It was a yet another cold and windy day outside. Kai could hear the wind outside howling
against his apartment building. He had just returned from working out and boxing. Kai loved the
sport and everyday he got a little better, but he still had a long way to go. Kai was in high spirits
still though, he had done exceptionally well sparring, avoiding the typical mistakes he usually
made such as leaning back or throwing wild punches. Kai’s trainer had been trying to get him
into his first fight, but that would be a huge investment. Kai would not have the time for such a
commitment. The howling wind, although irritating, could do nothing to put Kai in a bad mood.
Every single day when he came home he'd head straight into his room to escape from his good,
albeit boring life. Sure Kai enjoyed his workouts, school, and the occasional date. All those
things combined were nothing compared to what Kai did once he could finally get some alone
time. Kai was twenty years old and went to college. He went late because he wanted to spend
more time learning about himself, and all he figured out was he loved playing videogames. Kai
had many activities he enjoyed doing, but playing games is what he enjoyed the most. Kai did
not have a bad life by any means. He was smart and got along well with everyone. Kai could
always make friends and could talk his way out of anything. He liked to think of himself as an
outgoing introvert. He enjoyed talking to people and could easily convince anyone he was the
greatest person ever. It was draining though, and he needed to go home to "recharge". What
better way to do that than to sit down and play a videogame. Kai always found himself
fantasizing about another world with more excitement than the real world. Kai found life so
boring. Study, pass a test, go to work, do homework. It all felt so mundane. he always wanted to
go somewhere exciting and travel a magical world. It would also be amazing to feel powerful, to
be a hero. Save a damsel in distress or be able to blow up an entire building in an instant. With
Kai's upgraded VR headset, he could do that. Kai's old headset was like google cardboard or an
Oculus Rift. The player put the headset on and could "see" another world, and even walk around.
The problem was that the real world bound the player. Kai's new headset had no screen, but
instead once put on the player would become completely unaware of the real world. The player
would take over a virtual body and control it the exact same as they would their own body. It had
been a week since he had received the most advanced piece of consumer grade virtual reality
technology that could send him to a virtual world of his dreams. Kai walked over to the counter
and lifted the lid to his crock pot. The aroma of meat and vegetables filled his nostrils and made
his stomach rumble. In just an hour it would be done. Since Kai had been spending so much time
in game, his normally messy apartment was quite clean. His wooden floors were free of dirt and
had some clutter in the form of socks and clothing he would strip off as soon as he walked
through the door in his excitement to enter the virtual world. Kai had put the meat in the crock
pot before he left for school, and now that he had returned home he had quickly stripped down to
his underwear. His stomach growled again, and Kai's mouth watered at the thought of eating the
beef and vegetables. To take his mind off it, he walked over to his bedroom and laid down on his
bed. His headset lay right next to his pillow, as he rarely did anything other than use it whenever
he was at home. It looked like a red motorcycle helmet. Kai chose the red model because it was
his favorite color. Many people that came to Kai's house instantly noticed his favorite color. His
microwave, pots and pans, tablecloth, dishes, sheets, blankets, among other things were all red.
Kai was about to lay down when his phone rang. Kai took out his phone and saw his best friend
Dustin's name on the caller ID. Kai answered it.
"Hey bro, you gonna hop on Delrah now?" Came a voice on the other end.
"Yeah bro." Kai responded.
"Okay, I will hop on now."
Kai could barely contain his excitement, the videogame Delrah still got him excited even
after playing it every day for a week.
"Dude, the Dreamscape headset it so lit bro. Every time I hop in here I almost cry it's so
dope!"
Kai could hear Dustin's inability to hide his excitement.
" I will come over tomorrow and check out that new headset, I am so jealous, man."
"ight Dustin, let's go."
"Okay, coo."
Despite playing videogames in most of his free time, Kai had a little bit of muscle and his
addiction to virtual worlds probably wouldn't be picked up by a stranger. Kai made sure to work
out regularly and eat a somewhat healthy diet. He made sure to stay healthy and games were
somewhat of a reward system for himself. He put the headset on and a sensation like going to
sleep took over him. Kai was now on his way to somewhere else. He cracked a small smile
before he was transported to the place he loved so much
CHAPTER 2- Delrah is cool
Kai opened his eyes and sat up instantly. He scanned the room he had come to know as a second
home over the last week. In the virtual world, Kai could not just log out whenever he wanted
right away. Other players who played without the headset he used could just hit the logout button
anywhere. For Kai, or any other player with his type of headset, it was a little more complex. The
player would have to sleep. So, Kai would spend 10 gold every night to buy a room in the local
inn until he had enough money to buy land or a house. He removed the blankets from his body
and stood up on the carpeted floor. As soon as his feet touched the ground his armor appeared on
his body. The game of choice for Kai was a fantasy roleplaying game called Delrah. In this
game, players fought monsters and went on quests to become stronger. Players could buy land,
build houses, craft and sell wares, the possibilities were limitless. Kai had spent the last week
fighting with his friends to get stronger. He had already reached level 38 and loved every second
of it. Kai walked over to the mirror and stared at his reflection. The game managed to make his
avatar (in game self) look exactly like him. Long dreads, with a shaved undercut. His brown skin
seemed to be the same coffee tone it was in real life. Even his eyes, a dark brown, were the same
as in real life. His hair in game never grew, so his appearance always looked as if he had gotten a
fresh haircut. The only thing Kai took the time to exaggerate was his build. Kai’s in game avatar
was extremely muscular, while Kai was only about one hundred and fifty pounds, in game he
was at least one eighty-five. Kai flexed his muscles in the mirror, then he snapped his fingers and
gave himself finger guns as he walked out of his room in the inn. When he walked downstairs
into the tavern he saw the same people he would see every day. There was 5 tables and a bar
with roughly 10 stools. Amongst the bar were non-playing characters.
NPCs
The game had many characters that were not actual players, but characters that sell wares or give
quests. Some just had dialogue or were just there to make the world feel more alive. All 5 tables
had NPCs that sat at them and drank beer that never seemed to run out. They would sit around
and lift their mugs to drink every half minute and sit them down the same way 24 hours a day.
The server would walk around going from table to table without saying anything. When talked to
by a player she would simply say,
"Hello!"
Delrah had no shortage of fan-service so Kai made sure to talk to the attractive server every day
even if she could not have an in-depth conversation it just felt right to say hi to her.
The only other NPC Kai ever concerned himself with was the man behind the bar because he
was the one who would rent him a room every day. Kai walked out of the bar and stepped
outside into the city. The tavern was in the center of town and outside sat many stands with
vendors who sold many things from weapons and armor, to potions and food. The NPC's
themselves didn't make noise, but it was just the games ambient sounds that played. This coupled
with the games fantastic soundtrack seemed to make the world fill with wonder. Kai swiped the
air with his open hand and the game menu popped up before him. Since there were no actual
buttons, certain gestures were required for certain actions. Kai could manage his skills,
equipment, in game settings, inventory, and friends list from the menu. He opened his friends list
by poking the small human shaped icon. He scrolled through the list by swiping with his finger
and called his friend Dustin by poking his name. Almost instantly his call was picked up, and the
two could talk to each other as if face to face even though they were far away. Kai was excited to
get the group together and play once again.
"Dustin, what's up man where ya at?"
"We're out killing golems in the quicksand caves. Hurry up and get in here, it's lit."
The feeling of the link left Kai's mind, and he started moving to the quicksand caves.
CHAPTER 3- No pain in this game!
Kai was launched into the air as a golem's rocky fist collided with his abdomen. As he
flew away, he drew an S shaped pattern in the air causing his hand to catch fire. He then flung
the flames at the golem. It rose its hand to block. When the blast hit there was a boom followed
by a fire of sparks. The golem being occupied wasn't paying attention to other threats. That's
when Dustin swung his heavy two-handed hammer at the creatures exposed abdomen. It sounded
like a sledgehammer hitting concrete, and the creature crumbled under the force of the blow and
turned to dust. Kai landed on his back and slid a few feet before quickly getting up.
"Damn bro if I felt pain in this game I'd be ready to cry right now, yo." Kai dusted off himself
where the golems fist had collided with him.
Dustin turned to Kai as he sheathed his weapon. Dustin in real life had a white mother and a
black father. So, he was what Kai and everyone else growing up in school called “mixed”. He
had olive skin and was very skinny with jet black hair. Dustin’s nose was wide and smooshed.
His hair was quite curly, and he would always shave everything off except what was on top,
which he kept in a tight ponytail. He had a set of perfect teeth and had a scar on his lip he got
from Kai running over a paint can with his bike. The paint can flew over and split Dustin’s lip. In
game, Dustin was different. His character, although not an elf, had pointy ears and had a long
pointy nose. He was far taller than Dustin was in real life and this character had a gap between
his two front teeth. He also had scars all over his avatar’s body. Dustin always told Kai the
greatest gift he ever gave him was the scar on his face.
Dustin shook his head.
"Man, if those new headsets made things painful I'd still play."
Kai chuckled
"Truuu"
Kai had been playing on a new type of headset that felt the most realistic, and when the other
people Kai and Dustin were partying with caught wind of what Kai was using, they swarmed
him. Only about 1000 of the type of headset Kai was using had been shipped out so far due to a
shortage of parts from the company. A short girl with brown hair in pigtails and two daggers on
either of her hips approached Kai and began awkwardly touching his face.
“Can you feel this?”
Kai swatted at her hand, only for his own hand to pass through hers.
“No, that ain’t how it works. I can’t feel, smell, or taste nothin.”
She pursed her lips and her hands dropped to her sides.
“Lame…”
“Fuck off, ponytails.” Dustin chimed in and everyone laughed at the girl.
Besides Dustin, Kai, and pigtails, there was a man who was around six feet tall who barely spoke
and used a sword and shield. His armor was all solid steel, and his helm covered his face, so no
one knew what he looked like. His eyes glowed green from inside of his helm. Kai assumed he
roleplayed a quiet knight, but his interest seemed to be getting the better of him. The last member
was a blonde-haired man with a wand and plain white robes that used healing magic on
everyone. Dustin had found a group of people in the middle of town who just wanted to kill
monsters to gain levels. The mage was next to speak.
“How immersive is it? Is it really worth two grand, dude?” he asked.
Kai nodded.
“Fuck yeah…”
The tall armored man’s eyes flashed and he spoke, surprising everyone not only with the fact that
he spoke, but also because he sounded like a twelve year old.
“Dude, that is so cool. I’m gonna ask if I can get one for Christmas or my birthday!”
Everyone stared at the boy for several seconds before Dustin spoke.
“You were so much cooler before you talked, bro…”
Kai clutched his stomach and began to laugh so hard tears began to stream down his face. The
others joined in on the laughing, and the large knight lowered his head and looked at the floor.
Suddenly the menu popped in front of Kai's face informing him that an hour had passed since he
last logged in.
"Hey Dustin, sorry to cut things short, but I need to go and eat. I'll be back in thirty minutes,
bro."
"Alright man, I will hangout here with these other guys." Dustin pointed his thumb at the other
players and turned to join them.
Kai and Dustin had been training by killing golems with other players. Kai had known Dustin
since his freshman year of high school, and even now in college they hung out. In just the 45
minutes Kai had been fighting he gained a level, boosting him to level 39. Kai swiped his left
hand in the air and popped up his menu. He opened his inventory by clicking the icon that looked
like a backpack and selecting a teleport crystal. The object appeared in his hand and he gave it a
squeeze. The blue crystal shattered and suddenly after a white flash, Kai appeared in his room in
the inn. He walked over to the bed and as soon as he laid on the bed his armor disappeared, and
he laid down under the blankets. Kai shut his eyes and waited for the sensation of returning to
take over.
"What the hell..."
Kai popped up in the bed and looked around.
"This a bug or something, why can't I logout?"
Kai laid down again and after 5 minutes, he became frustrated and stood back up. His armor
appeared suddenly on his body and he swiped with his left hand. The menu popped up and he
went to his friends list to contact Dustin. Almost instantly, Dustin picked up.
"Yo waddup Kai that was quick."
"Bruh."
"What?"
"I can't logout, yo."
"What you mean you can't logout?"
"Bruh, the game won't let me sleep."
"Well come fight with us till you get tired, ahaha."
"Ight."
Kai opened the menu and pulled out another red teleport crystal that brought him straight to party
members. After a sudden flash of light, once again he joined his friend to fight golems.
CHAPTER 4 I’m trapped and hungry
After having fought for 6 hours Kai was exhausted, there was no way he wouldn't be able to
sleep now. Although playing the game didn't require any real energy; Kai had been up for a very
long time. He laid down on the bed and his stomach growled.
"Damn, I'm hungry..."
With that, Kai drifted off into sleep.
Soft blankets and the smell of breakfast greeted Kai...
The smell of breakfast...
The smell of breakfast...
THE SMELL OF BREAKFAST!
Kai shot up from his bed and looked around. He was in the inn from the game still. Not only that,
he could smell food being cooked, he could feel the soft texture of the blankets. He shouldn't
have use of any of his 5 senses in game except for hearing and sight. Kai swiped with his left
hand, and no menu appeared.
"What the hell is going on...?"
Kai got up and ran out of the room. The smell of eggs and bacon hit him like a wave, and his
stomach growled intensely. He could smell the maple being used and it was driving him crazy.
He hadn't eaten in what felt like weeks. He ran down stairs and when he entered the bar area, he
instantly noticed it was empty except for a server who was eating food at a table by herself. Kai
approached her and tapped her on the shoulder.
"Hi, uhm...where are the other NPCs?"
The woman put down her fork and turned to Kai, immediately her face turned red and she just
stared at him. After a few seconds Kai narrowed his eyes at her and gave her a questioning look.
He looked down to see what she was staring at. His armor hadn't automatically equipped when
he got out of bed. So now, he was currently standing in front of this woman with nothing but
underwear on. Kai stood with his mouth half open for a moment before taking off running back
to his room. His armor lay on the floor near his bed. He quickly put it on, and immediately he
noticed how heavy it was. Despite its weight it was still quite comfortable. He made his way to
the door. Kai swung it open and let out a surprised yelp when he saw the lady from earlier was
standing outside his room with her hands over one another. When Kai opened it, he took a step
back surprised by her standing there.
"Uhm...sorry about earlier I ju-"
"Are you ill? Do you need a health potion?"
The woman reached her hand out and cupped Kai's face. She had a look of concern. Kai was
unable to speak for a second because he was taken back by her beauty. She was a couple inches
taller than him and had long red hair tied back into a ponytail, and she was well endowed and
had a small waist with wide hips. She also smelled like cherries, and Kai loved the smell. He
shook his head and ran his hand through his hair. The woman removed her hand from his face
and placed it on her chest and gave him a confused look with her blue eyes. Kai took a deep
breath and then looked the woman directly in the eyes.
"I am just having trouble logging out of the game, and my menus ain't working."
"Your menus? I don't understand? Log out what does that mean?"
She reached forward again and placed her hand on Kai's forehead.
"You don't seem ill, you don't have a fever..."
Kai gently grabbed her wrist and removed her hand from his head.
"Wait, are you an NPC? Where are all the other NPCs that usually hang out in the tavern?"
"It's 7am, no one really comes in before noon...and what's an NPC?"
Kai realized that the woman standing in front of him looked exactly like the NPC he would say
hi to everyday. It dawned on Kai that this woman was in fact an NPC, and that the game had
become very real. Kai tried to give her his most reassuring smile as he stood before her.
"Sorry, I am just tired it's very early ya know?"
Kai awkwardly smiled at her and quickly tried to walk past her, before he got away she grabbed
his wrist. Kai turned and met her gaze. She seemed very concerned.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"I told you I'm good you ain't gotta worry, ight?"
She squeezed his wrist for just a second before she let go. Kai gave her another smile and then
walked past her.
And then his stomach growled incredibly loud. It sounded like a medium sized dog growling at
someone. Kai gave the woman a goofy smile, and before he could even say anything she grabbed
his wrist and led him down to the plate she was eating on earlier.
"Eat."
Without another word Kai began eating the eggs, bacon, and pancakes. Within a couple minutes
he had eaten it all scarfing it down like a hungry wolf. When he took the last bites of his pancake
and began licking his plate, he heard something sit down on the table and without missing a beat
ate yet another plate of breakfast.
Three, three plates of food were eaten before Kai felt full. When he had eaten the last plate of
food the server handed him a damp cloth and he wiped his face and mouth with it.
"Thanks, I was starving. What do I owe you?
"Nothing my boss is asleep and won't even notice the food is gone."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, but before I let you go anywhere I need to be sure you are okay."
"I told ya I am fine, ight?"
"Just tell me what's wrong and I will try to understand."
Kai stared into her eyes for a moment and then decided he would explain his situation to her as
best he could.
"So, you use these "menus" to perform basic actions?"
"Yeah, and magic is a gesture system but it ain't working either."
Kai drew an S shape in the air, but instead of his hand igniting nothing happened.
"See? This is stupid! You probably think I'm dumb, but I'm deadass right now. This ain't how
this work!"
"No, I don't think you are dumb."
"Crazy?"
"No."
"So you believe me?"
"I do."
"Really?"
She nodded.
Kai stood up and flicked some crumbs off his armor. When he looked up the woman was
standing right in front of him.
"My name is Laycee by the way."
"Oh, coo I'm Kai."
Kai shuffled awkwardly because she just stared at him for a few seconds longer. His eyes cut
around the room and then he gave her a confused look.
"Is something bothering you Kai?"
"You are just staring at me, it's awkward."
Laycee blushed and took a few steps back.
"Oh, uhm I am sorry. I just...I just..."
"You what?"
"I just saw you in your underwear."
"..."
"..."
Kai sprinted out of the tavern.
CHAPTER 5- Everything is big
When Kai opened the door and stepped outside he was almost overwhelmed by what he saw.
The town was much larger than before, and the streets were busier than ever. Carts with all kinds
of goods were being pulled by horses. There seemed to be twice as many stalls in town square
with vendors selling a variety of goods. There seemed to be at least three times as many people
and all of them moved like real people not NPCs. They haggled to get better prices on goods,
children cried when they didn't get what they wanted. Kai shook his head and walked down the
stairs at the front of the inn and made his way over to one of the stalls where a short fat man was
selling jerky and other meats.
"Could I please have two bags of jerky."
The man handed Kai two large black sacks.
"16 gold."
Kai without thinking swiped his left hand in the air to open the menu, but when nothing
happened he paused and just stared awkwardly at the man.
"I uhh...I don't know how to get out my gold...can I come back in a se-"
Kai was cut off as a Dustin entered his field of view and seemed to pay off the vendor.
"Kai, follow me."
"Dude Dustin this is so cra-"
"Just follow me man; we can hang out in the tavern."
"Nah man, I don't really want to go into there can't we just talk out here?"
"What you got something against taverns?"
"Whatever man let's go."
As soon as Kai stepped into the tavern he and Laycee made eye contact and awkwardly looked at
the floor. Dustin looked at the two of them.
"The hell was that?"
"This morning I uh...I uh...my armor didn't equip automatically so when I approached her earlier
I was-"
"You were naked."
"I was naked."
Kai and Dustin both looked at Laycee and then Dustin looked at Kai. There was a moment of
silence before they both roared into laughter. The two of them walked over to a table and sat
down. Laycee approached the table and stood near the two of them.
"Hi, my name is Laycee, just let me know if you need anything."
Dustin chuckled
"So, you met my friend captain underpants already, huh?"
Kai and Dustin laughed while Laycee blushed and looked at the floor.
"Look I am sorry about earlier, sit with us for a little bit."
Kai scooted one of the chairs towards Laycee, and she sat down. Kai looked at Dustin for a
moment. The way he moved was odd, he moved the same way he had before everything got
weird. He used the old generation of virtual reality headset, so his movements were somewhat
robotic.
"Are you trapped in the game too, Dustin?"
"Nope, just people with next gen headsets are stuck. You actually went to sleep for a week while
the game updated, bro."
Kai’s jaw dropped.
"A whole ass week?"
Dustin nodded.
"A whole ass week, bro."
Kai ran his hands through his hair again and let out a big sigh.
“Now I understand why you aren’t freaked out by any of this. You had a whole week to get used
to it.”
Dustin nodded then placed his palms on the table.
“Actually for us normal players the game is pretty much the same. Whenever we want to see the
world you do we have to go into an “instance” and the only way in is to be friends with a player
with your type of headset.”
Kai looked shocked.
“So the people with my headset are trapped in basically our own part of the world?”
Dustin nodded again and gave Kai a wicked grin.
“To pay your bills while you are gone I took the liberty of setting up a twitch for you, bro.
Whenever you play the game people can watch you and stuff all over the world.”
Kai slammed his palms on the table.
“WHAT THE HELL IMMA DO IF I’M TRYNA SMASH?”
Dustin began to cackle and shrugged. Kai began to massage his temples.
"I don't know how to do a damn thing now, man. I can't open my inventory or cast magic or
anything."
Laycee leaned forward in her chair and spoke.
“Kai, just go to the school of magic. I am sure they can teach you how to use magic again.”
Kai cracked a smile and nodded.
“Yeah, you are right good thinking Laycee.”
Laycee gave a satisfied smile and sat back into her chair.
Dustin half opened his mouth as if about to speak but stopped. After a moment he spoke.
"You aren't worried about going home?"
Kai shook his head
"For now, this kind of is home, so I should figure it out." Laycee nodded in agreement.
Dustin stuck out his chin and held out his hand palm up as if what Kai said was stupid.
"You just going to ignore real life?"
Kai shrugged
"No, it's just...I kind of like it here. Getting to live here is something I think I will really enjoy."
"I guess." Dustin said as he scratched his head.
“So, you want to like just fight monsters all day?”
Kai stared at the ceiling for a moment thinking.
“No, I want to learn magic, hunt, get stronger, start a virtual family. I want to have a second life,
in a magical place, I’ve always wanted something better than real life and now I have it.”
Dustin looked down at the table, then met Kai’s gaze.
“I think I get it bro, real life gets boring…if I’m honest, I’m kind of jealous.”
By the way, what's happening to everyone in real life?" Kai asked.
"Oh, well they wanted to see what would happen if they unhooked someone's headset while they
were playing. Ol dude was brain dead when he got unhooked, but in the game, he was still fine.
He had to be on life support unless they put him back in the game." Dustin stuck out his tongue
and let his neck go limp as if imitating a brain-dead individual. Laycee frowned while Kai
laughed.
"So, our consciousness has been stored into the game like data then?" Kai said with a half-smile.
Dustin shook his head.
"Maybe bro, I don't know."
"I'm sorry, I'll try and make your stay here the best I can, Kai."
Kai and Dustin both turned to Laycee and Kai gave her a smile.
"Thanks, Laycee. You don’t gotta worry much though, I’ll have a blast here! There is magic and
all kinds of stuff for ya boi to do. I will never get bored, I basically get to play videogames all
day errday”
She nodded.
“Dustin if what you say is true, then the guy they unplugged from the headset was still in the
game his brain is like a part of the server. Know what that means?” Kai asked with a smile
Dustin shrugged.
“I’m basically immortal, bro.”
Dustin chuckled.
“Yeah until yo dumbass get deleted, or they reset the servers or some shit.”
Kai stood up and Dustin followed suit chuckling all the while.
"We should go to the school of magic."
Dustin gave Kai a thumbs up.
"Ight, I can take you I know where it is."
Laycee put her hand on Kai's face.
"Be safe, okay. Magic can be dangerous."
Dustin twisted his face into pretend disgust.
"Wow get a room already."
Laycee blushed
"It's not like that, he's just...he looked so confused this morning I got worried about him."
Dustin shrugged
"Yeah whatever, Kai lets go."
Dustin started to leave. Kai gave Laycee a nod and turned to follow Dustin out of the tavern.
CHAPTER 6 Magic is bullshit
The school of magic before the game was updated had no use. It was just a place that was for
decoration and world building. Now the building seemed to grow in size. It was at least five
times as large and NPCs and players alike gathered at the school to learn magic. The building
had a giant fountain out front with a statue of a mage holding an orb with water coming from it.
The grass outside was cut perfectly, and the entrance had large pillars lined up in front of it. Kai
only made it in the front door before he was informed that all the classes were full.
"Damn dude, if I don't learn magic I'm going to be a scrub."
Kai stormed outside and sat on the edge of the fountain. Kai loved the idea of magic, and to miss
out on learning about it frustrated him to no end. Dustin gave Kai a pat on the back.
"Hey man, it's almost noon and I have college Algebra today. I'll login and check on you later,
okay?"
"Ight, later bro."
Dustin left, and Kai paced around running his hands through his hair in frustration.
"Damn, I really wanted to learn..."
"Then let me show you."
Kai turned to a tall man in blue robes. He removed his hood to reveal the most average looking
individual Kai had ever seen. Short brown hair, brown eyes, scruffy facial hair. Not thin, but not
muscular by any means. Kai rose his eyebrow to the man and just stared at him for a few
seconds.
"Are you a NPC?"
The man in blue shook his head
"Nope!"
Kai narrowed his eyes and lifted his chin.
"Who taught you magic?"
"I had plenty of time to learn."
Kai held his stare with his narrowed eyes.
"Bullshit."
The man in blue seemed completely unfazed by the vulgarity of Kai's statement.
"Trust me, I know magic."
Kai crossed his arms.
"Okay show me some, then."
The man squinted and suddenly a ball of fire began circling around Kai before it disappeared.
Kai in a bout of excitement jumped up and down like a child.
"Teach me! Teach me!"
The man in blue gave a wicked smile, he had Kai right where he wanted him.
"One thousand gold."
Kai's jaw dropped.
"One thou- go fuck yourself!"
All the excitement on Kai's face seemed to turn into pure rage within the span of a second. He
stomped his foot like an angry child and put his fists at his side.
"I only have 200 gold, bro!"
The man rose an eyebrow.
"What level were you before the update?"
"39 I think, but I mostly just killed monsters to get stronger, I ain't do any quests or nothing like
that, man!" Kai threw his arms in the air.
"Okay, don't even worry about the gold. I have a lot to teach you." The man said with a sigh.
Kai looked the man up and down and he seemed to calm down almost instantly.
"Ight bro, just show me what I need to know."
The robed man rubbed his chin for a second and then pointed to Kai's right hand.
"Take off your gauntlet."
"Why?"
"Do it."
Kai removed the gauntlet on his right wrist revealing his bare hand.
"Now what?"
"Face your arm palm up and look at your wrist."
Doing as he was told, Kai made his palm face up and immediately noticed a red gem embedded
into his wrist.
"The hell is that?"
"Your inventory, try and activate it."
"How?"
"Just focus on it and try to make it work."
Kai stared at the spot for several seconds, and after focusing for a bit it began to glow and a
small display was shown before him. It had icons for every item he had in his bag before the
update. Kai clicked the icons for his axes and they appeared in front of him, and he quickly
caught them.
"Nice, okay now I want to learn magic."
The man in blue chuckled.
"Sure, remember how you got that gem on your wrist to work?"
"Yeah."
"There is something right where your head meets your neck, try to flex it a little."
Kai closed his eyes and focused
"I don't feel anything."
"Keep trying."
"Dude, I am."
"Not if you're talking to me focus harder."
At this point Kai put his arms down at his sides and squeezed his axes. He began focusing harder
and harder trying to locate this "thing" after what felt like a minute, he felt it. It was like learning
to move your nostrils or flex a chest muscle for the first time. As soon as he felt the area go to
work his eyes popped open and a transparent orb appeared before him.
"Woah can you see this ball, man?"
The man in blue shook his head.
"No, but you finally got it. It took you ten minutes to get to this point, ya know."
"Damn, that long? That's wild man, felt like a minute."
The man in the blue robes pulled out an apple from his robes and held it up.
"That orb you see is how you will use magic. Others can't see it, only you. You can control it like
an extra appendage. Move it to this apple and then pull it back to yourself."
Kai focused on the orb and willed it forward it took a tremendous amount of focus. Once the orb
went to the apple it wrapped around it like a bubble. Then Kai, with more force than needed
pulled the apple. It rocketed towards his face so fast he had no time to react.
SMACK!
The apple exploded into a bunch of pieces hitting Kai right in his nose. After a couple seconds
his nose seemed to erupt into a fountain of blood. Kai stared at the ground for a couple seconds,
and the man in the blue robes stared at him in silence. Everyone nearby seemed to stop what they
were doing after hearing the apple hit Kai's face. Kai calmly took a knee and touched his pointer
and middle finger to his nose. He held the position for a second. The only sound he heard was
the sound of his blood hitting the ground.
Tick...
Tick...
Tick...
Tick...
"FUCK!"
That was all Kai said, and as soon as the words left his mouth the man in the blue robe let the
laughter he had held in erupt like a bursting dam. People around Kai seemed to be laughing as
well. After a couple seconds Kai started laughing too. An older woman approached Kai and
tapped him on the shoulder. He looked up at her and she took a tiny health potion and held it up
to his lips. Kai drank it, and as soon as he downed it she pat he face gently. She gave him a warm
smile and said
"good luck."
Kai rose to his feet and the bleeding stopped. The health potion had worked remarkably well.
The people surrounding him dispersed, with a few of the men patting him on the back, and
women cupping his face. The man in blue robes approached him between gasps
"You still-aha, you still wan-OH-HO... OHOHOHOHO!"
He clutched his stomach and let out another bout of laughter. Kai narrowed his eyes at him and
puffed out his chest.
"Yes."
"Even af-ahahaha, even after that? That didn't scare you?"
"Fuck no."
The robed man began laughing again, and Kai took the orb from earlier and even after one use he
became far more efficient with it. He wrapped it around the Blue robed man's leg and yanked.
The man fell on his back and instantly stopped laughing.
CHAPTER 7- Kai is a monster
"Alright, so you can move things now. That is good but remember the heavier the object the
more mana you will use to move it."
"I got it, I got it."
"Kai, I just want you to understand that spells require mana, and if you run out you can hurt
yourself."
"Yeah yeah, I know. Now tell me how to make fire, man!" Kai said waving his hand at his
mentor dismissively.
"You are impatient."
Kai let out an agitated sigh.
"I am well aware, dude."
"Okay, fine then. Since you are in such a rush figure it out yourself."
"Asshole!"
The man in blue chuckled.
"I was kidding, but now I'm serious."
"Fine, I can figure it out give me like 5 minutes."
Kai had been trying for 10 minutes now to cast a damn fire spell. The whole time he
tried, that asshole in the blue robes, who Kai found out was named John. Had been sitting there
watching with an amused look the whole time. After 5 minutes he offered to help, but now Kai
had become determined to figure out how to make the damn fire himself. He tried saying magic
words in his head. Then he got desperate and tried saying them out loud. Then he tried imagining
fire. He tried so many things, but nothing was working. Kai was beginning to become frustrated,
but then got an idea.
"This little orb is the way I channel my magic, huh...well maybe I should use it."
John rose an eyebrow.
"Oh sure you got it all figured it out, huh?"
"Fuck off John, just wait and see." Kai said with a confident smile.
Kai let the orb float about 6 inches away from his face. Then he began moving it back and forth
rapidly. The first couple seconds nothing happened. Then the orb turned red. Kai squinted and
clenched his fists at his side. Whenever he focused hard on a spell his arms dropped to his side
and he clenched his fists. John folded his arms and leaned forward. John smiled in approval.
"Atta kid I think you've got it..."
There was a sudden whoosh sound and a ball of flame suddenly appeared in front of Kai's face.
"HOLY SHIT, I DID IT! FUCK YEAH!"
John clapped his hands and pumped a fist into the air.
"Now throw it at me!"
Kai tilted his head forward and looked up his brow and the ball of fire shot towards John. The
man simply rose his hand and swatted it, and it dispersed.
"Excellent job, Kai! You learned all on yo- oh my god I created a monster!"
Kai had already figured out he could make lightning by rubbing two of the orbs together. Not
only that, he also figured out that by adding an element to the magic orb, he could then wrap it
around the blades of his axes. Now, for someone to use a simple enchantment spell on their
weapons is not that big of a deal. It was a simple spell that any novice could pick up. To pick it
up fast just meant the caster was talented. To learn it literally 10 seconds after learning to cast a
firebolt was unheard of. Kai took it a step further though. Not only had he enchanted his weapon,
but he decided that he would throw said weapon at John. The only warning John got was,
"Try and block this, asshole!"
John was caught completely off guard and was glad he always carried extra health potions.
CHAPTER 8 Baby brother Kai
"Dude, I'm so sorry! I thought you were like a teacher or something and could block all my
attacks! It's all good though, you had a health potion to heal you up!"
"IDIOT!"
"I said I'm sorry, I will even buy you another health potion."
"What would possess you to throw an axe infused with lighting at another human being?! How
old are you!?!??"
"20..."
"ARE YOU SERIOUS!?!??"
"I seriously thought you'd block it."
John swore he could still feel the tingle of the electricity from the axe blade being embedded into
his torso. He had a health potion to fix the damage, but with electricity came the paralysis
ailment. It would make movement more difficult, and sometimes an afflicted individual wouldn't
be able to move at all. A cleric had luckily been around to cure the paralysis, and John had to
swear that he was fine, and that Kai didn't need to be punished. He pointed a finger at Kai.
"If I wanted I could have had you thrown in jail for a stunt like that, think before you use magic!"
John exclaimed while throwing his arms in the air.
"I will, I am so sorry!" Kai nodded his head multiple times very quickly.
Kai genuinely felt bad, as soon as the axe hit John, his body instantly seized up and he fell over.
After that, he got a potion from his inventory, but when he went to drink it, the paralysis ailment
made him seize up again and he spilled the potion all over his brand-new robes. So not only did
John have to use two potions, he also needed his robes cleaned up.
John took a deep breath and then placed a hand on Kai's shoulder. Kai looked him in the eyes for
only a moment, before he stared at the ground.
"Let's go get some food, even though you almost killed me you learned those spells crazy fast."
Kai's face lit up and his chest puffed out as if he hadn't almost murdered his new friend.
"Where are we going to eat?"
John smiled.
"I got a cool place over on the east side of town about 10 minutes from here."
Kai devoured the meat as if he hadn't eaten in years. It was so tender and delicious. It had a
flavor like filet mignon, but allegedly this wasn't even the best cut of meat on the animal. The
meat was put onto a stick and cooked over an open fire, then drizzled with a savory sauce. Kai
and John sat inside of a large restaurant with many large tables that had fire pits in the middle.
The meat from a creature John called a "nue" had been sat over the hot fire and cooked before
being put on a plate and drizzled with sauce. John watched Kai eat 7 Kabobs without stopping, if
he didn't know the owner of the restaurant this would cost him an arm and a leg. John had just
finished his second kabob, and then decided he was full. Kai swallowed his last piece of meat,
and then he leaned back in his chair and his eyes seemed to glaze over.
"Thank you so much for everything today, I am now your loyal acolyte."
John chuckled
"Is that all it takes is one spell and some good food?"
Kai smiled.
"Bruh, that was the best meat I have ever eaten in my life, holy hell."
"Yeah, that meat comes from a Nue. I get paid 100 gold for every portion of Nue meat I bring to
the owners here."
Kai leaned forward with his interest peaked.
"Damn, that's lit bro. Let me come get some meat with you, homie."
John shook his head
"Nah, you still need to train a little more. We can practice some more tomorrow."
Kai slapped a palm on the table.
"Dude, just let me tag along. What is a nue anyway?"
"A nue is a creature that has a tail with a mouth-like appendage at the end. They have a horn on
their head they can impale you with, and they have a build similar to a gorilla's." John made his
hand into a shape like a snake’s head moved his thumb up and down.
Kai only leaned forward even further.
"Sounds sick, ever tried taming one?"
John’s lips peeled back as if he heard the dumbest thing ever.
"What?"
Kai rolled his eyes.
"Ya know, make it a pet?"
John scratched his head.
"That's stupid."
"You won't say that when I have one."
"I will after it eats you."
They both laughed and then Kai seemed to get a serious look on his face.
"Hey John, how long you been trapped in this game. You are kind of ahead of everyone."
John didn't say anything at first, he just rubbed his chin for a second. The two of them sat in
silence, save the scratching of his fingers through his scruffy facial hair.
"Mmm...three months?"
"Three months!?!??"
Kai slapped his palms down on the table and leaned forward.
"How am I just finding out about this?"
John shrugged
"I tried telling people, and no one believed me. They all thought I was just playing a trick on
them, so I just lived in the game. Before the update, it was hard to live here though. Most of the
NPCs acted the way they used to...most of them."
"So, some parts of the game were the way it is now before the update?"
John nodded.
"Yeah, mostly on my estate and areas players never visited before like this restaurant."
"You have an estate?"
"Yeah, see I was actually a game developer for this game."
Kai burst out laughing
"What's so funny, Kai?"
"You developed the game and still got trapped! Ahahahaha!"
"Yeah, we don't know what is happening either. I know at least two other game devs are trapped
here also."
Kai against his better judgement risked eating a tiny piece of remaining meat.
"So, you must've been pretty lonely for a while, huh?"
John shook his head.
"For a week maybe, but like I said, NPCs on my estate suddenly were like real people after a
while."
"Yeah, there is this NPC that stays at the inn I live in, and she is really cool. I thought she was a
real person at first. It sucks because she is smoking hot, too."
John chewed on his lip
"She is a real person, dummy."
Kai stuck his head out and shook his head as if correcting bad behavior.
"No, she is an NPC."
John waggled his pointer finger back and forth.
"As of now, she is real. Don't stop yourself from being happy."
Kai began to shake his head even faster.
"Nah man, I would feel like a total loser if I dated an NPC."
John rose an eyebrow.
"Why?"
Kai looked at the fire pit.
"Because, it would mean that I couldn't get a real woman."
John had to stop himself from laughing.
"Is that really how you feel?"
"Yeah, bro."
John rested his face in his palm on the table.
"That will change after you've accepted that this place is your new home."
"I don't think so...also by the way, what's up with NPCs being all touchy?"
John chuckled again.
"You mean how everyone always touches your face or pats you?"
"Dude, yes."
"It's just how they are, you get used to it."
"One more thing."
"Yeah?"
"Why did you agree to teach me magic?"
"You reminded me of my little brother, I guess."
CHAPTER 9 ICE!?!?
"You aren't gonna sleep tonight."
That's what John told Kai. John had spent the rest of the night helping Kai practice with his
spells. John knew Kai would be up late, so he decided they wouldn't have to meet until 3pm the
next day. It was 11pm and now Kai, was tired and made his way back to the inn. He was
surprised to see that despite it being a Wednesday, the inn was lively. There were many
customers all sitting at tables and having drinks. From what Kai could tell, most seemed to be
NPCs although now, it was very hard to tell when someone was and when someone was not. Kai
didn't even bother to take in the scene but began walking towards the stairs to go up to his room.
His foot only managed to touch the first step before he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned
around to see Laycee smiling at him.
"Did you make it to the school of magic."
Kai nodded
"I did."
Laycee smiled and leaned forward
"Did you learn anything?"
Kai puffed out his chest
"Yeah I learned a bunch of spells today."
Laycee narrowed her eyes at Kai and her lips pursed.
"They never teach spells the first day, what did you really do?"
Kai’s eyes cut around the room.
"What? I really did go to the school of magic!"
Laycee crossed her arms
"Oh yeah? Who was your teacher?"
Kai crossed his arms also
"John."
Laycee seemed unsatisfied with that answer.
"John?"
"Yeah!"
Laycee sighed.
"You didn't get into the school, did you?"
Kai looked at the floor.
"No, but someone showed me how to use magic."
Laycee placed her hand on Kai's face and closed her eyes and shook her head.
"Kai, that's dangerous..."
Laycee looked at Kai and noticed he was just staring at her with his mouth half open his eyes
seemed to widen and blink just a bit slower. He leaned just the slightest amount into her hand.
He was kind of...
Slap!
"The fuck Laycee!"
"You weren't paying attention to me! You can't just be practicing magic alone you need a
teacher!"
Kai threw out his arms.
"I have one!"
Laycee did the same
"A real one!"
Kai stomped his foot.
"Ugh! Fine I won't practice alone anymore."
Laycee smiled at Kai and then gently pat his face and went back to serving people.
"Stupid Laycee can't make me not do what I want. She ain't my girlfriend."
Kai didn't know what it was, but something seemed to grab his ankle and yank forward.
His butt landed on the bottom step, and he let out a little yelp. He quickly got up and ran his way
to his room in embarrassment. When he shut the door behind him, he quickly shed his armor and
placed it next to his bed. He stared at it for a moment. He wore heavy armor, just a step below
plate armor. It had some metal but was designed to give as much defense as possible without
sacrificing mobility completely. Although it was comfortable, the weight of it would probably be
too much for his style of fighting. Damn did it look cool though, it was a metal chest piece that
had thick fur sticking out of the shoulders. The boots went up just below Kai’s knees and had fur
sticking out of them up top. From the thigh up to his waist he had the lower part of the armor.
The arms were exposed, and his gauntlets were metal going from the elbows to the wrists. The
armor was made in sections and avoided covering joints so that not only could the armor breathe,
but it still allowed Kai to be mobile. It also had one thing that was Kai's favorite part. A single,
very large, shoulder plate. Kai loved shoulder plates. They just looked awesome. Without even
thinking, he used the pull spell he learned to bring his chest piece to him. The he used the same
spell to move it away. Then he repeated it. After 30 minutes of just moving objects, he realized
he was getting a headache and stopped. John had told Kai that using magic too much would use
all his mana and start to hurt.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, and without thinking Kai opened the door with magic.
When he saw Laycee frowning as he sat on the bed, he just gave a stupid little smile, and she
shook her head. She threw the two sacks of jerky Dustin bought for him earlier. Kai used the pull
spell to gently lay them on the bed. Laycee's eyes bulged, and she huffed and slammed the door.
Kai normally would feel bad and apologize, but instead he kept working on his pull spell. He
was having far too much fun to let dumb Laycee slow him down.
4 hours, it was now 3am and Kai spent 4 hours with breaks every 30 minutes using just the pull
spell to move objects. He could now move multiple object with ease. He didn't want to use any
elemental magic for fear of destroying the room, so he focused on the one spell.
That was until he had an idea. Kai learned to use water by stretching the orb slightly and moving
it around in a wavy motion. He learned to use wind by spinning it like he was stirring something.
He even learned to make stone by splitting the orb into a lot of tiny ones, and then meshing them
together. He didn't learn however, how to make ice. Kai figured ice would be safe, as it wasn't
destructive. In the game before, it was a more defensive type of magic. Kai pinched that part of
him he used to create magic, and stretched the orb, and then moved it in a wavy pattern. At the
same time, he made another and spun it like he was stirring. His head began to hurt a little, but
elemental spells always did that. Right before he created the two individual spells, he combined
the orbs. The wind and the water clashed, and there was a sound that sounded like cracking ice
followed by a whoosh.
"OH SHI-"
Kai's headache exploded into what felt like someone clubbed him in the back of the head, and he
fell back onto his bed and passed out.
CHAPTER 10 Laycee saves the day again
Kai felt someone shaking him, and a woman's voice urging him to wake up.
"Kai...idiot...freeze..."
Kai cracked his eyes open just slightly and let out a groan. He slowly rose up into the sitting
position and shook his head. Wherever he ended up was cold, freezing cold. He felt a familiar
feeling of a hand on his face and popped his eyes open fully to see Laycee standing beside his
bed.
"What the hell happened? Why is it so cold in here...holy shiiiiii..."
Kai looked around the room and almost every inch of it had a layer of ice on it. The Ice looked
weird though, it had a red tint to it, that was only noticeable when light hit it.
"Did...did I do this?"
Laycee crossed her arms and shook her head.
"Kai, I warned you to be careful. My boss would be livid if he saw this. Lucky for you I actually
can help you fix this."
Kai looked at Laycee and gave her the best puppy dog eyes he could muster. It was his only
defense.
"I'm sorry, Laycee. Thank you for helping me."
Laycee waved her hand dismissively at Kai.
"Save it Kai, I'm not mad."
Kai’s eyes cut around the room and he cracked a small smile.
"You aren't?"
Laycee shook her head.
"Nope, I should have known better than to try and stop you from doing what you wanted and told
you how to do it safely instead."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Lit."
"What?"
"It means cool."
"Oh...uhm...lit!"
Laycee grabbed Kai's arm and pulled him up out of bed.
"Okay! Time to clean this up you dummy!"
Kai groaned at the thought of cleaning and crossed his arms but nodded in agreement. Laycee
ignored him and continued.
"Focus and create some magical energy."
Kai formed the orb again, as he could do it now by barely thinking.
"Okay, now what?"
"Now take that energy and basically do a pull spell on the ice. It will make it go away."
Kai did as he was instructed, and when he laid his orb onto a small section of the ice and gave it
a yank it turned into a powder like dust and dispersed into the air. Kai’s eyes lit up.
"Woah, so you can use this little orb defensively?"
Laycee’s face scrunched up in confusion.
"What orb?"
"The thing I use to cast magic."
Laycee nodded in understanding
"For every person it's different. For me it's like arms extending from my brain. It's just the way
your body controls your mana."
"So this ice, or any elemental thing I make is actually just mana?" kai said pointing at the ice.
Laycee nodded again.
"Basically yeah. It can take on the properties of the element you want, but really it is just mana.
Also look at the color, clearly you like red. That’s why it has a red tint.”
"You went to the school of magic, huh?"
"I did, I didn't have enough money to finish my last semester, so I work here saving up to finish."
Kai chuckled.
"Hah, like a college? You telling me magic lessons are expensive?"
"Very, I think I spent five thousand gold a semester. I am struggling to make enough money this
year to be ready in time for next semester."
"So what do you study there anyway?"
"You learn practical applications of magic and focus on one type, for me that was healing."
"So you can't make fire and stuff?"
"I'm sure I could, but I really only focused on healing. A healer alone isn't strong enough to take
quests. Now once I graduate, a group will probably pick me up and give me a salary."
"So you are basically training to be a healing mercenary?"
"Basically."
"Fucking sick."
Laycee smiled, and pat Kai's face.
"Keep cleaning, there is ice everywhere."
Kai groaned and continued to clean up the ice for the next 30 minutes. His head began to hurt
after using so much magic and Laycee handed him 3 mana potions. He drank one potion and
instantly he felt his headache go away and his magical capacity seemed to increase. He finished
the rest of the room and then laid back on the bed exhausted. He turned his head and noticed
Laycee was bending over and removing some leftover ice on his armor. Kai's mind began to
wander staring at her clean his armor in the tight leather pants she was wearing.
"Damn she thick." He thought to himself.
Kai shook his head and stared up at the ceiling.
"What time is it anyway."
Laycee pulled a small pocket watch from her pants and looked at it.
"It's 7am now."
"What time did we start?"
"Probably 5:30."
"When did I freeze the room?"
"Mmmm, maybe 5:00? I'm not sure, I only noticed because I saw ice creeping from under your
door."
Laycee walked over and sat at the foot of Kai's bed and yawned. Kai was now paying attention to
what she was wearing, she had on a red cloth shirt and brown leather pants. The leather pants
were quite common in Delrah for the females, but no one seemed to wear them like Laycee. Kai
was obsessed with the color red, and Laycee's red hair combined with her red shirt were driving
him nuts. Not to mention the way she smelled was absolutely intoxicating. Kai shook his head
again.
"Laycee."
"Yeah?"
"How come you always help me?"
"I don't know to be honest...I guess...I guess it's cause...you're like."
Laycee put her finger on her chin and looked up while she was thinking.
"If she says little brother I swear to god..." Kai thought to himself.
"I guess it's because at first I wanted to help you, but now I am genuinely interested in you. You
are so full of life."
"The fuck does that mean?"
Laycee turned to Kai and gave him an irritated look.
"I should have stopped you last night when you were moving stuff without my permission...god
you can be such an idiot."
Kai rolled his eyes
"Okay, and now the sweetness is gone."
Laycee threw out her arms
"Because you are such a dummy sometimes!"
Laycee stood up and began to leave, and for a second Kai did nothing because he had been
distracted by her backside. He shook his head and got up and gently grabbed her wrist.
"Sorry, I just...uhhh...I'm just an idiot, right?"
Kai gave her his best smile and she pursed her lips in response and eventually broke and smiled.
"You are stupid, but at least you make up for it by being..."
Laycee looked Kai up and down and gave him a warm smile. She pat his face and turned to leave
"Let's go, that armor of yours kind of sucks. You also need to pick out some good weapons if
you plan on adventuring."
Kai shook his head.
"I don't have any money to be spending on gear right now, I am saving for a house."
"You didn't make any money adventuring before?"
Kai shook his head.
"How much gold do you have?"
Kai bit his lip and looked at the floor.
"Like...a hunnit and ninety..."
Laycee sighed and looked down. Then she looked back up and gave him a reassuring smile.
"I will get you geared up so that you can go adventuring and make a little bit of cash. You have
to pay me back though."
"No, you don't have to do that, I can do just fine with what I have. Just let me look around town
and see what I need."
Laycee just gave him a hard stare as if to say that she was not taking no for an answer. Kai
sighed and ran his hand through his hair.
"Okay, fine we will go shopping. You are so annoying sometimes you know that?"
Laycee walked out of the room and Kai stared for a second before following.
CHAPTER 11
"Unbelieveable, we went to so many different places."
"I didn't like any of the other armor, okay."
"So you only wear that because it looks cool."
Kai took a bite of his roasted nue and nodded. Once again, he found himself at the restaurant he
went to with John. It was only 9am, so Kai and Laycee were the only people dining at the
moment. Laycee had tried to buy Kai all kinds of different weapons and armor all day. Every
single piece of gear he refused to take. Mostly because he enjoyed the look of his current armor
far too much. Laycee ended up buying herself numerous rings, claiming the magical properties
of each would come in handy.
Kai swallowed another piece of meat, 4 Kabobs in at 10 gold a piece. He had a bottomless pit for
a stomach, she'd spend more on food than armor with him.
"Kai, you need to get gear that'll help you out more." Laycee took another bite of a kabob as she
fixed Kai with a stern look.
"Like what?" Kai munched on yet another Kabob.
"As a mage a staff or wand boosts your magical ability, not axes." Laycee pointed her kabob at
Kai as she spoke.
"What if I wanna be a close quarters mage."
Laycee massaged her temples.
"A what?"
Kai gave her a small smile
"I think I can fight close and use clever spells."
Laycee's eyes half shut, and she stuck her head out as if she heard something absurdly stupid.
"How will you do that, Kai?"
Kai rested his chin in his fists and huffed.
"Just gimmie a little bit of time, damn. I will figure it out, I am an improvisor."
Laycee facepalmed and drug her hand down her face.
"Kai, I want to believe in you, but you need to show me that my investment in you will get a
return."
Kai frowned
"So, I am just an investment? That's it?"
"That's not what I meant, and you know it."
Kai folded his arms and stared at the fire pit in the middle of the table. He suddenly got quiet.
Laycee was afraid she hurt his feelings and was about to speak when he cut her off.
"If you are saving for school, why are you spending on me anyway?"
"I have enough for the semester, but I don't want to work. Plus I need a place to stay."
Kai was downing yet another kabob, and Laycee could hear her purse protest.
"You can buy private land in a portal for five thousand gold."
"Yeah, but that land is in another dimension somewhere and you have to go through a portal
every time you go. Plus, it's always small."
"Still a home."
"Not a home for me."
Kai noticed off in the distance a man with a spear that had a chain attached to it. He would throw
the spear at fish in the nearby river, and when a fish was hit, the chain was attached to a coil on
the docks that retracted it. It was like a retractable dog leash, but with chains instead of a leash
and a spear attached to the end. Kai watched the man work for over a minute before Laycee
called his name.
"What is it Laycee?"
"What are you staring at?"
Kai instantly noticed that her shirt was undone just a bit. Enough to show just the smallest
cleavage and Kai made the mistake of staring for several seconds.
"Kai!"
He stopped gawking and got up.
"I know what I want now."
Laycee only stared at him in confusion as he walked to the docks and started chatting with a
fisherman. He then ran off in a full sprint.
Laycee sighed
"That idiot just ditched me...was it the cleavage?"
CHAPTER 12 Chains are weapons
Kai ran as fast as his feet could carry him. He had the perfect idea for making the ultimate
weapon set to be a formidable fighter. He felt bad leaving Laycee by herself, but he knew she
would find him. He also knew that if she heard his crazy idea she would put a halt to the entire
operation. Sure, he was a free man, and could make his own decisions, but it was hard to tell
Laycee no. Out of breath, Kai quickly burst through the door of the nearest blacksmith to the
docks. The room was quite large. With a giant furnace in the corner with an anvil near it stuffed
into the corner on the left. There were tools hanging all over the left wall, and metal barrels
surrounded the furnace in the corner. All filled with scrap metal. On the other half of the shop
there were glass display cases set up to make aisles. Each case had amazing weapons inside, each
of very high quality.
Kai walked inside and almost immediately a short bald man about the same height as Kai with a
big bushy gray mustache curled on either side polishing one of the cases stood up and greeted
Kai.
"Hey! How are ya lad, what can I get cha?"
He looked Kai up and down
"A new set of armor, I presume..."
The man’s eyes stopped at Kai's axes and he twirled his fingers in his mustache.
"And some weapons..."
Kai shook his head
"You know those things the fishers attach to the wooden pillars at the docks?"
"You mean the pulleys with the chains?"
"Yeah, can I get two of those! But don't leave the big spear at the end. Can I get a belt also?"
The man rose an eyebrow at Kai, and slowly walked over to a chest on the floor near his anvil
and pulled out two of the pulleys. He walked over to the right wall and pointed at an assortment
of belts.
"Which will ya be havin, lad?"
"Something sturdy, doesn't need to be flashy."
The man grabbed a plain black belt and walked over to Kai and handed him everything.
"The two pulleys will set ya back 50 gold and the belt is 15, sooo....65 gold."
Kai opened his inventory and removed 65 gold, then handed it to the man.
"Hey wanna make another 20 gold?"
"What cha got in mind, lad?"
"Attach those two pulleys to my belt so that they sit at my hips."
The man shrugged and took all the material from Kai and walked over to the forge. He took 4
long screws put them through little holes Kai assumed was for getting the pulleys attached to the
wooden pillars on the docks. After he was done he held up the finished belt and tossed it to Kai.
Kai quickly put it on and threw the man back a sack with 20 gold in it. He used the one he had
from the Jerky Dustin bought him yesterday.
"Lad I gotta ask what ya doin with that belt."
"You have a place I can test this out?"
"What ya mean test what?"
"My weapon."
"Aye lad."
The man took Kai back to an even larger room in the back with barrels everywhere that had
poorly drawn monsters on them.
Kai took a deep breath then looked at the blacksmith.
"Watch this old guy."
Kai used a pull spell and sent one of the chains flying forward and it whipped the closest barrel
and with a loud bang, it fell over. The chain then retracted back into the pulley on Kai's hip.
Kai jumped in the air and cheered.
"YES I AM A GENIUS!"
The old man crossed his arms and nodded in approval. Kai rose his hand in the air for a high
five, and the old man gave his palm a good slap.
"Hey, are you busy...uhmmmm."
"The name be vulf"
"Vulf, do you have time to help me practice a bit?"
The old man removed a blade he had hidden under his apron and nodded.
"I'm warnin ya lad, I was a great warrior a litul while back."
Kai gave the man a big smile.
"Great then we will have some fun!"
Kai unsheathed his axes and held them up in a battle stance. Then using the pull spell, his chains
uncoiled and floated in the air like long arms.
The short man held his blade with two hands, left hand down, right up. He rose the hilt to his
right and pointed the tip of the blade to the floor on his left side.
"Come on lad, don't hold back."
Kai enchanted the two chains on his side, the one on the right with electricity and the one on the
left with fire. He let the one on his right go first. In response the old man charged forward and
when the chain was about to hit him in the face he swung the blade up, and the chain was batted
away and began to return to Kai. Kai expected him to block, so when he did Kai already had the
chain on his left swinging low at the man’s feet horizontally. Without even taking his eyes off
Kai he leapt over it. By this time the man was already two of his swords length away from Kai.
Kai's chain on his right had already returned, but the one on his left was still extended and behind
Vulf. Vulf leapt forward at an incredible speed and lunged his blade forward. Kai took his axe in
his left hand and put it directly in front of himself, then brought it down so that it would bring the
sword down like a hook. With the tip of the man’s blade off to the side, Kai swung with his right
axe, to which Vulf ducked under and grabbed Kai's wrist with his left hand. Then with strength
Kai could not believe, Vulf swung Kai over himself straight in the air as if he was drawing an
imaginary rainbow.
"Vulf calm down!"
Kai let the chain on his right shoot forward while the one on his left just made it back. The man
with mutant speed and reflexes let go of Kai and jumped back. He ducked the chain, but Kai
instead of trying to strike his opponent made the chain make a hard turn and wrapped it around
Vulf's right wrist. Vulf had the sword in that hand currently, so it would be best to keep it still.
Kai landed on his feet, and used the pull spell to keep Vulf's hand down, while also using the
electric enchantment to shock him.
"Ya can't be askin yer opponent to calm down in a fight lad."
"Then I'll make you calm the fuck down, Vulf!"
Kai pumped more and more electricity into the chain, making Vulf grit his teeth. Kai then let the
chain on his left infused with fire, fly towards Vulf. Vulf let out a yell with the excersion and
began to lift his right hand, still wrapped in the chain. Kai kept trying to keep it held down with
the pull spell. Kai didn't even realize how much mana he had spent trying to keep Vulf's hand
down. The man had to be as strong as an ox...literally! As a result, Kai’s pull spell weakened.
When the chain on his right reached Vulf the fire enchantment had run out. Vulf caught it and
then began back pedaling. Kai's eyes widened as he realized what was happening. His mind froze
on what to do, and that second of hesitation would cost him.
*CLINK*
"Don't think so much lad, focus on the fight, just act!"
The chains on Kai’s hips had been fully extended and now with one big yank, Vulf pulled Kai
through the air towards him. Kai held his axes firm and decided this would be a close quarters
fight. While still midair from Vulf pulling him, Kai brought the two axes straight down. Vulf
swung his blade straight up and batted the axes with such force that Kai flew back. Just when
Kai started to fly back, the pulleys on his hip pulled him straight back towards Vulf like a game a
paddleball, with Kai being the ball. Kai rolled with the momentum and threw an axe which
forced Vulf to bat it away with his sword. Kai extended his foot and kicked Vulf right in the
chest and he grunted and took a couple steps back. Kai extended his chain on the right a little so
that he could give it some slack on Vulf's wrist and return it to himself. Vulf still held the left
chain in his hand and let it go.
"Careful how ya be usin those, lad."
He didn't give Kai a chance to breathe as he lunged forward and swung the blade horizontally
with two hands. Kai ducked and swung his axe in a horizontal slash, aiming for Vulf's left side.
Vulf took a step back just barely out of Kai's reach. Kai over extended and was now vulnerable.
He tried to extend a chain, but instead, got a sharp pain in his head. Kai had run out of mana and
winced in pain. Vulf took advantage and kicked Kai right in the stomach. He wheezed and
doubled over, he only got to take in a single breath before he was forced to roll to the side. To
avoid a skull splitting vertical strike.
"VULF YOU COULD'VE KILLED ME!"
Vulf gave him no time to rest, as soon as Kai stood up Vulf stabbed at Kai again. Kai hooked his
blade with his axe again, but when he brought it down, Vulfs fist collided with Kai's head so
hard that he stumbled back and got dizzy.
"Not gonna let ya do dat twice, lad."
Kai in desperation threw his other axe, and Vulf bat it away, but Kai stepped forward and threw
a right hook that landed cleanly. Vulf took a step back, and threw his sword to the side
"Oh, so it's a fight ya want, eh?"
With that, the two began brawling. Kai threw two jabs, the first Vulf tilted his head to slip, the
second punch, Vulf threw his right fist out and it collided with Kai's. Kai yelped in pain, and then
Vulf advanced throwing a left hook. Kai pivoted on his left foot turning clockwise as he ducked
under the blow. He then threw an uppercut with everything he had, and it landed cleanly. Vulf
took 2 steps back and Kai threw a left, right, left hook combination to the body. He wrapped it up
with a right uppercut to Vulf's chin again. This time, Vulf seemed to mentally prepare and when
it landed he clenched his teeth and threw a vicious straight right hand. It hit Kai right in the nose,
and the blood poured like a fountain. Before Kai could even fall over, Vulf struck him with a left
punch right above the eye. Kai's face roared in pain, and he hit the floor. He lay there helpless, he
was nearly unconscious. Vulf approached, and Kai would attempt a last-ditch effort to survive.
He had recovered a small amount if mana during the physical confrontation. Using the last of his
mental strength, he shot his chain forward and it wrapped around Vulf's neck. When it tightened
Vulf’s eyes bulged and he ran forward and began pummeling Kai. Kai refused to let go, and Vulf
continued to strike. Vulf's face began to turn blue.
"What the FUCK is going on!"
Kai instantly released Vulf's neck and Vulf took in a huge breath of air, and then dropped to his
knees and began coughing wildly. Kai could barely see and had definitely broken his nose. He
wasn't worried about that though. He was more worried about who's voice he just heard.
"We was just doin a bit of sparring lass." Vulf said between wheezes
"Sparring? Kai was literally choking you to death and you were beating him senseless!"
"You can heal ol Vulf, can't ya?"
Laycee sneered at Vulf and ran over to Kai and rested her palm on Kai's head. Instantly, Kai
could feel most of the pain begin to fade away. After about a minute he felt good as new. He sat
up and hugged Laycee.
"Thanks, Laycee, I just wanted to spar and well...you saw."
Vulf let out a nervous laugh and scratched his head.
"Ya gonna give me a heal too, lass?"
"NO!"
Vulf gave Laycee a small frown.
"Don't give me that look old man, you are a veteran and could have done some light sparring,
not..."
Laycee threw out both arms into the air.
"That!"
Kai made the mistake of laughing, and Laycee turned to him.
"And just what did you get? How much money did you spend here?"
Kai jumped to his feet and rested his fists on his hips like a super hero.
"This kickass belt!"
Laycee only seemed concerned about Kai before, but now she seemed absolutely livid.
"Are you serious? You bought a belt and thought you could spar with Vulf!?"
Kai just frowned at Laycee and crossed his arms. Then both chains extended and slammed the
down on the ground with a loud clank, then they retracted.
Laycee's eyes widened in surprise and she ran over to Kai and placed her hand on his face like
always.
"Oh, Kai I am so sorry. I just got worried again, I thought you just bought a belt and ran into
danger."
Kai pulled his face away from Laycee's hand, and she winced as if a physical blow struck her.
"Kai, I didn't mean to..."
Kai threw out his arms in frustration.
"Laycee, stop treating me like I am too stupid to do anything on my own. Have some faith in ya
boy!"
Laycee's eyes moistened and she looked at the floor.
"You're right, Kai...I'm sorry, I just...I just want to keep you safe."
She looked at Kai, and he instantly felt like an ass for yelling at her.
"Laycee, I-"
"I have to get to work at noon, I'll see you later okay?"
She reached to touch his face, but then her hand recoiled as if she touched a hot stove, and she
ran out of the shop.
"Wow lad, ma niece got a huge crush on ye."
Kai pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes at Vulf.
"What? No she doesn't, don't be silly."
"Wow lad, ya really are an eejeut if ya don't see it."
Kai seemed to finally allow what Vulf said to sink in, and yelled.
"WAIT, NIECE!?"
CHAPTER 14 Unstoppable!
After sparring with Vulf, Kai felt more powerful than ever. Allegedly, Vulf fought for sport for
20 years professionally and was one of the best. Kai had gone toe to toe with him and gave him a
decent workout. Sure, Kai was sore, but who wouldn't be after a fight like that.
Kai had noticed that since the update, he was also far more agile, and his reaction time was far
quicker. He was just all around a much better fighter and he loved it. He walked into a small
shack outside the gates on the west side of town. It was on a dirt road near the river away from
the busy streets. He walked in, and the door creaked as he entered. Inside he saw a counter with
two women behind glass like tellers. There were three wooden tables with two chairs each sitting
in the lonely shack.
"Can I help ya, hun?"
The lady was smacking on gum, and Kai instantly became irritated. How the fuck did she get
gum in this game anyway? Bottling his frustration, Kai walked up to the counter and smiled.
"Hi, I'd like a job, please."
The lady nodded and blew a bubble as she began fingering through papers.
"We got foxes causing trouble for some farmers, easy task for a beginner."
"Nah, I want the good stuff."
The lady looked at Kai like an idiot.
"With that armor?"
Kai puffed out his chest and the smacking on the gum only fueled his temper.
"I already know it ain't great stuff, just gimmie a cooler job!"
Kai crossed his arms and huffed.
"Alright tough guy." The woman blew another bubble and it popped.
"Says here we got highwaymen outside the east exit of town. They target mostly young girls.
Mission is government issue, and any girls you find will net you a bonus."
Kai smiled
"I'll take it!"
The lady chuckled at Kai's enthusiasm.
"Also, if you bring back their leader’s sword, it's enchanted with a fire spell. If you retrieve it,
that'll be proof of victory. You will also receive another bonus."
Kai thanked the woman and left walking at a brisk pace. He currently just outside the west exit
of town, so to get to the east side and out of the gates would be at least a 20-minute walk. Kai
didn't care it would take a while, he was just happy to have a quest to take. He wore the biggest
grin as he walked through town.
Kai spent 20 gold on two cantaloupes and a brown cloak before he left town. He went into an
alley and stuffed the cantaloupes under the cloak on top of his chest armor to make it look like he
had massive breasts. He threw up his hood and began to walk out of town. Kai could see heads
of faraway people turning as he walked out the west gates.
Perfect, Kai's plan couldn't possibly fail!
CHAPTER 15 Gotcha!
Kai had been walking on the path for almost 45 minutes. It had gone from simple dirt over open
land to one surrounded by forest. If Kai remembered correctly this was called the forest of roses.
The forest looked like any other forest lots of bushes and trees on either side of the pathway. The
trees were not so dense that a person couldn't walk through them, but there was enough that if
someone were to walk off the path they'd get lost. Allegedly, somewhere in the forest was a
hidden area where the ground is completely covered by roses, and a treasure exists there.
Kai had been walking in the forest for almost 30 minutes, as a 15-minute walk was all it took to
reach the area. The forest wasn't huge, and Kai was beginning to wonder if his disguise wasn't
working. If he walked all the way through without finding anyone he would be frustrated.
Kai stopped when he noticed some ripped fabric on the ground. He knelt and inspected it. It had
a floral pattern and was covered in dirt. Either it had been there for a while or there was a
struggle. Kai looked around the surrounding path. Footprints of every direction but straight. Kai
decided to sit on his knees and wait exactly where he was. He didn't have to wait long before he
heard voices approaching from the brush of either side of the forest. Then, suddenly four men
two from either side of Kai popped out from the brush. Kai gave a quick look around and noticed
that two of them had swords, one had a single axe, and the last had a bow. The man with the axe
approached. He was tall and slender, with a big scruffy unkept beard. He was missing at least
four teeth and had a scar on his forehead that went from eyebrow to eyebrow.
Kai kept his head low, so he wouldn't ruin his disguise. The man walked up, and Kai could hear
one of them say.
"Look at the knockers on this one." He was shushed with an elbow by his friend.
The man with the axe now was only roughly 10 feet away from Kai.
"Hey there, miss. Ya lost?"
Kai said nothing and just enchanted his right chain with electricity.
"Hey! I'm talking to you girl, you deaf?"
Kai remained silent.
The man was now close enough that Kai could smell him, and he smelled like he hadn't bathed in
days. The man reached down and grabbed one of Kai's melons.
"What the..." the man's confusion was priceless, Kai couldn't help but laugh.
"GOTCHA, DUMBASS HAHAHA!"
Kai wrapped his chain around the man's wrist and the electrical enchantment made his body
clench and he stood there unable to move. He only let out a surprised yelp before Kai took out
his axe and buried it into his neck when he removed the axe he released the man with his chain
and he fell onto the ground and didn't move.
Kai turned to the man with the bow and used a pull spell to launch the cantaloupes like missiles.
They hit him in the face and stomach and he fell over and dropped his weapon.
By this time the other two men were already almost to Kai. In response he sent two electrically
enchanted chains at them. The first man rolled out of the way and the second didn't see it
coming. It slammed into his face and he clutched it and let out a scream, dropping his blade. Kai
wrapped the chain around his neck and squeezed. It made a sizzling sound and then when Kai
released him, he dropped to the ground.
The man that had dodged Kai's chain was now upon him. Kai swung his two axes one after the
other at the man in two horizontal slashes aimed at his left ribs and the left side of his face. He
blocked the blow to the body and leaned out of the way of the blow to the face. He countered
with a sloppy slash to Kai's left. At this point Kai's chains had returned to him, but he knew he
could handle the man with just his axes.
Kai pivoted on his right foot counter clockwise and hooked the man’s blade with his right axe
and swung his left aiming for the man's neck.
He hit his target.
The man dropped his blade and let out a gurgle sound and he lay on the ground.
Kai could hear the man with the bow behind him notch an arrow, and in desperation he extended
chains behind him and enchanted them with wind and spun them like propellers.
Three things happened.
One, Kai used way more mana than he thought he would.
Two, he was sent flying away from his target like a small helicopter.
Three, he managed to make the man’s arrow fly away and he managed to knock him down.
Kai did a flip through the air and landed on his back, with his head towards his opponent. The
man scrambled to his feet. Kai in a small panic charged a lightning spell while still laying on his
back. He began rubbing two orbs together and a small electrical ball appeared in front of his
face. He let it charge for several seconds before he fired it at the man. It grew 4 times in size, and
when Kai released it, the bowman shot an arrow.
Kai's massive lightning bolt ate the arrow and when it hit the man there was a loud crack of
lightning and a huge flash. It sounded like a lightning bolt had just crashed 50 feet away from
Kai.
Kai got up and went to where the man's corpse should have been. There were just two shoes with
ash inside of them. The earth around the shoes was charred and black.
"Damn, that was wild..."
Kai was impressed with his work, but the mana he used was excessive. He had used enough to
give him a slight headache.
And then he heard more voices. Kai turned around and ducked at the last second, right as an
arrow was about to hit him in the face. Two men with crossbows had fired at him, and another
man with a sword was quickly approaching.
Kai charged the swordsman with axes drawn. Kai swung both axes in an X shape and clashed
with the man’s blade and they pushed against one another. Kai was stronger and began to push
the man back. The two crossbowmen went to Kai's left and right side and got ready to fire. Kai
turned the man to his left, putting one guy behind him and using the swordsman as a shield for
the bowman in front. Kai then extended one of his chains behind him and started to whirl it as
fast as possible. hoping it would deflect the arrow. He took the other one and enchanted it with
fire, then he shot the chain out with such force that it went straight through the man in front of
him and then when it reached the crossbowman lashed him across the face. He dropped the
crossbow and clutched his face.
"Agghh it burns!"
Both men screamed in unison.
Kai wrapped his chain around the crossbow and threw it away while also chopping off the head
of the man in front of him.
Then Kai felt the pain in his back. Using the chain as a shield had failed to stop the man from
hitting Kai with an arrow right in the upper right of his back. He let out a cry in pain and turned
to the man. The crossbowman had put his weapon on the ground and was using his foot to hold it
down while he loaded another arrow. Kai used the pull spell on the arrow and it slipped out of
his enemy's hands, then Kai blitzed him. The man lifted his crossbow and swung it at Kai. Kai
ducked underneath it and swung his right axe in the air like an uppercut. The man pivoted out of
the way and kicked Kai in the chest, it didn't hurt but it made him take a step back. The man
threw a dagger from his hip, and it hit Kai right in the chest. He grunted, as it went straight
through his armor. Kai feinted with both chains by shooting them forward just a couple feet. The
crossbowman on reflex lifted his crossbow defensively and Kai did a horizontal slash with one
axe that lopped the Bandit's leg clean off at the knee. He fell down wailing, and then Kai buried
the other axe in his face.
Kai dropped to his knees and panted with the excursion of the fight. He pulled the dagger out of
his chest, it wasn't that deep, and was mostly stuck in his armor. He then used a pull spell to
remove the arrow from his back.
It was much deeper than the dagger, and he yelled out in pain.
Then Kai heard footsteps coming from far away behind him, then he remembered he had only
disarmed the crossbowman, not killed him.
Kai turned around to see the man sitting on the ground still clutching his face, sobbing. That
wasn't what was surprising. The surprising part was a much larger man with a massive great
sword wearing a leather tunic and pants. The sword had a glowing red gem in the hilt. The man
was at least seven feet tall and had a bald head. He was very muscular and had a clean shaved
face. He looked at the downed bandit clutching his face.
"Worthless..."
In one huge swing the massive man lopped off his comrade’s head. Then he stared directly at Kai
"You managed to kill all ma bois, eh?"
CHAPTER 16 Boss fight
Kai's mouth went dry as he swore he stared death in the face. His hands trembled as his grip
tightened on his axes. He was terrified, before this point he felt like he was an unstoppable
warrior, but now playtime was over.
"No..." he thought
"I am a warrior, and today is the day I prove to Laycee that she can believe in me."
Now the real fight was here. Kai stood up to his full height and stomped his foot three times and
let out a warcry.
"GULO GULOOO!"
His massive opponent rose his eyebrow in confusion and tilted his head. He still held the great
sword in his hand, it sat on his shoulder still coated in the blood of his comrade. The life force of
a former ally dripping from it.
Tick...
Tick...
Tick...
Kai had heard the same sound the day he learned magic.
Tick...
Tick...
Tick...
It wasn't the blood from the man's sword, but from Kai. He could feel the blood dripping from
his chest and back.
The man stood where he was with an evil grin plastered across his face. He seemed to be waiting
on Kai to make the first move.
"You gonna just stand there, kid?"
Kai tilted his head down and looked at the man through his brow.
"I ain't gonna let some stupid woman beating rapist take me out. I got a woman waiting for me
back home, and today I prove my worth as a man!"
The Brute tilted his head back and began laughing hysterically. Kai instantly became angry and
took off like a jet toward the hulk of a man. When Kai was roughly 20 feet away the hilt of the
man's blade began to glow, and he swung his free arm horizontally in front of himself. A fire
blast erupted from his hands and Kai only had time to put his arms in front of him in an X pattern
as the force of the blast knocked him back. He managed to get his feet under him and slid for a
second before coming to a halt. Kai lowered his arms and saw the man was charging him and
only about ten feet away. Kai made the orb appear, and he felt an intense headache set in, he was
low on mana, and would need to conserve it for the beginning of the battle. When the man got
close he tried to hit Kai with a massive overhead slash. Kai spun to his left, while simultaneously
slashing. He hit the man in the ribs and it cut right through his leather armor but didn't do too
much else. The giant instantly released his right hand from his weapon and tried to punch Kai.
Kai jumped back and ejected his chains forward and they lashed him in the face one after the
other.
Clink!
Clank!
The man recoiled and took a couple steps back clutching his face with his right hand and wildly
swung his giant sword with his left. Kai ducked and began slashing wildly with his axes.
One. Two. Three. Four.
The man's sword glowed, and he stomped his foot and a burst of fire blew out all around him.
Kai was thrown back and the intense heat burned terribly. He hit the ground and rolled. Kai
could hear the man approaching but refused to give up easily. He used a pull spell to pick
himself up.
His headache increased in pain.
His head hurt like hell, but he had to keep going. He had something to prove today.
The brute's sword started to glow again, and Kai retaliated by blitzing him. The ogre of a man
swiped the air horizontally with his hand again, and Kai did a baseball slide under the fire blast.
He then used a pull spell to lift him faster and used another pull spell to shoot a chain out from
his hip and lash at the glowing gem in the hilt of the blade. The blade was resting on the man's
shoulder, and he tried to protect his face with his free hand thinking the chain was aimed for his
face. He didn't even see the chain's true target.
CLANK, BOOM!
The small gem erupted in a small fiery explosion right next to the hulks head. He did not drop
the blade but took two wobbly steps to his left since it was sitting on his right shoulder. He was
clearly stunned, and Kai took advantage. Kai unleashed another barrage and let out another war
cry.
"GULO GULOOO!"
One. Two. Three. Four. Five.
Faster.
"GULO GULOOO!"
One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six.
"GULO GULOOO!"
One. Two. Three. Four. FiveThe brute had been taking steps back as Kai overwhelmed him, but he suddenly stopped
retreating. Kai had gotten carried away with his relentless assault and didn't even see the man's
vicious blow coming. The massive blade collided with Kai's ribs. He soared through the air and
hit the ground hard. His ribs erupted in pain, probably broken. He struggled to his hands and
knees and coughed up blood onto the ground. His vision began to blur, and he lifted his head to
look at the behemoth. He probably looked worse than Kai. He had slashes all over his body, and
his face was covered in blood. He drug his sword on the ground menacingly and he walked
towards Kai at a sadistic pace. Kai was wheezing and felt like all the life in him was slowly
draining from his body.
Kai felt a ray of hope enter his body as he remembered that Laycee gave him mana potions. He
opened his inventory and guzzled a mana potion. The man continued to hobble at Kai.
"Gonna kill you...skin ya alive...worthless...sack a shit..."
Kai used a pull spell to lift himself up. He didn't even bother to look down at himself, he knew it
would be too much and would only make things worse. He began taking a risk at that very
moment. He formed two orbs. He began to spin one as if stirring, while rapidly moving the other
back and forth. The man was so close now that Kai could hear the blood hit the ground from the
two of them like a symphony.
Tick. Tick.
Tick. Tick.
Tick. Tick.
The man had been dragging his blade behind him like a zombie on his way over. Kai stared him
in the eyes defiantly.
"Gulo Gulo is the scientific name of wolverines. They are about three feet tall and are pound for
pound one of the strongest animals from my world." Kai clenched his fists by his sides as he
continued to pour more mana into this experiment of a spell.
The man paused and sneered at Kai.
"The fuck are you on kid, you gone mad?" The man shrugged and lifted his blade to his shoulder
"It's lights out kid. You're tough, I respect the hell out of ya."
Kai remained where he was.
"Gulo Gulo and I share similar qualities. We are both small..."
Kai narrowed his eyes at his opponent.
"But we can take on anyone."
And with that the humungous man charged forward. At the same time Kai combined the two
orbs. A giant ball of fire and wind that looked like a small sun appeared in front of Kai's face.
His head instantly began to hurt once he conjured it, and he began to sweat.
Tick. Tick.
Tick. Tick.
Tick. Tick.
"Gulo...GULOO!"
Kai let the blast go and the massive man turned to run. As he attempted to outrun the blast it
caught him in the back and there was a flash. Kai felt his feet lift from the ground and his head
began to throb. Kai didn't even feel himself hit the ground.
CHAPTER 17 Irresponsible
Kai slowly opened his eyes. He was greeted by a terrible headache and his entire body hurt. Kai
could hear burning all around him but was too weak to see where the burning was coming from.
All he could do was lay on his stomach with both arms at his side. He knew he had to get up, but
he didn't want to. He felt weak and was beginning to become cold.
Kai tried to use a pull spell to help himself up, but only got a few inches off the ground before he
hurt his head and almost passed out again. He let out a weak scream and collapsed. Kai slowly
moved his right arm across the dirt and grass to his face. He opened his inventory and looked
inside. He had one mana potion, but no health potions. Kai rolled on his back and yelled at the
exertion. He then moved his right arm close to his face and touched the icon of the potion with
his nose. The item appeared resting on his face. Kai slowly picked it up, removed the cork with
his teeth while simultaneously drinking the contents of the bottle.
"I still feel like shit..."
Kai used the pull spell to pick himself up. With his mana restored using magic allowed him to
get up easily, but the pain was still excruciating. When he stood to his full height he almost fell
over but used the pull spell to move himself like a puppet. Kai looked up and his jaw dropped.
Where Kai had hit the gigantic man now had a shallow crater in the ground. The crater itself was
pitch black with embers inside of it. The area surrounding the crater was on fire, but the flames
seemed to spread far slower than real fire. Inside of the crater was a gigantic sword, a brown
sack, some boots, and...
"HEALTH POTIONS!"
Kai used a pull spell to bring the potion to himself. Without actually using his hand, Kai
removed the cork and downed a potion immediately. His body felt refreshed, the pain reduced by
a large margin. Kai could also support himself, but he was severely weakened still. Kai walked
over to his small crater and picked up all his loot and put it into his inventory. Kai also checked
the corpses of those he killed before and took all they had. Then, he opened his inventory and
took out a teleport crystal and returned home.
When Kai made it back, he took a knee for a minute and then stood up once again and worked
his way out of the room.
Damn it was cold.
Kai looked in his inventory and saw that it was 5pm, he had probably been knocked out for a
long time. He hobbled downstairs and was surprised to see that not too many people were in the
tavern today. He slowly made his way downstairs and noticed that the man behind the counter
stared at him as if he'd seen a ghost. His eyes instantly cut to Laycee, and then back at Kai.
Laycee was busy cleaning a table and hadn't even noticed Kai. He approached her slowly, and
once he was close he couldn't help but boast of his recent victory.
"Hey Laycee, I did a whole ass mission all by myself!"
Without even looking up Laycee responded almost as if bored.
"That's nice Kai."
Kai gave her a small frown and rose his eyebrow.
"Aren't you worried?"
"Now why would I be?" She responded while seeming to clean the same spot for the nine
thousandth time.
"You said I don't need to worry about you, and I trust you. You're fine I'm sure, ol mighty
warrior." She said as she rolled her eyes.
"Laycee I almost died." Kai said flatly.
At this point the barkeep, who was also the owner by the name of Kurt chimed in. He fixed
Laycee with a stern look and half shouted,
"Hey Laycee, how about you check on your idiot boyfriend!"
Both Laycee and Kai turned to the barkeep and sneered at him in unison. They both shouted at
the same time.
"He is not my boyfriend!"
"I'm not an idiot!"
The barkeep had an amused look on his face and tossed Laycee a saucer used to carry food. She
caught it and gave the barkeep a confused look.
"What's this for?"
The barkeep shook his head.
"Let that guy take a look at himself."
Laycee slowly turned to face Kai. To Kai it seemed to happen in slow motion. Her face drained
of all of it's color as she slowly turned to him. At the same time she dropped the saucer and her
eyes instantly began to water. Kai had only known her for a couple days, but he was sure that
this was the most distraught he had ever seen her.
"KAI!" she screamed.
Kai jumped in surprise. Before he could even respond Kai felt himself being magically lifted,
while at the same time Laycee picked him up like a baby.
Kai squirmed in her grip, but she had magically bound him, and he was too tired to exert himself.
Laycee took him up to his room opened the door, and laid him down. As soon as Kai was down
he shot up and protested to Laycee.
"Yo, what the hell Laycee!"
And then he saw himself in his mirror. Kai's armor had all been destroyed. All that remained was
his right gauntlet, his undergarments(thank god) and a few pieces of his leg armor. His entire
body was covered in ash and soot, and his skin had been burned. Many patches of pink were on
his coffee skin. He had a huge gash going from the left side of his chest, down to his right hip.
On the right side of his chest was a smaller gash he assumed came from the dagger that had been
thrown into him earlier. Kai had frozen as soon as he saw himself in the mirror and Laycee stood
next to the mirror with her arms crossed and glared at him.
"Kai, what the hell were you doing?"
Kai's mouth seemed to dry, and his lips moved but no words came out. He just stared at himself
in the mirror. Laycee tapped her foot on the ground as if growing impatient and walked over to
Kai and stood between him and the mirror. Kai shook his head and looked at her.
"I went on a mission to kill bandits."
Laycee's expression didn't change.
"You fought bandits and got burned this bad? Where? I did not know bandits used magic."
Kai was not so sure he liked Laycee nearly as much so serious, he would feel much better if she
was in her usual worrisome demeanor.
"Out in the Forest of Roses, bandits were out kidnapping women and they were led by a guy with
a big magic sword."
That was all Kai had to say and now Laycee went right back to her normal self. She cupped Kai's
face in her hand, and he smiled like an idiot.
"Kai, you fought Axel and lived. That was a government issued mission. No wonder you got
burned so badly! And look at these wounds, my god!"
Kai gave Laycee a robotic half smile.
"Actually...I burned myself when I made a small sun out of wind and fire..."
"YOU WHAT!?" Laycee grabbed Kai's shoulders and squeezed.
"Kai, you used an explosion spell? You could have killed yourself or burned down the forest!"
Kai snapped his fingers and made them into finger guns.
"Almost did both, babe." He said as cooly as possible.
He swore Laycee blushed for a second, before continuing her tongue lashing.
"Yeah no, you can't talk your way out of this. That was very irresponsible of you!" She said
pointing a finger at Kai.
Laycee looked down at him and sighed. She grazed her hand over the massive gash on Kai's
chest and he winced. Laycee pulled back her hand as if she had touched a hot stove.
"Sorry, that was dumb to touch it like that. So, you just drank a potion to stop the bleeding?"
Kai nodded.
Laycee shook her head.
"Kai potions numb pain and stop bleeding, they also have some regenerative properties, but don't
completely fix a person."
Laycee pat his face with her right hand and then with her left gently pushed Kai down on the
bed.
"Okay, I am going to have to heal your wounds now, and then keep healing them for the next
few days."
Kai shot back up from his lying position and banged his fists on the bed.
"Few days!? I feel fine, can't you just heal me up!?"
Laycee gently pushed him back down and began to rub her hand on his chest and Kai felt far less
tired. He did not protest Laycee healing him because it felt like a magical massage. She rubbed
her hand on each wound, and even massaged the burned patches. Kai informed her of the arrow
he took in the back rolled onto his stomach and she cured that wound as well.
"Okay, done."
Kai got up from the bed and stretched, he felt good as new, and besides the soot, looked much
better. He bounced on his toes and threw some jabs in the air.
"Thanks, Laycee, you are the best NPC a guy could ever meet!"
Laycee lowered her eyes to the ground and said nothing. Kai immediately put his hand on her
shoulder and looked at her with concern.
"Hey what's wrong, I'm fine now?"
Laycee looked at him and pursed her lips.
"Can you...can you not call me an NPC, I am a person just like you."
Kai felt some heavy guilt for a second and in response he just hugged Laycee.
"I'm sorry, I'm just adjusting to the world is all."
When he let go of Laycee he pat her face the same way she had done his so many times.
"Why do you like me so much anyway, we've known each other what? Two days?"
Laycee shook her head.
"Before the event you call the update before you left here you would always talk to me. I even
dyed my hair red since you would always talk about how much you like the color." Laycee
moved some lose hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear and smiled.
Kai scratched his head and smiled.
"You were aware of that? I just thought you were cu- auhhh." Kai's eyes widened, and his mind
quickly tried to come up with and exit strategy. He grabbed Laycee's wrist and headed straight
for the door.
"Come on, when we turn in the quest I'll have money and we can go eat!"
Chapter 18- Ooooh, that bitch!
Laycee was still working so she couldn't leave. The only reason she was even allowed to heal
Kai was because of the severity of his wounds, and slowness of the business at that moment. Kai
finally arrived at the shack he had received the mission from. It was now almost seven pm, and
the place closed at eight. Kai entered the building and removed the sword from his inventory.
The woman behind the desk was still chewing on gum. She wore a blue dress that showed
cleavage, not that Kai cared. It was painfully obvious she wanted to be sexy, but just couldn’t
quite pull it off. She looked to be in her mid-thirties with dirty blonde short hair. She had a huge
gap between her two buck front teeth. Where the hell did she keep getting gum in this game
anyway!? Kai hated listening to her smack. Kai sat the gigantic sword on the desk, and just
stared at the woman. She looked at the hilt and then back at Kai.
"What happened to the sword?"
Kai scratched his head and let out a chuckle.
"It got messed up in the fight."
The woman blew a bubble and it popped. She chewed on it for a few seconds before she
responded.
"The mission pays 500 gold, the sword would have another 500, since it's damaged ya get 250,
hun."
Kai frowned.
"Only 750 gold? That guy was massive I almost died!"
The woman shook her head at Kai.
"That mission was meant for a group, you dunce." She began to giggle, which eventually turned
into hysterical laughter.
Kai's eyes were nearly bulging out of his head. He got so angry he was sure steam would come
out of his ears. Kai would wrap one of his chains around that woman's neck if he still had them.
If he still had them...
"My chains!" Kai suddenly yelled.
The woman was startled and began to choke on her gum to Kai's delight. Kai strolled over to the
other desk with the other woman. She had a very round face with chubby cheeks, which
completely defied her otherwise thin body. She had long black hair that went all the way to the
middle of her back. She gave Kai a warm smile and without a word put the gold on the desk in a
brown bag. She leaned towards Kai and put her palm up facing the other woman against the side
of her mouth. The woman whispered,
"I went ahead and gave you the whole 1,000 gold. You should go back and find those women the
bandits took. You'll get a bonus." She winked and went back to help her coworker.
Kai thanked the woman and left the building. He decided to return to the inn and rest for the
remainder of the night. He was exhausted, and if he went to save the women trapped in the forest
now, he would be too weak to be of much use. Besides the forest was on fire and Kai didn't want
to deal with that...
...
...
Dear god the forest was on fire!
Kai began sprinting towards the forest, but he knew at his current pace it wouldn't be enough.
Kai had an idea, but he would need to see Vulf first.
When Kai arrived at Vulf's store, the short man was just about to lock his doors. Right before he
could lock the door, Kai rammed into it and stumbled inside.
"Whut is wrong wit ya lad!? Ya damn near broke me door!" Vulf screamed.
Kai picked himself up and ran to Vulf's chest on the floor he'd once saw the man get the coils of
chains from. After gathering two, Kai ran over to the opposite wall and grabbed a belt. He went
back over and made a belt in the same fashion he'd seen Vulf do before. Vulf simply watched
with his arms crossed, irritation plain on his face. Once Kai finished he ran towards the door.
When he was halfway, Vulf closed the distance between the two of them and stood in his way.
"Whut's the rush, lad?"
Kai bent over and held up a finger, catching his breath.
"Folded Atlas...er, Axel guy. Set forest on fire...girls trapped!" Kai got out through pants.
Vulf simply rose an eyebrow.
"Ya folded em?"
"I beat his ass."
Vulf nodded.
"Go, but come back here when yer finished."
Kai put on his new belt, ran forward, jumped in the air, and enchanted his chains with wind. He
then used them like propellers and took off flying at incredible speed. Kai wasn't very high off
the ground, but he was moving at least 50 miles an hour. Since it was late the streets were mostly
empty, and he flew out of town at break-neck speed. If women were in the forest, they could
burn up any minute! Kai had to hurry!
Kai only made it a little over halfway before he ran out of mana and had to run for 10 minutes
before he made it to the area. He collapsed on his hands and knees. Kai panted in exhaustion and
furiously pounded his fists on the ground. Kai had made it to the spot he created the explosion,
but the arcane flames barely moved! He rushed so much with such urgency just for this!
Kai rested another 5 minutes before he stood up and began checking the area. There was no sign
of girls, but Kai decided he would go in the direction the bandits came from. He saw the headless
one that Axel killed, so he moved in that direction. Kai pushed through the brush avoiding all the
branches and bushes. Kai did not have to travel far before he came to a clearing with an
extinguished campfire nearby. Kai saw four large cages. Each one was made of metal with thick
bars. One was empty, while the other three each had a someone inside. One cage had an older
woman, maybe 40. She had pale blue eyes and was quite thin, but she was also tall, probably a
whole head taller than Kai. She wore a dirty black robe and had a scarf underneath the hood that
covered her hair and ears. The other cage had a woman near Kai's age. She was shorter than Kai,
while still bearing a striking resemblance to the woman in the other cage. She seemed thin, but
upon closer inspection Kai could tell she was exceptionally fit. She wore a sleeveless brown
dress, and a scarf around her head just like the other woman Kai assumed was her mother. She
also had eyes that were bright red, which Kai couldn't stop taking glances at. The last cage
contained a little girl. She wore attire similar to the older woman, with the exception that she
wore blue instead of black. The small girl only stood a little higher than Kai’s waist, and still had
pudgy face. She was maybe seven or eight. All three of them backed away in their cages with
fear plain on their faces. Kai uncoiled his chains and smashed all three locks. All three of the
prisoners jumped. The doors of each cage slowly creaked open. Kai stood with his arms folded,
unmoving for several seconds. He did not say anything and neither did they. Finally, to break the
silence, the youngest one ran out of her cage, in unison the other two women called out her name
"Lydia!" They screamed.
The young girl ran up to Kai and hugged him, burying her face into his stomach. Since his armor
was destroyed he only wore a cloth shirt with pants, and he could feel the shirt being moistened
with tears.
"Please tell us you are going to save us!" The girl cried.
Kai's half opened his mouth and rose his hands as if the girl were poisonous. He then slowly
reached down and pat her on the head. The other two women looked at Kai with pleading looks
on their faces.
"Yeah, I took a job to save you guys. You live in Emberstone City?"
The girl removed her face from Kai's shirt and looked up at him with her blue eyes.
"We are from Amethyst Valley."
The other two seemed to be trying to shush her from afar, clearly distrusting of Kai. He gave
them the warmest smile he could.
"Come hold on to me and I will use a teleport crystal to take us back to Emberstone. Amethyst
Valley is a long trip, so going back would take far too much time."
The older woman approached Kai and grabbed his hand in her own two.
"Thank you so much." She said.
The other two turned their heads to face the last girl. She looked displeased and irritated, but
eventually walked over and placed her hand on Kai's shoulder. He removed his teleport crystal
and they all went back.
They all arrived in Kai's room. The oldest and youngest of the three embraced each other, while
the last woman stared daggers into Kai. She watched him intently. Her gaze unnerved Kai, and
he tapped the older woman on the shoulder. Then pointed at the youngest girl.
"Your daughter's name is Lydia, right? What's your name?" He asked.
"Gale." The woman pointed to the mean looking one.
"That's Astrid." Astrid said nothing.
Kai smiled at Astrid and gave her a nod. She continued to stare a hole into him.
Gale noticed and placed her hand on Kai's shoulder and smiled.
"She doesn't talk much." Gale said.
Kai shrugged.
"It's all right, I'm sure the last few days have been rough for all of you. I'll go and talk to the guy
that runs the inn and get you guys a couple rooms."
Kai ran downstairs and greeted Kurt.
"Yo Kurt, can I get two rooms?"
Kurt rose an eyebrow and gave Kai a questioning look.
"What for? Ya girlfriend know about these other rooms?"
Kai's eyes cut around the room and he leaned forward.
"My who?"
Kurt nodded in Laycee's direction.
Luckily, Laycee was too busy to bother Kai at that moment and he turned back to Kurt. Kai did
not feel like being bothered with Laycee worrying about his mission. Kai look Kurt in the eyes
and continued.
"I had to save some girls in my last mission. I figured I would buy them a couple rooms today
and collect my reward tomorrow."
Kurt nodded.
"Say no more, I won't tell your girlfriend either." Kurt cracked a smile.
Kai banged his fist on the bar.
"Not my girlfriend!" He growled.
Kurt rose his hands and turned his head to the side as if to say sorry. He then slid two room keys
to Kai. Kai was glad he got the two rooms no problem. He ran upstairs to the three waiting and
handed Gale the two keys. Once he showed them to their rooms Gale began thanking and
embracing Kai repeatedly.
"How can we ever repay you, Kai." She said between tears.
Kai scratched his head.
"Well actually ladies if you just come with me to the place your jobs were posted, I will be
rewarded for your safe return. We can do it tomorrow, and-"
Before Kai could finish Astrid had shoved Kai against the wall and grabbed his collar. Fury
inside of him rose instantly, and Kai almost punched her in the face. It didn't help that this
woman was surprisingly strong, and it made Kai even more eager to harm her. Astrid's words
came out like a hiss.
"We don't owe you anything, human!" Her red eyes seemed to burn with actual fire.
"Astrid!" Gale yelled.
Kai gently grabbed her wrists and tried to remove her hands, she was solid as stone. Kai played it
cool and held her gaze for a moment longer. He wanted to wrap his chains around that ungrateful
idiot's throat. He almost died saving them, and this is the thanks he gets? Kai clenched his teeth,
took in a deep breath, then used a pull spell to remove her hands. As he pried her hands from his
collar, they both let out a small grunt in how much energy they both used on each other. Gale
and Lydia both watched with their mouths hanging open. Kai turned around and walked into his
room and shut the door. Kai was livid. He was so angry, that he began to pace around the room
and seethe. He stopped, facepalmed, and drug his hand down his face. He was angry for the way
she acted the entire time he had been saving her. The part that made him the angriest though, was
how much stronger a girl was than him.
Chapter 19- An elf never forgets
Kai woke to the sound of a knock on his door. The tiredness from the previous day had hit him
hard. After he had been snatched up by Astrid he'd realized his eyes were heavy and fell asleep
right after. Kai began to feel a tinge of anger after remembering how Astrid had treated him. He
got even angrier when he remembered how much stronger than him she was. Kai wasn’t sexist,
but he hated the idea of a woman being stronger than him. He opened the door and was greeted
by Gale and her two daughters.
"You said you wanted us to come with you, so you'd be compensated, right?" Gale gave Kai her
warmest smile, but his eyes were elsewhere. Kai and Astrid were laser focused on one another,
and the tension between the two of them was so thick it could be cut with a knife.
"Yes." Was the only response Kai gave to Gale, while maintaining eye contact with Astrid.
"I apologize for Astrid's behavior last night, she has just had a rough week." Gale had quickly
begun to try and diffuse the situation.
"It's fine." Kai responded.
Gale fidgeted uncomfortably while Lydia seemed excited to see Kai completely oblivious to the
situation. She embraced him, and he continued to stare at Astrid while patting Lydia's head.
"Hi Kai!" Lydia chimed.
"Hey kiddo." He responded.
Gale looked between the two having a standoff and Kai swore he could hear her whimper for a
second.
"Maybe Astrid should stay behind while-".
"No, it's fine." Kai cut her off abruptly.
Astrid's lips peeled back into a sneer, and before she could speak Kai turned to leave. When Kai
made it downstairs Laycee attempted to say hello, but Kai just walked past her as if he heard
nothing. He headed straight out the door with the other three in tow. The walk to the shack
outside of town where jobs were posted was a long and silent walk. Kai said nothing to anyone,
and no one spoke. When he arrived at the building he swung open the door and walked inside
without a word. When he walked up to the counter he found his favorite woman behind the desk.
Chewing gum.
Always chewing that damned gum.
She seemed to be smacking on it twice a loudly as usual, and today Kai couldn't help himself.
"STOP. SMACKING. ON. THAT. GUM...FUCK!" he yelled so loud and it came so sudden
everyone, even Astrid jumped.
The woman stood up and slammed her palms on the counter.
"Excuse me?"
Kai used a pull spell and yanked the gum right out of the woman’s mouth. The room went silent.
"I brought these three back from their captors, give all the gold to them." Kai turned around and
began to leave.
He brushed past Astrid and walked out the door, slamming it behind him. Kai walked outside
with an ebony cloud of negative emotions surrounding him.
"Hey!" Kai heard a voice call from behind him.
He turned to look at Astrid and once again they locked eyes. This time, the roles had switched.
Astrid stared at Kai, but not with the same animosity from before. This time she seemed far less
angry, although the intensity of the stare was still there. It was as if a demon had possessed
Astrid last night, and now that same demon had found its way into Kai's psyche. He tilted down
his chin and stared at Astrid through his brow.
"What?"
Astrid stood silently for a few moments.
"I'm sorry."
Kai uncoiled his chains and turned around.
"Fuck off." He began to spin them wildly and then took off with his new trick. He told Vulf he
would see him after he completed his job, so that's what he would do now.
When Kai made it to the gates of town he retracted his chains and walked his way back to Vulf's
shop. When he entered the store, he was greeted by Vulf.
"Ah Kai, ya okay lad?" Vulf asked with a look of concern.
Kai's eyes cut to Laycee who was sitting on Vulf's anvil. When he met her gaze, she looked at
the floor as if she had just locked eyes with a demon.
"Hi Kai..."
Kai seemed to lighten up just a little bit at the sight of the two and calmed down almost
instantly.
"Hey guys."
Laycee got up from the anvil and approached Kai with Vulf, when she got close she seemed to
think for a second before patting Kai on the face. Vulf gave him a firm pat on the shoulder.
"Ya alright lad? Ya look a wee bit steamed. Somethin happen yesterdee?"
Kai took a deep breath and began to explain himself.
"Yesterday when I left in a hurry I was scared my explosion spell was going to burn down to
Forest of Roses." Vulf and Laycee both stood silently waiting for Kai to continue.
"I was mostly worried because a side objective of my mission was to save any women the
highwaymen may have taken. Luckily no one was harmed."
Vulf and Laycee both looked at each other, then turned to Kai. Laycee opened her mouth to
speak, but before she could say anything Kai cut her off.
"But one of them was a complete bitch and roughed me up a little bit last night when we got
back to the inn."
Laycee rose an eyebrow
"That got you THIS mad?" She responded.
Kai shook his head.
"I almost died saving them, but the worst part was that she was way stronger than me." Kai ran
his fingers through his hair.
"She was so strong I had to use a pull spell to get her hands off me. I realized I rely too much on
magic."
Laycee and Vulf had two different responses to Kai's story. Vulf twirled his mustache in his
fingers as he seemed to ponder Kai's story. Laycee's face seemed to darken and she became
visibly upset.
"Lad, ya just gotta train a little more, plus she could have been usin magic." Vulf placed a hand
on Kai's shoulder.
"Except I wasn't." A feminine voice entered the shop, and everyone turned to see where it came
from.
Astrid walked into the room, and once again she locked eyes with Kai. Laycee began to gently
rub Kai's back while she stared at Astrid through her brow. Laycee had already decided she hated
Astrid. If Kai hated her, so did she.
“Is that her, Kai?” Laycee asked.
"Gettin a bit warm in here..." Vulf chimed in.
Kai laser focused on Astrid, and his anger seemed to compound. He began to tremble, and
suddenly a magical pressure began to build in the room. Suddenly everything felt heavier to
Laycee and Vulf. Laycee took a step back from Kai. Vulf grabbed her wrist and moved her
away. When she looked at him, he shook his head. Kai couldn't quite understand how this
woman made him this mad. He couldn't put his finger on it, but this woman made him furious.
Astrid walked over to Kai and stood face to face with him. They stared at each other for a whole
minute without saying anything, and with every passing second the magical pressure Kai gave
off intensified. It got to the point where Laycee was beginning to feel as if her whole body was
receiving a light squeeze.
"Kai, you are going to crush us..." she pleaded with Kai to calm down.
Astrid snorted. "He isn't strong enough."
At this point Vulf stepped between the two.
"I see what's going on here."
Kai and Astrid both looked at Vulf. Vulf placed a hand on each of their shoulders.
"Kai is a tough lad with an abundance of mana, it's why he is so strong. He can barely keep it in
his body." Vulf turned to face Kai.
"And that's why yer mana's always running out, lad. You waste so much of it on accident. Just
seeps out." Vulf turned to face Astrid.
"Meanwhile certain races in Delrah excel on containing that mana and using it physically rather
than pushing it out with magic." Vulf smiled at Astrid and she tensed up.
“When ya ave two opposites like two, you will hate each other on sight.”
Vulf smiled at Astrid.
"Isn't that right, Lass?...ya wee elf." Astrid took two steps back and her mouth opened but no
words came out.
Kai narrowed his eyes and pulled off Astrid’s head dress with a pull spell. Clear as day her two
giant ears that were tucked away popped out. Without warning Astrid lunged forward and Kai's
chains uncoiled, but before the two could collide Vulf grabbed Astrid and Laycee used a pull
spell on Kai's chains. Laycee was surprised at how much mana she had to use to stop them, and
Vulf had to use every ounce of strength he had to restrain the girl.
"The fuck is wrong with you, you crazy bitch!?" Kai yelled out at Astrid.
"Everybody calm down, or I will kick every arse in this room!" Vulf shouted.
The room went quiet.
Vulf while still restraining Astrid spoke.
"Now I'm gonna let ya go on tha count a three lass. When I do, I won't turn ya in or hurt ya as
long as ya don't try anythin."
"One..."
"Two..."
"Three..."
Vulf released her and she quickly grabbed her head dress and put it back on. Kai was the first to
speak.
"I thought elves didn't like humans. I took mad quests in Amethyst Valley where I had to kill
elves before the update..."
The magical pressure in the room dispersed instantly. Astrid's eyes began to moisten.
"Go on and finish, you fiend!" She shouted.
Kai remained where he was and didn't say anything. Astrid got even more distraught.
"You people would come from Emberstone to kill us just because someone told you too!" Astrid
paced around the room. "Well, things in Amethyst Valley have become dire. The monsters
destroyed our home, and now we elves have nowhere to go!"
Kai's behavior had done a complete 180. Now he approached Astrid and tried to place a hand on
her shoulder and she batted his hand away.
"I have seen you slaughter hundreds of our people, and to have you be my savior is worse than
death itself!" Astrid wiped her eyes with her arm.
Kai looked at the ground and didn't say anything. Laycee approached Kai and lifted his chin,
forcing him to look her in the eyes.
"Kai, what is she talking about?"
Kai opened his mouth, but no words came out. He ran his hands through his hair and released a
shaky breath.
Astrid shoved Kai and screamed
"Tell them!"
Kai looked up from the floor and stared Astrid directly in the eyes as he spoke. Remorse and
regret somehow told through nothing but eyes.
"Before the update, there was a quest where players would kill elves to receive a special pendant.
When they turned the pendant in to a special vendor, he would reward the player with potions
that made you gain experience faster."
Astrid removed a pendant from under her shirt and held it up.
"Like this right?" She threw it at Kai, and it bounced off his chest and hit the floor.
Laycee's took a step away from Kai.
"Kai you didn't..."
Kai ran his hands through his hair and dropped to his knees. He reached down and picked up the
familiar pendant. Before he couldn't feel it. Before it was a game, but now feeling it for the first
time. Feeling its weight let Kai come to the realization he had just made. Already it was
beginning to eat away at him inside. Just like Laycee had remembered every instance that Kai
prompted her to say "hello!"
Every monster, humanoid, or beast Kai killed before the update would have some impact on the
new world. How many orcs, dwarves, naga, elves, werebeasts, and whoever else had Kai killed?
All for a stupid quest some NPC had given him. Kai felt his eyes begin to water and he slammed
his fist into the ground. He felt a hand on his face and looked up to see Laycee.
"Kai, it was just a game before. There was no way for you to know..."
Kai shook his head and looked at Astrid.
"Before you guys always respawned, what happened? All the races always had minor conflicts, it
was a way of life. It wasn’t a big deal!"
Astrid wiped her eyes again with her arm.
"The elven population dropped from all the murders you and all the other humans committed,
and as a result the monsters in the surrounding areas destroyed our city in Amethyst Valley."
Kai stood up.
"Astrid I am so sorry I will fix this."
Astrid looked at the floor and shook her head slowly.
"It's too late to fix anything. It's no secret humans don't get along with elves and most of my
people are long gone. Once someone finds out I am an elf in human territory I will be enslaved
or worse."
"Fuck that."
Everyone looked at Kai. All his anger seemed to turn into fierce determination.
"Astrid, when I killed all of those elves Delrah was nothing but a game to me. I don't even know
what the quest was about, I always skipped the dialogue."
Kai ran his fingers through his hair and shook his head
"Look, we got off on the wrong foot, but I promise I will try and keep you safe." Vulf and
Laycee nodded in agreement.
Astrid remained silent for a moment. She just stared at the floor for several seconds, then looked
at Kai while shaking her head.
"The part that makes me the most angry is that I know you are a good person. I could tell the
moment I met you. I like you, you are a good guy I know it...and I feel guilty about that."
Astrid's jaw clenched.
"And I still hate you with a burning passion."
With that Astrid turned and left.
Chapter 20- They see me rolling
"There are hundreds of elves here in town. I noticed a little while back actually."
"Damn, I ain't even notice I feel dumb."
"Don't Kai, you don't really know much about all of the races of Delrah."
"I skipped on a lot of lore, okay. Was in it for the gameplay."
"I will say though, it was dumb of you to take a group mission alone wearing that old crappy
armor but look at you now."
After the emotional battle with Astrid, Vulf crafted Kai some new weapons and armor at a
discount. Now Kai was decked out in a great set of heavy class armor, parading around the
streets like a display. It was technically heavy class because of the material, but it felt light as a
feather. The body fit perfectly on to Kai's torso. Despite it being solid steel, Vulf enchanted it to
make it magically infused. Now the armor could stretch just the slightest amount so that it felt
like solid rubber on the inside, even though it was still metal and made *clink* sounds. The pants
were the same, and the armor was shiny, complete with two gauntlets that went from the hands
all the way to the elbows. Kai's biceps were exposed, which he liked because it helps the armor
breathe. The armor had red fur that stuck out from every orifice, and Kai loved it. Red was
always his favorite, and he obsessed over the color. Kai also received new chains made from the
same material, and they were much stronger. To top it all off, Kai received two brand new Axes
that were made of orichalcum. They were incredibly solid, and noticeably heavier than his old
hatchets. The hilts were red, and the blade was enchanted to absorb the lifeforce of his enemies
to restore his health. The blades had a faint red glow, and Kai drooled over them. All this cost
Kai every cent he owned, and honestly, he felt that he underpaid. Vulf insisted it was fine, and so
for a grand total of 1200 gold (maybe some borrowed money from Laycee.) Kai was ready for
anything.
Laycee squealed with glee and hugged Kai.
"Oh, you look amazing!"
Kai couldn't help but smile from ear to ear. He did feel super cool.
"Daaaammmn son, where'd ya find thiss!" Kai turned to the voice and saw his friend Dustin with
his hand up to his mouth with one leg in the air. He bounded over taking high knee steps to Kai
and then shook Kai's hand before pulling him into a hug.
"What's up Dustin, ya boi out heauh lookin dapper, yooo!" Kai rose his leg in the air and covered
his mouth like a DJ. The two began to prance around like idiots in the middle of town and began
to draw attention to themselves. Laycee shifted uncomfortably and chimed in once she had
enough.
"Kai, why are you talking like that, you are wearing Vulf's armor act decent!"
Kai and Dustin stopped abruptly and stared daggers into Laycee.
Kai opened his mouth as if he was about to say something sassy but stopped as his body tensed
up.
"Try and dodge that asshole."
Kai collapsed and quickly rose to his feet and looked at the individual that had shocked him.
Dustin roared with laughter, and Laycee giggled.
Kai cracked a smile and spoke.
"Welp, looks like the gang is all gathered up by accident! What's up, John!" Kai embraced his
mentor. John popped his collar.
"Guess who got some new robes?"
Kai and Dustin both looked at each other and in unison let out a
"Oooooooooohhh!" And then prancing resumed. The three of them looked like clowns
performing thier weird actions. Laycee could only stand it for few seconds before she shouted.
"Enough! Kai, when you wear my uncle's work you are representing him. You need to behave
properly when you wear it!" She huffed.
At this point Vulf stepped outside and looked everyone up and down.
"Whuts the problem out here...oh John my boi, ya know this lil eejeut too, eh?"
John nodded.
"He hit me with an electrified axe."
"Choked me with a chain."
The two shared a laugh while Kai gave his most innocent grin to Laycee, who had enough of all
the silliness.
"Hey Vulf, Laycee says it's not okay if I do this wearing your armor." Kai, joined by the other
two idiots began doing their stupid dances and poses, but to Laycee's delight were cut off by
Vulf.
"LADS YA CAN'T BE DOIN THAT IN MUH ARMOR!" He looked at all of them and shook
his head.
"Ya gotta do it like this!" And the stupidity resumed.
Laycee wanted to crawl into the deepest hole in Delrah and die. This was the kind of company
she was keeping around now. This was how she would spend her day off...fascinating.
After everyone got done being stupid everyone agreed to go to Kai's favorite restaurant to
discuss the past week. Already, Kai was eating like a pig. Laycee agreed she would pay for his
meal and was regretting it. Kai swallowed his eighth kabob.
"And then she told me about how we killed all her people, and we gotta fix that shit, yo."
John scratched his beard and pondered what Kai was saying.
"When you didn't show up to training yesterday, I actually took a trip to Amethyst Valley to buy
these robes. I am aware of what's happening."
Dustin looked between the two of them.
"So, what you are saying is that monsters, just like NPC's are making their own decisions and are
roaming the world?"
Kai and John nodded.
"That's crazy." Dustin said as he shook his head.
Kai swallowed half of another kabob.
"So, places that used to be safe zones may not be safe...including this very city."
Everyone seemed to tense up at the thought.
Dustin chimed in to break the silence.
"Nothing in the real world has changed really. People are still trying to figure out how to get you
guys out of here."
Kai looked at Dustin and shook his head.
"Look man, I have only been here a week and already I have made promises to people here that I
plan to keep."
Dustin scratched his head.
"Bro, they are just NPCs."
Laycee looked at the floor, and Kai banged his fist on the table.
"Don't say stuff like that, these guys are more than that!"
John rose am eyebrow.
"Ohhhh, that's funny coming from mr. "I can't date an NPC because that means I can't get a real
woman."" John put finger quotes in the air as he spoke.
Kai shook his head and placed his hand on Laycee's shoulder while looking at John.
"People sympathize with fictional characters in movies all the time back in real life. Well now I
have real people here, they aren't just NPCs, I can't tell the difference."
Kai looked at Dustin.
"As a matter of fact, Dustin. You can come and go in the game as you please and your
movements look the least real out of everyone. You only can use sight and hearing, you can't
even eat food like the rest of us. In this world you are the NPC, not Laycee."
Dustin looked at the floor, then back up at Kai.
"I have a test coming up I need to study for. I'm going to logout. Next week I can play all day
every day." Before anyone could say anything, Dustin logged off.
John chuckled.
"Smooth."
"Shut up John."
Laycee finally spoke.
"Kai, you don't have to hurt your friends to defend me, it's more of a game to him still than it is
to you."
John cut in.
"He can't help it; this place is his home now it's too real. Plus, he has a crush on you something
fierce."
Kai's coffee face seemed to go white, while Laycee's turned bright red.
"Sooooo, anyway. What are we gonna do about the monsters getting out of hand?" Kai said as he
finished the other half of his ninth kabob.
John seemed to perk up as if he had been waiting for Kai to ask that question.
"I actually have a plan." John looked at Laycee.
"Your uncle is on the city council, yes?"
Laycee nodded.
John turned back to Kai.
"Kai I figured out some stuff the other night."
Kai had grabbed another kabob and was devouring it. There seemed to be no end in sight with
him.
"What did you figure out?" He asked between bites.
John cracked a smile.
"I think there is still stats in this game and I know what your highest stat is."
Kai rose and eyebrow but didn't say anything. Laycee was the one to speak next.
"What do you mean by highest stat?"
John cleared his throat.
"Stats in a game like this are usually as follows. You have strength, dexterity or agility, basically
how nimble you are, intelligence your ability to use magic. Charisma is your ability to convince
people to do things or talk to people, wisdom is how you use knowledge, and lastly constitution
is how tough you are."
Laycee looked at John, then looked at Kai, then back at John. She began to laugh and nod.
"I know where this is going." She laughed.
Kai swallowed his eleventh kabob and spoke.
"Intelligence, it's why my magic so damn good." He said.
John chuckled.
"I thought about it, and I don't think that's it."
Kai narrowed his eyes.
"I ain't dumb, stupid!"
John chuckled again.
"No Kai, you don't understand. I am not saying you are stupid. I think that magic is more of a
skill than anything else. So, if anything it relies on wisdom. You have a lot of common sense,
more advanced magic might use intelligence, but not how you use it."
Kai tilted his head to the side.
"So, I have high wisdom?"
John nodded.
"But that's not your highest stat." Laycee said as she dabbed some sauce off Kai's cheek.
"It's charisma, Kai."
Kai stared at the fire pit on the table for a second.
"Damn..."
There was a moment of silence as everyone stared at Kai as if waiting for something to happen.
Kai's lips slowly spread into a toothy grin and he looked around at everyone.
"Charisma is literally the most broken stat a person can have if they abuse it!" He stood up and
laughed.
"Dude it's so busted!" Kai began to laugh again.
"I CAN TALK MY WAY IN AND OUT OF ANYTHING!" Kai began laughing hysterically.
Everyone else in the restaurant began to laugh with him, and it only made Kai laugh harder. He
sat down after a moment and chuckled.
"They only laughed cause of my stats..." he put his palm on his face and leaned back and began
laughing again. Laycee giggled and began to tickle Kai and he laughed even more. John didn't
want to kill the mood, but he had to tell Kai his plan.
"Kai!" He said firmly.
Kai and Laycee quit playing immediately and gave John their full attention.
"Kai, I need you to listen to my plan now..." he waited a moment to make sure Kai was listening.
"With your high charisma stat, you are going to have to unite all of the races."
Kai didn't say anything for a moment. John leaned forward and spoke again.
"Kai..."
"I heard you." He responded.
"Well?" John asked.
Kai sighed.
"Man, I wanted to learn magic and fight monsters and stuff...not be a lame ass diplomat..."
Laycee rubbed Kai's back and made a sad face.
John cracked a smile.
"Think about all of the different races of beautiful women and cool animals to discover. Plus,
you will fight the whole way to their territories."
Kai chewed on his lip for a moment.
"Just let me live a little, alright? Can't I enjoy life in Delrah for a little, first?"
John scratched his chin for a moment before he spoke.
"Alright, have your fun...but first order of business though. You need to go with Laycee's uncle
and establish an elven embassy here."
Kai's jaw dropped.
"Why do I have to go? Those people don't even know who I am!"
John leaned back in his chair and folded his arms.
"Because they respect Vulf as a warrior, and you fought him one on one and lived to talk about
it. Plus, you took out Axel all alone."
Kai rested his chin on his palm.
"Where are all the other players? The only players I've seen are you and Dustin..."
John sighed.
"When a player dies, we aren't sure what happens. Most of the players who had the type of
headset we do died already. The ones with the guts to go fight anyway. Everyone left is too
scared to fight. As far as other players go like Dustin, the only reason he can even visit us is
because he is in your friends list."
Kai crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. He seemed to be thinking for a minute before
he spoke.
"I could have died fighting Axel...I am such an idiot..."
"But you didn't, Kai and that's what's important." Laycee pat Kai's face and fed him another
kabob and he grunted. Laycee giggled, clearing planning to stuff him since he was already 13
kabobs in.
John stood up,
"I supply the meat to the people that run this restaurant so don't worry about paying, just tip."
Laycee attempted to stuff another kabob into Kai's mouth upon hearing this and he turned his
head while she giggled.
"Kai, meet with Vulf after you finish."
Kai groaned because he was so full, but mostly because he had to be a diplomat. Kai turned to
Laycee while she gently pat a kabob on his lips trying to get him to eat it.
"Laycee, when Vulf said I owe him a favor to pay for the armor he meant-"
"Yep." She responded with a giggle.
Kai groaned again.
"While you were out murdering bandits, John actually stopped by the shop. When Vulf and John
realized they both knew you the plan was already set in motion."
Kai lay his head on the table and stared out the window. All of this for a cool set of armor.
Chapter 21- EXPLOSIVE Charisma
"The elven city in Amethyst Valley has already fallen to the tosker, and the creatures are surely
headed to their capital. The elven cities in Amethyst Valley were a buffer to keep the tosker
away from Emberstone. Already, we have lost three outposts in the east. That isn't even the
greatest of our problems, to the south the dwarves have lost land to the sunken. In the north the
orcs and werebeasts seem to be handling the goblins and bugbears, but for how long we don't
know." John concluded.
Kai watched the meeting unfold in silence. As he sat between Vulf and John. Across from them
sat three others. An old woman sat in the middle with two middle age men on either side of her.
Vulf told Kai her name was Glory. The men on either side of her were twins named Ethan and
Evan. The old woman had a copper circlet on her head with rubies inside of it. She seemed very
frail, but had piercing eyes and a hooked nose. She wore robes like John's, only the collar was
decorated with jewels. The two men on either side of her wore robes just like John. They both
had big brown beards and grey eyes. They were both bald, and despite wearing mages robes
were very muscular. Vulf wore a suit of armor similar to Kai's with the exception the fur was
green. The old woman spoke.
"Why is the misfortune of other races our issue. Let them fight their monsters."
Vulf banged his fists on the table.
"Yer outta ya mind if ya thinkin those very monsters won't be knockin on our doorstep pretty
soon, lass."
The man on her left had been scrathing his massive brown beard for the entirety of the meeting.
He finally joined into the conversation. His voice was soft and Kai strained to hear him.
"I agree we need to unite, but unification seems impossible. We have tried before."
John nodded at him.
"But before the other races weren't being attacked by a united group of monsters."
The other three across the table thought about what was being said. Finally the man to the
woman's right spoke.
"We will send word to the capital informing them we are building an embassy. Vulf, can you
handle funding?"
Vulf nodded.
"Once we finish the embassy, I need you to send someone to the elven capital and establish a
teleport crystal there. It's no secret we already have many elven refugees here." Ethan or Evan,
Kai couldn't tell them apart said.
The other twin, whichever one that may be spoke up.
"I think it'd be best if we send someone to Bijou now. The trip will take at least 4 days, but with
all the monster trouble it could be a week."
Ethan or Evan or whoever, looked at Kai.
"I am assuming that you are the one who will be taking the trip to the elven capital of Baijou?"
Kai nodded.
"You should make preparations tonight, and leave in the morning."
Kai shook his head and was about to speak before John cut him off.
"I still have some spells and techniques to teach Kai before we head out. He has only just
become a part of this world and still needs time to adjust."
All three of the council members tensed up.
"You are going to allow someone inexperienced to go on such an important quest? I think not"
Glory said flatly.
"We need to go to Firestone and consult the other council members before we take any action."
Evan and Ethan both nodded.
Emberstone was the second largest human city. Before any big decisions were made by humans
council members would consult the other council members of other cities. For an issue like the
one with the elves and tosker, Firestone, the largest city and neighbor to Emberstone, should be
consulted since they were so close.
Kai looked at John and gave him a little smirk, Kai would be free to adventure on his own after
all.
John seemed to be prepared for that response and spoke again.
"Kai here learned to enchant an axe with electricity within only a few seconds of learning to cast
a simple firebolt."
The other council members all leaned forward and locked their fingers while resting their chins
on the back of their hands. John looked at Kai and smiled as if to say he had won already. John
looked back to the council members.
"He also was the one that killed Axel all by himself."
"And he also gave me a good fight." Vulf added.
The council members all looked at Kai.
"You seem unimpressive under that armor, what can you do." Glory asked.
John used every ounce of energy he had not to smile because the council just played into his
hands. Kai stood up and growled at the council like an angry dog.
"Oh you wanna see what I can do, huh? What cha wanna see? My best spell?" He snapped.
The council members nodded.
“Fire your best spell boy, and I bet we can stop it without breaking a sweat.” Glory said with an
amused look on her face.
Kai put his arms down at his sides and began focusing.
Vulf looked at John and swallowed. Then he stood up and pat Kai on the back. All the while
Vulf began to sweat.
"Evan!" Vulf shouted.
The one on Glory's left looked up.
"Yes Vulf?"
"Make sure ya ready to stop something big, lad." He said as he backed towards the door.
Evan waved his hand dismissively towards Vulf and turned to the other two members and they
all looked at one another and laughed. While they all laughed amongst each other Kai had
already combined his orbs into his preferred spell. John saw what Kai was doing and just got up
and left the room. Vulf rose his hand as if he was going to speak, but instead just followed John
out. Kai was creating an explosion spell and it hovered about 7 feet above Kai. The three council
members finally finished laughing and it was Evan who turned back to Kai first while the other
two continued to speak to one another.
"OH SHI-"
Kai had kept his eyes shut the entire time he was preparing the spell, he focused so hard on
making it as strong as possible to prove a point. The giant ball of flaming death he had created
above himself was now moving towards the council members. It was huge, at least three times as
big as the one he made for Axel. It was like a small supernova. It was maybe the size of a
minivan and now this fireball of explosive doom was only about 5 feet away from destroying the
building. As soon as Kai threw it he felt dizzy and took a knee. He opened his eyes to see his
masterpiece...now he was worried he had finally killed everyone. Once again his ego would ruin
everything. What he had done to the forest would be nothing compared to this. Evan stood up
and extended both of his hands and caught the blast mid air. He held it for a few seconds and
began to sweat with the amount of effort it was taking to keep it still. When the blast touched his
hands suddenly wind began to blow all around the room. Kai covered his face from flying papers
and glasses that flew around the room as he was forcibly pushed back. His kept his feet planted,
but he slid across the floor against his wishes. The other two council members shielded their
faces and they were pushed back by the wind as well. Evan let out a warcry and he threw his
arms up into the air. At that same moment, Ethan blew a hole in the ceiling with a spell that
looked like a blue laser beam and the super nova went through the hole and out of the ceiling.
Evan panted with exhaustion after redirecting the blast and leaned forward, placing his palms on
the table. Glory ran forward and put a hand on Evan's shoulder.
"Evan are you alright? What in-"
All of the windows in the room shattered as a flash of light followed by a deafening boom could
be heard outside. It felt like the entire world was shaking as the entire building rattled from the
explosion. The coucil members all dove under the table. For about two seconds red light flashed
into the room, painting everything in a crimson hue. The sound was like a missile exploding right
outside. It was deafening, Kai had never heard anything so loud before. Kai tried to crawl away
quietly while the old people were distracted and panicking. He made it to the door, but then it
was opened and John stood with a triumpant look on his face. Meanwhile Vulf stood with his
mouth open staring at the mess that had been made. Everything in the room was scattered, there
was a hole in the roof, and all the windows were shattered. Chairs, files, and pieces of ceiling
were all over the room. Glass covered every inch of the floor and Vulf was sure at least 8 chairs
were missing. The three coucil members were all huddled together under the table. Kai had
attempted to crawl away through John's legs, but was grabbed by the arm and brought back to
the council members. Instead of kicking and screaming as expected, Kai just let John drag him
over as he silently stared off into nothingness. Kai had a blank look on his face like a pouting
toddler. John released Kai's arm and he stood up and looked at the council members. He gave
them his most innocent smile he could muster.
"Soooo..." he muttered as he put his arms behind his back and kicked a goblet on the floor.
Glory extended a shaky hand.
"What do you want before you leave in a week?"
Chapter 22- Control
Kai wasn't happy he would be forced to go on some stupid quest far away as a diplomat. Kai
wanted to train for a least a couple months before he would have to do things he didn't want to.
Kai hated feeling like he wasn't free. He just got to the new world he loved so much. On the
bright side, Kai negotiated with Gale and would recieve a portal to his own personal home, and
recieve 10,000 gold up front. John informed Kai that Emberstone city was the second largest
human city next to Firestone city, and that Kai could ask for more. Kai felt like that would be too
easy, and he wanted to work harder for more loot. Kai had to admit, he was excited about the
exploration that came with the mission he had been given. All he had to do was go through
Amethyst Valley and find the elven capital city. There would be pleanty to see. Kai also couldn't
wait to flirt with all the elven ladies. Kai twirled a vibrant red flower between his fingers as he
thought of the future. Kai was now back in the Forest of Roses. John had agreed to go with Kai
to Baijou, the elven capital. Laycee had also agreed to come, and now John brought the three of
them to the Forest of Roses to hunt Nue for cash and training.
Kai walked behind John, while Laycee clutched Kai's right arm with both her own like a
frightened child. Kai tried to free his arm, but Laycee only squeezed tighter in response.
"Kai, please let me hold on Nue's are so scary..."
Kai sighed and allowed Laycee to clutch his arm while he scratched his head with his free hand.
"Laycee, I ain't gonna let some dumb Nue get you okay? Come on, toughen up."
John spoke without looking back at them.
"Nue's have a weakness to ice, and I don't think you know how to create ice, Kai."
Kai puffed out his chest.
"Ya huh! I can too make ice!"
Laycee chuckled.
"Kai you froze an entire room and passed out."
Kai flailed with his free arm.
"Yeah, so imagine what I'd do to a Nue!"
Laycee and John both laughed while Kai sneered.
John held up his fist and Laycee and Kai both stopped walking.
"Kai, come here."
Kai released his arm from Laycee's grip as she wimpered, and he approached John to stand on
his right side.
John had led Laycee and Kai off of the main path in the forest and after about fifteen minutes of
walking through small shrubs and low hanging branches, they reached a clearing. The trees
thinned out and straight ahead was a group of very large gorilla-like creatures. They were large,
even while hunched over resting their upper bodies on their knuckles the creatures stood six feet
tall at the shoulder. They were covered in thick fur of a variety of different colors. Kai spotted
two in the clearing picking the meat off a carcass. One had yellow fur like a labrador, while the
other had silver hair. Two others resided in the large trees on the edges of the clearing. One was
white with a black arms and legs, complete with a black mask. The last of the four was sandy
brown with a black face. Each of them had an appendage at the end of their tails that looked like
a Venus fly trap.
"Kai, we leave for Baijou in a week." John stared at the nue as they all continued their actions.
Kai kept his attention on his prey.
"Yeah, so?"
"So now is the time to learn. You want to get stronger, yeah?"
Kai made a fist.
"Hell yeah!"
John smiled, he loved how Kai was always ready for any challenge. His enthusiasm made
training him far easier.
"Well, from what Laycee told me you need to learn to control ice better. Like stone it has no
shape or structure without you forming it first. Based on how your last ice spell went, you just
made a blizzard spell around yourself, which is a strong spell...too strong."
John began to wave his hand slowly in front of him and it had a fog surrounding it.
"So I need to compact the ice the same way as stone?" Kai asked, completely taking his attention
off the nue to look at John's hand. John nodded,
"But another problem with you is that as your emotions rise, mana leaks out of your body at a
rapid rate. You quickly deplete your mana reserves doing nothing. Every spell you use you also
put way too much into. Using magic is like running a marathon. Use as much energy as you can
while being able to make it to the end of the race." John curled his fingers and an icecicle formed
in his hand.
Kai began to focus, grabbing at the point at the base of his neck. He created two orbs.
Remembering what John said, he reduced the size of them by half. Then he reduced the size by
half again. He spun one until it looked like wisps of air, while the other he moved in a figure
eight until it became wavy. When he allowed the two orbs to touch they formed a solid orb the
size of the two put together. Kai then as if using the pull spell pushed his creation into reality,
and a small orb of ice appeared before him. He had been focusing so much he didn't even realize
that Laycee and John were staring at him.
"Glad I can be entertaining for the two of you." Kai said without taking his eyes off of his icy
creation.
Laycee was the first to chime in,
"I'm just surprised you can control your magic so well already...even if you had to focus so hard
for a whole two minutes."
Kai turned his head to look at Laycee
"Was not two minutes..." Kai turned to John.
"Was it?"
John shrugged,
"Minute and a half."
Kai shook his head.
"Why is it harder to use weaker magic?"
John put his hand on Kai's shoulder
"Normally people have the opposite problem. We can just practice here until you are ready to
fight th-"
"Ready now." Kai cut off John as he let his ice ball fly towards a Nue in a tree, and when it hit
the target the ice ball exploded and the creature froze as it plummeted to the ground and
shattered.
"Kai you idiot!" John and Laycee shouted in unison.
Kai ran out from the brush and started focusing on making an ice spell again. He was being sure
to reduce the size of the orbs in his head as not to drain himself. He thought he could safely do it
if he cut the orbs in half only twice, but only managed to cut the orbs in half once before he felt
magic wrap around is waist and pull him back. Just as he was moved back one of the nue
slammed it's fist on the ground where Kai had been.
"Kai, pay attention!" John shouted, then he extended his staff towards a Nue that was flying
through the air at Kai. An icy blast shot forward and hit it in the chest and it froze middair. Kai
removed his axes and smashed the frozen creature as it flew towards him. It shattered easily, too
easy. Kai looked at his axes, and then looked at John.
"Freeze dry lowers the defenses of any target hit considerably, and also Nue have a weakness to
ice." John said as he lowered his staff.
Kai smiled and turned his attention to the other two Nue that were beginning to surround him
pacing in a half circle around him.
Kai began to focus on the spell while keeping his axes drawn and staying light on his feet. To his
surprise the orbs he was working on before were still in his brain where he left them. He quickly
gave one the air property and the other the water. When he combined the h-shit!
Kai swung his axe at the tail of a Nue with his right hand as it attempted to grab him. The Nue
shouted and recoiled the tail while the other pounced and Kai dove to his right and rolled out of
the way avoiding the attack. He combined the two orbs and pushed the spell out of his mind. It
was a large ice spell and it was quite draining. It wasn't giving Kai a headache, but he could tell
that he would get off maybe three of these at this size before tiring out. When the ball of ice was
revealed the two Nue reared on their back legs and let out cries that sounded like shrieking apes.
Kai took advantage of the fear and experimented with his spell. Using a pull spell of either side
of the ice it split it into two separate spells and hit both of the nue. Both of them froze, and then
using his chains he lashed out at both of them and the thin layer of ice on each shattered and they
dropped to their stomachs, but began to rise again. Kai was able to form an ice spell far quicker
this time, but once again he only cut the orbs to half size. This time, he got a slight headache
when the ice was created before him.
"Kai, don't be so reckless he heard Laycee shout from somewhere behind him and he felt the
headache go away and his mana reserves seemed to replenish. Just then, the nue charged forward
their resolve and will to live returning. Kai used a pull spell and shot the ball of ice like a bullet
and hit one of the nue. It caused ice shards to spray everywhere and both nue raised their arms to
cover their faces. Kai ran forward and slid underneath the nue to his right, when he ended up
behind him he used a pull spell to lift himself, and then swung one of his axes down at the
ground. He cut the creature's tail clean off. It roared in pain and turned around and tried to slam
it's paw onto Kai with a downward strike. Kai spun out of the way and cut the paw off cleanly
with his left axe, then lept in the air and buried his right axe into the creatures neck. It fell on it's
back with Kai on top and then Kai took two more swings at it's neck and it stopped moving. The
other nue removed it's hand from it's eyes and saw the other was dead and attempted to run, but
not before John inpaled it with an icicle and it turned to ice and shattered. John lowered his staff,
and then turned to Kai.
"IDIOT!"
Chapter 23- Boss fight dos
Kai, Laycee, and John collected all the meat they could. Since Kai just started murdering before
a plan was formed, many of the nue that were frozen and shattered didn't have much meat to use.
Kai cut their earnings in half and now the three of them had to hunt twice as long to make a
decent amount of money for the day. They had gone deeper into nue territory than John had ever
gone and the forest got more dense and smelled different. There were less flowers and more
thorns on everything. Branches seemed to move on their own, and nue could be heard shrieking
to each other from all over. The forest got more dense, and dark. The plants there seemed to be
darker in color as well. John decided that they should leave, but then Kai noticed something in
one of the trees. Despite John swearing he would leave Kai in the forest alone, Kai used his
chains and climbed up the branches of an abnormally large tree and entered a nest that was at
least thirty feet in diameter. It was made of what looked like a bunch of vines and twigs woven
together. In the center there were two eggs. One was black and the other was bright red. Kai
jumped in the air and let out a cheerful squeal before he ran up to both eggs and cupped one in
each arm. The eggs were very large, each one was roughly the size of a watermelon. Kai jumped
down from the tree and using his chains like propellers broke his fall right before hitting the
ground.
"Look!" Kai said with a huge smile on his face. Clearly excited about the loot he had obtained.
John and Laycee both narrowed their eyes at Kai and said flatly.
"Kai, put those back."
Kai stomped his foot like a toddler.
"No!"
Without a word Laycee and John having had enough of Kai for the day, turned around and began
to leave. Kai let out another giggle and began to follow with the eggs in tow. Then there was a
loud boom from behind them and all three turned around. What they saw could only be described
as a nue on steroids. It was about 10 feet tall and had black fur with blue tiger stripes all over it's
body. It stared at them with it's sharp fangs jutting from it's closed mouth. Then it peeled back it's
lips and bellowed.
The creature sounded exactly like Godzilla, and it frightened Kai to no end. The three
adventurers turned to run, but they were surrounded on all sides by nue who seemed to suddenly
appear from the brush. Kai calmly sat down the eggs and did a full 360 of his surroundings. The
nue were all watching as if it was some kind of tournament and beat on their chests, hollering at
the three of them.
"Hey John..." Kai said.
"What?..." He responded.
"I think we stumbled into a boss fight..."
John swallowed hard and then nodded slowly.
Kai wasted no time, in the little bit of training he had received he could conjure ice twice as fast.
He used it to enchant his chains. He felt Laycee instantly begin to regenerate his Mana for him.
Not only this, but she also began to limit the amount he could use. Normally, a spell like that Is a
debuff, a spell used to put opponents at a disadvantage, but she used it to help control Kai’s mana
use so he could be reckless. The giant nue rocketed into the air and rose it's two fists above it's
head. Kai extended his chains to a nearby branch and swung out of the way. When the creature
hit the ground there was a loud crash and it left a small crater in the ground. Kai released his
branch and hit the ground and rolled, ending up behind the creature. When Kai hit the ground he
used his chains to lash out and hit the nue with icy strikes. It roared in pain and extended it's tail
to grab Kai. Kai wrapped his chains around the creature’s neck and pulled himself toward it
while avoiding the tail. He landed on it's back and began to hack away at the back of the
behemoth’s neck. It reached up to grab Kai, but John hit it's hand with an ice spike, and then Kai
followed up with a slash from his axe. The massive nue's hand recoiled, but it did not shatter, or
even seem hurt too badly. Then Kai felt something wrap around his waist and then he was
slammed on to the ground. It hurt, but thanks to his new armor it wasn't terrible. The creature had
grabbed him with it's tail. Kai hacked at it with his axes, and thanks to the vampire enchantment
Vulf put on them, each slash made Kai feel better. The creature released Kai and then turned to
face him. It was exactly what Kai wanted. He had established that for the party he had to be the
one to keep the attention of enemies. He was the only one who could effectively use melee
weapons and recover his health on his own. Despite being the shortest of the three, Kai was the
tank. The nue blitzed Kai and in response Kai formed an ice spell and shot it right at the
creatures’ face. Since Laycee was limiting his magic use, Kai could form the spell super-fast
since he didn't have to worry about overdoing it. The creature with cat-like reflexes bat the icy
blast back at Kai and it hit him right in the chest. The spectating nue hollered in excitement. Kai
fell on his back and felt like he just walked out into -50-degree weather naked. John put ice on
the ground surrounding Kai and the giant nue slipped on it while advancing toward Kai, landing
on its belly. Kai conjured a fire spell and covered his body with it. The nue got up and shielded
its eyes and took a blind swing at where Kai was. Kai thawed just enough to roll out of the way,
then he wrapped his icy chains around the creatures arm and pumped as much Mana as he could
into it. He only wanted to freeze its arm but ended up freezing the entire right half of the
creatures body.
"Kai! You are using way too much mana, I can't control that much!" Laycee called out.
Kai nodded in response.
"John! Nuke em!" Kai yelled back at the two. Then he ran at the creature and slid under it using
the ice John created on the ground earlier. Kai stood up and without turning around extended his
chains behind him around the nue's neck and pulled himself toward it. Kai couldn't see the nue
behind him, but the nue's tail was facing him. Kai slashed at the creature’s tail to keep it away as
he was pulled towards the nue. He landed on the frozen half of the massive nue's body and lept
off it's shoulder and hacked at it's vulnerable side the whole way down. Kai felt refreshed, having
landed great shots as the creature bled. Kai ducked under a swipe from the nues free arm and
spun in a circle to gain momentum on the ice beneath his feet. He then hit the nue in it's right
frozen side with a devastating blow that shattered the ice it's body was partially covered in. The
giant roared in pain and reeled back on it's hind legs. Just then a massive icy blast hit the creature
in the back and it fell forward. Kai grabbed a nearby branch with one of his chains and pulled
himself out of the way.
"Kai!" Kai looked in Laycee's direction. John and Laycee were both being surrounded by nue
who began jumping down from the trees.
"Damn, we nuked the boss too hard and provoked all the minions." Kai said to himself.
Kai used his propeller chain trick to quickly close the distance between him and his friends. The
cool part was that all he had to do was remove the water half of the enchantment from his chains
to just use wind. Kai couldn't form an ice enchantment fast enough, but he could use electricity.
He infused his axes with electricity and then slammed his axes into the shoulders of one of the
nue. Then Kai yelled out.
"Gulo Gulo!"
All the other nue looked right at him. Perfect, he had their attention.
"Laycee, I need to you give me all the Mana you got! John, I need you to keep all these monsters
back. We are getting out of here!"
John nodded and let loose a blizzard spell. A blast of ice shot out all around John, missing his
two allies, while hitting the enemy. All the nue reeled back and let out cries. While the blizzard
spell distracted them, Kai used his chains to grab the two nue eggs. One nue tried to grab the egg
from Kai and he instinctively bellowed, sounding something like a tigers roar. When he did it the
nue was paralyzed for a second. This allowed Kai to retrieve the eggs. He sheathed his axes and
clutched the two eggs in each of his arms as he ran to Laycee and John.
"Grab on to me, now! Laycee, mana!"
Kai felt Laycee give him all the mana she had while he used his chains like propellers. He
underestimated how much mana he was using and the three of them shot off like a rocket. Kai
was sure if he kept at this speed they would go into orbit. He then realized that John used a wind
spell to shoot them up at first. John had used it defensively to deflect a giant boulder the boss nue
had thrown, while also making a quick getaway. They were well above the trees and Kai could
see Emberstone City in the distance. He continued for a whole minute moving them towards the
city. Kai wasn't sure how much ground they covered, but they were about halfway out of the
Forest of Roses if Kai had to guess.
"Kai, please tell me you put out the fire from your last quest." Laycee chimed in.
Kai pretended he didn't hear and Laycee just sighed.
The plume of smoke was rising from the part of the forest Kai had burnt up. John swung his staff
and the flames dispersed.
"It was almost out anyway, lucky mana spreads slow, huh Kai."
Kai pretended not to hear again.
"I'm getting tired, I'm going to set us down near the spot I found Gale."
Kai descended into the forest and the three of them all got to be about 5 feet from the ground
before Kai just released the spell. They all hit the ground with a thud and Kai dropped his two
eggs.
"MY BABIES!" Kai rushed over to the eggs and checked them. They were unharmed and he let
out a sigh of relief.
"Babies?" Laycee asked while dusting herself off.
"Yeah...they're uhhh...worth a lot of money..." Kai said as he released a nervous laugh.
John watched the two and shook his head. He removed a teleport crystal and left without a word.
Laycee poked Kai in the chest.
"Make sure I get my cut, mister!"
Kai nodded.
"I am exhausted, think you can make it back to the city alone?" Laycee asked him.
Kai nodded again.
Laycee smiled at Kai and pat his face.
"Be safe, okay? You did well today." Laycee embraced Kai, and in response he rubbed his face
against hers since he was holding the two eggs it was all he could really do. When she let go she
held her hand on his face for a moment. She gently stroked her thumb on his cheek and they
stared into each other's eyes. Laycee still smelled good after all that fighting and almost dying.
She still looked amazing too, in those leather pants and shirt. The shirt was sleeveless, revealing
that Laycee despite being thick in her chest and rear end was in pretty decent shape. Her blue
eyes seemed to shine in the light peeping through all the trees. Her tightly braided ponytail was
frizzy and she was still a little sweaty. Despite the sweat, Kai still found her attractive. Kai felt
something begin to take over him as he stared at her.
"Kai, why are you-"
Kai leaned forward and kissed her while she cupped his face. She pulled him in and increased the
intensity. Kai felt as if a million volts of electricity had gone through his body as his lips glided
over hers. Kai had no sense of time as he kissed her. Every second was precious, and Kai didn't
want it to end. Her lips were so soft, and she still managed to smell like cherries after everything
that happened that day. Kai pulled away and his face was grabbed by Laycee again.
"No..."
Her lips glided over Kai's a second time. Every second she spent kissing him was pure bliss that
sent shivers down his spine. It was Laycee who pulled away from Kai this time. They both took a
breath and stared at each other for a moment.
"Sorry, had to get in a little extra in case...ya know...you die." Laycee said as she smiled and
blushed.
"Right right..." kai said as he awkwardly shuffled and bit his lip. He looked at the ground and
when he looked back up at Laycee, she gave him a lustful look and swayed her hips with her
arms behind her back.
"Not now." Kai wanted to kick himself as he said it, but the forest wasn't safe at the moment.
Laycee's snapped out of whatever she was thinking, and her face turned bright red.
"Oh, I wasn't...I mean I didn't mean to...I WASN'T THINKING ABOUT IT!" Laycee quickly
removed her teleport crystal and left. Kai chuckled to himself and headed back for Emberstone.
Chapter 24- Burning Strength
Kai couldn't use a teleport crystal like Laycee and John because his inventory was full. He would
be unable to carry his eggs while also teleporting home. The long walk back to Emberstone
couldn't phase him though. Kai said he would sell the eggs but had no intention of doing so. He
planned to hatch them and raise them. Kai loved animals and having two super big powerful pets
was right up his alley. Plus, no one else had tamed anything yet. He would be a pioneer in exotic
animal taming. Kai walked back to the center of town. Being offered money from greedy
merchants for his eggs. He ignored them and approached the giant arch that erected from the
ground in the center of town. The loop beneath it had a purple glow, with a water like substance
flowing under the arch. Kai walked through it, and after a flash of light returned to his new
home. When Kai agreed to go to Baijou, in his negotiations he asked for a portal to a house.
Mages who specialized in dimensions could create small dimensions where people could build a
house. Kai's home was on a giant floating rock in an uninhabited dimension. The top of the rock
was covered in grass and was maybe 10 acres total. With the portal to his back Kai looked on
toward his house on the opposite side. It was a simple 4 bedroom house. It was made of solid
stone and had an adobe look to it. The home was a beige color with two floors and a flat roof. It
didn't need sloped roofs because it didn't rain or snow in this dimension. There wasn't even
sunlight. The sunlight was an artificial spell, and could be shut on or off by the dimension owner.
If anyone jumped off the edge of the giant rock that was Kai's new home, they would simply fall
into nothingness and then be returned to the warp gate. Kai walked up to his door and opened it
while still carrying the eggs. He awkwardly fumbled with each egg resting against either of his
thighs as he reached for the copper door handle. He stepped into the mostly empty house.
Straight ahead were stairs that went up to the second floor with the bathroom and master
bedroom. To the left of the stairs was the living room and if one were to walk further back
through the living room they would reach the kitchen. To the left of the stairs was a hallway and
there were three doors on it's left wall. Each led to a bedroom. On the right side of the hallway a
walk in closet. And at the very end of the hallway was a bathroom. Kai walked up the stairs and
on the right there was another bathroom, on the left was the master bedroom. The first thing Kai
did was spend 2,000 gold on a massive bed complete with pillars on every corner and drapes
dropping down. Giving complete privacy. That was the only piece of furniture he had yet to
purchase with the exception of a red couch downstairs, and the armor stand that had his old
armor on it near his bed. Kai also had a chest built into the bed under the mattress as part of it.
This is where he stored all his clothes. Kai laid his eggs on his bed and shed his armor and lay it
on his bed also. Kai went to the bathroom to take a shower. His shower head was just a metal rod
with a water infused mana crystal. When he turned on the shower the crystal activated. Spouting
water out of it like a shower back home on earth. When Kai finished showering, he walked into
his kitchen and stored all his meat he gathered into his freezer. It was just a chest with an ice
infused mana crystal inside to keep things cold. Kai walked up stairs and as soon as his head
touched his pillow, he fell asleep. Kai woke to the ring on his finger that served as a key to his
personal dimension glowing and vibrating. He held it to his face and saw Astrid's face in the
ring. He tapped the ring and granted her access to his home. He walked downstairs and opened
his door and waited for her to appear near the portal. Kai crossed his arms and leaned against the
doorway.
"Hey."
Astrid waved and looked Kai directly in the eyes. Sternly, but not hostile.
"Vulf is currently working with people to build the embassy. During, I heard you were traveling
to Baijou, is this true?"
Kai nodded.
"Then I am coming with you, my family is part of the upper class and things will go smoothly if
I come with you."
Kai narrowed his eyes and before he could speak she cut him off and kept speaking.
"The inn my family is currently staying is also insufficient, so I will bring my mother and sister
here for lodging."
Kai furiously shook his head.
"Hey, no! I like living alone I don't want that!"
Astrid placed her hand on Kai's shoulder.
"Please, for only a short time. If you are successful in your mission you will be rewarded, I
promise."
Kai let out a heavy sigh and reluctantly agreed.
"Fine, I'll have more ring keys made."
Astrid hugged Kai and then gave his shoulders a squeeze.
"Thank you. Also, Vulf wishes to see you."
Astrid turned to leave out the way she came. Kai did like living alone, but he was mostly upset
because he knew Laycee was hot and ready like Little Caesars, but now he had to worry about
Astrid and her mother and sister.
Kai shook his head. Astrid seemed to be warming up to him, but the way she behaved was
so...robotic?
"Wait, did you just hug me? Astrid are you okay?"
Kai chased after Astrid out of the portal.
Kai arrived at the embassy that was being put together for the elves. The first floor had already
been built and the second was almost complete, minus the roof. There was still lots to be done,
but the beginnings of the building were finished. Vulf walked around inspecting the building,
when he spotted Kai he quickly approached him and embraced him.
"Bout time ya got here lad, sleepin gud I see."
Kai scratched his head.
"Yeah man, so what do ya need?"
Vulf smiled.
"Straight to the point, eh?"
Vulf put his arm around Kai's shoulder and pulled him away from all the construction.
"Listen lad, I know ya got a big quest comin so I decided to teach ya somethin."
Kai rose an eyebrow.
"Right here?"
"Aye, seeing the hero of this story practicing with a renowned warrior will boost morale."
Kai nodded and scratched his head again.
"I didn't bring any of my gear."
Vulf walked back towards the embassy and waved a hand dismissively at Kai.
"Don't need it."
Vulf opened the doors to the embassy and revealed a large open room inside. It had red carpet
laid down throughout the otherwise empty room.
"You guys build fast..." Kai said as he kneeled down to run his fingers through the carpet.
Vulf shrugged,
"Behind schedule."
Kai stood up and stretched.
"What am I learning?"
Vulf without another word walked over to Kai and gave him a hard shove with one hand. It was
hard enough to make Kai hit the ground and tumble. He stood up out of the roll and puffed out
his chest and grit his teeth.
"VULF!"
Vulf said nothing and approached Kai again. Kai was not in the mood to deal with Vulf trying to
pummel him again, so he decided to try what he did in the forest the day before. At this point
humans and elves alike began to walk into the embassy to watch the two of them. Kai stomped
his foot and bellowed, the sound coming from him sounding like the roar of a tiger. Vulf stopped
walking towards Kai, but it was more of a flinch than anything else. Everyone else in the room
froze, feeling the full effects of the bellow. People behind them trying to get in and watch
shouted in frustration trying to push them aside. Everyone affected by the bellow stopped dead in
their tracks for several seconds, despite all the shoving and protests from others. Vulf was now
only two arms lengths away and showed no signs of stopping.
"Yer weak lad. Don't think we shud be trustin ya on this journey if ya can't even enhance yer
strength."
Kai didn't know how to enhance his strength, but he did know what Vulf was teaching him now.
Kai had to fight and learn at the same time. He made the orb appear and began to think about
how he could make himself stronger. Controlling the orb and moving was far easier than ever
now and it felt like moving another arm. Kai didn't know how to enhance his strength, but he did
box back on Earth. When Vulf approached, Kai just threw a jab and circled around him. The jab
didn't even seem to phase him, but it was just to keep Vulf distracted. Vulf continued to walk
while Kai began to think more. He took the orb and placed it on himself. It did nothing,
meanwhile Vulf advanced, trying to grab Kai's wrist. Kai pulled his left hand back while
throwing a straight right hand of his own. It hit Vulf right in the chin and he took a step back.
Kai back pedaled away and kept trying different ways to enhance his strength. Vulf began to
walk towards Kai again and in response Kai tried to circle, but Vulf closed the distance at
breakneck speed. He then threw a punch to Kai's abdomen that sent him flying into the wall
behind him. Kai hit the ground and curled into a ball clutching his stomach gasping for air.
Everyone in the audience had recovered from Kai's war cry and were now booing at Kai's pitiful
performance. Kai finally got a lung full of air and looked at all the faces. All his friends were
there. Even Gale and Lydia were cheering for Kai. Unfortunately, they were being drowned out
by the numerous boos from disappointed patrons. Kai looked to Laycee who had the same old
worried expression, while John looked at him and gave him a thumbs up. Even Astrid stared at
him, seeming more bored than anything else. Kai stood up on shaky legs and held up his guard.
Vulf closed the distance quickly again, and as soon as he moved Kai moved directly to his left
with his back to the wall, then circled so that he had more space. Vulf turned to face him and
walked towards Kai again.
"Kick his ass Vulf!" Someone in the crowd shouted.
"You can do it Kai!" He heard Laycee shouting.
Kai couldn't go down like a bitch in front of Laycee. In a desperate attempt to do something Kai
took the orb and touched it to his chest. Then, he forced it inside of himself. It hurt like hell
going into his skin. Once it moved all the way into his chest he let out a shout and dropped to his
knees.
"See? All it took is one punch, this guy is a joke!" Another patron from the crowd shouted.
Kai could care less. Keeping the orb trapped inside of him took a phenomenal amount if effort,
but he started to pour more Mana into it.
"YOOOOW, hot hot hot!"
At this point Kai began to flail on the ground like a fish. Kicking and screaming profanities at no
one in particular. The more Mana he pumped into himself, the hotter he got. He felt like he was
on fire, but he also felt like Superman. Kai wasn't sure if it was safe, but he continued to pour
mana into himself. At this point Vulf became concerned and attempted to place a hand on Kai.
"Lad are y- OOF!"
When Vulf reached down to touch Kai, Kai responded getting up to his knees and throwing a
fast, albeit wild uppercut. It sent Vulf flying into the ceiling and crashing into it before hitting the
ground. Before he could get up, Kai blitzed Vulf, closing the distance in a mere second with
inhuman speed. Vulf had only managed to make it to his hands and knees. He crawled on the
floor like a baby, clearly shocked and disoriented. Kai having closed the distance so quickly
approached Vulf's side, as his ribs were completely exposed as he was on all fours. Kai then gave
Vulf a swift kick that sent the short stocky man flying into the wall in the same spot Vulf had
punched Kai into earlier.
As soon as Kai had kicked Vulf, he began to get a slight headache. He also noticed that his body
had a faint red glowing steam around it. Whatever he was doing to his body was wasting a ton of
mana, so Kai stopped pumping mana into the technique. As soon as he did the orb he used to
control his magic popped out of his body, and the red glowing stopped. Vulf stood up and
cracked his knuckles, and Kai gulped.
Vulf began to run towards Kai at an alarming speed, then he began to dash wildly from left to
right while still approaching. Kai in response shoved the orb back into himself and suddenly,
Vulf seemed to slow down. Not only that, but Kai sped up and when Vulf got close Kai let his
reflexes take over. Vulf reached out and tried to snag Kai in a bear hug. Kai slipped his head
under Vulf's right arm and the wrapped his own two arms around the tiny brute. Kai threw his
right foot forward and around the backside of Vulf's right. Kai didn't do a lot of Jiujitsu, but he
did enough to learn a good hip toss. Kai twisted to his left and slung Vulf in one of the greatest,
no, THE GREATEST hip toss he had ever thrown. Vulf soared in the air and crashed like a
comet and when he hit the ground it was like a mini earthquake. It sounded like a stick of
dynamite had blown up in the room and everyone in the room erupted into a mix of fear, and
excitement.
"OHHHH, YA DUN IT NOW LAD! I'M HURT, YA DUN KILLED OL VULF!" Vulf shouted
in pure agony.
Kai instantly released the spell and let go of Vulf.
"Oh no, not again! I hurt my teacher!" Kai grabbed two handfuls of hair as he panicked.
"Vulf I-"
Vulf smiled and grabbed Kai's ankle and began to swing him in circles at such high speeds Kai
was sure he would puke. Kai immediately began to use the spell in his body to strengthen
himself. The power coursing through him was phenomenal, but instead of using it offensively,
Kai tried instead to use it defensively. Kai began to try and stretch the orb inside of him to cover
his entire body rather than just pump mana into it. Right as Kai finished Vulf released him and
he hit the exact same spot on the wall he and Vulf had hit before. Only this time he went straight
through. Kai flew outside of the embassy and hit a tree outside before falling to the ground. Kai
didn't realize how hard he had been thrown until he got up. He shook his head and released
defensive spell. He had a throbbing headache. Not because of the throw, but because he was low
on mana. Vulf, followed Laycee and a plethora of other people rushed outside to see what
happened. Laycee ran to Kai's side and began to frantically check him for injuries.
"Oh my goodness! Kai look at you! You are covered in dirt!..." Laycee ran her hands over Kai's
chest as she looked him over.
"But no injuries..."
Kai continued to stare at Vulf with his chest puffed out.
"I figured out the spell, are we done?"
Vulf just crossed his arms and smiled. Kai let out a heavy sigh and began to walk towards Vulf.
"Hey!" Laycee grabbed Kai's wrist.
"You are dangerously low on mana, that's enough! Vulf, this fight is o-"
"Laycee, shut up." Kai yanked his wrist out of her hand. Kai didn't even bother to look at Laycee,
he knew she would be furious. Kai could care less though, he liked the way the mana burned,
because it meant he was stronger than ever. He felt as if his entire body was filled with fire that
supercharged him.
"This power running through me is greater than anything I've ever felt before. It's like the
preworkout of the gods! Now back off Laycee, I don't need you babysittin me!" Vulf gave Kai a
disappointed look as he shook his head.
"Lad, she was just trying ta-"
Kai had already closed the distance between the two of them. Kai used only what he needed to
get to Vulf, then stopped boosting his strength. He unloaded with a jab followed by a cross. Vulf
took a step back and retaliated with a wild hook. Kai ducked and forced the orb into his right arm
and pumped all his remaining mana into it while throwing a brutal uppercut.
Vulf brought his chin down while clenching his teeth and when the fist and chin collided there
was a loud crack. Vulf took a step back, and shook his head. Clearing the cobwebs in his brain.
Kai dropped his hand and smiled at Vulf. He had clearly done some serious damage to Vulf, he
had never dazed Vulf like that before.
And then the pain came.
Kai was sure he broke his hand on Vulf's chin, and he was out of mana. he used way too much
on the last attack and his vision began to blur. Kai rose his right hand, still covered in red steam.
Despite it being broken, Kai still managed to flip off Vulf before he passed out.
Chapter 25- The black knight
Kai slowly opened his eyes. His vision was blurred, and his head hurt terribly. Kai shut his eyes
and laid still for awhile longer before opening them again and attempting to get up. Kai only
managed to rise a few inches off the ground before he felt a hand on his chest gently push him
back down. Kai turned his head to his right to see Laycee massaging his recently broken hand.
Then it all came back to Kai, and he remembered how much trouble he was about to be in.
"Laycee I-"
"Save it, Kai."
Kai shut his eyes and let out a huge sigh as he laid his head back down on what he realized was
Laycee's lap. She began to run her fingers through his dreads in a comforting way before
speaking again.
"When someone uses Mana to boost their strength, there are precautions they should take."
Kai facepalmed with his free hand and groaned.
"What'd I do wrong this time?"
"Well fer one yer terrible at containing the mana inside of ya. I could see the aura coming off of
ya. Not only does that eliminate surprising the enemy, ya also wasted all ya had in two attacks."
Kai started to massage his forehead with his left hand. Laycee was numbing the pain a little, but
his head still hurt.
"So the red steam was my mana? Why didn't you tel- I did more than two attacks!"
Vulf took a knee beside Kai and rested a hand on his shoulder.
"Because I wanted ya ta show everyone ya got whut it takes, lad."
Kai had tunnel vision upon waking up, but after listening to what Vulf had just said to him he
began to scan his surroundings. The small crowd that had gathered during Kai's "lesson" was
now watching him intently.
"Since ya come ta this world ya been completely ignoring ya surroundings. Ya already a big deal
roun town, lad."
Kai narrowed his eyes at Vulf.
"Me? Why?"
Vulf chuckled and stood up.
"Kai ya killed a renowned bandit in the forest, and ya blew the roof off of the high council
building. When tha public heard bout ya, they started wonderin if we was exaggeratin er not.
Now they've seen."
One massive man from the audience stepped forward in solid black armor. The metal looked
almost as if it stole the surrounding light and absorbed it. His eyes were a milky white, with no
visible pupils. He had white hair that was shaved into a buzzcut. He had a very bushy beard, and
an X shaped scar on his right cheek.
"This boy is the one who will go to Baijou?"
He looked Kai up and down for a moment longer before he continued.
"Well, he certainly has an enormous amount of mana flowing through him, but his ability to
wield it is...laughable."
Everyone in the crowd looked to the man in Black and began to mumble amongst themselves.
"Obviously teh lad still has some trainin to do. Once he is all trained up, he will be one of our
best."
The man in the dark armor narrowed his eyes at Kai.
"Where did you learn that paralyzing shout?"
Kai rose into a sitting position despite Laycee's protests.
"I learned it when I was fighting nue, I just did it...who are you anyway?"
The man simply stared at Kai for a moment before turning to Vulf and speaking.
"Vulf I will agree to train him while you work on the embassy."
The man looked Kai over once again
"...and by the way boy."
Kai sneered in response to the ebony clad warrior.
"What did you call me? You fu-"
He cut Kai off with what sounded like a whisper, but somehow it reached the ears of everyone
spectating the events unfold.
"Training with me will be a real test. You will learn to behave, boy."
Kai stood up, and despite the protests of the others he stood on his wobbly legs and stared at the
man in defiance.
"Can't fuckin wait."
The seasoned warrior smiled and black smoke began to slowly seep out of every orphice of his
armor. From underneath the shoulder plates, joints, and even from under his boots. The smoke
began to pour out faster as he walked away and became so thick Kai couldn't see him. Kai
attempted to use a pull spell in the smoke just to feel for the intimidating man, but was greeted
with a terrible headache. Kai slapped his palm on his forehead and grunted, then took a knee.
Laycee sighed and knealt down beside Kai and began to rub his temples to numb the pain. Vulf
put his fists on his hips and smiled.
"Nice fella ain't he?"
Chapter 26It had been a long day and Kai was tired. All he wanted to do was sleep in his home, but this was
the icing on the irritating cake. Kai had come home and Astrid and her family had already
decorated his home as if it were their own. His home was mostly empty before. Kai was still
looking around for furniture, but now his home was adorned with all kinds of pink and purple
furniture. Pink chairs, a large purple rug, a glass top table with a pink tablecloth. The table even
had a vase on it with lavender inside of it. Kai couldn't believe what he saw, the only two reasons
Kai did not freak out was because for one he was far too tired to care enough to make a scene.
And two, they hadn't even gone upstairs, so his own personal space was left untouched. At least
it seemed that way, because looking up the stairs, Kai saw no decorations or changes. Kai stared
at the three elves in silence for several seconds after Gale had greeted him. Lydia got up and ran
to Kai and like always wrapped her arms around his waist and displayed her excitement to see
him. Gale gave him a warm smile that after the seventh or eigth second of Kai staring at her
began to go away. Lydia continued trying to get Kai's attention, but like always Kai and Astrid
locked eyes. This time it was different, she had a cold almost sadistic smile on her face. And her
piercing red eyes had locked on to Kai and she relished in her handiwork. Kai knew this was her
doing, the vibrant display of feminie colored furniture placed around every inch of his bottom
floor. Kai realized he was being rude to Gale and Lydia and quickly worked to ratify his
behavior.
"Lydia! Look at you! Cute as ever!" Kai picked Lydia up and held her in the air as she giggled
gleefully.
Kai held Lydia on his hip like a baby while she embraced him, wrapping her arms around his
neck. Kai looked to Gale.
"Hello, are you guys moved in and comfortable?"
Gale gave Kai a warm smile and nodded, while Astrid displayed a wicked smile displaying every
tooth she had in her mouth and nodded as well. Kai put down Lydia despite her protests to be
held.
Kai bent down and put his hands on his knees and gave her a smile.
"I'm tired, Lydia I need to go to sleep. Tomorrow we can play."
Lydia put her finger on her chin and sucked on her tooth.
"Is it cause Vulf was kicking your ass?"
Gale stood up and crossed the distance between her and Lydia is an instant.
"Lydia!"
Kai's cheeks filled with air as he stood up and bit his lip in an attempt not to laugh and encourage
Lydia's behavior. Meanwhile Astrid was already laughing, and Kai only managed to go a couple
seconds before he joined her. Lydia seemed to beam with pride, while Gale chastised the young
girl. Kai took advantage of the opportunity to sneak upstairs. When he opened his door to his
room, his two eggs were right where he left them. Kai noticed over the last two days they began
to wiggle a lot more, but now they we're moving constantly. Fidgeting every second, as if the
contents of the eggs were restless. Like every night since receiving the eggs, Kai crawled into the
bed and laid on his back. He took the two massive eggs and lay them on either of his sides. He
then hugged them close and the fidgeting stopped. Kai could feel the warmth from both eggs,
and it relaxed him. Kai relaxed and the tiredness of the previous day hit him like a wave and he
drifted into sleep.
Kai felt all wet and slimy and the gross feeling instantly made him feel uncomfortable. Still
being groggy from having just woke, Kai took several seconds to adjust to the situation. It was
still dark in his room, so it was probably late in the night. Had it been early, he had the
dimension set to activate the artificial sun. The egg clutched in Kai's left arm was still there, but
Kai immediately noticed that the egg that was supposed to be in his right was no longer tucked
away soundly.
"Ohhh, no no no!"
Kai in a panic began to frantically glide his hands over his blankets. Feeling pieces of eggshell
made his heart sink. The only logical conclusion he could come to was that he had smashed the
egg in his sleep. Kai felt his hand glide over what felt like a small child and he froze. Kai used a
pull spell on the Mana crystals on his headboard to activate them. The room filled with a blue
glow. Laying beside Kai and seemingly sound asleep was what appeared to be a small monkeylike creature. It was extremely pudgy, muscular, but pudgy for only being alive such a short time.
It lay on it's back with it's mouth wide open snoring quietly. The small creature had large fangs
already and a razor sharp set of teeth. It's fur, while still having some slime remaining on some
parts, was mostly dry. The creatures hands, feet, and a diamond shaped patch on it's chest, were a
dark red. The rest of the creature was jet black. Kai gently rested the egg he was clutching
against the headboard behind him and cradled the small nue in his arms. Kai stood up and he
began to rock the creature back and forth. The creature wrapped it's tail around his arm as it
sucked on it's thumb.
"Okay, way too adorable." Kai said to himself.
Kai began to work his way out of the room, and began to head down the stairs. The house was
dark and Kai was sure to be as quiet as possible. He tip-toed down the stairs and upon reaching
the bottom of the stairs, he used a pull spell on a Mana crystal by the door. Instantly Kai regret
his actions. For some reason, Lydia and Astrid lay on the pink couch(that Kai hated) sound
asleep. Kai shut the Mana crystal off before he could wake the other two. The nue stirred in his
arms for a moment, but then lie still. Kai let out a small sigh of relief before going to the kitchen.
Kai wasn't sure what the nue would eat. If he had to give the nue it's mother's milk to eat he
would have to find some bizarre solution. Kai was sure the mini nue could at least chew meat
based on it's teeth alone, but he needed to sneak some meat upstairs now just to be sure. Kai
made his way into the kitchen and opened the chest against the back wall. When he opened the
chest a cold breeze emitted from it and the nue in his arms shivered. Kai grabbed some beef and
pork from the freezer with his left hand, while cradling the nue in his right arm. The nue let out a
yawn and began to sniff the air. It slowly opened it's eyes to reveal a golden almost glowing set
of eyes. The creature stirred in Kai's arms and began to sniff the air even more it's eyes darted
toward the meat and it extended it's hands. Kai handed the meat to the nue, who tried to take a
bite. As soon as it's fangs made contact with the frozen food it's face twisted in disgust and it
raised the meat above it's head.
"No!" Kai said in a hushed whisper, but it was too late. The meat was already headed for the
floor. Kai flinched at the loud sound of the meat smashing against the hardwood floor, and
quickly darted his eyes to the girls sleeping on the couch. Astrid lay on her back with Lydia
laying her head on her chest. They both were still soundly asleep. Kai turned his head to the nue
with a glare ready to go, but before he got a chance to even chastise the creature it opened it's
mouth and wailed. It was like the cry of a human child. It didn't wail long, before Astrid opened
her eyes and sat up to look at Kai. Shortly after Lydia used a pull spell and turned on the light.
Meanwhile the nue in Kai arms put it's fists up to it's eyes as it complained about it's empty
stomach with a series of whines and grunts. Kai just stared at Astrid and Lydia holding his nue in
his arm, as his mouth dried up and he awaited an execution by Astrid's hand.
While not taking his eyes off of Astrid, Kai used a pull spell to bring the meat to his left hand.
He used an ice spell to remove all the ice from the meat. He then heated it enough to make it
warm, but not cook it. Then he handed it to the crying nue. The creature began to tear into the
meat without hesitation, and Kai felt relieved he could easily feed his new pet, but worried about
the elves in front of him. Kai slowly walked to the stairs, while keeping his eyes locked on
Astrid, who locked her eyes on him in return. Kai began to slowly walk up the stairs backwards,
while the elves stared at him with their jaws dropped.
"..." Kai made it up three stairs before Astrid spoke...
"The company you've decided to keep around my little sister."
"Astrid I-"
"No no, let me finish." Astrid held up her palm towards Kai.
"The company you've decided to keep around my little sister is dangerous, and I don't like it."
Astrid said calmly, as she placed one hand over the other. She rested them on her knee after she
crossed her leg.
Kai smiled at Astrid with his warmest smile and clutched the nue tightly with both arms as it
continued to gorge.
"Well that's just too fuckin bad it's my house. Goodnight, sleep tight."
Kai used a pull spell on the Mana crystals
Almost Instantaneously, Lydia turned the lights back on and Astrid had cleared the space
between her and Kai and slapped him across the head three or four times. Kai didn't budge, but
simply closed his eyes and took the attack and then popped his eyes back open once Astrid
finished.
"Idiot! You brought a live nue into the house!?"
Kai stared back at Astrid for about 5 seconds and let her seethe before he spoke.
"No, to be fair I brought two nue eggs into the house."
*SLAP*
Astrid slapped Kai right across the face, and this time it had a fair amount of power behind it.
When Astrid's hand hit the left side of Kai's face, he turned his head to the right and stared at the
wall for a moment before turning his head slowly back towards Astrid.
"Astrid, stop I don't like being slapped in the fa-"
The elven woman did it again and this time the nue responded having finished it's improvised
meal. It lurched forward and attempted to claw at Astrid's eyes all while letting out an adorable,
yet threatening roar like a lion cub. Kai pulled his right shoulder away from Astrid to keep the
nue out of reach and he extended his left hand at Astrid to separate the two. Astrid recoiled and
took backwards steps off the stairs and Kai was sure he could see steam coming out of her ears
as her teeth grit.
"See! That thing is dangerous! Think about what it could do to Lydia!" Astrid screamed as she
pointed at the nue, which had now crawled up Kai's side and was on his right shoulder. It was
facing with it's chest towards Kai's ear while it's paws rested on Kai's head. The nue had it's head
turned toward Astrid and stared daggers into her. For once Kai felt relief that Astrid wasn't
staring daggers into him, but someone else.
"Look, he hasn't done anything bad yet. Plus, he hasn't attempted to hurt me at all."
Kai reached up and rubbed the creatures back and it purred.
"Plus, look it's super cute!"
Kai grabbed the creature with his hands under each of it's arm pits and extended his arms toward
Astrid with the creature facing her. Astrid peeled back her lips in disgust, but the nue seemed to
give off almost a small smile, but it couldn't, right? It was just an animal. A small...cute...animal.
Astrid's expression softened as the nue let out a small yawn and rubbed it's eyes. Astrid started to
reach her hand forward, but recoiled a moment before she made contact. Cute or not the thing
was still a monster. Astrid let out a sigh and began to massage her eyes.
"I don't like this at all no matter how cute it is I-"
"Let me see it!"
Before Kai had a chance to react, Lydia used a pull spell and plucked the creature from his
hands. To do it quickly she had pulled just a bit too hard and now the nue flew towards her like a
missile. The two collided with each other and Lydia began to laugh hysterically. The nue was
clearly startled by the action, but because Lydia was laughing the creature calmed almost
instantly. It began to hop up and down on it's back legs while slapping it's paws on the ground
like a monkey. It let out a series of "hee hee hee" sounds and began to walk circles around Lydia
while poking her and inspecting her. In response Lydia laughed even harder which only made the
creature want to play even more.
Astrid was going to intervene as soon as the nue had been sent towards her sister, but after
having watched the two interact her expression softened and she visibly relaxed. Kai cracked a
smile and nudged Astrid.
"Wow your sister is braver than you are, Astrid."
Astrid continued to watch the animal and her sister play while speaking to Kai.
"That's because she hasn't seen what monsters are capable of." Astrid said coldly.
"Lydia what is that!?" Came a scream from the hallway to Kai's right.
Gale ran over to Lydia, but before she could get too close Kai witnessed the single most
impressive thing he ever saw a small child do. Lydia used a pull spell and held her mother in
place. She was halted. All forward momentum from Gale was halted in a flash all the while
Lydia continued to play with the nue.
"Mooom, you are gonna scare him!"
Gale watched the two play, and just like Astrid she relaxed. The nue crawled on Lydia as she
laughed and it continued to poke her and inspect her hair and clothing.
Gale scratched her head as she watched the two.
"Kai, is this safe?"
"Nope!" Kai responded with a smile.
"He's lying! Lydia said as she began to rub the nue's stomach as it lay on it's back and began to
purr. Both Gale and Astrid scratched their chins at the same time and said,
"Hm..."
That was all that was said before more crying came from upstairs. The nue ran to Kai and
crawled up his leg and up to his arms. Kai cradled it, and smiled at everyone.
"Okay, so I had two eggs..."
Chapter 27Kai got more than he bargained for with these two nue. Things were very easy for the first few
hours. Both nue ate and swiftly went to sleep. It was incredibly easy to feed them also, as they
pretty much did it themselves. After everyone had gotten a look at the two nue and adjusted to
the two extra members in the household, everyone went back to sleep against Lydia's wishes. As
soon as Kai laid on the bed the nue cuddled up against either side of him and it was like having
them back in egg form all over again.
At least it was for a couple hours.
Every two hours they would whine until they were fed. The creatures had bottomless pits for
stomachs, and they also pooped after every meal, so Kai had to go outside to feed them or they
would just poop on the floor. Kai decided it would be better to sleep on the couch so that he
could easily get back to the kitchen, but the nue wanted to sleep on the bed. Kai could not handle
the two terrors together. The other nue, which ended up being female(don't ask how Kai knows)
was rich red color, and had black stripes on her body. The male was noticably larger, weighing
maybe thirteen pounds to the females nine. Kai had gotten up to feed the nue for the third time,
and now he was frustrated from lack of sleep. The two nue played with each other on the living
room floor. Pawing at each other and wrestling. The artificial light from outside had just cut on
and Gale, walked out of her room after and walked in the living room and watched the scene
unfold before her. The nue quietly played with each other letting out quiet grunts during the
process. Upon seeing Gale, they both ran to Kai and climbed on him. The female standing on his
shoulders, while the male got on the couch and sat next to Kai while resting it's small hand on his
thigh. Kai looked drained, he clearly got no sleep the night before and it was wearing on him.
The bags under his eyes were a dead giveaway.
"Kai...are...are you okay, dear?" Gale asked with concern on her face.
"These motha fuckas won't let me sleep, man..." Kai responded in a low, defeated tone.
"Oh...I...I see." Gale responded and her concern intensified.
"Did you pick out names?" She asked with a smile in an attempt to cheer up tired Kai.
"Annoying, and asshole." He responded before realizing what he said was rude and he massaged
his eyes.
"The red one is Scarlet, and the black one is Turk...and I hate them both."
Gale chuckled and walked over to the couch and sat on the opposite end of it away from Kai.
"You don't mean that, you're just tired and frustrated." She said with a warm smile.
Kai plucked Scarlet off his head and held her in his arms as he stood up. Turk jumped down from
the couch and stood next to him.
"Yeah, but why do they have to be annoying, I am putting in more work than I would with a
fucking human child." He said flatly as he yawned.
Gale shrugged and smiled as she bent down and reached her hand out towards Turk. The nue
retreated behind Kai's leg and squeezed him. It only stayed for a couple seconds before the ran
down the hall and began to play with Lydia. Meanwhile Kai continued to hold Scarlet in his
arms. He smiled because it dawned on him, that he had found a way out. Kai went back to the
couch and laid on his back while still clutching Scarlet. She rolled over in his arms and laid on
his chest and began to play with his lips. Kai didn't care, all he wanted to do was sleep and
before he realized it he dozed off.
"Kai this is really stupid and you need to wake up."
"Nah."
"Kai, you can't have nue in your house."
"Yes huh."
"No huh, wait what the hell am I saying. No, you can't."
"Fuck you, it's my house."
"KAI!"
Kai rolled over in his side with his face towards the back of the couch and let loose big sigh.
Before he could drift back off into sleep, he was yanked up with a pull spell and forced to face
whoever he was talking to. Laycee had found her way into his home and was now probably
going to make him do something he didn't want to do.
"It's time to train now, Kai." She said.
"Fuck, I knew it." Kai said to himself.
"But I am super tired, the nue didn't let me get any sleep." He said as he yawned.
"Serves you right, cause you shouldn't have nue anyway." Laycee put her hands on her hips as
she scolded Kai.
Kai looked around the room, and spotted Lydia on her back asleep with the two nue laying on
top of her. All three were sound asleep. Astrid sat on the couch watching the three as if they were
still awake.
"Where's Gale?" Kai asked.
"Groceries." Astrid responded.
Kai scratched his head and began to head towards the door. Astrid's face turned red and she
stood up.
"Where are you going?" She huffed through clenched teeth.
Kai rose an eyebrow
"Training I guess, you deaf?"
Astrid held her arms out to the three sleeping children while keeping her eyes locked on Kai.
"You got it. Consider this your rent payment and revenge for...this" He responded as he waved
his arms around the room and walked out the door with Laycee in tow.
"That girl gets on my nerves, turning my house pink and shit..." Kai grumbled.
Laycee laughed and pat him on the back.
"I think it looks cute." Laycee giggled as she kissed him on the cheek.
"I know you do and just so you know, you're wrong." Kai said as he walked through the portal.
Chapter 28Kai was directed to the school of magic. The massive warrior in black armor was waiting for
him. Kai didn't even get to look at the scenery of the school on his first visit. He had been inside
once before but was told that the limit of students who could attend had been reached. Now since
Kai was allegedly some type of chosen hero, he was to be given instructions from a powerful
warrior. The one Kai decided he didn't like already. Laycee had already moved Kai's armor to
the school and opened a door to a room with blue carpet. It was a simple studio with a single
bathroom on the right wall and a closet on the left. Kai's armor sat on a bed on the wall straight
ahead of him with a single window above it.
"Why is my armor in someone else's room." Kai asked as he narrowed his eyes.
Laycee shuffled awkwardly before she spoke.
"Because this is your new dorm..." Laycee rose her arms and shook jazz hands as she watched
Kai's reaction with a forced smile.
"Surprise..."
Kai's jaw clenched and he just stared out the window.
"I live off campus."
"Not allowed, hun."
"What the...but this room is small and my nue..."
"You can visit...anyway I need to go, Vulcan is coming soon."
"Who?"
"Your teacher."
"Can I have a kiss first?"
"Not allowed, Kai."
"Fuck this."
"Sorry."
Laycee slapped Kai on the butt and giggled before leaving him in his room alone. Kai got into
his armor and just as he finished smoke came from underneath the door and plumed up into the
room. Kai backed away from the smoke until he fell back onto the bed. The smoke started to rise
in a column and after a brief moment, it began to lower back to the ground. Vulcan appeared
before Kai, as the smoke revealed his form as it left. Before Kai could even speak Vulcan spoke
first.
"Take that armor off, quality is too high." He said in a whisper that sounded like he was right
next to Kai despite him being at least ten feet away. Kai didn't argue since this man was his
teacher. He took off all his gear and was just wearing a leather shirt and pants. Vulcan turned and
opened the door and began to walk away and Kai followed. They walked through the long
hallway that was painted blue with white tile floors. Kai walked to Vulcan's right and any
attempt at talking to him was ignored or shot down. Kai still had no idea what they were going to
learn today. Vulcan brought Kai to a large set of wooden double doors and pushed them open.
They entered what looked like a Colosseum complete with spectator seats and a sand floor.
Vulcan pointed to a weapon rack resting on the wall by the door.
"Vulf made you a set of low-quality gear to practice with, take it."
Once Kai was equipped Vulcan used a pull spell on a gate at the opposite end of the colosseum
and four short green humanoid creatures with large pointy ears walked out.
"These goblins are all equipped with sticks. While they can't kill you, they will hurt. The only
way to get out of this without some bruises is to use that shout of yours to make them run away."
Kai looked at Vulcan with irritation.
"What?"
"Keep shouting and improve it enough to make your foes run, go."
Kai turned to the three small green-skinned humanoids and bellowed. The goblins didn't even
flinch and charged him.
"Your effective range is way too short, that's pathetic. We have more work to do than I thought."
Vulcan said as he crossed his arms.
Kai let the goblins get closer, and this time when he bellowed, they all stopped moving for
several seconds before advancing again. Kai let loose another bellow and the goblins stopped
again for several seconds. This continued to go on for almost a minute. The goblins charged, Kai
shouted. They stopped, then resumed the advance. each time he shouted, the effects were shorter
the next time. Kai was beginning to tire. His throat was starting to hurt, and the goblins were
getting close. Kai let loose one more bellow and this time it failed to do anything at all and the
first goblin swung it's stick in a horizontal swing that Kai ducked under and lunged off his right
foot and threw an uppercut that collided with the monster's chin and knocked it out cold. The
other three goblins all charged at Kai in a line shoulder to shoulder. From left to right they all
attacked, and Kai put up his guard with his fists both near his chin. Kai was confident with his
head movement from boxing back on Earth and was easily able to dodge the wild attacks from
the goblins. Despite their speed their attacks were far too wild to land. From Kai's left to right
they attacked. The first with a overhead swing. Kai pivoted on his left foot, spinning clockwise
and grabbing the stick. Kai lept back and yanked. He was surprised by how weak the goblin was,
not only did the stick fly out of it's hands, but it also stumbled forward and Kai hit the creature
with a solid left hook. It laid face down into the sand. The other two jumped over its body and
came at Kai with overhead swings. Kai took a strong swing with both hands gripping his own
stick and batted away both attacks. He advanced and kicked the left goblin in the stomach and
grabbed the right goblins right arm and pulled the small creature towards himself. He then began
to choke it out. When the other goblin approached and tried to hit Kai with the stick the first had
already passed out and Kai held it up to absorb the blow then tossed it on the remaining foe. He
then ran up to the last goblin and punched it in the face where it lay. It would be taking a long
nap.
"Good, but not what was supposed to be practiced." Vulcan said with no emotions displayed on
his face.
Ten more goblins ran out from the gate while the others were absorbed in the ground as if the
area they lay suddenly turned to quick sand.
"Use your bellow spell to scare them away or be clobbered."
Kai watched the horde of goblins run towards him and bellowed. It stopped them momentarily,
but they continued to come. Kai grit his teeth and let them approach. He reached for the axes he
had equipped, and Vulcan used a pull spell to remove them from him.
"No..."
Kai snarled in response, but let it go. Even without weapons he could kill a hundred of these
things.
Kai was four waves in and now twenty goblins ran from the gate. Ten Kai could handle without
using magic or weapons, but twenty would be the number to break him. The green creatures
weren't strong and were only about three or four feet tall, but he was tired and weakened from
fighting so many. Kai only made it a moment before he was whacked in the face and floored.
The goblins now all took turns beating him as he lay on the ground. Twenty enemies all did their
best to break him with a weapon strong enough to hurt, but not to kill. All the while Vulcan
watched with no emotion on his face. Kai wasn't only being beaten physically, but mentally as
well. It felt like he was being beaten for years.
"Stop..." Kai muttered after the stick collided with his nose. He was sure it was broken after the
blood erupted from his nose so quickly. Kai was becoming frustrated and scared for his life at
this point. The damage he was taking had gone far beyond "training" and Kai began to feel a
fight or flight response swell within him.
"I. Said. Stop! Get the fuck off of me!" Kai shouted.
The goblins stopped, and it gave Kai enough time to stand up and look at his foes on shaky legs.
Kai turned his head to the ceiling and bellowed, this time it was the most intense that Kai had
ever felt it. He felt as if his chest would burst and the shout shook the entire arena, or at least it
felt that way. Many of the goblins turned to run, but roughly 7 of them stayed. Kai extended his
palms on either side of himself and let an explosion of fire blast all around him. In a 360-degree
arc around himself. The goblins all raised their hands in fear and recoiled as they turned to flee,
but the flames were stopped as Vulcan extended his hand.
"No magic, but you scared them off...so I guess you survived the trial."
Vulcan scratched his scruffy face.
"You also did improve your bellow slightly."
Kai dropped to his hands and knees as he took heavy breaths. His body was physically drained,
while still holding a vast reserve of mana. This was a first for him, and for once he began trying
to think of a way to heal himself. As if he had read Kai's mind, Vulcan clapped his hands loudly.
So loud in fact, that Kai looked up at him and began to focus on Vulcan. Vulcan stood over Kai
and crossed his arms. Kai hated the way he looked down at him. Vulcan's face, finally showing
emotions twisted in disgust and he spoke.
"You are weak, boy. Now show me strength, enhance your strength and come at me like you did
with Vulf."
Kai lowered his head and looked at the sand beneath him. He could hear the crimson symphony
he had heard so many times since coming to this new world.
Tick...
Tick...
Tick...
Tick...
Kai's broken nose was still bleeding. Kai felt all the bruises on his body and the pain he felt was
horrendous. Kai wanted to just lay down and die. Not only did his body get beaten, but so did his
spirit.
"No...I can't..." He muttered.
Vulcan shoved Kai over with his boot and Kai landed on his side.
"I said get up you pathetic worm. You are just another piece of shit deemed a hero. Worthless
scum I am forced to train to go and die. All it took was a few goblins to break you, huh? And you
said you couldn't wait to train. I am disappointed." Vulcan spit on Kai.
Kai let the saliva roll down his face as his lay on the ground in a broken heap.
He felt his resolve diminishing at a rapid rate, and he couldn't even find the will to stand. His
body felt heavy, it was like the worst depression he had ever felt in his life. Kai was utterly
broken by the goblins clobbering him. Kai was just about to give up until he began to think. How
many times has he been clobbered before? Vulf broke his hand, and the first time they fought
Vulf had broken his nose. Kai still had injuries from fighting Axel as well. What Kai experienced
today was nothing at all, he had been through way worse. As a matter of fact, no one had been
able to shut Kai up before. The first to do it wasn't going to be this asshole. Kai's body began to
release a red steam around it as that familiar burn began to pass through his body.
"It's about time." Vulcan muttered as he approached Kai.
Before Vulcan could mumble another insult Kai stood up and blitzed Vulcan, slamming into
him. Kai rammed his shoulder into Vulcan's stomach while wrapping his arms around his waist.
Vulcan began to push down on Kai to try and force him off. Kai raised Vulcan off the ground,
lifting Vulcan on to his right shoulder and spun around to slam Vulcan on the ground. Kai
grabbed Vulcan's ankle and lifted him into the air flinging him like a wet rag before slamming
him back down into the sand. That small attack had drained Kai of a vast majority if his mana.
Kai picked up the pace and began to slam him even faster with more mana and energy put into it.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
Six.
Seven times Kai slammed him. Vulcan lay on the sand unmoving while Kai still clutched his leg.
After several seconds Vulcan groaned and began to rise on his hands.
"Okay, that was quite an attack. I may have- What the!"
Kai began to spin Vulcan. At first he used Vulcan to draw a circle in the sand and then he began
to speed up, lifting Vulcan in the air. Kai put the last of his mana into his final attack and his
body went from being covered in a red steam, to erupting red mana into the air. Kai's body
glowed red as intense energy released from his body as he spun. Kai's body looked like an arc
welder that produced red flames. Kai begun to spin so fast he couldn't even see what was
happening anymore. Kai then released Vulcan and the man took off so fast that his body made a
whoosh sound and for a split second he seemed to catch on fire. Kai had thrown Vulcan from the
center of the Colosseum all the way to the northern wall, the throw was at least 100 yards.
Vulcan yelled as he soared and when he collided with the wall there was a deafening sound like
someone shot the wall with a rocket. The wall exploded after Vulcan made contact and Vulcan
was buried under a pile of rubble.
Kai was exhausted. He dropped to his knees, now drained physically and magically, and just
stared at the ground for several seconds.
"Fucking chump..." Kai mumbled as he eyed the pile of rubble that was created from a portion of
the wall. Kai had a clear view of the blue sky outside and began to chuckle. Nobody would get
the best of him. Ever.
Chapter 29John leaned against the wall with his arms crossed as he watched an argument unfold before him.
Once again John found himself inside the school of magic, in front of the headmaster,
nonetheless. He stood in a large room that had a massive desk and navy-blue carpets. The school
flag, a blue flag with a red dragon, was hanging from the ceiling. Behind the desk the entire
campus lay below, visible to the headmaster. After the headmaster informed an older woman,
Zash, that she would be training Kai she was furious.
"I already have over two hundred students and I cannot be forced to have one on one lessons
with a random amateur!" Zash hissed through clenched teeth.
Zash wore purple robes that had a gold trim on the hood of them. She looked to be in her forties
with long dark hair that was tied neatly into a bun. She had green eyes and a scar that went
vertically starting over the left side of her lips, ending just above her chin. She had a round face
with a small button nose. Her skin was also quite pale, and despite her age she was still quite the
catch.
The headmaster was surprisingly young. Anyone who hadn't met him would be very surprised by
his age, and skill as a mage. While Zash had been yelling at him he had been packing his pipe
with a mixture of herbs and nodded his head in response to her complaints. When she finished,
he put the pipe to his lips and inhaled. Even though he hadn't struck a single flame the pipe
burned, and smoke plumed from the pipe. The headmaster had black hair that was short on the
sides and back, but spikey up top. He had a very chiseled jawline and square smooth face. He
had not a single blemish on his olive skin, and his eyes were a deep blue. He was muscular, but
at a level that could be considered above average. He was also unnaturally tall. Standing at about
seven feet. He wore a red suit with a black shirt and red tie.
The headmaster took another drag on his pipe and held the smoke in his lungs for several more
seconds. When he exhaled, he leaned back in his chair as he stared at the ceiling.
"Ace you fucking prick!" Zash yelled as she grabbed a book off Ace’s desk and threw it at his
head.
The book passed straight through him, his body shimmered and went transparent for a moment
before materializing again.
"A fucking clone I knew it! Coward!" Zash yelled.
Ace leaned forward in his chair as he spoke with his pipe in his mouth. His voice was cool, and
his delivery smooth.
"Well if I was here it's obvious that temper of yours would result in me getting battered by
books, yeah?" Ace rested his forearm on the desk and leaned toward Zash. He took another drag
on the pipe and smiled revealing a perfect set of teeth.
"Besides, John here is going take care of your students while you get some alone time with our
star pupil."
John rose and eyebrow.
"Excuse me?"
"Now John, we all have roles in saving the world, and I just gave you yours." Ace leaned back in
his chair and put his hands behind his head.
"No." John said flatly.
Ace exhaled from his pipe and chuckled.
"If you don't I'll tell the council you didn't help me."
John narrowed his eyes,
"Dick..."
Ace spun the chair around and looked outside as he spoke.
"Zash you only have one student, and he is killing Vulcan. Let's go to the Colosseum. Chop!
chop!"
Zash began to massage her forehead and moments after a faint blast was heard. She looked out
the window, and the Colosseum wall had been blown open.
Chapter 30"Damn, you didn't hold back."
Kai looked up at a man in a red suit with a pipe in his mouth. His hands were in his pockets and
he took another drag on his pipe.
"Yeah, but it was everything I had...how long have you been here?" Kai said through heavy
breaths.
"I've been here since you stepped foot on my campus, watching your every move." The man
responded.
Kai narrowed his eyes at the man, but only got to look at him a moment before he heard a highpitched female voice call out his name.
Kai closed his eyes and sighed. Whoever she was, she wasn't Laycee, but she would chastise him
the same, he was sure of it. The woman wore purple robes and was tall for a lady. She stepped
through the gaping hole Kai left in the wall and stormed over to him. She grabbed Kai's ear and
lifted him up. She was fully prepared to lash out at him but stopped upon seeing his bruised and
battered face.
"Lords above..."
"LET HIM GO!"
Vulcan erupted from the pile of rubble and stepped forward. At the same time the woman
released Kai's ear and he put his fists up. Kai spit on the ground and stared at Vulcan defiantly.
Vulcan sprinted towards Kai at inhuman speed, and Kai tried to dodge, but he was too quick. He
tackled Kai and began to smash his forearm into Kai's face. Kai could barely even defend
himself he was so tired, but he managed to headbutt Vulcan and roll him over and Kai began to
punch back. Vulcan grabbed Kai's throat with his right hand and stood up. He slammed Kai into
the sand like he was nothing with frightening force.
"You used all your mana like a fool, you're done." Vulcan said and he walked away.
"Zash he's all yours now." He yelled back as he exit to Colosseum.
Zash looked at the unconscious Kai and shook her head.
"Ace, can't I wait until tomorrow to train him? He is really worn out."
"Nope, heal em and train em." Ace repaired the Colosseum using the rubble and shimmered out
of existence. Zash walked up to Kai and began to heal his wounds. His nose had been broken,
and he probably had his skull cracked a couple times. Many of his ribs had been broken, and his
jaw was just broken by Vulcan’s forearm. The more that Zash healed Kai’s wounds the more
upset she became at Vulcans brutal “lesson”. Vulcan was the only teacher on campus who
specialized in fighting up close with opponents. He used magic that could drain the users magic,
as well as different magics that weakened his foes mentally, and physically. Combining those
magics with his innate strength and he was a complete powerhouse, second only to Vulf. Zash
had finished healing the last of Kai’s wounds. Luckily, she had arrived fast enough to heal most
of the damage, but any blood loss that occurred could not be healed. Luckily, Vulcan had broken
more than he cut, and Kai’s injuries were not difficult to heal. She ran her fingers across Kai’s
boyish face. He didn’t grow any facial hair at all and had a smooth thin face and coffee skin. His
hair was cut on the sides, with dreadlocks on top of his head. She pat Kai on the face gently,
“Vulcan really didn’t hold back, huh…”
“Nah he is just a pussy.” Kai mumbled without opening his eyes, causing Zash to jump.
Vulcan walked calmly down the hallways in the school of magic on the way to his office. Kai
had surprised him with his sudden burst of power and he paid dearly for underestimating the boy.
Once he had reached his office he used a pull spell to open the door and then quickly shut it
behind him. As soon as the door shut, Vulcan collapsed on the ground and groaned in agony.
Vulcan let the illusion spell fade that had been covering his body after he came out of the rubble
of the colosseum. His arm looked as if it was nothing more than an aluminum can and a giant
had squeezed it. Dents going down to his skin covered the armor. His right hand was utterly
crushed. He was sure the entire hand was broken; his fingers were all twisted in different
directions. His armor had been dented to the point that it was almost skin tight. The leg Kai had
grabbed felt like it had been fractured. Vulcan coughed, and blood trickled out of his mouth.
“Lucky for you I saw through your little tough guy façade.”
Vulcan knew whose voice was speaking to him and simply closed his eyes and massaged his
temples with his good hand.
“So much raw power…” He muttered.
“I told you he wasn’t a joke. We need him to get a better understanding of how to use it though.
If we do, he can save our world.” Ace responded.
Ace waved his hand and with a loud screech all of Vulcans armor was peeled off, and Ace began
to tend to his wounds. Ace was an expert in every type of magic, and usually spread clones
around the campus to watch over everyone. Whenever he has a clone elsewhere his power
diminishes, but when it returns he gains its knowledge. Ace was currently with Vulcan as his true
self, all clones where they belong and within 30 minutes Vulcan was as good as new.
“You aren’t going to give up on training him are you?” Ace asked in an almost mocking tone.
“No.” Vulcan responded flatly.
When Vulcan turned around Ace had already left him in his office alone. Vulcan feared what Kai
could do with such raw power if he ever turned out to be an evil individual. Vulcan shook his
head and took a seat in his chair. He reached under his desk and removed a large bottle of
dwarven wine, he had earned it today.
Chapter 30-