My journey to mastering this cybernetic body has felt a lot like an elephant trudging through quicksand. I’ve practically moved into the training simulations, trying to get a grip on this metallic (carbon fiber?) frame while being virtually bashed to bits over and over again. It’s become my daily grind, partly to dodge dealing with the kill-or-be-killed scenarios they've got lined up for me. I mean, since when do assassins get to pick sides? It’s all a tangled mess and diving into train...
2023-10-01 22:01:21 +0000 UTC
View Post
The capital of Beastveil Kingdom trembled as cries tore through the night, mingling with the flames of magic gone wild. The mayhem was punctuated by the crazed laughter of Orlaith, the Dragon God Zarathos’ chosen champion. Adorned in a golden-scaled dress, the hues of her attire danced between reds and greens with every flicker of flame that reflected off it.
A year had spiraled by since the calamity at the Grotto of the Betrayed, a mana cataclysm that left Orlaith crippled. Yet fate ...
2023-09-29 18:38:53 +0000 UTC
View Post
As the elevator made its ascent to the massive megastructure overhead, I took a moment to peer out, catching the undercity below in a moment of chaos. Glimmers of flames, like rebellious stars, flickered defiantly against the encroaching twilight, hinting at the turmoil sparked by today’s news. Inside our rising glass cage, a palpable tension lingered. Hushed conversations, hurried and tinged with anxiety, buzzed around, with the word “Enclave” acting as the repeated refrain. Yet, amids...
2023-09-22 19:21:45 +0000 UTC
View Post
Aurelia strode forward, every step radiating a fierce determination and seething rage. Before her, Lord Demidicus loomed, an ancient vampire who had once plucked her dying soul from Earth when she was known as Aislinn, during the days the Romans had set foot in her homeland of Britannia.
Whispers spread in hushed tones throughout the vampire coven. Rumors abounded that Lord Demidicus had replaced his own daughter’s soul, disappointed by her lack of malice and might. However, his true ...
2023-09-22 19:19:26 +0000 UTC
View Post
After tossing back a few more drinks that, annoyingly, didn’t do squat, besides taste, I had a weird thought. When I... y’know... flushed ‘em out, would my drinks still be as pristine as when they went down? I mean, it’s not like I have a real stomach and all. Gross ponderings aside, I gave Britt a raised eyebrow when she told me that my tab had already been deducted. Wasn’t really clued in on how the whole future digital wallet shindig worked, which got me paranoid about some hacke...
2023-09-17 23:58:24 +0000 UTC
View Post
“Please, don’t do this! I’m begging you, please, let me go,” cried a simple peasant girl, her wrists bound tightly by chains.
Lord Demidicus, the ancient vampire, regarded the pitiable human at the ritual's heart with growing impatience. While she was a lamentable sight, dressed in tattered rags with wild hair and an unmistakable stink, his concerns lay elsewhere. He had initiated the summoning ritual multiple times, and that wretched demoness should've already vacated the previ...
2023-09-15 20:41:14 +0000 UTC
View Post
I stepped through what I believed to be the entrance to the bar, only to find it was a passageway leading to a back alley. This alley, in turn, led to a flight of stairs going down. Navigating through puddles, the sight of rats caught my attention. It seems they remained a nuisance even eight hundred years into the future—go figure. Refreshingly, the barrage of nonsensical advertisements that dominated the streetscape was absent here. Descending the stairs, I was met by a towering figure gu...
2023-09-14 00:32:50 +0000 UTC
View Post
Rob surveyed the chaos around him, with screams and shouts merging into a cacophonous symphony of terror. As people scrambled and pushed to get through the portal, aiming to evade the advancing knights, Rob felt an urge contrasting Blake and Jason's thirst for violence. He desired heroism, to triumph against the seemingly unbeatable odds.
In the throngs before him—the injured, the poor, and those desperate to escape—he recognized a dormant part of himself that had been silent since ...
2023-09-11 21:03:05 +0000 UTC
View Post
For two grueling days, that infernal apple mocked me. I’d taken a break from the simulation only once, purely to sleep; afterward, I was immediately back at it. During this time, it struck me that I hadn’t eaten at all. It prompted the question, “What do I even eat, and how?” I set that thought aside for the moment. Instead, I unleashed my recently mastered force punch, propelling the apple high into the sky, hoping it might return within arm’s reach. Predictably, it didn’t. And, ...
2023-09-10 21:15:42 +0000 UTC
View Post
I returned to my humble, somewhat pathetic walk-in apartment, still baffled by everything that had happened. My journey back after getting modded had been remarkably uneventful, a welcome respite given the last twenty-four hours. Still, I was a bit down, trying to figure out how to use the appearance scanner that C3-POS mentioned as a way to expand my wardrobe and hairstyle options. To be honest, I didn’t care much about a fake holographic augmentation, but I wasn’t a fan of this bald loo...
2023-09-06 21:32:31 +0000 UTC
View Post
Vanya's head thudded against the dark, moisture-laden wood of the drop pod, also known as an Airlight Pod, as her muscles braced for what lay ahead. An earsplitting blast shook her to the core, marking the start of the airships' arcane bombardment. The nauseating smell of vomit filled the air, revealing the nervousness of the novice squires, who were about to engage in both lethal and magical combat for the first time.
Beneath them lay the Grotto of the Betrayed, a legendary dungeon shr...
2023-09-06 00:31:19 +0000 UTC
View Post
Feeling apprehensive about receiving “free” upgrades from an unidentified benefactor—likely Sir Fuzzy, who wanted to use me for murdering… well, I didn’t know who—I shot a wary glance at C3-POS. “What sort of upgrades am I receiving?” I asked, my tone tinged with skepticism.
I noticed the robot’s eyes flicker for a brief moment before it spoke. “I have you scheduled for a military-grade ICE Shell, augmented with the cutting-edge HD Coating, and a 01-XPS. Additionally...
2023-09-02 01:13:10 +0000 UTC
View Post
After slipping into my outfit—yes, it’s made from mushroom leather and synthetic spider silk, weird, right?—Viri arranged transportation for me. Although I was initially apprehensive about having an AI assistant—something I’d never admit in her presence—I found her surprisingly useful. As I stepped out of my cramped apartment, I entered a bustling inner courtyard teeming with life, sounds, and... holograms?
“Man, ads have gotten way more in-your-face, huh? And...” I paus...
2023-08-30 22:55:26 +0000 UTC
View Post
Yua leaned against the portcullis of the ruins, her body taut with tension. The impending doom seemed to press down upon her shoulders, a weighty burden that threatened to smother her spirit. Her instincts screamed for them to continue running, to escape from this place of death and despair. Yet, they had sought shelter within a fortress that had already endured a siege. She couldn't shake the thought that they might have unknowingly walked into a trap, a place where their journey could culmi...
2023-08-28 23:05:29 +0000 UTC
View Post
Galen was seething with frustration as he was surrounded by the royal court’s chosen few, tasked with serving as his personal guards in this desolate outpost in the remote countryside. And while he acknowledged their efforts, he was also irked by his kingdom’s constant vigilance over his safety. He was no fragile blossom to be coddled and kept under lock and key like some delicate artifact. Of course, the Kingdom of Slaethia had stationed their prized air fleet here, guarded by their best...
2023-08-28 23:05:23 +0000 UTC
View Post
I blinked a few times, finding the act strangely familiar yet lacking any real sensation—more like some lingering phantom sensation. Probably means they didn’t bother with nerves, sensors, or whatchamacallits in these new robotic eyes. My gaze wandered around what was supposed to be my apartment. “Apartment” felt like a generous term; I’m pretty sure I had a walk-in closet more spacious in my past life. And the décor? Dark gray, cold, rather industrial. The concrete and metallic ae...
2023-08-26 00:53:34 +0000 UTC
View Post
Navigating the vast urban skies, I tried to discern who—or what—was steering the craft. Just like the shuttle I encountered earlier, there was no visible pilot, not even a semblance of a cockpit or steering mechanism. A fragmented memory hinted at automated cars existing before I was... suspended. “Before I died” would normally be the phrase, but given my peculiar situation, “put on ice” seems more fitting. Whatever the past held, it was clear that automation technology had advanc...
2023-08-24 00:22:23 +0000 UTC
View Post
As for Sophia and the others, they were now donned in fresh attire and armor courtesy of the dungeon dwellers, stood shoulder to shoulder, exuding the air of fierce warriors and mages—except for Jason, who seemed like he had just raided a crypt. Sophia sported sleek black robes paired with a silver chest plate, feeling a sense of pride in her new ensemble. And let's not overlook Blake, who was being cradled by the vampire like a precious possession.
As they surveyed the enemy army reg...
2023-08-21 22:01:01 +0000 UTC
View Post
Earlier
There was Darkness!
Heather descended into the bowels of the dungeon, stumbling behind a young undead goblin. The oppressive darkness enveloped her like a suffocating shroud. The memories of her past in this hellish dark pit were not fond, and she cursed herself for venturing back into this abysmal abyss once more. Her trembling hand instinctively reached for the back of her neck to verify that her head was still securely attached to her body. And, to her ...
2023-08-21 22:00:04 +0000 UTC
View Post
//: Reinitializing Cranial Fiber-Motor Control of Subject.
“Seriously?” My inner voice quipped as my head and eyes locked forward. With no grand exit or guidance, I found myself being propelled forward out of the shuttle. Oh, I had a mental tirade queued up, but the fervor of my annoyance just didn’t reach the boiling point I knew it should have.
Much of my irritation stemmed from my inability to inspect the spaceship I had just disembarked from more closel...
2023-08-18 21:43:13 +0000 UTC
View Post
Jason grunted, a deep sound born from the very core of his pain. Every nerve in his body screamed in agony, each pulse threatening to send him crashing to the ground. The searing pain radiating through his veins seemed to drain his vitality, rendering him feeble and weak. With each passing second, his limbs quaked and spasms of torment wracked his body, making it feel as if his very essence was being shredded from within. Just as the weight of his suffering was about to pull him under, an exp...
2023-08-18 21:42:52 +0000 UTC
View Post
Vanya Anlyth, an Elven Knight and Paladin of the Kingdom of Slaethia, lay solitary in her bed. The chilling void of the empty sheets pierced her heart, intensifying the ache from her husband's absence. Though she understood he was fulfilling his obligations as the General of the army, it brought her scant solace. The hours without him felt interminable. The echoes of the evening's festivities had begun to wane, leaving only the muffled chuckles of inebriated soldiers making their way to their...
2023-08-16 18:50:16 +0000 UTC
View Post
//: Subject Coming Online.
A distant, icy voice resonated all around me, sounding both feminine and eerily synthetic—likely the instigator of this pounding headache. Everything felt so bizarre; was I still dreaming or about to wake up? Yet, just as the ache climaxed, it evaporated, leaving an unsettling calm in its wake.
//: Cryonic Revival Successful.
“Hey... anyone there?” My mind called out, desperate for answers, but my voice was a silent...
2023-08-14 20:39:34 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hovering over Olin's brand new and still-warm corpse, I was totally channeling some grim reaper vibes. I deftly latched the phylactery onto him, funneling his soul into its new digs. Okay, I admit, that’s my [Spirit Vessel] skill showing off, but, hey, I’m more than happy to soak up any praise. With both fragments of my oh-so-broken soul understanding the ins and outs of this skill, I'm thinking... maybe I could do it without the fancy skill? Out of all the wild tricks up...
2023-08-14 20:39:07 +0000 UTC
View Post
Alrighty, here I am, squished down to tarantula size like some arcane joke, with my gooey, tar-like body stashed away in Stellar Void—sounds fancy, but who the heck knows how it really works? Not me, that’s for sure. It’s like reliving my awkward twelve-year-old phase all over again. Ugh, the horror!
As the final glimmers of sunlight vanished beyond the horizon, the camp plunged into an eerie darkness, save for the flickering lights of the fire pits. In that dim glow, the shadows ...
2023-08-07 22:05:55 +0000 UTC
View Post
Stepping out of that freakin’ classroom the pink brat had voodooed me into, I shot it one last look before my eyes widened in shock. Empty! An eerie silence surrounded me. Professor Stormrune was just gone, like, poof! It felt as though the air thickened as the walls began closing in, and every step echoed like a sinister whisper, as though the nightmares had secrets to share. Shadows flickered at the corners of my vision, and the empty desks and vacant seats seemed like they were ...
2023-08-04 23:20:47 +0000 UTC
View Post
I eyeballed the revenant chick lying before me, trying to figure out how the hell I should handle this situation—by “this,” I mean jump-starting her soul with the damn mana she needs to wake the eff up. According to Olin, revenants were a real pain in the ass to kill—not lich-level hard, but still a challenge. Kaida’s lifeless body could chill here for fuck-knows-how-long until she unconsciously sucked up enough mana to revive herself—well, un-live herself, more like, being a frea...
2023-08-02 23:36:21 +0000 UTC
View Post
Olin’s soul still clung around his body, even after his skull had been shattered beyond repair by a massive battle axe—or so Heather claimed. Man, I really wish Mana Sight would let me see souls. That would be so cool! And yet, thankfully, Heather, our new Dark Priestess—sorry, Priestess of Dreams, or whatever—had the power to mend the ghoul’s head with relative ease, even though he still looked like shit. Now healing magic shouldn’t have worked on the undead but being on...
2023-08-01 23:17:06 +0000 UTC
View Post
In the depths of an old, abandoned reservoir, its water long gone, and far below the bustling sewers, Nikola toiled away in his workshop. It might not have been the most conventional place to work on an airship—or rather, what he liked to call a starship—but his mind buzzed with ideas. He was determined to blend the magic of this world with the science fiction tales from his home, Earth. The possibilities of interstellar travel within this reality using magic consumed him. It was, without...
2023-07-28 22:09:15 +0000 UTC
View Post
Hey there, fun fact time! I’m a fucking hypocrite, no doubt about it. These little glimpses into my mind’s ramblings should’ve given that away. But hey, if you ever dare to call me out on it, I’ll freakin’ eat you! Kidding, sorta... I’ll probably just unleash some serious doom on you first (murder), then let you dry-age like a tender wagyu steak—or should I say rot-age—before indulging in your succulent perfection (eat you). Oh, you’re in for a treat! Sorry for the clarifica...
2023-07-27 20:59:01 +0000 UTC
View Post
