddlers by his side.

The gesture signaled four of his folk to move by him, torches in hand, as they approached the wooden construction. Each of the fiddlers hummed, low and steady—a chant Dev couldn’t make out. They lowered the torches to the platform, moving along it until the entirety of it caught fire. The fiddlers stepped back and joined the crowd.

Tin cleared his throat, shooting a glance at Dev. “Seems the proper time to be singing my folk across the fields ahead.” He strummed the lute, humming until breaking fully into song.

“Oh, the fiddler’s way is a peaceful life

One of endless dance and song

Nary a care, empty o’ strife

Of days and nights of dreaming far and long

The fiddler’s fields are green and nice

Full of tunes and drinks and girls so pretty and neat

It’s a simple life with a simple price

A life well-lived, light on heart and on your feet

And when fiddlers pass they go on and on

To fields of merry and endless cheer

Never forgotten and never truly gone

Spending their days with merry and endless cheer.”

The fiddlers humming in the camp grew to something sonorous, vibrating its way deep into the ground below as well as Dev’s chest. It shook him to his core. The fiddlers stomped once, then clapped. They stomped harder, clapping again just as loud. Tin sang on.

“Walk and sing

Dance on and on

Run ’n’ frolic without a care

Don’t you worry ’bout a thing

Enjoy your open air

The fiddler’s life is good and free

How it passes slow and pleasantly

Sing on for the livin’

Sing for the passin’

Don’t shed no tears for the gone

Leave them be

Dancing carelessly

Livin’ through endless fields, livin’ on and on.”

Tin let the last words die. The clapping and stomping followed, slipping into a gentle hum that managed to carry out across the camp, and likely farther into the night. The fire had grown to encompass the platform and engulf the bodies of the dead, sending motes of orange light scattering into the air above the burning tendrils.

It was a hypnotic scene.

Mira sniffed, dragging the back of an arm against her eyes to clear them.

Dev racked his throat to bring some moisture to it. He hadn’t heard music like that before. It had been so cheerful, upbeat, unlike anything back on the station. A simple honesty had hung in each word Tin had sang. He placed a hand on the fiddler’s shoulder. “That was beautiful.”

The old man nodded as if he knew it as a truth. “I should hope so.” He exhaled, turning his gaze up to the stars. “I should hope so, boy.” Tin looked over a shoulder to his people. “Time for mourning’s over. Wouldn’t be a proper sendoff if we didn’t end it the way fiddlers live, the way I told those passing on to keep living.” A joyous light filled Tin’s eyes. “With a celebration.”

“What?” Dev gawked at the elderly fiddler.

Tin didn’t bother hiding the toothy smile widening across his face. “It’s a sin to send off our folk without dance and merriment. That’s not how we live. Not how they lived. And it ain’t how they’re supposed to carry on. The fiddler’s way lasts beyond this here.” Tin patted his chest.

Dev exhaled through his nose, keeping his face neutral. He didn’t have the heart to break the truth to the fiddler. Telling Tin and his folk that they were nothing but artificial constructs wouldn’t change a thing for them. They likely wouldn’t believe him anyhow. He looked to the fiddlers breaking off, taking each other by the arms to skip and bob in circles as they broke into dance. Laughter echoed through the camp. He felt he had no right to disturb that. “Sure, let’s celebrate.”

Tin’s eyes danced with a fire that made the man seem decades younger. He stepped lighter than before, moving into the crowd to take his wife by her hand, sweeping her into another small circle of dancing fiddlers.

Metal pots had been hung over the scattered fires. Steam wafted into the night as stews bubbled with hints of herbs and spices drifting through the air. Dev gravitated toward one of the pots, bending over to examine the contents better. Saliva built in his mouth as he stared at the warm orange stew.

“Here.” A fiddler woman held out a wooden bowl, rustic and unadorned. The girl looked to be his age, her heart-shaped face framed by hair a few shades lighter than the fire, hanging down to her chin. The light did interesting things to her eyes, which were a color softer than the pale greens he’d seen on the goblins.

Dev took the bowl from her hands. “Thanks.”

She smiled, spooning stew for him before passing him a leather bladder with a cork. “Don’t drink it all. Save some for the rest.”

He nodded and turned to search for a place to sit in peace. A hand grabbed his wrist as he took a step, keeping him in place. The woman pressed her lips to his cheeks, pulling back just as fast as if his skin had burned her.

She shifted in place, looking down at the ground. “Thank you…for what you did. Elder Tin won’t admit it, but it was a necessary evil—fighting like that.”

He didn’t know how to respond to that. A sincerity hung in her words that he couldn’t combat. She’d believed that he had done the right thing, but at the same time genuinely felt his actions were wrong. It didn’t sit right with him. Since entering Lorian, all he had to rely on was fighting his way out of trouble. That choice was made for him since being uploaded. Dev bowed his head, backpedaling as he decided not to voice his feelings on the matter.

Gama hopped in the corner with a group of fiddlers, unaware of anything but his own joy in the moment.

Dev shook his head, grinning. He left the toad to his pleasure and found a spot away from the partying folk. One of the fires was unattended; a few bedrolls had been laid out for fiddlers to rest on, likely after the celebration. He eased his way down to sit cross-legged, setting his stew to the side. His fingers worked to uncork the bladder he’d been given. Dev tipped the bag back, letting the liquid splash into his mouth. The first touch sent cold waves through his mouth, like he’d swallowed beads of ice despite the beverage’s temperature being the same as the air around him.

“First sip is always a shocker.” Tin sank down by his side, a bowl much like Dev’s in his hands. “Good, though. We make it from a strong herb, mint. Takes a while to get it right and make the alcohol strong enough. Good bite, goes great with the stew.” Tin shoved a spoonful in his mouth. He gestured with the utensil, giving Dev a signal to eat.

Dev heeded the old man’s advice, bringing the bowl to his mouth, sipping straight from it. Heat that had nothing to do with the temperature of the stew lanced the tip of his tongue. He took another swig from the bladder, wincing before settling as the cooling liquid rolled through his mouth. Dev exhaled, savoring the combination the meal and beverage created in his mouth. “Spicy, cool, smooth, and…something else.”

Tin just smiled, reaching to pull the bladder from his hands. He tipped it back, not bringing the mouth of the bag to his lips as he guzzled. “Aye. That’s a good way of saying it.” The fiddler set the bag down between them, corking it. He stirred his spoon lazily through the stew and his gaze drifted off into the fire. “You know…it was a hard thing you did, boy. Killing like that isn’t easy. Oh, I know you hunters have a knack for it.” He shook his head, cutting himself off short. “But that ain’t it. There’s something I saw in you, something fierce—fiercer than any of those things coming after us. You need to watch it, else you’ll have a hard time telling yourself apart from monsters. Trust me on this.”

The words flowed through Dev’s body colder than the beverage had. He consoled himself with another spoonful of the stew, letting its heat radiate through his body as he ate mechanically.

“Seen a few of my people lose their way, you know?” Tin sighed, folding his legs much as Dev had. “Get angry, feel powerless, and they marched off to do what you just did. It didn’t go well for him. That’s the thing, though. You can’t save everyone. But…” Tin removed the stopper and tilted the bladder back to take a larger swig. “Maybe, maybe, you just might be able to save enough of us.”

Dev stopped mid-bite, lowering the spoon back into the bowl as he turned slowly to regard Tin. “I’m sorry?”

“You heard me.” Tin didn’t pull his stare away from the fire. “I’m not a stupid man, though skies above know I have my moments. I know what you did for us. And I saw what you could do. That’s what the fiddler’s life—life’s—all about. Possibility, boy. May just be you can stop these creatures, and I don’t just mean the wild ones. Lorian’s got many problems, and it’s got its freedoms too. But, a terrible sore on this world now is that Goblin King. I know what ill he’s driving. I’ve seen the horrors.” Something unsaid hung in Tin’s voice.

Dev waited for the fiddler man to say what he’d left out.

“Someone needs to stop it. Pains me to say it. I wish it weren’t the case. This sort of thing only breeds more of the same. But, if it don’t stop, well, won’t that be a sad thing.” Tin took a mouthful of soup, swallowing it without bothering to chase it with a drink. “I know why you really came here. Aye, you came to help. But you also came to kill goblins. You’ve got that look in your eye that young men get when they’re on track to do something reckless, dangerous. You want to go after the Goblin King.” Tin’s voice made it clear he was making a statement.

“Want to. Have to. Not sure what the difference is right now. But, yes.” Dev’s hand drifted to his side, falling on Thirst.

Tin got to his feet, brushing the back of his pants with a hand. “I know something about that too, boy. Thank you for what you did, and I’m wishing you all the luck across every field and all the endless night sky in your plan.” Tin clapped Dev on the back and disappeared, leaving him to watch the fire alone.

He finished his food, taking one last sip to wash it down before spreading out over the roll beneath him. His eyes turned to the stars above as he let his thoughts wander, but the emptiness of mind didn’t last.

Mira lowered herself to a roll beside him, nudging him with a boot. She hadn’t bothered to wait and see if Dev would respond. “I wanted to ask you something.”

He answered by way of a grunt as he settled himself for bed.

“Do you really think we can do it? What we did today wasn’t what it’ll be like taking on the Goblin King.” Apprehension tinged her voice.

“I do. What we did wasn’t to show that. It was to show others the difference we can make. That’s what I want to go back to Brisane and make clear to the other hunters. Killing wild goblins isn’t impossible. Killing his will be harder. But it’s doable, and look at the difference it’ll make. Imagine what this world could be like for us once he’s gone?”

“I can’t, honestly.” Mira exhaled, sprawling much as he had.

“Exactly why we have to do this, so people won’t have to think about it. It’ll just be the reality. And tomorrow when we walk back into the lodge, we’ll show people where to start.” And where to go from there. Dev’s mind wandered on how to best send a message to the Goblin King. A strong one. The thoughts filled him until he slipped into sleep.

Chapter Twenty-nine – The Past

Schemes

Dev and Mira passed through Brisane’s gates as the sun broke over the horizon, bringing to light a pale morning. Gama slept comfortably unaware on Dev’s shoulder. Passersby traded idle gossip as they set to work on the road, hauling goods to trade far beyond the city’s walls. Last night’s weariness hung clearly in the folds beneath the guards’ eyes. Each of the men gave a weak nod to Dev and Mira.

“Still think you’ll be able to convince people?” Mira placed the back of her wrist against her mouth to stifle a yawn.

Dev sifted through his menu, coming to the slot containing the goblin ears he’d acquired as a trophy. He didn’t know if the collection of monster bits would make an impression, but it was proof the creatures could be slain despite functioning in large numbers. If two hunters had successfully turned away a goblin raid, it left the lingering question of what an army could do against the monsters. “If not, then I’ll find something else.”

A hand fell on his shoulder, squeezing hard. Dev didn’t turn his head to address Mira. “Hm?”

“Just something that’s been bothering me.” Mira bit her lower lip, chewing on it like she was hesitating. “Why you?”

“Why what?” Devrim slipped between a tight-knit group of men barring the way and bantering.

“Why are you the one going after the Goblin King? I just…” She broke off, huffing and shaking her head. “Anybody else could have stepped up, but they didn’t. No offense. I can’t shake why no one else, why it’s just one person, you know?” Mira clenched a fist, flexing her hand several times before stopping. “It should be everyone. They shouldn’t need a push after everything that’s happened.”

Dev didn’t respond immediately, pausing as they reached the lodge. He wasn’t sure if anyone would be up this early. Waking weary hunters to convince them to go on the attack wouldn’t leave the others in a receptive mood. “If everything goes right, they’ll be on our side.” Dev didn’t mention the possibility of being turned down. He marched forward, pushing through the doors, motioning for Mira to step through quickly.

The doors slammed shut behind them.

A few of the hunters already seated for a morning meal turned to stare at the source of the noise.

Dev waved, stopping in front of one of the support pillars in the room. He leaned against and adopted a casual posture. “Oh, don’t mind me, I can wait till everyone else shows up.”

A few of the hunters traded whispers and shot him fleeting glances.

Dev tapped Thirst’s sheath against the wooden beam in a steady beat, letting the sound carry through the lodge.

Moments passed, but no other hunters came down.

“Yeah, okay. I lied. I can’t wait.” Dev opened his menu, pulling free the goblin horn he’d acquired. He raised it to his lips and sucked in a breath.

“Do you know how to use that thing?” Mira’s face remained mostly neutral save for a raised brow.

“Just blow—hard.”

She snorted. “It’s amazing how many guys think the solution to a problem is something just being blown hard.”

Dev blinked, choosing not to comment on the matter. He pressed the horn to his mouth and blew a clear note that resonated through the lodge. The sound reminded him of the buri bulls’ angry bellows during their charge on New Haven.

Several of the hunters jerked at the horn’s call, narrowing their eyes to glare at him.

He ignored it and blew another note.

A procession of hunters staggered down both sets of stairs, muttering amongst each other about the source of the commotion. It took seconds before their eyes settled on him and fixed him with heated stares that could’ve set fire to the wood around them.

Dev lowered the horn, fishing through his menu. “Now that I’ve got your attention, let’s talk.” He pulled out the goblin ears. They’d been strung together to form a macabre garland of sorts. “Anyone want to take a guess what these belong to?” He gave the crowd a moment to gather their wits. “No? Goblins.” His words echoed through the room, grabbing every person’s attention harder than before.

A few of the hunters shuffled uncomfortably and traded uneasy looks.

“Mira and I helped a fiddler camp fend off over forty goblins.” He gestured between himself and her. “Just the two of us did that.” Dev let the words hang, knowing the hunters would talk among themselves.

A mohawk jutted out from part of the crowd, pulling his attention to it. Eric and the rest of his friends stood shoulder to shoulder near the middle of the mass of hunters. They watched him steadily, clearly holding onto a host of questions they’d bombard him with as soon as the group dispersed.

Dev raised the string of goblin ears higher, making sure the hunters focused on it. “If a pair of hunters could do that, what could all of us do together? What happens if it suddenly became goblin hunting season on Lorian? Hunt or be hunted. Maybe it’s time we start chasing the monsters like they chase us, like they chase innocents.” Dev sucked in a deep breath, steeling himself for what came next. “Like how they chased some of our friends and close ones to early graves.” The words smothered the mutterings passing between hunters.

A few people looked to the ground, shifting their weight in place. Some hunters narrowed their eyes and clenched their jaws. One man raised his hand to the hilt of his weapon in what had to have been an unconscious gesture. His eyes widened an instant later when he realized what he had done, pulling his hand away from the ax.

Dev had successfully riled them up. He’s shown them that they had a chance at carving away at the goblins of Lorian, and if they pressed hard enough, they’d erode the bulk of the Goblin King’s power. After that, it’d be as simple as challenging the monster himself and ending him.

Simple. I’m not sure it’ll be that, but it might be close. Dev hadn’t crossed paths with the Goblin King yet, but he couldn’t have been unstoppable. If he was a player like everyone else, he had a limit to his skills, stats, and how much he could take on. Dev would just have to push until they came to that limit. And it would be easier with the support of the other hunters.

“There’s something else you need to know. I’m not sure if anyone else has come across this info yet, but it’s about who the Goblin King is.” Dev gave everyone a few moments to discuss among themselves. He waited patiently, listening to see if anyone had anything concrete on the king apart from rumors. Certain nobody had a solid idea, he coughed loudly to silence the crowd’s murmurs. “He’s one of us.”

If any of the hunters had ignored him before, he had their attention now. Every pair of eyes was glued on him. Any whispers between the group had died.

“I’m guessing many, if not all of you, know Thom Purrlin from New Haven?”

Many of the hunters inclined their heads.

“He’s my source of info on this. The Goblin King’s one of the earliest from former station people to come in. He’s been here longer than any of us, meaning he’s probably stronger by a fair amount. He plays the tamer class. Anyone here know anything about it?”

A hand went up within the crowd.

Dev called on the person it belonged to, ushering them forward.

A reed of a man stepped forward. He had a body carved from pale wood, lean and hard with knots of wiry muscle. His red hair had been cut short and ragged. He dressed in heavy clothing made of durable canvas the colors found in woods, dark browns and greens. “I’m one. What do you want to know?”

Dev stared at the name above the man. It read: Beastmaster Tyler. He refrained from rolling his eyes at the title, figuring it had something to do with the fact tamers could manipulate monsters. “Anything you can tell me. Anything that will give us an edge.” He noted that no one protested his use of “us,” subtly including the rest of the hunters in his plan.

Tyler frowned, his eyes losing their focus. “There’s two ways I’ve been able to figure out the class can play. You’ve got combat-oriented, and then you can focus more on monster subjugation.” He shrugged, tilting his head to one side, his expression implying he was still lost in thought. “First path means you fight more, but your manipulation abilities are focused on deterring monsters and temporarily subduing them, giving you more time to maneuver or thin their ranks. Second path is getting creatures to fight for you, doing most of the work. Each has its tradeoffs.”

Dev worked through the information, trying to piece it with what he knew of the Goblin King. “So far, he’s never really shown himself, right?”

Various hunters shook their heads.

“He sends out massive raiding parties at times, all controlled and influenced by him. If he’s not there directly to fight, think there’s a pretty good chance he’s chosen the second path to specialize in?” Dev didn’t have to look at Tyler to let him know the question had been directed at him.

The tamer’s brows furrowed. “I think so. It make sense at the very least. Why’s that matter?”

Dev grinned. “Because, if we cut through his ranks, it leaves him against us. Someone who can’t put up a tough fight without his army. So, we just need to get to him. I don’t suppose anyone has any leads on where he’s holed up?”

Half of the hunters in the room raised their hands.

Dev blinked several times, trying to process what had just happened. “You all know?”

“It’s not a secret if you’ve taken any hunts and quests north of Brisane.” Tyler opened his menu, navigating to the map. “He’s carved out a part of the region to serve as his home. Here.” Tyler pointed to a barren chunk of land illustrated by a boxy perimeter of black with a cylindrical tower at the center of it. “That’s his fortress, if you want to call it that. It’s not much other than a huge camp for goblins where he happens to reside as well. And I mean…huge.” Tyler raised his arms overhead, spreading them wide to make his point.

“How large exactly?” Dev didn’t like the idea of taking the size of the Goblin King’s army for granted.

Tyler frowned, leaning back a bit to trade whispers with another hunter nearby. “Thousands? The land is home to a cave system and borders these woodlands here.” Tyler pointed to several places along the map. “So, he’s got a legion on immediate call within the walls. If things go wrong, he can probably summon more from the surrounding area.”

Dev had no idea how one man managed to subdue that many creatures and keep them consistently under this will. “What’s the maximum number of creatures you can control? What are the limits for a tamer?”

Tyler rolled a shoulder and rubbed the back of his head with a hand. “Not sure. I’ve done a little research, but not enough. What I found said you can do hundreds potentially if you’re powerful enough. It’s complicated and there are many branches you can go down after you start getting into it. You can do area control, keeping small groups under your control. You can have power over individuals scattered over a wide place. It’s hard, you know?” Tyler gave him an apologetic look.

Dev sighed. It didn’t do him much good, but it gave him a slightly better idea what he was working with. He brought his attention back to the map, mulling over the journey and how best to storm the Goblin King’s fortress. A village, small as the tip of his pinky finger, sat on the path from Brisane to their target. Dev pointed to it. “What’s that?”

Tyler expanded the section Dev had gestured at. “It’s the village of Hillside. Really peaceful and beautiful place…most of the time.” Tyler frowned

Dev arched a brow, but kept quiet.

“Look where it is.” Tyler dragged an index finger from Hillside to Brisane before following the path up to the Goblin King’s fortress. “It’s halfway between both places. Hillside is sort of an extension of Brisane. They operate under the same laws and governances, but they do appoint their own local representatives to lead. Brisane sends its own guards to keep the peace, but…” Tyler sighed, shaking his head. “The Goblin King uses the village to make a point. It’s raided all the time. Not burned to the ground, though. It’s always just enough to send the constant message that he’s around, that he can take stuff, and that he’s in charge.”

Dev kept his gaze on the village as he formulated a plan, and how best to send a message. “Are the raids like clockwork?”

Tyler nodded.

“Any idea when the next one is?”

Tyler looked over his shoulder, engaging in another hushed conversation with the hunter closest to him. “Two days from now. Last one happened a few weeks back on the same day. Just enough time for the people to rebuild from the damage and get on their feet. Why?”

“Because his raid’s going to fail this time. We’re going to stop it and send a message, loud and clear. This world’s done taking his shit. We’re making our stand, taking our chance, and seizing our fucking new lives and freedom!” His words arced through the room with an electric charge, taking hold in the minds and hearts of the hunters.

Every person in the room burst into raucous cheers and hoots, pumping fists and banging objects against nearby woodwork to add to the noise. Keeley, Eric, and Jace moved through the crowd, pushing their way toward him.

Dev waited until they were within earshot to address them. “You guys change your minds?”

Keeley stared past him to Mira, then to the goblin ears in his hand. “We always had your back. Eric just told you what he did so we could work smarter. We knew you wouldn’t take a minute to rest and figure out another way to tackle the problem besides hunting. So, while you were out killing things, we learned, and we talked to all of the hunters here. We’ve been nudging them and trading stories since you left. Why do you think they’re all cheering for you now and down with your plan?” She smiled at him.

Dev raised a hand in a gesture of placation. “Alright, alright. You’re all geniuses. Thank you. Now, tell me you’re ready to head to Hillside with me and stop a goblin raid?” He didn’t need them to answer, the looks on their faces made it clear they were. Dev turned, marching toward the exit as he waved a hand to beckon hunters to follow him.

Keeley rushed to his side. “What’s the plan, just show up and wait?”

He shook his head. “No. Get as many of the hunters as you can to hire carriages. We’re going to get before the goblins. We’re going to rally the village, set up traps, and we’re going to change this game. It’s time we do the ambushing. How’s that sound?”

Fire kindled in Keeley’s eyes. “Perfect.”

Chapter Thirty – The Past

Welcome to Hillside

They arrived in Hillside early morning the next day. A faint glow of the sun’s corona crept over the horizon, not fully bathing the sky with its light yet. The carriage came to a halt outside the village’s boundaries.

Dev hopped out of the uncovered cart, landing hard on the dirt path. His knees absorbed most of the impact. He left Gama behind to rest peacefully, knowing the toad would catch up. “Keeley, can you give the driver something extra for getting us here faster than we thought?”

She glared daggers at him. “I paid for the whole ride. Maybe if someone wasn’t broke, they could do it themselves.”

His mouth pulled to one side in an uneven grin. “I wouldn’t be broke if I hadn’t listened to a certain someone on upgrading my clothing.” Dev pinched the collar of his robes in both hands, giving it a tug to make his point.

Keeley huffed a breath in irritation but passed a couple of shims to the driver. She dismounted the carriage in a graceful leap.

Erik and Jace stepped off the back of the cart without bothering to lower the wooden steps.

Dev waved them over as he set his sights on Hillside. The village lived up to its name, resting between rows of hills on either side of it. The place itself was unremarkably flat. Homes were built much along the line of those in New Haven: simple, durable, and low to the ground. It didn’t look like much. Dev saw little sign that the village received any sort of wealth from Brisane.

A procession of carriages trundled behind, but not enough to satiate him. Only half of the hunters from the lodge had bothered to follow him to Hillside. The rest had taken it upon themselves to spread out through the region and practice hunting goblins. It was a good idea, in theory. In practice, Dev wasn’t so sure. They needed to send a strong message of a united front. The upcoming raid on the village would have been the best way. He hoped half their collective strength would be good enough.

Dev walked toward the village, running through possibilities of the battle to come. At first glance, Hillside didn’t offer much to launch any sort of counter attack. He considered the layout of the place. Tightly packed houses made it a navigational nightmare, but that went both ways. Groups of goblins filtered through narrow passes wouldn’t be able to do much. Their numbers would work against them. All it’d take after that were two teams of coordinated hunters killing the monsters from both ends.

Another look showed him the difficulty in containing any sort of large presence. The village’s entrance was for formality’s sake and nothing else. An open path, lined on the sides by a wooden gate, served as the way into Hillside. The rest of the village had no such barriers to prevent entry. And Dev doubted the goblins would come through the front out of politeness. He’d have to find a way to keep them in.

“Erik?” He wondered if the half-troll had heard his call. “Erik, got something to ask you.”

A grunt was enough of an answer for Devrim to know his friend was listening.

“Your whole class is about manipulating the battlefield, restraining monsters and blocking off paths, right?”

“Yeah. What, have you got something in mind?” The half-troll’s voice still carried notes of morning grogginess, warbling and shifting pitch.

“What have you got, or any of the other trappers, that can block off the ways leading out of Hillside?” Dev continued his appraisal of the village as he passed through the entrance, giving a curt nod of his head to the sole guard by the way. There were too many openings that he couldn’t possibly expect the hunters to block them all once the battle was underway. But maybe I can control where the goblins are allowed to go.

Every train of thought split into more paths until he couldn’t fathom the outcomes. He shook his head clear, turning to narrow his profile as he slipped past a group of villages engrossed in conversation. Dev managed to pick up errant bits of their talk.

“—silly old mayor.”

“That man-cat’s come to—”

“—thinks he can tie New Haven to us?”

“Bringing more trouble than he’s worth.”

Man-cat? Mayor. New Haven? Thom! Dev whirled about, grabbing hold of one of the villagers.

The man had a ruddy complexion done no favors by the early morning light. Dark bags hung under his eyes, which were threaded with lines of red and fatigue. His blonde hair stood on end in an unkempt mess. He looked like he’d forgone sleep, spending the night in a drunken stupor.

“What mayor? What’s happening involving New Haven?” Dev shook the man to rouse him out of his sluggish state.

The man sniffed, squinting at Dev. He slapped aside Devrim’s hand with contempt. “What’s it matter to you?” The man teetered in place, his breath washing over Dev with a foul sourness.

He eased off of the man. The villager had been imbibing something strong upon waking up as well. Dev wouldn’t get anywhere in conversation with him through roughness. “Sorry, your words just startled me is all. I’m from New Haven and I managed to catch some of your conversation is all. What did you mean?”

The man blinked, his mouth moving without sound. He seemed to sober at the shift in tone Dev had taken. “Well”—the drunk looked to the men by his side before returning to gaze at Dev—“it’s the talk of Hillside, isn’t it? Mayor of New Haven came in during the night. He’s here on some business. Big things”—the drunk fanned his arms in an effort to mime something large—“changing the world and Lorian and all.” The man spat at the ground like he didn’t quite agree with Thom’s idea. “Change what? Lorian’s a mess down here. Know what’s coming?” The man’s teetering worsened. “Goblins! A whole mess of them. Each and every time. Nothing changes with that.

“What’s a cat going to do, hm? Tell me.” The drunk closed his fists around the front of Dev’s robes. “Tell me!”

Devrim exhaled, raising his hands to place them on the drunk’s arms. He exerted calm and steady pressure to ease the man off him. “I’m not sure, but for what it’s worth, I trust Thom. He’s helped me. He taught me things I needed. And I genuinely believe he’s here to want to do something. Just let him.” His words seemed to mollify the drunkard. “Now, can you tell me where he is?”

The man pointed down the way toward a house slightly larger than rest. “Mayor’s home. They’re likely up and having tea and a chat. Don’t know how they’ll take to strangers coming to knock.” He shrugged.

Dev muttered his thanks, pausing to glance at the village. The people went about their business as if nothing terrible was on the horizon. “If you know there’s a horde of goblins coming, why haven’t you left Hillside? Why are people staying? Evacuate.”

The drunk reached out and placed a hand on Dev’s shoulder with a gentleness he hadn’t exhibited before. “This is our home. Many things happen, have happened, since that Goblin King came. But a man never truly leaves his home. If you run from it when things get bad, how are you ever gonna have the strength and courage to come back and make it better? None of us are fighters, true. But everyone in Hillside feels the same. We know what’s coming, and we’re going to stay here through it, and when the dust clears, we’re all going to help each other back up.” Though that man’s words slurred on occasion, and his balance needed work, a steely resolution hung in his eyes.

Dev believed the man and the rest of the folk in Hillside would live up to his claims. All it meant was he’d have to do a better job of protecting the village so there’d be more of them to make good on the drunk’s promise.

He picked up his pace and closed in on the house the drunkard had pointed to. Dev came to the door, not pausing to collect himself as he rapped his knuckles against the wood. It drifted open on the third knock. Dev didn’t bother pushing it open farther, choosing to lean forward and pick up on the muffled voices gracing his ears.

“It has to be done.” The speaker’s voice came through muted, but audible enough for Dev to discern the identity behind it. Thom Purrlin.

“I’m not so sure. It’s going to send a frightening message through the world, Thom. Are you sure?” The second speaker sounded like he’d swallowed a handful of sand and stone. His voice was like a file on wood, rasping and full of grit. “New Haven won’t be the same either. Not in the aftermath of something like that.”

Dev eased the door open farther, taking caution not to make any noise. He slipped inside and moved gingerly. The floorboards didn’t creak under his weight. He found minor relief in that.

“I know, Gerek. I know. I’m responsible for this in a way. I’ve been thinking about it a lot at night, and there’s not much else I can do. But the truth is, there was lots I could have done…back then. I didn’t. Now is the time to make amends for that.” Thom’s voice quaked near the end in something Dev couldn’t make out. It was a tone hovering somewhere between anger and fear.

“Even so, what you plan on doing isn’t going to stop Hillside’s fate. It’s only going to change what happens after. And…what might happen to your beloved home. Can you live with that?” The second speaker coughed, the dry wheezing racking their body until they hacked up phlegm.

Dev edged around the wall leading toward the room the two men occupied. He peered around the corner.

Thom sat on a pile of cushions engaged in conversation with a man dressed similarly to him.

The mayor, Dev figured, looked to be a man in his late forties. His hair had gone prematurely white in contrast to his coal-black beard, which spotted a few strands of steely gray. His eyes were color of wet soil. Creases lined his face, most notably under his eyes and around his mouth, making Dev believe he was a man who smiled a lot.

Thom sighed. “If everything goes according to plan, I won’t have to live with the consequences. Now, Gerek, we have a guest.” Thom waved a hand in Dev’s direction. “I smelled you, Devrim Bains. And I can hear you breathe. You’re not as stealthy as you think. Come on in.”

Dev did as Thom asked, taking a seat near the two men. “What’s going on? What are you here for?” Wasting time with idle chat wouldn’t help him accomplish anything.

“I’m here to stop the Goblin King.” Thom rolled a hand casually through the air. “I’m more interested in why you’re here, hm?”

“Same reason you are. I brought a small army of hunters to take on the goblins coming for Hillside. We’re going to cut through them and send a message to their boss that he’s next.”

Thom licked the back of one of his hands as he tilted his head. “Is that so? And do you plan tell him this to his face?” The man-cat waved him off before he could reply. “Because he’s coming with a horde unlike the one you fought off in New Haven. I sent him terms to negotiate. I’m not expecting it to go well, but it’ll go the way I need things to. That’s enough. And what I do tonight will hopefully give the rest of our people the strength to take the fight to him and win.”

Dev processed what Thom had said, working through the details. “Wait…he’s coming here, tonight? I thought we had more time.” He bolted to his feet. They had less time than expected to set up their ambush.

“That’s not going to do much, Devrim. I can take a guess now why you’re here. You came to set a trap. I’m sorry to inform you that you walked into one instead—mine. I didn’t expect others to come here.” Thom pushed himself to his feet, brushing off his robes. “You should turn back and leave, Devrim. Because if you stay, I’m not so sure you’ll survive the night. The Goblin King is coming, and I expect Hillside will still burn.”

Chapter Thirty-one – The Past

Morning before the Storm

Dev spun on a heel, bolting toward the door.

“Wait!” Thom’s call fell on deaf ears.

Dev hurtled down the hall and through the exit without pause. He whipped his head to the entrance of Hillside, where a handful of hunters stood in a loose group. His feet pounded against the ground as he doubled his pace. A gust of particularly cool air nipped at his cheeks and nose, but he brushed aside the minor discomfort. The next breath stung the lining of his throat. Dev swallowed some moisture to deaden the hint of pain and put a hand to his mouth to magnify his call. “Get moving!”

A few of the hunters turned their heads in his direction, frowning as their brows knitted together.

Dev stopped halfway down the path, bringing his other hand up as well to help louden his warning. “Get people moving. Now! The Goblin King’s forces are coming—tonight, and so is he.” His shout galvanized the stupefied hunters, sending them scrambling through the village to prepare. “I want every trapper and tamer who came along to see me. Move!” Dev’s hand went to Thirst’s hilt as he looked around the village, running through the preparations he’d thought of during the journey to Hillside.

They’d need to set up barricades, rudimentary ones at the very least. Anything to limit the goblin incursion. Funneling the beasts through certain passages would help the hunters combat the monsters’ numbers. He had learned through his talks with some of the other hunters that goblins feared fire. Dev had an idea on how to utilize that to their advantage, but a look at the village caused him to rethink it. He didn’t want to be remembered for burning Hillside to the ground.

Something smacked and plodded against the ground.

Dev found Gama hopping his way toward him. He squeezed his eyes shut for a brief moment. He didn’t need the toad’s distractions at the moment. “What do you need?” Dev didn’t bother closing the distance between himself and Gama, figuring it best to shout the conversation in an effort to quicken it.

“Brrp. Why the hurry, Devrim? What’s happening? All this bustling in the morning is going to tire hunters out before the big battle to come. Not smart. No, not at all.” The toad stopped to shake his head before leaping toward him. “You should consult a master strategist in these matters, you know? Luckily for you, I am one—brrp.”

Dev inhaled, shaking off the toad’s nonsensical jabbering. He flagged down a hunter running past him. “Hey, what class are you?”

She was a reedy girl, built of gnarled wood and hard edges. A braid of chalky white hair fell to her hips, making her tapered ears stick out all the more. The message above listed her name as Annika. Her features were a tad sharper than Jace’s. She must have refined them during the character creation when choosing her pale elf. She dressed in a sleeveless, padded tunic and pants of the same cushioned material. A pair of curved, serrated daggers hung from her hips. “Forester.” She tilted her head, asking a silent question with the gesture.

Forester: Skilled hunters can, with time, learn the ways of the wilds and how to manipulate them to their purposes. Foresters are excellent combatants in wooded terrains, able to track nearly anything through bush and brush. Dabbling in a bit of everything, foresters are jacks of all trades, mastering none, but can be argued to be more useful than the masters of one. This class focuses on wilderness survival, minute elemental use and control, and stealth combat whether up close or at range. Foresters have a disturbing affinity for and love of fire.

Note: Keep them away from highly flammable things. They may just light the fuse and run away just to see what happens. Don’t leave them unattended.

Subnote: A forester always maintains that they didn’t start the fire. They normally do however.

This class gains bonus in combat when in thickly wooded/jungle environments.

Dev grinned as he read over Annika’s class description. Perfect. “I need you to do something for me.”

The pale elf forester’s ears twitched. “Oh?”

“Yeah. Round up a group of hunters and send them into the woods about forty minutes that way.” Dev pointed in the direction he’d spoken of. “Gather enough wood to make dozens of towers, skeletal frames out of branches. Don’t bother making them any higher than the houses here. I want them light, easy to carry, and easier to topple.”

“Okay… Why?”

“Oh, and line the branches with something flammable. I take it you’re something of an expert in that?” He gave her a knowing look.

Annika’s mouth pulled to one corner in a sly grin. “Maybe. But I’m still not sure what the point is?”

“No point, really. I just thought how nice a fire or two might be at night. And if those happened to go up around a horde of nasty goblins, well, that’d be pretty neat to see. I just need a little fire starter.” He winked.

Annika chuckled. “I can do that. Alright, consider me on it.” She touched two fingers to her forehead, tipping them in a salute as she sprang into action, whistling calls to nearby hunters. The forester disappeared behind a house, running the direction of the woods.

That takes care of that. He rubbed the back of his neck to assuage the knots forming along it. The village would need more than some blockades and fiery traps to turn back the tide of monsters. Not to mention the Goblin King’s presence being a problem. He hadn’t seen what the freak was capable of, but given Tyler’s assessment, he wouldn’t be much of a threat in combat. All they had to do was break through the goblin ranks to get a shot at him.

Easy. Easy. He gripped tightly to Thirst, tugging the blade an inch free of its sheath before sliding it back. The touch of his weapon helped calm his mind. We’ve got this.

His friends made their way down the path toward him, notably absent of Mira’s presence.

Dev frowned, wondering if she had changed her mind prior to boarding one of the carriages.

Keeley didn’t address him immediately, turning a slow look around the village in appraisal. “It’s pretty tight here. That’ll work fine for me, but…Dev, the people. They’re not leaving, stubborn folk. And they won’t be able to get far once the goblins attack. This place is like a tiny maze of houses and walls to block escape. And if they do get out, it’s open plains where they could be run down.” She shook her head. “I’m not liking it.”

Dev turned his gaze past the mayor’s house to the horizon, beyond which lay the Goblin King’s fortress. “I’m not expecting anyone to like it. I’m expecting it to work. That’s all we need. All I can ask.” He looked at Jace, thrusting his chin at one of the homes nearby. “Sorry to ask, but are you cool with camping atop one of the houses? I want you out of reach and able to pick off any goblin that crosses your sight.”

The pale elf bobbed a head in agreement without word, taking a few steps before falling into a light jog as he made his way to the house. He scampered up the building without problem and sank against the tiles in a comfortable position.

“Erik”—Dev placed a hand on the half-troll’s shoulder—“you’re going to hate me for this.”

Erik squinted. “I don’t know…I kind of already do.” He made a gesture with a thumb and forefinger like he was holding an invisible stone between them. “Just a little.”

Dev rolled his eyes. “I’m going to need you near the front when we get some barriers up. Trip up and restrain any goblins coming through. That’ll hopefully trip up their lines and make them easy pickings.”

Erik ran a hand through his hair, ruffling it. “I’m so going to get stabbed, aren’t I?” He grumbled to himself as he shuffled off, sinking his shoulders.

Dev shook his head and kept from laughing. “Keeley, I don’t suppose you mind helping me through the worst part of this?”

“Worst part?”

“The wait.”

She gave him a thin smile. “I can do that, but you seriously need to reprioritize what’s really worse. I have a feeling the battle will do that.”

We’ll find that out tonight.

Chapter Thirty-two – The Past

Drums and Fire

The village of Hillside fell under night without resistance. No torches illuminated the paths. Every home went without lit candles in their windows and before their doors. Hillside stood in four parts of silence: the stilled breathing of the hunters spread through the village, wracked with quivering coils of icy metal in both fear and excitement; the silent prayers of villagers in their homes, hoping for safety, wishing their loved ones spared from the horror to come; the silence of the sky and land around them, devoid of chirping insects and stirring wind; lastly, the quiet of anticipation that hung over it all, the silence waiting to be broken by drums and goblin cries.

Dev stood at the outskirts of the village on the path leading toward the Goblin King’s fortress. Stakes had been driven into the ground with the help of the villagers. Planks of wood ran between the posts to form crude fences. They wouldn’t do much to stop the goblins, but in the heat of battle, it’d be easier for the fiends to rush through the few crafted openings along the structures.

Annika had helped raise frames, made from branches, to stand across the field ahead as well as in a perimeter around Hillside. Bands of frayed twine and other fibrous material had been clumped into nests to line portions of the towers.

A hollow whumpf of thunder echoed in the distance, growing louder and keeping steady as the seconds passed. The drumming multiplied and slipped into an earthly droning as if the ground grumbled over what was to come. Blades of grass and loose sediment shook under the pressure of the thumping. Each beat thrummed, brushing against Dev’s skin like fingers, reaching into his bones as the horde neared.

Rows of black helmets crested the hills, stretching wide like a sea of bobbing armored heads. The drumming grew louder. Goblins crossed over the final hump on the way to Hillside, marching toward the village. Banners waved between the ranks. Cloth, stained burgundy in color, displayed a symbol made of a circle, framed by two vertical lines topped by a horizontal one. Dev couldn’t identify its meaning.

The goblins’ armor caught the scant bits of starlight and took on a wet sheen in the night like an insect’s carapace. It didn’t do anything to lessen the horde’s monstrous appearance. They stood like a wall of steel and sinew, armed with fangs and swords—lightless in the dark.

Dev attributed that to the fact the creatures nursed a strong aversion to fire, even as a source of light.

Countless red eyes were the most visible of the goblins’ features, staring unblinking at the hunters and Hillside.

Dev couldn’t make out any figure that could be the Goblin King. Each of the creatures looked the same save for their weaponry. Every goblin reminded him of the commander he’d faced back in New Haven. A whole fucking army of these things. He took a breath and gripped Thirst, exerting a hint of pressure on the blade.

The staccato beat of the drums rolled over him like a percussive tidal wave, threatening to tear his robes apart and shake him to his bones. It ceased just before reaching a crescendo.

Quiet.

The world stilled. The clouds above remained fixed in place almost as if they were afraid to inch across for fear of setting the two parties off into battle. The goblin ranks stood like obsidian statues housing balls of fire within their helms.

Dev looked around the battlefield, taking note of where some of the other hunters lay in wait. He’d have to set the goblins off himself. Dev opened his menu, snatching his goblin horn. Here goes nothing. He brought the instrument to his mouth and blew a note that sounded louder than the collection of drums had.

It worked, setting the goblins off. The horde screeched in unison and banged armored fists against their chests in a rallying chorus of steel and screams. Banners tipped toward him, almost like they were spears. The goblin horde charged and the ground trembled.

Dev stayed his ground, casting another look at his surroundings. The goblins would be forced to filter through the fences in tight lines or risk toppling their friends if they crashed through the wooden blockages. It was unlikely the creatures would chance being trampled by their comrades if they could avoid it.

The foremost goblins reached the barriers, leaping over them in a surprising bout of athleticism. They impacted the ground, staggering before finding their footing. The group must’ve decided against trying that again as they rushed toward the closest gap in the fence, moving into a single file of gnashing teeth and flexing sinew.

Dev sounded the horn again. He blew short, clear notes without pause. Each raucous call riled the goblins as they recognized the challenge behind the noise. “Come on! Come and get us, you freaks!” Dev drew Thirst, holding it up into the air for the goblins to see. The blade seemed to steal away the moon and starlight from the monsters’ armor, glinting like a long sliver of diamond against the black of night.

The first of the goblin line neared the last set of fences. Something whistled by Dev’s neck, sailing into the gap between the goblin’s helm and chest piece. The arrow sank into the monster with little resistance, leaving the creature to drop its hooked sword and paw at the shaft. It toppled an instant later and snapped the arrow. The rest of the goblins paused, sinking to their haunches as they scanned the field for the source.

Another blast of the horn seemed to summon a hailstorm of arrows. The volley hammered into the closest goblins, peppering them without mercy. A few lucky shots found the openings, biting into the creatures’ flesh to send them off like the first.

A renewed war cry filled the air as goblins broke into a full frenzy, rushing through the channels in the fencing.

“Trappers!” Dev pointed with Thirst to the passages brimming with monsters.

Nets sailed through the air. Bolas spun toward goblins, lashing and binding their limbs together. The armored beasts collapsed under the mass of restraining attacks. Another volley of arrows hurtled down to skewer the creatures wherever they could penetrate.

Goblins perished one by one, but the horde’s numbers didn’t seem to diminish. Waves of black steel crashed into the fences, using their collective mass and speed to shatter the first of the blockades. Goblins fell, coming underfoot of their companions. It didn’t matter. The mass of darkness split, finding whatever way it could through the barricades.

Dev spat, stowing the horn and taking Thirst in a two-handed grip. He raced forward, lashing out to kick one of the closest fences. It toppled just as a goblin jumped onto it to scramble over, taking the creature to the ground and pinning it. Dev maneuvered over the blockage, impaling the creature through an opening over its waist. He dragged the blade across the width of the monster’s midsection, cutting through its intestines.

Goblins slain count increased.

It still wasn’t enough to earn him his mantle. He gritted his teeth, planting a foot on the dead creature’s leg and pulling Thirst free. Dev cleaned the gore and blood on his robes. The katana quivered in excitement, filling him with steady coils of heat.

Wood splintered into kindling and shrapnel as the goblins stampeded toward him. The closest of the horde came in the form of a line rushing through the remaining gaps in what fencing remained.

Devrim had no illusions about the odds. He wouldn’t be able to take on that many of the fiends without help. So he summoned some. He activated his Slayer’s Shadow, not giving the apparition a moment to get situated. He pointed Thirst in the direction of the advancing goblins. The shadow tipped its head in acknowledgment, rushing to meet the goblin party.

Arrows and other projectiles arced over the field, striking or pinning down whatever creatures they could. Devrim didn’t bother chasing down the fallen monsters to finish them. He toppled the nearest barricades with a few kicks to make it harder for the goblins to scamper over the uneven ground, then turned to retreat within the village’s boundaries. “Knock the towers down! Knock the towers!” He blew a trio of chirping notes from the horn, ensuring the sounds carried over the howling goblins and discordant clattering of steel and wood.

His calls were answered as hunters stormed into view, tipping the light, wooden constructs over. Some used their own skillshots to launch a volley of ranged attacks to topple the towers. Dev passed by the first of the houses in the village, shimmying through another set of makeshift barricades. “Light them up!” He repeated the cry with another blast from the horn.

Hunters replied in kind, led by Annika as they sparked the tinder across each tower to life. Tendrils of fire licked over the fallen wooden structures with ravenous hunger. Pillars of flame raced along the field, drawing the horde’s attention to the burning barriers. Bits of fire snaked out over the field, spreading like a miasma of radiant yellows and oranges.

The goblins chirped in frenzied disarray, halting their charge. Heads whipped about as they sought direction from one another. Some backpedaled, refusing to near the swaths of burning wood and land.

“Keep picking them off at a distance. Keep. It. Up!” Dev mimed firing a bow. He didn’t know how many hunters remained in earshot or had him in their line of sights. A salvo of various arrows sailed overhead to rain down onto the fire-engulfed field as an answer to his question.

Some of the goblins had mustered their courage, clinging to each other in a single-file line, navigating the field and remaining barriers. They made their way to the rear entry of the village and stood a dozen yards from Devrim.

He grimaced, planting his feet and gripping harder to Thirst. Come on. Come on. Dev ground a foot against the dirt and sunk his weight into a comfortable stance.

The first of the goblins shouldered its way through the wooden stakes and bars, using the bulk of its armor the snap portions of the fencing. It chittered something incoherent, but the threat was obvious. The creature didn’t bother with any further intimidation. It charged him, bringing a sharpened hook overhead.

Dev activated Reverberating Strike and crossed the distance between the goblin and himself. He’d timed his attack poorly as the creature’s sickle-like tool careened toward his neck. His blow struck the goblin’s mouth, rocketing its head back from the stunning strike. But its weapon came down nonetheless, burying itself in the thick of his left shoulder. He screamed as the creature stumbled back from the attack, its weight pulling on the weapon to drag him along. A cone of pain flared within him, rivaling the intensity of the heat from the burning towers.

Dev grunted animalistically to drown his shoulder’s cries as he scanned the stupefied goblin’s body. Its armor sported gaps above the knees to allow for a range of motion. The exposed bit of thigh didn’t offer much room for a strike, but Thirst’s slender profile would make it through the opening. He dropped to his knee, clamping his mouth shut as part of the hook pulled free of his body, reigniting the agony. Thirst’s tip pierced the goblin’s leg, coming through the back of its knee. Dev collapsed from the exertion and pain. His movement dragged his katana through the rest of the creature’s leg to sever it.

The goblin followed him to the ground, shaking out of its reverie to clutch at what remained of its limb.

Devrim gave it no reprieve, driving his good arm to send Thirst toward the goblin’s face. The chisel tip of the katana clanked against the crown of the monster’s helmet. He pulled his arm back to thrust again. Thirst passed through the slit over the creature’s right eye, striking the back of its helmet with a muted thunk. Dev pulled the blade free, refusing to let it go as he drew a modicum of strength and endurance from the growing warmth it channeled through him. His fingers struggled to find a hold around the hook’s base as they still held Thirst, but he managed to pull the weapon free of his shoulder.

His health throbbed above him, hanging at three quarters of its fullness. At least the goblin’s blow hadn’t robbed him of more than that. But a look at the incoming monsters kindled sparks of worry in him. If one of those creatures had done that to him, what would the endless horde be able to do?

He didn’t have time to consider the possibilities as he rose to his feet. The next four goblins would do their best to show him firsthand he wagered. Devrim’s left arm shook as he tried to close both hands around his weapon. He resigned to wielding Thirst singlehandedly, swatting at the closest goblin. The blow didn’t harm the creature, but it drove it back on instinct, allowing Dev to backpedal and put some ground between them.

He had another use of Reverberating Strike left. The numbers piling against him left him hazy on the best moment to use it. Dev narrowed his profile as he adopted a sideways stance, lunging to poke at the goblin with short, quick thrusts. Each strike forced the monster into an awkward shuffle as it worked to avoid Thirst.

Another goblin, flanked by a compatriot, came to the aid of the one entangled in combat with Dev. The new pair came shoulder-to-shoulder with the other creature, pressing forward in a trio.

Dev spat a curse, drawing on the growing tendrils of warmth from Thirst. His clone must have survived and continued cutting through the goblins on the field. He gripped the blade harder, taking solace in the fact his bloodlust grew. If he could hold out, he’d able to fuel it until it reached its cap, pushing him into a monster of his own. A monster Hillside needed.

The trio of goblins leapt in unison, trying to bury him under a barrage of sharpened steel.

Dev dove to one side, taking the brunt of the impact along his good shoulder and ribs, rolling onto his back. He scrambled back to his feet in time to swat aside an off-balance lunge from one of the fiends. It stabbed at him with a short sword, overcommitting and staggering forth. Dev didn’t bother using a skillshot to handle it. He bashed the pommel of Thirst into the back of the goblin’s helm, driving it farther forward until it crashed into the dirt.

The other two fiends approached warily, trading glances and tensing.

He cast a quick look behind him to see the fallen goblin recovering from the blow that’d driven it to the ground. Dev gritted his teeth, trundling through his remaining skillshots in his head.

Screeches cried over the roaring fire and crackling wood. Goblins barreled through the blockade placed at the rear entry, not bothering to slip between the stakes and boards. They reduced it to scraps and refuse in seconds, filtering into the village. A few broke from their pack to join the trio.

Great. Great…

Dev hoped Gama had managed to encourage as many villagers as he could to take sanctuary in the church. The building could accommodate a healthy number of the folk, and its doors were easily barricaded. He didn’t know where the toad had gotten to, but as the situation worsened, he couldn’t help but nurse a fear that his companion had found himself in danger.

A pair of goblins rushed him as the majority of the group blocked any route of escape. Their eyes glinted with malevolent glee, like they derived some twisted pleasure from watching him battle their brethren within the circle like a gauntlet of sorts.

He’d give them the fight they were looking for. He activated the second use of Reverberating Strike, crippling one of the pair before slashing the other with Thirst. The strike glanced off of the collar of the creature’s armor, but the force of the blow drove it a few steps to the side.

The goblins forming the circle crept in a single step. They pounded their fists against their armor in a resounding, primal beat.

Dev ignored them. He turned his mind to another skillshot, debating if Fleet-footed would give him enough of a boost to break through their armored perimeter. A second look answered the question for him. He’d have to fight his way out.

Dev skewered the stunned goblin through a gap over its shoulder. He wedged the blade in, tearing at the flesh. Thirst gorged on the blood and poured rivulets of molten fire into his body. His stamina surged against his consistent use, rising steadily. He pulled the blade free and dragged an inch deep furrow through its throat.

Dev had no moment for pause. Sucking down a fistful of air, he stepped forward to plant the flat of his foot against the other goblin’s hip. He’d already staggered it. Dev shoved hard, pushing it sideways again.

It toppled into the ring of goblins, who shoved it back with disdain, hooting after it.

Dev used its momentum against it, planting his feet and holding Thirst out like a stake. The blade passed the goblin’s gullet, stopping it short. He ripped the weapon free as something crashed into his back. Dev struck the ground, his vision flashing white for a microsecond. The impact juddered his shoulder, reawakening the pain that he had consigned to a deadened, hot throbbing.

His back cried out as an armored fist beat into it. The goblin slathered overhead, flailing against him in a manic assault.

Devrim grunted through the pounding and ground his teeth as he watched the goblin circle close in. The looks in their eyes said they were done watching for sport. They aimed to tear him apart and get it over with quick. His health flashed again, dropping from each blow, though not as severely as had the goblin used a weapon. Dev gave silent thanks that the creature had given into its anger over practicality in attacking him.

Thirst still fueled his body with rivers of heat. Nearly at full, he could expend his remaining skillshots without fear. Slayer’s Shadow ticked away in cooldown, letting him know the ability had faded out during his fight inside the circle. He twisted and sent an elbow back to connect partially with the goblin. The blow did little to hurt the creature, but it slowed the attack. He used the lull to struggle out from under its weight.

Dev found his footing; refusing to wait until he’d steadied himself, he activated Fleet-footed. His body charged with previous sensations of the ability. He launched himself into a rocketing sprint and used another ability. He lanced out with Skewer, empowering the blow, and pierced the plate of a goblin who’d edged farther than the perimeter ring. His strike slammed the creature back into another, Thirst somehow managing to exit the back of the first monster enough to prick the second. The attack didn’t kill the other beast.

Dev let it be as he stumbled through the new opening before steadying. The fresh kill helped offset the increased stamina consumption from Fleet-footed. Breaking free of the crowd permitted him a moment’s look at the village.

The fire had spread, fortunately toward the hills and bulk of the goblin horde. A part of him held to the idea that whatever died from the flames should have counted to his kills and acquiring his mantle. He shook the petulant thoughts free, eyeing the leaping and spastically running mounds of fire. It took him seconds longer to understand what he’d spotted.

Goblins. The creatures were engulfed in flames, running toward and into the village. Their bodies thumped lifelessly to the ground and spreading the fire. Bands of orange caressed the edges of several homes, engorging as they found a fuel source in the wood of the buildings and the grass lining them.

Oh no.

His momentum slowed as the realization hit him. The wind picked up, fanning the flames toward Hillside. One of the goblins had taken after him, prompting the rest of the circle to follow suit. Dev stopped in his tracks, glancing over his abilities. All of them had been used without recovering fully. Reverberating Strike was the closest to restoring itself with Slayer’s Shadow as a close second.

He had one way to fix that. Using Slayer’s Resolve could give him the edge he needed, but the way things were going, he felt he’d need that ability in reserve should worse come. And the fires around Hillside said plainly that darker things lay in wait.

The goblin caught up with him.

Dev didn’t give it the fight it was looking for, choosing to drop his knees and thrust his shoulder.

The creature collided with his joint at its midsection, tumbling over his back.

He grunted through the metal hammering his body. The impact had made its way through his good shoulder and into his bad. Dev swallowed and got to his feet, jabbing the creature’s face through the exposed bits in its helm. He didn’t commit with much force to each strike. The fact he cut into its skull without stopping was enough to end the monster.

The rest of the crowd came on him.

Shit.

He brandished Thirst, letting the trails of blood along its edge take on a light under the fire’s glow. Dev made a show of wiping some across his robes. A thin stream remained over the back of the blade. If they want to try and act like monsters, scaring the people of Hillside, I’ll give them a real monster to be afraid of. He extended his tongue, making sure the goblins caught sight of it as the dragged it along Thirst, lapping up the goblin blood.

Acrid copper burned the organ as he cleaned the sword. Sour notes of salt didn’t overpower the harsher bite of the blood within his mouth. But Dev swallowed it all, his throat going tight as it passed through his esophagus. Something welled inside his belly. It was as if the surrounding fire had been funneled deep into his gut, turning his body into a kiln. The heat grew within him like his blood and marrow had been set to a boil. His skin coursed with an undercurrent of burning electricity, tingling and hot just below the surface.

Two of his skills had reset. Devrim wasted no time in reusing them. He snapped forward, stunning one goblin with Reverberating Strike. He stepped back, taking the second to activate his shadow and send it forth before using another of the paralyzing blows to incapacitate another creature. His left arm still ached from the wound, but the pain had grown distant.

Dev’s shadow used its own skillshots to cut through some of the goblins.

He came to its side and felled the stunned monsters, pushing Thirst into a violent tremble. His bloodlust mounted and threatened to overtake him. A basso beat of thunder and drums filled his skull, pounding away until a singular thought drove him: Kill.

Dev grunted as a goblin collided with him, forgoeing its weapon as it tried to wrestle him to the ground. He centered his weight and poked at its body with Thirst, trying blindly to find a gap in the armor. The chisel tip bit into a section of open flesh. Dev twisted, sinking the blade into where one of a man’s kidneys would be. He worked the weapon in a sawing motion like he was filleting meat, bringing Thirst out near the goblin’s spine.

His shadow cut through the rest of the crowd as he heaved.

Something other than his health and stamina bars flashed.

Goblinslayer: A mantle earned after bathing in the blood of countless goblins. When the slayers of Lorian first crossed paths with these vile creatures, the goblin ranks overwhelmed many. Playing to their numbers, they swarmed over countless villages and towns, ravaging them. A rogue band of slayers got together and saw opportunity among the chaos. The endless horde of goblins was nothing more than a target rich environment. So they carved through them, spilling guts and blood until they mastered the art of goblin slaying. Newly empowered, slayers with this mantle went on a crusade, hunting down every tribe of leathery green fiends they could, purging Lorian of their numbers. But, goblins breed fast, and not long after slayers passed into the pages of history, they returned. The world will need new goblin slayers to carry the mantle forward…and swords along with it.

Notes: Take less damage from goblins. Deal increased damage to them. Goblin kills now result in a higher bloodlust boost. Increased perception and tracking in combat regardless of number of goblins engaged with.

Finally. He equipped the new mantle, taking a moment’s pleasure in the success. His health had slowly crept back up, courtesy of the minor recovery points he’d gotten from his armor upgrades. The pain dulled further in his shoulder. Soon, he’d forget about the injury altogether.

Lightning snapped through the sky. No salvation of rain came to aid the sea of orange threatening to swallow the village. The fire spread faster than before, sweeping over several homes. No screams came from within. A small relief to him. The homes had likely been abandoned in favor of refuge in the church. Even so, Hillside burned, and it was his fault.

Chapter Thirty-three – Return to the Present

Of Where It All Went Wrong

Pillars of smoke billowed from thatched roofs, spreading into clouds of charcoal to blot out the world’s light. Bands of violent orange licked wooden homes and consumed fallen bodies. The tinge of fiery light washed away much of anything else in sight, leaving only nightmarish silhouettes of black, moving among the flames with singular a purpose: Death.

An orange film seemed to tinge the sky, muting the greenish-blues of the world. The smear of hellish carmine from the fires didn’t help.

Devrim’s chest and lungs felt shrunken, tight from the acrid air clinging to his insides like a burning adhesive. His throat constricted as he tried to breathe and his limbs felt distant and unresponsive. He pushed away the fatigue, drawing on what little adrenaline he had left to clear his mind.

The fog lifted long enough for him to focus. Activate Slayer’s Resolve.

The world flashed white for a blink of an eye before an electric cold rush flooded his body, renewing his strength and clarity of thought. He felt as if he’d been shocked awake by a freezing shower. An arctic static charge coursed over his skin.

Devrim gripped the antiquated katana with both hands, flexing his fingers to steel himself. Thirst, his blade, quivered in his hand as if excited for the oncoming monsters.

The crackling of failing wood and crumbling masonry deafened him to other sounds, but he shut his eyes for a split second, trying to take in what else he could.

Metal clanked, ill-cared for, sized improperly, and rattling constantly.

Someone ran toward him.

The sounds of heavy footfalls stomping over hard-packed ground, baked harder by the fire, graced his ears. And the noise of splintering wood under unforgiving boots followed.

Sounds like one of them. He took a slow, calming breath and pivoted toward the oncoming creature.

A figure clad in irregularly-shaped armor leapt from a line of flames cutting through one of the dirt roads in the village. The creature’s body was hunched, with gangly limbs that seemed oversized for its torso. Its features were a horrible cross between simian and reptilian, like a gibbon had mated with an iguana and had taken on a bipedal form. Leathery, pale green skin took on a sicklier look under the firelight. The goblin’s eyes seemed to pull in the brightness from the surrounding inferno, deepening in their intensity. Its crooked nose twitched, and its mouth spread into a feral grin, revealing countless serrated teeth.

Devrim loosened his hold on the blade before gripping it harder again. Come on. Come on.

The goblin shuffled a few steps forward, its armor rattling like the only thing keeping it on the creature’s body was the assortment of frayed leather straps and rusted buckles. The plating sported odd protrusions that served no purpose other than making the monster look larger and more intimidating than normal. The material seemed comprised of a blend of chitin and obsidian.

Not a lot of openings in that mess. Devrim slid his feet forward, keeping his center of gravity low as he advanced. He turned to the side to limit how much of his body remained exposed. The loose robes and scant lacquered plating over his body wouldn’t do much to protect him. It offered him superior mobility and little else.

The goblin threw its head back, releasing a whistling keen before lunging. It raised an arm to bring a spiked flail overhead.

Wait till it closes the distance, my skillshot has limited range. His teeth grated against one another as he ignored the instinct to attack in favor of playing smart.

The flail blurred into a metal dervish with the sole intent of caving his skull in—more likely pulping it.

Devrim exhaled, counting his heartbeats to keep his mind on a singular track.

The goblin had crossed within five feet of him.

Now! The mental command he’d been holding at bay released, and he activated another one of his skillshots: Reverberating Strike. His body sped forward and he reversed the blade in his grip, arcing the weapon upward in a diagonal blow. The cap of the hilt crashed home at the base of the monster’s chin, lifting the goblin inches from the ground. A resounding smack echoed over the snapping of the fires.

The goblin reeled in place like it had forgotten how to keep upright and balanced. It would remain stunned for a short period of time.

Devrim resisted the urge to tear through his remaining skillshots to dispatch the creature, reserving them should the situation grow bleaker, which looked inevitable. He stepped forward, casting the blade in a horizontal strike at the paralyzed creature’s face. The basic attack dragged a long gash along the goblin’s forehead.

He repeated the blow, bringing the blade across from cheek-to-cheek.

The goblin staggered back, shaking its head free of the reverie it had been forced into. Its lips peeled back, viscous saliva hanging from its gums, forming connecting bands between the upper and lower portions of its mouth. The goblin convulsed, its eyes flashing garnet before it squatted. A rolling howl left its mouth as it rocketed into the air, spinning the flail with renewed intensity.

Crap. Devrim moved under an adrenaline-fueled panic, taking several long strides. His left arm exploded like endless shards of frozen glass had bitten into the flesh while being pummeled by a hammer. He stumbled to the side, losing his balance and toppling to the ground. Devrim winced through the pain. He hissed, coming short of breath as the world flashed a putrid, translucent green. The strobe faded before resurging, racking his body with thousands of pricks that lasted a nanosecond.

Poisoned. Dammit. The lost health was noticeable, but not detrimental…yet. Devrim gnashed his teeth and slammed the base of his weapon to the ground, using it to help get to his feet. He rounded about in time to see the goblin swing the flail toward his midsection. His recent experiences tangling with the monsters won out, driving him to close the distance to put him chest-to-chest with the creature.

The flail’s chain lashed around his waist and sent the head slamming into his lower back. He snarled, letting the added pain fuel him, and ignored his diminishing health. Devrim used his position to capitalize on the gaps between the goblin’s mismatched plating. He twisted, driving the chisel tip of the katana into one of the beast’s exposed armpits. Devrim gave the monster no reprieve, jamming the blade in a frenzy into whatever openings he found. He worked the weapon like a sewing machine into the goblin’s flesh.

The monster’s eyes lost their focus, and the bright reds dulled into hollow burgundy as the creature fell to the ground.

Devrim sighed, planting his blade into the ground to lean on it. He ignored the prompt informing him he’d slayed the beast. Another counter updated below him.

Goblins slain count increased.

He blotted the total from his mind, concerning himself with the deteriorating scenario around him. Devrim cast a look around the immediate area. Where’s my party? He shot another glance around the village. Nothing.

The world flashed again, leaving his muscles contracting in an electric seizure before dissipating. The poison’s effect would linger for a while yet. He hadn’t committed the exact duration to memory.

Devrim put a hand to the side of his mouth and hollered, hoping his shouts would be answered.

Nothing.

“Gama! Gama, where are you?” He grimaced, pulling on the blade to help haul himself forward before wrenching the weapon free. They’re still out there. They can’t be gone. I didn’t fuck this up that bad. I can’t have. He trudged on, moving through the nearest open path into another of the village’s small circles.

Every one of the nearby small buildings had collapsed into heaps of burning rubble. Several structures had toppled toward one another, leaving no openings between them. A ring of fire engulfed the area.

He spat, wincing through another sharp jolt from the poison. Watching his health diminish wouldn’t help. He pushed it from his mind and gave the area a final look in case he’d missed something the first time around. The air caught in his throat as he spotted a figure that seemed to be woven out of darkness cast within a set of flames at the other end of the circle.

The shadow stood several feet above him, towering close to ten feet.

Shit. He wasn’t supposed to be here. Devrim grimaced, brandishing his weapon. His body throbbed again from the poison. Dammit.

The figure stepped out from the flames, a few rogue tendrils still licking across his armor. If it bothered him, he showed no signs.

Devrim noted a lack of decreasing health. Is he immune to fire? The hell did he pull that off?

The armored giant wore solid plating the color of dull charcoal. Each piece was oversized and reminded him of what an ancient samurai’s might be like if it had been exaggerated and geared toward intimidation over practicality. He wore a crude helmet shaped like an elongated skull and painted the same grim black as the rest of his armor.

Devrim couldn’t make out his eyes, staring into the large holes on either side of the helmet only to see endless black. The darkness stared back at him.

A crown of miniature blades ran along the top of the giant’s helmet, seemingly fashioned into the piece itself rather than separate.

Devrim gripped his weapon in both hands, loosening and flexing his fingers over the hilt in anticipation as the figure neared. “Goblin King.” He let the words hang in the air.

The Goblin King said nothing, drawing his war club from behind his back. The weapon was nearly his height, sporting silver studs along its burnt umber body. It looked like a baseball bat on steroids to him.

Something blurred at the edge of his vision, prompting him to turn. Devrim spotted an NPC—non-player character—running out from behind one of the burning buildings. He hadn’t seen anyone behave so mechanically within the world as of yet. It had to be a result of the imminent threat prompting a defensive response from the game world.

The guard was garbed in nothing more than hardened leather and ring mail, wielding a small spiked mace. He shouted an incoherent battle cry and charged the Goblin King. “Come on, men. Come, men of Hillside. We’ve got trouble to sort out.”

Devrim opened his mouth to warn the character away, shutting it just as fast. A cold calculation went through his mind. Maybe if enough of them spawn, they can whittle him down a bit.

As if on cue, another guard materialized near the edge of the burning building. A third followed. Within seconds, half a dozen guards came to life, all armed with a variety of weapons. They broke into a roaring cry and charged behind the first guard.

Don’t do anything stupid. Sit. Watch him. Learn. He has to have some weakness.

Devrim’s theory went out the window as the first guard closed in.

The Goblin King twisted, swinging the kanabo-club in a single-handed strike to bat the NPC away with contemptuous ease.

Devrim watched the guard’s health plummet to a fraction of its total. Well, that’s insightful. New strategy, don’t get hit.

The Goblin King took a step toward the oncoming mass of guards and let the head of the club sink to the ground. As the first guard drew closer, he whipped it up, delivering the weapon to the base of the character’s chin. The guard rose into the air before the Goblin King brought the club overhead. He slammed it into the NPC’s back and drove him into the ground like a hammer on a nail.

The character’s health depleted completely.

Devrim blinked as the Goblin King continued the onslaught without effort.

The armored giant twirled the club in his grip like it was nothing more than a stick. He sent it crashing into the side of another guard’s arm, sending him to the ground. A second strike followed, caving in the character’s skull. The third and fourth guard rushed him together.

They fared as well as the first bunch.

The Goblin King swatted them down, leaving them crumpled on the ground. He finished with the remaining two guards in a flurry of strikes.

The lone guard from earlier had finally recovered, staggering to his feet and raising his weapon. “For Hillside!” He pumped the short sword once in the air before racing toward the Goblin King.

Devrim shut his eyes and exhaled as a thunderous crunch filled the area. He opened them a moment later, staring hard at the black-clad warrior-king. “Someone’s been eating their spinach.”

The Goblin King ignored the quip, stopping in place to regard him. His chest heaved for a few moments as he tilted his head to stare at Devrim. “Ah, the little slayer.” He gestured to the surrounding circle. “Is this what you expected?” He shook his head more to himself than to Devrim. “I didn’t think so, but it’s the price for what you’ve started. The first price of many to be paid. And I intend to collect in full.” The Goblin King’s hand tightened visibly around his war club.

Devrim sucked in a breath through his teeth to help steel himself for what was to come. He dragged the chisel tip of his blade along the ground, drawing a faint line. A quick leap back put him a foot away from it. “See that? Do not pass go. Do not collect two hundred dollars.” He flashed a lopsided grin at the Goblin King.

The armored king stared at the line in silence before staring at Devrim. Despite no visible eyes, he managed to give off a look of befuddlement.

“It’s the line in the sand—the one you don’t cross.” Devrim winced in anticipation of another body-encompassing twang of pain from the poison. It never came. He breathed a minor sigh of relief in that it had dissipated.

The Goblin King stood immobile, silent, enough so to make statues seem lively by comparison.

Creepy asshole.

“Then, by all means, come to me.” The armor-clad king beckoned Devrim with one hand. “I can wait. Can you? The village burns. Your friends are out there…somewhere, as are my goblins. Who do you think will come out of this? If you want to save them, you’ll have to get by me. Stand there, rooted in fear, for as long as you’d like, but the village will burn until ash and echoes are all that are left. Can you survive that?”

Devrim didn’t answer, but the implication was clear: The Goblin King was telling him all that fire wasn’t a threat to him. Maybe not, but my sword sure as hell will be. His hands shook on the weapon, and he gritted his teeth as a fire seared the marrow within him. Fine, I’ll bring the fight to him.

He focused and triggered another skillshot: Fleet-footed. A chilling current rushed around his feet, making its way through the split-toe boots, and into his flesh. He felt like he was walking barefoot over ice. Devrim bounced once in place to reassure himself of his lightness and increased speed. His feet touched back to the ground and he sprang, pumping his legs until acid burned his sinews.

The world rushed by as he moved at a speed that would shame competitive sprinters. Orange tendrils of fire blurred into a single, crackling mass of jarring light. Time to find out if this freak’s got eyes. He closed the distance, focusing on the black hole in the helmet where the Goblin King’s right eye would be. Thirst hummed in his grip, quivering in a fashion almost as if the blade had a hungry will of its own. A few more steps. He was within reach, twisting to launch the katana in a thrust that’d skewer the king’s eye.

The Goblin King bowed his head at an angle, catching the tip of the blade and sending it skittering off the helm. A bar flashed to life above the king’s head, blipping once in a minute amount that would have been almost unnoticeable.

He took damage. Renewed by that, Devrim lunged again. The tip of his weapon jabbed against the armored giant like a jackhammer with no reprieve. An endless succession of stabs peppered the black plating, chipping away at the Goblin King’s health. A string of obscenities flooded his mind as he tallied the damage per strike. It’s not enough. He pivoted, sending the sword into a cast toward the king’s throat, hoping he would trigger a critical strike.

The Goblin King surged into motion. He hunched forward, releasing a cavernous bellow that shook loose stone from the ground, reverberating through the air for an untold distance.

Devrim’s strike faltered, contacting the twin protrusions, resembling small blades, at the base of the king’s helmet. The katana struck with an echoing twang. His muscles refused to obey him at the speeds they had moments ago. He felt like he was moving through brackish water, and that his body was too distant from his mind. That’s not good…

He took the momentary risk to blink, focusing on his character status. Shit. The roar had stripped him of his speed buff, negating the benefits to the point of detriment. He’d been slowed—intimidated by the monstrous howl.

The Goblin King capitalized on his temporary lull. He lashed out with a foot, crashing a black-steel boot into Devrim’s stomach.

He lurched backward, nearly tumbling before the Goblin King’s hand snatched the front of his robes, hauling him close. Devrim shook within the iron grip. He couldn’t break it.

The king snapped his head forward, bringing the crown crunching into the front of Devrim’s skull.

Carmine light flashed through his vision. The world blurred at the edges, and he could see a faint outline of a reddish bar diminishing. Everything sank as the Goblin King raised him up and hurled him to the ground. A single throb encompassed his whole body, leaving him feeling like he’d been beaten by countless clubs at once.

Ow.

The health bar flickered before him, a jarring white outline strobing outside what little red was left.

“Ready to die, Slayer? There won’t be a second chance this time. No new world to escape to. I’ll make it permanent.” The Goblin King raised the war club overhead in both hands. “Any last words?”

Devrim spat near the king’s feet. “Yeah, why do asshole villains always talk so much?” He gave him a toothy grin.

The Goblin King swung the club toward him.

How the hell did it all go wrong?

The weapon sailed toward his head. His vision swam, blackness encroaching from the corners of his eyes, and he wondered if he’d wake again as consciousness slipped.

Chapter Thirty-four – The Present

The Cat’s Last Call

“Stop—mrowl.” The voice cracked through the field like shattering stone and the first clap of thunder. It flooded Dev with a chilled slurry that coursed from his head down through his extremities.

He blinked as the dark clouds sweeping over his sight vanished under the unknown source of energy filling him. Dev’s mind cleared like he’d activated his Slayer’s Resolve, but his body remained unresponsive from the thrashing he’d gotten. The Goblin King’s club hung an inch from his face. He didn’t move, not wanting to prompt the giant to finish his tasking of pulping his skull.

“That’s enough. I called you here to talk, not to destroy Hillside. Step away from Devrim Bains and talk to me, Goblin King.” Thom Purrlin strode confidently through fire and ash, brushing aside errant specks of particulate matter that settled on the mantle of his robes.

The Goblin King’s weapon didn’t pull away from Dev, hovering immobile like a stone pillar in the grip of a monolith of armor. “Talk? I came here to send a message, Thomas. Not to listen to one. You exist in Lorian by my will. Don’t delude yourself with thoughts otherwise. There’s nothing to talk about between us. Leave.” The Goblin King looked down at Dev. “But I do have words for you, Slayer.”

Thom walked closer, hands folded within his outfit. “Don’t make me raise my voice again. I never bothered earning and spending the points necessary to invest in it.”

A goblin shuffled out of the burning wreckage of a home, shaking debris free of its armor. Its gaze settled on Thom and it broke into a charge after him.

Devrim opened his mouth to warn him, but the havahneko mayor caught sight of the creature, shaking his head as if it was of little concern.

“Goblin King, would you please?” Thom tilted his head toward the oncoming monster.

The king obliged him, raising a hand and muttering something Dev couldn’t make out despite being at the freak’s feet. A faint shimmer of translucent blue flared to life around the goblin and clung to it like a cloak of light. The creature slowed before falling still completely.

A pair of its friends came into the clearing, whipping their heads around in search of a target. They spotted Thom as the previous goblin had. Both of the newcomers let out a slavering cry and chased after the man-cat. The subdued goblin barked what sounded like a command at the pair, dismissing them with a wave of a hand. The two creatures looked at the one making the orders in confusion, but stopped in their tracks.

Dev watched the scene, coming to understand how the tamer’s powers worked. The Goblin King didn’t have to manage entire armies of the creatures. All he had to do was extend his will and powers over a select few at any given time, having those goblins control the others. It was a juggling act that required a great deal of wherewithal as well as willpower. Dev figured it probably cost the Goblin King a fair amount of skill points as well.

If he could shatter the armored king’s concentration, he might have a chance at whittling away his horde and source of power. But it wouldn’t do much to weaken his physical prowess. Their short exchange had shown how powerful the Goblin King was in combat without his monsters. But there had to be a limit to how many hunters he could tackle at any given time. Without the bulk of his army to support him, he could fall to numbers.

That was if anyone was still willing to follow him after this.

“Thank you.” Thom came within several feet of the Goblin King. The man-cat raised a hand, licking the back of it like he was at perfect ease despite the situation. “Now, that talk of ours.”

The Goblin King rounded on Thom, looming over him without word. His posture said enough. He had no intention of having a conversation with the mayor of New Haven.

“I can’t stop your raid on Hillside”—Thom sighed and shook his head—“I know that. And I’m not here to. But leave something of the town.” The man-cat took a step closer to the Goblin King, eyeing him without a hint of fear.

The armored giant cocked his head to one side like he hadn’t quite heard Thom. If he had anything to say, the mayor of New Haven cut him off. “You’ve made your point, strongly in fact. There’s nothing else to prove. There are hunters out there dying against your horde.”

The words struck Dev deep in his chest, banding him with hot iron and weighing him down. His health and stamina ticked up as the Goblin King and Thom’s exchange went on. Part of him was content to lay there and heal, but he knew the complacency would lead to his death. Dev clamped his mouth shut to muffle any sound as he gingerly pushed himself up. The action drained him more than he had thought.

Thom rubbed his throat, hacking like it’d gone dry. “You really should leave now. The damage is done. What more is left?”

The Goblin King raised his club, letting it come to rest on one of his pauldrons. “Finishing the job. This wasn’t something to remind the people of Hillside I exist. It was to remind the hunters of what’s in store should they try anything. You think word of their efforts didn’t reach me? They want to remove me. Me?” The Goblin King stood straighter, seeming to grow another foot in height and width from the subtle shift in his posture. “I am necessary.” His words drowned out the errant snaps of thunder and crackling wood.

“Too many are coming into Lorian. Too many.” The Goblin King shook his head. The action almost made him seem human. A subtle doubt in the mind of an armored titan. “I’m holding this world together, Thomas. Not you and your little band of children. No. You took safety in claiming New Haven, acting as guide and father to a bunch of our people who barely knew their own parents. Did you enjoy that, playing daddy?”

Thom’s eyes narrowed to slits, appearing sharper than any of the weapons Dev had seen the goblins wield. A light burning brighter and hotter than any of the fires filled Thom Purrlin’s gaze. “Watch it, Goblin King.” His words carried enough acid to cut through metal. The mayor flexed his fingers, extending his claws. “We were given a choice in coming here. They weren’t. And now you’re doing much of what those in charge on the station did. What’s it like being no better than the people you hated?” Thom’s words had found a hole in the Goblin King’s armor that Dev’s attacks hadn’t.

The armored monster lost his composure, roaring as he swung the war club at Thom. The strike sailed overhead as the mayor of New Haven fell to all fours in a crouch. His body coiled visibly despite the flowing robes obscuring most of his form. Thom Purrlin darted around the king in a surprising burst of speed, clearing dozens of feet as he put himself far out of the monster’s reach.

The mayor got to his feet and brushed his robes clean with casual regard. “Well, that was—”

The Goblin King gave Thom no moment of rest, charging as he pulled the club over his shoulder. He lashed out with a horizontal strike that would shatter every bone in Thom’s chest as well his ribs.

Thom didn’t move, rubbing the front his throat like he’d developed an irritating itch.

The club neared.

Thom stood firm and opened his mouth. “Stop!” The air bowed around him, fanning the open ground and kicking up loose sediment. Wind shot out from Thom’s shout, coaxing dwindling flames to grow in intensity. And most importantly, the Goblin King’s strike stopped as if he’d been frozen.

The armored king pulled back and lowered the weapon until its tip touched the ground. “How long do you think your call will hold me, Thom?”

The mayor moved away, heading toward Dev. “Long enough. I may not be able to fight, but I can stop one. At least until I accomplish what I need.” Thom stopped in front of Dev, extending a hand.

He took the man-cat’s paw, gripping hard as Thom hauled him to his feet. Dev had to relinquish his hold on Thirst as he steadied himself. The mayor had caught his look and knelt to retrieve the blade, passing it to him hilt first. Dev accepted it with a muttered thanks, drawing on the blade’s minor restorative properties. Even though his contest against the Goblin King had gone poorly, his earlier bloodshed had fueled the weapon to the maximum.

Dev took a breath to steady himself. He glanced at the goblins who’d come onto the scene earlier. None of them had changed their minds, hanging in place uninterested in their king’s battle with the havahneko mayor. The question of how Thom had managed that with nothing but a stern voice hung in his mind. Dev eyed the man-cat without turning his head.

Caller: Long ago in Lorian, the word was spoken, and it carried power. Breath and tongue gave way to a magic resonating deep within the hearts and minds of all living things. The art of calling was born. Callers tap into the innate magic of language and the unseen, connecting threads between all beings in this world. Through careful study, callers unlock the hidden nature of words and are able to command the world around them to obey. While callers cannot move masses of monsters, bending them to their beck and call, they can influence nature and man to heed simple orders for a brief moment.

Note: Do not underestimate this ability. Callers are not suited for combat roles, better allocated in large hunting parties to bolster allies and manipulate engagements in the team’s favor.

That explained a lot. Thom hadn’t bothered venturing out of New Haven because he wasn’t built for it. The other shoe fell in Dev’s mind, driving the point home. And the mayor had no one to go with. Whoever else had come into Lorian along with him must have left him. Alone, Thom likely decided to take refuge in the starting village and take to shepherding newcomers, helping them find their feet in the new world.

And now Thom Purrlin stood ready to defend them all from the Goblin King.

The mayor strolled in a semi-circle away from him and the king, eyeing him as he put more distance between them all. “I can’t beat you in a fight, you know that. But I can make this extremely annoying.”

The Goblin King walked toward Thom, dragging his along. “I know you can, so I’ll indulge you. Say I leave, what do you get out of it? The damage is done. Your hunters can’t stop me.” He glanced at Dev. “Not even this slayer. But, they’ll try again. And when they do, they will fall.”

Thom rolled his eyes. “You’ve picked up a bit too much of the way they speak here.” He waved a hand. “It’s irritating.”

The Goblin King bristled.

“But, I’ll tell you what you get out of it.” Thom winked at Dev before fixing his gaze back on the king. “Me.”

What? Dev took Thirst in both hands, ignoring every bit of pain flaring through his body. His health crept up at a pace that left much to be desired, but he wasn’t in immediate danger anymore. He tallied up his skillshots, finding that all of them had recovered in the lull.

The Goblin King wore silence like a mantle that quieted the sounds of the fire and the sky above. Everything dulled in color save for the armored giant and the brightly dressed man-cat. Their presences stole all of Devrim’s attention. “What do you mean?” The Goblin King closed the distance, stopping a couple of feet from Thom.

The mayor didn’t answer him, opening his menu instead. He moved to a page displaying his skills and slipped through them until he came across several waiting to be purchased. If the action bothered the Goblin King, he didn’t show it. “I hope you don’t mind. But I’d like to spend what little I have before this conversation ends.” Thom allocated a few points to buying two skills Dev couldn’t make out clearly. “They’re no threat to you, as you can see.” The mayor’s comment had been directed to the king.

The armored behemoth waited with all the patience of a statue, an unmoving fixture of Hillside. “And…the item?”

Item? Dev inched closer to the pair, squeezing Thirst hard enough to bring an ache to his bones and threaten blistering his skin. He just needed to get close enough to the king’s back. A combination of Fleet-footed and Skewer would help him drive his blade straight through the giant’s back. It wasn’t much, but it would have to be enough.

Thom waved to change his display. The various items he’d acquired filled the new screen. He pointed to a black box lined with flowing script. “You mean this?” Thom’s smile grew. “If I gave you the Resurrection Key, would that be enough?”

The Goblin King reached out for the screen like he could pluck the image free without issue. His hand trembled as he neared the display. The king’s fingers passed through the air, closing around nothing and shaking him out of the momentary stupor. “I’ll leave your hunters alone if you give me that. But I know they’ll come for me.”

Thom shrugged like it was of no consequence. “What would you have to fear if they did? Look around.”

The Goblin King said nothing, but his posture made it clear he agreed with Thom’s reasoning. “Give it to me.” He turned over his hand, holding it open.

Thom shook his head. “There’s only one way to get it, and you know how. Take it.” The man-cat’s smile thinned, becoming a brittle thing.

The Goblin King stepped back and brought his club overhead.

Thom’s intent finally clicked in place with Dev.

No. He broke into a sprint, bring Thirst to bear as he readied himself to activated Fleet-footed and Skewer.

Thom noticed him. “Stop!” The words tore through the air, hitting Devrim in the chest harder than the Goblin King’s club.

He stopped. His muscles refused to obey him.

Thom ignored the immediate threat of the Goblin King, staring Dev in the eyes. “Remember this. Remember me.” He gave him a toothy grin. “And remember what you promised to do, for yourself, and for the others. Do it.”

The Goblin King’s club struck Thom’s side, batting him aside like a leaf caught in a storm. The mayor’s body caved slightly along his ribs as he tumbled through the air. He crashed hard, rolling once before stopping on his belly. His head lolled to one side, the old stare still on his face he looked at Dev. Thom Purrlin’s eyes looked like clouded gems of citrine. The golden light within had faded. Blood pooled out from a corner of Thom’s mouth.

“No!” The invisible restraints holding Dev vanished. He activated Fleet-footed and charged after the armored giant. “Goblin King!” His adversary turned to face him, but not fast enough. Dev would make sure Thirst would be the last thing the king saw. He activated Skewer as the Goblin King readied his club. The katana pierced the tamer’s armor, passing through the area just below where his belly button would be. The Goblin King staggered back a step from the force of the blow.

Dev didn’t pull the blade free, pistoning his arms to work Thirst like a crude saw as he cut through whatever tissue he could inside the goblins’ leader. He summoned his shadow, watching his stamina plummet from the strain. Thirst counteracted the cost and revitalized the green bar a bit. It wasn’t enough to manage a sustained effort against the monster before him.

His shadow spotted the goblins who’d stayed in the clearing. It discounted them as a threat and set to work in Dev’s assault. The dark apparition mirrored his attack, stacking the two skillshots he had to impale the Goblin King in one side of his waist. The second missile of man and sword drove the armored fiend another step off balance. His shadow pulled the blade free, chaining two Reverberating Strikes in rapid succession. The impact did little to stun the giant, but each blow continued to drive the king back.

Dev ripped Thirst free and jabbed up with the blade. He aimed to drive it into one of the unarmored gaps over the Goblin King’s armpit. The giant turned, forcing Thirst to glance off of a metal ridge along his shoulder. Dev recovered and twisted the katana to send it toward an opening where the Goblin King’s helmet met his neck.

The goblins’ leader shoved a hand into Dev’s chest, driving him back. He swung the kanabo in an arc to force Dev to backpedal. The Goblin King snapped an elbow at the shadow and connected with its skull, sending it reeling. He followed without pause, whirling the club through a dervish of harmless swings before letting it crash into the apparition with all of its built-up momentum. The kanabo sent the shadow tumbling into the dirt like a hurled stone.

The Goblin King extended a hand toward the lingering monsters in the near distance. “Finish that thing.” The goblins under his command rushed to obey, swarming the shadow under a barrage of swords and knives. They raked the clone into ribbons of black until it collapsed.

Dev had seen his clone display the same strength and abilities he had in every battle. To see it destroyed with nothing more than a bat from the king, then a pile of goblins, rattled him. He didn’t linger in the thought and centered himself. His only option was to activate another skillshot to reset the rest.

But something tugged at the back of his mind. His newly acquired mantle hadn’t given him the same advantage over the Goblin King as it had over the giant’s minions. The split second of deliberation cost him. An armored hand clubbed the side of his head, lancing his vision with a sea of red and white. Dev crashed to the ground, unable to make out the severity of his health loss. The tip of the Goblin King’s foot slammed into his gut. Air was ripped from his lungs as he rolled over.

“You’re being foolish. Don’t. Thom saved your life, even if you can’t see it. I’ll give you a chance to leave with your hunters.” The Goblin King stood in place, refusing to strike.

Devrim spat a glob of blood and saliva. He tried to curse, but his lungs stretched tighter from the effort.

“I can see from your face you won’t do that. Then let me offer you something else.” The Goblin King extended a hand. “Join me.”

Dev blinked, unsure if he had heard him right.

The Goblin King pulled his hand back, walking toward Thom’s corpse. “Think, and think hard. You’ve done what few have. You’ve fended off the assault on New Haven. You managed to rally hunters who would have rather run and hidden, scraping by whatever life they could until I took hold over all of Lorian. You mounted a resistance here, a commendable one.” He pressed a hand to the weeping wound in his torso. “You wounded me. Impressive. And that’s even with your mistakes in mantles.”

What? How does he know about that? Devrim pawed at the ground, fingers digging into the dirt as he pushed himself up.

“We could accomplish a lot together. Most importantly, we could save this world.” The Goblin King’s words rooted him in place. “You think, like many of the hunters, that I’m the biggest threat. No. I’m going to keep it at bay. Help me.” The king didn’t look at Dev as he reached out to Thom’s body.

The action brought some voice back to Dev’s aching chest. “Don’t…touch him.”

The Goblin King ignored him, bringing a hand to the mayor’s shoulder. A menu appeared and Dev watched as the king sifted through the fallen Thom’s items. The Goblin King hovered over the Resurrection Key, plucking it. The item flashed in the inventory, causing the menu to strobe erratically. The screen shut as the Goblin King stepped away unperturbed. His own display showed he’d taken the item as intended, but a note lined the key telling him it was a duplicate.

Dev didn’t understand the meaning behind it, but he didn’t need to. He steadied himself and activated Slayer’s Resolve. His body brimmed with newfound energy even though his health hadn’t recovered from the series of blows. He summoned his shadow, sending it loose.

The Goblin King shook his head. “Don’t. You can’t win, not like that. You don’t even know what you’re doing. This world has a large enough slayer threat already. Your recklessness isn’t something I can afford.” The king sent his goblins onto his shadow, taking his own time in approaching it. He dispatched his clone with terrifying ease the second time around.

Dev watched the king’s health recover at a staggering rate despite the injuries. “What do you mean about another slayer?”

The Goblin King didn’t answer him.

“What did you take from Thom?”

No answer, but the king expected one from him. “So, what do you say to my offer? Will you join me? We can save Lorian from what’s to really come.”

Dev looked around the burning village of Hillside. His gaze stopped at Thom’s body. “I think I can see the real threat and monster just fine.” Thirst shook in his grip just as hard as he was. His body quivered at the sight of the mayor.

“Shame. But if you live through the year, you’ll come to see my side. I’ll be expecting you then.” The Goblin King turned, moving off as if their business had ended.

It hadn’t, and Dev aimed to remind of that. “Coward!”

The Goblin King didn’t turn.

“Fight me!”

The armored giant waved a hand, sending the nearby goblins into a frenzied howls. A wall of black lined the horizon through the dancing flames and billowing smoke. A goblin horde dwarfing the one that had begun the raid. They rushed their way toward him, drowning their king in waves of darkness.

Dev adjusted his grip, settling himself to carve a swath through the rippling mass of armor and sinew, leaving bands of red to cover the ground.

Arrows blanketed the sky, raining down to stagger the advance.

He looked back.

Countless hunters ran toward him. Keeley led the party. “Dev! Run!”

Dev ignored her plea.

She reached him, throwing her weight against him as she wrapped him in her arms. “We can’t. The village is lost. Run.” Keeley hauled him back.

Thunder hammered louder than before, bringing with it rain.

Dev screamed and followed the retreat as they left Hillside to the horde and fire.

Chapter Thirty-five – The Present

Revelations

He ran until his legs filled with a fire to rival that plaguing the village they’d left behind. His lungs felt like they’d been raked by claws. The flames of Hillside died, much like the place itself, under the storm. Rain beat his skin like pebbles in a gale, pelting his exposed face raw. He winced through the stinging drops until his throat ran ragged and his lungs begged for reprieve.

Dev stopped, not bothering to look back at the village as he fought to recover.

Keeley stopped several yards ahead, realizing he’d quit running. “Dev…” She trailed off, understanding it was pointless. The goblin horde hadn’t advanced any farther. They’d kept to their king’s word, washing over the village to mask his departure and chase the hunters out. Past that, there was no need for them to kill and pillage. The Goblin King’s point had been made. Keeley walked over to him, placing a hand on his back. “Maybe we should take a break.”

He ignored her, finally finding the strength to gaze at his mistake.

Some of the homes in Hillside still stood, blackened from smoke and fire. The rain would never wash away the stains. A few deteriorating planks remained of the village’s entry gates. What color had filled the place had been sucked away from the attack and inferno, replaced by a monochromatic swatch of black. The storm hadn’t successfully killed all of the flames. A few rogue tendrils fought on, trying to endure the downpour as they burned over grass or thatched roofs.

“That’s my fault, Keeley.” Dev’s breaths came short and cold. He didn’t give himself a moment to gulp down a larger amount of air, heaving instead.

“Dev. I know you think that, but…”

He shook his head, silencing her with the gesture. “It’s got nothing to do with thinking. I know.” The word managed to resonate among the rain and thunder. “My plan. And it went wrong. Everything from the fire to making a stand there.”

Keeley stood by him soundlessly for minutes before shoving his shoulder. “Are you really that arrogant?”

He turned slowly to face her, the fatigue making it so he couldn’t work up anything more than a bleak look. “What?”

She pointed to Hillside. “You think you did that? You razed that village? Your army? Damn, Dev. I knew you were cocky running around cutting through monsters, but I didn’t think your head had gotten that big. The Goblin King did that. His army did that. Not you.”

He opened his mouth to protest, but she shot him a withering glare that made him reconsider.

“You brought people to stop that. And you know what? You did. Maybe not the way you think, but look at the crowd around us.” Keeley made a curt motion with a hand.

Dev couldn’t argue her point. The people of Hillside had escaped without incident. A first, based on the stories he’d heard prior to the raid. Their homes had been lost, but their lives remained along with those of their loved ones. They’d be able to rebuild as always.

A building, the color of faded chalk and gray stone, towered above what structures were left standing in Hillside. Relief welled inside him as he recalled that was where Gama had sought shelter along with many of the villagers.

Dev hadn’t seen the toad in the rush to flee Hillside, meaning he could still be there. He had taken several dozen steps before he realized he was marching back to the village.

Keeley didn’t stop him, falling in by his side. “Don’t blame yourself for wanting to do the right thing. You didn’t force that fire to sweep into the town. You weren’t out there, in the fields, were you?”

Dev shook his head.

“So you didn’t see him out there, going through hunters and shattering the burning towers?” Her emphasis left no doubt as to whom she was referring. “That freak walked right through the fires, sending burning debris everywhere with a few swings of that club of his. He literally made it rain flames. What happened in Hillside is his fault, and no one else’s. I can’t make you believe me, but you might want to talk to the other hunters. They saw what I did. Dev, this wasn’t your fault.” Keeley gave him a gentle push.

“And if we hadn’t made a stand, who knows if the Goblin King would have stopped here this time? No one expected him to show up. This wasn’t a normal raid. He could have gone onto Brisane…maybe farther.”

Dev knew she had a point. “You’re right. I guess it’s just easier to blame myself.”

She squeezed his shoulder. “Of course it is. But that’s not why people followed you after what you did. Nobody thought this would be easy. Nobody believed that. But you made them believe it was possible. Don’t lie to them now. We did survive that. Yes, some of the hunters are shaken, but you can change that. That only happens if you don’t look like a pile of sad crap yourself.”

He snorted. “Anyone tell you you’re such a sweet talker?”

She shoved him again. “You know what I mean. You can’t be a mopey mess. They’re angry, Dev. Not at you. At the Goblin King. They saw him destroy a village just to make a point. If they didn’t get it before, they do now, and they’re pissed. Use that. Because as sad as they are over what we lost today, the people, they’re angrier than ever. They want to hit back, and hard!” She slammed a fist into an open palm.

The thought sparked something to life deep within him. The Goblin King may have beaten them back, but he’d inadvertently done something Dev couldn’t have on his own. He had rallied the hunters in their anger against him and his forces. He’d shown them firsthand the biggest monster in Lorian. And he’d forgotten the world’s biggest rule: Hunt or be hunted.

Now he was the target.

Dev just had to give the hunters one last push. A last stand. All he needed was a symbol to rally them behind. His mind turned to Thom, wondering what the mayor would say. The scene between the Goblin King and man-cat’s exchange played back through brain. He remembered Thom flashing him a wink, and it all clicked together.

The son of a bitch!

Dev knew where to look for something to unite the hunters and fuel their fury. He picked up his pace, heading toward Hillside at a brisk march. “Keeley, turn back any hunter fleeing. Get them to meet me at the church.” Dev pointed to the building. “Nobody is heading back to Brisane. And if you can, get someone to send some sort of word to the other hunters who didn’t join us for the raid. I want everyone I can for what’s coming next.”

The havahneko stalker raised a brow. “And what’s that?”

“We’re going to storm his fortress. But first, I’m going to make the hunters madder than ever. I know how his tamer skills work. I still think we can beat him if we can get past his army…or through them.” Mantles be damned. He pushed aside any thought of relying on his slayer abilities. He’d fared decently without his Goblinslayer bonuses aiding in his fight against the Goblin King. And the mantle would serve plenty well in whittling through his army so they could get to him.

He picked up speed, nearly breaking into a run as he made his way back to Hillside. Dev closed in on the village after a few minutes’ jog and passed through the entrance and charred remains of the barriers they’d erected.

Random event complete: Turn back the goblin raid

Rewards: goblin armor set X4, goblin sickle, goblin commander’s ears (trophy), 150 shims.

Skill points: 8 awarded

That put him at nine with the one he’d already had in saving, but the rewards meant little to him at the moment. He brushed aside thought of what to spend them on and brought his attention back to where it needed to be.

The church became his focal point, helping guide him as he navigated through the narrow homes that hadn’t fully burned down. He gave thanks that the rain had tempered most of the heat from the inferno, but a humid and acrid air clung to him like a noxious cloak.

Dev kicked through a series of fallen planks that had barely survived the fire. They gave way at the first touch. He pushed ahead until he reached the church.

The building had been largely unfazed by the assault. Its foundations had weathered the fire without issue, managing to turn back the worst of the heat without so much as a mark. The wooden doors stood free of splinters and broken boards.

He ascended the steps, bringing the base of a fist against the wooden door. Dev didn’t wait for an answer before he pounded a hand against the door again. “Hello?”

A faint burble, almost too low to be audible, came from within. “Brrp. Who goes there?”

“Gama?”

“Open the door, fiend, and find out!”

Dev’s chest shook as he tried to hold back the laughter. “Can’t open a barred door, pal.” He knocked several times, hoping the toad would signal someone inside to let him in.

“Well, isn’t that lucky for you, goblin scum!”

Dev blinked. “Gama…it’s me.”

“Oh-ho. It’s you. Isn’t that just enough to convince me to open these doors, hm? You can stay out there where you’re nice and safe. But try to enter and I’ll make quick work of you—brrp.”

Dev slammed a hand on the door. “Dammit, Gama. It’s Dev. Let me in. The Goblin King’s gone and so are his forces. I just want to make sure everyone’s okay.”

“Oh. Well, in that case, I grant you entry. Erhm, brrp, can someone open the door for me?” The toad’s voice came muffled, likely because he had spoken to someone else. “My hands aren’t equipped for this task. Also, it may come as some shock to you, but I am rather small. But don’t let that fool you, villager, I am most mighty.”

A fit of coughing, clearly to mask laughter, echoed from inside the church. Someone must’ve been doing their best to go along with the toad’s banter.

The doors opened, giving Devrim a good look inside the place.

Villagers huddled together, eyes weary with strain. Interspersed through the crowd were several hunters Dev remembered from the lodge. A look of adrenaline-fueled hyperawareness hung in their faces despite the long hours since the raid had begun. He figured they hadn’t slept at all, keeping awake in case a band of goblins tried to force their way into the church. At rough count, three dozen people occupied the building, with room for another half of that amount. The pews and furniture had been pushed to the side, within reach of those closest to the doors.

“Is this…everyone?” Dev cast another look around, running through what he believed the population of Hillside to have been.

Gama burbled before shaking his head.  “There’s a door at the other end of the church.” He pointed with his shiv. “The villagers had passages dug after the first few raids. Most of the folks are down there—brrp.”

Dev nodded more to himself than anyone else. “Gama, come with me.” He pointed to the hunters spread through the crowd. “You too. Goblins are gone, and I need to show all something.”

If they had any words of protest, they didn’t voice them. The hunters straightened up and moved through the villagers toward him.

Dev spotted Tyler, waving to him. He didn’t bother starting a conversation with the tamer as he headed for the way out.

The rainfall thinned, going from an opaque curtain to something like translucent strands of gossamer in the night, catching just enough of errant starlight to shimmer as it fell.

“Why were you hanging out in the church?” Dev already knew the answer, but needed to hear it from Tyler himself.

The tamer faltered a step behind but recovered instantly. “I’m not really good at fighting. All of my skills are in monster taming. There were other hunters there, so it seemed like the smart move to protect the people and help my friends.” Tyler picked up his pace, not looking Dev in the eyes as he came by him. “If anything got through, I’d be able to control some of them for just long enough to get them to barricade the door and turn against the other goblins.”

It was a smart plan. It wouldn’t have worked for long against the Goblin King’s numbers had he made any real effort to take the church, but it showed Tyler had a greater understanding of his abilities than it seemed on the surface. Dev wanted to broaden that for him.

“What would you do if you had to do deal with a horde of goblins like the one that attacked us here? What if you didn’t have a big building and a doorway to use to your advantage?” Dev went quiet, continuing to lead Tyler along with the hunters that had fallen in step behind.

The tamer frowned. “I’d run.” His voice stayed level as he said it, betraying no hint of shame. And there wasn’t any reason for him to feel a bit of that. Against the odds that had shown up in Hillside, any sane man would have done the same.

Dev couldn’t blame Tyler in the slightest, but he’d also seen a better way, and the tamer had the ability to take that path. “Did you notice the sorts of goblins that made up the bands that attacked us?” He didn’t have to look at the tamer to know he’d missed it.

Tyler shook his head.

The hunters beside the pair exchanged whispers.

Dev figured a few of them had caught what he had. “The Goblin King doesn’t control all of them. Not at once at any rate.” He didn’t give the tamer a chance to comment and interrupt his explanation. “When I first fought these things in New Haven, they had a commander that led the charge. I didn’t notice at first here, but it was sort of the same. All of the goblins wore similar armor that made it hard to tell them apart.” Dev led the band of hunters to a passage between homes that would bring him to the clearing where he’d battled the Goblin King.

“When I fought him, some of his army came to attack, but he took control of one of his goblins. One.” Dev gave Tyler a knowing look. “That goblin barked an order to the rest, and they stopped.”

Realization dawned on Tyler’s face. “He’s taming powerful goblins as he needs, then getting them to exert their control over the rest. He’s macromanaging them. There’s too many to deal with, so he’s just going to have the ones under his momentary and direct control delegate to the others.” The tamer’s grin was as fierce as anything a goblin might have expressed. “That means we can mess with his army. I, and a few of the others, can turn some of the commanders against him, and then whoever is under them.” Tyler’s face pulled tight into a pensive mask. “It won’t be easy though.”

“Believe me, I didn’t think it would be. The Goblin King beat the crap out of me. I don’t know how many points he’s earned to be able to fight and control monsters like that. Hell, I still don’t know how he’s that big for a goblin.” Dev lost himself in thought, thinking back to when he was in character creation. The process implied he would have the ability to alter his appearance when selecting races, including size and weight.

“He can’t be anything other than human.” Tyler’s words pulled Dev from his drowse like being submerged in an icy bath.

“What?”

Tyler slapped his chest, using the gesture to drive home a point. “I’m human. Think about it. Tamers control nonhumans. It’s our power. Nonhumans.” The tamer let the word sit in the air for Dev to focus on. “That includes other races. I can, with enough points invested, manipulate other hunters and people in this world, if I wanted. It doesn’t last as long as species with higher intelligence, but to protect ourselves from that, the tamer class is locked to humans only. What made you think he was a goblin?”

Dev blinked, at a total loss for an acceptable answer. No one had told him anything of the sort. He’d simply assumed given the Goblin King’s mastery over other monsters. It made sense. The idea of someone from their world doing that sort of thing already painted him as a fiend, and it was easier to imagine someone like that in the shape and form of a creature. The idea that he would be just like them, even in appearance, must have been something his mind didn’t want to accept. Or couldn’t.

It was no different than his own case, being relegated to a mostly human appearance despite being something else. Slayers were their own race and class. It had been foolish of him to expect that kind of restriction and boon as something unique to him. Dev’s thoughts turned to his fixation on goblins and the pursuit of the mantle he thought would change everything. He’d been needlessly reckless, hinging their future on a bonus, when the Goblin King was just a man.

His body shook, chest racked with a quivering fit deep inside him. He let out a rolling laugh that seized him in a mania. Dev knew he must’ve looked insane to the hunters nearby, but he didn’t care. He’d overlooked something he thought insignificant in his crazed pursuit of the Goblinslayer mantle. He already possessed the appropriate skillset to take down the Goblin King, and he’d earned it so early that he thought nothing of it.

His laughter grew.

“Devrim, you okay? You’re freaking me out.” Tyler reached out gingerly to touch his shoulder.

“Yeah. Great, in fact.” He tried to stifle his noise, but failed. “I could’ve taken him this whole time probably and I fucked it up.” Dev rubbed a hand against his face, wiping the rain away from his eyes.

“What do you mean?” Tyler’s voice stayed carefully neutral, but a hint of curiosity edged into it.

Other hunters came into view led by Keeley. She’d rounded most of them up. What few didn’t join the ranks must have turned away, doubting Dev, or had fallen during the raid.

The thought twisted his intestines into knotty ropes, but he endured it. Nothing would truly settle the unease other than getting payback.

Keeley noticed the expressions on the hunters around him, then shot him a look asking him a silent question about his chuckling.

“The Goblin King’s not a goblin.” Dev couldn’t choke out any more words, still fighting for breath as he tried to subdue the fit.

She stared at him, lips going thin in waiting for a better explanation.

“He’s human.” Dev sucked down a breath and took several more, finally pulling himself together. “Do you remember the very first mantle I got in Lorian? The thing Thom said was part of my race to make us really dangerous? It’s supposed to be a check, something to make sure I end up a threat one day if I lose control.”

Keeley’s eyes grew to owlish proportions.

Dev didn’t bother making it any clearer for the hunters around him, choosing to open his character sheet and tab through the few mantles he’d earned. He hovered over the one he’d been rewarded for killing the Chased.

Tyler’s gaze held firm to Dev’s screen as he mouthed words quietly at first. His brows furrowed in concentration. “Manslayer? That doesn’t sound good…”

“It’s not.” Devrim shook his head, adopting a grin that could have matched and kaftar’s. “At least not for the Goblin King. I have what I need to kill him. But I still need one thing else.” He stopped just before entering the clearing.

Thom’s body rested where the Goblin King had left it, undisturbed, untouched by the fire.

He swallowed and took a step, moving toward the mayor. Dev stopped several feet from the man-cat’s form and turned to face the crowd of hunters. “I need you.” He didn’t raise his voice enough to compete with the moderate downpour. He spoke first for himself, letting the words fill him. “I need you. All of you.” Dev raised his voice. “Every hunter that’s willing to take another crack at this, because we deserve better than this.” Dev pointed at Thom’s body, hand quivering. “He deserved better than this!

“Thom Purrlin was the first person we met in this world who helped us figure things out. He wasn’t just a guide. He was a friend. He wanted a new life for us. All of us. He wanted us to have a better time than what we’d been given back on station life. And he gave his life for us. He made sure the Goblin King turned back his raid instead of ending it here. That was his mistake. And we’re going to make him pay for it.” Dev left out what the Goblin King had taken from Thom.

“His goblin army is large, but it’s not unbeatable. And now we know how to make that happen.” Dev gestured to Tyler. “We can tear apart his horde from the inside. We can cut through them. Take them. Take him!” He could sense the apprehension in the crowd. Some of them didn’t believe a second encounter would go the way he said. Dev spotted a pair of human hunters, dressed in outfits that made their classes obvious even if he hadn’t bothered to check. One, a trapper, the other, a forester. He nodded to them, prompting them to speak.

A waifish woman stepped forward. She was the living embodiment of a razor—sharp edges to her face that one could cut themselves on. Her lips pulled together so thin that any smile she gave would look more like a severe slit in her mouth. Wheat-colored hair fell down to the middle of her back in a simple, out-of-the-way braid. She dressed in loose-fitting clothing that allowed for a good deal of movement. “You couldn’t take him here. What makes you think you can if you two fight again?”

Dev didn’t answer immediately, gesturing with a thrust of his chin to the hunter by her side. He wanted to hear the man’s words before addressing any other concerns the group had.

The other hunter could have passed for a masculine mirror image of the woman by his shoulder. He was cut from cold stone with a figure of lean, flat muscle. His hair was cropped short and he wore similar clothing as his friend. “Honestly, I’ve got the same issue she does. If the Goblin King got away, that means you couldn’t stop him, or you let him.” The man’s eyes narrowed into slits. The accusation reached every hunters’ ears.

Dev did nothing to quell it with words. He knew nothing he could say would assuage the anger and doubts festering within the group. He’d have to show them, and admit he made a mistake. Dev kept his voice low as he turned his gaze on waifish woman. “Do you think you could have done better?” He eyed the man without turning his head. “Do you?”

Dev selected his Manslayer mantle. Nothing changed inside him, but he knew a few cosmetic effects altered his appearance for everyone to see. They weren’t intimidating to other hunters, but they were enough to get the attention of those nearby. “This is why I know I can take him. I made a mistake.” He raised his voice on the last word to ensure everyone heard it. “This may be a game, but I let that overtake my common sense. I chased after something I thought would make our goal easier. But I forgot nothing’s ever easy. I let myself get blinded by focusing on myself rather than our enemy. That’s on me. What happens next is on us!

“We can sit and do nothing and the rest of Lorian could end up like this”—he waved Thirst to the charred wreckage as well as Thom’s body—“or we can make this the last time the Goblin King does this. I know what he is now, and I already have what I need to beat him. Want me to show you?” Dev raised a brow, stepping back as he settled his weight. His fingers flexed as they tightened around Thirst.

His Manslayer mantle lived up to the name. Every detail in the woman and man’s bodies stood out in perfect clarity despite the rain and darkness. He watched their chests rise in unison as their breathing quickened. Subtle shifts in their posture as muscles flexed showed him what would come next like he could almost predict the future.

The woman’s lips pulled back into a snarl as she reached for a bola of twine and stones. It was an attack Dev had seen Erik make several times to incapacitate foes.

The man pulled a pair of short swords from sheaths along the back of his waist, brandishing them with a flourish before lunging toward Dev. He screamed something Dev couldn’t make out as his swords sparked along their edges. Fire erupted over the blades.

Despite the flashy ability, the forester was still a man. And he moved like he was underwater to Dev’s eyes. Devrim stepped back, activating Reverberating Strike. His body slipped into the familiar movement of reversing Thirst and bashing an opponent into a stupor. The pommel crashed into the forester’s forehead, leaving him stunned. Devrim didn’t waste a second in activating Slayer’s Shadow, splitting his essence into the dark clone. The bola struck his legs just above the ankles. It twirled itself tight around him, restricting his movement.

His shadow bore down on the trapper before she could ready a counteroffensive.

“Don’t kill her!” Dev hoped the apparition would heed his commands, disregarding whatever its slayer nature at heart.

It obeyed without fault and used Reverberating Strike to paralyze the woman. The clone didn’t stop there, driving the flat of its foot into her chest to force her to the ground. It pinned her there underfoot, slipping the point of its Thirst under her chin.

Devrim waited for the bola to disintegrate as the ability wore off at the same time as the forester came to.

The man whipped one of his swords at Devrim, the blade never leaving his hand. Air billowed as a fan of miniature blades materialized out of nowhere. They rushed toward Dev at a speed that should have overwhelmed him.

He counted each one as if they were shining leaves flitting on a gentle breeze. Dev tucked himself into a roll as he moved forward. He slipped under the knives, snapping out a kick to the side of one of the forester’s knees. The blow buckled the man’s leg. Dev brought Thirst down, laying the edge against the base of an ear, letting the rest of the blade run down along the back of the man’s jaw and throat. “Any more questions?”

Silence.

“Good.” Dev turned his attention to Tyler without moving away from beaten hunters. “How good are you with creatures?”

The tamer blinked. “I’ve got enough points to tame and control almost anything for a while, why?”

“I want you to round up some monsters for us while we set camp here tonight. See if you can bring us some buri bulls.” Dev gave the crowd a feral grin as they looked at him like he was a madman.

Chapter Thirty-six – The Present

Night before the Storm

The rain had died as the hunters dispersed earlier. Dev had stood over Thom’s body, staring at the fallen mayor. A twinge of regret passed through him as he understood what had driven the man-cat to make a stand.

Keeley had argued that the Hillside raid wasn’t his fault. He could believe her in that. But he couldn’t accept Thom’s loss without claiming some responsibility. The mayor had been content with his life secluded from Lorian’s problems. All he had to do was guide a few hunters every now and again. Anything more was their problem, not his.

“I’m sorry.” He didn’t know what else to say, aware that nothing could change what had happened. All he could do was make sure nothing of the same sort ever happened again. He could avenge Thom. Dev’s hand went to Thirst’s hilt, gripping it for a moment before he released it. A hand fell on his shoulder and squeezed it. “Keeley?”

“Yeah. You okay? I know the answer to the question, but I just need to hear it from you.”

Devrim rolled his shoulders, tilting his head to one side to alleviate the stiffness that had built in it. A series of cracks came from the base of his skull. “Not really, but I will be. I’ll have to be.”

She pulled on him as a gentle suggestion to follow her as he stepped back, moving to one of the makeshift tents that had been erected throughout Hillside.

He followed behind her and took in the changing scene around him.

Some of the villagers had decided to stay in the church, helping shelter the young and elderly, tending to their needs. The rest had returned to their homes to being the long process of digging through debris and salvaging what they could. They’d gone through this before, and it showed. The villagers moved with mechanical efficiency that wasn’t devoid of its fair share of compassion—neighbors helping one another carry large loads and turn aside heavy timber or bits of masonry.

The men and women of Hillside set about with their jaws locked in grim determination, faces making it clear they’d work through the night if they had to. They were going to rebuild their homes.

And Dev promised that they’d never lose them again.

Some of the hunters had gotten fires going, asking the villagers for help when it came to dressing and cooking the animals they’d procured. From the looks of things, they were going to need all the help they could get.

Keeley stopped by a group of five hunters sitting over a spread of layered blankets and cloth to keep from getting wet. A variety of food had been set between them in an open buffet of sorts. Erik lounged on his side, reaching out to pluck quartered pieces of a bright red fruit that looked fibrous and hairy. Jace skewered bulbous pastry spheres of chalky white with an arrow, tipping the confectionery treats into his mouth one by one. Keeley motioned with a hand for them to clear a space for her as she plopped down. She told Dev to join her with nothing more than an inclination of her head.

He sat down, giving curt nods to everyone else around him. In truth, he swelled in relief to see Jace and Erik unharmed, enjoying a late night meal among other hunters. He couldn’t bring himself to express that after the events of the day however. Despite the battle’s end, and his wounds healing, he’d been run mentally ragged. The little display in knocking down the two hunters from earlier drained the last bit of his mind. People didn’t need or want to see a weary Devrim. They needed him focused and in charge, even if it meant he’d have to come off as stoic and reserved for the time being.

He grabbed a piece of soft bread with swirls of brown resin baked into it. Dev bit into it, chewing slowly to savor the syrup-like sweetness that left behind a smoky aftertaste. Everyone’s eyes were on him, but he turned their lingering questions aside by grabbing a block of cheese half the size of his fist. The first bite smacked of a sharp tang that muted all of the sugary notes left from the bread. A creamy nuttiness followed. Dev scarfed down the block, chasing it down with one of the cups of water rested on the blankets.

The hunters’ stares held, watching him.

He dragged the back of a sleeve against his mouth. “What?” It had come out harsher than he had intended.

Erik winced, looking away to another hunter for support. The half-troll glanced at their surroundings and his shoulders sank. “This didn’t go great, did it?”

The sour notes filling Dev’s mouth had nothing to do with his meal. “What?”

Erik shrugged. “Look at the place. It’s burnt to almost nothing. Yeah, we got something out of it, but what about them?” He made a vague and dismissive wave of his hand in the direction of the church. “We walked away with a ton of skill points for turning away the Goblin King’s raid.” Erik fixed Dev with a caustic glare. “And not all of us walked away. Those things were way tougher than what we fought back in New Haven. I almost didn’t make it out.”

So that’s what this is about.

Keeley sat up straighter, opening her mouth to confront Erik, but Dev signaled her to stop.

He kept his voice carefully neutral, knowing he could set the half-troll off with the wrong words. It wouldn’t do any good giving into his anger recklessly the night before going after the Goblin King. He needed everyone determined. Any doubts or anger would be like a poison slowly leeching at them. “And what about the people of Hillside?” Dev may have spoken lightly, but he knew the words carried to every hunter nearby.

Erik chose the moment to pluck a cold sausage the size of his thumb, plopping it into his mouth. He took his time in chewing it.

Dev knew he had pulled everyone’s attention from what had gone wrong to what they had accomplished. “Imagine if that were us. Because none of us have any idea what it’s like to lose the things we care about. We have no idea what it’s like to live under someone else’s thumb, right?”

Most of the hunters shied away from his look, including Erik. Jace and Keeley were the only ones to hold his stare. Their expressions were those of silent support.

“I’ve said it again and again. I’m not going to stop now.” Dev got to his feet, looking down at Erik. “I’m never going to live like that again. None of us are. Tomorrow, I plan to go out after the Goblin King. You can stay here and sleep in if you want. Truth be told, I won’t think less of you for it. I get it. I do. But this”—he mimicked Erik’s gesture, waving at their surroundings before settling to focus on Thom’s body—“can never happen again.” He fixed Erik with a stare that could have rekindled the fires that had burned Hillside.

“I don’t know what else to do. This is wrong. It sounds silly to say aloud. I know that. But is there any part of you that thinks this is right? That we should just run away and live our lives safely?” Dev gave Erik a level stare. “Do you think anywhere is safe in Lorian so long as he’s out there? We’ve had this conversation again and again, and now I’m tired of it. I’m not going to tell you what to do, Erik. I’m going to do something worse.” He stared at the half-troll, letting the words hang to build suspense.

A few of the other hunters exchanged uneasy glances.

Erik licked his lips. “And what’s what?”

“I’m going to ask you as a friend to help me…please?”

The half-troll blinked, pausing from taking another sausage. Erik tossed it back onto the blanket and wiped a hand across his face. “Dammit. Don’t do that. Don’t.” The half-troll cracked his neck and ruffled his hair. “You saved me from those fucking gorgons. Don’t pull this because you know I’ll have your back.” He turned his attention back to the sausage, grousing under his breath as he plucked up the meat to take a bite. The half-troll continued grumbling noncommittally before muttering something that could have passed as an agreement.

Dev put a hand to his ear like he was having difficulty hearing him. “What was that?”

“Yes, dammit.” Erik didn’t meet his eyes, choosing to fiddle with his spear instead. He didn’t speak for a minute as he continued rolling the weapon back and forth under his palm. “Your whole slayer thing, the mantles…are they enough?”

Devrim pursed his lips in consideration, brows knitting together. He had fared well against the two hunters earlier, making enough of a show to demonstrate his prowess against humans whilst under the mantle. But he’d left something out. Thom had let it slip in their early conversation about the mantles and their purpose. The mayor had implied they could be leveled up. If what Dev possessed now wasn’t enough, it could be improved to serve him better. And the costs would rise with it.

Thirst felt heavier at his side, like the blade and sheath were rods of lead.

But his friends didn’t need to hear his doubt. They needed absolute confidence. “Yes.” The single word left his mouth clipped, with an edge that could have rivaled his sword. “And I plan to give myself even better odds.” Devrim opened his menu, returning to his character sheet and tumbling through the list of available skills. Nine points to spend was plenty, and he intended to get the best use out of them.

He hadn’t come close to reaching the maximum allotted skillshots before unlocking an ultimate ability. The idea of burning through points to get that final skill appealed to him, but a last minute reckless decision wouldn’t help them in the battle to come. And he’d made enough hasty choices up to this point. Dev mulled over abilities to nab or which to empower. His shadow had helped him gain a minor advantage against the Goblin King. Strengthening his clone, along with both him and it operating under the Manslayer mantle, could work wonders.

He held that option in consideration as he went back to study his mantle. The boons it offered had long since been burned into his mind, but his unease about it kept him from delving further in his understanding. Thom’s words were true upon inspection of his mantles. They could be leveled up by killing more of whatever creature they required. But another option was present. A sub-note informed him that he could invest skill points to purchase a single level in any of his mantles once. The cost would be commensurate with the level trying to be attained, and it would rise exponentially as he strengthened them.

The only other way to bolster that mantle would be killing people.

Dev shook his head, unwilling to pay that cost. There’d be no way to hunt down bandits and the like before storming the Goblin King’s fortress. That left the villagers of Hillside as the only close source. As if attuned to the thought, Thirst rattled within the sheath, ripping him from his focus. The temperature around him felt like it had plummeted twenty degrees.

Dev clenched his jaw, keeping himself the definition of stoic as far as the other hunters around him would be concerned. He didn’t know what had prompted him to think along those lines. That was a path, if continued, would have him end up as Thom had warned him of. He’d become a monster in his quest to take out the Goblin King.

That settled the matter for him. He empowered his shadow, burning four points, hoping what remained would be enough to level his mantle. Each one of the three he’d earned had no displayed cost, showcasing a series of question marks only.

Five left. Hope it’s enough. Dev selected the Manslayer mantle, offering to consume the remaining points to level it up. He succeeded.

Manslayer lvl 2 – After numerous battles with mankind, slayers gained a better understanding of their closely related brethren. Practice makes perfect, and slayers advancing this mantle have gained just that, another step toward perfection in slaying humans. Notice every step, hear every breath, maybe even heartbeat, and see every attack coming your way.

Notes: Increased damage reduction from humans. Increased damage dealt to humans. Human kills result in a double multiplier to bloodlust boost. Combat perception against humans increased. Increased movement speed against humans. Stamina drain reduced by one fourth when in combat against humans. Stamina regeneration increased when combating humans.

He made sure his screen was visible to every hunter within eyesight. “I hope that’s good enough for everyone watching.” It wasn’t a question. “I just burned every point I had to give us an extra edge over him. I used them to fuel something that can drive me nuts. So, if anyone’s thinking that I’m still not committed to this, that I’m jerking your chains, tell me now.” He flooded his voice with three kinds of anger: a rage on behalf of the people of Hillside, the weary and still-fresh anger of hunters who’d lost their friends, and the building fire inside him at the loss of Thom Purrlin. “Anyone?”

No one answered.

Dev moved away from the blanket, taking a spot in between most of the scattered tents and shelter, turning in place to eye as many of the hunters as he could. “If you’re as serious as I am—wanting a freer world tomorrow, and forever on—burn your points. No second chances. We’re doing this right and all the way. If any of you are second guessing me or yourselves, do us all a favor and stay here. But…if you’re as pissed as I am for everything we’ve lost, then spend this night thinking about everything you have to gain by doing this. Think of what kind of lives we can all finally live. Think about the friends you do have left. And remember who took them away for you.”

He left the hunters to mull that over as he headed toward his tent for the night.

“Devrim!”

He didn’t turn fully around, glancing over one of his shoulders to see who’d called him.

Tyler ran toward him, waving fast enough to make his arm blur in the night. He stopped half a dozen feet from Dev and doubled over to pant. “Did it. Made several fast travel trips to a bunch of towns and villages I’ve hit before. Rounded up some other tamers I’ve met.” He gave Dev a toothy grin. “You won’t believe what we’ve been able to get.”

Dev didn’t speak, tilting his head in a signal for Tyler to go on.

“We snagged two dozen kaftar. They’re a bit tough to keep under control, but we’ve got it handled by borrowing a page out of the Goblin King’s book. We tamed a couple of alphas and have them running the show. I know you want buri bulls and, well, we delivered.” Tyler’s grin widened. “They’re pretty docile things overall, so they didn’t really resist. We managed to convince six of them to tag along with us. What exactly did you want them for?”

Some of the weariness lifted from his body as he tried to bite back a fit of laughter. “They’re going to help knock on the door. It’s only polite.”

Tyler’s face twisted in confusion.

“Do any of them have wagons hitched up?”

The tamer nodded, his brows furrowing until they touched at the center. “Why?”

Devrim matched Tyler’s earlier grin. “I want some parties riding together to help me say, ‘Hi.’”

Chapter Thirty-seven – The Present

Knock Knock

Thunder rolled over the hills, drumming into the distance as the buri bulls stampeded forward. Dev held firm to the cart as it juddered slightly. The sound of the charging creatures deafened him to the complaints of his party.

They’d left early in the morning, before any signs of first light. Now the sun had finally decided to creep up over the horizon and cast the first hints of its golden glow across Lorian. The rays stung his eyes, forcing him to wince and ignore the instinct of raising a hand to shield himself from the light.

“This. Is. Crazy!”

Dev ignored Jace’s protest, summoning his menu with a verbal command to glance at the map. They’d been riding for hours and had made good time. He gave thanks that the buri bulls had been bred for long journeys and unmatchable endurance for beasts of their size. The galloping pace he’d set along with the load of a party hadn’t taxed the creatures much. A faint tug at the back of his mind reminded him that the monster bulls weren’t real, only constructs.

Some could argue we’re the same now. Just bits of code and nothing else. He thought back to the diversity in behavior the people of Muddeep had displayed, the happiness on their faces when he came back with their lost, and the joy they showcased when taking part in the revelry in the tavern. The people of Brisane had gone about their days no different than anything he would have expected of people back on Earth in the time when it was livable. His fellow hunters, station-mates, had shown more openness and emotion than in their previous lives. And the fiddlers had given him a level of compassion he hadn’t experienced before in life.

So maybe we’re less than real now, but we’re finally living a realer life than any. Dev decided that the nature of their new existence didn’t matter much as how they lived it and with whom.

The walls of the fortress lined the view ahead. They hung in the distance like a black-iron curtain standing taller than highest points in Brisane. The coal-colored darkness of the structure was like a stain across the otherwise pristine, green land. It was a shame that a fortress of that size had the gateway to match. A barrier of solid wood, charred to the deepest browns, streaked with black, barred entry into the Goblin King’s domain.

Dev had no doubt the buri bulls would make short work of that. His only concern rested in his body would hold up with the impact. He was sure to feel a great deal it of in the cart, and what he didn’t, would still channel its way as momentum. A brief image of him being catapulted through the air fixed in his mind. He blinked, shaking the thought free. “You guys and girls might want to hold on…really tight.”

He didn’t look back, knowing the party would be shooting him a mixture of concerned and agitated looks. Keeley would be frowning thoughtfully. Erik’s face would be locked in pensive worry. Jace would be stoic for the most part, burying whatever doubts he felt.

Something rustled against his robes near his right calf. Dev looked down to see a toad clinging to his leg. His eyes grew to saucer-like proportions. “Gama, what are you doing here?”

“Brrp—I’m here to lead this charge, of course.”

Oh, god. He’s going to die here.

“If this is to be the last assault on this dark blight upon Lorian, then you will need the sage-like wisdom and courage only a hardened battle toad like myself can offer—brrp.”

“You were supposed to stay behind! Gama, there’s going to be thousands of goblins possibly.”

The toad thrust his shiv into the air, pumping it in premature victory. “And woe to them! I’ll slaughter them all.” He burbled, frothing saliva building within his open mouth to intensify his crazed look.

Dev clenched his jaw, enduring the mounting vibrations as the cart shook harder than before. They closed in on the fortress. It dominated the view, casting a long shadow over the land. The darkness swept over them despite the sun inching its way over the horizon to spill more light on Lorian.

A mass of shapes, clad in black, swarmed before the gates.

Goblins. A fuckton of them.

The creatures screamed in a series of shrill war cries that overlapped one another, creating something like a trilling screech that pierced the ears of everyone within earshot of it.

The air picked up and buffeted him as the buri bulls doubled down on their speed. The sight of the goblins did nothing to deter the gargantuan beasts. Dev coaxed them on with shouts of encouragement, hoping the beasts would barrel through the monster ranks.

The closest goblins assembled into a haphazard line to defend against the charge.

Dev didn’t think they deserved any acknowledgment for rallying the way they had, especially considering the stupidity of the move. He flipped through his menu and equipped his Goblinslayer mantle. The numbers ahead promised one thing at least: that he’d level up another mantle through the kills to come.

The buri bulls struck the front line, pulping a mass of goblins instantly. Each of the two beasts thrashed their head from side-to-side as they advanced, tossing the diminutive creatures aside. The blows crushed armor and shattered bones. Most of the hunter army was still en route, but the buri bull charge would clear the way and leave an opening for the rest of their forces.

Some of others had gone out before he had led his defense against the raid on Hillside. Those hunters had their reasons, arguing they wanted to pick off smaller goblin encampments throughout Lorian and get a better handle on the creatures. Some wanted no part of the war. But he’d heard whispers through the night that things had changed after word spread about what had happened in Hillside. His speech had carried to hunters across Lorian via fast-travelling people at the last minute.

Mira was among those out there, hopefully leading another wave to come in after his charge.

The buri bulls nearly reached the wooden barrier.

Dev winced, tightening his body in response to the coming impact. “Hold on!”

The bulls slammed into the hardened wall like ballistic missiles with tons of muscles behind them. Wood shattered with explosive force, showering shrapnel in all directions. The cart bucked, and Dev’s vision came true as he lost his hold.

He sailed through the air, tumbling without control. Dev watched the buri bulls tear into the fortress and make short work of the surprised goblins that rushed to meet them. His party had managed to keep their grips in the cart, giving him a small measure of relief.

The crash had slowed the bulls’ momentum enough to allow his friends to disembark with little issue as they jumped free, tumbling over the ground.

Dev wouldn’t have such luck. Panic-driven adrenaline fueled him as he searched for something to mitigate the injuries on landing. His Goblinslayer mantle worked in concert with his heightened senses, pushing his perception further as he tracked all the movement below him. In the midst of small creatures stood a fiend he recognized from his venture in the hob caverns.

The cave troll hadn’t oriented itself to face the incoming bulls despite the rampage and noise. It seemed oblivious to everything happening around it.

Dev’s momentum carried him toward it at a frightening rate for collision. Two outcomes were likely and only one them had him walking away from the crash fine. He drew Thirst, reversing it in his grip as he sank toward the beast.

“I don’t like this!” Gama’s cry was a tad muted by the sounds of the battlefield. The toad clung harder to Dev’s robes as he flapped around.

Dev let loose a scream as he came within a few yards of the troll. He slammed Thirst down as the creature turned toward him. The blade bit into the monster’s flesh just below its left collarbone. Thirst sank down to the hilt as it buried itself inside the creature’s bulk. Dev’s weight and movement dragged the sword in a vertical path that nearly passed through the troll’s heart as he fell. A long canyon of a wound sprouted over the monster’s body as Dev came to a stop near its pelvis.

His stamina had barely dipped from the fact he’d performed a single attack. The blow hadn’t felled the troll, but he’d wreaked considerable damage as he watched it reel backwards. It pawed at him in hopes of grabbing hold of his body. Dev ripped Thirst free, dropping to the ground in a crouch. His knees absorbed the brunt of the landing. Wasting no time, he pivoted, dragging Thirst along one of the troll’s calves. He turned back around, plunging the blade as deep as he could into the monster’s leg to hobble it.

Gama had hopped his way up the beast’s body, clinging to a layer of fat along the troll’s neck. He jabbed the shiv into the area with pause.

The corners of his vision showed countless goblins moving in a sinuous mob of gleaming black armor. It was near impossible to tell one creature apart from the other. Even with his mantle, he could barely keep track of them all.

The troll bellowed in agony, raising both of its fists overhead. It slammed them down to the spot Dev had been seconds ago. The ground quaked nearby.

Dev’s footing faltered for a second, but he steadied himself as the vibrations from the strike rolled up his legs. Gama’s pinprick attacks did little but irritate the troll. However, it left the creature oblivious to Dev’s next strike. He charged, pulling Thirst back like a lance to be driven through the monster’s chest. Dev leapt and plunged the blade into the gash along the troll’s body, aiming for the cavity near its heart. Thirst entered the wound with ease. He wrenched the weapon to one side, passing it through where the troll’s heart should have been.

The beast’s body jerked as arterial blood gushed into the stream already flowing down its torso. The troll staggered forward a step, its legs buckling. It collapsed.

“Go hide, Gama. Don’t argue.” Devrim had no time to appreciate the kill, ignoring the prompt telling him his troll counter had gone up by one. His shoulder throbbed as a goblin rammed into him. The creature had used its armor as a crude battering ram to drive him to one side. Dev regained his balance and summoned his newly empowered shadow. The summoned essence consumed a healthy chunk of his stamina, but noticeably less than the ability used to.

The dark clone slashed at the back of the goblin that had tackled him to get its attention. Though the blow had skittered along the armor, it did its job. The shadow bashed the creature’s helm without using a skillshot. It followed up by jamming its katana into the unprotected chin of the goblin with enough force to puncture the top of the helmet as part of the blade protruded from it.

Goblins slain count increased

Several dozen goblins closed in on him and his shadow. Nearly a thousand more occupied the land within the fortress. The other carts and buri bulls had rushed through the opening, flattening rank after rank of hastily rallied goblins. The massive bovines continued their carnage without further prompting. Their presence drew the bulk of the goblins’ attentions as the largest threats. But the small fiends could do little to turn back the horned monstrosities.

He activated Fleet-footed and Skewer one after the other, rocketing forward to impale two goblins in a single strike. The increase in speed and his mantle’s bolstered perception helped him spot the trio that lunged at him with a dazzling mix of weapons. He sidestepped, grabbing hold of one of the goblins’ armored collars and wrenched. His maneuver pulled the creature into the paths of its companions’ blows. It took the full damage and toppled.

Dev jabbed out with Thirst, not looking to do much damage besides driving back the closet goblin. The tip of his katana made its way into the slits of the creature’s helmet and gouged one of its eyes. The goblin reared its head back, screaming and wrenching its protective covering free to place a hand to the wounded area. Dev took the opening and cast Thirst into an arc that severed its head from its shoulders.

His shadow stood by his side, helping him fend off and dispatch any goblins aiming to overwhelm him. The dark apparition mimicked his use of the Fleet-footed and Skewer combo to drop another two of the creatures. It was like flicking beads of water out of the ocean. Their kills did little to lessen the incalculable horde among them. But, they weren’t alone.

Hunters continued to spill into the gap, bringing their full abilities to bear on the goblin army. Tamers took hold of any commander in sight and caused disarray within the ranks. Goblins turned on one another in the confusion aided by the manipulative skills. Foresters worked in tandem with trappers to restrain countless goblins and set them afire. As bodies and part of the land burned, many of the creatures lost their resolve in the presence of spreading flames.

A pair of goblins rammed him, taking his arms in their hands as they wrestled him to the ground. His shadow found itself edged back by five of the creatures, relying on its skillshots to hold them back, but not dispatching them.

One of the creatures pinning Dev down raised an iron mallet overhead. One end of the weapon tapered to a poorly fashioned point that would work well enough to crack a hole in his head. The mallet came down. Dev wrenched his head to one side, straining against the weight holding him in place. The weapon sank into the ground, kicking up a plume of dirt.

His shadow struggled to get to his side as it burned every skillshot it had. The apparition used its own Slayer’s Resolve, restoring its abilities. It went through them without pause as it dropped and stunned another half dozen of the creatures.

The shadow wouldn’t reach him in time even with its increased duration for existence. Dev felt his own would be cut short rather soon as the goblin raised the mallet again for a second chance.

A primordial scream tore through the air.

Dev managed to glance at the source.

Mira stormed her way into the fray with another band of hunters at her back. The ursium warrior requipped into her barbarian role, bashing aside goblins with ease. She released another challenging cry that attracted the attention of all monsters nearby. The warrior leaped forward, bringing the ax in her offhand down into the skull of a goblin, splitting its helm and what lay inside. She thrust her spear through a gap along another monster’s midsection, twisting to release its ropey entrails.

Mira spotted him, waving her ax at him. “Devrim!” Her lips peeled back in an animalistic snarl as she slapped the flat side of her weapon against another goblin to batter it out of her way. She broke into a sprint, ignoring the creatures trying to flank her. Her arm snapped out and sent her spear into a rocketing cast. The weapon crashed into the creature holding the mallet, managing to pierce the monster’s shoulder and topple it.

Dev’s shadow succumbed to the goblins piling on it, but it had done its job in keeping most of the creatures at bay. He used his freed arm and activated Reverberating Strike, throwing his weight against the lone goblin pinning him down. He didn’t get fully to his feet, but managed to drive the blow into the monster’s head to stun it. Dev kicked out to push the creature back. He didn’t pause in the fray, using the ability a second time to stupefy another nearby goblin.

“Mira, I didn’t know if you’d come!” He grunted, his stamina plummeting after consuming the pair of Reverberating Strikes. The green bar ticked back up at an accelerated rate as Thirst’s bloodlust surged, empowering him as always. His head pulsed with twin throbs as the stat took hold of his mind and urged him to kill more. The weapon quivered with enough strength to rattle his insides.

“Combat doesn’t get me that hot.” Mira grinned wickedly and swapped her roles, adopting one he hadn’t seen earlier. “Requip, tigress!” Her body shifted under a cloak of white light. Hardened black leather covered her body from her breast down to part of her abdomen. An ornate carving of a tiger’s face stood out on the piece. Gleaming silver wrapped her arms in ridiculously cumbersome gauntlets twice as thick as her legs. Each metal piece ended in an open maw over her fist resembling a tiger’s mouth, baring its fangs. A similar pair of armor lined her legs, coming to form the heads of the large cat over her toes. The entire set looked highly impractical, a point Mira proved wrong with her next attack.

She displayed a level of feline grace as she snapped out at a sharp angle with a kick that should have dislocated her leg at the hip. The armored boot slammed into a goblin’s skull with devastating effect, crumpling it with ease. A monstrous howl echoed from the blow as if the armor cried out to live up to its tiger motif. Mira dove forward, landing on her hands. The muscles in her arms flexed as she pumped them to springboard farther. She performed a split, lashing out with both feet to strike another pair of goblins with explosive blows that rang over the battlefield.

The ursium warrior landed and made her way over to him with ballistic speed. Behind her, more hunters pooled into the fortress, working in brilliant unison with one another.

More trappers sent out nets to pin down groups of goblins. Not only did it stop the closest threats, it formed barriers of writhing limbs to keep back the creatures behind them. Foresters immolated the nets to reduce the goblins within to ash. Trackers loosed dizzying amounts of arrows to cut through and whittle away at the enclosing ranks of goblins.

Dev had lost track of his friends in the melee. The urge to search for them competed with the bloodlust screaming inside him with an intensity that threatened to burn his nerves and sinew. He clubbed an approaching goblin directly in its mouth, splitting the creature’s lips. A quick flick of his wrist sent Thirst scraping along its exposed gullet. The creature fell.

Mira came to his side in a pounce, throwing her weight against another of the monsters to bear it to the ground. She made short work of it with a flurry of thundering blows, pummeling it into a pulp. Mira got to her feet and rolled her shoulders as if they’d gotten stiff from the combat. “Glad to see you’re okay.” She stopped short and jumped, twisting in the air to throw a fist at another goblin that had tried to sneak up on her. The attack landed with enough concussive force to knock the creature airborne. She heaved as she landed, flipping her hair to move it away from her face. “Looks like your crazy plan is working.”

Dev slipped under a goblin that had tried to take his head off with a handheld scythe. He pivoted behind the creature and upturned his grip on Thirst. An exposed band of flesh stood out within the creature’s armored collar. Dev plunged the katana down, impaling the beast along the base of its neck and spinal column. He pulled the weapon free and took the momentary lull in combat to clean the blade on his robes. “It’s not crazy if it works. It’s genius.”

She rolled her eyes. “What’s next? More of these things are pouring out from the nearby hills, but with as many hunters as I brought, we should be able to do this.”

Dev blinked. “How many did you bring?” He grunted and stepped back as a goblin grabbed hold of his arms. The bloodlust throbbed harder than before. Dev grabbed hold of the creature’s helm, wrenching it back and forth to drive the goblin stumbling. He followed up by shoving it hard. A sharp thrust was all it took to send Thirst through its waist.

Goblinslayer lvl 2 – Slayers who pursued goblins across the land of Lorian without rest ended up achieving a greater understanding in how to slay these foul beasts. It took slaughtering armies of these creatures to heighten a slayer’s skill in dispatching them with greater efficiency.

Notes: Take even less damage from goblins. Damage dealt to goblins doubles. Goblin kills now result in a higher bloodlust boost multiplied by a factor of two. Increased perception and tracking in combat regardless of number of goblins engaged with.

Dev choked out a light laugh at the boon. It’d certainly help him in cutting a path ahead toward the inner spire that dominated the view ahead.

The structure was forged out of the same cold and dark metal that made up the gates of the fortress. It was the most likely place the Goblin King would be.

He pointed ahead with Thirst to the tower, signaling Mira with a shout. “Help me get in there.”

Mira answered by pounding her fists together, creating a minute thunderclap.

Dev raced toward the spire and consulted his abilities to take stock of what had recovered. Fleet-footed and Skewer had cooled down, but nothing else. His sprint didn’t consume much of his stamina against his constantly recovering stamina. All he needed to do to ensure the steady regeneration was slay more goblins. And he was blessed to be surrounded by no end of those.

He activated his skillshot to increase his speed, reveling in the boost to his perception as well. It coupled perfectly with the added bonus from the upgrade in his Goblinslayer mantle. Despite the endless number of the creatures, he managed to pick out each one of the fiends with startling clarity among the fray. He corrected his path, speeding between two goblins locked in combat with a pair of trackers who had stowed their bows in favor of daggers in the close quarters. A cast from Thirst cut the back of one of the goblin’s legs, sending it to the ground. He followed by sinking the katana through the other monster’s hip and running it out the other end.

Both of the trackers gave him curt thrusts of their chins as thanks.

He covered another lengthy track of ground, trying to worm between the goblin ranks to find an opening to the tower. A roving band of four goblins peeled away from a larger group to cut him off. Without missing a beat, he activated Skewer while still under the influence of the boost from Fleet-footed. The combination move propelled him toward the closest goblin. He lanced the creature and drove it into a second to take them both out. The remaining two were on him instantly.

Mira leapt into the situation with a succession of kicks that caved in the midsections of each monster. She tilted her head back, sucking in deep breaths. “You could give a girl a break.”

His muscles burned from the effort, but his lungs felt solid. He chalked it up to the restorative effects of the bloodlust. “Do you need one?” He quirked a small smile. “Sorry, but I plan to keep you up for a while longer.”

She opened her mouth to utter a retort, but stopped as three goblins rushed her. The ursium warrior leapt back and raised a knee, bringing both hands up as well into a guard. Mira waited until the goblins were on her before springing into action and driving the flat of her foot into one of the creatures. The blow landed with enough force to elicit a horrible crunch as the goblin doubled over to clutch its gut. She wasted no time jumping to the side before snapping back to twist and arc her leg overhead, bringing her heel down on the collar of another creature. Its body crumbled at the neckline. The final goblin showcased a surprising level of self-preservation and fled the conflict.

Mira turned back to the goblin she’d crippled with the stomach blow, bringing her leg up to snap her foot down. The strike drove the creature, head first, into the ground. She exhaled, taking in a series of ragged breaths. “You know…guys always say that, but they never deliver. I think what you’ve got planned might actually wear me out.”

He snorted, cleaning Thirst off again along his robes. “Let’s go.” Fleet-footed has timed out, leaving him to run at a normal speed. It wasn’t a complete loss for him as the increased stamina cost of the ability had gone with it. Now his regeneration had reached a rate where his sprint couldn’t tax enough of it to counter how much it recharged. It was like having an unlimited burst of energy to expend.

Dev and Mira made it to the entrance of the spire without much difficulty, cutting down the thinning ranks of goblins near the rear.

No gate of any sort barred entry into the Goblin King’s residence. An open corridor ran ahead, leading inside the tower.

Dev shot Mira a quick glance, hoping the apprehension didn’t show on his face. “At least he left the door open. Should we invite ourselves in?”

Mira’s grin was answer enough.

Chapter Thirty-eight – The Present

Confrontation

The hallway within the tower could have been formed from the same metal as the goblins’ armor. The material caught the errant bits of light shining into the corridor, taking on a wet sheen that managed to carry through the entire length of the passage. It gave the place an appearance of polished dark glass.

“Creepy.” Dev eyed the walls as he crept forward.

“Don’t the villains always have places like this in the stories?” Mira followed his lead, keeping her head on a swivel as they surveyed their surroundings.

“You liked those kinds of books too, huh? It’s like that fantasy series with the ring. An evil lord in black armor with a fortress just as dark as him and hideous minions.”

Mira snorted. “Good to know evil lords are consistent with their branding.”

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” A pillar of inky black arced across the wall on his right with sinuous grace. He blinked, watching the length of metal to see if the motion continued. It hadn’t. The longer he stared, the more he became convinced he’d imagined it. He shook his head clear and returned to the idle banter with Mira. It helped settle his mind and nerves for what lay ahead.

They moved in near silence, the only sounds coming from the clacks echoing underfoot as they stepped over stone tiles.

The coil of darkness lanced over the wall again, a speed Dev could only attribute to an arrow hurtling by.

Mira’s head whipped to one side as she tried to track it. “Please tell me you saw that?”

“If you’re talking about a freakishly fast shadow bolting by, yeah.”

Mira stiffened, straightening her back and turning slowly to look at him. “For the record, describing it that way doesn’t help.”

He shrugged in a half-apology as they picked up their pace. They covered close to half the length of the passageway before the sinister stream of blackness flowed onto the floor, undulating across the tiles to come ahead of them.

“What the hell do you think that is?”

Dev skidded to a halt, taking Thirst in both hands. The blade tremored in excitement. “I don’t know, but you’re not going to have to wait long to find out. Look.” He gestured by tipping his sword toward the pooling mass of black.

It spread over the surface a dozen yards in front of them. The surface of the darkness frothed and bubbled like it was boiling. Wisps of the substance flitted into the air before collapsing back into the puddle from which they originated. The darkness pulled in on itself, congealing to take shape. It rose to tower above them at a height several feet taller than the Goblin King. It hunched over with a noticeable humpback. The creature looked like an emaciated man, stretched absurdly long, with decrepit arms that looked like serrated hooks.

Its mouth had been pulled thin and long, like the snout of an animal, lined with shadowy fangs. It bobbed in place, watching them in anticipation.

Umbra: The darkened specter of long since departed souls, lost in agony, attracting one to another. Their pained cries serve as a beacon, helping unite these tormented shades. Once together, they end up merging into large, physical manifestations of the very darkness they embody. Ever-hungry, never sated, these fiends seek to devour all before them, flesh and spirit.

Notes: Umbra possess a strong resistance to physical attacks. Rely on elemental or spiritual damage to defeat them. Other tactics include bloodied weapons to increase standard damage, torches or firelight, sunlight.

“You get all that?” Dev pointed to his bestiary, making sure Mira had a clear line of sight on his display.

She bobbed her head. “Requip, volking!” Mira’s appearance shifted back to what it had been when Dev had first met her. She drew her oversized sword and ran a hand over its fuller and intoned, “By fire and steel!” Mira thrust the weapon into the air as a sliver of orange light wound over its form before wreathing the weapon in fire.

“When did you get that?”

A hungry smile filled her face. “You weren’t the only one grinding and working to get skill points.”

Fair enough. Lacking anything as useful and showy, Dev placed Thirst’s edge against his palm. He winced before running the blade against the soft tissue. A row of slicing heat filled his hand, but the thrumming of the bloodlust buried most of the sensation and pain. He smeared a crimson veneer over the cold steel of his weapon, brandishing it at the umbra.

The action set the creature off. It burst forth, clawing at the air like it intended to tear it away.

Mira stepped in front of him, shifting her hips as she swung the sword in both hands at the monster. The blade grazed along the fiend’s chest, sending a brief flash of fire cascading over its form.

The umbra reeled, screeching in a sound like it had dragged its talons across the metal walls around them. The fire faded an instant later, tendrils of steam to wafting from the creature. It recomposed itself, swaying gingerly from side-to-side, appraising them.

Dev didn’t want to burn any more abilities before confronting the Goblin King. He’d been holding his Slayer’s Resolve in reserve, just in case. But using it now wouldn’t guarantee it’d recharge by the time he met the king. He grimaced and approached the creature at a steady pace, hoping to rouse it out of its cautionary lull.

None of his mantles would help him here. That in mind, he watched with a wary eye as he drew even closer.

The umbra raked at him with one hand, bringing its other overhead to slam down.

He backpedaled as the blow struck stone and shattered the tiles. Devrim didn’t chance giving the creature a moment to recover. He lunged forward and reversed Thirst, arcing it upward. The bloodied katana traced a shallow groove along the monster’s dark form. The blood hissed spitefully at it trailed over the shadow creature’s body.

He snapped the weapon into a horizontal cast across the monster’s chest before pushing the blade into its mass. The umbra bucked, forcing his feet to slide as it held onto his weapon. “Mira!”

The ursium warrior only grunted as an acknowledgment. She ran toward him, planting a foot on one of his thighs as she pushed off, muscles flexing in her legs as she took to the air. Mira put all her weight into the blow as she whipped the giant sword to one side of the umbra’s skull. The flaming blade cut through its head, coating it in a renewed blanket of fire.

The creature pulled free of Dev’s weapon, sinking to the ground in spasmodic agony. It twitched and boiled for a long moment before collapsing into a pool of noxious black.

Umbra slain count increased

A faint tingle pulled his attention back to his injured palm. The wound slowly knitted itself together, likely a result of his minor recovery stat. He made a note to invest further into it via armor upgrades once this ordeal was done. Dev took a breath to calm his mind. “How are you holding up?”

Mira extinguished her fiery blade, planting its tip against the ground as she leaned on the weapon. “Tired. I’m dipping dangerously low on stamina. My recovery on that isn’t close to yours. Speaking of”—her eyes narrowed—“how the hell are you still fighting like that?”

He explained more of the bloodlust mechanic along with Thirst’s appetite and the restorative effects it bestowed.

Mira huffed and took several steps forward before falling into a steady pace. “That’s bullshit.”

Dev stifled a laugh as he cleaned Thirst off on his robes. “Perks of being a mythology nerd. You get the special class.” He couldn’t see her face, but he figured she was rolling her eyes at his comment.

Random encounter complete: Fortress Shadow

Rewards: Shadowy essence X3, umbra layers X4

Skill points: 0

Dev paused to skim over the shadowy essence he’d received. The item indicated that its use would temporarily imbue a weapon with the dark nature the umbra had possessed, dealing another form of damage on top of what Thirst did. Its use was incredibly temperamental, only applicable to weapons that didn’t already have some form of elemental effect active.

I’ll take anything I can get. He rushed to catch up with Mira. Their walk continued for a minute without interruption until they came before an archway ahead.

It stood the full height and width of the passage. A curtain of dark fog obscured the path ahead.

“A little too theatrical, don’t you think?”

Mira tilted her head, giving him a knowing look. “We’re chasing down an eight-foot man in armor who controls a goblin army and is a former station citizen now seeking to take over a virtual reality game world.”

Dev opened his mouth, pausing before shutting it. He conceded the point by tipping his head in her direction. “Time to finish this.” Dev stepped through the misty black gate, passing into a room a hundred yards long.

Columns of white stone stood along both sides of the room. A lone fixture at the other end of the area took hold of Dev’s attention: a throne of iron grey, unadorned, and rather simple.

The figure sitting atop it was none of those things. The Goblin King’s armor looked new, even in the distance, pulling in all light to deepen its darkness. He sat leisurely, lightly tapping the head of his club against the ground in a steady beat. Each heavy thud echoed through the room. He said nothing as he rose.

Dev decided to adopt a similar silence, making his way toward the Goblin King at a measured pace. He waved Mira back as she moved to his side. A quick gesture was enough to inform her to stay a few paces behind him. Dev didn’t know what the fight would entail, but expected some sort of surprise.

The Goblin King had no end of control over a variety of creatures as evidenced by the troll and the umbra earlier. There was a great chance some other monster could slip in through the entrance during the fight to blindside them.

Dev made his way toward the center of the room, slowing his pace as the Goblin King approached, still banging the top of his club against the ground.

“You’re still certain you want to do this, Slayer?” The king stopped, adopting an unnatural stillness. “I don’t want to have to kill you if it can be avoided.” His voice stayed level as he spoke. There was a sincerity to it, but not enough for Dev to believe.

“Did you tell Thom that?”

If the comment fazed the Goblin King, he didn’t show it. “What happened between Thom and myself is old business to preserve a new future. We had different views on the matter. It came to a head at Hillside. Now it’s resolved. What’s between us isn’t personal, nor important.”

Dev bristled. Not important? It was important enough to warrant attacking him and his friends upon entry to Lorian. A point he voiced. “I took it pretty personal that you sent your freaky dogs to try and kill us in New Haven. I’m pretty sure I remember a goblin horde coming to attack too.” He narrowed his eyes, gripping Thirst tighter.

“I don’t have enough time to manage the threat of new hunters, clueless to this world, as well as what’s manifesting out there.” The Goblin King waved to the side with his freehand. “You’ve no idea what’s coming. What I sacrificed. What I am giving up even now!”

Dev looked around the massive hall, settling his gaze on the throne. “Yeah, seems like you sacrificed a lot. Even got yourself a big chair for your troubles.”

The Goblin King shook for a second, collecting himself almost as fast as the momentary lapse in his composure. “You don’t get it. Maybe I can make you see, but you’ll have to extend a bit of trust.” The armored giant held out a hand. “Let me show you. You can stop what’s happening outside with your friends and my goblins by taking my hand. Left unchecked, all hunters present a bit of danger left to their own devices, especially you. Thom told you of the dangers a slayer presents. We learned that the hard way. The first to come into this world before they started sending children.”

At twenty-one, Devrim hardly considered himself a child, but the manner the Goblin King referred to him in put his own age in perspective. Dev wagered the man to be twice his age at rough estimate. But how long has he been in Lorian?

“We’ve already seen the horrors of a slayer gone rogue. Did Thom tell you of the other quirks put into this world? How hunters are pushed along until they reach a mental line in the sand, toeing it for as long as possible before stepping over? That, sooner or later, hunters will find ways to turn on one another? That sort of discord will leave us powerless.” The Goblin King raised his club onto a shoulder, but made no further move.

“So you decided to take that power yourself? It’s better if you put us all under the same fist as people back on the station did, huh? And all for your own purpose, just like they did.” Dev kept from grinding his teeth.

“This world is evolving beyond what it was intended to be. The way it was made…it’s not what was promised to any of us. The leaders back home had no idea what they were sending people into. And the developers couldn’t predict the changes that would happen. You know about the A.P.M.? What if I told you it’s more than just a personality matrix? It’s running this world, naturally.” The way the Goblin King had said the last word sent a shiver down Dev’s spine.

“Why do you think I tamed thousands of goblins? A worse tide than I is coming, and if we don’t prepare, everything will be washed away. Join me or die.” The ultimatum seemed to shake the very air around them.

Dev quickly summoned his menu, switching into his Manslayer mantle. “Third option. You die!” He activated Fleet-footed as the Goblin King bellowed, swinging his club. Dev raced underneath the blow, coming out behind the giant. He trawled through his menu to find the shadowy essence and consumed it. His hand slid along the length of Thirst, coating blade in dark resin that flowed over the weapon like black mist.

The Goblin King spun, swinging the back of an armored forearm at him.

Dev tracked the blow easily under his newly strengthened mantle. He sank to his haunches, letting it pass overhead before activating Reverberating Strike. The maneuver sent him toward the Goblin King’s midsection to drive the pommel of his blade against. The attack didn’t do much but send the man back a step. It was enough to buy Dev more room.

He slipped to one side and took a second to summon his shadow. Despite the ability’s cost, his stamina didn’t tank enough to cause him worry. His bloodlust worked to recover the expenditure at a startling rate.

The Goblin King stepped forward, swinging the club in a staggering series of blows without pause. It was like watching a stick caught in a hurricane, twirling without pause.

Dev and his shadow bobbed and slipped out of the weapon’s reach each time it closed in. He caught Mira readying up to drive her sword into the Goblin King’s back. A cold part of him, driven by the bloodlust, felt it was worth the risk. She could potentially injure him as well as draw his attention. Dev shut that part of his mind down hard, gnashing his teeth that the idea had crossed him at all.

Mira requipped to her spear wielder role, twirling a pair of her weapons with a flourish. She took a pair of steps back before leaping forward to hurl one of the javelins. She took off in a full sprint toward the Goblin King. The weapon found a home in the upper back of the giant, drawing a pained snarl from him.

“Mira, no!” Dev’s warning didn’t come fast enough.

The ursium warrior leapt, bringing the other spear overhead.

The Goblin King whirled about and brought his club spinning with him. It struck the side of Mira’s right leg, ringing out with the only sound that could come from heavy wood striking bare flesh. She spun as her forward momentum had been cut off. The Goblin King reached out as she sank, managing to entwine his fingers in her hair before she crashed to the ground. The maneuver forced her head to jerk sharply as her weight came to be supported by the tresses in his fingers.

Mira screamed loud enough to drown out the pounding from the bloodlust. Her leg hung limply. A large bruise discolored most of her flesh to a sickly purple that could have passed as black. Her health bar had dropped to nearly half from the single blow.

The Goblin King gave her a little shake, drawing another pained cry from her. “That’s it?” He tossed her aside contemptuously and turned back to face Devrim. “You should have taken my offer.”

Dev bit back the growl forming in his chest, knowing it wouldn’t do him any good. A glance to his side showed that, while injured, Mira wasn’t in any further danger.

She lay on her side, nursing her damaged leg.

Devrim leapt forward along with his shadow in a whirlwind of dizzying blows free of any restraint. His conscious mind had left him, driven by a mixture of thoughtless rage and reflexes. The slayer class and Manslayer mantle pushed him to become a machine behind the katana. He activated his second use of Reverberating Strike, pushing the Goblin King back another step.

The giant made use of Dev’s closeness to jam the butt of the club at him.

He moved to avoid it, but not fast enough. The strike connected where his shoulder met his collarbone, jarring him. Dev stumbled back from the blow at a loss for balance, tipping backwards onto his bottom. He hadn’t taken as much damage as he’d expected. Only a tenth of his health had vanished. The Manslayer mantle’s bonus must have negated a majority of the impact coupled with the fact it had only glanced him.

His clone took advantage of the opening left behind, channeling Dev’s favored combination. It skewered the Goblin King’s thigh to hobble him much like he’d done to Mira. Devrim appreciated the symmetry.

The Goblin King reeled, swatting at the apparition with his empty hand. “Manslayer, hm? How long before you figured it out?”

Dev resisted the urge to rush the man now that he’d put more space between them. The length of club would only give the Goblin King the advantage. “How do you know which mantle I’m using?” Dev inched his way forward, staying at a ready guard.

The Goblin King released a dry laugh. “I’ve gone up against it before.”

A hive of questions broke out within him, but Dev focused on only one. “And what happened to that slayer?”

Seconds passed before the Goblin King deigned to answer him. “He died a monster. It was a shame considering what a great man he was. I wonder if you’ll end up the same.”

“Shut up!” Dev urged his clone on as he sprinted toward the Goblin King. The boost from Fleet-footed still gave him a superior speed to his armored foe, making it easy for him to clone in and flick Thirst’s point at the king in a series of test jabs. None of the attacks found an opening worth exploiting.

The Goblin King tossed the club toward Dev.

His instincts were at a loss, arguing between catching or avoiding the weapon. In the lull, the Goblin King made his move, sweeping in to slam his head down against Dev’s. The collision banished all other thoughts and left him blank. His vision strobed.

“You think just your mantle’s going to save you?” The Goblin King grabbed him by the throat, squeezing hard.

Dev sputtered as the pressure inside his head built. The pounding of the bloodlust doubled under the new strain, feeling like it would split his skull.

“You’ve been letting the game and your class guide your combat. I’ve been fighting here for years!” The Goblin King slammed Dev to the ground, giving him no time to catch a breath as he struck his ribs with an armored boot.

Devrim rolled over the ground in a repeat of their earlier encounter. Fortunately, he didn’t suffer as badly. His mantle had negated good portion of the damage, leaving him only to lose a quarter of his health.

The shadow rushed between them, holding the Goblin King off with a frantic set of attacks that weren’t meant to be anything more than a deterrence.

“This isn’t a game or contest you can win, Slayer.” The king swept an open hand at the shadow, catching its jaw barely. The attack pushed the apparition far enough away from him that he could run the short distance to recover his club. In a single move, he dropped to a knee, scooping up his weapon and transitioning into a pivot. He hammered the club into the shadow’s ankles, cutting its legs out from beneath it.

Dev’s clone hadn’t vanished. It got back to its feet, unperturbed by the attack, and returning to combat. The apparition used its own chain of Reverberating Strikes to stagger the Goblin King before putting all of its weight behind plunging Thirst at his waist. The katana struck the giant’s gut, piercing the armor. The dark Thirst failed to go deeper than a few inches.

The Goblin King grunted. A thin stream of saliva, sporting a burgundy tint, spilled out from his helmet. It wasn’t enough to cripple the armored giant. He reached out, grabbing hold of the shadow’s robes and pulling him close. Dev’s apparition didn’t last against the following succession of blows from the club. It faded from existence.

The Goblin King heaved once before roaring. He reached out toward Mira in the same manner he had done to one of the goblin commanders back in Hillside. “Do you know why tamers have to play a human class?”

Dev knew the answer, and he knew what the Goblin King was trying to do. “Stop it.”

“It’s so we can’t be manipulated. It’s a nice in-game check to make sure we don’t leave ourselves vulnerable. But other classes aren’t locked to that. What do you think happens if I apply that to a subhuman race?”

“No!” Dev got to his feet, using his bolstered acceleration while it lasted. He channeled his Skewer ability and launched himself to lance the Goblin King’s torso near where his clone had.

The giant grunted, sinking to one knee. He tried to elbow Devrim out of the way but failed.

Dev brought his weapon overhead, eyeing the exposed patch of skin at the back of the Goblin King’s neck. One clean cut. He brought Thirst down to end it. The weapon bucked in his grip, nearly tearing out of his hands as something clanged into it with jarring force. His strike faltered and struck along the armored ridges lining the Goblin King’s back. What?

The king capitalized on the moment, surging to his feet and thrusting a palm into Dev’s chest.

The attack sent him sliding across the ground, but barely damaged him. Blinking, he tried to make out what had stopped him. A short spear clattered to the ground where he had stood moments earlier.

Mira walked forward in an odd, jerky fashion. It was as if she’d forgotten how to use her own limbs. She drew another spear. The muscles in her arm flexed, veins throbbing as she actively resisted the Goblin King’s control.

That wasn’t enough for the behemoth as he gestured toward the entrance. A trilling chorus of howls came through the archway as goblins flooded into the room and dispelled the dark curtain. They spread through the area, numbering close to one hundred.

Dev took it as a stroke of luck that’s all the king was able to summon at the moment.

“I have the ursium warrior, my goblins, and myself.” The Goblin King rose to full height, taking up his club. His health hadn’t dropped past three quarters since the confrontation started. It wasn’t ideal, but far more than Dev had been able to inflict in their previous engagements. “What do you have left, Slayer?”

A flicker of movement down the hall caught Dev’s eyes, setting him off in laughter that racked his ribs and chest. “I have friends.”

His party burst into the room.

Chapter Thirty-nine – The Present

Slayer Unleashed

Devrim activated his Slayer’s Resolve and immediately summoned his shadow. “Erik, pin her!” He pointed to Mira.

The half-troll lumbered to one side, slapping a goblin aside with his spear. He followed Dev’s gesture, then eyed him in confusion.

“The Goblin King’s—” Dev dropped to the ground as Mira’s spear sailed dangerous close, stirring his hair as he fell.  “He’s put his tamer control over her. Stop her.”

That was all the prompting Erik needed. The half-troll pulled an arm back, throwing one of his nets toward the ursium warrior. He pinned her in place before casting twin bolas to topple a pair of goblins. The half-troll speared another of the creatures through the sternum, placing a boot on its chest to kick it free from his weapon.

Keeley used her stalker agility and reflexes to nimbly navigate through the horde of goblins, pouncing on any that had their heads turned away from her. She raked into whatever bits of open flesh she could find.

Jace acted as a suppressing force, loosing countless arrows to drop goblins around the room. He sank to one knee and fired the green shot he’d done when they first met. The bolt slayed another of the creatures.

Dev’s shadow dragged its blade across the Goblin King’s armor to draw his attention. With a quick flick, it slipped the sword between the helm’s collar to graze the man. The shadow didn’t relent and chained both of its Reverberating Strike abilities. It staggered the king again.

Dev’s own health hadn’t recovered by much, and the inability to slay the Goblin King must have tempered his bloodlust a bit. The drumming in his skull weakened. His stamina didn’t flare at the same strength as before. All of it left him with one choice: to slay.

He swapped mantles, donning the role of Goblinslayer. Without paying their leader any mind, Devrim rushed out for the nearest of the creatures. He dispatched it by running his blade through its lower back several times. Thirst thrummed with renewed vigor and his stamina ticked higher. Devrim activated Fleet-footed, refraining from using the Skewer ability on a pair of goblins. Instead, he raced over to one, kicking the back of its leg to drop it to a knee. A quick thrust was all it took to jam his blade through its neck.

Dev ripped the weapon free and sped over to another, twisting at the waist to slash along the open slits where its eyes were. The weapon carved through goblin’s face with ease and left it reeling in blindness. He snapped the sword back to slit its throat.

Dev turned back to spot his shadow still engaged in combat with the Goblin King. He swapped mantles again to Manslayer and rushed to his clone’s aid, finally using his Skewer to close the distance at a ballistic speed. Thirst buried into the Goblin King’s right breast. Dev twisted the weapon as he clung the behemoth’s body. His clone worked with him to continue peppering him with piercing blows, chipping away at the king.

An armored hand grabbed him by the back of his robes, pulling Dev away. The Goblin King hurled him toward Mira.

Dev’s side ached as he crashed into the floor.

The ursium warrior had freed herself from the net by now, getting to her feet with difficulty. Her legs quaked, but she managed to steady herself long enough to draw another spear.

“Mira, don’t do this!” Dev readied Thirst, debating how to save his friend without harming her. The shadowy essence had vanished from his weapon. He spat as he settled on how best to tackle his friend.

Mira lunged, sending her weapons into a fanning blur of sharpened steel.

Dev stepped back as he worked to find some break in the weaving patterns of her short spears. His patience was rewarded in the form of a split-second gap. He activated Reverberating Strike, sailing forward to knock her into a temporary concussed state. “Sorry.” Dev eased her to the ground, giving her a weak smile.

She returned it, to his surprise.

Dev turned back in time to see his shadow be pinned underfoot by the Goblin King.

The giant brought his club down on the apparition’s head repeatedly until it failed. “Slayer!” The Goblin King’s health had fallen to half by this point. Their efforts were paying off…just not fast enough.

Devrim couldn’t tally how many goblins remained, but his friends had made short work of a decent chunk of the creatures. He swapped mantles again and skirted the outer edges of the room to fell more of the monsters.

“Fight me!” The Goblin King reached out to influence a band of the diminutive creatures, having them harry Devrim back toward the center of the room.

Dev grunted as he fended off the frantic assault. One of the goblins overcommitted, lunging past him. Instead of cutting it down, he used the opening to haul on its armor, pulling it back into its approaching companions. It collided with them, forcing the incoming creatures to topple to the ground. The new break in the fight let him reapply another use of the shadowy essence.

The Goblin King rushed toward him for the first time in the fight, barreling forward like a colossus of steel.

Dev’s Fleet-footed had finally dissipated. His shadow had been vanquished. He’d consumed Skewer not too long ago, leaving him with just one last Reverberating Strike. A chance look at his skills did inform him that Slayer’s Resolve didn’t have too long before it recharged. He’d have to draw the fight out, but the ability would give him the chance to finish the king with all his skills to bear.

He changed mantles as the king closed in, timing the man’s upcoming swing.

The Goblin King spun, bringing the weapon around his back to put the full force of his body and momentum into a strike that would pulp Dev if it connected.

Devrim used his last Reverberating Strike to close the distance, bypassing the club as he struck the Goblin King’s waist to upset his balance. He caught the back of one of the king’s elbows, staggering him for minor damage. But overall, Dev fared better than his opponent. His own health hadn’t reached the halfway mark yet. He peeled away from the Goblin King as fast as he could, disengaging to buy more time.

“Coward!” The Goblin King slammed the club into the ground, shattering stone. With another gesture of his hand, he took control of another band of goblins, sending them after Devrim.

Fine by me. “Erik, pin him. Tie him up. Anything—everything!” Dev flipped mantles again, leaping back from group of goblins closing in. He refused to let recklessness get the better of him now that he was so close.

One of the creatures let its exuberance take hold, breaking from the safety of its group to pursue him.

Dev circled around one of the stone columns, waiting at the opposite end for the monster to round it. He lunged as it came into view, startling it before it could react. Dev jammed Thirst through the small gap in the armor between the goblin’s throat and where its collarbones almost met in the middle.

The Goblin King tried to speed over to him, meeting resistance as one of Erik’s nets fell over him, holding him in place. The ability didn’t pin the monstrous man to the ground like some other creatures.

“Jace!” Dev hoped the single call would be enough to inform the tracker of what to do.

The pale elf signaled him with a bow of the head, firing without pause on the Goblin King. Arrows whistled through the air and sank home into parts of the tamer’s armor. Each strike doing miniscule damage, but the overwhelming number of shafts burying into him took their combined toll. And Jace hadn’t finished. He charged another one of the green, pulsating shots, firing it.

It struck the Goblin King just as he burst free of the net, blasting him across the chest as the energy from the shot washed over him. The chains of Jace’s attacks had cut away another quarter of his health.

Devrim smiled for a moment as the rest of the goblins nearby swarmed him. He swore to himself, slapping an open hand at the monster before him. His palm struck the metal helm, not doing much to harm the creature within. The soft tissue of his skin screamed along the earlier self-inflicted wound from Thirst. It was worth it as the goblin tilted to one side from the sudden attack that upended its balance. Dev sank the katana into its gut, wrenching it free as set on another of the creatures.

He ended the remaining few around him as the Goblin King stormed to his side. Dev equipped his Manslayer mantle just in time.

The giant slammed the club where Dev’s head had been an instant before, striking the stone column. His attack resulted in an explosion of debris that sounded as loud as any crack of thunder Dev had heard in Lorian. Missing the blow must have pushed the Goblin King’s fury to new heights as he made a fist, pounding it into the newly formed crater in the column, destroying it further.

Jace picked off the remaining goblins with cool poise and steady aim.

The fight had boiled down to them versus him. Odds that worked in their favor.

Devrim allowed himself a thin, lopsided smile. “You’re not looking too good. You’re winded, bleeding all over the place, angry. That stuff will kill you. Gets your blood pressure too high, you know?”

The Goblin King removed his helm. His appearance didn’t do much to prove Dev’s estimation, having likely been altered in the game. He looked to be in his late twenties, eyes much like Devrim’s had been, a soft and warm brown. The man’s hair was a rich black that could have matched the luster of the gleaming metal walls within the fortress. He had a fatherly look about him despite his in-game youth. A hint of padding in his cheeks offset the hardness found in his jawline, adding to the image that he could pass as someone’s father.

Twin streams of blood flowed from his nose over his upper lip. Some of it had caked, just below his nostrils, diverting the path the fluid would take. He sputtered, spitting up a handful of bile, tinged red, onto the floor.

“You think you’ve won?” The Goblin King staggered forth, struggling with his injured body. His stamina had likely fallen along with his health. He lumbered his way toward the nearest stone pillar, resting his back against it. The man reached back to tear at a pair of straps Devrim could barely see. Frustrated, the Goblin King summoned his own menu, removing his chest piece. He followed by discarding the armor of his arms, then his legs. The action revealed the man’s true height. He stood only half a foot taller than Dev without the bulk of his Goblin King attire.

“Yeah.” Dev took a series of quick breaths to try and calm his heart. It beat erratically, straining his chest as every inch of him screamed to plunge his blade into the Goblin King’s skull. He pushed back the maddening and mounting desire. A cursory check of his skills helped him temper the fury inside him, and showed him that Slayer’s Resolve had been restored. “I think it’s over. You’re not going to win this, not against all of us.”

The Goblin King raised the club onto a shoulder. “I won’t have to.” He reached out toward Mira. “Come here.”

The ursium warrior walked over to the Goblin King without a hint of resistance. Her eyes were unfocused like she still suffered somewhat from the stunning effects of Dev’s earlier blow. Though the paralytic hold of the ability had faded, it seemed to have dulled her senses and will. Mira stopped in front of the man, staring at Devrim with a hollow look.

Dev activated Slayer’s Resolve, quickly summoning his shadow back.

“Don’t!” The Goblin King’s club disappeared from his hands, replaced by a sword the length of his forearm. It wouldn’t do much in combat against Dev, but he knew there was a reason the tamer had made the switch. The Goblin King raised the weapon to Mira’s throat. “Stay where you are.”

Dev froze, bidding his shadow to do the same. The dark apparition obeyed his command to his relief. He leaned in close to his clone, whispering another order in the hopes the shadow would follow it just as he voiced it.

“Stop. Look at me.” The Goblin King’s chest rose rapidly. Sweat beaded his forehead, matting some of his hair to his skull. “Just how far are you willing to go for this? Because I’ll tell you how far I’m willing.” He pressed the blade closer to Mira’s throat, drawing a sharp exhale of air from her. “All the way across her little neck. Are you willing to spend her life to end mine?”

Jace slowly came to Dev’s side, nocking an arrow. “I can take him out.”

“No!” Dev waved him off. “You could miss and hit her. He could move. Anything could happen.”

Jace grimaced. “More than a hundred of our people are out there, Dev. Our people. Other lives. We can stop this. I don’t like it any more than you do, but—”

“But nothing! I’m not going to finish this to end up like him. Not when we’ve come so far without crossing that line, without becoming monsters ourselves. Hell, look at the goblins around us. He made them do all of this. They barely had choices. He did. We still do. I’m not going to use mine to become what everyone keeps saying I’ll turn into. Fuck that.” Dev took a step closer to the Goblin King, raising his hands in a gesture of calm.

The Goblin King bristled behind Mira, but did nothing else.

Dev kept his voice low and didn’t turn his head to face his shadow. “Activate your Fleet-footed ability and wait.”

No visible sign showed if the clone had obeyed his words, leaving Dev to cross his fingers mentally.

“Really? I’m surprised. I thought you’d let the pallenfael tracker take the shot. He could’ve taken us both out at the very least. One extra life lost to save all your friends.” The Goblin King’s lips pulled into a thin sneer that quickly morphed into a crazed smile. He broke into a maniacal laugh the next instant.

Dev moved closer. “If you’re not willing to sacrifice everything to save one life, how in the hell can you be expected to do what it takes to save them all? But if you want a life, fine. Take mine and let her go.”

The Goblin King’s brows shot up.

“Dev, no!” Keeley rushed toward him before the Goblin King screamed for her to stop.

“Stay still. Very still.” The tamer made a point of moving the knife a fraction of an inch. A faint line of crimson bled into existence over part of Mira’s throat.

Keeley bared her teeth and hissed, but made no further moves.

“And don’t think your trapper friend can pull any of his tricks either. Here’s how this works, Slayer. I want you to throw down your sword and come to me. Once you’re within reach, I’ll let her go. Got it? I want you close enough that you can’t pull any funny business.”

Dev nodded without word. He relinquished his grip on Thirst, letting the katana clatter to the floor. The continuous pulse of heat left his body. Only cold remained, leaving him feeling like the stone columns around him. He became aware of his own fatigue. His muscles felt threaded with metal cords, weighing him down. Dull aches manifested in his joints. He walked forward nonetheless. “Let her go.”

“Closer, Slayer.”

Dev reached where Mira stood, swallowing every bit of pain growing in his body. Dropping Thirst felt like losing a limb and left him with something gnawing at his insides. “Let her go.”

The Goblin King made good on his promise, pulling the blade away from the ursium woman’s throat, and pushing her aside with a callous shove. “Closer, Devrim Bains.” The Goblin King’s body shook as a violent cough took hold of him. Another handful of blood splattered to the floor.

Devrim obliged the maddened king, stepping nearly nose-to-nose with him. “Now what? Do we kiss or something?”

The Goblin King snarled, grabbing hold of Dev by one shoulder as he raised the knife. “Now you die.”

Dev didn’t blink. “No, you do. Now, activated Skewer!”

The Goblin King’s face lost all expression. His eyes widened the next instant as he slightly tilted Dev aside to get a look behind him.

Dev’s torso burst into a point of agony as a dark version of Thirst pierced his body, coming out near his left side above his navel. I hope nothing important’s there. The weapon sank into the Goblin King’s abdomen and the stone behind him as well judging by the sound of something hard cracking. Dev exchanged a short look with the man who aimed to rule Lorian. The stare couldn’t have lasted more than a few seconds, but seemed to stretch out for all time.

He could see almost see his own face in the man’s eyes. His face had grown gaunt, features starker than before like he’d been carved out of jagged and unforgiving rock. His pupils carried a dangerous light, the sort he would have said the Goblin King’s had moments earlier when he was ready to kill Mira.

The shadow pulled the blade free of the pair, allowing them to collapse to the ground.

Dev sank to both his knees, head lolling as weakness sapped his body of any reserve of strength. His eyesight strobed as a brush of haziness daubed away any clarity he could manage. A bitter laugh built in his gut despite the agony gripping his body. His health hadn’t plummeted completely to zero. A faint thread of red, nearly imperceptible, flashed just at the edge of what vision he had left. The laugh made its way out of him, filling the stone hall.

The Goblin King’s health had vanished. He lay on the ground beside Dev, taking in short breaths as he passed. “You haven’t won, kid. You’ve killed everyone.” More blood pooled from his mouth as well as the last wound inflicted by the shadow. “Remember…” The Goblin King’s voice passed into a whisper Dev couldn’t hear until the man’s mouth ceased moving. A film of fog swept in to muddle the color of his eyes as the man finally died.

Keeley ran over to him, falling to her knees and sliding the last foot. “Dev. Dev. Are you okay?”

He coughed and sucked down whatever breath he could. “Not really.”

“You won’t be if you die. I’ll kick your ass.” Moisture lined Keeley’s eyes, but her lips managed to spread into a weak smile.

“Can’t if I’m dead.”

“Your ghostly ass, then. Don’t argue.”

Dev tried not to laugh again, knowing the action would only flood his body with more agony. He thought back to how he’d first gotten into this mess, realizing that arguing and butting heads was what caused him problems. “Fair enough. Help me up?”

Keeley slipped her arms under him, easing him up gently. She settled him against the pillar the Goblin King had stood next to. “You did it. You should be proud. You actually lived up to all that crazy talk and pulled this off.”

He inclined his head. “We did.” Dev didn’t mention what the Goblin King had told him about other threats on the horizon. Everyone should be able to enjoy this. He was about to voice that thought when another prompt cut him off.

Enemy player encounter completed: Goblin King

Rewards: Resurrection Key (3rd image), Goblin King kanabo (trophy), Goblin King helm (trophy), 2,500 shims

Skill points: 20

“Holy crap. Look at that money!” Erik leaned back and let out a rolling laugh. “I’m rich!”

Jace shook his head, stoic as usual. “It’s not bad. Wish I’d gotten more a scrap of his armor as a trophy. Won’t do much for my rep…or any of ours.” He settled his gaze on Devrim. “Three guesses who got the good loot.”

Keeley hadn’t commented, fetching Thirst for Dev and slipping it into his hands.

He thanked her before bothering to reply to Jace’s comment. “Do you not get the same stuff as me?”

The pale-elf shook his head. “Thought you figured that out by now. If you kill the big bad of any engagement, you get better loot. We don’t share everything. But the money is pretty nice. Twenty-five hundred.” A thin grin cracked over his face.

Devrim didn’t mention the key that had come into his possession, leaving the matter for another time. He struggled to get to his feet despite the engagement ending and his body being restored. He figured it was more of a psychological toll than anything else. “Let’s get out of here and finally head home.”

Keeley tilted her head like she hadn’t quite heard him. “Home?”

“Yeah. There’s bound to be more hunters loading in by the day. Someone’s going to have to take care of New Haven and teach them the most important lesson in how to survive Lorian.”

Keeley’s eyes glimmered. “Hunt or be hunted.”

And we’ll have to live up to that more than ever if the Goblin King was telling the truth.

Endgame Character Sheet

Character: Devrim Bains. Class/Race: Slayer.

Renown: 85 points

Skill points: 20 (unallocated at the present)

Skills: Reverberating Strike lvl 3. Skewer lvl 2. Slayer’s Shadow lvl 2. Fleet-footed lvl 2.

Clothing/Armor Stats: 3 Resistance. 1 Recovery. 5 Speed. 10 Bloodlust.

Mantles: Manslayer lvl 2. Goblinslayer lvl 2. Hobslayer lvl 1.

Trophies: Goblin King kanabo (trophy), Goblin King helm (trophy), goblin commander’s ears (trophy), petrified greater gorgon head (trophy), goblin ears (trophy), troll club (trophy), goblin commander helm (trophy).

Shims: 2,650

Items: Crude goblin knife, goblin ears X6, goblin plate armor (set), crude cudgel, hob fat X28, glo dust X4, jar of hob mucus X2, troll heart, troll ribs X8, troll fat X5, crude sickles X2, chipped goblin horn, farrow root X3, goblin armor set X4, goblin sickle, shadowy essence, umbra layers X4, Resurrection Key (3rd image).

About the Author

R.R. Virdi resides in Virginia and is a lifelong gamer with an enduring love for solo RPGs, most especially The Elder Scrolls franchise, the Dark Souls games, the Mass Effect series, and Monster Hunter to name a few. He’s a former automotive mechanic, custom gaming pc technician, fan of mythology and monster lore, and occassional streamer. To learn more and touch base, follow him at the provided links.

Facebook Author Page

Fan Club

Patreon

Twitter

Amazon Author Catalog

Call to Action!

Hey, readers. I wanted to personally extend my thanks to you for taking the time out of your lives to read this novel. Did you know that your reviews make a large difference to authors like myself? They have a huge impact in how we, as well as our works, are seen and thus chosen by the reader community. Your words will help other readers make an informed choice and can positively affect an author’s life and career. Thank you ever so much for checking this out. If you enjoyed this novel, please consider clicking the link below to leave your thoughts on Goblin King.

Click to Make A Difference!

To learn more about LitRPG, talk to authors including myself, and just have an awesome time, please join the LitRPG Group.

If you enjoyed this and would like to learn more about GameLit and have a place to discuss it, you can join the GameLit Society Facebook group.

Table of Contents

- Monster Slayer Online
- Goblin King
- R.R. Virdi
- ~Table of Contents~
- Prelude – The Present
- Chapter One – The Past
- Chapter Two – The Past
- Chapter Three – The Past
- Chapter Four – The Past
- Chapter Five – The Past
- Chapter Six – The Past
- Chapter Seven – The Past
- Chapter Eight – The Past
- Chapter Nine – The Past
- Chapter Ten – The Past
- Chapter Eleven – The Past
- Chapter Twelve – The Past
- Chapter Thirteen – The Past
- Chapter Fourteen – The Past
- Chapter Fifteen – The Past
- Chapter Sixteen – The Past
- Chapter Seventeen – The Past
- Chapter Eighteen – The Past
- Chapter Nineteen – The Past
- Chapter Twenty – The Past
- Chapter Twenty-one – The Past
- Chapter Twenty-two – The Past
- Chapter Twenty-three – The Past
- Chapter Twenty-four – The Past
- Chapter Twenty-five – The Past
- Chapter Twenty-six – The Past
- Chapter Twenty-seven – The Past
- Chapter Twenty-eight – The Past
- Chapter Twenty-nine – The Past
- Chapter Thirty – The Past
- Chapter Thirty-one – The Past
- Chapter Thirty-two – The Past

- Chapter Thirty-three – Return to the Present

- Chapter Thirty-four – The Present
- Chapter Thirty-five – The Present
- Chapter Thirty-six – The Present
- Chapter Thirty-seven – The Present
- Chapter Thirty-eight – The Present
- Chapter Thirty-nine – The Present
- About the Author
- Call to Action!