Author Frank Morin

Interlude 4 - from Book 2

Here is Interlude 4 from book 2 - Nexus Runner - Rampage!

“Are you still sure this was a great idea?” Tomas asked as he used Flash Step to appear 20 feet away from Jane.

Behind him, the Demolition Rhino smashed through the heavy construct he’d left in its path. The huge monster looked a lot like an Earth rhino, but with heavier plating, and its magical horn generated a powerful battering ram force. Coupled with its trample effects, it had nearly gotten him when it fir...

Interlude 3 - from Book 2

Here is Interlude 3 from book 2 - Nexus Runner - Rampage

“We need 8 more margaritas,” Sam called over the bar.

“Sure thing, boss,” Steve responded, glancing up from his workstation piled high with glasses, salt, tequila, orange liqueur, and limes. He’d finally gotten his drink-mixing skill leveled up enough that he could produce some of the ingredients he needed, and demand for his margaritas was growing so fast, he could barely keep up.

Of course, the minor...

Ch 248 - The Danger of Fools

A quick announcement before we dive into the next chapter in book 4 - Nexus Runner - Royal.

The Nexus Runner audiobook is now LIVE on Audible! Yay!

Check it out here: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0GCNVZ962

If you've been planning to grab the audiobook, please do so right away. That helps the books get noticed as it rises through the rankings.

And PLEASE share the link with your friends and on ...

Interlude (2) from book 2

And here is the second interlude from book 2 - Nexus Runner - Rampage

Ruby clapped her hands together a couple times to announce herself outside of a Base Camp tent standing in a long row of similar tents. No answer. She had to clap a couple more times before she finally caught the attention of the tent’s inhabitant.

“Oh! Come, come in,” came the breathless woman’s voice.

Smiling, Ruby pushed aside the tent flap and stepped inside the spacious tent. Unlike the...

Ch 247 - Ed Makes Some New Friends

As Ed, Nigel, and I headed for the military command building made up of magical building blocks where we’d meet up with Tony and his forces, Cyrus’s voice boomed across the sky.

“Good morning, contestants from Earth! Day 17, and look how many of you are still around. No time to sit on your laurels, though. You’ve only got 5 days left to complete stage 3 and some of you are lagging. Since I have yet to find an excuse to trigger the apocalyptic destruction of stage 2, I can promis...

Interlude (1) from book 2

As I'm wrapping up edits to book 2 - Nexus Runner - Rampage - so I can prepare to send it off to my narrator for recording, I added some fun new Interludes. Here is the first of them:

Ysara was jarred out of her focused concentration by a flashing yellow alert. The loot box conditions she’d been finalizing slipped out of her control, and her main workscreen flashed a warning even as she received a message.

Emerald Green Siren loot box trigger conditions failed. If you do ...

Ch 246 - Good Things Come From Epic Loot

Sythrak’s scales brightened again and he spoke without having to reference any notes. “The consortium, known as Aurion Verge, is headquartered on the tier-4 world of Caelthys. For the purchase of the Threxil Vein mining rights, they offer 5,000 tier-9 mana crystals up-front, plus 10% of the gross mining income over the next 2 years, plus huge discounts on products from any of their partner companies on any consortium world you might visit in the next 10 years.”

I blinked in shock,...

Nexus Runner - Audio Sample - Ch 11

You get another audio sample today. This is Chapter 11 - Sporks and Fuzzy Pants - the chapter in the Forest Glade Dungeon.

Enjoy!

Ch 245 - Ed Embraces the Power of a Whisper

Aaaaaannnnndddd . . . Here we go! We are now starting what will be book FOUR!

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Day: 17 Survivors Remaining: 271

Views: 543,895,132

Followers: 151,473,284

Favorites: 44,782,688

VIP Points: 205,777,110

I stopped in front of the tall, white pylon that marked the entrance to the System store, with Ed in tow and Nigel perched on my shoulder. The stone-paved courtyard in front of Port Royale’s central castle was not too busy...

Audio sample - Nexus Runner - Chapter 1

It's official! I have received the audio files for Nexus Runner audiobook! Yay!

Keith Brown did such a fantastic job! I am absolutely loving the process of listening through the entire book in a final QA process.

And I want you to celebrate with me even before the audiobook is launched (which will be this month just as soon as I can make it happen).

So here is the audio for Nexus Runner - Chapter 1

Enjoy!

Need Your Best Alien Races Ideas

Good morning, my friends!

As we roll into book 4, I am working on catching up on edits I want to finish prior to posting too much of the book so you don't have to re-read things. The book is already great, but the planned edits will make it so much better.

Given that challenge, I plan to post a new chapter once per week on Wednesdays through December. By then, I'm hoping to be caught up. And I hope to post additionally on Fridays with other cool content, including snippets from th...

Nexus Runner is LIVE!

Good morning!

You may have noticed, but Nexus Runner ebook is LIVE as of this morning! Yay!

You should have access to the post that includes the ebook. As paid members, you can download the ebook.

Please tell your friends about Nexus Runner so we can spread the word and help others find this story.

If you posted a review on Royal Road, please consider posting that same review on Amazon.

If you have not yet posted a review anywhere, this is the perfect time to sta...

Nexus Runner ebook

This fast-paced action fantasy litrpg adventure, bursting with combat, magic, and nonstop adventure, is perfect for fans of DCC and Primal Hunter.

Ch 244 - Nectar From Above

Moments later, we all stood in my basement facing 2 new vaults. Tydrion’s vault had moved to the wall next to Velexis’s, with the 2 new ones across the way. The sight was pretty awesome, and I pulled my Keys of the Treasurer with an eager hand.

“I thought 2 vaults was amazing, then you got a third, and now you’ve collected a total of 5!” Andy chortled. “You’re the boss of the bosses!”

“Let’s hope you got some good stuff,” Jane agreed.

“I’d take a fe...

Ch 243 - Victor's Rights

Ruby rose and her comfortable, soft outfit changed to a set of battle leathers. Somehow she even changed her hair to a long braid at the same time. “Thanks for the reminder. I’m heading for the Training Guild too.”

“How did you change your hair?” I blurted.

She flashed a bright smile. “Figured out that grand little secret yesterday.” She pulled her thick braid up over her leather-clad shoulder and showed me a series of emerald green rings spaced down the length of he...

Ch 242 - Doubling Down

Day: 16 Survivors Remaining: 271

Views: 543,209,912

Followers: 151,473,284

Favorites: 44,782,688

VIP Points: 200,808,911

I made it back to town just before dawn, more or less. The dark, gloomy, chill, rainy Ruin didn’t change much, regardless of the time of day. I waved to the gate guards, vaulted the wall, and enjoyed the cessation of rain inside Port Royale’s protective dome.

Most of the town was quiet, but lights blazed from every opening in the...

Ch 241 - Monster Hunter Ghostbuster

Count Vhaernos had to be doing 200 miles per hour as he shot toward me. If not for my enhanced vision, he might have smashed right through me before I even realized he was around.

No doubt he had ghostly minions watching the area and had spotted my battle with Syvelis. Fine. I might have lost the countess, but Vhaernos clearly had no intention of fleeing. Worked for me. I gladly focused all my frustrated anger on the new target.

I accelerated right at him and set Tether Slide agai...

Ch 240 - I Chase a Rumor

“Glad you didn’t risk breaking a nail,” I wheezed through panting breaths.

The censer disappeared and Syvelis smiled warmly at me. “We will have such fun together, you and I.”

I nodded, using the moment to scan the area again. That blow had actually helped clear my mind a bit more, and it didn’t seem she realized it. I needed to figure out a plan, and fast, before they started the real torture.

I again focused on the female nymph guard. She was tall and lithe, wi...

Ch 239 - I Meet a Dude Named Harald

I awoke with a groan and a splitting headache. My eyes blurred and I saw double as I tried to focus. My mother talked about how bad migraines were sometimes, but I’d never had one, so never really understood.

I understood now. It felt like someone had stabbed a spike through my skull into the center of my brain and it was growing, cutting through everything and creating enough pressure it was a wonder gray matter wasn’t spewing out my ears.

What happened? With my fast regenera...

Ch 238 - Sink or Swim

I reflexively stiffened from the intense pain spearing through my torso. Corrosive power poured out of the harpoon to infect me, but I surrounded it with convergence mana to prevent Nextharos from flooding my entire system with his dark power.

The pain had to stop! I reflexively tried casting every last temporary spell I had available, focusing on Force Weaver to synergize them into something strong enough to stop the annoying underwater hunter.

“You cannot synergize so many inc...

Ch 237 - I Take Second Place in a Swimming Contest

I pursued, vaulting the piles of rubble and landing near my opponent just as he staggered back to his feet.

“How can you hit so hard?” he wheezed. The side of his armor was dented and split.

Any hit I landed would deal enormous extra damage. My Court Assassin title doubled damage, then added another 100% extra damage since I’d already defeated 2 other lords from his world, while my Swordsman ability added 100% slashing damage and 125% extra penetration. On top of that, my Du...

Ch 236 - I Get a Taste of Oblivion's Kiss

I felt a hint of the mighty force before it was redirected to my doppleganger, which exploded into motes of purple light under the onslaught of raw power.

“Congratulations, Lucas! Mimic has captured Tidelash Coup. Time remaining to re-cast the spell: 15 seconds.”

I spun as the announcements scrolled down the side of my vision, moving fast enough to catch a face full of exploding stone as the wall behind me erupted inward. A midnight-black harpoon with a wickedly-barbed point p...

Ch 235 - Hunt and Hunted

Before heading back up to the rainy main street, I sent a message to Syvelis.

Count Blacktide: “The man Lucas took the bait. I’m closing in now.”

Countess Syvelis: “You’re late. He has caused me some trouble tonight. Do not fail to capture him again.”

Count Blacktide: “Are you okay?”

Countess Syvelis: “Don’t be a fool. Of course I am, but his actions have stained my honor. Once you have him, I need a few minutes alone with him before you deliver him...

Ch 234 - Traitors or Clueless Fools?

I pulled out another potion Jeeves had picked up for me and handed it to Martin. “Drink this. It’ll counter the poison before you melt from the inside.”

“Potion of Truth. Rare. Must be drunk willingly. Will compel one to speak only truth for 30 seconds.”

I wasn’t the one drinking the potion, and I didn’t feel bad lying to Martin. He chugged it without bothering to identify it. His eyes glazed a little with a soft, blue glow.

“So, Martin, you never told me how...

Ch 233 - Promises Promises

I finally slowed and banished Switchblade a couple hundred yards from the spot I’d seen the Briggs. From there, Nigel disappeared into the rainy darkness while I activated Mirror Cloak.

The darkness turned even more monochrome as light bent around me. Between my Phantomstep Breeches, my wolf leather skullcap, and my Shadow Cuisses, the boosts to Stealth made me basically invisible to all but the most powerful detection abilities.

Moving quickly, but carefully, I slipped down the...

Ch 232 - The Benefits of Getting a Big Head

Views: 300,162,091

Followers: 80,114,903

Favorites 21,008,286

VIP Points 110,928,192

My views had taken an enormous jump, and my favorites had doubled. My VIP points had continued its steady climb, but as interesting as watching me get a sponsor clearly was, it didn’t generate the same level of VIP interest as my death battles. Even more interesting was my jump in the top-10 rankings.

“Earth Top-10 Leader Board”

1. Elizabeth Maberly

Team: Pri...

Ch 231 - A Bit of Dawnfire

With a flash of light, a golden scroll covered in silver writing appeared in the air. It was a longer than the other contracts I’d signed so far. A lot longer. An unfortunate truth of the multiverse seemed to be that the bigger the corporation, the more convoluted and confusing their contracts.

I took a deep breath and scanned the long document. It contained dense legalese that referred to my duties and responsibilities, but didn’t actually spell them out clearly. One entire section...

Ch 230 - I Get a Sweet Deal

“What kind of sweet deal?” I had a lot of goodies on hand, but I’d never turn down another intergalactic gourmet dessert.

“I’ve found you an ideal sponsor!” Cyrus chortled.

Sponsor? I leaped off the bed, heart racing. Burns had a sponsor and look what happened to him. “That’s good, right? I mean, I don’t know much about sponsors.”

“It’s not only great, but it’s vital,” Cyrus said.

“So you get us sponsors?”

“I manage the process o...

Ch 229 - I Become a Texting Fool

Another month, and the story rolls on!

Unfortunately, starting next week, I will be reducing my weekly posts to twice per week. I've fallen behind my planned schedule due to this shoulder surgery I had last month. There are edits I need to make to book 3 and 4, and you're already nearly finished book 3.

Thanks for staying with Nexus Runner so far! Your support and enthusiasm are a real driving force keeping the story charging ahead.

More details will be coming about the audi...

Nexus Runner 1 - Bloopers

Another bonus chapter! This is a fun new addition to the end of book 1 - some Bloopers!

Like with any creative work, not everything in the first draft ends up in the final revision. Some ideas don’t work out, and others were discarded before they were even written. These bloopers are a series of fun what-might-have-been moments.

Enjoy.

One thou...